> Recent Entries
> Archive
> Friends
> User Info
> Silivren - a costuming site
> previous 20 entries

December 15th, 2009

(10 comments | Leave a comment)

November 25th, 2009

(3 comments | Leave a comment)

October 19th, 2009

(7 comments | Leave a comment)

September 20th, 2009

09:39 pm - Welcome to Major Purchases Week! Continuing in my plan to single-handedly restore the economy, I got a new computer today. This was a purchase I'd been planning for almost a year, though. I've wanted this new laptop (it's pink!) since February or so and I've been patiently waiting for September's "back to school" sales at Future Shop so I could get the computer and Microsoft Office together for a good price. And a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it comes out. My visa bill is going to be huge this month. All the regular crap I buy plus a computer, a down payment on a car and insurance for that car. Woohoo! I'm selling my old laptop to my mom for $100. It's over 3 years old but still in good condition, runs fine, no problems other than being kinda slow because it's 3 years old. She keeps saying she wants a laptop but I know she'll never buy one for herself because she's terrified of computers and has no idea what to look for. All she ever does is write emails and pay bills online, so my old one is adequate for that. Plus it has a shitton of programs already installed, stuff she might use like Skype and a good antivirus, and she won't have to do anything to configure it. Current Mood: productive Tags: i like it even if it's not fabric, pink computer is pink, rl: no honestly i has one

(7 comments | Leave a comment)

September 17th, 2009

09:36 pm - New car is a go! Looks like I'm getting a 2010 Ford Focus. I took a test drive this evening and I really like this car. It drives well and I like the interior setup, it has all the features I want (air conditioning!) and none that I don't (power windows). Plus it's a really good price AND Ford has a sweet program going on right now where they'll give me $1000 to recycle my old car, with the Government of Canada throwing in another $300. Grand total is under $17k, and the price cap I had in mind was $20k, so that makes me very happy. As soon as I sign the purchase papers, which I'll probably do Saturday or Monday, it can be here in about a week! Current Mood: excited Tags: hell yeah new car, rl: no honestly i has one

(17 comments | Leave a comment)

September 14th, 2009

08:13 pm - Althena needs beads Went out tonight to buy some beads and stuff for my Althena costume. Checked in at Walmart first because they have the best prices, but it looks like Walmart has completely overhauled their craft section and made it into Shitty Jewelry And Scrapbooking section, which sucks. They no longer carry the bulk bags of seed beads I always buy. Or ANY beads other than these big, high-end expensive ones for making necklaces. Screw that. So I went across the parking lot to Michael's. Every time I walk into Michael's I'm reminded of how much I hate that store. Seriously, it has the same crap Walmart carries used to carry but at twice the price. Literally. I checked a few different items to be sure, and yep! Twice the price. On top of that hardly anyone works there, so there are never floor staff to answer questions and there's always a line at checkout. What I need for Althena are some triangular gold metal beads. Found nothing. I also need some red glass or plastic glue-on jewels. You know those crappy faceted ones? Found those but they were five dollars. Five bucks for a tiny pack of red plastic jewels? You gotta be shitting me, Michael's! But since they didn't have any at Walmart I don't have a choice, do I? Then for metal triangles the best I could find were these gold filigree squares that I think I'll be able to fold into the right shape, and some smaller filigree triangles meant to be used in chandelier earrings that are the right size for the glove and boot decorations. These were on the clearance rack but still $4 each. Total cost of Michael's supplies? A bit of change short of $20, for some plastic jewels and thin metal earring parts. I'm kind of pissed off now. I'll go to the real bead store on Wednesday evening when it's open and hope I can find something better so I can return this Michael's junk. I also need black metal eyelets. Need about 9 packs at $5 a pack. I tried looking for these online but like everything else in the world, they cost a fortune to ship to Canada. I'm waiting for those eyelets to go on sale at 50% off. Current Mood: pissed off Tags: althena, costuming, fml, my clothing is cursed

(15 comments | Leave a comment)

