Mirvana Makes Stuff

"Mad Men"-inspired dress

2012-02-13T11:12:00.003-05:00

Mad Men + USMSC...and here it is:

Made from this pattern:

Why the digital camo fabric you might ask? WHY NOT?

And the black velcro patches on the front and sleeves are for morale patches. Stef suggests that I wear boots and duty belt with it, but I want to go the other direction - pumps and a frilly hat...

Mad Men dress; jodhpurs

2012-01-28T22:46:00.000-05:00

MegaCon is coming up soon, and last year, I did a "steampunk" inspired outfit, but this year I want to change it up. I recently finished watching all four seasons of Mad Men and I want to do something in that era. I've been sitting on a bunch of old Butterick retro patterns and I pulled this one:

I don't know what's gotten into me, because this really isn't my style, but maybe that's why I'm drawn to it. Now I have to go shopping for a girdle, or I might put some boning in the bodice, otherwise, I can't do this waistline.

For another costume, I threw together a pair of jodhpurs using this pattern:

This was a very good pattern! Easy to use, easy to adjust and has the look I was going for. Now I have the bottom half of my Star Wars Imperial Officer uniform!

Pattern Roundup: Burda Plus Mode - Belle Epoque

2012-01-17T22:51:00.000-05:00

One of the patterns that I used from Burda magazine 01/2012, is available now on burdastyle.de:

NO. 133A-012 012-DL

I love how it drapes. I made two of them, one for mom (size 52) and one for me (size 46):

I still need an occasion to wear it.

Here is the other one - described in this article.

My version (in size 46):

Not sure if I would wear it out, as article suggests. It does make a luxurious bathrobe, though.

Waste Not Fanny Pack

2012-01-09T22:58:00.000-05:00

If you read this blog, then you've seen what I can do with an old pair of cargo pants. I try to use as much of the material as possible, and when I make a tote bag, I usually end up with these pieces left over:

These are the side pockets. I already added the zipper to the one on the right. Well, after staring at them for a while, and thinking about ways to make some kind of tool belt or fannie pack, first I tried this:

...and did not like how it looked. And then, I tried joining the side pockets together, like this:

...and I still don't really like how it looks. But this is an iterative process. Stay tuned.

Another plushy tunic top

2011-12-31T00:59:00.000-05:00

I made this one for myself, out of the gold paisley velvet.

Another Belle Epoque inspired tunic

2011-12-25T21:57:00.000-05:00

I used another pattern from the Burda issue January 2012 for this tunic, made from paisley velvet that I had in my stash, and the silk trim was cut from an old nightgown.

Belle Epoque tunic

2011-12-24T20:48:00.001-05:00

Made this top for my mom, for Christmas, from Burda issue January 2012. In a blue paisley print velvet. I really like how it drapes on the mannequin.

Another denim bag

2011-11-20T21:10:00.001-05:00

Another pair of old jeans gets a new life. This one will probably be a holiday gift. I have a lot more of these to do.

Another "army wife" bag in progress

2011-11-12T16:59:00.001-05:00

Every time I cut apart a pair of these pants, I am amazed by how much material is there.

A small cross body bag....

2011-11-05T17:10:00.001-04:00

Made from recycled/vintage cargo pants.

Get ready for National Feral Cat Day, Oct. 16

2011-10-12T15:26:00.000-04:00

Ganked most of this off of Moderncat.net. I do what I can to support this cause:

This Sunday, October 16, is National Feral Cat Day! This annual event is coordinated byAlley Cat Allies as a way to raise awareness about feral cats, promote Trap-Neuter-Return, and recognize the millions of compassionate Americans who care for them. Each year cat welfare groups and cat lovers across the country plan events to help educate people in their communities about feral cats and TNR. This year there are over 300 events planned in all 50 states!
If your group is planning an event for NFCD, you can add it to the list of events on the official NFCD page, or you can find an event in your area to attend. Click here to download the awesome NFCD 2011 poster pictured above to help promote the event.

You can also help support Alley Cat Allies by purchasing NFCD 2011 merchandise like t-shirts, buttons, tote bags, and greeting cards.
Here’s another fun idea, change your Facebook profile photo for the next few days to the NFCD 2011 graphic! Grab one of these graphics to use (click on the image and drag it to your desktop):

Please join the effort to raise awareness of and help care for our nation’s feral cats. If we all work to TNR and care for them, someday hopefully we won’t have to have National Feral Cat Day!

Recent Baggage

2011-10-04T23:38:00.001-04:00

These two bags are original designs that I came up with.

Photos: DragonCon 2011

2011-09-13T11:48:00.001-04:00

DragonCon 2011, a set on Flickr.

All my photos from DragonCon.

Hot Patterns Mama San Apron

2011-09-12T22:09:00.001-04:00

IMAG0442.jpg
Originally uploaded by mirvana

I whipped this up yesterday, because I was tired of not having enough pockets in the work room.

Downloaded the pattern for free from here -

http://www.fabric.com/creativity-headquarters-free-pattern-downloads-mama-san-apron.aspx?cm_mmc=Pattern%20DL-_-Free%20Pattern%20Download-_-Hot%20Patterns-_-MamaSanApron

Preparations for DragonCon 2011

2011-08-28T11:19:00.006-04:00

I wore this lil puppy at DragonCon two years ago, and it turned some heads, so this year I plan on wearing it again, but spent most of yesterday tweeking it to make it better.

