It's been a while!

Wow!  Time has flown by and the holiday season is upon us!  I'm actually starting work on the Anne Boleyn gown!  Remember that one?  I am hoping to have it done by next weekend to wear to the Texas Renaissance Festival.  At least that's the plan.  I *have* to have it done by December 6th.  It's being used as a final project in a Costume Construction class that I'm taking this semester.  I'm glad the instructor let me use this as my project.  It gives me a really good reason to get motivated and finish it! 

I've had a few other projects over the last few months.  I've started making Rapunzel braids and selling them online.  They took off like crazy for Halloween.  Every little girl around wanted to be Rapunzel from Tangled.  Here is just one of the many pictures of my own little Rapunzel!

We also had Halloween costumes that had to be made for myself and the kids.  Helayna was set on being a mermaid, and I had to also be a mermaid with her.  Jeremy couldn't make up his mind, and ended  up as a Red Dragon Ninja, made the night before we left to go to the Texas Renaissance Festival for Halloween Weekend.  Here is a pic of the three of us at TRF.

And here is her mermaid costume in full glory on Halloween at one of the local Halloween Carnivals:

And now Thanksgiving is less than a week away, with Christmas getting closer and closer!  Where has the time gone?  I will try my hardest to get some new pictures of the Anne Boleyn gown as I'm working on it to post next week.  The bodice is almost assembled.  It's going to be awesome when it's done!  I can't wait!  Well, I'm off to get some work done. 

Happy Sewing!

Been a Busy Bee!

I've been so caught up lately in going to the local market days that my garb has kinda been put aside.  I'm kinda sad about that.  So it's changing this weekend!!!  Ok, I'm still working on some new owls this weekend for Goliad next month, but I'm also picking up the Anne Boleyn gown again.  I got the pattern pieces out, and the fabric, and I will start cutting it out again tomorrow.  I also have some garb for a friend that I've got to work on this weekend.  I'll try to take pics of the Anne Boleyn tomorrow!  I'm off to bed!


Happy Sewing!

Reflections

I came to an interesting realization the other night.  As I was cutting out new patterns for baby items, I realized that I'm no longer in business doing what I set out to do.  I still love the Renaissance clothing, but that's not the only thing I want to do anymore.  I'm having so much fun making kids' and baby items!  The fabrics are so much fun!  I'm in the middle of making a baby doll!  I would never have thought that I would be doing something like that!  I kinda wish that I had gotten into this when my kids were babies!  I have a custom order out for a boppy cover and shopping cart cover to match a diaper bag set I told a couple weeks ago, all in a cowboy print for a little girl, soon to make her entrance, that will be named Dallie Fae.  We're putting her name on all her items.  And from the way her grandmama was walking, we'll be custom making her full nursery set.

My kids are chomping at the bit to learn how to sew, and we recently bought them fabric to make them tote bags, so I will be starting projects with them, as soon as I find the fabric...  It's been buried in the fabric stash.  Oops.  I'll be sure to get some pictures of our adventures together in the sewing room!  But until then, here is an amusing video from last year, my son wanted a needle, thread and fabric.

Yes, I know I was rather negative, telling him "no" like that.  I'll actually let him on the machine this summer, the iron will be debatable.  lol

Happy Sewing!

Lots to do!

With Rockport behind me for another month, I find myself with a lot to do!  I had a contact from Bastrop who wants to carry some of my items in her consignment shop, located inside an indoor play area.  It looks really cool.  You can check it out here at Giggle N Jump.  I wish we had something that cool in South Texas!  I'm going to make up some of my kids' Bag Tags and might eventually branch into other items for them.  Other than that, I have some rings I want to get done, and I'm planning on picking up some new hair clips tonight while in Victoria.  The hair pins are cute, but I need something a little more kid-hair-friendly.  I've also been a little more active on facebook, trying to pick up some sales there, too.  We'll see how that goes.  Wish me luck!

Happy Sewing!

Another busy week

Well, Rockport was....windy?  We were on the corner of the grounds, closest to the beach, and we were the windbreak for the guys next to us!  Not my idea of a good time, but I'm going to give Rockport one more chance next month.  We had a new tent this weekend and I'm now looking for ways to stabalize it so it will hold up to wind a little better.  The weights we had were doing nothing, so we bought some cinderblocks and put 3 on one side of the tent.  I had to keep moving them, because the wind was taking them for a ride with the tent.  Around 3:00, we got a gust of wind that took my main merchandise table and flipped it, scattering items to the ground, and almost took the tent.  That was when I decided to go home.  I was too busy trying to keep my stuff from blowing away to really help customers.  I'm going to request a spot on the other side of the grounds next time.  Next show: Beeville.  It's downtown, smaller show, and here at home.  I'm going to attempt to do this one alone, to see if I can.  I figure this is the best place to try it out.  Now to get more stock built up!