September 8th, 2009

10:10 pm - DragonCon Win I got home safely and so did all my stuff, woo! And I wanted to make the Big Photo Post tonight but I'm still not done sorting, resizing, and shooping the pics to remove red eye and shit. That'll have to wait until tomorrow. Overall I had a seriously awesome time. I can honestly say that there wasn't a single moment of the whole weekend that was boring or aggravating. Even when I forgot my badge twice before the Yule Ball and had to go back up to the room twice to get it was more funny than annoying. I was sad when I lost my Feanorian Kinslayer jacket but now I'm told whiteladyeowyn has it so all is well again! That jacket has a DCon curse, I swear. I have now learned my lesson and will never bring it (or try to bring it) again. First year I thought I forgot it at home only to find it while unpacking (back at home) in one of the zip pouches of my suitcase. Last year I forgot it on presentiment's bed before the drive up to Atlanta, and this year it went MIA at the Rohndor party. CURSED, I tell you! Anyhoo I had a total blast hanging out with everyone. Next year will have a hard time living up to this one. Tags: dragoncon, my clothing is cursed

(12 comments | Leave a comment)

September 1st, 2009

11:28 pm - I am ready to roll As soon as I find my fan, I am ready to go for DragonCon 09. All the shit fits in my suitcase with room to spare and I'm 10 pounds under the maximum. All costumes are finished, including alterations on a Loligoth dress I wasn't originally planning on bringing. Bringing it now because it'll fit and because I need something not bulky and cool to wear at night. A long-sleeved full-skirted corduroy dress counts as "not bulky" and "cool" compared to the rest of my stuff. I am going to see if I can do the whole con without packing or wearing any muggle clothes. Everything will be either a costume or something geek/fandom related. On Sunday I bought some iron on sparklies and decorated a mini dress that I think I'll wear on Thursday. ( HEY GIRLFRIEND WHAT IS THAT SPARKLY DESIGN ON YOUR DRESS? ) The "What Would Gil-galad Do?" shirt might also make an appearance if I can figure out a way to fix the lettering tomorrow. Or I could make a new one with all the leftover sparklies from the mini dress, since I had to buy seven colors and now have a buttload of the stuff. Other than that I'll be dressed like a costume nerd all weekend. YAAAAAY! :D Current Mood: excited Tags: pre-dragoncon squeeing, that costume is not a costume

(7 comments | Leave a comment)

August 31st, 2009

11:11 am The next person who asks when I'm moving is getting reamed out. I am so fucking sick of this shit. >:( Current Mood: aggravated Tags: fml

(Leave a comment)

August 24th, 2009

09:39 am - A week and a half left. Oh boy... I have a week and a half left to go before leaving for Atlanta and I have an assload of stuff left to do. All the finicky little finishing touches still need to be done on four costumes out of six. Waaaah! LADY OF RIVENDELL and LADY OF LOTHLORIEN are DONE, completely 100% DONE. Yay! But as for everything else... RESTORATION GOWN Yesterday I caved and put craft interfacing on the front and back panels, and I'm glad I did because it looks way better now. No more stupid little horizontal wrinkles! I also bought ribbon to go around the sleeves. Tried the whole thing on and it looks pretty good. I even took some awful pictures in my bathroom mirror which I'll post later tonight. Still need to tack ribbons to sleeves, put modesty panel in back, and do everything except the waistband gathering on the overskirt. And make a bum roll. TUDOR GOWN Some new trim arrived from ebay today and I think I'll replace the trim I have so far on the neckline because it doesn't look as good as it could. New trim is wider and shinier, which makes it better. :P Still need to tack sleeve folds back, put modesty panel in back, hem up underskirt because it is too long, and tack up lappets on gable hood. Finished blackwork on chemise sleeves yesterday but still need to put in wrist elastic and sew em up. Also still need to figure out what shoes I'm wearing with this. Probably whatever's least uncomfortable because they won't show anyway. I'm thinking these round toe black flats I can steal borrow from my sister. MEDIEVAL SIDELESS GOWN All I need to do on this one is figure out a way to put some lacings up the sides. I think I have some leftover ribbon I can use that will match the fabric. MAEDHROS Finished Maedhros' belt yesterday. Trim arrived in today's ebay envelope too, so I need to stick that along the hem then put snaps at the waist to keep the sides closed. Then figure out what the cock to do with my Fëanor tunic to keep it from winging out at the hips and making my ass look huge. Safety pins are looking good right now. I think I'll be able to finish everything. I have Tuesday and Wednesday off work next week, so that's two whole uninterrupted days to panic and pack. Current Mood: busy Tags: costuming, omfg this needs to be done now

