- #13: Under $10 – due Tue 14 July. : I think I'm skipping this one. It's too soon, and I have no idea how much I paid for the majority of my fabric so...
- #14: Paisley & Plaid – due Fri 1 August. : I'll probably skip this one too, mainly because of how much work the next challenge is going to be.
- #15: The Great Outdoors – due Fri 15 August. : Victorian swimsuit! Wow that's soon, guess I better order that pattern...
- #16: Terminology – due Mon 1 September. : Not really sure if I'll do anything for this one. Everything that I was already thinking of has been pushed back to next year so...Maybe my new stays?
- #17: Yellow - due Mon 15 September. : I think this is going to be my gold polonaise, after I fix a couple fitting issues and add more braid.
- #18: Poetry in Motion - due Wed 1 October Still no idea.
- #19: HSF Inspiration - due Wed 15 October. : I need to look back over last year's entries as well as this year's to see if anything inspires me.
- #20: Alternative Universe – due Sat 1 November. : Rococopunk!
- #21: Re-do – due Sat 15 November. : I don't know whether it's strictly allowed or not, but there was a green challenge last year and my sari bustle gown that's on my to do list is green...
- #22: Fort-nightliers Choice – due Mon 1 December. : This one hasn't been determined yet.
- #23: Modern History – due Mon 15 December. : Hooded blouse and trousers from an Eva Dress pattern. Kinda excited about this one actually.
- #24: All that Glitters – due Thur 1 January. : No clue.
Monday, June 30, 2014
Thoughts on Remaining HSF Challenges
Revisiting Goals and Wishlists - 2014 Sewing
Back in January, I posted about my goals and some wishlist items for this year. Since I'm taking a look back over what I wanted to accomplish this year as means of at least attempting to make my Teslacon sewing in line with said goals, and since it's been six months and is thus the perfect time for a check in, here's a little revisit to that post with what I've done so far this year:
On the projects I'd like to finish front:
Grey / silver, red and black bustle gown:
I said that I needed a wash overskirt. And I made it! So that's DONE.
There's still the long term goals of a new bodice and a parasol.
Sari Bustle Gown: I haven't done anything but I think this is going on my Teslacon to do list
Now for my 2014 goals:
Regency Ballgown: I finished what I needed! DONE!
There's still the long term needs: A spencer or pelisse and chemisette so I can wear the dress as a day dress as well. (This may also go on the Teslacon to do list)
Eighteenth Century Jacket and Petticoat
I have finished: the stays (which don't fit very well), the bum pad and the under petticoat.
I still need: An accurate chemise. Jacket using a pattern from Nehelenia (I think, not 100% sure). Petticoat. And a hat, probably a bergére. But this may mostly get pushed back til a later date. The black linen petticoat might happen to go with a rococopunk outfit I'm planning for Teslacon.
Civil War Day Dress - Haven't done any of this!
What I have: Nothing.
What I need: Chemise (can use Regency one if I need to). Drawers. Corset. Hoops. Petticoat. Skirt and bodice, or a dress. Maybe a Swiss waist.
And my Wishlist projects
1890s Gown based on a photograph of my great great grandmother - Haven't done any of this!
What I have: nothing
What I need: Corset. Chemise and drawers. Petticoat. Bodice and skirt.
Civil War Ballgown - Or this!
What I have: Well, as long as I finish the above Civil War goal, I'll have all the undergarments.
What I need: A ballgown. Or maybe just a ballgown bodice to wear with my day dress skirt. And probably a head dress of some sort.
Edwardian underthings - But these are DONE!
I could be doing better, but I think that I'm doing relatively well. With Teslacon happening this year, I'm pretty sure that the Civil War sewing along with the wishlist 1890s project are going to get pushed to next year.
Right now I'm working on the Teslacon to do list, because I only have FOUR months to get ready! Eeep!
On the projects I'd like to finish front:
Grey / silver, red and black bustle gown:
I said that I needed a wash overskirt. And I made it! So that's DONE.
There's still the long term goals of a new bodice and a parasol.
