30 days

My last blog post was pretty depressing. I've tried to write posts more recently but always get frustrated and give up. Today, that changes. Today, the real countdown begins. The man burns in 30 days. My goal is to blog about my preparations for my third trip to Burning Man this year.


Of course the prep has already begun. On the weekend I went to Mountain Equipment Co-op, and purchased two lovely giant red duffel bags. I broke the zipper on my old one, so it has to be replaced, and since they were only $36, I figured I could afford a matched set. And now I'll be able to spot my luggage coming out of the baggage conveyor thing at the airport from a mile away.

So I've already started packing. I have one duffel full already; full of costumes and boots mostly. And many of those outfits received upgrades of some sort, it works with the Evolution theme, I think. Even my old costumes are evolving. Some daytime outfits got embellished with sequins and fringe and little stars. My burn night dress got a lace up corset back, and it's way more comfy now. My playa coat finally got a hood (with ears! - this worked out prefectly as I had just enough matching fur leftover) and EL wire.

I've also created a few new outfits. Pictures to come, maybe... One of the new outfits is made from some old leather jackets I bought at the thrift store. It sort of has that tribal feel, scraps sewn together and leather feathers embellishing it. It might be my wednesday-trek-across-the-playa outfit. I also created a skirt and tank top out of a few yellow t-shirts. With sequins sewn on well, and freezer-paper stencils of wings on the back, and feathers all around. I guess feathers are a bt of a theme in my creations this year. Real feathers aren't allowed at Burning Man, because they create moop (matter-out-of-place - a big no-no at a leave no trace event), so I had to improvise.

There's lots more preparation going on, but I'll save some for another post.

Next up on the crafting block

I finally got started on those Halloween costumes. I cut out the pattern for the Saloon Girl last night. I was thinking of putting EL wire in the bodice instead of piping, but now I'm thinking it's not quite the right costume for EL wire. I also got a huge pile of fabric and notions at Fabricland yesterday for the Halloween costumes. (I would be posting a picture now, but my camera has mysteriously disappeared. It'll turn up soon, or I'll use my phone or something.) So I already had some black satiny stuff for the bodice, it's probably el cheapo lining, but its nice enough, and for Halloween its perfect.

We spent forever wandering around Fabricland looking for fabric so that our costumes would match or look nice together, but not be too matchy-matchy. We wound up finding the perfect combination on one of the upholstery fabric discount tables. So I got some shantung fabric in a light khaki green for the skirt of the dress. It matches well with the heavy twill paisley in mustard, green, and rust red that I got for the Old West Dude's vest. The green shantung will probably be used fo the tie on that costume as well, just to tie (aha!) it all together. And I also got a pile of black broadcloth and some interfacing. Still need some material for the shirt for Craig's costume.

I did get a bunch of notions as well, the Saloon Girl dress needs a whole bunch of trims and ribbons and stuff. Black lace in two different thicknesses, green and gold beaded trim, buttons (they're pewter coloured but now I'm thinking they should have been gold to match the beaded trim... oh well....), black satin and green grosgrain ribbon, bias tape, and I actually bought matching thread for once! Still need a few more things, including giant feathers which I'm hoping to get at the Oktoberfest store in Kitchener.

I'm a little bit ahead of myself too, because I've started working on Christmas and holiday gifts already too. So far the idea is to make knitted dishcloths and handmade soaps for friends, thrummed mittens for Craig's family and maybe my dad, this scarf for my mom, and I'm not really sure what Craig is getting yet. I've made one dishcloth, I dyed the yarn and have started the scarf for my mom. I'm hoping to get some roving and some worsted wool at the KW Knitter's Fair this weekend to make the mittens. And I'll get some extra so maybe I can make matching hats if I have a ton of extra time (which I might, seeing as I'm off work until January).

Burnin back in mind...

So it's summer, which means knitting is seeming less appealing than sewing lately, especially with burning man just around the corner. Ravelry had taken my blogging urges away, since I can updae all my knitting progress there. But there's nowhere for stuff that isn't knit, so...

I've made a few things already for the playa, the first is a night-time dress. I found the fabric for $2/yard, and it has a one direction stretch. Not sure the fibre, probably some sort of blend. I think it will look really good under black light. I used McCalls 4769 but I shortened it a bit, used snaps instead of buttons (love!), added a bit of velcro to the opening right at the waist, and added some sequins and reflective trim to the back.


I also bought a pair of 3/4 length black shiny almost rubberized tights that look awesome with this dress. Here's a close up of the fabric and trim:



Last year we all got together and made our playa coats one night, then made polymer clay beads and jewelery the next day. I had made a cane, which I actually still have a big chunk of, and it may make a reappearance. This year I wanted to go for a different look, but knew Bryan would probably wnat to make some polymer clay beads again, so I got mostly metallic colours of clay this time. I spent a few hours making some pendants a few weeks ago.



And one with the edge of a measuring tape for scale:



I have more stuff to come - some stuff is already finished or nearly finished, and there's lots more ideas, and lots of great fabric and notions I've been collecting lately. I've got Simplicity 2966 partly done, and this pile of fabric and ribbon is now a dress:

More Voting!

I entered my pink pony costume in the contest on craftster. If you'd like to vote for me (or anyone, there's some pretty cool costumes) check it out here.

I'm the pink pony!The rest of the photos are in the photoset here.


We picked names for Secret Santa at work today. I am totally knitting slippers, I know that's what Judi wants!

Lots o' pink fun fur - Halloween!

Before Burning Man I bought a bunch of cheap fake hair.I started making dreadfalls but it was taking forever with my poor weak kettle. So I still have a ton of it left, mostly in pink, but also some blue and a maroon-ish colour. A pony tail seemed like the obvious thing to make,so I decided my Halloween costume would be a horsey. A pink one, with blue accents, due to the the colour of the hair.


So taking a bunch of pink hair in my pocket and holding it up to different fabrics, in many different fabric stores,I must have looked like a lunatic. I originally wanted something with a smoother texture, sleek like a horse, but I think the fabric I got is great now. The colour is perfect, and it has the texture of a horse in winter. But softer! :) For the accent colour I went with sparkly blue, which turned out not to be so brilliant to line the top with. It makes me sparkly. Oh well!



The costume also will probably go to Burning Man, and I've been keeping that in mind while making it. When finished, it will have lots of parts: there's a top, skirt, legwarmers, armwarmers, four hooves, tail/belt, and headpiece. I've been working a little on each part, I don't think any one part is totally finished.


The top is from a pattern (except the straps), everything else is just straight out of my brain!

Halloween

So I bought Simplicity 3675 to make a Halloween costume. I made the underneath dress part and I don't like it at all! I'm working on the corset part now, and it is going much better. I'll probably make a little fur circle skirt or something to go with it.

I guess I should mention I am dressing up like a horse. Well, sort of My Little Pony style, a pink horse. I've posted a bit in the Halloween Craftster sewalong.