Item 1: New Costuming Year resolution - I am taking a break from teaching at Costume College for however long it takes for me to recover my teaching mojo.

Item 2: The scant number of pics I took at CoCo can be found here.

Item 3: I have suddenly been put back into contact with my costuming mojo and I'm itching to start some new projects, all of which are 18th century-related.

Prior to Costume College, I started work on the Christie's wrap front 1790s bodice, and its nearing completion.

I am also chomping at the bit to start the newly coined Limoncello redingote*. That's the yellow silk taffeta next to the dress that I will be using to recreate the dress. I was able to find a photo of the front of the redingote, taken by Johanna Öst, who was lucky to have a chance to see the Fastes de Cour exhibit at Versailles. And speaking of Johanna, I also discovered her lovely blog, 18th Century Blog, which then pointed me to two more 18th c. costuming blogs I hadn't yet discovered, Rockin' The Rococo and My 18th Century. Fabulous with a side helping of awesome! Now I'm seriously back to craving the 18th c. wardrobe of my dreams.

*I can't stand limoncello. No, really. But I love yellow. :)

Poll #1434479 Costume College Ahoy!
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 28

Who is going to be at Costume College?

I sat down last night to figure out what I planned on wearing/bringing to Costume College and realized that I'm really only going to have an opportunity to wear about 2 costumes. I'm teaching a whole bunch this year, and while I am capable of teaching in an elaborate costume (all of my costumes are elaborate in one way or another, even the simple ones) I'm also thinking maybe I shouldn't. (Me = Lazy)

So that boils down to the Friday night surprise and my gala outfit (still trying to decide between the 1589 gown and the stripey polonaise... Might have to flip a coin or consult the iBall. I'll probably bring two more outfits just in case I get struck with the random inspiration to wear a costume, but otherwise, those are the only two "events" that require a specific costume for that weekend.

And in site-specific news, I'm working on a site redesign with is going to completely muck up any bookmarks people may have to specific pages. For maximum irritation, I'm also transferring hosting services, so there's no end of possibility as to what could happen to the site in the next week or so. Fun! Anyway, just warning y'all. :)

Trystan's Sekrit Costume College Dress is basically finished, but for a few final touches. Only took me 4 hours from start to finish. If I had my fabric on hand, I'd get started on my version of the dress, but that's going to come in a few days so I'm pretty much done with sewing for the time being.

T-minus 15 days until CoCo and I've got no serious sewing to do! I feel... Kind of confused by the concept.

Hm.

I guess I should start planning on what I want to wear in a couple of weekends, right?

I've 98% decided to wear the 1580s gown for the Gala, even though the purple stripey anglaise won out in the poll. The reason being that I have only worn the 1580s gown once, and I have far less incentive to wear it again, baring the Gala, because it is not a dress that is easy to wear. The anglaise, while lovely and fun to wear (and is actually in keeping with the theme of the Gala, but since when have I ever dressed for the theme), is less exciting for me at the moment. I've been doing a lot of 18th c. stuff lately. I hardly ever get a chance to wear full-on high Elizabethan.

Though I might change my mind at the last second... :)

Other than that, I'm not sure what else I'm really planning for. There's been a special request for a surprise novelty costume for Friday night and I'm actually thinking I can pull it off. Fabric is going into the wash today and once I'm finished hand sewing the eleventy million buttonholes I'm doing as a favor to a friend (I'm a nice kitty), I will begin the cutting process. It's all machine/modern sewing, which cuts down on the emotional investment factor considerably.

Anyway, the rest of the time at CoCo, I'm going to probably spend the majority of class time in regular clothes, just because I'm teaching so many classes this time around and I don't know if I feel up to that kind of activity level while wearing a corset. We'll see... Probably what will happen is I'll get to the hotel, see everyone wandering around in fabulous outfits and I'll be all inspired to get dressed up. Which means I'll be bringing a random assortment costumes that might or might not get worn.

Also means I need to start going over all my costumes to see what needs repairs and to iron everything. And my wigs need some TLC...

And the to-do list grows...