(4 comments | Leave a comment)

August 16th, 2009

01:24 pm - Just what I don't need: MOAR FABRIC!!! Yesterday I was helping my cousin make some party favors and stuff for her daughter's 5th birthday party next week. Her daughter wants a medieval princess theme party, so there's going to be an archery contest, shield painting, and a dragon pinata. We also thought we'd make some veils for all the little girls to wear so they'd feel more princessy. First to Dollarama, where we bought fake flowers and glittery elastic headbands. Then to the fabric store where we bought... an assload of stuff I don't need. Everything in the store was half price, including the bargain center, which is usually $2-$5 a yard. We bought some really awesome organza embroidered with big flowers for the veils (came to $2.50 a yard with the discount). Then I found a bunch of crushed burnout velvet and fake suede. All of it either $1 or $2.50 a yard. WHEN YOU FIND AWESOME STUFF AT THAT PRICE, IT IS AGAINST THE LAWS OF NATURE NOT TO BUY IT. So I bought it. ALL of it. And it only cost me $28 bucks. YE-AH! I don't have a clue what I'll do with it, but now it's mine. Current Mood: impressed Tags: costuming, stop making costumes you don't need!

(7 comments | Leave a comment)

August 6th, 2009

02:05 pm - Restoration bodice, f%#k. Tried on my Restoration bodice for the first time last night. I was getting kinda nervous, working on this thing for so long without checking to see if it works. Fitting it has been interesting to say the least. Because it's made to be worn over a corset (and ONLY over a corset), I can't put it on my dressform. The only way I was able to fit it in the beginning was to put my corset on a big pillow and go from there, but that only let me check the torso- I had to guess at the shoulders. The other day I talked my sister into letting me use her as a human dressform to fit the shoulders and sleeves. This worked really well for the shoulders but not the torso, because while my sister and I are almost the same size (we can share clothes), our measurements are just different enough that my corset does not fit her in the same way it fits me. Last night I got myself into the corset and put on the bodice, which made me want to promise, again, that I will not make any more shit that laces up the back. Good news: the shoulders fit perfectly. I am really, really happy with the way the off-the-shoulder neckline turned out. It sits an inch off my shoulders and isn't going anywhere. No sliding around, no falling down. Victory! I can't lift my arms above my head, but hell, I wasn't expecting to be able to do that anyway. Bad news: I need to make adjustments to the fit around the waist. It's giving me some ugly little horizontal creases. The interfacing I put in is not working. That all has to come out and maybe be replaced. I'm halfway tempted to stick in some of the ultra-heavy-duty craft interfacing I used in my Tudor gown (it has a be-yooootifully flat front!), but while looking like you have a piece of plywood stuck down the front of your dress works for that era, it would look like total ass here. Graaahhhhh. Going to put that corset on again tonight, put the bodice on inside-out, and see if I can't pin those little horizontal crease suckers out of existence. I have already made FIVE fit adjustments to the waist of this bodice. What's one more? Oh yeah. And it needs more ribbons. Waaaaaaay more ribbons. Ribbons! Current Mood: frustrated Tags: costuming, my clothing is cursed, what is this i don't even

(5 comments | Leave a comment)

