So after working for the past 8+ months in order to pay for school, I am now able to enjoy the fruits of my labor. Ahahahahahaaa.


I do have some pretty cool classes. Metal casting and scene painting lead the pack. As of now I have three classes on Monday and Wednesday, one on Tuesday and Thursday, and one on Friday. Pretty nice schedule-though I do need to add one more class before Friday.

I am back to work in the costume shop here. And am lucky enough to get paid as well! We are in the middle of Into the Woods. Costumes are coming along alright. Our designer doesn't think it will all get done. There are only two of us in the shop, other than the designer, who are able to do things other than sewing on buttons and snaps. We have rented most of the costumes, as usual, from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Nice stuff.

I am living in an old lady's house. And even though this old lady is in California for the winter it still feels like some else is living in the house. There is some much stuff everywhere. Neatly crammed into every drawer, cubby, shelf and closet. But I can't complain- rent is only $150 a month.

Into the Woods is cutting into my 1812 stuff. Not much has been done on my regimental still needs sleeves and buttons. I will be making the buttons. At least that is the plan since I was unable to find plain 1" german silver buttons for under $1.60 a piece. I still need to make trousers and a waistcoat. I could do with a new shirt-but not for this event. I was planning on making a great coat but I am not sure out of what I want to make it . Rvqavalon had offered some very nice brown wool. I am thinking of making it out of canvas that has been treated to look and feel like oil-cloth. Common rainwear fabric for sailors and was also used during 1812 for covering shakos.

For a while I have been thinking about putting up some old costumes online for sale. Any thoughts on whether Ebay or Esty will get me the most money?

I am currently cutting out the 1812 militia coat.

Musing over ideas for Elizabethan outfits; fine chamois leather doublet with pinked sleeves, matching pumpkin breeches and canions, white wool jerkin with scalloped peplum with navy blue piping and salmon colored ribbon swagged at the waist. Natural leather boots and (coach) hat as well.
How does that sound?
That is the more genteel look.
My more rakish ensemble will be much darker with a few nods to Comedia Del'Arte.

For what am I making this? Who knows. Bristol this summer possibly? It will look great in that portfolio I will sit down and put together one of these days...

In other news I have decided on where I will be living when I go back to school. Back to the same place I stay last year. A house belonging to an 85 year old woman who is in California for the winter. And yes she knows I'll be living there.


Picked up a yard of beautiful silk and double knit wool at Haberman Fabrics on Sunday with Rvqavalon. Wool is for some 1810 Pantatoons, AKA tight pants, and the silk was just pretty.

I work tomorrow and New years day starting at 9am. No party-party for Mikey-Mikey. :(

Christmas Eve was everything it always promises to be. Fun with the cousins. Twelve cousins, 8 to 24. Plus Aunts and Uncles. All of us with a similar sense of humor. The theme for our gift exchange was "the gift of time." Rather than spend lots of money on just a gift, we were supposed to invest our time (and some money) in some way to make the gift go throughout the year. I had my Uncle Zim. I made him a neck tie and told him he would get another three-one for each season. My Aunt had me and gave me four spools of Guterman thread and some nice quality headphones. Everyone left our house before eleven and I promptly headed to bed, quite tired from working 9-6, and watched that most classic of all Holiday movies, Starship Troopers.

Long gone are the days where I am the first to get up on Christmas morn! I slept in till eleven. And the family was busy eating and getting ready to go to Sherlock Holmes. We had not gone to the midnight showing because it was cancelled for some reason. Leaving presents under the tree unopened we scrambled into the car to make it to the theatre one hour before the film was scheduled to start. I, of course, dressed with a nod to victorian fashion. Shirt and collar, waistcoat, paleto and topped with my trilby. The movie was great. I highly recommend it.

After the movie is was finally time for presents. Here is a list of what I received this year from my family:

-$80 to be used on a new hat.
-$35 to be used on an 1812 cartridge box.
-$20 to be used on an 1812 canteen.
-A very neat sweatshirt with buttons that almost look like japanned tin.
-Fleece pajama pants

A very fine Christmas indeed.

A week of working, pattern altering, sewing, and shopping. Planning on seeing Sherlock Homes with my cousins on Christmas eve. Mostly likely going quasi-victorian gent.
I still need to get my parents gifts. I'm thinking gift certificate for my mom's favorite restaurant and movie tickets.

