Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Mousetraps, Triggers, Aspirations, Managing, and Visitations

Today I was decidedly Scrumpy.  I disassembled 215 mousetraps.  One was hiding and is unfinished.  I also worked on bending the triggers, about halfway done.

I hope that tomorrow I will be able to break out my camera and take photos of lots of different things, including my booth, butterflies, and all the mousetraps!

I know this is such an exciting blog post but I wanted to put something up.

Did I neglect to mention that my bosses will no longer be coming down to the Pittsburgh area?  This means I will be very lonely.  However, it also means I will have one full show under my belt, managing alone.  They'll visit for closing weekend, but otherwise the show is mine!  Also, my parents and dog might visit this weekend.  Exciting things!  I will post pics of all of this craziness.

night all  <3

Friday, August 27, 2010

My Dearest Vardo

L to R:  sink, fridge, dresser, curtains, shelving.
My cushy bed nest.
Bootful of change, and stereo.  Watched over by silly straws of course.
L to R:  nest, disco ball, sink, bowler hat, fridgidaire.
I think that's about it for now in terms of photographs of my house.  He is a pretty red van [ooo you need an external shot].  His full name is Joshamee Wilmot Tosam.  A dork combination of Joshamee Gibbs, John Wilmot second earl of Rochester, and something my mother said one day.  His nickname is Jo-jo the Mute Boy, stolen from one of my favourite movies, Stage Beauty.  He even has a solar panel and extra batteries.  I live in style.  He's the perfect size for me...and a puppy, someday.

Solar panel as aforementioned.
Best outer pic I have...includes mum and puppy.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Fabric Selection

This is the trim that will go on the bottom of my faerie bloomers.
The fabric that will be my shirt.  It's actually a mite darker.
This is the fabric that will be my faerie skirt.
This is fabric I just could not pass up.  A purse or hat mayhap?
Did I mention that today I was Scrumpy, Jill, Dorm, and Bev?  I did laundry, went to Walmart and bought 16 packs of rat traps [still need nine more], bought fabric, found a chipotle nearby, and internetted.  It is time to head home and make a PB&J sammich or some mac and cheese for dinner.  Goodnight cruel interwebs!

Steampunk & Costume Ideas & Rants

So I am falling a bit hard for Steampunk costumes. I suppose I’ve been destined to like them considering my overall predilection for historical costumes. It is only aided by the fact that I might be on the production team for the Spring production at my alma mater. The show is historically based and the costumes will range from 1700-1800 with a few touches of modern costuming.

For myself I have two outfits, which I am plotting [for Steampunk]. If I had ever mastered creating costume sketches I would post scans here in my blog. As it is, I have some photos of generic Steampunk wear and my own imagination.

One of the outfits is pure geek, while the other is a conglomeration that includes geek. The former is a reproduction of Helena Bonham-Carter’s “Down by the Sea” outfit. I’ve always been tickled by old style swimwear for women. Of course I would also have to put my hair up in curlers and learn how to apply some very haggard and Burtonesque makeup. And I must admit, I am also in love with Johnny’s ‘prison’ alluding outfit. Okay, I have to keep on track here. There are loads and loads of costumes I would love to recreate but this post is for Steampunk clothing.

The second outfit, the conglomeration, and my ‘main’ Steampunk wear would be Jillian Annabel Lee. She is a pirate, of course, and a general traveller. This outfit should look rather travel worn. A pinstripe corset in black and white left in the sun to fade the black to grey, and tea-dyed for off-white. I dislike my clothing looking too new [more on this soon]. My bowler hat, unless I could find another headpiece I liked more, perhaps some goggles made by Leviathan Steamworks, fingerless gloves, my new ‘hooker’ boots, a fitted tailcoat, and a bustle . The bustle skirt seems to be a tad overused in Steampunk clothing but I believe that is because it looks nice and works well. Also, tack on all of my tools to a nifty belt: lock pick set, brass telescope, blackpowder pistol, compass, and mapholder complete with maps of Terre d’Ange, Middle Earth, Tortall, and the Old Kingdom. That’s some major dorkage right there. That’s how I roll, yo!

I also have plotted a ‘third’ outfit, which can steal pieces from Jillian’s outfit. Originally I had wanted to do a mime Steampunk outfit but dismissed it as too much when combined with pirate. However, I am going to revisit that original concept, either as a full pirate/mime or a slightly different character and costume. I would love to have a windup crank on my back, with cranking sound included! The mime outfit would have slightly different pieces from the pirate outfit, and be extra sexy and doll like.

Enough costume plotting for now, and on to a mini rant. What is up with everyone’s costumes looking brand spanking new?! Honestly, if you are going to be an adventurer, pirate, wench, or anything other than royalty [for any historical, fantasy, or Steampunk costume] then make it work! Be authentic, please. Do you think that adventurers and pirates had six different outfits to their name, which they were able to keep pressed and clean every day? Think again. He or she would have been lucky to own two complete outfits. I, personally, find authentic and beat all to hell outfits fascinating and far more creative. I just see too many costumes hot off of the ironing board or a hanger. I am sick and tired of it; it drives me up the wall sometimes.

