elegentry

One of the things that was stressing me this weekend was clothes for the next two. Feeling a bit better now because
-I have found an outfit for the wedding that is warm, packable and (hopefully) elegant. Actually I have two to decide between, both mostly black.
-My new, unworn, though made 4-5yrs ago embroidered chemise works well enough with the newish black Durer frock. Yay, I have something new to wear to Baronial changeover. The sleeves are a bit short, the chemise was made for a loose sleeved gown. For a gown with puffy bits it needs to be longer. I thought I was losing a bit of weight, black frock feels a bit looser. Not sure if this is a good thing or not
-The orange Cranach fits in its recombobulated expanded state. Only problem is the shoulders are firmer than I would like.
Whew, this is good.

So on the further list for today
-clear a path for the washing machine delivery men. This incidentally will encourage me to tidy the hallway
-clear the two "guest" rooms
-vac
-lay out clothes for the next two weekends
-play with the new machine after it gets here
-go visit sjkasabi if time and everyone's exhaustion allows.

Hope I can keep focus for all this. Really I feel brain low and tired. Maybe I shall knit some more sock first(this is being fun and looking like it's working). Maybe I should clear the hall and then knit sock, that sounds good.

-There are now 9 rainbow chard seedlings planted in my garden
-I have been reading up on fruit trees. I am fantasising about my very own little orchard in the front garden. Hmm, I had best get cracking on organising those fences. My favourite nursery says the bare rooted trees start arriving in fortnight!

- I have wrestled the red velvet chaise lounge into the dressing room. It fits (barely) and looks great with the pink carpet. Now the green curtains look out of place. I am thinking the curtains should move into my bedroom BUT there are 20 lovely brass curtain rings hiding somewhere in this house. I can't find them, curses.

-there is ~12m of old carefully painted tent valance soaking in bleach. I washed it first but there was still moulding spots so I am giving bleach a go. The bleach does not seem to be attacking the paint which is good but it also doesn't seem to be attacking the mould.**

-The bodice of my orange wool cranach gown is recombobulated about 3cm wider and now fits in a circumference sense. However, the pressure on the points of my shoulders is rather higher than I think I can tolerate for long. Really I need to let the shoulders out a bit... or make a new dress? I think this means that I must call the purple gown TOO SMALL* I don't really have time to make a new gown before midwinter unless I drop everything else. I'm not really in that zone, would much rather putter about with house, garden and street clothes.

So I shall finish putting the orange back together, it should be OK for baronial swap I think given it is one evening only. Maybe I shall wear the new black Durer for the Sat, it's mildly speccy but not warm, deliberately. It was built for festi after all.

-It has taken 3 coffees to banish the fog in my brain today. I now feel reasonably awake and amazed I got so much done this morning even with a thick head. I was supposed to be cutting that black coat but I won't tackle that with said thick head.

*actually almost a relief to decide I shan't wear that. I have never been truly happy with it except the 'stomacher' which I love and could have a new gown made for it.

**old tent roof had two well sized holes ripped in it. The so called canvas now feels more like calico. I think I shall salvage the rope and throw the rest out.

List progresses nicely
see, I have most of a new underskirt. Wool so my ankles are not too damp. Also on the colourful side.

I also have newly green poles for my tent. I either had to make the new one match the old- not possible as I did not do the finish on the others- or refinish them all the same. So I used the only bright paint in my large paint collection. Happily it matches the roof. Also suspiciously matches my front door. Also re-glued the centre boss and refreshed the gold paint on the roof furniture. Sadly I forgot to do the wall pole joiners.
    

And I had some time left. Should have been fixing the tent roof but I have the excuse of not having the right thread. So instead I replaced my tatty old pennon with this new shiny one. Don't ask how I painted the device.



Still have to finish my hem and a few other things but I have had a good day. At some point I really need to do some food planning.

I was afraid today that I was coming down with some lurgy or other. There seems to be several going around. Actually I now conclude that I was probably suffering from
- an overdose of smoke- forge, BBQ and campfire smoke with a bit of burning bitumen thrown in for good measure
- talking all day - my replacement started this morning and training always gives me a sore throat.
- not eating enough breakfast- leads to dizziness and mild nausea.
The things we do to ourselves. A proper dinner and an evening of no talking seems to have helped. An early night would help too.

very minor miracle. I have had a mildly productive Monday night. Almost never happens. The rest of the seams on new chemise are hand felled! (partly done last night while watching "Persuasion" again) The black frock body is together and bodice lining pinned in.

I have had a lovely weekend. Am now trying to persuade myself not to be out of sorts 'cause it is nearly done. Next week will be busy at work and every night is committed too with Port Fairy at the end. All good but I am in a mood to not be pressured. Just got to deal.

I had a lovely time at Circa last night. Good company and most inspiring. I want to make and make and make, oh and wear.  I was sadly really too tired to enjoy it to the full. My own silly fault for working so hard during the day.

I am often amused by the collection of often unrelated things that one sees fit to purchase on a shopping trip. Today's haul:
- a pair of swimming trunks- black boy-leg bather bottoms -courtesy of a gift voucher from work
-a reel of thread (oh- L-craft really has gone down hill. My list was longer than this but they didn't stock any of it)
-a dozen grape hyacinth bulbs bought on a whim
-a seagrass laundry hamper.

I pruned a bunch of things in the front garden this morning, including cutting the burnt bits off the magnolia. Hope the heat on Tues doesn't fry them.

The black Durer is refitted, cut and I have begun assembly. I am a bit concerned about how the front closure will sit. I wanted more bust coverage but that has ended up with a sharp 135deg angle on the front edges. Odd. Still it's either give that a go, risk bust spillage or have unsupported bosums with nasty tension lines.  The upper sleeve slashings are ready to go to Port Fairy for hand work anyway.

