aka Chesty LaRue

A Thank You

I recently went to Costume Con and had a lovely time, and will post about that in the next day or so.  However, I wanted to write this post first as I felt it was important to thank everyone who has been so supportive to us.

Our puppy Layla's liver disease was too much for her, and she died last Thursday.  She would have been 1 on Saturday.  Due to the overwhelming support of so many members of the costuming community out there, we were able to do her surgery in December, and had her around for much longer than we would have anticipated, although not as long as we would have wanted. 

To everyone who gave us encouragement, had kind thoughts and prayers for her and us, and who participated (whether by purchasing, spreading the word, modeling, etc.) in the Buy a Dress, Save a Puppy campaign we had last fall, I want to thank you.  It truly means so very much to my family and to me.

In Puppy News...

Yesterday was a very exciting day here at Casa de Larue. Roxie got spayed at the vet (and did beautifully) and Layla had her big surgery day. To sweeten the deal, the kids had made about 1 metric ton of peppermint bark (this is their go-to holiday gift they make for friends and teachers each year) and sent a bunch with for the surgeons. Turns out the two male surgeons had some, and were apparently bogarting it from the excellent Dr. Vicki, who had no idea what it was. I told her to make sure she got some too. She sounded a little peeved that they had been hoarding it. Hee.

Layla's surgery was scheduled for 9am, and I got a call right around 1pm telling me it had gone well, and she was in recovery. She was the second smallest dog the surgeon had ever operated on, and yet still required EIGHT coils in her shunt. Go big or stay home is the family motto, and it would seem she took that to heart. She only has the one incision in her neck from the catheter placement, and was up and eating pretty quickly after surgery. Although she did make them hand-feed her, which may or may not have been a bit of superior manipulation on her part. She also had her very own heat lamp and she made a big hit with all the med students and residents. I have no doubt she batted her big brown eyes at them and tried to snuggle with every person who came near. Plus she is small, cute, and very soft. I don't think she made the monkey noises there, as typically people mention that ("Did you know that your dog makes this high pitched noise that just sounds so disturbing?" "Why yes, I do. Particularly during dinner.").

There was a packed crowd for the surgery, and they took lots of pictures, and are taking more today. I got a call from the resident this morning at 6:15, and of course my first thought was "Oh SHIT. She's dead." Which, luckily, she wasn't. He was just getting on his shift and wanted to call before he went into surgery. She did well all night and is ready to go home today whenever I can pick her up. We are much relieved. She needs to be watched this week for possible hypertension, but otherwise we change nothing for a month. Then she has her blood taken again and we start cutting back on the meds and then the diet until finally she is free of all that. Then we just check her blood twice a year, and bile acids yearly, and hope all is well. Apparently 1/3 of all dogs need an additional couple of coils put in, but 1/2 of all dogs never have problems again. We are hoping she is in that 50%.

She and Roxie need to be kept apart for a week as they both recover, and we have to be careful of the incision in her neck. Otherwise? She is good to go. Which is amazing, considering her previous surgery involved a 6 inch incision on her tiny little 4 month old belly. She is such a trooper, and I can't wait to see her start to put on some fat on her tiny self, and get to enjoy actual protein. I think she is going to be rather fond of bacon.  Roxie will no longer get to enjoy all the spoils of things that drop on the floor...

I can't thank the medical team enough, or Dr. Beal for flying down to perform the surgery, and especially Dr. Vicki for finding the funding to cover half the surgery. I know she worked her ass off to make this happen and we are forever grateful. We are also so thankful to all the people who bought dresses in the "Buy a Dress, Save a Puppy" campaign, and to each and every person who participated in the Six Wives Project and donated their time and energy to making this happen. As a family we are truly thankful. I hope that all goes well over the next week, and that we have nothing but good news to report for Layla in the new year. (Roxie has taken to trying to escape lately, so no good news there, naughty thing.)

Thank you again! Layla thanks you too.

I have always relied upon the kindness of strangers

(Cross-posted at Live Journal as well.)

I may not be Blanche DuBois, but I am so very appreciative right now.  7/10 of the Six Wives costumes has sold (Anne of Cleves, Catherine of Aragon and Katherine Parr are still available) and all of the proceeds have gone to Layla's surgery fund.  We have covered the MRI she had yesterday (showing a very large interior liver shunt with a small bend in the vena cava which is worrisome), various vet bills when she was very sick last week and required IV fluids twice and blood draws twice, and it looks like we will have enough left over to cover our part of the surgery costs.  Which is a tremendous relief to me and my family. 

I went into the Six Wives project trying to find a fun group project for the Wench Posse and also to challenge myself to do something BIG.  Who knew it would turn into something even bigger in terms of the generosity of people I have spoken to all over the world?