Happy Sewing!

Just when I think I can relax...

I sent in my application (a little late) to Rockport Market Days!  This weekend, I will have my booth by the beach!  I'm glad I don't have quite as much to get ready, but I still have a few things to replenish!  I'm working on some "adult" Bag Tags, and I'm gonna try to get the fairy e-reader covers done for this weekend.  If I can get anything done with the terror that is my daughter around the house, I'll be doing really good.  Last night, she told me that she was no longer going to call me Momma, I was only going to be called Krista, and that she was going to call the "Grown-Up" Santa and tell him that I'm mean and I need to stay on the Naughty List forever!  All because I told her that she needed to go to bed.  At 10:30.  After an hour of trying to get her to STAY in bed.  She's such an angel!  lol.

Oh, and I have a new project!  I have until December to finish this one.  I'm making a Steampunk outfit for myself.  I'm planning on wearing it to Dickens on the Strand!  I also have to outfit my children and my mom (gasp)!  I'm still in shock that my mom is going to let me dress her up!  She can't get on board with the Renaissance stuff, but she is down for dressing the Victorian part!  I think I'm gonna dress my kids as chimney sweeps.  That way, it's not a big deal if they're dirty!  We'll see how this plays out!

Happy Sewing!

I Survived!

Goliad Market Days is behind me, for at least a month!  I survived the day, and did pretty good, too!  I'm really excited about some of the upcoming projects that are panning out from my day in the heat.  I had quite a few people stop and admire the Shades of Sage Elizabethan gown that I took with me, and a handful of those are interested in placing orders.  A group of sisters from Houston stopped by and are looking for a seamstress for Dickens on the Square.  That should be really fun, it's more Victorian styling and I would love to play in that time period for a while.  I also had a woman ask if I could create a "Gone With The Wind" gown for her, she has the pattern and fabric, but no sewing machine!  That also sounds like a fun project.  And DOLL CLOTHES!!!  One woman who stopped to chat with me has a daughter that collects American Girl dolls and clothing and she would like to have some outfits made up for her dolls.  I've been wanting to start making the doll clothes, now I have an excuse to!  Plus I have some more ideas for stock to keep with me, kids' shirts in larger sizes, one of my "boy" styles in girl colors, and more variety on the bag tags, including some Cars ones, and camo ones.  I'm really excited about how things are going and look forward to more adventures in sewing!  Now, off to start a bodice musin for a friend of mine so we can get her fitted for her new Reniassance garb!

Happy Sewing!

Taking Flight for the Fourth of July!

I have finished one of my Patriotic Fairies!  She looks so cute!  I have a few more that I'm going to put together for this weekend.

Plus, I have more stock that I need to get built up, too!  I decided I needed a "portable craft" and started hand-sewing little roses made from rick-rack.  I attached them to rings and hair-pins for another little item that I can sell at Market Days.  I really like them!  

Well, I'm off to work on more fun stuff for this weekend!  

Happy Sewing!

Getting Ready for Goliad Market Days!

I'm spending the weekend with my sewing machines!  I have about 5 days to get things ready for my first Market Days!  I'm working on e-reader covers, clutch purses, mini-diaper bags, kids' shirts, and a few other cute things!  My mom is going with me to the Market Days and is putting together a few kids' quilts!  So far, I have some really cute e-reader covers, and a few more in progress.  I will also be taking orders for personalization, and they will be available in time for Father's Day!  What an awesome gift for Dad!

I have also been busy putting together some mini-diaper bag sets, which are perfect for the mom on the go!  I always hated lugging around a big diaper bag when my kids were babies.  I usually just left the bag at home when I ran to the store, and then found myself facing a messy diaper and no diaper.  With the mini-diaper bag, those worries are gone, since it's just big enough to hold a changing pad, travel wipes and a couple diapers, but small enough to throw in your purse!  

Well, I'm back to the machines, I've got some cute train diaper bags sets and some lady bug diaper bag sets all cut out and ready to be put together!!!  

Happy Sewing!

New Projects!

So, I've been branching out from the costumes and working on some "everyday" items.  I've fallen in love with the little clutch purse design and have been building my stock of those, and I just finished a new project this morning!  An E-Reader Cover!  My first one is for a Nook and features an awesome Steampunk Butterfly!  One for the Kindle will also be available.  Next will be a cute little Poe themed one, with an adorable raven on the cover.  I'm also planning a few for Father's Day, which is right around the corner!