I have pulled large amounts of gold lurex out of my old orange underskirt. This has resulted in a much more tasteful garment. Pink/yellow shot (looks orange) with yellow striped bands. I might need to rework the waistband to take away some bulk. However I end up with the warm toned underskirt that I wanted without having to spend time fabric shopping.

I spent a pleasant few hours today with a bunch of people I barely know or had just met, consuming tea and scones and chatting. Nice. Still feel a bit guilty that I didn't go to bash but I wasn't in the zone.

In looking for my old unfinished underskirt, I found two old skirts I had forgotten about. Both fine wool blends and fully lined. They are rather tight in places but with a small amount of work they could be put back into my work wardrobe. So now they are washed at least. The alterations will have to wait until after festi. The black one should be most useful. I had wondered what had happened to it. I made it once apon a time for a conference when I worked in a processing plant and was not allowed to wear skirts to work. It was such a treat back then to be able to wear a skirt for a work event.

what a smoky day! Just in case we were in any danger of forgetting the bushfires, the city is blanketed in even heavier smoke than yesterday. I have been feeling heavy hearted due to the constant reminder of tragedy. Also heavy headed and lunged as it sets off hayfever and asthma. Now I have cleverly filled the loungeroom with the smell of burnt wool- more on that later.

I have donated to the red cross, been part of an office collection to buy and donate personal toiletries, sorted various clothes, towels etc into bags to be donated to various destinations- wildlife carers, Vinnies, a fundraising garage sale.

Having done that, I let myself go on an excursion to find fabric for my new festival frock. Found! Eliza delivered. A fine, springy black wool (well 80%) which I plan to trim with pink silk and make another Durer frock out of.. Also could not resist a luscious piece of navy wool almost-satin. Not much of this latter- only around 2m but it was so lovely I had to have it. Doushkasmum says it is enough for a Flemish kirtle. Must make one of those sometime. After Festi I think, maybe next spring. I burn tested them both- hence the smell in the lounge room. Pleased to say the results seem to match the marked fibre content, best I can tell anyway. The black wool is almost all wool- would not keep a flame, good stuff. The navy is 100% wool as advertised. Both are washed and just about to be hung out.

Plotting vege fritters for this evening's soiree. Gold Durer can have another outing to test the minor alterations and different chemise- before I cut more chemises for festi.

I've been back a couple of hours from the Surveying Expedition.
-Had a good time in lovely company. Ate very well-hoorah for the cooks! drank enough but not too much, tasted a brilliant mead made from 25yr old honey,  helped out some.
-Taught a formal class- (fibre identification) and at least one informal (hem stitching).
-Did hand finishing on a dress for Rose made by hometime , wove 3/4 of a pair of garters (partly warp weighted by Rauf)
-Got 4 bullant bites(hand and back)- OUCH and multiple less exciting bites around my ankles. I'll itch for a while.
-Slept in my little pavilion, always fun. Even after the half centre pole snapped during set up (fixed with tent peg splints and the traditional duct tape)

Now I am clean-Yay! the car is unpacked, dresses shaken free of dust, baronial T towels all washed and fluttering on the line.

Still have to unpack properly, do my laundry and put everything away. Time now though for a glass of wine and a bit of a sit down.

Oh- the gold Durer frock got finished prior and  worn on the Sat. I'm almost completely happy with it though I will shift one pair of buttons for a more secure closure.  I failed to take my camera so there is no pic yet. Maybe I can beg one from someone else or you will have to wait for it's next wearing. I was delighted with how many compliments I received on it, most gratifying. Even better, it fits well and is nicely comfy. I am thinking of making another similar frock but really should work on a few more nice linen chemises to replace my old daggy, worn-out cotton voile ones.

I made another thing- only this was months ago. Connected with this is a story (that locals already know, so tune out if you don't like repetition). Finally posting to distract myself from whinging about having to work this week.

Also feeds in to Montjoye's sewing tip # oh 8 or so.... Don't cut anything out while sick!
While lurgy-ridden, I somehow convinced myself that 1.2 metres of burgundy wool was enough to make an elegant sideless gown. You may not be astonished to find I was wrong. I did cut it while lurgified and even sewed most of the neck and side facings but suprise, suprise, it was not nearly full enough to fall properly.

So I threw it in the corner and prepared to steel myself to sacrifice the fabric- a very nice wool gaberdine- to some smaller purpose, trim, hood or so.

Then dear Mama called and was proudly telling me of the new burgundy wool trousers that she had just made. Hope! This inspired me to remember that we both bought a length of burgundy wool- off the same bolt!! Hoorah! and she agreed to give me her offcuts! Thus I was able to cut just enough gores to give me the drape I needed. Hoorah.

Then ensued much soul searching about seam treatment. The hem was pinned and cut before the Scotland trip. Eventually sewn after my return and then worn only once so far to Stormhold Bash, Aug?

Firstly,  Birthday wishes are sent to martinlemechant. At least LJ tells me it is his birthday. Have a wonderful day Martin! belatedly 'cause I am 9hrs or so behind.

I was going to post more but have spent a couple of hours this morning on the initial stages of turning a too small, charity shop suit jacket into a sort of piratical bodice thingy. This is to wear to an event called Magic Theatre on in London in a couple of weeks. Same night as Winterfeast I think. Looks like a grand, enormous costume party. H wants to go and I think it looks great. So I am making a costume. What fun. There will be photos later.

After nearly 3 years of hearing about it, I finally went to Eliza's this morning. Score! She supplied me with the lightweight suiting wool that I wanted only it is beige so I get to go dye shopping. Also a length of lovely dark navy twill for you might know who.