Post Xmas Check-in :-)

[callistotoni]

Wow. It has surely been a busy 5 days. Too much to write, so here's the Cliff Notes version (with digressions):

Many, many thanks to g0atface for her birthday post last Friday. Made me cry. :-)

Disneyland was *fabulous*. Only downside was the amazing amount of pain my feet experianced at the end of it all (and they still haven't recovered.) I also seemed to have pulled a muscle in the area of my left rib(s).
I had forgotten how much I love the Land of the Mouse, and this trip re-awakened my inner Disney Geek. I want to go again and I'm strategizing how to do it. One highlight was getting a cast member playing the part of a pirate on Tom Sawyer's island to hold my bear Alister and getting a picture. Lots of great Alister in Disneyland photos, actually, courtesy of misagillian. And thanks to all the crew that came with me -- you guys made the trip and long lines all worth while. :-)

Got home Sunday night and crashed at misagillian's. Monday after breakfast at Hobee's I went to the barn. This is the third year that Brandee, with some help from rachaelfluery, gave me a framed photo of Herself decked out in Xmas gear. This year it was a Santa hat and a Santa tablerunner draped over her shoulders. I love that horse. rachaelfluery rocks, too. :-)

Christmas was pleasant and low key. Opened my prezzies from j_i_m_r and Ivar in the morning. On top of the serious bling they got me for my b-day, j_i_m_r made me a replica of the fan in the Moroni Lady in Rose painting! (see icon). They also gave me Dressing the Elite: Clothes in Early Modern England by Susan Vincent (2003). Started reading it last night and it looks good.

Digression 1: I really should write up something on what I've been reading on 16th C clothes in cultural context. Between this new book, the clothing-related At Home in the Renaissance essays, the Stallybrass REnaissance Clothing and the Materials of Memory, and the Fumerton/Hunt Renaissance Culture and the Everyday stuff you'd think I could pull something together. It's just finding the time to do such a thing. :-/

Digression 2, dress status: I've got the Lady in Rose underdress almost finished and will be wearing it with the ropa helblonde made me for 12th night. In theory the whole Lady in Rose-oid dress will be done for the my Salon at Beltane.

Back to Xmas: Eventually I got out to the barn. Funny, it seemed like a normal day and not the madhouse that Thanksgiving morning was. The outdoor arena was usable and empty so Brandee got to have a good Xmas run. :-) Rode, but my ribs hurt like a sonofabitch when we trotted (cantering not so bad) and that got me worried. When I rode Monday it didn't hurt. I may have exacerbated the situation, though, 'cause today my left rib area is really bothering me. :-(

After the barn it was off to rachaelfluery's house for a misagillian-hosted Xmas. Got to see g0atface, cathyn, helbonde, moriven, leotulf, his daughter Siobhan, and misagillian's parents. Nice dinner, prezzies exchanged, fun conversation. Got 2 jade horse pendant necklaces made by helblonde, a set of different colored stud earrings from misagillian. helblonde also presented me with a Teddy Bear Tea birthday cake, complete with merange teddy bears and a tea set and table made of fondant. :-)

Today I get to stay home, thanks to misagillian who agreed to turn Brandee out for me. I'm going to see if the rib pain goes away if I baby it today. Sewing will happen and maybe I'll manage to get a bit of house cleaning done.

Comments

[callistotoni.livejournal.com]

Did I mention I have a photo-poster of that dress? ;-)

The overgown fabric looks to me to be a "bridal satin" or peu-de-soil (sp?) This sort of silk feels like you can melt it and sculpt it. In the past Thai Silks in Los Altos has been a good source for this stuff.

Unfortunately, I'm not using that fabric (hence the "oid") in my dress description. I've got to work with my stash, so I'll be using a taffeta mounted on muslin for my overgown. C'ie la vie.

The rose overgown is a separate garment, cut with a bodice and skirt. It only meets in the front at one place, a button at the end of the bodice point.

Probable TMI: Taking a cue from the Tudor Tailor folks, I've made the underdress as a kirtle with boning and a wooden busk. I won't be wearing a separate corset. Tried it on last night for g0atface to mark the hem and it looked good. :-) When I get the overgown done I'm thinking that I'll use pins to hold the overgown down onto the kirtle bodice in the front.

[aastg.livejournal.com]

That would be peau de soie, aka "slipper satin" which is a substantial satin with a softer sheen, called slipper satin because it was frequently used to make shoes; duchesse satin is also heavy, but is has a much higher sheen.

I've loved that dress since I was eight years old. Can't wait to see your fan!

[sarahbellem.livejournal.com]

I love that dress... I know you'll do it justice and I cannot wait to see it in person! :)

So, in a related question, how's the busk working out for you? I've been tempted to try one, but I haven't worked up the nerve yet. Something about not being able to be flexible in the torso, which I'm sure is silly considering no corset I've ever made has ever let me bend or slouch like I instinctively want to.

[callistotoni.livejournal.com]

Well, I haven't lived with the busk yet. I'll know better after 12th Night. I made it so that it's easily removable (pocket in bodice.)

Ugg, and I've gained weight since I started it. Fits, but not as comfortable as I'd like. Let's see what I can do to lose some weight between now and 12th Night. :-/

[sirst.livejournal.com]

Was a fun weekend. We were happy to be a part of it. Yay!

nothing to do with anything ...

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

I followed the icon over from sca I think. I love that default icon. It's a gorgeous gown -- is there a large copy of it somewhere?

Re: nothing to do with anything ...

[callistotoni.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You are very kind. :-)

I have a copy of the picture, and have just added it to my LJ scrapbook. But I haven't figured out how to include an image in a reply -- sorry!

Re: nothing to do with anything ...

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

nods and understandings. They make it easy to add images to posts, but not replies. You've got to do the HTML yourself to add it to a reply! :-(

Re: nothing to do with anything ...

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

And it's positively gorgeous!