Sari Bustle Gown: I haven't done anything but I think this is going on my Teslacon to do list
Now for my 2014 goals:
Regency Ballgown: I finished what I needed! DONE!
There's still the long term needs: A spencer or pelisse and chemisette so I can wear the dress as a day dress as well. (This may also go on the Teslacon to do list)
Eighteenth Century Jacket and Petticoat
I have finished: the stays (which don't fit very well), the bum pad and the under petticoat.
I still need: An accurate chemise. Jacket using a pattern from Nehelenia (I think, not 100% sure). Petticoat. And a hat, probably a bergére. But this may mostly get pushed back til a later date. The black linen petticoat might happen to go with a rococopunk outfit I'm planning for Teslacon.
Civil War Day Dress - Haven't done any of this!
What I have: Nothing.
What I need: Chemise (can use Regency one if I need to). Drawers. Corset. Hoops. Petticoat. Skirt and bodice, or a dress. Maybe a Swiss waist.
And my Wishlist projects
1890s Gown based on a photograph of my great great grandmother - Haven't done any of this!
What I have: nothing
What I need: Corset. Chemise and drawers. Petticoat. Bodice and skirt.
Civil War Ballgown - Or this!
What I have: Well, as long as I finish the above Civil War goal, I'll have all the undergarments.
What I need: A ballgown. Or maybe just a ballgown bodice to wear with my day dress skirt. And probably a head dress of some sort.
Edwardian underthings - But these are DONE!
I could be doing better, but I think that I'm doing relatively well. With Teslacon happening this year, I'm pretty sure that the Civil War sewing along with the wishlist 1890s project are going to get pushed to next year.
Right now I'm working on the Teslacon to do list, because I only have FOUR months to get ready! Eeep!
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Teslacon Musings
For years, I've been saying "I can't go this year, but next year I'll go to Teslacon, I promise." But that hasn't managed to happen. So this year, I basically said screw it, I'm going even if I have to take unpaid vacation time from work. I talked to my boss last week, and emailed him a formal request off which he approved. I immediately bought tickets, then managed to arrange a room share with some friends, so now all that's left is a carpool. Unless I can manage to get a cheap flight because if I can, screw it I'm flying.
So, now that I'm thinking about my first Teslacon, my first trip to an award winning convention and pretty much the premier convention for at least half of the US, I'm understandably a bit nervous. What do I take? What new pretties do I make? What improvements do I make to the pretties I already have?
Here's what I'm thinking so far:
- The black underskirt goes, obviously
- The new gold polonaise, which needs some more braid added and a couple fitting issues fixed
- The naturalformesque airship uniform goes because I need to represent, I need to make a hat
- All of my grey / red / black things because I can mix and match them
- Harley Quinn probably, but I'd like to revamp it
- Maybes: Airship Stewardess. Time Traveler. Roma. Pink Paris.
So the to do list:
- fix and improve the gold polonaise
- hat for my uniform
- Victorian swimsuit (if I can ever pick a pattern!)
- black and gold rococo punk with Dixie
- maybe my green and white bustle dress
- maybe a brown silk underskirt with something to go with it
- maybe something in the YARDS of pink stripe I have
- maybe my green sari overskirt that I cut out but never finished and a bodice to go with it
Of course, this is all just musings, so we'll see what happens! I do after all have around four months or so until the event.
Current sewing plans? A steam casual travel themed sundress for Toledo War!
So, now that I'm thinking about my first Teslacon, my first trip to an award winning convention and pretty much the premier convention for at least half of the US, I'm understandably a bit nervous. What do I take? What new pretties do I make? What improvements do I make to the pretties I already have?
Here's what I'm thinking so far:
- The black underskirt goes, obviously
- The new gold polonaise, which needs some more braid added and a couple fitting issues fixed
- The naturalformesque airship uniform goes because I need to represent, I need to make a hat
- All of my grey / red / black things because I can mix and match them
- Harley Quinn probably, but I'd like to revamp it
- Maybes: Airship Stewardess. Time Traveler. Roma. Pink Paris.
