Pictures, pictures, pictures - you've asked for them, here they are!  Many of these are from some of my friends' postings, as I did not get many these year.

( Click here for piccies! )

Costumes are 95% done!

Luna:
-Leggings are done
-Quibbler covers are done - just need printed off and attached to old Quibbler - this will be done tonight
-Skirt just needs hook-and-eye - this will be done at work tomorrow
-Jacket just needs pocket flaps (don't have time to put functional pockets in - will go back and do that after con) and buttons swen in - will be done by tomorrow night
-Working on Spectrespecs

Thistle:
-DONE!!

Dawn:
-Picking dress and corset up Wed.
-Just have the belt to do, which shouldn't take too long - will do Wed night or in the hotel Thurs.
-Music needs burned - I have it selected, but still need to edit it down - can do that in the car Thurs. morning or in the hotel Thurs. night
-Still need to think what I want to write for the emcee to say - no clue there

Mystery:
-DONE!!

Other:
-Started packing tonight - will have most of the packing done by tomorrow night
-Few more errands to run (bank, Krogers) - which will be done Wed.

Sorry I haven't been on much, but like many of you, I am trying to get stuff done for DragonCon!

Costumes are getting done - Luna jacket and can-can jacket are both 2/3 done, Dawn is almost done, mystery is completely done.  Still have the Spectrespecs to do for Luna too, along with some hand sewing (which I can do on lunch breaks at work) and prepping my music for Dawn.  New Quibbler pages (front and back covers) are done and ready for printing.  Working on my packing list right now.

I will try to post at least one more time before Wed. night.

Hope everyone else is doing well!

Here is the latest batch of progress pix!

( Pix below cut )

-Skirt is completely painted for Luna and is currently drying - tomorrow I will finish sewing it.
-Shoes seem to have finally completely set - laced and ready to go.

In other news, I lost a piece of my tooth last night - it's either actual tooth or a part of the filling.  Of course, the dentist is not open on Wednesdays, so I am hoping I can get in tomorrow.  In the meantime, I get to chew on one side of my mouth - how fun.

The kittens are growing and growing.  Pandora has finally come to accept them, even if she doesn't play with them yet.

William Shatner is now going to be at DragonCon!  OMG!

I am completely sick of this heat and humidity.

Less than two weeks to get stuff finished for con - eek!

Quick update:

Luna:
-Still working on drying the damn shoes - making progress - one more cycle through the dryer should do it.
-Bag is done
-Skirt is half-sewn - ready for painting.

Dawn:
-Had another fitting with the mockup of the dress and the actual corset (minus pretty fabric on top) - looking good!

Yay!  More progress made today!  I've taken pictures of what is done so far, plus pictures of some of the items I've received but never got around to showing.  Enjoy!

( Piccies! )

Luna:
-Wig came  in!
-Got the shoes painted.  Masking tape left sticky residue over soles.  Commenced scrubbing with Goo-Gone.  Deciding best way to heat-set (maybe in front of a space heater?)
-Ordered buckles for the sleeves.

Thistle:
-Outer skirt is half-done.
 

The petticoat is finished!  Who would have thought that lace would become so bulky?  I am pretty happy with it, even though the ruffles aren't quite even all the way around, and the stitching got off track a few times.  However, it will be underneath the tartan skirt, so no one will see that anyway. 

That's pretty much all I've worked on the last few days.  I made another run to Joanns yesterday and found fabric that, while still not the fabric I was looking for, is a better match to what I have for the Luna coat.

This weekend my goals are to get the Luna shoes painted, the outer skirt for Thistle done, Luna's leggings made, and good progress made on the jacket for Thistle.  Then it will be on to the mockup for Luna and experimenting with materials for her Spectrespecs.

Luna
-Got the stencils for her skirt drawn and cut out of the stencil plastic (did this at work, on lunch!)

Thistle
-One more layer of ruffles on the petticoat.  Three down, three to go!



And only three weeks until my self-assigned deadline *sigh*

Made some more visible progress today, although not as much as I had hoped.  It was just too bloody hot (we don't have AC) and it's hard to sew with a fan blowing everything around, so I had to take constant breaks.

( Pics below )

Yay!  I was able to get some decent progress made today!

Luna
-Her shoes came in.  I tried them on and they fit perfectly - next step for these is to paint them.

Thistle
-The petticoat body is almost complete.  The only thing left is to gather the waistline and add the waistband and the hook-and-eye.  The waistband is ready to go, with the interfacing sewn in and the markings all ready to go.  I also sewed together all of the ruffle pieces.  Tomorrow begins the gathering odyssey.  *sigh*  However, by tomorrow evening, I should have enough done to warrant taking some pictures and posting them here - whee!

