Pattern ideas

[Crimson]

I just bought these two fabrics.  The plaid is a tafetta and the blue is a cotton linen.  Sherwood Forest Faire's Celtic Festival is coming up in September and I'd like to make something cute to wear.  I'm in a bit of a creative rut right now and can't think of just what I want to make.  Since this is not a renaissance faire I'm not focusing on period.  The weather will be Texas September so it could be warm, but it could be cool.  Please help me think of something cute to make...

[gem]

Well, the taffeta makes me think Victorian/steampunk... does your fair have a steampunk day? What about a fun bustle? Simplicity has at least two bustle patterns, altho' I don't have the numbers handy--but bustle tutorials are all over the 'net.

I hear you about the creative rut. Right now I want small, quick projects that don't require eons of fitting and fit entirely on a table. I just spent over an hour at JoAnn looking for fabric to coordinate with a valance I'm making. There were tons of options, but I ultimately left empty-handed. 

[isabelladangelo]

How much do you have of each yardage wise?

Is it silk taffeta or poly taffeta?

[Crimson]

It's poly tafetta and I have 6 years of the plaid and 8 of the blue.  I also have some trim that matches.  Gem,  the bustle is a good idea.  I stinking when I was at Muskogee castle in may that I wanted to make a bustle.  Maybe line the tafetta with the blue...

[isabelladangelo]

If you aren't concerned about what is period, I'd consider making a renn faire "Irish dress" out of the plain blue linen/cotton and use some of the plaid as a sash to go from the shoulder to the waist.  You might also want to make accessories out of the rest of the plaid like an umbrella/parasol or a purse.  I'm a bit weary of poly taffeta in September in Texas.  It will be like wearing a plastic bag.  Even with a layer of natural fibers beneath it, your body will overheat more quickly wearing it.   If you really want to use the poly taffeta, I'd use it as trim or accent pieces only.  Make the bodice/sleeves and anything fitted out of the cotton/linen.   

[Crimson]

Thank you Gem and Isabella for the ideas.  The fabric told me it wanted to be this bustle.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  The blue panels have a gray back so when it moves you get a little bit of gray like the plaid has a thin line of gray.  I think I'll make a blue skirt and wear it with a black leather underbust bodice that I made last year.