"Resign yourself, Catherine! Shops must be visited! Money must be spent! Do you think you could bear it?" - Northanger Abbey

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

HSF Challenge #24 Re-Do - Fob watch chatelaine

The Challenge: #24 Re-Do

The Challenge you are Re-do-ing: #19 Wood Metal Bone

Fabric/Notions: Blue ribbon, watch, 'pearl', hair clip, cameo (it was in a pack of cameos for card crafts).

Pattern: N/A

Year: Regency
 

How historically accurate is it? Well I have seen images of regency gents with fob watches on ribbons...and in the most recent bbc series of emma the title character had one on a chain/ribbon.

Hours to complete: 2 hours (glue had to dry.)

First worn:N/A

Total cost:£18 (most of that was the watch cost)


 Above is the original fob watch necklace I used as I can't make a watch. lol! I used 1 meter of ribbon - interfacing the 'point'. I attached the ribbon to the metal hair clip. then sewed the watch on one point and a small 'pearl' from another necklace to the other point. Then glued a 'cameo' on the clip to cover up my sewing.

Above is the 'regency' version and the one below is my 'cosplay' version with its additional TARDIS key. ;)

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Doctor Who 50th Anniversary (Saturday) at the Excel

So I got tickets to the 50th Anniversary (yes its an anniversary like a marriage anniversary rather than a birthday. IMO) at the excel in London. The day started early...ever so early. I think I was half asleep and it was still dark outside. Even the train station ticket office wasn't open yet. Had to fight with the machine. The train trip was fairly uneventful...apart from accidentally taking a DLR train in wrong direction...only for one station easy enough to go back the other way. lol! told you it was too early. Sitting on the train I was playing spot the whovian. At first it was subtle things TARDIS bags or t-shirts then the more I looked there were 11th doctor cosplays everywhere.You've never seen so many fezes in one place. lol!
Joined the longest queue in the world...and that was just the queue for the queue to get in...
 Eveverybody move up...we can fit more in. ;)

Can you spot yourself?
 The queue in front....there were two queues to get in...one led you one side of the theatre the other to the other.
Looking back over at the entrance...the queue snaking back to the doorway. We seemed to be waiting FOREVER...then finally they announced we could file in, to a loud cheer.
I managed to get a seat. Although quite far back (which as I discovered was actually quite fortuatous - with some of the SFX). They had trailers and clips of the doctor's looping round on the screen as we filed in. It was at first amusing how every time David Tennant or Matt Smith came on screen in a clip some rather loud fangirls decided they would scream.

It was presented by Dallas Campbell (you know the one from bang goes the theroy...looks like Peter Capaldi). They exploded a Dalek and got a young boy up dressed as the doctor to shoot a cyberman with an oversized gun. There was also a question and answer section. With some very funny answers...Afterwards we were filed out a different door into a corridor. It was a bit confusing as to where to go next.

A lot of people like me just wandered up to the top floor...then realised it was the wrong place and had to walk back down. Took a photo of the map so I could find my way to the main hall where I wanted to be.
 As you entered the main hall (at this point there were queues again) the entrance was disguised as the scrapyard set from the original episode.
There was even a TARDIS in the corner....quite a few people had their photo taken in front of it.
Ahem
The first thing I did was wander round to familiarize myself with the layout.
There were peices of sets and costumes dotted around the 'Stages' and 'Arena's'. As a costume and sewing fan...I erm....took a lot of pics of the clothing.


It was a bit annoying I was on my own...would have liked more photo's with me in it...but felt awkward about asking strangers to take my pic.
 Queued in the queue for the queue to queue for the queue for the autographs (can you see a theme here?). Got my TARDIS journal signed by Colin Baker. I think I babbled like a mad person...lots of thank you's were involved. lol!

Was a bit star struck. There were some great cosplays around. There was a cute one with a father and son in matching 5th doctor outfit in the queue for Peter Davisons autograph.
There was a cyberman being explained at one of the areas.