Kathryn Parr is going to Australia.  Lady Jane Grey went to CA.  Others went to Florida, Texas, and the East Coast.  Queen Mary Tudor went to a Wench Posse member who was unable to participate on the day of the Six Wives.  And I am slowly finishing the Queen Elizabeth costume for the lovely Marti Potter who is completely recovered from her H1N1. 

I am just so honestly grateful for the people who spread the word on forums, blogs, bulletin boards, Facebook, My Space, eBay, Etsy, etc.  It is a huge weight off of us financially to know that the vet costs are covered, and that maybe we really can Save a Puppy. 

We are waiting to hear back from the surgeon who is to do the surgery to tell us if he has the proper size coils that get put in the shunt to close it off (or has to order them), and if Layla is still considered a good surgical candidate based on the vena cava issue she has.  We are crossing our fingers, as it would be heart-breaking to everyone involved to come this far only to not be able to have the surgery. 

Again, I am so overwhelmed at the generosity I have seen displayed towards myself and my family.  Costuming people really are the best people in the world.  Thank you so very much for all of your help.

Project Tudor, COMPLETED

It's all over baby.  We've made the costumes, worn the costumes, and now the costumes are on the auction block, and for a very good cause:  all proceeds go to fund Layla the puppy's liver shunt surgery at the University of MN Hospital.  If you are interested in buying an outfit, go here:  Buy a Gown, Save a Puppy.

My website is up and tentatively working, and is at The Accidental Seamstress.

The LiveJournal Blog is also up and has an incredibly long and detailed post on the Six Wives Project:  http://accidentallarue.livejournal.com/4059.html

More pictures of Project Tudor can be seen here, as well as some outfits I have for sale.  There is a folder on the left with individual pictures of the gowns:  http://s567.photobucket.com/albums/ss117/sixwivesofhenryviii/

And I will have some items up at eBay in the next week or so, although I am planning on transitioning over mainly to Etsy in the future:  eBay Listings   

Thanks for hanging along for the ride!  Next up - Italian Courtesan and Steampunk!

Project Tudor/Wench Posse: What we do for fun and relaxation

Note:  Splash Marion is now deceased.  S will be accepting cards and letters during her period of mourning.

Today was Wednesday, and Wednesday has sort of traditionally become Wench Posse gathering night whilst the menfolk (and Jess - go estrogen!) play poker.  Sometimes it is just Princess, the Chick and I, but lately we have had a mess of folks.

We are busily working on completing our outfits for Twig for this weekend (naturally I have no skirts and George has no bodice - together we make a complete outfit), so most Project Tudor stuff has gone by the wayside.  I have worked some on Marti Potter's outfit, but otherwise it is All Twig, All the Time.

And in the middle of all of this hard work there was a bit of silliness. 

I had purchased a bolt of fabric from Mill End during their close-out sale in St. Paul and made a camicia out of it.  When I wore it to New Ulm I discovered that I could literally poke my finger right through the fabric.  Clearly there was something wrong with the fiber of the thread itself. 

Fast forward to this evening and lots of "rip-away bodice" jokes, and the Chick was sorting through the large bag of fabric scraps and discovered a bunch of this fabric.  She then showed it to the others. 

You would have thought it was bubble wrap, it got such a reception.  First was the Princess, who was having a bad day until we gave her the fabric.  Then she gleefully ripped it apart while cackling to herself:

Then Danger Kitty (looking through our old high school yearbooks since the Chick and I graduated 11 years before she did and the mullets were not quite so popular in her graduating class) got in on the action:

Let's give DK a round of applause for her first appearance on the blog, shall we?

TraynerShayne, even in her delicate state (with her Boot of Healing, which is nothing like a Bag of Holding or Cloak of Invisibility - but hey!  Think of how much fabric you could put in a bag of holding...) decided to participate, such was the calming nature of ripping perfectly good fabric to shreds:

Of course then there was George, busily ripping apart the leather jacket that will become her bodice (which, ok, I know I was supposed to do this, but I was busy driving all over trying to locate some specific fabric - its been a long day, folks) instead of shredding fabric:

She did manage to get a little fabric shredding time later and declared it therapeutic.

I was busily sewing away and didn't have time for silly things like shredding fabric:

Ok, I may have been hopped up on sugar and chocolate. 

And the Chick, who decided to demonstrate the Wench Posse Gang Sign for the blogosphere:

I think she may have said "Yo."

For Thursday there are more fittings and sewing happening, and then there will be lots of pictures of our short sojourn north, where we will descend upon the Olde World Faire as the HMS Booty Shake.  I would be your Captain, Boss Wench.  The Chick is Julie, your Cruise Director.  I admit to feeling rather old that Princess has NEVER SEEN A SINGLE EPISODE of the Love Boat.