Currently altering a napoleonic regiment pattern to 1812 US militia standards.

Thats all the excitement I am anticipating for this week.

Alright everyone! Design Mike an English Renaissance costume!

You design-I build.

Rendering, description, collage of pictures, whatever you feeling like submitting.

And as you can easy see the overall winner will be me. The person who's design I chose with receive a pendant I made this summer while working at Fort Michilimackinac (Photos coming).

I wouldn't mind the design including boots; as I would like to make a pair.

Questions ask.

Deadline for submissions are January 11th, 2010.

This might be the cop-out of the year, but I thought it might be fun. (If you think this is a terrible idea and I am a terrible person for asking please post your feelings and I will remove posthaste.)

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have several costumes that I would like to construct this year. I have a good idea what I want them all to look like; save this renaissance outfit.

Ten minutes after I post this contest and I am struck with a cinder block of inspiration.

Contest Over!

Sorry everyone. I will still be needing plenty of help.

What am I going to do with the prize? I don't know yet. (No Tyler you don't get it.)

I ordered 5 yards of melton wool. When I placed the order there was still four-hundred yards available. I placed the order last Tuesday. It was sent out Friday. I received the package today. The fact that a transaction from Georgia to Michigan can be completed in a week is amazing historically. And I understand last week was mostly likely the busiest week of the year. My problem is that I ordered 5 yards of wool, was charged for 5 yards of wool, but I only received 3.5 yards-in three pieces. Unacceptable. You will be getting a call from me in the morning.

Sincerely pissed,

Michael

I worked a ten hours shift today. My friend from school had posted this on his page. I felt it was worth sharing.

For those of you who were not aware December 5th was Repeal Day celebrating the 1933 decision to repeal the prohibition act of 1920. And of course I, along with a few friends from high school, observed the event fully. Drinking Old Fashions and G&Ts, darts, and of course chatting up the ladies. While grabbing a beer a girl (very attractive by the way) snapped my braces and said she liked them. There was my "in". My friend, Alex, was going crazy. But I knew right way she wasn't my type. What is my type? I'm sure rvqavalon and lachwen have a few ideas. Alex was pushing me a talk with this girl-I'm sure she's lovely-but why? To what end? I'm at a point right now where it doesn't make sense. A bar on a Saturday night is no place to hold a conversation. Music is way too loud. I not one for one nighters and what would I do with her phone number. Alex said it would be a great ego booster. Katie do I need my ego boost? I'm sure the right girl is out there. I can't imagine her being at a bar.
But all-in-all it was a great night. Unfortunately I had to cut it short because today (Dec 6th) I have a party with the King's 8th Regiment of Foot, were I have a scheduled meeting with a gentleman about a Lieutenant commission in the new Michigan Fencibles regiment (1812) as well as possible future commission in the king's 8th.

I noticed a trend today. Leggings. Seventy-five percent of the girls (18-30) I saw today while working at Hobby Lobby were wearing leggings-as pants. It was my understanding that leggings were worn under a skirt, dress, long sweater, jumper, etc. Apparently now they can be worn with shorter tops.

I must state here that I am in no way complaining about this. Yes, most of those legs go all the way up. But from a fashion standpoint this new trend doesn't make sense to me. With winter fast approaching leggings cannot be the warmest. Maybe I am looking at this the wrong way, maybe all these girls are coming from yoga or dance class. They look even odder when paired with the other ladies fads this guy doesn't get-the ugg boot.

I think the reason that I am thrown by this style is best summed up by Patrick Stewart in Extras, "I've seen everything. Yeah. I've seen it all."

Come up with new projects you want to do!


Miss Annalise my darling little sister informed me last night around mid-night, via text message, that she would being going to her high school winter dance and that I should start working on her dress is possible. This dance is Saturday. A week from yesterday...

This week will be devoted to Annie's dress. And work at Hobby Lobby.

With a lack of materials to get started on said dress, as well as little motivation to delve into mid-teen fashion, I have been putting a list of costumes I would like to put together in the next year. I am looking to build some complex pieces that involve techniques I have not used yet.