So the to do list:
- fix and improve the gold polonaise
- hat for my uniform
- Victorian swimsuit (if I can ever pick a pattern!)
- black and gold rococo punk with Dixie
- maybe my green and white bustle dress
- maybe a brown silk underskirt with something to go with it
- maybe something in the YARDS of pink stripe I have
- maybe my green sari overskirt that I cut out but never finished and a bodice to go with it
Of course, this is all just musings, so we'll see what happens! I do after all have around four months or so until the event.
Current sewing plans? A steam casual travel themed sundress for Toledo War!
Steamtopia: The Reaction
I had meant to wait a few days for pictures to show up and for the convention to sink in and then I realized today, over a week later, that I *still* had not posted! Shame on me!
So, here it is!
Even though I had a good time, there were a lot of issues with the convention and it's organization. That out of the way, I had a blast! My panels went well, even if they were much more poorly attended than I'm used to, and it was great to see all of my friends! That said, on to the important part: What Miss Wilde Wore!
Thursday night: Even though there was kinda nothing going on (except for my friends Ozzy and Aaron's steamdrunk cocktails panel), I put on a little casual outfit: red and black plaid shorts, heavy lace tights, black lace blouse, burgundy bodice. And boots of course. Then I went and got in the hot tub with the Captain and Sarah, then put on a tank and my clockwork pajama pants to go see if there was anything going on. Ended up at a room party and stayed up too late hanging out with people. Because I only ever see my out of town friends at conventions!
Most of Friday: I decided that I wanted to wear my new pretty, so I got dressed in my gold polonaise with a black skirt, white petticoat and black tank top. And my top hat of course.
Friday night: Changed into my black and gold corset with the burgundy bustle that I wore to Promenade. If I remember rightly, I just wore black on black striped thigh highs... And again, I was up too late.
Saturday morning / early afternoon: Since we were doing Mentioning Unmentionables, I wore my Edwardian undergarments, with my new chemise and white stockings. I kept this on thru Aaron's steampunk cooking panel because I didn't have time to change and I seriously FROZE. Remind me to pack warm clothes the next time I go to Michigan.
Saturday afternoon / evening: I ran around for six hours I think in my steampunk Harley Quinn, which pretty much everyone loved. I definitely was ready to get out of it though: that costume is SO heavy!
Then I went to the hot tub again and somehow ended up running around the convention in my bikini...I wanted to show off my ink :)
Saturday night: I put on a black tank and booty shorts with my gold lace bustle and a black corset and a black lace jacket with black lace knee highs and boots. Repeat the up too late comment.
Sunday: I actually did NOT costume. I wanted to try on corsets from my friend Jessica's booth (Ties that Bynde) so I just wore jeans, tank top and a tshirt. I spend a couple hours wearing my tank with my new corset before changing back to the tshirt for the drive home.
As you can see I did NOT wear several things, most notably my natural form esque airship uniform, even though I did wear the corset, and my new wash overskirt. But fear not because it has been determined that Miss Wilde will be attending Teslacon!
Let the convention planning begin. lol
So, here it is!
Even though I had a good time, there were a lot of issues with the convention and it's organization. That out of the way, I had a blast! My panels went well, even if they were much more poorly attended than I'm used to, and it was great to see all of my friends! That said, on to the important part: What Miss Wilde Wore!
Thursday night: Even though there was kinda nothing going on (except for my friends Ozzy and Aaron's steamdrunk cocktails panel), I put on a little casual outfit: red and black plaid shorts, heavy lace tights, black lace blouse, burgundy bodice. And boots of course. Then I went and got in the hot tub with the Captain and Sarah, then put on a tank and my clockwork pajama pants to go see if there was anything going on. Ended up at a room party and stayed up too late hanging out with people. Because I only ever see my out of town friends at conventions!
Most of Friday: I decided that I wanted to wear my new pretty, so I got dressed in my gold polonaise with a black skirt, white petticoat and black tank top. And my top hat of course.
Friday night: Changed into my black and gold corset with the burgundy bustle that I wore to Promenade. If I remember rightly, I just wore black on black striped thigh highs... And again, I was up too late.