Also so many people cosplaying which was nice. There was even a timelord -collar and all- walking around.
I managed to get my autograph in time so I could go to watch the Big Finish Demo. Which was good...impressed by the audience members acting. Then dashed off to queue...again to get in the theatre.
Didn't get that good a view this time. The disadvantage of being short. But the classic doctor's panel was brilliant and hillarious and at the same time quite poigniant. They were all on form and all got a standing ovation. Nick Briggs was a gem for continuing to take questions despite being told it there was no time for questions left.
After that panel there was about 10mins gap to allow people to go for comfort break but you kept same seat for the next panel. Which was the eleventh doctor panel.
Matt got a big cheer and a few screams from the fangirls...There was some interesting body language. They all seemed so scared about giving away too much at such a late date.
Moffat got a cheer from the audience when he talked about being fed up with people not letting them give the fans a surprise, because of all the 'leaks'. And also how he felt about when the show got canceled in the 80's.
The Q&A bit was funny...especially when they got a kid up who'd been sitting down the front and kept being shown on the big screen. Matt got him to sit inbetween him and Jenna and asked what his question was...it was more of a statement about what was withthe Fezes. lol! They had to agree to disagree about weather hats were cool. ;)

I then filed out with everyone else and went for one last look round the main hall. Bought myself from the Big Finish stand 'Dark Eyes'. I then went over to stage two to watch interview with 'Peri' and 'Tegan' which was quite interesting.
Then popped to the loo and got back just in time to watch the eighth doctor panel. Shame it wasn't *all* the leading cast. ;) But it was great anyway. In the Q&A session I was near enough the front to ask a question. (Yay!) Asked if they brought 'Grace' back from the TVM which of the modern doctor's would she like to work with...got the diplomatic answer of all of them. 
That was the last thing I could do before I had to dash across the excel to catch the train home. I jogged (I don't run...its not pretty) home and got in with 10mins to spare. Phew! Enough time to make a cuppa tea and warm up the TV.



p.s. only saw 4 other eighth doctor cosplayers...and I was the only 'femme' eighth doctor cosplay. Was hoping for more after the minisode.




Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Regency Pelisse - Some Ideas

Inspired by the eighth doctor's costume
Yep. I've changed my mind again. Well my mock up muslin dress came out so well I thought I should use it. Yes I will post the dress when I finish the hemming of it. ;)
Above is a little sketch up of an idea for an outfit. Cream Petticoat. White Dress. Gold Sleeveless Spencer. Green Pelisse. Bonnet. Chatelaine (watch). Reticule. The bonnet depends on how much fabric from the pelisse I have over for trim etc.
Thanks to the suggestions on the Historical sew fortnightly page I've found a few fashion plates to help illistrate what I want to do.
The one on the left show's how I want the 'skirt' back to be two panels. Although I will have it only open up to half way. The one on the right shows the kind of collar and sleeves I plan to use.
So when standing still it should look similer to the blue one above. Its so I can move easily in it without extra bulk and it will show off the pretty hem of my dress.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Doctor Who Eighth Doctor Cosplay - Update

For those of you who have seen it or haven't seen it but already know the big surprise about the Doctor Who minisode.
Let me just say how pleased I am. Totally loved it. Full spin off series please?

Anyway back to what I was planning on talking about. The Doctor's outfit in that mini episode is a bit different to the tv movie one.
Which leaves me in a quandy...my cosplay outfit was based on the TVM. I'm thinking with a new shopbought coat. I can't find the combination of right material, colour and cut. But I have found the right cut of coat even if the colours different.
I found the above one on the H&M website. I hope they have it in stock in the shop. Turned down collar, double breasted and kneelength.

I also found this right colour but the cut is too short.
I have a blue headscarf I can use for the neckerchief. Got similar boots but ankle height. I'll be wearing my trousers that are different to the minisode ones so they will cover the fact they aren't kneehigh.

I can tack on my shirt collar rather than pin it and wear it more open.
What do you think? Will it work?