Shopping day!  I purchased the following:


Luna
-Fabric paints
-Legging fabrics
-Bag fabric and lining
-Jacket patterns that should work as a base for the mockup(s)
-Interfacing
-Zipper
-Muslin
-Red Sharpie
-Stencils and stencil plastic
-Skirt fabric
-No luck on bleaching out the pink fabric - grrr.  Couldn't really find anything else that would work at Joanns.  *grumble*

Thistle
-Jacket pattern
-Jacket lapel fabric and lining

Mystery
-Most of remaining materials

Luna
-More Spectrespecs supplies came in!
-Her jewelry came in!
-The blue tights came in!
-The first attempt to bleach out the pink fabric was a failure.  I am now having the swatch sit in a 1:1 bleach/water mix for a few hours.  I will then leave it out in the sun all day tomorrow to see if that works.

Thistle
-Got all of the petticoat skirt fabric cut out and marked.

Here is my costume lineup, depending if they get finished in time!

Friday morning/afternoon - Mystery costume
Friday night - Thistle, my Scottish can-can

Saturday morning (parade) - Luna from HBP
Saturday afternoon - probably mundane clothing
Saturday night - Dawn

Sunday morning/afternoon - either Mystery costume again or Advance Guard Tonks from last year
Sunday evening - Luna for the YA Costume Contest and Yule Ball

Tuesday, August 4 - Not much accomplished, since I had to catch up on housework.

Dawn
-Found crinoline - a little small, but should work

Mystery
-Found top and bottom clothes that I thought I had - yay! 



Wednesday, August 5

Luna
-Jacket fabric came in today. However, it is more of a salmon pink than a medium pink.  I have a swatch in the wash with the towels, getting bleached and run through hot water.  Hopefully, that will lighten it up.  Otherwise, I will have to deal with it, as I haven't found anything else even remotely close to that fabric.
-Found the shoes I need on ebay, and won them, and they were cheap - triple yay!

Thistle
-Sgiah dubh came in!
-Got all the pieces cut out and marked for the outer skirt, except for the interfacing, which I need to purchase.

Dawn
-Skull choker came in!  I'm thinking of ditching the cord it came with and using black ribbon or a piece of one of the dress fabrics to tie it around my neck.
-Started listening to some soundtracks and classical music, trying to find some appropriate music.

I am going to try to post daily updates on my costumes, mostly for my use, so I feel like I am getting things accomplished!  I will post pix once I get that far.



Went to Wal-Mart and got some more costume things, and then came home and ordered a few more things!

Luna
-Ordered blue tights
-Ordered buttons
-Purchased blue t-shirt and transfer paper for Ravenclaw crest shirt (to be worn underneath)
-Purchased a few more items for the Spectrespecs
-Decided to give up finding suitable skirt fabric, and will find the time to paint the designs myself.

Thistle
-Nothing new

Dawn
-Purchased hair color

Mystery costume
-Purchased a few more items for this
-Started work on design for main portion
-Decided on clothing I believe I already have - now need to look for it!

First, I wanted to thank everyone who expresses condolences and worry at my last post.  It had been a stressful day, and I found out that two credit cards had screwed me over, and I immediately thought my chance at going to DragonCon was shot for this year.  I cannot express how much D*Con means to me on so many levels, and the thought of not being able to go hurt deeply.  However, I am working to make it happen, and even though I will have to cut way back on expenses this year, I think it will happen, so I am feeling much better.

Now on to the costumes . . .

I haven't gotten much sewing done yet, but progress has been made.

Luna:
-I have purchased most of the materials for the Spectrespecs, and located the last thing I needed, which I will order this week.
-I located the tights!  In my size!
-I have ordered the jacket fabric, the buttons, and the wig.
-I will be purchasing the patterns and muslin for the mockup this week.

Thistle:
-I have started cutting out the ruffles.
-I have all the fabric for both the skirt and petticoat.
-I have ordered the sgiah dubh, the kilt hose, and have found my shoes.
-I am using the same corset that is being done for Dawn, and am using a blue top I made a few years ago for this outfit.
-I already have the clan brooch and the beautiful headpiece Merle made for me last year.

Dawn
-The corset mockup is 95% complete.
-All of the fabric has been purchased except for the lace trim.
-I still need to find my crinoline, and to determine what footwear to use and find my music.