( The List Illustrated. With Real Bonus Mike Photos Included! )

It's that day we set aside to try to remember the things we take for granted the rest of the 364 days of the year. Feeling guilty over our lack to recollect anything more creative than health and family, which are of course worthy of being thankful for, we try to jog our memory by stuffing ourselves till gravy comes out our ears. So loosen the belt, toast the pilgrims, grab a fork, comment on how the turkey is a lot less dry than what it was last year (though it is clearly not), and have a fantastic day of giving thanks.

Sorry for the hiatus. I have been completely engaged with work and sewing for G-burg for the past week. Now that I have experienced the Burg, work continues at the Hob-Lob.

For pictures and short narrative of the Gettysburg trip see rvqavalon's last post.

I have a few small current projects. 18th century wallet and haversack kits from Nejecki Reproductions, mocking up a 1812 officer coatee, and of course a few gifts for a few special people.

I am brain dead at this moment. If you have anything you would like me to further elaborate on please ask.

In recent news I got a job... I am back and the good ol' Hobby Lobby. Cutting glass and fabric. Yesterday was my first day. 8 hour shift. No breaks. Ended up working and extra half hour with customers. Finally got home by 7. Ate. Then past out. I woke up at 8:30 this morning. Back to work, 10-6. Now I find myself not wanting to sew. I need to finish the paletot for G-burg.

I will now put in Zulu Dawn and get to work. Zulu Dawn will be followed up by Moliere. My favorite playwrights, along side Oscar Wilde. I have a sneaking suspicion that after the movie I will be planning a possible 1600's costume.

New find at my local antique mall. I'm not too sure of the maker or date yet but it looks like its Ernst Plank out of Nuremberg, Germany. Possibly as early as 1895 but I'm thinking more like 1915-1920 with the claw-feet. I believe if it it is that late that the lamp is earlier, circa 1890. The glass chimney is definitely hand blown.

I few more costumes pictures from this summer and fall.





















To all those with the fall time blues. Are you getting enough cookies? As I related to Katie (rvqavalon)the other day; there is a direct positive correlation between ones health and the number of cookies he/she is making and consuming. So stir up a batch, send me half, and enjoy the rest!

I decided on the cut of my coat for Gettysburg. Paletot. I have the Past Patterns' pattern, which I know fits me, but needs some updating to bring it into the 1860's. As usual I am adding my own little designs- left and right breast pockets as well as waist pockets. The fabric is a very thick black wool, velvet collar and cuffs, and lined in a chocolate-brown polished linen.

I would like to add some wool soutache braiding around the button holes and pockets. I would only need three yards at the most. Black or dark brown. Any suggestion? I know wooded hamet has it, but I always like to look around.

Thank you.

 http://thechap.net/content/section_news/?p=139

'nought said.

I'm in Grand Rapids at rvqavalon's house. Came up for swing dancing tonight which was fun. I also am picking up fabric for me and swatches for my 15 yo sister for her Christmas dance. Tomorrow is Chinese Food and Leonardo Davinci exhibit at the Grand Rapids public museum. As well as some more fabric shopping.


Any fun funky ideas for a high school dance dress? My sister is tall, skinny, and constantly pointing out that she has no chest what so ever. I got roped into this by my mom, because, in her words, "what else do you have to do?"

 I would like to get to know you all a little bit better. So I you do not mind please answer a few questions. Feel free to write as little for as much as you like, and if you wish to include anything please do.

1. Favorite costume period? Why?

2. First Costume made?

3. Dream Job?

4. Favorite costume flick?

5. Do you prefer to watch T.V., movies, or listen to the radio when you sew?

6.  You look best when dressed in the clothing of which era?

7. Steampunk. Yes or No?

8. Favorite place you have visited.

9. Place you would like to visit.

10. What would you like to ask me?

Two weeks from now Gwendolyn, Katie and I will be heading out to Gettysburg for Remeberance Day. And as per my usual I will be making an entirely new suit of clothes for the occasion. At least that is the plan.

Trousers- Mid 1860s loose style made from Medium weight grey wool with black stripe of the side.

Waistcoat- Double breasted shawl collar made of green silk brocade lined and backed in chartreuse wool/silk twill. Fabric yet to be ordered.

Coat- English Walking Coat. Black wool. Fabric yet to be found....

Good thing that whole job thing isnt really going...