Thanks Lady Kathleen!!!

[Toki Bloodaxe]

    I am sure that many of you are familiar with the wondrous work of Lady Kathleen of Olmstead. She has posted a great deal on this forum and shown many examples of her very fine work. I am writing now to express absolute appreciation for her garbing craft and artistry.
    Last year, I wanted a unique sort of Tudor-era Noble's garb to compliment some of the custom garb that Lady Delaney has. I looked and looked on the net and asked around, and had it narrowed down to three vendors for my clothes. Noblesse Oblige, however nice, was too expensive for me. Carlisle's costumes was another choice. But, it seemed like they took months to sew their garments and only had the generic small, medium, large, extra-large sizes for me. The last vendor was Pendragon, and though I like the general look of their stuff, it didn't seem unique enough for me...and then they have the size issues there, too. I was at my wits end, thinking of trying to sew my own garb, and that would not have been good at all. I am not a tailor by any means.
     Lady Delaney proposed that I talk to Lady Kathleen about my ideas. So, I worked on some sketches of how I wanted my garb to look. It took a lot of pencil lead and erasing to get my ideas right. And, then I talked to her about it. Lady Kathy thought that she could put my whole set of garb together for a very reasonable price and size it all to fit me. I was very surprised and overjoyed. You see, I am a difficult person to fit size-wise. Years of manual labor have given me big shoulders a thick neck. But, I have short arms and legs glued onto a long torso. Consequently, most off -the -rack stuff doesn't fit me unless I buy the next size up and then all of my clothes tend to just hang off me like a potato sack. Needless to say, I was looking for something that would fit me a lot better for faire.
    From the very start, Lady Kathleen had a ton of great ideas and suggestions regarding design and material for my garb. I had some broad ideas, but nothing specific. She really fleshed out the whole design of the garb for me and took something that could have been a terrible hodgepodge of my own making, and made it into a really excellent suit of clothes that fits me perfectly and gets me compliments by the score. Its really great when the cast members of our faire compliment me on my garb. They, after all, are wearing some pretty fancy clothes themselves. And, even better, when members of the general public walk up to you out of the blue and tell you how good you look. It gives me a charge that makes my faire experience great! Here's an example--While standing in line to use of the rather odoriferous outhouses at our faire, I was making casual conversation with the two guys behind me. When it was my turn to go in, I could hear the two guys talking about me as I was closing the door. One of the two young men said, "Man! I have GOT to get me a jacket like that!"  His companion replied..."Hell, YEAH!!" I had to laugh at that a bit. It wasn't as if I was wearing some rhinestone studded Elvis jacket, or anything of the like. But, good noble garb does look great, and I notice that I get a lot more bows and curtsies when I walk around now.
    The fit of the doublet is superb. It is perfect through the shoulders and neck and the length is just right. It is lined with soft cotton cloth that is very comfortable and breathes well. The sleeves are just the right length. The fabric, trim and slashes are all sewn so very well. I feel like an Elizabethian courtier just putting it on. Along with the doublet, Lady Kathy also made me a fantastic ruffled neck and wrist cotton shirt. It is the best shirt that I have ever owned, and I have had some very nice custom- tailored dress shirts. This shirt beats the others hands down. The ruffling is perfect and so is the gold embroidery. The fabric is satiny smooth and there is not a rough seam anywhere on the shirt. I also wanted venetian type breeches to go with my shirt and doublet. I wanted them to be very adjustable with laces on the waist and the calves since I intend to wear them with my high boots. She made them out of heavy twill that is strong , but comfortable, and sheds a lot of the dust and dirt that we have here at our fair. The breeches fit perfectly and have a nifty drop down buttoned flap in front that comes in very handy when nature calls. Lastly, I am a real hat person. I wanted a unique kind of Tudor-Style flat cap to match my garb. It had to fit my oddly-shaped large head well and keep the sun off of me....and, of course, look good. Lady Kathy came through once again with an absolutely perfect -fitting cap that functions well for all of my needs and looks down right cool. A lot of people seem to like my cap and want to know where they can get one. Sorry, folks, its custom made...talk to Lady Kathleen about it.
     Lastly, I just want to say THANKYOU!!!   and HUZZAH!!!  to Lady Kathleen of Olmstead for taking my goofy drawings and descriptions and making them into one very fine set of garb that I will be proud to wear anywhere. I feel like a million bucks strutting around in my duds, and folks, when you pay good money for clothes...that is exactly how you want to feel. I couldn't be more satisfied. From the bottom of my heart, Thank you, Kathy.
                                                                                  Toki Bloodaxe--Earle Thomas of Basswood

[Kate XXXXXX]

You look so fine, peacocking in your fancy duds!  Love the pictures I've seen of the garb, and wish I could meet it in person... *

Our Kathy is The Bizz! 









*And you, natch! 

[Taffy Saltwater]

Very nice, Toki.  Lady K does do some fabulous tailoring.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

What can I say, Toki???

It was as much your involvement and design  for your garb. You deserve the kudos as well.