So does anyone here have stories of turning mundane items into garb? I figured I would start by telling the story of the "capelette"
I was cruising a Hobby Lobby about 3 or 4 years ago when a pretty swatch of tapestry fabric caught my eye in the Christmas section. It was a Tree Skirt, and was gorgeous. It was made from brown tapestry and velveteen, it had "dags" with brown tassles, it was lined, and it had buttons. I stood there thinking how pretty it was and wishing I celebrated Xmas. Then it hit me- if it hadnt have been sitting in a Christmas aisle, I would have thought it was a cape straight from Moresca. So, I tried it on. It went to about my elbows, and was very warm. It was normally $100 but was half off that week. So, I took it home and waited for my guy to make fun of it. He thought it was great and would have never guessed it was a tree skirt. So, I reinforced the buttons, and I now take it to cold faires as well as Pennsic to wear on the colder evenings. I have been accosted over and over again, "OMG! Where did you get that GREAT cape?" I now wonder how many people ran to their local Hobby lobby and grabbed one up after I told them. They had them in brown and sometimes they also had olive green.
Chris
I get stuff that I use for garb from the Thrift stores all the time! I have a crochet poncho that I use as an over skirt. I hate wearing ponchos so hence the use as a skirt..
I never would have thought of a tree skirt cape! I'll have to look at that 90% off stuuf with a fresh eye now. :giggle:
Well, let's see?
Table cloth into cape
Strapless dress into hooded cape
Bed spread into breeches
Funcky oversized sweater into tunic
Canvas into, well, anything
Earrings into pleat broaches
Shoelaces into bodice cord
Deck shoes into noble slippers
I could go on!
I love finding the unusual and using it for my own ren needs!
A cape from a tree skirt sounds like a very lovely idea. I know I've seen many tree skirts that were gorgeous these past few seasons. Wish you'd have posted this earlier. :) Great idea. I'd love to see a pic.
I treasure the idea of reusing otherwise wasted things. That's why I made my can tab bodices and other articles. I used mainly recycled fabric and remnants. We found pretty much all of our other garb at thrift stores, as well. Still amazes me what we find in those places. Especially with a little imagination. ;)
Our local Hancock's has a remnant section that is all upholstery. My general rule for garb fabric searches is that I am only allowed to buy from that section (unless I need plain cotton). It is amazing the finds and prices. You may end up picking a fabric design that would have never otherwise caught your eye! My middle class outfit (avatar) cost me about $50 total to make; the cost of the upholstery fabric alone (regular price) was about $160! The outfit I am starting this weekend will be almost all remnants, including parts of a tapestry curtain my grandma bought at a thrift store. I can't wait! ;)
My first garb was an Amazon like on Xena. The top was a knitted halter top with various browns and tans in a zig-zag pattern. I added suede and chain maille shoulder caps with leather straps to keep them from slipping. I got told several times that the top looked like chain maille from a distance. The skirt was also just a mundane miniskirt to begin with. To that, I added several large sections of suede skins. Cool outift and not very expensive.
My other mundane object, while not really garb, is my flag pole. I wanted a pole to fly my Gondor battle flag on, but I wanted it to break down to fit in the car. I found an 8-foot wood drapery pole at Hobby Lobby and attached the flag to that. It's very cheap wood, and the screw hole where the pieces join got very loose very quickly. Got a short section of metal pipe and glued it to the bottom half of the pole. Then, I wrapped it with leather. Instant support and instant handle!
I once built a brown suede bodice from a skirt I found in a thrift store. It was a lot cheaper than buying a hide from Tandy Leather.
this is a great thread.
we should keep it going cause its a great source of ideas.
Now its gonna take me forever to leave the store when i got to ross
I made my other halfs garb out of bed sheets. I already had the contrasting fabric for the inside of the over sleeves
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj83/dragonwing1961/Brents%20Ren%20Fair%20costume/100_2540.jpg)
The latest thing I've made was a gypsy belt out of an old pair of pants, an unraveled sweater, beads and shells from a broken necklace as well as extra chainmail rings.
This is the only photo I have of it.
(http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/31/l_041f083a6b1a487ca75506fc2145455a.jpg)
Pssst...That is Muffin next to me.
I've used thrift stores before when buying faux fur for lining. Plus for making various small items for garb.
I made an old diamond shaped choker with faux bezel set stones into a brooch. I removed the cord, attached a pearl to the bale, flipped it upside down and glued on a pin back .
I've worn scrub bottoms and palazzo pants for pirate garb, used quilting fabric to make a turban, drapery cord and tassels for a gypsy belt.
I made our antlers out of Christmas ornaments.
I bought some Christmas ornaments in 08 that I will be making into brooches.
I used a hummingbird feeder for the orb on top of a branch, for a walking stick.
I took apart upholstery loops to make vines for applique.
I took apart a broken belt to make into a neckpiece. I covered deck shoes with leather to make elf shoes. ;)
For my Faery outfit I used Christmas ornaments to decorate it...a little bird from Garden Ridge, became my little buddy (sitting on top of my shoulder), and a small green wreath had little flowers added to it and made into a bracelet.
Beaded Christmas garland and ornaments make jeweled girdles.
Thrift store velvet curtains can make entire ropas or cloaks - fake fur cuffs and collars on old sweaters go well on noble garb.
Old beaded sweaters can yield thousands of beads to be re-used, if you are patient enough to remove and collect them.
Old leather shoes and boots abound at Salvation Army stores, and many can really pass if not observed too close!
I have even bought defunct bridesmaid dresses and used the underskirts to make petticoats...just add a waistband and you're done!
Oh so many things.... Lets see my latest crown decor is broken necklaces, bracelets, christmas ornaments, and a candle holder, and the fabric was from a wedding dress.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y255/syrilla/My%20costumes/sideviewcrown.jpg)
K you win!
that looks soo beautiful!
