In which the chapters are given up

As you may have noticed, dear readers, I have given up on calling my posts "chapter -" with a number, because I've realized, if I keep this blog up at the rate that I am going, I will have reached "chapter 5103" before long. Therefore, before I lose the oversight of my posts, I will simply call my posts "In which" and remove the "chapter"s. But the "in which"s are here to stay. I promise...

We've moved! I cannot believe that we no longer live in my old apartment! We took over a friend's apartment and it's gorgeous! It has a brick wall and stuff. Unfortunately, we ran out of time and so we've only moved in the boxes. We will be furnitureless until Saturday. Despite that, Internet is installed and the fridge is full. But our room is all boxes and zero furniture. It sucks because I want to clean and organize our room, but without the furniture, that is simply not possible. *sigh*

And we're back in Montreal, Michael and I. There is sunlight. LOADS of sunlight. So much so that I miss the rainy German sky. I think that I lost ten pounds yesterday because I melted under the fierce 33 degrees Celsius of cloudless sky and still winds. I was worried that, in Germany, I would forget the look of sunlight... and now I think that, despite sun being pretty, the refreshing rain is much preferred. I mean, my bleeding sun allergy hit me again! I have a freakin' rash at the back of my neck, which only happens when I am overexposed to sunlight without sunscreen. grrr...

Anyways, I am looking forward to sewing again. Once I am all installed and have found a new job (in order to pay for fabric), I am going to sew some pillow cases for some small cushions. We have an awesome windowsill in our bedroom and I want to turn it into a cosy reading spot. It will only work with the right cushions though. Also, with regards to sewing, I would love to sew something Elizabethan for the Casa Loma Renaissance faire that is upcoming. However, I do not think that I will have the time to do a perfect job until then. So I will start on the project, but I will not be in a hurry to finish it. I can always wear it next year. Those who know me well are aware that I INSIST on historical accuracy and try to get all the details right. So I will make sure to create an un-anachronistic gown for next year. Historical accuracy matters and it takes quite a while... Also, should I wish to wear more than one costume for the Renaissance faire, I think I should wear my German Dirndl with a hoop skirt. It makes me look very wenchy, because it has a bodice-type of thing and an apron, etc. It actually dates back a few centuries, so the garb is actually quite historically accurate too. Women who worked at the market or on farms would have worn this kind of dress, so it works wonderfully for faires! Huzzah!

Oh, and I did miss Anime North. NOOOO! (sad face) But that's okay, as I did not manage to really start on the Erica Fontaine costume anyway. Oh well. Better luck next time. I HATE that this keeps happening though! Next year, nothing can happen on the days of Anime North. I will go! I swear. Maybe I should write an oath to God like the people of Oberammergau and see what comes out of it...?

... okay... and I no longer know what this post is about. I apologize for that. I guess I'll stop now. I promise the next post will me much (MUCH MUCH!!) better!

Cheers!

More Pictures II...

So here are some more pictures from Fischer Fine Art. They are gorgeous! The shoot turned out really great!

Robin Hood and Maid Marian... before he leaves for Sherwood Forest... (^___^)

My new, absolute favourite! This could be the Lady of Shalott (except that I need to be inside a boat if I really want to look like a Waterhouse painting, lol!)

Hope these are appreciated!

And again, thanks to Fischer Fine Art for the fantastic photography work!!

Oh, and because I've changed my image up at the top, for nostalgia's sake, here's the Snake from the book of Genesis picture!

The Serpent in the Book of Genesis (or Lilith, however you wish to see it). It's basically a personification of Temptation, my first self-sewn costume, that I made for last Halloween (2009).

Some pictures from last Saturday's shoot...

So here is the first batch of picutres from Saturday's shoot! They turned out really nicely!! I am really impressed by the added effects that give the whole setting a little more of a medieval feel... ^___^

All credits for the photography go to Fischer Fine Art. Thanks a lot Gordon!!

This was taken in Westmount, Montreal... great setting!

I think this is my favourite so far!

And this one was taken by the really nice looking Church at the location!

I hope you like them!

Chapter 11 - In which Naria has no idea what title to give

Yeah, sorry about that. I wanted to call the chapter "in which a nice day was spent," but that's just too fromage for my taste. I did, however, have a truly wonderful day. I have a bit of a sore throat, which would put a damper on things on any normal day, but today was a really relaxing, enjoyable Saturday... so no harm done by the sore throat.

