DragonCon Schedule

Those that know me well, know that I over-plan conventions. And DragonCon is no different. My schedule is organized into three categories: Musts, Hopefullys and If I can, cool; If I can't, that's fine too. I won't be posting my entire schedule because there is way too much on there.

Thursday:
I'd like to see Frenchy and the Punk if possible, but I have dinner and party plans that evening so I'm not sure if that'll happen. And they have another show later in the weekend as well.

Friday:
Pern 101 at 1 pm in Hyatt, Vinings. It's part of the Anne McCaffrey Worlds track and I'd like to go mainly as a costumer -- I want to do a Dragonrider costume and I'd like to see what everyone else is wearing.

Steampunk Persona and Airship Crew Spectacular at 7 pm in Westin - International BC. I know three of the panelists, including my dear Captain LaGrange. Plus it sounds like an interesting panel.

There's lots of other things on my schedule for Friday, but not anything that I feel I really want to see. Miss Von Stoup has requested we attend 1632 - Chocoholics in 1632 Withdrawal or Not at 4 pm that afternoon however.

Saturday:
There's the parade in the morning at 10 am. I will be marching with the Alternative History track, most likely in the Time Traveler.

At 7 pm, the Costuming track is giving a panel on Kilt Making, which I am super excited about. (Unfortunately, at the same time is Steampunk and Orientalism which I'd also like to attend. C'est la vie.)

The only other thing that is a must on Saturday is the Abney Park concert at midnight.

Some maybes: Time Lord Ethics: The Doctor as a Meddler; Interview with Sherrilyn Kenyon (she's one of my favorite authors); Crypto the Basics and Beyond and an alternative history panel on Highland Scots, conveniently scheduled right after the kilt making panel.

Sunday:
There is a two and a half hour long Steampunk Exhibition that starts at 1 pm. I figured it would be interesting (and a good place for ideas!) Same thing goes for the Fashion Show that the Costuming track is hosting at 2 pm.

My must see panel is Carrie Fisher - Honestly at 4 pm in Centennial II-III. I mean, its Carrie Fisher, need I say more?

I'd also like to be a part of the Steampunk World Record Attempt which is at 7 pm.

Maybes: Bad Girls, Bad Dragons (another Pern panel) or 1632 Points East (alt history) both are at 10 am. Romani Trail and Silk Road or Costumes of History at 1130 am (leaning towards the Romani one, because I'm interested in doing a steampunk gypsy costume). There's a corset making panel that evening and Steampunk Themes in Doctor Who later on.

Monday:
Things That Go Bump in the Timeline: Supernatural Alternative History at 1130 am in International BC. I really want to go to this panel because (1) my friend Leanna is a panelist and (2) its something I'm interested in.

And the Costuming track is giving a panel on Pattern Making: Designing and Frankensteining at 230 pm in Marriott M103-105, which I'm excited about.

There's a few other panels on my list but nothing else I'm really super interested in.

Usually, I even plan out what costumes I'm wearing when during a convention. I'm not bothering for DragonCon. I'll just wear what I want to wear when I want to wear it.

What I'm taking: the Time Traveler; Both versions of Harley Quinn (Diamonds are Forever and Comic Book); Gorg; Imperial Office; the mystery costume; Confederate Vivandiere; Persian steampunk (which I've started calling Persian-punk); Lady of the Ottoman Empire and Victorian Underwear (I don't know if the last really counts as a costume necessarily...). Along with an assortment of geeky tshirts to be worn with jeans, leggings or a skirt, plus a SW drape to be worn with a mini and tank top for parties wherein my beau is wearing his new kilt.

See you there!!!

Pics of Finished Ottoman Vest

The front of the finished vest:


The back of the finished vest:


Ideally, this will be an ongoing project. The next step would be finishing the rest of the border and then filling in all the open spaces. However I do not know if this will ever actually come to be. It might stay this way.

Ottoman Vest Embroidery...

...is FINISHED!

Pictures to follow. Probably tomorrow, after I (attempt) to iron it so it looks all pretty and properly shaped. The couched embroidery deformed it some.

In other news, I'm almost ready for DragonCon. Just a little more packing to do, and charging of batteries and my Ipod. I also need to decide which purse to use that my parents brought me. Overall, I'm almost ready. Almost.

In three days, I'll probably be napping before we leave for Atlanta.

Twas the Week Before DragonCon...

As of August 22:

1. Miss Von Stoup's post apoc skirt didn't work out -- issues with the hoop skirt. So we decided to use some of the Asian fabric to make a quick skirt to go with her jacket. We used the circle skirt tutorial I used on my mystery costume and offset the center so it was shorter in the front than in the back. And instead of a waistband and zipper / closure combination, we went with an elastic waist. She took it home un-hemmed because she's hoping to trim it. So my part is DONE.

2. I haven't touched the vest and won't work on it today.

3. And the new kilt is DONE. I made two wide belt loops to fit the D rings we bought yesterday and sewed them on with the D rings.

As of August 24:


Current state of my Ottoman vest. All I have to do is finish filling in the left side (which you can see has already been started) and then go back through and add more pink so it stands out more. I may add either pink embroidery or pink ribbon to the edge of the border so it looks more finished.