I sewed an interlining of crinkly organza into the skirt to help stiffen in, and then trussed it up from the inside, tacking it in about 20 places. Poofy enough now?

I also ended up starching up the petticoat and ironing it for hours.

Tavelog: Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, CA

2011-07-30T22:50:00.001-04:00

In other news, I snapped a few photos on my recent trip to California:

Laptop cover - is just the beginning...

2011-07-30T22:21:00.003-04:00

Fusible fleece is sandwiched between two layers of MultiCam fabric. Makes a nice laptop cover. The plan is to make a messenger bag to match, but I'm still thinking about exactly how I'm going to do that. I've been looking at this pattern (McCall's 5824):

But without doing the patchwork, of course.

Fun with Austen

2011-07-27T14:17:00.000-04:00

Take the Quiz here!

More bags made from recycled stuff!

2011-06-12T12:11:00.003-04:00

The "Army Wife" Bag - made from a pair of ACUs. Due to popular demand, I am actually going to make this one for sale - $75 complete, or if you actually give me the pants to make it from - $50.

I also recently tried the pattern on a pair of jeans:

Obviously, you get fewer pockets than if you used a cargo or BDU pant, but it's still spiffy looking.

Next, I am going to try scaling this pattern down to handbag size, maybe, and there is also a messenger bag pattern that I want to work with, although I don't know if I can adapt it to make it out of pants. It will be a challenge worth embracing:)

Iron Chef Sewing: Shorts

2011-05-27T20:35:00.005-04:00

I guess I do sewing like I do cooking - give me a secret ingredient, and I'll make something based on that ingredient. I let the materials at hand tell me what they want to be, and today I went into the sewing room without any plan or inspiration.

I happened to look at my box of wood block stamps, and thought I haven't used those in a while, so there you go. The shorts are made from scrap pieces of cotton broadcloth, and the ink colors are what I happened to have on hand. The shorts pattern is your basic, very simple two-piece with a casing at the top for drawstring.

So I went with a bright orange paint for the elephant motif, on the brown shorts, and a bright red with the peacock motif on the blue shorts. I want to make more:)

BTW, shorts are a great way to use up scraps of fabric. You only need about 1 1/4 yards.

The wood block stamps are from India - I received some as gifts, and found others on eBay-kistan. They don't make really good impressions, so the result is very rustic and folky.

Win an Unforgettable Mother's Day

2011-04-27T10:03:00.003-04:00

Win a weekend in Sardinia for your mom! Staying at the beautiful Hotel Faro di Capo Spartivento in Chia. All you have to do is say why your mother deserves to win - leave a comment on the facebook, twitter, or blog of CharmingSardinia.com.

Ok, well actually I think my mom deserves to win, but best of luck to you all! May the best mom win;-)

http://www.charmingsardinia.com/sardinia/mother-day.html

MegaCon Costume Stuff

2011-04-03T21:32:00.000-04:00

Spent a couple weekends in sunny Florida, and that was nice. Had fun at MegaCon, even though it isn't entirely my cup of tea. Sure, I like comic book superheroes, and I'm a huge fan of anything Star Wars, but the con is now dominated by the anime kids, and I don't really get all of it. My favorite anime films are 25+ years old at this point. So, I'm a bit behind on the current trends.

I did squee over all the hype for the upcoming release of the "Thor" movie.

S.H.I.E.L.D. - the fictional law enforcement agency in the Marvel universe

...and took photos of everything Star Wars...

I am currently working on an imperial officer uniform, and Stefan has informed me that I could make one for him, too, if I wanted.

The costume that I wore at MegaCon is my own invention - it is a very faithfully constructed 1870s period ladies dress, made out of the digital urban camo fabric of the fictional US Marine Space Corps uniform, with all the appropriate emblems and insignia of such. No one was going to guess that one, but a lot of people thought it was something "steampunk." I just wanted to do a twist on the USMSC uniform. That is not unusual to see at a con. For example:

On the right - Gladiator/Roman Soldier Stormtrooper. And, there was also Pimp Vader.

I thought the BSG folks looked great, and I promise myself that I will do a BSG costume, probably a deck hand or shuttle (viper) pilot, at some point.

So I got to thinking about a lot of other fantasy/sci-fi costumes that I would like to do, like a Romulan, or Borg from Star Trek...maybe something from Babylon 5...

My answer to Spring/Summer 2011 - Cheap Ways To Update That Wardrobe

2011-03-07T09:53:00.003-05:00

Spring/Summer 2011 - Cheap Ways To Update That Wardrobe from PrelovedReloved, One girl’s challenge to wear only second-hand for a whole year!

Some good ideas here, and apparently for a good cause.

Since my budget for new clothes has been really tight lately, I've made it a habit to "shop in my closet" before running out to the department store. For example,

Consider re-purposing some long pants/trousers into shorts and capris, rather than putting them away for the summer. It's quite easy to simply cut and hem to a shorter length. I do this with my yoga pants all the time because they fade and wear out eventually anyway, and I have to replace them. Might as well get multiple seasons out of them.

How to hem pants, from About.com.

A bit more challenging to do, but also worth it - turn some of those old jeans into skirts:

How to turn old jeans into a skirt, from Threadbanger.

Turn almost anything into a skirt - a simple a-line skirt is one of the quickest and easiest sewing projects you can do. Consider using any light, drapey fabric - an old sheet or pillow case, and experiment with all manner of embellishment techniques - tie-dying, batik, block printing, fabric painting, embroidery, applique, &etc.

Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics [Spiral-bound] on Amazon.com

How-to Make a Tee Skirt, Threadbanger [Video]

5-Minute Skirt [pattern] on AngryChicken.

Off-The-Shelf Fabric Painting: 30 Simple Recipes for Gourmet Results [Paperback] on Amazon.com

Create Your Own Hand-Printed Cloth: Stamp, Screen & Stencil with Everyday Objects [Paperback] on Amazon.com

Victorian/SteamPunk Space Marine

2011-02-21T18:51:00.004-05:00

What I've been working on lately...

I made the corset out of digital urban camo fabric (to match the USMSC uniform) for MegaCon last year, but didn't have anything else to wear with it, so...

I decided to experiment with the Truly Victorian patterns (that I purchased from ReconstructingHistory.com). This petticoat/underskirt is based on the 1878 "Natural Form" pattern.

The long, draped overskirt here is also based on the Truly Victorian 1878 pattern, with some modifications. I trussed up the back from the inside in a different way, but still appropriate for the period. There is no bustle pad (hence, "Natural Form").

A blouse, bag, and hat are also in the works.

Speaking of bags...

2011-02-20T21:11:00.003-05:00

...these look interesting. Bags made out of natural cork, which is a sustainable resource, and they look and feel like soft leather. From Corx.

Original post found on this blog - http://girlfromnorthcountry.com/2011/02/corx/

Pink Camo Cell Phone Pouch

2010-09-26T14:50:00.002-04:00

You remember that camo bag that I made out of an old pair of BDUs? Well that was actually the second one that I made, for fall. The first one I made was actually this pink camo bag that I carried around all summer. I loved that pair of pants, but they didn't fit anymore so...anyhow, there was only a tiny bit of scrap left, plus the zipper, and I decided to turn it into a cellphone pouch, big enough to hold the massive EVO.

Upcycling BDUs

2010-09-18T19:29:00.003-04:00

This is the story of a very sad pair of pants that no one loved anymore. The pants sat in a pile with other unwanted clothing for a very long time, wishing that it could become useful again, until one day...

I cut the pants apart into useful pieces...

...and sewed them back together. Clever huh? Actually I can't take all the credit. I used a pattern specifically designed for this purpose: Simplicity 2597 Accessories, Bags Go Green Collection

DarkThreads Designs: USN Camo Kilt

2010-09-06T15:25:00.003-04:00

Finished. This is what some call an "American"-style kilt, because it's not made of Tartan, but rather of a more utilitarian fabric, in this case USN digital camo twill. It features two attached, hanging cargo pockets, extra-wide belt loops, and a d-ring key keeper. The pleats are sewn in, so it's wash and wear. I'm happy with how it turned out. I just hope it fits the client.

My wishlist

2010-07-05T11:57:00.003-04:00

I must say I really like the Reconstructing History pattern line. So far I've gotten a lot of use out of the ones I have. I think they are particularly good if you are going for historical accuracy and authenticity. As soon as I saw these, I thought "must have":

Pennsic Sewing

2010-07-05T11:45:00.001-04:00

Well, I did get some sewing done. Made a gomlek (top) and salvar (bottom) for Stef for Pennsic out of linen that he picked out at Pennsic last year. I used ReconstructingHistory.com pattern #405 - Ottoman Turkish Man.

I don't really need anything for myself, but I did already make some new harem pants. You can't have enough pants at Pennsic.

A friend of ours who wants to check out Pennsic this year (only for a day or two), is interested in the Greco-Roman look, so that should be easy to throw together. Otherwise, I would just point him toward Tigr's Toggs, which I highly recommend as comfortable and reasonably priced garb for Pennsic.

I have put aside the Star Wars Imperial Officer uniform for now, even though I have made some progress on it. I don't think we are going to DragonCon this year so I don't have an immediate place to wear it, anyway.

I'm getting a lot of requests for kilts made of camo fabric, and I might actually get paid, so I should put some effort into that.

Adventures at the Smithsonian this week

2010-06-19T10:44:00.002-04:00

Looked at a lot of military uniforms in the military history section, and First Ladies gowns at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. I would have spent more time in there, but that exhibit is very popular and was very crowded, as you can imagine. My favorites were Martha Washington's 1780s gown, Dolly Madison's 1810s gown, Helen Taft's embroidered Chinese Robe and inaugural ball gown.

Also saw THE Star Spangled Banner - the original flag that inspired the words to the song. It's huge, kept in a dark room (for preservation purposes), and awe-inspiring. The flag-maker, Mary Pickersgill, was paid $405.90 - more than most people made in a year at the time - a good living for a seamstress. Good story on: How the Star-Spangled Banner was Made.

One Dress, 365 Days

2010-05-31T21:36:00.001-04:00

Uniform Project Picture Book from The Uniform Project on Vimeo.

Cool.

Knitting Scouts

2010-05-26T11:39:00.003-04:00

Just stumbled upon this one: Knitting Scouts - a podcast about knitting.

"Wherein it is acknowledged that members are:

Not opposed to alcohol.
Into badges.
Mostly in agreement that there is no right way to knit.
Committed to diligent positive and accurate presentation of knitting and knitters, to editors, producers, directors, and those generally presumed to be part of "The Media" in an effort to close the gap of Public Knitting Literacy."

...and I will oblige by sharing the tale of how I earned the following badges:

The "Proselytize Knitting" Badge - I have a tendency to knit where ever I might have to kill some time, such as doctor's office waiting rooms, and I travel a lot for work, so you'll see me knitting at airports and on airplanes around the country. Some innocent bystander almost always asks me, "what are you making?" I answer politely; it's usually socks - my fave portable knitting project. Most people are hugely impressed.

