RenaissanceFestival.com Forums

Faire Garb => Garbing => Topic started by: Merlin on January 19, 2010, 12:24:32 PM

Title: Make it yourself
Post by: Merlin on January 19, 2010, 12:24:32 PM
Making the costume and accessories is half of the fun. For this season...I am making a new staff.
Start with twisted wood... carve it and debark it.... I used a lawn ornament that I took apart to get the glass orb...some simple sash and leather pieces... hair from a doll... stain and coat with polyurethane and you got yourself a wizard staff!

(http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w133/srstunts/Staff1SIZED.jpg)
(http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w133/srstunts/StaffSIZED.jpg)

The wife unit is making my oldest daughter a new costume using a simple pattern and making a few changes here and there.
(http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w133/srstunts/AlexCostume1SIZED.jpg)

I'm thinkng it's going to require purchasing a hat though.
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Squire Mickey on January 19, 2010, 01:02:32 PM
Very nice work!

And I couldn't agree more that making it yourself is half the fun!
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Betty Munro on January 19, 2010, 02:01:10 PM
Oh MY, I LOVE the material on the coat, almost as much as I LOVE the staff!
Good work!
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Butch on January 19, 2010, 05:05:21 PM
Beautiful staff, and beautiful tunic!

Hey Merlin, what did you use for a ferrel?  (I think that's what the thingee on the bottom is called.)  We made a staff for my son out of a limb of Bradford Pear.  We rounded the bottom, so it wouldn't split.  It held up all season!
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Merlin on January 19, 2010, 05:45:14 PM
Are you referring to the bottom of the staff? If so...I haven't done anything to it yet but I will wrap it in leather.
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Butch on January 19, 2010, 10:32:11 PM
Yes, the bottom.  If you're not planning on putting anything on the part of the staff that contacts the ground, I recommend you round the corners up all the way around (like the end of a baseball bat).  It will make your staff less likely to split.

It looks wonderful!  How did you incorporate the doll hair that you mentioned?  I missed it somehow.  I really like your use of lawn orb!
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Merlin on January 19, 2010, 10:44:47 PM
Yea...I'm going to wrap the end with some soft leather straps...may even coat the entire area with poly. The doll hair hangs in 3 braided strands but in the pictures...it's wound around the staf to avoid the poly that is still drying. I may make a few others before the Spring.
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Zardoz on January 19, 2010, 10:55:36 PM
I affixed a penny to the bottom of my stick with epoxy and a tack, it's held up for plenty of miles.
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Butch on January 23, 2010, 02:16:48 PM
Wow!  What a great idea!  And the price is right, too.
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Lady Kathleen of Olmsted on January 23, 2010, 04:17:18 PM


Merlin!!  Can you post a link to where you purchased that lovely fabric? Your project is going to look fabtastic!!
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Merlin on January 24, 2010, 03:07:36 PM
Lady Kathleen,

  The wife unit gets all her fabric and supplies from Joannes. She really doesn't know how talented she is.... and she's self taught.

Here's the final product.... we will have to find some boots before faire...probably be able to locate a hat at faire unless some of you good people can recommend a big frenchy hat with a feather from the interwebby.

(http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w133/srstunts/AlexCostume1SIZED-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Baroness de Vale on January 24, 2010, 05:03:43 PM
Absolutely lovely! Truly stunning fabric!
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: LadyShadow on January 24, 2010, 06:38:40 PM
Extremely wonderful.  I have a pattern that looks like that, I think I might have to give a try after your wifes inspiration.
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Merlin on January 24, 2010, 06:46:58 PM
It is Simplicity 3685

Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: LadyShadow on January 24, 2010, 06:59:58 PM
Yep, thats the pattern sitting in my box waiting to be made.  Thank you for reminding me of it.
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Merlin on January 24, 2010, 07:04:19 PM
She still needs a hat and boots...but the rest is wonderful! It's about $50 in fabric for what could easily sell for $250... she did great!
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: DragonWing on January 26, 2010, 09:10:13 AM
My partner and I found boots that are very ren looking at Marshalls. Faux suade and ran about $30 or less. It's worth looking for.

And I found this hat on the web. It looks like a good fit for her coat.

http://www.buycostumes.com/Velvet-Pirate-Hat/27240/ProductDetail.aspx
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Tammy on January 29, 2010, 10:56:03 PM
Merlin,
How did you attach the orb to the staff??
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Sitara on January 30, 2010, 03:24:41 AM
Magic, of course!   ;D
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Merlin on January 30, 2010, 08:36:27 AM
Quote from: Tammy on January 29, 2010, 10:56:03 PM
Merlin,
How did you attach the orb to the staff??


Luckily... I was able to find a yard ornament that had a hole in it.... cutting holes in glass orbs can be difficult.
So I just carved the end of the staff to snugly fit the diameter of the hole.... and then I used 1 minuted epoxy to make sure it stays. I then used the straps of leather and twine to hide the epoxy.


I love that hat.... do you have a link to the boots at Marshalls?
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: DragonWing on February 03, 2010, 08:57:05 AM
Quote from: Merlin on January 30, 2010, 08:36:27 AM
Quote from: Tammy on January 29, 2010, 10:56:03 PM
Merlin,
How did you attach the orb to the staff??


Luckily... I was able to find a yard ornament that had a hole in it.... cutting holes in glass orbs can be difficult.
So I just carved the end of the staff to snugly fit the diameter of the hole.... and then I used 1 minuted epoxy to make sure it stays. I then used the straps of leather and twine to hide the epoxy.


I love that hat.... do you have a link to the boots at Marshalls?

Sorry Merlin, I don't have a link for boots at Marshalls.
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Merlin on February 03, 2010, 09:58:10 AM
Found some at Ross for $20

She says they are very comfortable.... looks like she can walk miles in these.

(http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w133/srstunts/boots.jpg)
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: Auryn on February 03, 2010, 10:25:03 AM
Man
why am I never lucky enough to find Ren boots in stores??
oh ya must be the size 11 thing
bugger

Love the wife's boots
Title: Re: Make it yourself
Post by: DragonWing on February 03, 2010, 01:49:49 PM
 ;D HUZZAH!!! Those look great.