Thursday, November 14, 2013

My Me Made Sonic Screwdriver

Well a female timelord needs a sonic screwdriver doesn't she to help unlock all those doors etc.? ;)
Now I had a 9th doctor style one...but my costume is eighth doctor. So I wanted one that fitted that style. I looked up every tutorial online. Taking the elements I thought I could achive...basically anything that involved tools like drills was out.

Version 1

I started off with a lip gloss - the kind with a colour and a clear protective gloss on the other end. The one above I'd had for years...I tend to do that with makeup as I don't wear it often. Anyway firstly I got some enamel paint, the kind used for airfix kits and painted the centre where the brand name was....then I glued a copper coin to each end to make it stable enough to stand up.

I'd taken apart some jewellry I got for cheap in a sale. Glued marble to the 'ring' from the jewellery then glued that to one end. I then glued an earing onto the centre as my 'button'. And glued on the chain to decorate the clear end.
Voila! One sonic screwdriver...or sonic lipgloss maybe? ;)

Version 2
This was made using a glow stick pen thing I got for 99p from 'the works'. Initially I painted a base coat of white enamel paint.
Then once that had dried it too 2 coats of silver paint. to stop the light showing through.
 I made a leather 'grip' which I glued on by cutting it out of an old bag. Then glued on some red beads and other bits off the same necklace I'd cannibalised for the 1st sonic.
I then painted the hand grip and glued a botl and bead onto the end of the sonic.
Voila! Finished. It even lights up. The glow stick had differnt light modes so it looks more like its actuallly sonic-ing stuff. lol!

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Journal of Impossible things - a short tutorial

Ok so maybe not the journal of impossible things, more like river songs diary. ;)
I thought if I'm going to collect some autographs I need a book to put it in. Plus I can stick in photo's of the day* afterwards.
So here is my simple tutorial....

 Firstly take one blue leather notebook, masking tape and silver fabric paint.


Mask off your TARDIS outline on the notebook.


 Paint in the gaps. It took two coats.

Remove masking tape once pain is dry. I'll probably varnish it at some point but it looks fine for now.


*Doctor Who 50th Celebration Excel

Monday, November 4, 2013

HSF Challenge #22 Masquerade - Shirt, Waistcoat and Trousers

For this challenge its more of a challenge as rather than one item I wanted to pull together a whole ensemble of different elements from different eras to make my 'masquerade costume'. Which for those who know is actually a Doctor Who costume for a certain event in November.


I had originally intended to do a full Edwardian parallel to the eighth doctor's outfit, but found myself running out of time, funds and fabric. So I made some comprimises and adjustments. The jacket was taking me a long time to do. The skirt I'd done my wearable mock up in green but realised I wouldn't have enough matching fabric left so changes to high waisted trousers instead. My shirt would also be made by me and with a detachable collar.

So that left me with:
Jacket - Edwardian
Shirt - Edwardian
Trousers - 1930's
Waistcoat - Indeterminate but hoping it would fit 1930's or Edwardian
Cravat - Misc

Now so far I have completed the waistcoat for another challenge. The Shirt I completed but changed the 'style' of and the Trousers were using my TNT go to trouser pattern. The Jacket I have abandoned...in favor of something shop bought.

The Challenge: #22 Masquerade

Fabric: Brown Twill,  silk haboutai, white sheeting


Pattern: Trousers (Eliza M Swing trousers), Waistcoat (McCalls
6149), Cravat (No Pattern), Shirt (Simplicity Lisette 2246 modified, collar self drafted.)

Year: Various. From Edwardian to 1930's.

Notions: Polymerclay buttons (made myself), thread, zip, hook and bar.

How historically accurate is it? Well I wasn't going for absolute accuracy as this is meant as a cosplay outfit....it was more historically inspired.


Hours to complete: As there were so many elements it took me several weeks to do.

First worn: It will get worn at the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary at the excel in November.

Total cost: I've lost count. With so many different elements.