The “MacGyver” Badge (Level Two) - I have indeed used knitting tools for purposes other than knitting. For example, I use my aluminum size 13 needle for bending wire into a coil for jewelry. :)

The "Knitting Whilst Under the Influence" Badge - Um...yeah. Of course! Knitting and beer just go together.

The "Knitting Got Me Through My Divorce" Badge - Self-explanatory.

There are some other good ones on there that I have yet to earn, so check them out.

MIRV-mods to BDU jacket

2010-04-25T16:50:00.000-04:00

I have many skills:-)

This is your standard move-pockets-around on a BDU jacket and add some hook and loop.

Before mods:

Pockets removed:

Hook and loop attached:

Pockets reattached: chest pockets moved to shoulders, lower pockets moved up to chest, pen pocket moved to sleeve.

Slight change in plan...

2010-04-19T22:24:00.006-04:00

After looking at the Folkwear Countryside Frock Coat pattern:

I decided to "Frankenstein" it with the Belgian Military Chef Jacket to get the pattern for the Imperial Officer uniform. Specifically, I'm using the back, sleeve, and peplum pieces from the Frock Coat, and the collar and front pieces from the Chef Jacket, with a bunch of adjustments. A soon as I figure out how to use the drawing program, I'll post some illustrations...ok so this is really terrible. I think I need one of those pads with a stylus or something:

The red lined pieces are from the Belgian chef jacket, and green line is the frock coat. Blue line is my modification. Using sleeve and back pieces from the frock coat as is.

My sewing to do wish list

2010-04-17T22:47:00.004-04:00

What to work on next? Well, I have most of the stuff to work on the Imperial Officer uniform for my 501st project. I'm a "cadet" in Garrison Carida. I just started drafting the pattern for the top, based on Folkwear's Belgian chef's jacket pattern.

I know I'll need to make a lot of adjustments, but I have to start somewhere.

I also picked up this 1879 Natural Form dress package (by Truly Victorian) from ReconstructingHistory.com:

I have been wanting to complete an outfit from that period for a long time, but so far I only have done bits and pieces. Need to really follow through this time, like I did for the 1780s thing...

But I also want to make Stef some new garb for Pennsic, and he expressed interest in being a "pirate" and wearing what he lovingly calls "Haji man-jammies" - in other words, he wants to try some Middle-Eastern garb.

US milspec 1812 roundabout jacket...

2010-04-17T22:34:00.003-04:00

Very bad camera-phone photo, but it's done! Lots of hand sewing went into this one. And that's my pillow under there, lol. I hope it fits!!!

Next Performance with Patricia Wake

2010-04-12T22:20:00.003-04:00

Faith and the Muse
with
The Burning Path
and
Patricia Wake

$15 advance
$18 door
21+
@Fate Lounge(1650 Smallman St.)
8PM

Status report: 1812 Roundabout Jacket

2010-04-09T18:43:00.002-04:00

Almost done. Just one more sleeve to assemble and attach, and all the buttons to sew on. Did a lot of hand sewing on this one.

Current Sewing Project: US Army Roundabout, 1812

2010-03-31T10:37:00.003-04:00

I'm working for my black powder/Rev. war reenactor friend again. He's been doing War of 1812 stuff lately, so this is an army jacket of that period, based on http://www.pastpatterns.com/041.html. It only includes sizes 38-44, and I had to scale and adjust the pattern up for a size 54 - a non-trivial task, but my fitting skills just get better. I did a muslin fitting and cut out all the pieces, and so far have the welt pocket on the right front sewn. I'm working on it little by little, as I find the time. The design and construction of the back is not too different from the 1870s Robe Anglaise that I did last year.

Long layover blog...

2010-01-17T15:20:00.001-05:00

...gives me the opty to try out new apps...lets see how this goes...

Teaser

2010-01-10T15:18:00.001-05:00

We did a "test" photo shoot today with me in the corset, and I only really like one picture out of the lot.

...playing with different effects.

I think I'm going to make another corset, because this one will be impractical to wear by itself. I had modified this pattern for better coverage and support on the top, and don't know why I didn't include that modification this time, but I'll still wear this corset underneath stuff or with other layers.

Reap what you sew...

2010-01-07T13:54:00.005-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Digital Urban Blazer

2009-12-30T15:02:00.002-05:00

Digital Urban Blazer
Originally uploaded by mirvana

See my previous post on using the Burda mens suit jacket pattern...

Digital Urban Corset

2009-12-30T15:00:00.001-05:00

Digital Urban Corset
Originally uploaded by mirvana

Moving in a new direction...

Mens Jacket; Burda Pattern Roundup

2009-11-29T17:14:00.002-05:00

So I've been working on this really challenging sewing project lately, and I'm still far from being finished, but made a lot of progress with it this weekend. I'm making a mens blazer or suit jacket, single breasted, semi-fitted, partially lined, for the boyfriend. I've made jackets with lapels before, but they didn't turn out all that well, so I have been super-meticulous about making this one right. Lapels are really hard: they are usually several pieces, curved seams, and the dots must line up precisely, or it won't work.

I'm using this pattern, view B:

Burda 7918

I made some modifications to the pockets and I'm using my preferred finishing techniques, but otherwise am trying to follow it as designed/written. Have already put many hours over several days into it...and so now I think I've run out of steam and need a little break from it.