July 30th, 2009

10:31 pm - Birthday yesterday! Thanks, isisfrog, for the birthday vgift! Had a pretty good day. Left work at 3 so the BF and I could go for massages, which was awesome. After that, we went for dinner with my family at a Mexican place with kickass margaritas. I completely slathered my chipotle beef salad with what I thought was regular hot sauce but turned out to be extra hot habanero sauce. Reading the bottle is for squares! I still ate the whole thing, though. It didn't cause any stomach upset like Thai chilis sometimes do, so yay. Went home, more family came over for coffee and cake. Got a mickey of Goldschlaeger from my aunt. It is coming to DCon with me, so if anyone wants to drink gold flakes and have gilded poo, look me up. Unfortunately, Aaron was coming down with a cold, so the night was pretty short lived. We went to bed at 10 and watched TV. (Okay, he went to bed and I sat on the floor stringing pearls to wear with my Tudor gown.) Woohoo. Current Mood: happy Tags: my *boooyyyfriend*, rl: no honestly i has one

(5 comments | Leave a comment)

July 23rd, 2009

08:50 am - Jumping on the bandwagon with a DCon costume post Been emailing back and forth with greenwitch about DCon and talking a bit about the costumes we're doing this year. Now I have sewing on the brain and it's time to make the OMG 6 WEEKS TO THE CONVENTION costuming post! Here's what I've got. No pics yet, but the BF is coming to town this week so I'll see if I can rope him into taking some photos. Lady of Lothlorien: 100% done. I posted about this a while ago when I only had the overdress finished, but now the underdress is all done too. Ready to go! Lady of Rivendell: 100% done. Also posted about this a while ago. Since then all I've done is adjust the fit on the tunic. I have to try this on and see if it looks better over the Lothlorien underdress or with Finrod's gold pants. Gold pants would definitely be cooler and more comfortable. Generic medieval/fantasy gown: 100% done unless I decide to make a headpiece or a belt. This is a pale green crushed velvet sideless gown that's worn over the Lothlorien underdress. I threw it together in two days and it's kind of crappy, but whatever. If I end up making a headpiece for this it'll probably just be a sheer veil to wear with a circlet. Going to try to buy a belt. Saw some at Walmart that would work. Tudor Gown ("Mary Boleyn"): Gown 95% done, under skirt 0% done, sleeves 0% done, hood 100% done. I thought I was done last night, but then I went to lace it up and saw I forgot the modesty panel down the back. Duh. This is a huge brown velveteen thing that is not historically accurate but still looks pretty good. Still need to make the sleeves, which are easy lace up tubes. I have one under skirt so far that I will probably not use. It doesn't match the dress at all (navy shantung looks like ass with brown velveteen) but will do in a pinch. I do have some gold brocade to make a second skirt. Restoration Gown: 40% done? Big poofy gold silk. The bodice is mostly together. Just need to adjust the shoulders. Then the sleeves have to be assembled and attached. I think I'll do the split skirt as a separate piece (navy shantung under skirt from above goes with this gown). I don't know if I'll finish this one on time. It's not high on my priority list. I'd also need to find shoes to go with it Kinslayer Surcoat: 0% done. Haven't even started on this one, but I have all the materials and it would be really quick and easy to do. This one is higher priority than the Restoration gown because it'll be way more comfortable. Out of my costumes I've worn other years, I'll probably bring Legolas and maybe Thranduil, because I haven't worn that one at DCon yet. Then I might as well bring Glorfindel too, because that's just Thranduil with a tabard instead of the robe. If anyone wants to borrow any of my costumes to wear for a day, both Thranduil's robe and Glorfindel's tabard are one size fits all. Kinslayer surcoat will be too once it's done, only it will probably be almost floor length on me, so pretty long. Current Mood: anxious Tags: costuming, omfg this needs to be done now, pre-dragoncon squeeing

(11 comments | Leave a comment)