Speaking of Princess, you need to know when to stop when shredding fabric, or this might happen to you:

Consider this a Public Service Announcement.

Project Tudor, kind of, and a request

I had meant to post about this previously, but my short term memory issues snuck up on me.

Several weeks ago I went to Canterbury Park with El Jefe to watch the horse races.  In one of the later races there was a horse called "Henry the King."  Instantly I was up at the counter, betting my $2.00 that he would either Win, Place, or Show, as it seemed a bit like fate.  $6.00, on "Henry the King?"  Totally should have worked in my favor.

And he started out great, in the main pack, and then, right when it counted?  He choked. 

So just to sum up, I lost $6.00 on "Henry the King" at Canterbury.

This stuff just writes itself, folks.

Now the request:  I am in search of Mardi Gras beads.  A member of the WP has an exciting costume coming up, and she needs LOTS of beads.  At the party store they are hugely expensive!  Who knew?  And I know from going to MANY garage sales that people often have leftover beads sitting around that they have no use for.  So if you have any, let me know and we can arrange a pick-up.  I am happy to take them off your hands. 

And to any male readers out there, we will be transferring the beads in a plain paper bag, and not the traditional New Orleans way.  Because I am such a prude.

Project Tudor: Procrastination and general insanity

Oh folks.  If I didn't have a village to help me with these Six Wives outfits I might currently be in a nice padded room whispering things like, "Damn batiste fabric!" or "WHY do I keep running out of white thread?" or "The sound of the serger is driving me mad!"

So I appreciate you, my village.  You help me maintain my sanity.

Note:  Give-a-Way day folks have been notified of their winning fabrics!  Congrats to you!  Also, my Realm of Venus showcase will be on the 15th instead of the 1st of June due to a computer glitch.

So what HAVE I been doing if I haven't been working on the Six Wives?  Well, I went ahead and added another queen.  Mary Queen of Scots, to be exact.  Who will be portrayed by the Lovely Danger Kitty on the blogroll over there on the left.

And WHY did I do this to myself when I already have all those other costumes to do?

Easy - she offered to be put to work... heh...

This is the portrait I am basing her costume off of:

 

I am feeling pretty good about this one.  I have a pattern, I have some gold trim that should work, she is essentially wearing a pill box hat, and what's more black velveteen between friends, really?  And I have LOTS of leftover gold findings that will work just fine for her girdle.  And she is the only one of the queens to wear any sort of earrings, which I find a bit odd.

So there you go, DK.  We welcome you to the fold.  Because also?  Who needs sleep, really?

A minor correction to the previous post in regards to historical authenticity.  Yes, I know bloomers are not historically accurate.  Yes, I know women really didn't wear bloomers back in the day, and yes, I know the Chick's chemise is not historically accurate either.  However, the partlett, square necked chemise, and farthingale are all based off of known historical patterns.  The corset design is historically based.  The fabric selection?  Not so much.  The trims?  Nope.  But the designs are good. 

As for the bloomers, I really didn't want the cops to come and arrest all of us for indecent exposure in my front yard.  Especially since I doubt they would let me bring my sewing machine to the big house.  But if I could?  Imagine how much work I would get done with all that uninterrupted time...

In addition to all of this silliness, I have been working on a lovely doublet for a client, and a pink Elizabethan for a belly-dancer I know.  And then I decided to make what is surely the most shiny and bright costume (next to that Irish dance outfit) that I have ever made that didn't include mirror-ball fabric:

 

Let's get up a bit closer, shall we?

 

I kind of love that hat.

 

The Princess made the girdle out of a brooch from Target, a cross from Joann's and other thrift store jewelry.   You may recognize the pendant as being the pin I bought on vacation, which has a nifty little hook on it that allows it to be worn as a necklace.  The partlett is my wrinkly linen one that needs some serious ironing.

The underskirt and sleeve fabric has also made an appearance as a chasuble for St. Nicholas.  It didn't really seem like a multi-use fabric, but apparently it is.  I was also able to use up the silver and gold braid I have had sitting around forever, wondering, "What was my purpose of buying this again?"  It doesn't look too bad on it. 

And the purple taffeta is not that shiny in person.  Also, it was fabric left over from S's curtains.  Reduce, reuse and recycle, people.

It will soon be on an eBay auction near you.

But it is UNGODLY shiny.  And yet I kind of love it, a little bit.  In all its bright and shiny glory. 

I am hoping to have more Six Wives stuff to post tomorrow or Friday, as people are descending upon my home this evening and we should hopefully be accomplishing SOMETHING. 

But hey, at least when I procrastinate I get something done.  Right? 

Project Tudor: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Give-a-way Folks:  The entry is now closed.  Thanks for those who participated!  Winners to be announced tomorrow.