Do you use pads to make your hair look like that or is it just alot of teasing and smoothing? I have always wanted to know
All of the above. I start with teasing and product, then pile on a rat (padding). I have various rats in size and shape and content.
My finds...
So at payless for about 6 dollars I found a pair of canvas shoes that were inexpensive and are going into their second season as my faire shoes
I find fabric remnants to make pouches
old vests to make in to gypsy vests for on the days that I won't wear a bodice
my best find was a homemade angel costume that I turned into a very nice chemise
My best find was a beautiful deep purple table cloth at a yard sale for $1.00. It had wine stains right smack in the middle of it that had cause some fading. I took it home and cut around the stains and made an overdress with detachable sleeves. I did have to purchase some off white satin at the fabric store to line the long bell sleeves with. I think i spent about $10 or 15 on that. Then i grabbed a black shoelace that was lying around the house to lace up the overdress. The underskirt is a black tiered broomstick skirt purchased at a Goodwill store for $3.99. I change out the chemise using white, off white and black, all homemade, depending on what look I'm going for. When it's hot I don't wear the sleeves, and usually pirate it up a bit. The best thing about the table cloth is it already had a great rolled edge hem.
My 6-year-old daughter's dress is a reworked adult Halloween costume (Medieval lady costume). My 3-year-old son wore moccasins from Goodwill to his first faire.
I raided my moms closet... I found a lot of fun stuff. But then she stole it all back..
Quote from: Adriana Rose on January 29, 2009, 03:00:21 PM
I raided my moms closet... I found a lot of fun stuff. But then she stole it all back..
I hate when that happens
mwahahahaha
I stole most of it back!
I think...
I found some amazing buys at Goodwill and a thrift store today! At Goodwill, I found a bridal crinoline/slip for $3.99. I bought it for when I don't want to wear a farthingale, but wanted some fullness to my skirts. It probably was worn once for the wedding and looks brand new.
I've been under the weather these past two weeks with shingles, and clothing hurts my skin. But I wanted to wear garb to Bristol and thought if I could find something soft, then I could adapt it with the help of my sewing friend. At the thrift shop, I found a black velvet floor length dress that has a seam under the bustline. And it fit, too. My friend will remove the short sleeves and the shoulder pads, and it will be a sort-of Italian dress.
For the weekend, I'll wear it with a chemise and our son has a long black velvet vest with brocade trim on it that I will wear over the top. So it will be loose and not tight like a bodice would be. After the weekend, my friend will slit the side seams, I'll get grommets for under the armpit to the waist, she will put trim on it, and it will be like an Italian dress. Not H/A, but I think it will look nice.
Now for the best part. The price tag said $6.00, which I thought was great because you couldn't buy material for that. When I took it to the register, the woman looked at the tag and said "blue tags have 75% off today," so I paid $1.75 for this dress.
Since this is my first time I'm going to use a night gown I bought on clearance (10 dollars) at Victoria Secret years ago for a chemise. This is only until I can make the one I want, mostly because I want a big fluffy one. But it will work for now.
Jade
Lets see, I bought a pair of "hippie/vegan" rope sandals that are my favorite faire shoes, soooo comfy!!!! THe shirt I'm wear in my avatar picutes was a hand-me-down from a cousin that has become my go to pirate shirt. most of the jewelery is either old stuff from HS or costume pieces from Avon. I also love to browse sale racks because you never know what you are going to find. I was able to score a great peasent type tunic with 3/4 belled and ruffled sleeves that looks wonderful under my irish overdresses. The high price of the shirt was $1.99.
I will be making a quick camp chemise from an old set of bed sheets this week for Pennsic this year. As soon as it's done I will post the pictures.
I am with the rest of you about thrift stores/Goodwill. I have come across LOTS of goodies!
I have picked up several pairs of shoes/boots over the years for next to nothing (I think one pair of the knee high boots ended up being $1). I am always finding super inexpensive peasant skirts that work for just about any look I am trying for at the time (also work for extra garb when someone forgets theirs, or does not have any of their own).
My most recent goody is a suede pouch that I paid .44 cents for at a thrift shop, it has fake fur arount the top and some Indian beading on it, but I am going to remove the beading and the fur (temporarily) and re dye the suede (it is pink) to re work it into a pouch for my pirate garb.
After reading this thread, I will really be on the look out for things...I would have never thought to use some of the items listed in the ways everyone here has...I always thought I was crafty, but you all have me beat!! Keep up the great work!!!
I've found so many wonderful things at Goodwill. I love buying suede skirts even if I don't have an immediate use for them. I've made several drawstring pouches out of the skirt fabric. My favorite find was a plum colored tiered gypsy type skirt with a very pretty embroidered pattern I bought for my daughter when she was little. Even though the skirt is made of rayon, I love it because it's nice and swishy, and we've had it so long it's nice and soft. Even though she's a teenager now, she still uses it as a short over skirt, and is one of her favorite pieces of garb.
The most unusual thing I've ever used in garbing is a windshield wiper blade. I have this bodice with very flimsey boning that just wasn't doing the job. I had no cable ties and went scrounging in the garage, desperate for something to help stiffen the bodice. I came across some old windshield wipers with the metal sticking out of the rubber. It seemed like just the right width and stiffness I was looking for, so I used metal snips to cut it to the length I wanted, filed the ends round, and covered the ends in duct tape and put them in the grommet channels. Worked like a charm (if anything, may have been a little too stiff). I think using enough of them would stop bullets.
I purchased a lovely tree skirt and have the intention to make it into a capelet for when it's to warm for the long cloak but cool enought to need your shoulders warm. I'll post some pictures if I ever get it done.