Trip to Rockford

Yesterday Rick, Aubrey and I drove to Rockford, IL to check out their Goodwill store and Hancock Fabrics. I had never been to that Goodwill and I was at first pleasantly surprised by how well organized and nice it smelled. Like freshly laundered clothing. That's always a good sign. We found a very nice, very long black suede skirt that I'm going to tear apart for another project. Aubrey is very slender and when I look at her I see "elf" immediately because of her dainty facial features. She says her ears are pointy, but I don't think so. She sees herself as a female warrior-type and since we have a Renaissance Fair to go to in May and Pirate Fest to go to in June, I'm creating her a Warrior Elf costume. Not quite a Dark Elf (I refuse to paint her blackish/blueish/purple). We found the inspiration on Etsy Shops (Love them!) and the black suede is going to become sort of a riveted one shoulder bodice with buckles and a belt. Like this one.
 http://www.etsy.com/listing/52624713/gula-asymmetrical-over-bust-leather

The design is awesome and best of all, requires little to no sewing. Other than that skirt, we didn't really find anything to use for NOLA. Once we hit the men's section of the store my nose detected some really stinky men and I wanted to leave soon after.   It was a bad smell. Really bad. Bad enough that I don't ever want to go there again. Yuck.

Down the road from Goodwill we found Hancock Fabrics. I had forgotten how much I liked that store. When Rick and I lived in Wausau, WI there was a HF right down the street from our apartment. I love the 5 patterns for $5! Patterns are so expensive so that is a great deal. Not only do they have a better selection of fabric than Joann's, they have all kinds of cool "stuff" related to sewing and crafting. I really try to shop my own community, but I may end up back at HF for fabric. They had larger size dress forms for a really good price but not the one I wanted. I guess I'm just going to have to order one on-line. Aubrey and I poured through the fabric, oohing and aahing at the beautiful textures and colors, deciding on nothing...lol. I *may* go with crepe backed satin  for some part of my costume, but the duponi silk is nice as well as the elegance taffeta, which has a bit of texture to it and that delicious "swoosh" sound. Maybe I'll go with all three! There are certainly enough parts to the costume to do that!

After HF we went to one of my favorite places to eat in Rockford, Stone Eagle. I had the Muffaletta sandwich and Beignets shared with my companions for dessert. Yum! Had to get in the New Orleans spirit, ya know ;)

No trip to Rockford is complete without a trip to Borders. I love that bookstore. Borders and I go way back. I picked up a couple of Laurell K. Hamilton books (She's the guest author at the ball) and the most recent copy of Gothic Beauty magazine. Rick picked up a book and then we were on our way home. Not a very productive "shopping for NOLA" trip, but fun nonetheless.

Scrounging the community

My friend Aubrey and I hit up some thrift stores yesterday. We found a wedding slip for Aubrey that will be her petticoat and a pair of granny-type boots that will work if we don't find anything more suitable. I made her get them, as they were brand new, super cute and $6. You can't beat that! I found myself a Fleur de lis charm that I can attach to something on my gown. It's heavy and looks old and I laughed when I got it home and realized it's from Avon, last year, and it's a perfume solid....Outspoken by Fergie. LOL! Well, it's neat looking and doesn't smell too bad either. I also found a black Gothic gown from Lip Service that should fit my oldest daughter Emilie. It will make a great Halloween costume or dress for Goth day or something. We also look for interesting fabric when we're out "thrifting" and I found a wrap skirt with beautiful fabric....the same skirt I already have and now have two of, that I can possibly cannibalize for my husband's vest material. The sleeves on Emilie's dress are beautiful and I can always take them off and use them on something else.

My sewing machine has shipped! I should get it between March 3 and the 10th. I can't wait to begin sewing!

The Mission!

Outfit 3 adults in 1890's Parisian evening attire. In 7 months. Yeah I know, I'm nuts. I'm talking complete outfits for the women. Chemise, corset, bodice, drawers, underskirt and overskirt. Possibly a petticoat and shawl too. For the gentleman in our company, just a spiffy vest, shirt and pants. I think I can get away with purchasing him the shirt and pants, but make the vest myself.

I ordered my new sewing machine yesterday. Mine was inoperable. I'm thinking of purchasing this serger too. I've never used a serger but with youtube and the instruction book, I should be able to figure it out.

Now for the patterns.

Above is the underskirt, which goes over a petticoat.

 Above is the "Wash" overskirt.

Then there is the corset

Followed by the bodice. I'm thinking of the bottom pattern.

And possibly this petticoat, bustle and drawers.

And the gold vest style. I think a pocket watch would look spiff.