Quick Burda Pattern Roundup

Some other things that I made lately are just some comfortable everyday clothing for my own wardrobe.

Burda 7916 - a very easy t-shirt pattern with lots of variations

Burda 8316 - already made four garments from this one, two of each view, with some modifications. I used camo ripstop fabrics, and cotton canvas. Once you've mastered putting in zippers, pants are easy.

Burda 7678 - and I made view A in this one, very easy with the serger, and I'll prolly make a few more because I have lots of jersey knit in my stash.

Cool vintage sewing blog

2009-10-21T10:33:00.002-04:00

Just discovered this one: Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing. I like it.

1870s Robe L'Anglaise

2009-08-28T21:44:00.003-04:00

1870s Robe L'Anglaise
Originally uploaded by mirvana

...and having received the proper wig, I think I will rawk this 1870s robe l'Anglaise at DragonCon, as well.

1870s Robe L'Anglaise

2009-08-28T21:44:00.001-04:00

1870s Robe L'Anglaise
Originally uploaded by mirvana

...and having received the proper wig, I think I will rawk this 1870s robe l'Anglaise at DragonCon, as well.

Japanese garb

2009-08-20T22:43:00.001-04:00

Mavi and Stefan, Japanese garb
Originally uploaded by mirvana

I made the top layer robe that I'm wearing to resemble a Heian-Fujiwara period Uchigi. I used an iridescent fuscia-orange silk dupioni. Stef is wearing an outfit that we got from Tigr's Toggs.

My Firefly Kaylee costume

2009-08-20T22:10:00.001-04:00

My Firefly Kaylee costume
Originally uploaded by mirvana

So this one is pretty much ready to go to DragonCon.

All dressed up...

2009-07-01T10:57:00.001-04:00

I've been making historical costumes for years now, and it's mostly been for SCA, but I did a lot of menswear for a black powder reenactor friend of mine, and I've drawn inspiration from other periods, such as Victorian, and early 20th c. for making my own goth and steampunk clothing...

So I made this wonderfully awesome c. 1730s gown from Reconstructing History #822 Open Robe Anglais with Polonaise Option.

And I've worked with other patterns from this period before, but this one worked out really well, and I'd call it one of the better, more user-friendly patterns out there. This particular pattern is definitely not for beginners, and requires some advanced skills like draping, fitting, and pleating, but an experienced sewer like myself, who never attempted a gown from this period before, should have no problems. The only problem I have is figuring out where to wear it. I might have to "crash" an 18th c. reenactment event or something.

I have also used RH #410 Heian Japanese Lady's Informal Robes to make some Japanese garb that I wore to Pennsic last year, and it was so comfortable and easy to wear that I want to make a lot more of it.

I haven't had a chance yet to use RH #407 yet, but I'm eager to try it. I am waiting for the right fabric to come along and "speak to me."

That's typically how I work, which might be backwards from what most pro designers do. They come up with a design and do a sketch or have some vision of what fabrics to use, and they look for a fabric that comes close to their vision. I, on the other hand, I find the yummy fabric first, and it "tells" me what it wants to be. When I found that piece of printed linen that I used for the open robe Anglais, I knew it had to be an 18th c. ladies gown of some sort. I often don't have a choice in the matter. If the fabric says, "you must make me into an 18th c. gown," even though what I really need to work on is a sci-fi costume for DragonCon or some other convention, I end up making the gown, doh!

Speaking of which, I'm strapped for ideas on costuming for upcoming sci-fi cons: GenCon and DragonCon, which fall close on the heels of Pennsic. I have all the gear to do the sci-fi military stuff that we typically do, but I wanted to do something different besides that. If I were a sci-fi or movie character, who would I be? Any thoughts?

Check out Reconstructing History: http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/

Summer Sewing

2009-06-29T09:58:00.004-04:00

I got a new serger over the weekend and was itching to try it out, so I made a summer wardrobe out of some nice jersey and other fabrics I already had in my stash.

All but one of the patterns I used came from past issues of Burda magazine. The tank dress - very simple pattern, two pieces, with bust and back darts; disco dress - two piece top with bust darts attached to a 1-piece square skirt; t-shirt with back circle, also very simple pattern; the brown parka - a bit more challenging and complicated. The culotte pattern is a user-designed pattern that I downloaded from www.burdastyle.com.

Burda Parka

2009-06-27T13:38:00.000-04:00

I finished making this a while ago, but just got the cord to do the drawstrings. I don't like the puckering around the zipper, but otherwise, I think it almost looks store-bought!

Open Robe Anglais

2009-06-04T18:18:00.001-04:00

Just finished making this c. 1730s style gown:

18th c. costume: chemise, corset, panniers and petticoat

2009-05-10T21:51:00.003-04:00

The 18th c. project so far
I padded out one of my old dress forms to make a toile in my size and shape, so I can proceed to fit the Robe L'Anglaise that I'm making to go over this ensemble.

Finished 18th c. corset and chemise

2009-04-12T21:22:00.000-04:00

Made from an old couch cover and other scraps, and reed boning, which is very light. It's very comfortable, maybe too much so. I wish I could lace it tighter. For the chemise, I used real silk organza for the neck ruffle. :D

On the cutting table: 18th c. corset and gown

2009-04-04T11:05:00.001-04:00

So I've been working on a "big" sewing project, little by little, when I can find time, and its just something I've been wanting to do for a while. I finally have most of the materials I need together, and I've been trying to use as much from my stash as possible. It is basically an historical costume, but with a little fantasy thrown in.

