Breaking the silence for a year in review, in list form, of course.
Since I've sworn off costuming and jewelry work until after the turn of the year (no matter how much I'm itching to fidget with the Angel gown on the dress form), I'm likely not going to finish anything else before December 31st. I don't think I made a public list of what I wanted to accomplish this year at last year's end and I'd probably only be embarrassed by the overly ambitious goals I'm sure I set for myself anyway. So, I'll just start this tradition now, since I actually managed to finish some costumes for once.
2008
1. Finished Dream gown

(Thanks to
belluthien for the pic, hope you don't mind me using it)
The only thing I really did to this costume this year was finally hem it. It's been mostly put together for several years now and I've even worn it a few times without the hems done. As I got into it right before ALEP, I also discovered that one side was no longer attached where I had planned to insert a zipper (and since decided against it). So, I reattached all of that as well. I'm really happy with it, with the exception of a few splotches where this was obviously my first attempt at dyeing.
2. "Finished" Blood Red gown

(Thanks to Kathryn, the organizer of the Tennessee Fellowship group, for the pic)
I've still got some things to do to this costume and I'm not even including the fact that I want to totally remake the undergown (it's just terrible, but you don't see it, so it's not high on my list). I've got some braided trims to add to the bottom edges of the bullion trim I've got at the neck and arms. Other than that, I'm calling it done. I was working on this right up to the Hall of Fire on Saturday night at ALEP. Even though I and those that stayed with me to keep me company as I sewed were extremely late showing up that night, I still had half the neckline trim held on with safety pins (didn't even notice, did you? and if I had realized that would work so well, I totally would have done that with the other half of the neckline and we would have been a lot earlier). I got the rest of the trim sewn on not long after ALEP and wore it to the Tennessee Fellowship October Moot (as seen in the pic). Now that this is finally "done", I really want to wear it a lot and I should have worn it more at ALEP for how much I worked on it (the Dream gown is just way too comfy to take off!). Right before ALEP, it was a mad dash to finish hemming on it and to resize the undergown. I also inserted a zipper in the side seam of the overgown for ease of getting in and out of it. Let me tell you, that was the smartest thing I've done to this costume! I still would love to cover some shoes to go with it and I've got a lot of scraps left. I also want to get more of the brocade from Bindu before it's gone, just to have in case I ever get around to remaking the undergown.
3. Threw together a passable pirate ensemble

(Pardon the MySpace-like pic, I still don't have a better one or one with all the accessories)
This one is likely to evolve as I'm just starting to get hooked on pirate garb. We had a fantastic response for Halloween with our ensembles, which only makes me want to make them more elaborate. But, as of now, if the need arises, I have a pirate ensemble that's totally wearable. I am now in the market for a new pair of boots. These didn't fit in the feet (too big) but were too tight on the calf. They apparently fit Chris just fine, so I've passed them on to him (they were men's boots anyway). I still need better weapons, some sashes and some tricorn hats to finish us off. Could also use to make Chris a real ensemble and Jonah would make a good cabin boy.
4. Got to about the halfway mark on the Angel gown

(Pic of the finished mockup)
The lining gown is basically done, with the exception of the hem (waiting until all three layers are done to hem them all at once). I still have the silver crinkle undergown and the knit overgown to put together (everything is cut out), then I have to finish the embroidery and beading on the trim and start the beading for the edges of the overgown. I just have to find time to work on it and most likely won't be able to until the next year.
2009
(In order of importance)
1. Finish Angel gown - put together undergown and overgown and hem everything, finish embroidery and beading on neckline trim, start/finish edge beading on overgown. Done by Dragon*con 2009.
2. Collecting pirate accessories to finish out our ensembles and perhaps actually making Chris and Jonah some decent pirate garb - TN Ren Faire 2009 (May).
3. Celeborn - by Dragon*con 2009

4. Lamia - by Dragon*con 2009

5. Finish little details on Blood Red gown - put braided trims on undergown and hem undergown sleeves. Easily done by Dragon*con 2009 or on any given weekend afternoon.
6. Malificent - Halloween 2009

Though, this one could be slipped off the list if it's just not feasible. I just want to do something Halloweeny for once and she's my all time favorite villain.
7. Undecided Harry Potter related costume - I've decided I need one, but I don't want to put a ton of effort into it and want it to be a simple one (perhaps just a gathering of materials rather than much sewing). I've got enough on my plate with just Celeborn and Lamia let alone the other things I'd like to accomplish. If anyone has suggestions, feel free to share them. Would also want this done by Dragon*con 2009 for the Yule Ball.
8. Super secret costume that I will taunt everyone with if I'm able to actually work on it - Dragon*con 2009.
9. Aragorn's Council Velvet outfit for Chris

10 & 11. Two costumes for an original character I'm researching (knowing me, you probably already know she's a noble elf of Rivendell). One is a "noble" costume (elaborate robes, silver headpiece, etc.) and the other an elven ranger/wilderness type costume. I'm trying to work out right now how she'd fit logistically (who are her relatives, friends, etc.). I want it to seem like a natural storyline that weaves in with the existing stories of Middle Earth almost seamlessly. It may be a long time before I even begin plot, but I do have some ideas already in that department. I don't have an anticipated time line on these costumes because, honestly, I don't expect to get around to it next year except perhaps some research and some material gathering.
2008
1. Finished Dream gown

