New Project Idea

So, this morning I had oral surgery and instead of being a good little patient and staying in bed all day, my mind has been swimming with new project ideas.  This time, I've been inspired by corsets that lace on the sides and back.  Only I'm thinking the side lacing can be more decorative instead of functional.  I love the corsets from MayFaire Moon, but the lacing is functional and I'm wanting a different shape to my corset.  However, the colors on this one are just to die for!!!  I love and admire all of their work!

Picture from MayFaire Moon Corsets and Costumes

What do I need to start this project?  First I need to find the perfect fabric.  I'm actually thinking about using quilting cotton for this one.  At DragonCon 2012, one of the costumers was wearing a beautiful corset that she made from quilting cotton.  It helps me out that I help run a fabric shop with my mom.  And I'm heading to her place next week to help out with a big fabric shipment that is coming in.  I'm looking forward to finding the perfect fabric while I'm down there.  Maybe I'll use some of the new Art Gallery Fabrics we have coming in.

Second, I need to get my supplies together.  I have a pattern in mind, one I've done before for a customer from Laughing Moon.  I don't know yet if I want a solid front or if I want a busk.  I may go solid front and decorate with some pretty embroidery.  I know I will need some sort of twill tape trim that has loops on it for my faux lacing.

I'll be posting updates to my project as I go!

~*~The Freckled Fairy~*~

Fun at Scarby

We finally made it to Scarborough Renaissance Festival yesterday, for their final day of faire!

We had so much fun, especially when we got to meet the mermaids!

You know, mermaids and fairies get along very well!

Twink loved meeting all of the mermaids and can't wait to see them again next year!

We were also lucky enough to meet King Henry.

He was away from the court, so there were no big crowds following him, only one of his guards.

Gamer took this picture of Twink and I with King Henry.

We also stopped into Karneval Masque and I fell in love with this beautiful mask!

Maybe in the fall, I will be able to add a new mask to my costume!  I really hope so!

Other fun things we did throughout the day, I got my first pair of Medieval Moccasins. 

They are so comfy!!!  I have a new fave pair of shoes!

We also ran into some friends while we were there.

Friends always make the faire more enjoyable, don't you agree?

We can't wait until fall for the Texas Renaissance Festival!  We are already planning our weekends,

the first one being 1001 Dreams, where we plan to meet up with lots of our fairy friends!

Hopefully we will see you there!

~The Freckled Fairy~

The Wedding Dress Transformation

So I found this wedding dress at a garage sale for only $30 and it looks like it would be a good dress to turn into a fairy costume! And bonus: IT FITS ME PERFECTLY!!!

I'm working out where to start right now, I'm thinking the netting has to go first!

I'll also be experimenting with some fabric dye, I would love to make this a deep purple.

The bow on little Vader's neck?  That came off the back of the dress.

I didn't need a big bow on my backside, but it looked cute on the dog!

I'll be keeping you all updated on my progress.

~*~The Freckled Fairy~*~

Elven Court Fairy

I've been obsessed with one of my wing styles from my shop, the Elven Court.  They're also the style that is most popular with my customers.  I love this picture of Mickey Wondrland in a pair of Elven Court Wings (photo by Hammer Fitness Photography)

Isn't she pretty?  And those wings just look so perfect with her cotton candy tutu!

So, I decided I was going to push the envelope and start a new Elven Court costume for myself.

But I couldn't use the Elven Court Wings in the size that I've been selling, they had to be bigger!

This is where my mom's embroidery machine comes into play.  She has an commercial machine that leaves my little Brother PR1000 in the dust!  So, on one of my visits to her house, I played on her machine!

These wings measure approximately THREE FEET WIDE!!!

The original Elven Court Wings are two feet wide.

My next step is to put together a costume worthy of these wings.  I already have a gold and cream tutu and they match this corset beautifully.  I have a sage green peasant top to wear under the corset, I just need something for over the tutu, since I'm not as talented in the area of tutu making as Mickey is.  But I have some really pretty gold fabric with jewel tone leaves that  might work beautifully.

I can't wait to share the final costume!

~*~The Freckled Fairy~*~

Reflections from the past

I came into my blogger account yesterday to start a new blog for the online fabric shop that my mom and I have started and found the ghost of this old blog still lurking around.  I've been getting into more costume construction lately, granted it's more on the fairy and fantasy side, but that doesn't mean I can't pick this blog back up and highlight the historical references in my fantasy costuming!  I'm also working on some more costuming for my children and would love a place to share some of the techniques I use in children's costuming.  But for now, let's take a look at a few projects from the last few years.

I got to test a Renaissance Maiden pattern for Muse of the Morning and love the result!  The corset is designed to grow with a girl as she ages, which is very similar to how clothing was made during the time periods that we love to re-create at the Renaissance Festivals!

I started a line of full fairy costumes that had wings that attached to the dress with Velcro.  These were a big hit, moms loved them, but they weren't very practical, since the wings could only be worn with the dress.

That led to wings that could be worn with anything!  I started with wings that have elastic bands, which are great for children, and then moved on to wings that can be worn with corsets or tight-fitting bodices and no straps or elastic bands.  My little Pixie is wearing one of the strapless wings here, the Mendhika Butterfly.  I made matching wings for Molly (her American Girl Doll).

Here is one of my favorite pictures of my daughter and I at the Texas Renaissance Festival.  I'm wearing strapless wings (Mendhika Dragonfly) and she is wearing elastic harness wings (Elven Court).

That's just a taste of what I've been up to over the last three years.  I also started a blog on my website, but maybe I'll move those posts over here.