First things first. I did not sleep in today. So if any of you like to fancy that I enjoyed my day because of sleep you're... not entirely wrong. I woke up at 8:30 this morning, but I had a replenishing nap around three in the afternoon... Which was just really, really nice. But, aside from the nap...
I woke up at 8:30 this morning at at 9:00 I went out for breakfast with Michael to a small deli around the corner of our place. Since we decided to make it a nice day, we decided to eat out for breakfast, as we rarely ever do that.
After that, we went home and got ready for my photoshoot. That's right, a real photoshoot! I have recently put up my modelling profile and a photographer contacted me for a shoot. It wasn't a paid shoot - sadly - but as I am still a beginner, I don't mind. Eventually, I'll ask for a salary. But I can still do a few shoots for free to embellish and perfect my portfolio. It was a really cool shoot. Remember the medieval gown of awesomeness?? Yup, that's right! It was a shoot all about that dress!! We shot at a super nice location in Westmount, close to the mountain, where there are these really nice old buildings made of stone... the gold and red of my dress really popped against that scenery! It was GREAT!! As for my hair, I "italian taped" two strands on either side with some ribbon... it looked really pretty. It reminded me a little of Juliet in some classic presentations of Shakespeare's famous (cheesy) tragedy. (No offence, Will Shakespeare! I love your work, but seriously - you could have done better on R&J, they are the two biggest twats in the history of theater!)
Okay... I'm veering severely off course just now... ^__^ To get back to the shoot, it was really fun. Quite short and sweet to be honest: we only shot for about an hour, max an hour and a half. Unfortunately, it turned bloody cold. Considering yesterday was about 10 degrees and today was windy and overcast (and slightly rainy) with only 5-6 degrees celcius... I sorta froze my cute butt off. But it was well worth it. I think we did some good work. I'll post some pictures up soon (we need to take out some anachronisms (i.e. cars and streets lights) out of the background). Too bad it was so cold or I think I could have done the shoot even longer!
Then I got home and had a nice long nap... of two hours I think...
And then I found this online, careful, fashionistas and fans of vintage clothing: you may have to severely squee upon seeing this website. This is my new website of what I want and covet: http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com/pinupgirsigl.html
Check out the evening wear, but the day wear - all the cherry clothes and sailor clothes - are my favs! Absolutely gorgeous! And they match some of my high heels too!! I totally want some of these dresses for the summer... *sigh* Why must I be so broke? *cries*

Anyhoots... conclusion of this extensive, yet wonderfully random post, I had a really great day today! <3

More Pictures...

Not much, just some more pictures of my dress... taken with a real camera.




New front views, taken with a flash camera in a well lit room. The colours really are that resplendants, so I thought I ought to post them.



A back view, just to let you know the gown has a bit of a train at the back...

So... yeah... that's my gown, for now. We'll see if I find some trims to add to the sleeve edges and neckline some other time.
I'm planning on sending it to a contest organized by Fabricville. Wish me luck! I do hope I win something... like a serger, maybe? :P



And good luck to you mom! I love you!

Chapter 8 - In which success has been achieved

Despite all my complaining, things are going well!! :D

I HAVE FINALLY SUCCEEDED COMPLETING MY MEDIEVAL GOWN!!! ADORE ME, FOR I AM AWESOME!! (no, really, I am!)


Front view of the dress, there is a red underskirt... I won't post the back view, as it's sort of boring. You can check out my facebook if you like.

So, I might add a trim or two to the neckline and the sleeve edges if I find a trim that pleases me. Also, I wanted to add fur trim to the bottom of the dress, but unfortunately I couldn't find a faux-fur that suited my taste (they only had fake leopard... and God knows that in the early 15th century, they had not the slightest clue of what a leopard might look like). I am super picky. Preferably, I'd have trimed it with real fur (rabbit - it's okay because people eat them, so I don't need to feel too bad): but, as a broke student, I don't exactly have the means to buy real fur. Result: no fur at all, at the moment. That can always be subject to change! :P

So, my dress is complete. I'm really happy with it, as I finished it in about three days, with only very minor swearing. It's also the first time I've ever worked with grommets. I feel good about myself. Success at sewing feels VERY rewarding.

Now, where to wear this? I really want to wear it to Casa Loma Renaissance Faire in Toronto, because Michael keeps talking about it and it sounds fun. I'd prefer wearing it to a Faire in Germany, but, alas! Germany is not for me this year. Once again, I'll be stuck working all summer *sigh*... and I was soooo looking forward to it too! *pout*

Anyways, I'm starting to not feel so desperate about my sewing skills anymore. It's fun. But I still need a serger!! Desperately!!!

And, with that said, my next project will be... an early Elizabethan gown!! Yay me and complex projects!!! :D
..... No, I'm not crazy! Why would you think that?

Chapter 7 - In which a dress form is sorely needed...

This promises to be a short post...
I have (FINALLY) started sewing again, and the project I had started, to make a pretty medieval princess gown based on the Landshuter Hochzeit Princess costume, is now going very well. I was getting depressed, looking at my gorgeous gold brocade fabric and not doing anything with it. I'm sewing this gown for the Casa Loma Renaissance Faire... I know that late 15th Century is not quite Renaissance yet, but I was too scared to start on a Tudor gown yet. And I WANT to go to Casa Loma (Michael's been ranting waaaay to much about that faire!)
Btw: this is the Landshuter Hochzeit princess gown:
(I'm hoping to find some fake ermine for the bottom trim, the dress won't be identical, however, I'm kind of doing my own thing... this was just inspiration.)

Considering I'm still a beginner, sewing is going super well. However, there is one really ANNOYING problem. I don't have a dress form. Most people wouldn't see why that is a problem, but I ask you: have you ever tried to pin yourself into a floor length gown with a train? And, if you have, have you managed to do so WITHOUT stabbing yourself half to death? My sides and legs look like they had chicken pox!! Now, you might think it's dumb for someone to basically sew themselves into a dress, but, as it is very form-fitting, I don't have a choice if I want it to fit me well.
Conclusion? I NEED A BLOODY DRESS FORM!!!

Thank you! (sorry, I wasn't yelling at anyone... just venting some frustration through caps lock - it always makes me feel better... :D )

P.S. - My legs are finally feeling better and NOT sore!! Yay!!