Nearly 1/6th of the way through August...

[clevermanka]

Last night I dreamed that I brought a pet snake home from a vacation. It was a gorgeous little thing, still a baby, about a foot long, and white. It was a terribly venomous species, though. Don't ask why I kept it, I have no idea. Of course the first thing that happened when I brought it home was it got loose. One of my cats (I had three in the dream: A tabby, a calico, and an orange-and-white "Morris" type) was trying to catch it (the tabby) and I knew she was going to get bitten. My roommate's sister tried to catch the snake and got bit. I called 911 and they said it would take 30 minutes for the ambulance to arrive, so why didn't I just bring the girl to the hospital myself? I was putting her in the car (we waited until we caught the snake, I don't remember why) and my concious brain started to realize "Girl, this is one of the stupidest dreams you've ever had. It's dull, senseless, and there's no sex!" so I decided to wake up out of it. But I still remembered it this morning, and that's rare, so I thought I should document it.

thefridayfive
I'm not a fan of the "dinner guest" question, but I thought I'd answer this with an unusual group.
1. If you could invite five people to dinner from history, living or dead, who would they be? Daddy's parents, my parents, and me.
2. Why have you chosen these five individuals? I'd love to see my paternal grandparents again.
3. What would you serve for dinner? I'd ask Gramma to make her fried chicken, mashed potatoes with white gravy, and corn.
4. What would you like to ask them? I'd get the *other* pickle recipe from Gramma, and just get to know Grampa better (he died when I was nine).
5. Do you think everybody seated at the table would get along? Why or why not? Oh, yes. Daddy was really close to his parents and I know my mom got along with them fine.

Whenever he's asked the ice-breaker question "If you could have any meal, what would it be?" my dad always answers "Mom's fried chicken." It's sweet and sad. Because no one, but no one, makes fried chicken like Gramma did. And even if they could, it wouldn't be hers, you know?

fridayfiver
1. Do you play any sports? Not competitive sports, no.
2. Do you exercise on a regular basis? No, but, like 90% of the population, I plan to start Real Soon Now.
3. Name one person that raises your blood pressure: Heh. Heh heh heh.
4. You need to go up two floors in a building: do you use the stairs or the elevator? Stairs. Anything less than three floors? Stairs.
5. One thing that makes you go "Hmmmmm"? Recipies involving the use of Hostess Snack Cakes.

I'm waffling on bodice fabrics at the last minute. I can't find a fabric I like for the skirt. I have some lovely sage green linen in my stash that is perfect for an overskirt but just will not no way no how go with the bodice fabrics I bought for this year. It will, ironically, look lovely with the bodice fabrics I used last year. So I might very well chuck my idea of having different fabrics on the new bodices and have basically the same costume as last year, just smaller, since I bought extra fabric of both. Waffle waffle. Those fabrics were glorious, I must say...and the fabrics I got for this year's bodices really do cry out for a nice blood-red overskirt--something I've been unable to find, alas. I think perhaps I'll try my hand at dyeing some linen for next year's overskirt so I can get the color I want. Anyone have experience with dyeing fabric? I'll need to do it in a bucket since I have a front-load washer...Funny, I think I just made my decision to go ahead and use the fabrics from last year's bodices. cedarsong's friend and I will have to work out an agreement so we're not wearing the same bodice on the same day. *grin* Although with different colored skirts, bloomers, and chemises, we shouldn't look too twin-like. fingersnap I need to remember that I want to try the detatchable shoulder straps this year, too. grnvixen, is this possible with your pattern? I don't have quite as much up top to support anymore, so I shouldn't need the weird arm-curve. And I think that style of armhole will be much more comfortable for me.

Comments

[grnvixen.livejournal.com]

Dyeing linen can be a little frustrating, it does not always take dye well, especially if there is an unknown blend. I've had folks tell me the porcine dyes available on the Dharma websites give the best results. Good luck :)!

And the bodice pattern is adaptable, are you thinking of shoulder straps that tie at the top, or doing away with them all together?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Cotton, then. I don't really care about fabric. I just want to get the right color...burgundy/dark red should not be hard to find, but there you go.

I was thinking the ones that have a grommet at each end, with a grommet at the edge of the bodice. If that won't work, something with slightly narrower straps and maybe an epaulette or something. I want something to give me a little more arm movement. I'd rather not do away with them. I like the contrast of the bodice fabric with the chemise sleeve. Plus, I like the insurance that the bodice isn't going to rotate on me. =)

[rougewench.livejournal.com]

As techincally everyone is supposed to now not wear victorian style waist cinching corsets (I would assume they will grandfather speakup as Jim digs her), I would strongly suggest you have shoulder straps.


D.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I don't like the idea of not having any shoulder straps at all, no. One: Practicality. Two: I do like the contrast it gives against the color and texture of the chemise. I just know last year by about noon I was thinking wow I wish I had more arm room.

[grnvixen.livejournal.com]

I would suggest trying a narrower strap first. Epaulette should be no problem. We an also probably open the armscye up a bit.

If you don't mind cotton for the skirt, have you looked at the guilting cottons? There are at least two manufacturers that make a nice, 100% cotton, a little heavier than the cotton/poly broadcloths that used to be so ubiquitous. A good quilt store should have a broad range of colors.

See you tomorrow!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Cool. Narrow strap with epaulette: Thumbs up.

I ::heart:: Kona Cotton and I use it all the time, but neither Joann nor Hancocks has any decent colors in stock. Wah!

See ya!

[solan-t.livejournal.com]

Oh, drat. There was a post recently on the corsetmakers communtity where one of the repliers (mrpet?) talked about dying, but darned if I remember when, and thats a lot to plow through....

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

No problem. I've got a year. =D