Gallery of In Progress Projects

[Rowan MacD]

 Gem- WOW!
  I love the contrast between the armor and the soft, feminine fabrics; it's perfect!

  IMHO this looks much more dramatic than (and a welcome change from) all the chain mail bikinis and halter-tops walking around.  I was about ready to abandon hope that I would ever see a female wearing  mail/armor to a faire in some other capacity than a fetish accessory    LOL.

  Will you be sticking with the coronet, or will you be doing the winged helmet? 

[Adriana Rose]

That is very cool! It is nice seeing a fully coverd version. I make a garland that we call the Valkyrie, but adding that to you in my head just does not work. I like the softer look to it.

[gem]

Thanks, everyone!! I'm really excited by it, and the photos turned out really well.

The orange isn't the problem; it's just that this, overall, is a lot more flowy than I'd envisioned! I'm definitely sticking with the gold/bronze/copper color scheme, but I want something with a lot less sleeve, to start.

We haven't totally figured out the headpiece yet. I do like this diadem, but it needs wings, somehow. (How??)

I really like the mix of hard and soft, but this is a little too much soft. It was funny--the day before, I'd been at the booth (where we borrowed the spear) to look at vambraces, pauldrons, and arming belts... dressed like this.  The armorer looked at me like I was mental! He finally said, "If you're going to be one of the Choosers of the Slain, you can't look like that." LOL  He just couldn't see it... 

[Lady Rosalind]

I LOVE IT!!!!!

[Rani Zemirah]

Gem, something like this might be an option for your wings... just solder them onto the diadem.  Maybe find a pair without the added "bling"...

And I think I know what you mean by "less flowy", also.  Something that looks like it would work in battle, and not be a hindrance during fighting.  Of course, once you have pauldrons and vambraces and greaves and such, you really won't need much more in the way of coverage, so something a bit shorter would work nicely, say... knee length, maybe?  Are you thinking of going with a battle skirt/war kilt, also?  It would help to offset any flow, and tame the chemise's tendency to flutter as you walk.  I can see you in something like the skirt pictured here. 


Modified to add:

These wings are more like what I was picturing, although I'm not sure what size you were wanting... they may be too small. 

[Lady Rosalind]

I am beginning to feel like my red dress will never get finished... Way too much to do, and I've been working a lot of extra hours at the real job lately. Anyway, I finally have some progress to share...


Photographic proof that a bodice IS happening... by LadyRosalindWoodville, on Flickr

The joys of mitering trim...


image by LadyRosalindWoodville, on Flickr
Lots of tabs... I needed 31...


Tabs for bodice by LadyRosalindWoodville, on Flickr

A nearly finished hat! Just need to sew the jewel to the feather base, and the whole piece to the bonnet. Yay!


image early finished hat by LadyRosalindWoodville, on Flickr

The bodice is all basted together, waiting for binding (tonight's job!). I need to wear this Saturday! Eek!

[Rowan MacD]

  Gem-By chance,could your friends make you a scale armor helmet to match the bodice? 

[Rowan MacD]

  The Garnet Gown is looking good Lady R!  That's a lot of work to do by Saturday...Hope we finally get to see this!


   It's supposed to be in the high 90's again ...Gah!

[Rani Zemirah]

Ohhhhh, my goodness!  That trim is AMAZING!!!  I can't even imagine how much work went into all those layers!!!    Breathtaking...

[gem]

Jen, that is FANTASTIC--the trim!!! The tabs!!! THE HAT!! It all is coming together so marvelously... will you have it done in time for this season? (I still have sleeves & brustflect and some skirt stuff left on my Saxon gown, and I am hoping desperately to have it done by next week.)

***
Rowan, that first set of wings (the big ol' blingy necklace) would actually be kind of perfect--except that you have to buy six of them! If I were outfitting my entire sisterhood of Valkyries, that would be one thing, but as it is...  How did you find them?

I'd actually been considering something like these (scroll down to see the listing), but metal wings would fit the original inspiration better.

The nice thing about the armor (and all my garb, really) is that it's an investment piece, and it can play with other pieces. I tried it on with a long white chemise and gold skirt, and I looked like an angel! Not really the look I was going for, but if I should *need* an Avenging Angel costume, I'm totally ready.  A short white tunic and a bow, and I'm ready to be Artemis or Athena. Leggings, tall boots, a cloak, and elf ears... It'll work for a lot of things.

[Rowan MacD]

  I think you meant 'Rani', not me.   But I'm following all this closely!

[gem]

Whoops, sorry, guys!! (blush)

[Lady Rosalind]

Unless I can get Rumplestiltskin to come and work his magic, my dress will not be done for this weekend.  it will be close, but not wearable enough for me.

Any way, here is another bodice progress pic!


Ready to add the tabs and bind. by LadyRosalindWoodville, on Flickr

I am really itching to get to wear this!

[Rani Zemirah]

Gem... I just searched "metal angel wings", and metal angel wing necklace", and those came up.  I just now found these on Amazon, and they might work well, if they are large enough. 

Also found these, but it looks like you would have to actually cut them apart.  Not difficult with a good set of wire cutters, I would imagine.  Also apply some gold rub-n-buff, I suppose. 

Not sure if these are large enough, either... but it says they are 3 inches long, so maybe... and at least they are the right color.  It might be worth buying a few cheap sets just to find the right ones...   

[Rani Zemirah]

More...

Oooh, or THIS one!