Mystery costume:
-Christine actually thought of this idea yesterday while we were talking, and if I have time, I'm doing it.  It will only take a day to do, and will be a hoot.

I will have a much better update later this week, once I actually start sewing stuff!

I apologize for not being around much lately, but I've been busy with various things.  However, I was feeling a little guilty about neglecting my LJ, so I've decided to put up a quick post to catch you all up.  :)

-Unfortunately, I haven't completed ANY sewing.  I did purchase the all of the fabric and notions for my can-can petticoat and outer skirt, and have ordered the sgiah dubh and the kilt socks.  I also located my fishnet stockings, my pin, my sash (which I may not use), my blue velvet sleeveless top, and my shoes, so once I start sewing, this costume should come together fairly quickly.  I also located a pattern for the jacket, and might have some good fabric in my stores I can use.  As for Luna, well, it's taking a LOT longer to start that one.  I have a pattern for the skirt and the top part of her coat, but that's it.  I did have a good idea for how to construct the Spectrespecs, but of course I am having trouble locating the parts I need.  *sigh*  At least some stuff has sold on ebay, so I now have a little money for supplies.  I am putting more stuff up on craigslist this weekend, including a few swords.

-The kittens have been ornery, but they are settling down and Pandora is getting used to them. 

-I finished reading the Beka Cooper books last week.  The second one had come out a couple of months ago, and I needed to re-read the first one before starting the sequel.  I also just finished the third part of a Warriors manga trilogy, and the latest Warriors reference book, Code of the Clans.  I had a gift certificate for Amazon to use up, so I purchased the Half-Blood Prince computer game, and two more HP reference books.  I am currently reading one of those, called The Deathly Hallows Lcectures, by John Granger.  His previous book, Unlocking Harry Potter, really opened my eyes to the genuis of JKR, and to literary alchemy in general.  This book focuses on the use of literary alchemy, narrative misdirection, symbolism, and other facets used in the books.

-I slipped off the eating healthier wagon recently.  I've been in a funk lately, and when I get that way, I turn to unhealthy foods.  I don't overeat, in fact, I often probably under-eat, but I've been eating way too many milkshakes, ice cream cones, and popsicles.  I've been wanting to go walking, but I don't feel comfortable walking by myself, and Mom is always too tired to do anything.  I can't wait until I move so I am close to friends, gyms, and public parks!

-I've already started planning a mega Harry Potter marathon for the weekend before the release of DH, part II in July 2011.  What can I say, I like planning events!

-I had my mid-year review at work - went smoothly and was very positive.

It started off slow, with my sleeping in until 10am, but then I actually got stuff done!

1.  Did several loads of laundry while bagging trash, replacing the plug-in air fresheners, doing dishes, and going through coupons.
2.  Finally got around to using my $25 Amazon gift certificate, by ordering the Half-Blood Prince computer game (not that I have any time soon to play it, but still . . .).
3.  Paid my bills for this part of the month, and did some costume research online.
4.  Headed to Polaris to Joanns - and I now have EVERYTHING for my can-can skirt and petticoat.  Six colors of a pretty floral lace for the ruffles, black satin for the outside of the petticoat, thread, and a zipper.  I also picked up some Simplicity patterns that were on sale for $1.99, including one that should work for my can-can jacket, and one I can use for part of the Luna coat.  I also purchased a set of two mini white lights that I might use for the Spectrespecs.
5.  Went to Kroger and got groceries.
6.  Came home, put away the food, took the dogs out, did some cleaning in the bathroom, and threw out some old food in the fridge.
7.  Read my new Entertainment Weekly and People.
8.  Went through some boxes in my room - found some books to take to Half Price Books this week, and a few more things to sell.  I hope to get through the rest of the stuff tomorrow.
9.  Got online and caught up my e-mails.

Last night was a great night too.  I headed over to the Shamblins after work, and met with Christine to discuss the Dawn dress.  She is going to start the mockup of the corset next week, and we discussed fabric choices, which I will look for in the next couple of weeks.  She also helped me with some ideas for the two jackets I am doing.  They invited me to stay over for pizza, and then Lee built a fire outside and we sat outside looking at the stars and talking about Half-Blood Prince and DragonCon.

My plan for tomorrow is to finish going through the stuff in my room, and find my poofy underskirt i used at prom - I can use that again for the Dawn dress.  I also want to get my cutting table set up, and get the pieces cut out for the can-can skirts, and hopefully start on the outer skirt at least.  Lots to do, but now that I finally have materals, I can get to work.

Now if I can only get that Thursday night added on at the hotel for DragonCon, life would be excellent.  *sigh*