And now, since I originally scribed my above post by hand almost a week ago I will insert an addendum. I was going to begin work hand stitching a medieval gown, however, commercial patterns only allow for a B cup and I am better endowed than that. Therefore my medieval dress pattern will be altered to fit me properly and will most likely be a December project. In the meantime I am formulating a faerie outfit. A friend of mine makes wings at the festivals and I would love to create a faerie outfit for fantastical events. The fabric for a shirt, skirt, and bloomers has been purchased. I will need one of my new bodices to finish the outfit, and a lace underskirt I already own. I have skirt and bloomers patterns of my own making and I need to create one for the shirt. Once that is done I can begin to sew them and look at the wings my friend has for sale, or commission a pair. I will try and post photos as things progress, including photos of fabrics and trims.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

New Beginnings

I wanted to write a bit about my transformations within the past year.  I know I'm supposed to be going to sleep [about a half hour ago].

I became single last July and as much as it hurt it was something I had to do for myself.  The relationship was not healthy for me.  And now I am experiencing being single and an adult, which I'd never experienced having been in a relationship since the beginning of college until after graduation.

Forgive me if my blathering is depressing or a bit hard to follow, I spent today traveling from Illinois to Pennsylvania today and it is almost 2am.

Anyhow, back to my original subject.  It was something that allowed my self confidence [what tiny bit was still fluttering in my chest] to blossom.  I ran around and did things I wanted to do, after almost four years of doing mostly what he wanted to do.  I pursued interests I didn't feel I could pursue in the past.  I made new friends and flirted and almost dated.  I felt wanted, desirable, happy.  [I'm seeing a lot of I's in this post ad feeling a bit self centred but...I will ignore it, it is my blog of course]

So I attended pirate festivals and renaissance faires.  I got a job working on a pirate ship, then I made the decision to pursue something I'd always wanted to do, work at a renaissance faire.  I started to do 'research' and talk to people.  I never used to be able to just randomly talk to people.  I loosened up as well.  I became a bit more spontaneous.  I drove for a weekend with a friend to Gainesville for the faire and to ask around if anyone was hiring for the Tampa show which started in a couple weeks.  I bumped into Ande & Brian on SuperBowl Sunday and they needed a girl for Tampa.  "Are you comfortable showing your belly?"  Ande took me by surprise.  I've never worn bikinis, always one pieces or tankinis.  I stuttered but she saw potential in me and my new self confidence said maybe, I could try it.

Two weeks later saw me in a bellydance outfit showing off my belly and not once did I use my arms to cover it up!  That would never have happened at any other point in my life.  It was exhilarating and I was working at a renaissance faire, I was bouncing with excitement!  Then, day two of working for Ande she turns to me and asks if I want to go on the road, full-time.  My dream!  Acquiring a job in Tampa was research to see if going on the road was a viable option, if I could make enough money to survive, if I wanted to actually do it.  YES!  Yes!  And hells yes!  And now I find myself on the road and loving it so much more than I even thought I would.

In the past three weeks I've slept/lived in six different states, an average of two a week!  Connecticut, flew to Arizona, flew to New Jersey, drove to Illinois, drove to Wisconsin, drove to Pennsylvania.  October will see me in Texas, December in Louisiana then Florida, and even a guest appearance working at my alma mater in the Spring!  I am exhausted but oh so happy tonight!  <3

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

On the Road Again

So I have a blog handwritten but I am leaving for Pittsburgh in the morning and I may not have interwebs for another week or so.  When I get time and a connection I will upload my post and write another one.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

An Introduction of Sorts

Someone I acclaim has recently started a blog and I thought I might enjoy having a go at it as well.

Do you think people should actually ask "How are you today?"  At this point in time the only response one receives is an automatic one.  For me it's more, "Who are you today?"  Not in a split personality sense, but some of my friends out there might fathom what I am conveying.  We play so many roles in life.  I have been called many names and held many titles:  Bev, Jill, Scrumpy [Skrumpy], tease, girlfriend, daughter, goody two shoes, rennie, gypsy, pirate, Dorm, Girlie, Kitten, etc.


Today I was a mixture of Bev and Scrumpy [Skrumpy], with an undertone of Jill.  I was constructing miniature catapults to sell at the Bristol Renaissance Faire this weekend.  My Bev was introspective and emotionally preoccupied.  Scrumpy was trucking and in a get things done mode.  I somewhat skipped lunch because I just wanted to keep working and get things done since I know we're on a tight schedule.  Jill was off daydreaming about males and other odd things.  And yes, men are odd.  I really don't understand most of them.

Alright, I need to get some rest since we'll be working all day tomorrow.  Good evening!