As of August 25:

Worked on the vest a bit more last night. The top little triangle of black that you can see in the above picture has been filled in and I started on the next section down.

I also worked on my packing and it is almost finished. All I need to do is buy hair dye and dye my hair this weekend as well as pick up some white face makeup for Harley Quinn. I plan to take care of that tomorrow. My parents are meeting me on Sunday to bring me two bags that I think will work wonderfully for DragonCon. I read an article about the convention and it recommended taking a large bag that would hold everything you need. And since I have a couple large travel purses at my parents' house, they were nice enough to find them and offered to bring them to me. Plus I get dinner out of the deal.

As of August 26:

The excitement is really starting to set in! I packed up the food and my garment bag to take over to the beau's today at his request -- he wants to have as much there as possible. The suitcase had to be left behind for two reasons: (1) Its not ready because last minute things will have to go in and (2) There simply wasn't room in my car's trunk because I have laundry to do this weekend. So the suitcase will have to wait.

I finished another section on my vest yesterday so all I have left is the very front of the left side, maybe about 6 inches or so.


And because I think I forgot to upload it earlier, a photograph of my Time Traveler hat:

DragonCon To Do List -- Week of August 22nd (this is probably the last one!)

Last week's progress:

1. Post apocalyptic skirts -- Nothing.

2. Ottoman vest -- It's approaching being finished! It's a more than halfway done right now! I just need to finish the left side of the front!

3. Persian pants -- DONE

4. Time Traveler hat -- DONE

5. Time Traveler ballgown bodice -- Canceled.

6. Kilt -- Almost done. I need to make bigger belt loops for the front that will fit the D rings we bought and sew them and the D rings on and it'll be finished. The clips have been sewn onto the sporran. As for the matching skirt, I'm just going to wear a drape of the left over fabric over my shoulder.

7. RFT vest -- Canceled (probably)

I'm almost there!

And it wasn't on my list, but I also sewed a patch onto a new plain black purse for use at DragonCon.

Last minute to do list before DragonCon:

1. Finish Miss Von Stoup's post apocalyptic costume. We've planned for her to come over this evening to work on the skirts.

2. Finish the left side of the front of my Ottoman vest, then go back in and add more pink. I may even add some pink ribbon if I can but it's not that important if it doesn't happen.

3. Finish the new kilt. Make wider belt loops for the front, sew them on and attach the D rings.

Everything else that needs done is non-sewing stuff: packing, bleaching and dyeing my hair, some last minute shopping for makeup and toiletries, that kind of thing.

Progress -- Aug 15th To Do List

It's time for your mid-week update on what Miss Wilde has been doing!!!

I've been working on my vest every day, even if only for a few minutes. I have the largest section in the back filled, the others are all pretty small and should fill quickly. UPDATE 8/19 -- The vest is halfway done!!

I fixed the inner leg seam and sewed on the closures, which means the Persian pants are DONE.

I went to a friend who happily took the bands off some of my watches. I came home, pulled out some ribbon and a needle and thread and went to town. I now have an almost completed Time Traveler hat band. I think it needs some lace... UPDATE 8/19 -- The hat is DONE.

The new kilt is almost done. I finished stitching the waistband and added a graphic to the front of the sporran (the beau's idea, not mine. I think it should have been left plain). I made belt loops and then had to re do them because they were too heavy (there was denim inside, bad idea). The new ones are cut and waiting to be sewn on. I plan to purchase clips and D rings this weekend to get that done. And two of the four closures have been sewn on. UPDATE 8/19 -- Closures are finished. Most of the belt loops have been sewn on. I left the two front ones unsewn on the bottom so I can put D rings there. All that's left is D rings and clips!

I'm planning to buy a black purse and decorate with one of the Star Wars patches my beau gave me. Or use it plain. But I need a new purse, one big enough to hold the flask he's giving me to use at DragonCon. UPDATE 8/19 -- Buying this tomorrow.

I think I'm going to pass on the ball gown bodice for the Time Traveler. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and need to cut something somewhere. That bodice seemed like the best thing, since its the least complete (the muslin's together, but not fitted). I'm also not making a skirt to match the new kilt. My mother made the point that women used to wear tartan over the shoulders as a drape, so I plan to just take the left over fabric and either do that or wear it as a sarong. So that's something else off my list.

In non sewing news, the 'to pack' pile keeps growing and I finished my food shopping today. I need to purchase a few more non food items, but at least the food itself is done. I've also started a separated by store shopping list as well as a to do list that includes everything, not just sewing.
UPDATE 8/19 -- I started actually packing instead of just throwing things in my bag or on top of it. I also made trail mix tonight!

In two weeks, I'll be grabbing a few hours of sleep before we get up REALLY early to start the drive south. I'm excited and nervous. Actually I sorta feel like I always do before I fly to Europe...A combination of excitement, nerves, nausea, worry, anticipation, etc. etc. etc.
UPDATE 8/19 -- In two weeks I will have survived my first full day of Dragon Con!

Well, I'm off to bed now, my dearests!

Bonne nuit!

Ottoman Vest Embroidery Progress

Here's a couple photos of the Ottoman vest:


The front, with one side completed. I'm planning to go back and add more pink in so its more noticeable. And I may finish the inside edge with some pink ribbon.


The back / collar aka the section I'm hoping to complete this week.