2014 To Make Wish List

Okay, so I know its only November, but one of my sewing friends (Dixie) recently made a similar post so I figured I might as well start the thinking and the planning. After all, it's never too early for planning!! We're actually trying to start a historical costuming group in Columbus, so let me know if you're interested!

First of all, I think I'm going to start making a change from steampunk / pseudo historical dress into sewing more historically accurate clothing. This has been stewing for a while, so it's not really surprising that I'm making the leap.

So without further ado...

1. I still want to make an 18th outfit. Starting with a shift and stays, then an under petticoat (since a skirt is a petticoat when we're taking 18th century) and some sort of gown. I personally love the Robe a l’Anglaise for some reason. Or maybe a Robe a la Piemontasse. Or maybe just a jacket and a petticoat.  My indecision is why I figured I should just start with the undergarments!

2. I've been obsessed with the Civil War pretty much as long as I can remember. I used to doodle ridiculously full skirted dresses when I was in school. And had Civil War paper dolls, I think from when we went to Gettysburg. I blame my father for the obsession, by the way, because it's totally his fault Mr. I Have Union and Confederate Kepis hanging on my wall. Anyways, I've decided to finally give in and make a Civil War dress.  The full nine yards -- corset, shift, drawers, hoop, petticoat, and (again) some sort of dress. Also if anyone knows of any female reenactors in Ohio, I want to be friends with them. Connect us, please!

3. As some of you may know, I'm a genealogist. And I have a few favorite ancestors, one of which is my great great grandmother Minerva (Dupre) Fink. My mother recently gave me a bunch of old pictures (imagine the squee-ing the resulted), including what we believe to be their wedding photo. I'd like to recreate her wedding ensemble. They married in 1901, but since they lived in Ohio, I'm guessing she's dressed more in the late 1890s style: high necked, slightly poofy sleeves. Unfortunately, the picture is only from the waist up, so I'm going to be doing a lot of guessing. Again, this will be corset, shift, drawers, petticoat and then the dress / blouse and skirt.

Looking at this year's sewing to do lists, I'd like to finish a couple other projects next year as well that are already begun:

4. I cut out the overskirt for the sari ensemble that I want to do. I used Truly Victorian's 1886 Bordered Asymetrical Overskirt. I'd like to get that put together. And make some kind of bodice to go with it, I just don't know what yet. So it's on the to do list, but maybe not very high up on it.

5. I'd also like to finally make the 1884 Wash Overskirt (also Truly Victorian). I traced it a while back, but didn't feel like starting on it. It'll be out of grey satin to go with my Governess costume and trimmed to the nines in whatever I can find to trim it in.

Other things I'd like to do (also from my 2013 list, but not started yet):

6. I still want to do something Regency (another era I'm obsessed with). But again, I'll want to start with accurate undergarments. I actually know less about this era than others, so if I'm wrong in this forgive me, but accurate undergarments will probably mean a chemise, stays (but much different than 18th century stays), and a petticoat (or bodiced petticoat) and then a dress. And I still want a spencer because they are much too cute NOT to own one!

Added on 11/18:
7. I'd also love an Edwardian corset because they are so freaking beautiful, but I pretty much have no reason to make and wear one. 

The Airship Archon at Pandoracon!

This weekend, a handful of the Archon crew will be attending Pandoracon in Cincinnati and presenting three panels on steampunk:

• Steampunk 101 at 5 pm on Friday
• Steampunk 210 at 11:30 am on Saturday
• Steampunk on a Budget at 5:30 pm on Saturday

All three panels will be in Windsor Center. 

Pandoracon is a small sci-fi fantasy convention, so it'd be a good starter con for anyone who is new to this! I believe online sales are over, but I know badges are available onsite as well. The convention is at the Atrium hotel in the Tri County area of Cincinnati.

More information about Pandoracon can be found at their website.

As for me, I will be sitting on all three panels, moderating / leading as is usual. I started packing. Sorta. I have the costumes I think are going in my garment bag (black and grey with the square overskirt, teal skirt which I may or may not wear, Diamonds are Forever, Confederate Vivandiere, and the new black and gold ensemble will go as well...I think that's it...)  I'm also planning to take the green and gold saloon girl-esque outfit (to be worn with leggings or tights) and my cream and black Victorian underwear to wear on Sunday.

