costume, the clamshell purse

For my costuming, I always need a belt pouch, because pockets... just never seem to do... or the garment is one that does not lend itself to pockets larger than a £2 coin.

I have had this little leather clamshell purse for probably a decade now. I bought it when we were in Austria, either in Tyrol or Innsbruck. Can't remember how much I paid for it, but it was before the Euro currency launched.

Thankfully, I picked a teal green rather than black. Go me.

The pewter flower on the strap is an edelweiss.

The front:



The back:



Inner views and size reference:





I know these last two are somewhat blurry, but trying to get things in good light while holding it open just didn't go quite as well as I'd perceived. Still, they give one an idea of the size and how it looks inside.

It's pretty much just large enough to act as a coin purse, holding cash notes and perhaps a traditional house key. Car keys won't fit, neither will credit cards.

a steampunk - gaslight fantasy costume

The test run...








The costume is warm, very warm, but for walking outdoors in Britain, it's probably not warm enough.

But these photos show a little of the Bald Mountain boots and the Chivalry Sports wool hat. Underneath the purple skirt is a white skirt from Shukr.

I'll be working on the accessories for a while, but it's something.

I can also cheat and use the Hot Topic black fabric fingerless gloves if it's too warm for the leather ones.

a steampunk - gaslight fantasy costume

As promised, some photos... I need to try things on but when laid together, they're looking very promising.



The original idea for the steampunk/gaslight fantasy costume. Black... lots of black. The skirt is from Chivalry Sports in the USA. The brass button jacket a shopping mall find (I just love it when the mundane shops have costume items!)




I was a bit dissatisfied with a completely black outfit. I started to dig, thankfully, my elder, bless him, poked and prodded my brain with questions and such. I recalled I had a long purple skirt. Here we go, let's break up that black!




Call this my 'mood board' for this project. The plaid background is a scarf I found in the mens' department of H&M. The chains are various kinds I found at B&Q (aka 'Home Depot' if you're in the USA) and are mostly brass with a little copper. The purple behind it all is my Fat Face skirt you see more of above.




A slightly cleaner view of the neckerchief... showing the plaid off a little better.




Possible ensemble: the Fat Face skirt, which is not floor length but it does reach down to the calves. The brass button jacket. The brown leather belt with the brass buckle, the black leather cuffs with pewter hardware and the plaid neckerchief were all from the mens' department of H&M. The black leather gloves are from John Lewis Oxford Street in London - I've had these for almost to fifteen years.




The bottles, one of these, perhaps two, of these darlings will become part of the costume. I'll be filling the bottles with goodies once they're chained. I intend to use copper or brass wire to create a cup and then the chains will attach to the cup and to the stopper and on up to the chain belt that I've been working on.




Crow and raven feathers, freely gifted to me as found whilst travelling. I need to find my quartz crystals and make a decision on which one will go into the hat brooch for the costume.

And no, I haven't photographed the boots or the hat yet, but soon!

a steampunk - gaslight fantasy costume

So my elder asked me what character I might build my costume around for conventions and events, one based on Steampunk or Gaslight Fantasy.

(This ties in with the chain belt I'm still working on.)

And this is what I came up with. I'll see about some photos tomorrow of the 'rough beginnings' of a costume for this character.

"travelling companion, holder of packages, little voice of caution or incaution... sometimes damsel in distress, sometimes the one doing the rescuing..."

- I have a black hat that is undecorated, wide-brimmed and lovely wool. I have some crow and raven feathers that the birds have freely gifted me on their own, moulted feathers collected from the ground. I have some quartz crystals and copper wire. I think I will wrap the crystal and the feathers to create a centrepiece for the hat and some black or some suitable colour of grosgrain ribbon for the hatband. -- Need to check on what ribbons I have.

- I have a purple-plum long skirt that is 'distressed' and 'frayed' at the hem, it's long but not floor legth, it ends around the lower calf. Made of cotton.

- I have some black and purple Bald Mountain custom made boots. Leather.

- I have a teal and purple plaid neckerchief. Cotton.

- I have a black jacket with brass buttons. Cotton and brass.

- I have a white voile shirt. Cotton.

- I have black gloves. Leather.

- I have some coptic-style bound books that I can use for a prop. I did build and bind them myself, but they're empty and require some 'filling' to gain more function, perhaps adding a small travelling bottle of in and well.

I can likely get some suitably loud or complimentary coloured tights/leggings for the wintertime.

I think bracers for optional costume changes or seasonal options would be useful.

The copper belt I'm working on. I also have glass bottles and some ready-made chain that I can hook together for the fantasy elements. I think hawk bells and one of the Kwan-Yin bells would add some movement.

I am looking at building a set of prayer beads, I think the end token, instead of a cross will be either one of the St Christopher medals or perhaps my comedy/tragedy charms or perhaps a Goddess charm.

I'm still working on that lucet cord for costuming.

I now have some clock parts and watch pieces, would like to find a suitable locket of brass to go on the chain.

jewellery work - the belt for the costume

I'm starting to work on a convention/gamer/larp/fantasy/whatever costume for my own gratification.

I bought plenty of copper wire because I wanted to do something steampunk, but then I saw the goth belly dancers and that kinda sent me in a different direction.

Combine this with a request from a friend to make some ankle wear for their lovers and I found I really needed to reaquaint myself with the wrapped loop.

So, as a way to reaquire a skill I haven't used in ages, I'm working in the copper. If I don't do the wrapped loops quite so perfect or bodge remembering how to do chainmail it's no disaster, this is my costume, it'll be undergoing constant revisions.



These are the first pieces, the knitting needle is a 4mm needle, if you want a reference point.

jewellery work: the wrapped loop aka rosary turn

Finally, Wrapped Loop Technique in a video that's pretty clearly demonstrated.

I know how to do this, but it's been a while, so having a reminder is just brilliant.

Step-by-step photos:
How to make beaded jewelry's wrapped loop the pictures are clear, which is a nice step forward, too often the images are fuzzy and useless.

tension and realisation about knitting

So I have some mystery yarn a friend donated to me, burn test suggests lots of acrylic/nylon in it, with possibly a touch of wool. I'm going with the 5.00mm needles as I suspect it's an aran yarn (it's one of those huge 400g balls). I recall when I did some crochet with it that this fuschia stuff felt thicker than the teal stuff.
Thus the tension tube. I have close to 400g to make hats, I think, and perhaps mittens. Time to practice some stuff out of the Betty Barnden's how to knit with circular & double-pointed needles.

I realise now that I will never be a knitter who does large projects, knitting just takes way too damn long to get anywhere with it.

So, all the sweater projects I'm giving to a friend who only knows how to knit so she has stuff to do if she wants it. To which, I am grateful she has the willingness and patience to do it. I know I don't.

I'll always be a small projects knitter... everything else is just too boring for me.