Current happenings

Just got back from quite the adventure in Colorado!  I have so much to catch up on in my sewing room!  I just finished a few new clutch purses and I'm about to start some new projects.  I have some really cute applique designs for the little tykes that I will start putting together for the Beeville and Goliad Market days next month, plus I need to make up some more of the mini-diaper bags.  And while I'm doing all of this, I have a new corset pattern that I want to pick up and try out, plus maybe get something done on the Anne Boleyn gown.  I just finished reading The Lady in the Tower, which is about Anne Boleyn's fall and I am inspired by the gown she wore to her trial.  That's next!  Well, back to the machine!

Happy Sewing!

Rainy Day Cleaning

Today is cleaning day!  I'm currently in the middle of so many UFO's, I don't know where to begin again, so I'm spending today cleaning out the sewing room and starting to make sense of all the projects I have going on!  I have a little helper today, my 4-year-old daughter, Helayna.  This should be fun.  She keeps picking up trim and notions, asking "Is this trash?"  Cute, but only slightly productive.  We're finally getting a little rain down here in South Texas!  I just hope we don't lose power.  I have a 14-year-old Chow-mix that is afraid of the lightning, so he's joining us, along with my Corgi-mix.  It's a bit crowded in here.  Well, back to work!  Maybe I'll get some work done on the Modified Anne Boleyn this week.  Or maybe I'll just make more purses.  Those are fun!

Happy Sewing!

A few past projects

Here is a showcase of a new past projects that I have done, either for myself or to sell.

First is the Shades of Sage Elizabethan gown, currently for sale at www.maeflowersjunebugs.etsy.com.

Next is a red oriental corset, overbust, front lace for ease of dressing.  This one is also for sale in the etsy shoppe.

This pretty little dress is from my JuneBugs line, which was sold last summer.  The last picture is a wonderful Customer Appriciation Photo that I recieved!

Well, I'm off to go make more beautiful dresses and gowns!  

Happy Sewing!

Modified Anne Boleyn Gown

 The first project to be documented on here will be a modified Anne Boleyn inspired gown.  I'm actually going to take two gown patterns and combine them into one to give an easy-to-wear gown that looks historically accurate.  Instead of having to layer a chemise, underskirt, and then the big gown, I am combining the idea of McCalls pattern 3282, which is an all in one Tudor gown, with Simplicity 2589, which is a full Tudor style.  I like the one-piece skirt and the sleeves off of the McCalls pattern, but I like the bodice much better off of the Simplicity one.  So I'm trying my hand at combining the patterns to get what I want.  I'm making this gown out of a light gold taffeta with black fleecing and black contrast.

Starting Out!

This is officially my first post!  Let's start with a little of my personal history before delving into historical costuming.  I am 29 and a single mother to two of the smartest, most amazing (and hard-headed) children in the world.  I currently live in a small town in South Texas, I doubt you'd know where it is.  I'm close to Corpus Christi and San Antonio.  

I learned to sew at a very young age, with my great-grandmother setting me on her lap as a baby.  Through my school years, I joined 4H and excelled in the clothing competition.  I even started playing with designing my own formal dresses while in 4H.  I got into fights with my homemaking teacher at the high school, because she doubted my sewing abilities and wanted me to make a pair of shorts when I wanted to make a sundress.  I didn't last long in her class.  

Around the time I turned 22, I moved to Corpus Christi and got taken to my first Renaissance Faire.  I'll never forget how amazing it was.  I was in love with historical costuming!  I started buying patterns and made my first corset!  It was awesome!  I have since torn that corset apart and made different ones from the hardware.  Over the years, I have started branching out from just making pretty corsets and plain skirts and chemises.  I recently finished my first ever full Elizabethan gown!  Then I made another one to sell.  

After my kids were born, I started taking them to the Renaissance Faires, and they love it as much at I do.  Of course, I can't have them in just anything when we go.  They have to dress the part, too.  I'll be honest, it's more fun to make the girls' clothing than the boys'...  But we all look good when we go to faire.  In the past year, I was inspired by fairies and started designing my own fairy costumes.  The wings are unique as far as I can tell, I haven't seen any like mine.  

The plan of this blog is to stitch my way through history, and learn about different techniques and styles along the way.  I will not only visit my favorite time in history, the Tudor period, but also the Vikings, the French styles, Italian Renaissance.  I will document it all here, and share what I've learned with the world! 

Now to figure out what time period to start with...