March 15th, 2009

01:59 pm - Sunday Blahs Last week it was minus fucking a billion here. Guys, I'm not joking when I say it was minus forty, which is FORTY DEGREES BELOW SEASONAL AVERAGE. Not cool. It's March! :( Today at least it's melting and at a normal temperature for this time of year. About time. I am tired of having to wear a huge honkin' parka and ski mitts to work and scrape frost off all the windows of my car. Yesterday I got my act together and took some photos of the two newest costumes I've made. The first one, Lady of Lothlorien, was made just before halloween so I could wear it to the office. It's based off a design undomiel_sila did for me. Only the overdress is done so far (underdress is still in pieces in my sewing room), but I can wear that over other stuff. Lady of Lothlorien: http://www.silivren.com/ladylothlorien.html The other one I just finished recently. It's a big ol' raspberry purple robe thingy with a fitted dress underneath, that will be worn over pants. Also probably with a sash (maybe Elrond's obi). Lady of Rivendell: http://www.silivren.com/ladyrivendell.html I'll be bringing both of these to DCon. Tags: costume photos

(17 comments | Leave a comment)

March 1st, 2009

01:44 pm - It's cleaning day!!! Woohoo, it's sewing room cleaning day... I am going through all my fabric bins and chucking stuff I know I'll never use. I just gave away thirteen bags of fabric on Freecycle. And it is still a flipping mess in here. :( Current Mood: busy Tags: stop making costumes you don't need!

(18 comments | Leave a comment)

November 13th, 2008

04:45 pm - SAMSUNG CLEO!!! I have never wanted any piece of techno-whatchamabob as much as I want this phone. It is pink and flowery and comes with lip gloss! :D Samsung Cleo. Oh Em Gee. If you look on the "buy a Cleo" tab it says the champagne is available from SaskTel (that's ME!), but when I phoned yesterday they didn't know what I was talking about. Wah. I'm going to have to go into their store on Saturday and bug them about when this'll be available. Bell customers can get it already and I WANTS IT!!! Current Mood: DO WANT! Tags: i like it even if it's not fabric

(2 comments | Leave a comment)

September 27th, 2008

12:07 pm - Waterpark! The day before leaving for DragonCon, presentiment and I went to a waterpark with her mom. Needless to say we were on our best behavior the whole time and acted very mature and responsible. I wanted to buy one of those disposable underwater cameras to take pictures of us being so mature and responsible. We went to the gift shop to see if they sold them, and I said, "I bet they're something ridiculous like $20." What a guess! $18.95 plus tax! ( Here's what happened with that camera... ) Current Mood: goofy Tags: being a dork, what is this i don't even

(8 comments | Leave a comment)

September 21st, 2008

02:57 pm - Still goin' at it like a crazy person I thought after finishing the dresses for undomiel_sila I'd want to take a long break from sewing anything but the total opposite has happened... I now want to keep up the frantic pace of getting stuff done. I've been working on costuming every day this week. My newest project is a tricky silk appliqué. I only have the top part done so far, the rest is pinned in place, and it's not edged: This is going to go on the back of a huge, complicated costume. :D Something totally impractical that will make it hard to move around, sit down, and get on the elevators at DCon next year. My goal is to make it out of 100% fabric I already have sitting around. I might have to buy some thread and beads and closures but I do not want to buy any more fabric. Except for that brown geometric ming jacquard. Oh that stuff is nice... Okay, I'm making it out of 90% fabric I already have sitting around. Current Mood: creative Tags: costuming, stop making costumes you don't need!

(8 comments | Leave a comment)

September 15th, 2008

10:42 pm - Monday! Good things that happened today? *I won $10 in the lottery! WOOOOO! Bought two new tickets and pocketed six whole dollaroos. *undomiel_sila's velvet dress is FINISHED. FINISHED! Shitty crap that happened today? *I got stung by an effing wasp. I was out in the back yard watching birds in the bird bath (so cute!) when out of the corner of my eye I see something yellow float down with a flight path that will take it right onto the top of my head. I think it's a leaf, because leaves are falling everywhere, so I go to brush it off and learn in a very unpleasant way!!! that it was not a leaf, but a wasp. It got me right on the inside of my hand, where my index finger meets my palm. I hate wasps so hard. *Gas is $1.45/L and I need to fill up my car. (American folks, this is like... $5.50 a gallon) Tags: fml

(1 comment | Leave a comment)