(Thanks to
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
The only thing I really did to this costume this year was finally hem it. It's been mostly put together for several years now and I've even worn it a few times without the hems done. As I got into it right before ALEP, I also discovered that one side was no longer attached where I had planned to insert a zipper (and since decided against it). So, I reattached all of that as well. I'm really happy with it, with the exception of a few splotches where this was obviously my first attempt at dyeing.
2. "Finished" Blood Red gown

(Thanks to Kathryn, the organizer of the Tennessee Fellowship group, for the pic)
I've still got some things to do to this costume and I'm not even including the fact that I want to totally remake the undergown (it's just terrible, but you don't see it, so it's not high on my list). I've got some braided trims to add to the bottom edges of the bullion trim I've got at the neck and arms. Other than that, I'm calling it done. I was working on this right up to the Hall of Fire on Saturday night at ALEP. Even though I and those that stayed with me to keep me company as I sewed were extremely late showing up that night, I still had half the neckline trim held on with safety pins (didn't even notice, did you? and if I had realized that would work so well, I totally would have done that with the other half of the neckline and we would have been a lot earlier). I got the rest of the trim sewn on not long after ALEP and wore it to the Tennessee Fellowship October Moot (as seen in the pic). Now that this is finally "done", I really want to wear it a lot and I should have worn it more at ALEP for how much I worked on it (the Dream gown is just way too comfy to take off!). Right before ALEP, it was a mad dash to finish hemming on it and to resize the undergown. I also inserted a zipper in the side seam of the overgown for ease of getting in and out of it. Let me tell you, that was the smartest thing I've done to this costume! I still would love to cover some shoes to go with it and I've got a lot of scraps left. I also want to get more of the brocade from Bindu before it's gone, just to have in case I ever get around to remaking the undergown.
3. Threw together a passable pirate ensemble

(Pardon the MySpace-like pic, I still don't have a better one or one with all the accessories)
This one is likely to evolve as I'm just starting to get hooked on pirate garb. We had a fantastic response for Halloween with our ensembles, which only makes me want to make them more elaborate. But, as of now, if the need arises, I have a pirate ensemble that's totally wearable. I am now in the market for a new pair of boots. These didn't fit in the feet (too big) but were too tight on the calf. They apparently fit Chris just fine, so I've passed them on to him (they were men's boots anyway). I still need better weapons, some sashes and some tricorn hats to finish us off. Could also use to make Chris a real ensemble and Jonah would make a good cabin boy.
4. Got to about the halfway mark on the Angel gown

(Pic of the finished mockup)
The lining gown is basically done, with the exception of the hem (waiting until all three layers are done to hem them all at once). I still have the silver crinkle undergown and the knit overgown to put together (everything is cut out), then I have to finish the embroidery and beading on the trim and start the beading for the edges of the overgown. I just have to find time to work on it and most likely won't be able to until the next year.
2009
(In order of importance)
1. Finish Angel gown - put together undergown and overgown and hem everything, finish embroidery and beading on neckline trim, start/finish edge beading on overgown. Done by Dragon*con 2009.
2. Collecting pirate accessories to finish out our ensembles and perhaps actually making Chris and Jonah some decent pirate garb - TN Ren Faire 2009 (May).
3. Celeborn - by Dragon*con 2009

4. Lamia - by Dragon*con 2009

5. Finish little details on Blood Red gown - put braided trims on undergown and hem undergown sleeves. Easily done by Dragon*con 2009 or on any given weekend afternoon.
6. Malificent - Halloween 2009

Though, this one could be slipped off the list if it's just not feasible. I just want to do something Halloweeny for once and she's my all time favorite villain.
7. Undecided Harry Potter related costume - I've decided I need one, but I don't want to put a ton of effort into it and want it to be a simple one (perhaps just a gathering of materials rather than much sewing). I've got enough on my plate with just Celeborn and Lamia let alone the other things I'd like to accomplish. If anyone has suggestions, feel free to share them. Would also want this done by Dragon*con 2009 for the Yule Ball.
8. Super secret costume that I will taunt everyone with if I'm able to actually work on it - Dragon*con 2009.
9. Aragorn's Council Velvet outfit for Chris

10 & 11. Two costumes for an original character I'm researching (knowing me, you probably already know she's a noble elf of Rivendell). One is a "noble" costume (elaborate robes, silver headpiece, etc.) and the other an elven ranger/wilderness type costume. I'm trying to work out right now how she'd fit logistically (who are her relatives, friends, etc.). I want it to seem like a natural storyline that weaves in with the existing stories of Middle Earth almost seamlessly. It may be a long time before I even begin plot, but I do have some ideas already in that department. I don't have an anticipated time line on these costumes because, honestly, I don't expect to get around to it next year except perhaps some research and some material gathering.