I am almost finished with the corset:

For being a Simplicity pattern this is actually historically very accurate. I have a collection of historical corset patterns, and just decided to try this one because its relatively simple: has the least number of pieces and was easy to adjust for a large bust. Some of the other patterns I have from this period are dauntingly complicated. I might use the chemise pattern here, too, but I'm not doing these panniers. I have my own pattern for those, which I drafted from one of my historical costume books.

And for the gown, I have a bunch of patterns to choose from there as well, but I think I'm going to go with this one:

I have a felt hat blank waiting in the wings for this project, and I have the most awesome pair of Jon Fluevog shoes...will post photos soon, I promise!

Celebrate Spring with BurdaStyle and Simplicity!

2009-03-09T11:10:00.001-04:00

Celebrate Spring with BurdaStyle and Simplicity!

Posted using ShareThis

Kevin Ross took this lovely photo at YIV

2008-10-10T12:15:00.005-04:00

Kevin Ross took this lovely photo at YIV
Originally uploaded by mirvana

I made the pants and arm warmers in this costume. The pants are based on Melodia's design.

Mirv's sewing stuff

2008-09-28T12:48:00.002-04:00

Mavi's Sewing Room on FriendFeed
http://friendfeed.com/rooms/mavi-s-sewing-room - where I've been posting links for patterns, sewing, supplies, &etc

Mirvana Makes Stuff
http://darkthreads.blogspot.com/ - you're lookin' at it. I'll keep posting photos of my creations and other interesting stuff here. This blog feeds into Mavi's Sewing Room, too.

Darkthreads.com
http://www.darkthreads.com/ - same old address, but I have repurposed the domain for selling military and tactical uniforms and accessories. Yes, I know that's a far cry from corsetry and Medieval costuming, but we are catering to airsofters, paintballers, and LARPers who do military/scifi themes. Http://darkthreadsgear.blogspot.com is my blog devoted to that space.

Dark Threads network
http://darkthreads.ning.com/ - and if you are interested in joining the discussion about Darkthreads gear, airsoft, milsim & tacsim, and scifi costuming, please join us here!

2008-09-13T15:04:00.001-04:00

I finally posted a creation to my profile over at BurdaStyle.com! It's been a while since I made myself something that wasn't SCA garb or a costume of some sort. These are just regular old casual pants for work, using Burda Mode pattern #9305 Ellen Pants that I downloaded for free :D. I used a cheap piece of stretchy brown denim that I found at Walmart. I guesstimate that it cost me less than $10 in materials, and they fit pretty well. I like the pattern and might reuse it, but the instructions were dodgy. I just did it my own way.

I can't wait to make more pants!

Back to costuming, I also recently finished making another kimono and obi:

I used Folkwear's kimono pattern with purple silk dupioni from fabric.com. The obi was a piece of satin brocade from mystash.

2008-09-08T11:05:00.000-04:00

QotDs:

2008-09-03T13:41:00.001-04:00

In politics, absurdity is not a handicap. ~Napoleon Bonaparte

I met in the street a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his coat worn, his cloak was out at the elbows, the water passed through his shoes, - and the stars through his soul." ~Victor Hugo

An author is a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations. ~Charles de Montesquieu

Head wrap

2008-07-20T16:41:00.001-04:00

headgear
Originally uploaded by mirvana

...to complete the period Japanese outfit.

Amulet (pouch)

2008-07-20T16:16:00.001-04:00

amulet 002
Originally uploaded by mirvana

Kamakura period Japanese accessory

2008-07-19T12:50:00.000-04:00

What I've made recently:

Hippari (Japanese field jacket) in cotton camo.

Regimental jacket for American Revolution reenactment (unfinished in the photo). I'm hoping that my client can send me photos of him wearing it in action.

Kosode with simple wrapped cloth for skirt, as in this photo.

Kosode with mo-bakama skirt, as in this photo.

2008-06-19T13:05:00.003-04:00

Darkthreads.com is rising from the ashes and I will be re-opening my Ebay store! STAY TUNED!

QotDs

2008-06-17T14:25:00.001-04:00

Three for Tuesday:

There's a whiff of the lynch mob or the lemming migration about any overlarge concentration of like-thinking individuals, no matter how virtuous their cause.
- PJ O'Rourke

For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of life, please press three.
- Alice Kahn

I have a new philosophy. I'm only going to dread one day at a time.
- Charles M. Schulz

***
That first quote is totally true.

So that middle quote is especially poignant because today I had to make a lot of phone calls and wade through a maze of phone menus.

And that third one is my "motivational" quote of the day. :)

Sunday

2008-06-15T12:32:00.001-04:00

Drink beer on the porch tonight? Gimme a call and come over, BYOB. :)

Post

2008-06-10T14:15:00.001-04:00

It's easier to put on slippers than to carpet the whole world. ~Al Franken

2008-06-09T13:18:00.001-04:00

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is a nobler art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials. ~Lin Yutang

2008-06-04T11:55:00.001-04:00

Costume flick alert! Must see this...http://www.theduchessmovie.com/

2008-06-02T13:18:00.000-04:00

I gotta learn to take photos of this stuff so I can be cool like the other food bloggers...

Anyhoo, I know you want these recipes even without the pictures. This evolved over the last couple days in an effort to utilize leftovers. You start out making one dish, and you end up with three!