I really need to finish packing...

To Do List - Pandoracon

TerAnn's jacket:
1. Pin and then hand sew in the lining.
2. Fix the cuffs. They need a little handsewing and maybe some bias to finish the edges.

My new green and gold outfit:
1. Sew the gold satin bias onto the black satin for the ruffles. Iron it then hand stitch on the opposite side.
2. Then comes making it into ruffles and sewing said ruffles onto the black skirt.
3. Hem the black skirt. I'd like to use some horsehair braid on it, but I don't know if I'll get the chance to pick some up.
4. Skirt waistband. Closures if I have the time, but I can always safety pin it.
5. Pin and hand sew the lining into the bolero.
6. Trim the bolero sleeves in gold satin bias.
7. Whipstitch the crinoline train into the petticoat.
8. If there's time, sew a closure onto the petticoat. If not, safety pins.

The green overskirt is already done. As is the petticoat.

T minus NINE days and counting.

Sewing To Do List Updates!

The quilts are pinned!

This is the decade old UFO mystery quilt that I finally finished.

And this is my "look at the unfinished for a decade quilt top that I finally finished and pinned together for quilting" face

This is the embroidered quilt with border.

Close up of the embroidered quilt.

 Commissions:
1. Lolita - Done and passed off. I'm hoping to do a little more for her, but that'll have to wait til all the Pandoracon prep is finished.
2. Jacket -  This has been worked on, next step is to fixed the sleeves, get them attached, then do the ruffle and the lining.

My Pandoracon prep:
1. Natural form petticoat is basically done. It still needs a waistband and a little reinforcement.

Lace trim on the first train ruffle.

Putting ruffles on the train.

Finished train.

Almost finished petticoat.

2. Black skirt is cut out and put together, but I haven't started the ruffles yet.
3. Black bolero is also cut out, but I haven't started working on it yet. It'll need lining, I'm thinking gold satin.
4. And I started work on the green overskirt. It's cut out, has fringe and I've started sewing on the gold bias.

In progress green overskirt.

 "Real" Clothes Sewing:
1. The vintage pattern jumper is put together and has a zipper. I need to figure out how to do the neck and arms. I'm either going to do bias tape flipped to the inside (which I'll probably have to buy) or bias trim cut from the fabric, I just worry that would be too heavy since it's corduroy.
2. I cut out the purple corduroy skirt, I went with a full skirt from a Vogue dress pattern.
3. I also cut out the cream pencil skirt. The fabric's a little tight, because I really didn't have enough for the pattern so we'll see how it goes together. Since the fabric stretches, I'm hoping its okay. I don't have enough lining either, so that may end up cut shorter than the skirt. The lining isn't a stretch fabric though...Hmmm maybe it just won't be lined.
4. I didn't cut out the navy corduroy skirt, because I knew I'd have the same issue that I had with the cream - not enough fabric. And since it didn't stretch like the cream corduroy, I decided to use a different skirt pattern. Fingers crossed I have enough for said pattern.

Once all that's done, I need to start Christmas sewing...
1. Mom's new scrub top is cut out
2. And I get to make a bunch of pj pants -- my brother, my nephew and I think my cousin's two boys.

Miss Wilde at Wizard World Ohio Comic Con

FRIDAY - dark jeans (which you can't see), black tank and turquoise corset vest that is my new obsession. Also pictured: Prof. Torrey Tesla looking dapper as always and TerAnn. Picture by Brian Kollig.

SATURDAY MORNING: black lace blouse, black skirt with a petticoat, black hat trimmed in pink, pink corset (I was laced in by a Mando!), pink tights and ballet flats. Picture by Sally Van Eycke.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: I broke out the steampunk Harley Quinn (aka Diamonds are Forever) with the new wig. Isn't it amazing?! TerAnn wore her steampunk Ivy costume. Here we're with another Ivy and her Spiderman slave. I loved their costumes, thought it was a super cute idea. Picture by Sally Van Eycke.

