swag for $20 or less

[anotheranon]

Hit the JoAnn's sale; behaved badly but not as badly as I could have (thinking of the denim herringbone twill I left behind, mmmm!) I DID come away with the POTC pattern (and female version - at 99 cents, why not?), the Van Helsing/pimp coat, and the men's and women's LOTR patterns. Had to get a few of each for sizes (D. may want a pirate/pimp coat one day, you never know), but still...

Also got 10 more yards of muslin for fitting purposes. Damned if I can afford any fashion fabric, but with this and my roll of newsprint I can draft 'til the cows come home :P

Dashed around to the grocery and vitamin store to stay ahead of the remains of Bonnie and Charlie (shoulda been called "Clyde") that are heading our way. Not that I'm afraid it's going to be hurricane strength, I just wanted to avoid getting caught in a downpour for the second time this week.

On the book stack: my sister is sending me the new Amber Room book, if the FedEx truck ever gets here; Story of V loaned by jlsjlsjls; hopefully also make some headway on The Introvert Advantage, after I do some paperwork and laundry....

Can you tell I'm way caffinated?

Comments

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

You had a good treasure-hunt day too ... some days shopping CAN be fun!!!!! :-))))

Don't forget, muslin used to BE a fashion fabric ... you could resurrect the trend. ;-)

[ragdoll.livejournal.com]

I picked up all those patterns when I was in Chicago for $1.99 each -- have you seen the McCalls Medieval Patterns which are pretty much the Arwen Dresses? I think those are backlaced too. I keep missing McCalls/Butterick sales so I paid 'full' (half) price for them because I just hadn't been to JoAnn's in such a long time and didn't have the patience to wait anymore.

Can't wait to see what you do with them -- I picked up the POTC patterns (including the male one) too with vague thoughts of maybe doing something with them someday -- the Van Helsing one was a bit too pimpy looking for me though.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see what you're going to do with yours! I don't think I've ever seen any of your sewing projects!

It will be a long while before I do anything with any of these, but I rather like jlsjlsjls snippet from "The Pyrates" describing a crimson clad Pirate Queen (http://www.livejournal.com/users/anotheranon/334421.html?thread=535125#t535125), but I suppose I should read the book first before I'm wedded to this plan!

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think you'll like her all the way through (and I HIGHLY recommend the book ... it's like reading an old-fashioned swashbuckler movie) ... any female character who gobbles chocolates by the handful, out of terror that prison has taken a pound or two off her curves, is MY kind of woman! The only other outfit mentioned, besides the crimson gear, is her leopard-skin track suit. ***grin*** My copy of "The Pyrates" has a full-length portrait of crimson-clad Sheba on the cover ... I'll see if I can find a piccie of that edition online for you.

[ragdoll.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I seem to collect patterns but never find the time/space to actually SEW them. Plus I'm slightly too large for most women's patterns, suck at tailoring and never can find the ones I really like in plus sizes. I am planning on working on a lot of dolls in the next year though and since (luckily) Barbie and friends don't really change their sizes too much, those should be easier to show off.

I was thinking that the model on the Pirate Lass pattern looked a lot like Geena Davis and then realised that she was in Cutthroat Island which I've never seen -- although I'm not sure her costumes were anything like those.

By the way, you'd probably know -- any suggestions on a good source for tricorn hats? I found a site on the web but they want like $120 for things like repro Jack Sparrow hats (in leather) whereas I really want a reasonably priced felt one.

[ragdoll.livejournal.com]

Okay, you've piqued my interest. Who is the author of the book?

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

One thing about dressing dolls - you can save lots of $ on fabric! I have a friend who is working on miniatures and dolls for that reason, among others.

Re: tricorn hats - alas, I have no good sources either! I'll let you know if I run across anything though. You might want to do a search for Smoke and Fire - they cater mostly to 18th c. reenactment, but maybe they have budget items.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Also re: Cutthroat Island - also never seen, but might provide good inspration. Also Anne Bonny, Mary Read...I think there's a new book out about the former, and Elizabethan piratess Grace O'Malley as well...

Thank you for feeding my inspiration!

[ragdoll.livejournal.com]

I just bought some fabric at the Joann's in Tyngsboro, MA (very near Nashua) -- they have a better selection of Asian brocades there so I bought 1/2 yard of three different ones in very small patterns. Some day, I might manage to do SOMETHING with them.

I actually like sewing for 15" dolls (Gene, Alex, Tyler, etc.) better since it's easier to do hand sewing and tailoring without going bugfuck but Barbie is good too. I'm now going to be doing centerpiece dolls for next year's convention and found this fabulous black and silver art deco-ish fabric at JoAnn's (black with silver swirls) so hopefully our plans for something vaguely Erte-ish will come to fruition).

[ragdoll.livejournal.com]

I see it's written by Judith Cook who is one of my mom's favourite authors. I have a copy of To Brave Every Danger which I need to read although I think she (the protagonist) was a highway woman, not a pirate.

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

No torture intended (not much, anyway ***grin***). The book is The Pyrates by George Macdonald Fraser (author of many impeccably-researched and fun historical books and screenplays, most notably the Flashman novels and the 1970s Three Musketeers films).

[ragdoll.livejournal.com]

I know the name and thanks for the reccy. I'm adding it to my book wishlist immediately. :)