Saturday morning / early afternoon: Since we were doing Mentioning Unmentionables, I wore my Edwardian undergarments, with my new chemise and white stockings. I kept this on thru Aaron's steampunk cooking panel because I didn't have time to change and I seriously FROZE. Remind me to pack warm clothes the next time I go to Michigan.
Saturday afternoon / evening: I ran around for six hours I think in my steampunk Harley Quinn, which pretty much everyone loved. I definitely was ready to get out of it though: that costume is SO heavy!
Then I went to the hot tub again and somehow ended up running around the convention in my bikini...I wanted to show off my ink :)
Saturday night: I put on a black tank and booty shorts with my gold lace bustle and a black corset and a black lace jacket with black lace knee highs and boots. Repeat the up too late comment.
Sunday: I actually did NOT costume. I wanted to try on corsets from my friend Jessica's booth (Ties that Bynde) so I just wore jeans, tank top and a tshirt. I spend a couple hours wearing my tank with my new corset before changing back to the tshirt for the drive home.
As you can see I did NOT wear several things, most notably my natural form esque airship uniform, even though I did wear the corset, and my new wash overskirt. But fear not because it has been determined that Miss Wilde will be attending Teslacon!
Let the convention planning begin. lol
Monday, June 9, 2014
Steamtopia Preparations: Post the Fifth (and probably the Final)
It's almost time! Just three more days! Actually, I'll be most of the way to Detroit by this time in three days, if not already there. :)
And here's where I stand:
Panel-wise, I think I'm okay preparedness-wise. They probably need at least one more go through, but I feel okay about them. :)
My schedule:
Friday at 2:30 pm - Why Won't This Work! in Fairlane
Saturday at 10 am (already dreading the earliness! lol) - Mentioning Unmentionables: Ladies Undergarments in the 19th Century in Fairlane
Saturday at 5:30 pm - Prominent Posteriors: The Art of the Bustle in Fairlane
My close, dear friend and almost sister Sarah Hans will be there as part of the writing track! Her schedule can be found here.
I've heard some complaints about the schedule, but I think there's enough costuming and history programming to keep me entertained. Not to mention all the hanging out with friends, Ohio and otherwise!
Other than that, I just need to finish packing, and run to the store, and get my car worked on, and meet with my friend about my new living situation, and...
Oh my! Still so much to do!
A bientot, mes amis!
And here's where I stand:
- Wash overskirt is DONE. Except for the closure but I'm just going to do that at the stitch and bitch Thursday night.
- Gold polonaise is DONE (or at least done enough! lol) I finished the edges at my friends last Saturday (the 31st) and got most of the construction done pretty easily. I hand sewed on a TON of braid, and ended up using hooks and eyes instead of buttons because (1) I couldn't find my buttonhole foot and (2) it was a little tiny bit snug if overlapped for buttons. So it just meets in the front with hooks and eyes. I finished the armholes with some twill tape, sewed to the outside, turned to the inside and stitched again.
 |
| Polonaise back with all the braid! |
 |
| As finished as it's going to get! |
- The only thing left is finishing the gold and black hat band to wear on my new top hat with the polonaise. I'm just trying to get that to a point that it can go with me and get finished there.
 |
| Top hat! |
Panel-wise, I think I'm okay preparedness-wise. They probably need at least one more go through, but I feel okay about them. :)
Friday at 2:30 pm - Why Won't This Work! in Fairlane
Saturday at 10 am (already dreading the earliness! lol) - Mentioning Unmentionables: Ladies Undergarments in the 19th Century in Fairlane
Saturday at 5:30 pm - Prominent Posteriors: The Art of the Bustle in Fairlane
My close, dear friend and almost sister Sarah Hans will be there as part of the writing track! Her schedule can be found here.
I've heard some complaints about the schedule, but I think there's enough costuming and history programming to keep me entertained. Not to mention all the hanging out with friends, Ohio and otherwise!
Other than that, I just need to finish packing, and run to the store, and get my car worked on, and meet with my friend about my new living situation, and...
Oh my! Still so much to do!
A bientot, mes amis!
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