Lots of movement on this front.
First and foremost, on the materials front. This past weekend, MACS held a fabric swap for its members as a part of its holiday party. We tried to be orderly about it and only sort of succeeded. I made out like a bandit, thanks to the massive stash of stuff that E brought with her. Most notably, I snapped up a 10-yard bolt of gold silk dupioni. It was what I had originally wanted to make the underskirt and the bodice of the griffin dress out of but couldn't afford. It wasn't up for swap, but was steeply discounted. I believe the conversation went something like this.
Me: So how much are you asking for that?
E: How about $4 a yard.
Me: Right. I'll just be going out to hit the ATM, now.
For those who don't understand what a deal this was, the stuff usually retails for about $15 a yard. Hence, my previous inability to afford it. That made my weekend and if I had walked away from the swap with nothing else, I would have been ecstatic.
So, now I have ten yards of my dream fabric for this project. I think I might even have enough that I can use it to line the sleeves, if I'm thrifty with it. I've got some linen canvas hanging out in my stash that I'll probably use in between the silk and the lining of the bodice, just to give it a little more stability. And, I just found out, Wisconsin Craft Market has rolls of reed for $10, so I'm considering getting a roll of that to use as stays. I'm going to be wearing an Elizabethan corset under the whole thing, so I don't think I have to uber-bone it, but some stays in the seams will surely help.
I still have not yet completed the embroidery on the first sleeve, which is rather disconcerting considering that I had previously given myself the deadline of February 19 for both of them to be done. Somehow, I don't think that's going to happen, but I'm definitely going to start putting my nose to the grindstone on it.
In the meantime, I've started work on feathering the veil. I had started sewing the feathers on, but I don't like what it is doing to the underside of the veil itself and I think I am going to abandon that plan in favor of gluing them. It will hold the feathers in place better, anyway, and it will go a lot faster. They had glue in the Renaissance, so I'm not too upset about it. It would be cool to find a period glue, but I'm not going to hold my breath on it. Plus, I'm not sure I'd want to use it, anyway, as most period glue recipes are pretty gross and not something I would want to stink up the house to use.
I've also reconsidered the beadwork I was going to do on the bodice. Originally, I was going to couch some beads onto it in a pretty pattern, but I couldn't decide on the pattern I wanted. Meanwhile, I came across several small slices of agate at work that were within my color scheme. One of them will be turned into a brooch/pendant to be the centerpiece of a string of pearls and gold and black glass beads. Two others will be incorporated into the decoration of the mask and into the design of the fan I am making as my presentation prop. Agate is incredibly appropriate for a griffin costume, as legend has it griffins hatch from agates (in point of fact, we have a few whole agates at work that I like to call "griffin eggs.").
Ooh! Presentation! That reminds me! I have decided on what I want to do in the masquerade to present this project. I puzzled over it for quite a while, since I wanted something that evoked the period nature of the project, but it also had to be something that I didn't need to speak to the crowd for (wearing the full face mask precludes that) and that I could do alone as this will be a solo entry. I finally decided on using the Quadran Pavanne (Bell Qui Tien Ma Vie) and replacing the partner with a fan. The dance was actually choreographed as a processional that allowed the great and the good to show off their ball gowns. So really, for this purpose, it is perfect. And it's an easy dance besides, so I should be able to do it in the full mask. I have a recording of the song that will work well enough, but it uses harpsichord. I'm hoping that I'll be able to find a recording with woodwinds, as that's more period. Anyone know any good sources?
As for my other Costume Con Projects, I've decided to abandon the Romana 2 plan as I don't think I'll have time to really do the job on it that I should. I'll do that costume eventually, since I have the fabric for it already, but it's officially on the back burner. Instead, for the SciFi/Fantasy masquerade, I'm looking at sprucing up my Shaak-Ti costume. I'll probably have to get the head piece cleaned, as there is old makeup on it, rubbed off my face and neck from the last convention at which I wore it. That's only if I have time, though. Otherwise, I will probably act as handler for
capsulcorp_tm and
johinnabara as they'll likely need someone. We'll see what my time constraints look like.
Also, MACS has decided to get together for the Single Pattern Contest, so that project will need to start happening soon, too. The pattern we're using has upwards of 30 pieces, so it's going to be daunting as hell to begin with, let alone what we're going to do to it. Oif.
In short, lots to do and not enough time before Costume Con happens in May. Best get cracking.