Ivy and Harley (TerAnn and myself) meeting Jim Henson and playing with his Kermit puppet. I really love Kermit, btw. Best. Muppet. Ever. Picture by Corielle.

And then...I met Sheamus from the WWE. *swoons* Picture by his security guard.

Besides the costume fun, I also got to hang out with friends, make new friends, randomly run into someone I knew years ago back home and so forth. Our table was REALLY popular, we had a lot of interest and hopefully recruited a lot of new people for the Airship.

And that was MY weekend!

Wizard World Ohio Comic Con

As your Airship Archon Convention Liaison, I am happy to report that we've been granted a fan table at the upcoming Ohio Comic Con, September 20-22! The convention hours are:

 Friday, September 20 from 3 pm to 8 pm

Saturday, September 21 from 10 am to 7 pm

and Sunday, September 22 from 10 am to 5 pm

I'll be on duty on Friday afternoon and most if not all of the day on Saturday.  On Saturday, I'll be in my steampunk Harley Quinn if anyone wants pictures! Our First Lieutenant Sally will be on duty all of Saturday and Sunday and she'll be joined on Sunday by our lovely Education Officer, Gloria. We also have several other members who will be serving their airship at the convention. And we'll be at the Ace of Cups on Friday, promoting the convention!

So if you're in Ohio, and interested in comics and or steampunk, then you should check out Ohio Comic Con. We'll have all sorts of books, props, baubles and clothes for you to fondle, I mean examine, and we'll be ready, willing and able to discuss steampunk in general as well as upcoming Archon events.

Come out and see me! You know you want to. :)

To Do List Update - Fall Convention Prep

Since convention season is starting, and the weather will be turning cold soon, here's my current to do list:

White eyelet lined and trimmed in lilac cotton 60s shift - DONE

Two quilt tops and backs - DONE. Next up is the pinning this weekend.

Finished UFO mystery quilt top

Embroidered quilt, it now has a pink border.

Lolita commission. Deadline is mid October for Teslacon. - Coming along well.

Jacket commission I started months ago for a friend. Deadline is mid October for Pandoracon - This still needs worked on.

Finish my green and gold outfit - Natural Form, steampunk style. I need to make a natural form-esque petticoat and underskirt, both with ruffles, and also a long green overskirt trimmed in fringe. Deadline - Pandoracon -- I've started this. The petticoat is cut out and I've started construction. It's going to have a removable under section of crinoline with a ruffle to give it some extra ooomph. I bought black satin for the skirt (about 7 yards of it) as well as some black mirror organza, which will likely become ruffles on the overskirt. Currently, I'm working on the ruffles on the petticoat train.

Hand sewing lace onto the bottom ruffle of the petticoat train.

Purple corduroy skirt - This is prewashed but I still don't know what pattern I'm using. I'm tempted to do a full skirt over a pencil, if I have enough. It's a large wale corduroy and I just don't know if that'll work in a pencil skirt.

Striped Echino skirt - This is cut out. I went with a Vogue skirt pattern that has a ruffle at the bottom. So the stripes are vertical on the skirt itself and the ruffle was cut so the stripes start horizontal and get chevron-y towards the side seams.

Cutting this out made me nervous...I ended up basically cutting one layer at a time.

Turquoise corduroy - I cut out another 60s vintage pattern, a vneck jumper.

Vintage pattern and the turquoise corduroy. I even remembered to buy matching thread and zipper!

If possible, a new mask for Diamonds are Forever.




When I purchased the black satin and organza, I also picked up a couple other things...cream corduroy for a skirt along with lining (pencil skirt) and navy corduroy for another pencil skirt. There was a clearance sale. And I love corduroy. And I want to phase out wearing pants. Okay, I'm done justifying my fabric shopping. lol Also I somehow remembered to get thread to match the cream and navy, but no zippers for either of those or for my striped fabric.


And here's what I bought when I got the petticoat fabric --

L to R: pink flannel for the back of the mystery quilt, white crinoline, white muslin and Christmas fabric for my mom's Christmas gift - a new scrub top (she'll get it early, obviously)