Elizabethan portrait miniature!

I mentioned a pin in my last post.  And I thought maybe you'd like to see some more photos of it, because I did a bang up job putting it together.  Or, putting bits of it together.

I basically used the instructions from over on http://americanduchess.blogspot.com/2012/04/v101-how-to-make-miniature-portraits.html to put mint together, except that I customized my photo.

Most importantly: the image.  I have some not insignificant skill with Photoshop.  And I don't always use my powers for good.

 

This is my long suffering boyfriend.  He will not dress up, no matter how sad I look.   So I took matters into my own hands, and voila! 

And then, because I got carried away, I sucked a few other friends into it. These haven't been miniaturized...yet.

Costuming for LAZY people.

So, I obviously fell off the face of the earth.  But then I decided that this year was it, I was going to have a costume for the faire.

So I bought one.

On the internet.

It, of course, did not fit.

This photo doesn't do justice to how much it didn't fit, in part because I did some crazy ladder lacing to keep the bodice on.

Neckline is not accurate (more of a waistcoat or doublet neckline) and there are grommets.  Also the skirt was a horrid thing with about a mile of elastic that I actually had to pull up over my bust to keep it on (and to keep myself from tripping over it).

But!  With a great deal of help from my lovely mom, and a good deal of accessorizing on my part, we got it into a better working costume.

Still needs some work, and I'm planning on replacing it bit by bit, but it's a solid start and a good base for mixing and matching.  Also I took the whole thing out for a full day in 85 degree heat.  The linen shift was a godsend- I kept the sleeves damp and it really helped keep me from broiling alive.

Here's a rundown of all the elements:

1. Linen shift. Hand sewn by me. Few years old. Accuracy: 10

2. Leather belt. Few years old. Bought from Contrived To Charm on Etsy. Accuracy: 2

3. Red bodice and skirt. This year, bought on Etsy, heavily modified/fixed by my mother. Accuracy: 6ish

4. Pearl necklace and earrings. Made this year by me from some fake (plastic) pearls I had lying around. Accuracy: 8

5. Belt pouch. Bought this year at faire this year, made by Oberon Designs (I think). Accuracy: 4 

6. Hat. Bought this at faire this year, it has a few feathers on top. Accuracy: 9? ish?

7. Pin brooch. Made/assembled by me this year, hella fabulous. I photoshopped my boyfriend into an Elizabethan portrait. Accuracy: 8 

Probably most proud of that pin this year! In fact, I also photoshopped some friends too.

Irons!

Went to try and work on my kirtle, and discovered that due to being unceremoniously shoved in a pile for...lets not actually count how long... it is, SURPRISE, all wrinkled.

Then I went to dig out my iron.  My tiny travel iron.

For some backstory, I'm sick.  Mostly fine, unless I move, and then pounding head, have to lie down sick.  It's winding down now, but while I was looking for my iron, it was at it's peak.

I tore my (not that large) apartment apart looking for my iron.  Twice.  Before finding it buried in the bottom of a drawer.  But the detachable cord?  Not so much.  Pretty sure it's lost in time and space.

Then I had to go have a lie down.

So today I finally caved in, and after recruiting some far more experienced opinions, ordered myself an actual full sized iron that I don't have to be ashamed of (and with an INTEGRAL CORD THAT CANNOT BE LOST) on Amazon.  Along with a few books, because I was an entire six cents below free shipping.  And then a few more books because hey, free shipping!  If I'm going to order things, might as well order things!

So I've postponed my kirtle construct for another week or so.  But if it keeps taking up space, I won't be able to ignore it, and I'll have to finish it soon, right?  Right?

Background

I've been interested in historical things for ages.  Seriously, what nine year old girl wants to be an archeologist?  Hit a tipping point when I went to my first Renaissance Faire (which was the most itty bitty of faires, very small, middle of nowhere, but much fun!) and marveled at the wonderful costumes some people were wearing.

And then I just spiraled down, getting sucked further and further into the history of costuming and sumptuary laws and background on plant dyes and so on.  Until I finally decided that I must have my own fantastic costume to wear.

Unfortunately for me, sewing is not my only hobby.  It's about one in a dozen.  So, while I have started a costume, it is nowhere near finished.  (Except the underwear!  I have a smock!)

Also, add in the fact that I am wary of sewing machines.  So, handsewing.  (Period appropriate, I tell myself!)

Hence, a blog!  To document and coerce myself into getting more pieces of my costume done.  After all, if I finish my kirtle, I can actually go out in it!  (Underdressed, yes, but not in just a smock!)