Future Costume Focusing...
I am frustrated. I want to do more SCA or other costuming type of events. I want to dress nicely, not just in basic "camping" outfits. But... big but here, most of the kind of events I would rather enjoy, such as A&S competitions, or Collegiums, or Cons (gaming or otherwise), or even pretty dress up events, are going to be in places far, far away. Hours drive away. And I don't like to go far from my family for just a day or even two, except for a couple of times a year.
Locally for costume oriented events, I have ren-faires, 1 civil war event anually, the local sca events, most of which are full weekend camping events, and that is it. I don't dress up much for Halloween, since I am dealing with little kids first. And that is the problem with where I live. I am 2-5 hours or more from any other event of interest to me, which mainly means non-war events. Sorry, wars and battle bashing just has little appeal, since I have no one special to cheer on.
This is also why the big 17th century costuming thing so many of my LJ friends are so excited about is just not appealing to me. I like to dress up, and the style is interesting, but I need to be able to justify my spending on pretty fabrics to wear the garment for more than one event. And while I might make CoCo next year, or I might make the event in SF that will happen later, I doubt I would make both events, and that is a bit frustrating.
So, the choice before me... deal with it until my kids are older when they (and hopefully my husband) can join in on SCA & faire events, or do something to make my costuming, and sewing life, more interesting and enjoyable. I need to know what to focus on.
So, I want to make more events of some sort in my area that are costuming oriented in some manner, and outside of the 16th century. A few years ago, Joanne commented how she wanted to do a dress-up Tea at her place, or someplace in Oakhurst. We could also do that at the Kearney mansion (it's small, but lovely), or do something at the Meux home (maybe). Kearney does a Christmas tea, which would be lovely in that home. I bought an Edwardian walking jacket which might be nice in a grey wool I already have (trimmed in violet? red? black? - sounds like a mourning outfit).
I do want to do the Felton steam train ride thing. And I've had this idea for doing Xmas Tree lane walk in Victorian winter garments. So, it is pretty obvious that Victorian of some decade or another will need to be done up.
And I want to do something in the fantasy realm. I've had ideas in my head since I first started gaming back in '78, that I have never even tried to make. While I don't have the body I did then, I don't think it will matter since the body doesn't have to be perfect... it was the sleeves that have always interested me. But where in Fresno or this area could I wear such a thing? I don't think we have any game cons in this area any more, and I don't recall any of the old game cons having any sort of masquerade. And I don't larp anymore (small kids and the need for one of us to babysit just doesn't work well with larps). Hmmm... back burner for now, I think.
And that pretty fabric? It, or something similar, has sparked my imagination... but for a modern flowing coat or gown, not a historical one. I want something nice to wear that isn't a "costume", but something nice for special occassions or something. But then again... what special occassions? Goodness, what kind of occasions do I ever get to dress up? CoCo weekend (if I had nice stuff to wear that fit), Christmas and Thanksgiving, maybe my birthday. Not many, is there. No wonder my jeans and t-shirts are so worn. So, maybe I should just focus on making some nice shirts and pants, and maybe a dress or two, to wear around this home. Yeah, I think I will. But I think some of my "everyday" stuff will be based on historical styles... I gotta do something interesting.
So... I do have other costuming stuff that are already on my plate, and those I must do first. But I also need to work on my own clothing needs (I really need some things for this fall). And so then, Victorians for next year. Fantasy, maybe the year later.
Locally for costume oriented events, I have ren-faires, 1 civil war event anually, the local sca events, most of which are full weekend camping events, and that is it. I don't dress up much for Halloween, since I am dealing with little kids first. And that is the problem with where I live. I am 2-5 hours or more from any other event of interest to me, which mainly means non-war events. Sorry, wars and battle bashing just has little appeal, since I have no one special to cheer on.
This is also why the big 17th century costuming thing so many of my LJ friends are so excited about is just not appealing to me. I like to dress up, and the style is interesting, but I need to be able to justify my spending on pretty fabrics to wear the garment for more than one event. And while I might make CoCo next year, or I might make the event in SF that will happen later, I doubt I would make both events, and that is a bit frustrating.
So, the choice before me... deal with it until my kids are older when they (and hopefully my husband) can join in on SCA & faire events, or do something to make my costuming, and sewing life, more interesting and enjoyable. I need to know what to focus on.
So, I want to make more events of some sort in my area that are costuming oriented in some manner, and outside of the 16th century. A few years ago, Joanne commented how she wanted to do a dress-up Tea at her place, or someplace in Oakhurst. We could also do that at the Kearney mansion (it's small, but lovely), or do something at the Meux home (maybe). Kearney does a Christmas tea, which would be lovely in that home. I bought an Edwardian walking jacket which might be nice in a grey wool I already have (trimmed in violet? red? black? - sounds like a mourning outfit).
I do want to do the Felton steam train ride thing. And I've had this idea for doing Xmas Tree lane walk in Victorian winter garments. So, it is pretty obvious that Victorian of some decade or another will need to be done up.
And I want to do something in the fantasy realm. I've had ideas in my head since I first started gaming back in '78, that I have never even tried to make. While I don't have the body I did then, I don't think it will matter since the body doesn't have to be perfect... it was the sleeves that have always interested me. But where in Fresno or this area could I wear such a thing? I don't think we have any game cons in this area any more, and I don't recall any of the old game cons having any sort of masquerade. And I don't larp anymore (small kids and the need for one of us to babysit just doesn't work well with larps). Hmmm... back burner for now, I think.
And that pretty fabric? It, or something similar, has sparked my imagination... but for a modern flowing coat or gown, not a historical one. I want something nice to wear that isn't a "costume", but something nice for special occassions or something. But then again... what special occassions? Goodness, what kind of occasions do I ever get to dress up? CoCo weekend (if I had nice stuff to wear that fit), Christmas and Thanksgiving, maybe my birthday. Not many, is there. No wonder my jeans and t-shirts are so worn. So, maybe I should just focus on making some nice shirts and pants, and maybe a dress or two, to wear around this home. Yeah, I think I will. But I think some of my "everyday" stuff will be based on historical styles... I gotta do something interesting.
So... I do have other costuming stuff that are already on my plate, and those I must do first. But I also need to work on my own clothing needs (I really need some things for this fall). And so then, Victorians for next year. Fantasy, maybe the year later.