The Chick and I have had a very productive week.  We made 3 corsets in just as many days, those 6 farthingales, and yesterday I got 3 square-necked chemises done and 2 attached-sleeve partletts completed.  Not to mention other paid work.  As Marti Potter commented previously, it has been a sweatshop here at Chez Larue.

But you must also take time to play.  And last night we did just that, in our period underwear, with chocolate, occasionally on my front lawn.  We got lots of car honks and whistles, and had a splendid time.  We also got measurements, but that's the dull part.  Let's look at the photographic evidence, shall we?

 

Our Bloody Mary in her pretty princess farthingale with pink ribbons.  (All farthingales wound up being slightly different, so as to tell them apart.)

 

The Chick, aka Katherine Howard, aka "She hath done wondrous naughty" showing off her sultry side.  (I ran out of cream ribbon on her farthingale and had to put in some blue.)

 

Marti Potter, wearing my old hoop, looking very queenly as QE1.  The tank top is very period appropriate.

 

The excellent Mechanical Man, husband of Ms. Potter, who came to our aid and fixed a piece of jewelry for the Chick's girdle. 

Yes, he really did use a hacksaw. 

 

Miss George, aka Katherine Parr, sans corset, in her rainbow farthingale.  It is my favorite one.  Needs to be shortened, though.  And somehow TraynerShayne missed having her own individual picture taken.  Hmm.

 

Gluten-Free C, aka Jane Seymour, rocking the square neck chemise and corset combo.  She arrived late from a wedding reception and missed out on the group photos. 

Speaking of group photos, it all started innocently enough:

 

Note the jewelry that matches the portraits being worn by the correct Queen.  Sniff.  It looks so nice.

However, things quickly went awry:

 

Because nothing says historically accurate Renaissance like the RAWK sign.

Then it all just went downhill.

 

Showing off their bloomers.  Then TraynerShayne got into the act, and they did the "Wench Posse" gang sign, which is one hand pretending to hold a needle, and the other as a pair of scissors. 

Because we are nerdy that way.

 

I don't know what the Chick is doing to poor George there.  Its just better to not know, I think.  Also?  Trayner did not have her bloomers with her, and instead chose to show off her smashing yoga pants. 

This might be the part where we got honked at by passersby.

All in all an excellent evening of fun, (historically accurate) fashion, and friends.  Now the Chick and I just need to get down to making the dresses.

Don't worry, we have a spreadsheet. 

 

GO WENCH POSSE!  WOO!

Project Tudor: Underwear? Under there!

All you Give-a-Way Folks should check the next post down from this one.  There is FREE FABRIC there. 

Sorry for the lame title, but it is late and I am tired.  I have been battling hoop steel all day.

Final tally:  Larue 6, Hoop Steel 0.

 

No, the Lovely Princess A hasn't suddenly morphed into some odd Doctor Who creature made from styrofoam and tubing, she is simply modeling ALL of the hoop skirts/farthingales I have made lately.  All 6 of them to be exact.  5 were made using regular old hoop steel and 1 was made using the plumber's piping from the hardware store.  Although the piping holds it's shape beautifully, it is heavier than heck and is difficult to cut and bend.  Despite the cost, I recommend the hoop steel.  Princess A is wearing the farthingale made of piping, for those wishing to compare.

Tomorrow is chemise day.  Wish me luck.  The Chick is just pleased I didn't cut off any appendages this time.  To be truthful, so am I.

Project Tudor: At least the bottom half is covered

 

Why yes, those are 9 pairs of bloomers.  They are, from left to right:  Black Dragons - Larue, Pink flannel with lace - Larue, Rainbow - G, Lavender with lace - Larue, Shamrocks - Chick, Sparkle Fairies - George, Strawberry Shortcake's Nightmare - Chick, Democrats - Kyle, Shamrocks with lace AND ruffles - Princess A.

We were rather busy yesterday.

We also got 6 partletts cut out, a second farthingale cut out, and after much trial and error I have completed my first farthingale per Margo Anderson's pattern and in the words of the Chick, "It doth rock."

Pictures coming soon.  I do recommend if you are cutting through hoop steel to buy these super heavy snips from Wicks - they are much better than A) Jewelry cutters, B) The Seen on TV cutters, C) pliers, D) pruning shears or E) your teeth. 

I am beyond happy to be putting an actual dent in my spreadsheet.

Also, dress form name reveal!  And the name of the form is:

BETTIE AND SOPHIA.

What?  Well, this weekend I happened upon ANOTHER Uniquely You dress form on Craigslist and am now the happy owner of a ML and a S form.  Sophia is the ML and Bettie is the S.  My good buddy Danger Kitty has adopted the name Blanche for hers. 

I may take a picture of me surrounded by Mannequins wielding some scissors.  I think it would be amusing.  Like a dressmaker's nightmare.  Or not.

More pictures later!