when is too hot to pack

So I've been packing and prepping for the move but with the  air conditioner dead in the middle of the day its too hot to do anything but sit on the couch and stew so I got started on the first project in my ambitious outfit.

Heraldic  pockets

For those just coming to the party these are my arms

So I came up with a plan of one black and one white pocket 

And  I got started with the embroidery using a combo of  chain and split stitch 

I'm pleased with my progress so far

first things first

In  depth plans  listing each item,  each  embelishment,  step by step with approx material needed is done.  Deciding on the first projects I will take on after the move had been made.  I'm  going to start  with the heraldic embroidered pockets and corset that should keep me busy for a while with enough variation so I have something diffrent   to do when I start feeling like I'm doing something to repetitive .
The corset materials and pattern is already packed so I started  drawing out the design for the black pocket as  the material lives in my work basket and only gets put into my car when I go somewhere.
I did some research on appropriate hand stitches and embroidery stitches  so I think I have a good foundation to start  this project.  I'm looking into what kind of embroidery I want to do on the collar of the partlet and wondering if I can figure out how to do some pierce  metal work for a belt

ambitious project

I'm playing with undertaking a huge project.  A full italian outfit Sewn 90%  by hand. It's looking like I will have some time on my hands so I can under take this

The only Thing I will not be sewing by hand is the quilted petticoat mainly because it is highly experimental and really detailed in a medium I have never tried before.  As money is incredibly tight I well be using a faux silk I have in my stash,  the chemise and partlet will be out of silk from my stash the pockets from linen in my stash. There will be lots of embroidery and hand aplique.

This will be heraldicly inspired by my arms and  badge  including   elements such as pomegranates and ermine

My  arms 

My  badge 

The dress inspiration 

The plan 

motivation

A few weeks to go before the big move and I'm being to feel twitchy since I haven't been able to work on any projects for a while. Not sure how it will go while we are living out of boxes stored in a storage locker. So it's going to be a time to get creative, make lists and plan. Hopefully using this blog will help keep me on track. It's times like this I almost wish my laurel, as awesome as she is, have me homework assignments. Heading into the unknown and needing prove myself to a whole new set of people I'm going to need something to keep me on task. This deserves more thought

it's never too early

To plan for next years Italian renaissance costuming challenge.

The IRCC ends in a couple of weeks and I'm so glad I didn't do it this year. Between our financial issues and the move there is no way I could have pulled it off. By the time the IRCC comes around again I'll be in a different state and in a new kingdom. Maybe, just maybe I'll be be with folks who understand the challenge and it will be more then just a blip on their radar.

The one thing I have learned from completing the challenge twice before is you have to have a plan. This also helps as I can start spreading out the costs for supplies although I am going to be on a very tight budget. I've already decided to use faux silks as the cost for the yardage  I will need will be expensive.

The inspiration:

From 'Mores Italiae' 1557 Venice

I've never done this style before so it will be an interesting challenge. I don't know what out it's about this image, maybe it's the color combination but it so speaks to me.

Fabrics-

My samples finally arrived after 2 months of waiting.

For a faux silk these have a nice weight and body to them. I used this fabric when I did the costumes for Kismet and while it's not ideal overall it's a good facsimile, and at just under $5 a yard it makes it affordable.

The underdress is a very interesting color an orange/red/copper/gold. I couldn't find anything that would look like that color and I want pleased with the reds available so I'm leaning towards a copper. I like how the colors look together.

Layers-

Chemise- square neck with blackwork embroidery

Drawers- embroidered

Stockings- Eleanor Toledo knit 

Shoes- embroidered 

Partlet- ruffle

Corset- hand stitched embellishment

Petticoat- truptano and rope

Pockets- heraldic embroidered

Underdress- spiral cut sleeves, cutwork skirt

Over dress- black lined in blue,  gold bobbin lace trim, gold buttons

Of course if I get motivation to start it singer then the IRCC I'll just go for it

moving forward

As we finish the last touches on the house preparing to start showings on Monday everything is becoming very real. I admit I'm scared moving to a new kingdom full of people I do not know, leaving behind a kingdom I've been very active in for 18 years. I'll miss the family I have created here.

This is the part of the blog I've been hesitating to write but it's important. I may get flack for it but for others in the same place as I am it's important to hear. This move may mean I'm sort of starting over but it also means I'm no longer stagnant. Something I've been struggling with for many years here. I've been feeling very stuck. Being in the middle is difficult, it felt like no matter what I was doing I couldn't move forward. My new research was meet by shrugs, my garb had become expected no matter what I did to it. The events I ran were successes but again were treated like they happened because they always did. When I talked to my friends who were peers I was told I was doing fine just to keep going but I needed to feel like I was moving forward that I was improving that I was doing something good. To me I felt like I have been spinning my wheels and the thing is it doesn't matter. It's normal to feel you plateaued and that I think is the important message. Some folks will see huge leaps of improvement, others it's tiny steps hard to see. Some will get recognition after recognition and others it will be few and far between. Each journey is different but the biggest thing I can express to the people who like me feel stuck is that you are not alone,  This too shall pass find your joy in the little things. Your strength is in the fact that after years of being stuck in the middle- you are still here! You have fought with self doubt and continued, keep going! Even if the accolades never come you are an inspiration!