Shopping list:
Whole ears of sweet corn
Zuchini
Vidalia onion
Red bell pepper
Portabello muchrooms
Whole wheat tortillas

Staples:
Olive oil spray
Olive oil
Mrs. Dash Southwestern Chipotle seasoning or similar
Canned black beans
Rice

Day 1: Grilled Veggies

whole ears of sweet corn with husks still on
A little olive oil (optional)
1 medium zuchini, sliced into about 1/4" ovals
1 large vidalia onion, sliced into 1/4" rounds
1 red bell pepper, sliced into 1/4" rings
1 c. thickly sliced portobella mushrooms
Mrs. Dash Southwestern Chipotle seasoning

Clean off some of the outer husks of the corn, but leave at least a couple layers of husk on, and trim the ends. Soak ears of corn in water for several minutes and then place on a hot grill for 5-10 minutes, turning ever few minutes. Wait at least until some grill marks form, and then check for doneness by peeling back a little of the husk and poking at the corn kernels. I like mine to be tender-crisp. If you like yours well done, wait for more carmelization. If you have asbestos hands, peel and enjoy, otherwise, let cool for a bit, and you can eat drizzled with a little olive oil, or cut kernels off the ears and set aside.

Spray the remaining four ingredients with olive oil spray and season to taste with Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle seasoning. Arrange veggies on a hot grill and turn after a minute or two. Try not to over cook or let them burn; keep an eye on them. I like my veggies to be tender-crisp. Remove veggies after they have some nice grill marks, and toss in a large bowl with the corn kernels. Eat warm, or let cool for a nice cold veggie salad.

Day 2: Southwestern Veggie Fried Rice

About 1 c. leftover grilled veggies from day 1
1 c. cooked rice
1 c. canned black beans, drained and rinsed
More Southwestern seasoning mix

Saute everything in a hot grill pan until heated through. Viola! You have another dish!

Day 3: Southwestern Veggie-Rice Burrito

About 1 c. of leftover fried rice from day 2
Whole wheat burrito size tortillas
Reduced fat, organic, or soy jack cheese, shredded
Salsa or taco sauce

Top each tortilla with a couple heaping tablespoons each of fried rice and cheese, top with salsa to taste, and then heat in microwave about 1 minute each. That was lunch today:D

QotD

2008-05-28T10:17:00.001-04:00

From all that I saw, and everywhere I wandered, I learned that time cannot be spent. It only can be squandered. ~Roman Payne

QotD

2008-05-16T21:29:00.001-04:00

Clipped from the Tricycle editor's blog:

Some pithy Words of Wisdom from Lama Surya Das:

That which we call “I” is just impermanent, ownerless karma rolling along.

Don’t take it personally.

*

Reality is not all it’s cracked up to be.

*

I’m enlightened enough for now.

*

Don’t forget to medicate the ferrets.

You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around...

2008-05-14T13:19:00.001-04:00

Ok so I've been on Facebook for a while now and I haven't gotten all that much use out of it, save for finding a few long-lost friends and keeping in touch with others who aren't on livejournal...as much as I would like to Superpoke you all back, take the quizzes, accept your gifts, hugs, good karma, and so on, I just don't have the time to keep up with it all. Please don't be sad if I don't always reciprocate. I still love you:)

QotD

2008-05-14T09:58:00.001-04:00

Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.
- Douglas Adams

2008-05-13T09:20:00.000-04:00

UNLoadOut 003
Originally uploaded by mirvana.

I wasn't initially planning on going with the boyfriend to the Ai500 Black Jack event at Fort Blanding in a couple weeks. However, I decided to combine the trip with a visit to my grandfather who lives in Florida and so...I did not have all the stuff to do the load-out for a combatant/player in the game, but I still wanted to participate in some active way. This is my attempt at an NPC "UN observer/reporter" costume. Notice the UN flash on the hat, and the robin egg blue vest. I also have a light blue baseball cap with the UN logo on it, and I applied a UN badge to the backpack that I'm going to carry. I made the vest, based on an existing bulletproof vest that Stef has. I bet that no one else has ever gone to such lengths for an NPC.

QotD

2008-05-12T11:39:00.001-04:00

Tell me, and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand. ~Chinese proverb

Positivity

2008-05-12T11:31:00.001-04:00

For some reason, I feel like I'm sending "positivity vibes" (that's a technical term) out to the universe today. Can you feel it?

Buddha B-Day

2008-05-05T18:49:00.001-04:00

Happy (belated) birthday Buddha!

Personal boundaries

2008-05-02T19:53:00.001-04:00

No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Since I started using Google Reader to aggregate my news feeds, I've been discovering some new and interesting blogs to read, such as UrbanMonk.net. This article is third in a series about personal boundaries---How to Deal with Critics http://www.urbanmonk.net/305/how-to-deal-with-critics-personal-boundaries-part-3/

Advice to new grads

2008-05-01T10:28:00.001-04:00

After graduating from college umpteen years ago, I somehow managed to find a successful career. It's had itse ups and downs, but I can safely say that I'm happy with it now. I make enough money to keep a roof over my head and pay for my hobbies and indulgences. I get enough time off and flexibility with my schedule to have a life outside of work. How did I get there? Well, I didn't realize it at the time, but I was following the advice in this article, on Get Rich Slowly. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/05/01/life-after-school-advice-for-new-graduates/

Some Excerpts:

"Treat your time as an investment. It’s more important to invest your time wisely than to invest your money wisely."

"The people you work with are more important than the company. You want to work with people who have high integrity, people you can trust. It’s nice to work for a great company, but it’s better to work with great people."

