Old Northwest Primitive Rendezvous

People are always telling me that my drawings tend to look like me. Well this time it was intentional. This is a quick attempt at a fashion painting for a riding habit I'm making for the Old Northwest Primitive Rendezvous this summer. The coat will of course be a last step creation since it isn't really a necessity for the costume. All that is required of me is to look somewhat accurate to the 1750-60s pioneer woman. I'm going a little over board on this costume, however, in my opinion it's better then undershooting it. For example last year (as a spectator) I noticed a young girl walking around in her chemise. Really! That's like her walking around in her panties this day and age. The rendezvous really would like everything to be as accurate as possible so why do they allow such things as indecent exposure (we are judging by their times not ours) and tractors didn't exist just yet so I really feel that they should have horse drawn wagons picking up trash and what nots. A horse and wagon would be no bigger then the tractor.

Rant finished!

So what we have here in order from first thing put on to last is:

Ø  Stockings - I have them white here, knitted of course ... just not by me! I've yet to knit socks. >.>

Ø  Breeches - I've fashioned after the Dutch, really taking after the 1780s but they looked very similar. They are done in a goldish/yellow linen or cotton. I'm not sure which.

Ø  Skirt - ankle length done in a red cotton. Granted dyes were not as fast as our dyes today and very expensive, so this skirt would more than likely have faded.

Ø  Weskit/waistcoat/bodice - I call it so many things because I'm not 100% sure which one fits the most. This will be done in the same fabric as the breeches (whichever I choose) and the same color. A nice lace up or rather down the front with a lining of some kind.

Ø  Habit a la française - styled after either the Italian or French 1735-50s or a military coat of similar time. Done in either a blue, heavy linen (which I'm leaning heavily towards) or wool. Gold trim and embroidery as well as some shiny buttons and red facings. Facing def. a lining or trimming sewn on the edge of a dress, coat, etc.

I'm modeling this costume after a Virginia military fashion of the time. The Virginia military had a blue uniform with red facings and small clothes and gold/yellow trim. Smallclothes def. breeches and weskit.

In order to insure my colors matched as I planned for the costume I decided to draw and paint it. It's not the most accurate paint job but then I'm not too proficient at painting. All in all I don't this it's terrible but perhaps a few fabric swatches will help things considerable. So my next stop will be to a fabric store to get those swatches. Once I'm finished making the skirt and weskit for myself and the costumes the rest of my great party will be needing then I'll order the pattern for the habit a la francaise and start on it. Worst case I'm hand stitching it while at the rendezvous. Talk about advertisement!

I still need to figure out shoes and sleeping arrangements. One of my coworkers might be coming with:  lucky me she's making her own costume, and since this is to be as accurate to the time as possible we will need a tent. Like waterproofed 1750's tent of white linen! >.> Crazy! Crazy expensive! Anything we bring must be disguised as historical. My glasses not withstanding. Did I say that right? I CAN ware my spectacles however I'm going to attempt to find some old frames and get my prescription put in them. Or just use contacts though this site doesn't have bathing facilities. Thus running water! My poor eyes! Lucky us my pa and uncle are getting a hotel room so we can all bathe and they have somewhere soft to sleep. I'd like a tricorn hat but we'll start with everything else first! :3

I'd really like to get my wood working boyfriend to begin making me a few wooden needles and hair sticks but that doesn't seem to be happening. *sigh* Not fair! I hope they don't say anything about aluminum knitting needles. Speaking of I'm also knitting a snood!

As for my painting:  it's sketched out then painted with watercolor. I took it into PS and did the background digitally.

Besides all that I've got another commission for a digivice which I'm going all out for. Carry along crochet body, with foam interior for stability and lack of pooching. Then going back with black embroidery floss to accent and crochet the face with a nice little lip for a screen (taken from an old cell phone) to be fit snugly inside and still see the screen shot of his favorite digimon. I also plan to embroider some of the symbols seen on the face of the digivice around the screen. Should come out nice.

OMG my business cards just came yesterday. They sent a sour punch twist candy with it! How cute! They were supposed to be here Tuesday, which I guess UPS did come but after 5:30 when I left for work already. *pout* Eek! They look so good! Now to get a medal tin to hold them in. Like one of those old cigarette tins gents would have in their pockets!