It's been a quiet few days

[Mme de Beaufort]

I see peopel coming and going but I don't see much chitchat. What a pity.

What's new in your lives? Any projects? Any costuming from other periods?

[lauren]

Too much stress! Craziness at work :-)

[tess]

It's crazy on this front as well.

We had the giant windstorm last week, I start a two week practicum tomorrow for my LMS degree (during my Fall Break from my regular position), I'm trying to get a few more things sewn before Mississinewa Oct. 10th, my oldest friend arrives Tuesday with her new baby to visit, and my husband's birthday is Saturday.

It is all good stuff (well, with the exception of the storm), but it's just too much at once!

On a happy note, I finished the blue drawstring dress and the cloak. Both are wearable I'm happy to report.

I'm working on my cap (Kannik's pattern) and hoping to get the open robe and one more dress done before I leave in Oct.

Cheers!
Melissa

[Val]

I've been up here in N Western Washington again for the past two weeks and painting the rest of the interior of my Mom's house. I painted the great room, dining room, family room, kitchen and hallways. I just finished a couple hours ago, and leave Monday morning to come home.
I had brought my patterns for 3 different era chemises & fabric in case I had spare time to cut them out and sew. But alas, none appeared. I did get away a few times to go shopping and also to tea. But I really wanted this project finished here. I can always sew when I get home.
And speaking of home; hubby called yesterday and discovered another water leak in our house, an invisible one. He could hear water running, and the water meter keeps running while the water is totally shut off. The plumber is going to cut a hole in the back wall under the sink of my *new* kitchen cupboards to get into the house wall, then do some air tests. He may have to have the outside cement walkway dug up to find the culprit, tear new holes in my downstairs bathroom wall that was just recently repaired and repainted; and if worse comes to worse, tear up the kitchen floor and dig thru the cement foundation where our pipes are. This I get to come home to.

[dawnluckham]

I drove away to Indiana to attend a two-day hat-making workshop at Judith M. I learned a huge amount – which is great!

Here are my latest hats! As you can see, only one is decorated. But I’m delighted with the shapes!

[Val]

Very jealous of your hat-making workshop, Dawn. And your hats are beautiful.

[Goblin, esq.]

Funny you should ask. I just blew the dust off of my greatcoat project and started to sew again. I hope to have it done by the BAERS October "War and Peace" Ball, despite next weekend being devoted to hosting the pre-ball annual-subscribers-only tea, and the weekend after being an annoying "retreat" for work (to which I will almost certainly bring hand sewing).

I assembled the body yesterday, and hope to cut sleeves this week. Fortunately, the wool is milled enough that I can leave the edges raw, and there will be no lining.

Alas, both Master Teo and Lady Egg are suffering from head colds ant the moment, and need a lot of coddling, poor dears. So far I seem to have escaped it.

[lauren]

Things have calmed down a bit this week. So this is what's been going on in my neck of the woods. We've had 2 people out sick last week, which meant that I was the only store manager on duty, for two stores, that was fun. Then my mom's dog, Rosco, blew out his knee, just like our pup, and had his surgery on Saturday. We are also getting ready for our dog, Max, to have the same surgery next month. So things have just been insane. But, now they have calmed down a bit. :-)

[chiemi]

Things have been so crazy. I have been sewing aprons for my sister's work and just haven't had the time to do think about much else besides that and the kids. Also we are waiting for a call back on a job my husband might be getting. If he gets it we are picking up and moving to Wy in a week! Such craziness.

[Miss Credit]

Well I must agree with everyone else, things have been quite crazy here in Ohio. I just got home from the 1812 Grand Tactical which was held in Maryland. That was a wonderful weekend well spent. I was lucky enough to see Ann Wass give a presentation on children's clothing and sit in on a lecture about everyday fashions in Federalist America given by Mary Doering. She had some beautiful garments, my favorites were an ivory mens waistcoat with sequins and glass beads of black and a beautiful white cotton gown with ruching and Van [naughty word] trim around the hemline. Inspired by all that I had seen I began a new evening gown to wear for Mississinewa in October. It is an unsual V neck design that I plan to accentuate with a crimson red sash and antique brooch. I have also started a new bib front gown but will probably not have it finished until next season.
I have also, with the help of the ladies of the 19th US Infantry, begun planning the ladies activities for the 1812 Grand Tactical of 2009. So far we will be giving a tea including readings of poetry and we will be having ladies games and possibly a workshop on period makeup and hairstyles with a speaker from Williamsburg.
I have been so wrapped up in the Grand Tactical and now the preparations for Mississinewa and GT 2009 I haven't had much time for anything else.

[Val]

I haven't been posting much lately because I haven't been working on anything Regency at the moment. My work has been on a new 1770s corset, which I'll be working on gowns for that soon, and now an 1860s gown for the San Francisco Dickens Faire in Dec. So nothing much to chat about here on this era.

[Vic]

While I mean to be an active member, I've bitten off more than I can chew this year. Frequent travel, tons of deadlines at work, and managing two blogs have left very little time for chatting. Though I do love to come and visit and peek at the conversations. I simply adore those hats!!

[Anna]

It's my senior year at Reed, so I'm usually shut up in the chem building, writing a thesis. I may actually bring some needlework down to work on when I need a break, but that hasn't happened yet.

[lauren]

I've been terribly lax in posting these days. We have sooooo much going on right now. Max is finally having surgery this Friday, so my mind has been there. I am taking 6 days off to be home with him, so I might be online a bit more.

Lauren :-)

[Val]

And what am I doing this weekend?
I just finished a shepherd boys costume for my 7 year old nephew so now I can start on my own sewing again.
Today is Sewing Day with a couple fellow costumers, and I'll be working on my 1820s Romantic era dress, a little bit later than Regency. Also in the background will be my 1850s costume. Both are for the Dickens Faire, the warmer one (1850) for San Francisco Dickens in Dec, and the cooler cotton one (1820) for our's in Riverside next Feb when it always gets hot out on the asphalt streets. Another lady will be working on her Renaissance Fair gown; another on her quilting, and not sure what the other will be doing. But we're able to help fit each other and help with construction problems. In the background will be an afternoon tea I've quickly put together. Nothing fancy but a few selections of finger sandwiches, some apricot almond shortbread, and two pots of tea, all served on my pretty china. Makes it special.