"What you studied in school does not matter. Students should major in subjects they enjoy. They should pursue learning. One of Ron’s colleagues is a brilliant lawyer who has a degree in music. He knows a judge with a degree in pharmacology. Your degree does not matter."

"Self-discipline is the common denominator among the successful. In order to get into college and to earn a degree, one must exercise delayed gratification. This doesn’t end after school. Delayed gratification and self-discipline are necessary for continued success in life."

"Be willing to do grunt work. By doing the entry-level jobs, you’re building skills necessary to move up. As you progress in your career, find things in each job to be passionate about."

"It’s more important to be happy than it is to be rich."

QotD

2008-04-29T08:51:00.001-04:00

Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels.
- Faith Whittlesey

OMG New York Dolls!

2008-04-28T15:39:00.001-04:00

"The music lineup for the Three Rivers Arts Festival in June has been released, and the first name that jumps off the list is the New York Dolls, the legendary punk band which reunited in 2004, more than 25 years after splitting." Full article here - http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08119/877297-100.stm?cmpid=news.xml

ART ALL NIGHT!

2008-04-25T12:01:00.001-04:00

Art All Night in Lawrenceville is this Saturday and Sunday. Patricia Wake and I will be performing at 11 am on Sunday. Lots of other cool bands to see on Saturday night and Sunday. Check it out - http://www.artallnight.com/

QotD

2008-04-24T22:33:00.001-04:00

Coming home from very lonely places, all of us go a little mad: whether from great personal success, or just an all-night drive, we are the sole survivors of a world no one else has ever seen.~John le Carre

2008-04-23T12:16:00.002-04:00

Blog resurrection!

I haven't posted here in a while, but since I finally got a gmail account and I'm using a lot of google tools right now, I linked my old "darkthreads" blog to that account now.

My first sock

2007-03-23T14:24:00.000-04:00

My first sock
Originally uploaded by mirvana.

My first sock. Has lots of mistakes in it, but is otherwise functional and fits perfectly. I am about 1" into the cuff of sock #2.

Nyarlothetep1

2007-03-14T14:04:00.000-04:00

Nyarlothetep1
Originally uploaded by mirvana.

Nyarlathotep will be opening for Between the Waters at the Club Cafe, April 5, 7 pm. $5, 21+

56-58 South 12 St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
412-431-4950

http://www.betweenthewaters.com/
http://www.myspace.com/betweenthewaters

http://www.thecrawlingchaos.net/
http://www.myspace.com/nyarlathotep

Brrr

2007-02-15T10:54:00.000-05:00

DSCN2767
Originally uploaded by mirvana.

This Friday: Electrobelly!

2006-07-19T18:25:00.000-04:00

mavi at graffiti wall2
Originally uploaded by mirvana.

I am performing in:

ElectroBelly!
... an exploration of electronic music through bellydance and other dance forms...
This Friday, July 21, 2006
The Rex, South Side
$10 Cover
Bellydance, Breakdance, Glowstick and prop dancing.
Open Dance Floor with DJ's Billy Wegs (Funky House Music) and Paul Alexander (variety of electronic music).

There will also be a vegan dessert sale by the Vegan Goddess, and ElectroBelly T-Shirts and Tank Tops!

Schedule:
9 p.m.-Doors Open
9:30-10:30 p.m. - Open Dance Floor
10:30-Midnight - Performance Show!
Midnight - close: Open Dance Floor!

Full Event Details can be found here:
http://healingartsbyamethyst.com/ElectroBelly.html

I hope you all can make it!

poats2062

2006-04-24T11:41:00.000-04:00

poats2062
Originally uploaded by mirvana.

Just checking in...I recently performed at the Artist Upstairs gallery as part of a gallery crawl event. Lots of colorful photos on my flickr blog from that: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mirvana/tags/projectofathousandstories/

Amazing Turkoman coat for sale...

2006-03-26T21:03:00.000-05:00

lbk1997
Originally uploaded by mirvana.

I am selling this magnificent coat on ebay for my housemate. It is awesome. Check it out here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7402480451

2005-12-28T19:40:00.000-05:00

captmorgancoat1583
Originally uploaded by mirvana.

What I've been sewing lately...a xmas present for boyfriend, inspired by "Capt. Morgan" rum:)

Come to the party!

2005-11-19T12:43:00.000-05:00

BigHolidayShindig1
Originally uploaded by mirvana.

Come to the party!

BIG Holiday Shindig!

2005-11-14T12:34:00.000-05:00

2005pennsic1022
Originally uploaded by mirvana.

BIG Holiday Shindig!
Date & Time: Saturday, December 17, 2005
6:00 PM
Location: Prana Gallery
2010 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Shindig - a social gathering with dancing; a usually large or lavish party...

...at the Prana Gallery on Smallman in the Strip. Food, live music, dancing, DJs, and who knows what else...

Doors at 6 pm, until 11:30 pm.

No cover, cash bar (please NO byob).

You MUST RSVP to get on the guest list for this event! (If your name is not on the list, you do not get in.) Please RSVP to this invitation or contact me directly by Dec. 10.

Green Corset

2005-11-09T19:00:00.000-05:00

halloween1387
Originally uploaded by mirvana.

And here is a shot of me in the green corset, with my good friend "Marie Laveau."

Goth Wedding

2005-11-09T18:57:00.000-05:00

JaimesWedding1400
Originally uploaded by mirvana.

I recently attended a "goth" wedding and busted out the old red corset for the occasion.