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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsWhat is your Profession/Favorite Hobby?
In addition to being a Political Junkie and passionate about politics, I work as a Professional Seamstress for clients all over the United States in designing and making Period Clothing out of my home.
My clients are re-enactors at Renaissance Festivals, Civil War, American Revolution, etc. I also delve into the Fantasy realm with costumes recreated from films, Video Games, or of my own imagination. Here are some photo examples of my work for myself and clients.
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A replication of a gown of Queen Elizabeth I called The Pelican Portrait gown. I used that portrait as my guide to doing this gown over a period of 126 hours from start to finish.
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One of my more recent gowns I did for myself in 2015 that I wear at Renaissance Festivals and special events where I give talks on Period Clothing before Civic Groups. I used no pattern. Everything was hand designed and drafted. This one took me 90 hours total.
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My Doll, Elizabeth. I also like to re-costume Porcelain dolls. This I did in 2006.
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Two separate Elizabethan Nobleman ensembles for this same client in Colorado. I also made the hats.
Sewing has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. For the past 55 years, I have learned much and continue to learn more. 2018 is looking up to be a very busy year for Individualized Custom Period Clothing commissions from Game of Thrones, a Civil War Ball gown, more Cosplay costumes, Renaissance Festival wear, 18th Century wear, etc.
Feel Free to list your profession or post photos of your Hobbies.
Irish_Dem
(47,402 posts)I love the slits with fabric showing through.
If you saw the Borgia's the women wore sleeves like this quite a bit.
Italien renaissance clothing I think.
Silk and fine light fabrics pulled through the sleeve slits.
I just loved it...
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)Thank you. I just love the Italian fashions of the late 15th century. I have one of the gowns I want to replicate.
I hold a Bachelor's in Education with an Art Major/History Minor. I remain a student of history to this day. I have been sewing since I was 9. Doing Period Clothing, I have to study the entire period from Music, Literature, Social norms, who wore what, etc.
I will be going to England once again in the Fall of 2018, The Victoria & Albert Museum and the Fashion Museum in Bath are on the itinerary. I will be in Period Clothing heaven. The Globe Costume company is also on the list.
Irish_Dem
(47,402 posts)Didn't have the talent to be a clothing design major, but wanted to study historical clothing and textiles
but that major was not offered in my college and I was not sure I could make a living with it.
I also love 19th century clothing.
What 15th century Italian gown do you want to replicate?
I have a question. On the Borgia gowns with the fabric pulled through the slits, how did the women dress?
Was the inner fabric added afterwards or attached to the sleeves somehow?
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)is due to a bulky under blouse or Chemise called a Camicia. Usually made out of a finer Linen or Silk Organza, as in the series.
The gown from the Series I want to do is this one..[img]?w=325&h=400[/img]
when Lucrezia marries Alfonso of Naples. Gabriella Pasgucci did an awesome job on these. She did the costuming for Dangerous Beauty as well. That was latter 16th century Venician clothing.
Another one I want to replicate. I have the patterns I need, it is the smaller Ecclesiastical trim that will be the challenge to get. A Borgia Cardinal.
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Irish_Dem
(47,402 posts)That looks like puffy sleeves with bands tied around it?
And the bodice is the undershirt you mention, with the fabric pulled out at
the breast line? I kept trying to figure out how the outfit was put on and then
finished in terms of pulling out the fabric.
The gowns I couldn't figure out where some of Giulia's.
If I can figure out how to do it, I will send you a pic.
Do you make the trim yourself or try and locate it somewhere?
What about the hat, can you make that as well?
I have no talent whatsoever to do what you do, just love to look at the work.
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)if my local fabric stores and wharehouses do not have what I am looking for.
Veronza in a gown. [img][/img]
You can see her Camicia under her gown. Because the Bodice part over the breasts were tight and laced in the back, a corset was not necessary. Italian upper class women began wearing full corsets by the early 16th century as fashions changed towards the Tudor look.
Irish_Dem
(47,402 posts)I see now what you mean about the underblouse and then pulling it through the slits on the sleeves.
There is one dress with fabulous sleeves that Lucrezia wore but I cannot seem to figure out how to paste a picture on DU..... I just love the look of the sleeves the borgias wore.
Will you make the cardinal hat or buy one?
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)From what I can tell, the Barettas were formed from a wet heavy wool felt, shaped as it dried. Mine will more than likely have seams, which will be fine for the effect as it would be worn on the head anyway.
Irish_Dem
(47,402 posts)ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)dhol82
(9,353 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,856 posts)My hobbies, such as they are, pale in comparison. I paint badly, sing a little better, but otherwise I don't do much. My spirit animal is the sloth.
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)[img][/img]
Yours truly in my 2014 Elizabethan gown ensemble attending an annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy convention in Bloomington MN each July. I do a different ensemble each year that I can wear for different events throughout the year.
Sewing is a Hobby that I turned into my profession. I could be rich if I turned out the same thing every time, all the time. But I refuse to compromise my artistic principles in order to make a buck. Which is why I do Individualized Custom orders. I take my time in putting out a product a client is proud to own, unique to them, made of the BEST fabrics and trims I can find, durable that will last years, and that no one else has, and back my work with "If you are not satisfied, I refund your money back". I have NOT had to refund anyone in the many years I have been doing this.
Freedomofspeech
(4,228 posts)ghostsinthemachine
(3,569 posts)You should be very proud.
orangecrush
(19,617 posts)Are jaw dropping beautiful!
Right now, Tai Chi and Quijong, though not really "hobbies".
ghostsinthemachine
(3,569 posts)My hobbies and profession dovetailed. Which consists of counting my medications making sure I m taking Tuesday medication on Tuesday. And so forth.
Grueling.
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)at this time in your life. Prayers and good vibes heading out to you.
I take medications for my eyes, for I only have one that works and I had 2 surgeries on the good one, the left. I have had many setbacks in my life too. I do what I do with just one eye. I thank God each day for that.
kag
(4,079 posts)My condition isn't fatal, but I know what you mean about meds. I have degenerative discs up and down my spine. In 2004 one ruptured in my c-spine so I had surgery to remove it. It helped a little, but not enough to get me off of all my medication.
So, besides all of the meds for pain-control, I take others for hypertension, mild depression, HRT (hormones), hypothyroidism, and some other, less interesting stuff.
If they really succeed in repealing the ACA, I'm completely screwed.
Good luck with your fight.
ghostsinthemachine
(3,569 posts)Getting old kind of sucks. For all intents and purposes I've beaten the cancer, once the doc removed my esophogous, I was done, because that was where my cancer was located.
Big learning curve though. Eating is very different. I'm always cold, even on those famous NORCAL summer days and I have a hard time hydrating.
Sleeping is problematic and my usual pain level increased.
But. The alternatives have a down side (like being dead).
Freedomofspeech
(4,228 posts)Arkansas Granny
(31,531 posts)I am office manager for a small general contractor. My primary hobbies these days are knitting and crocheting. I especially love to knit hats and give away dozens of them in the course of a year. Right now I'm working on a couple of shrugs/wraps/sweaters for my two oldest granddaughters for Christmas. One is nearly finished and I've chosen the pattern for the other. (I expect to receive a request from their mother for one of her own after Christmas.)
kag
(4,079 posts)My daughter likes to make her own cosplay costumes. Of course, hers are pretty simple, but I know she'd love to see your work.
My favorite hobby is sleeping, but I also call myself an amateur historian and a writer. A few years ago my husband and I self-published a book I wrote on how all of the states got their names. I had a blast writing it, but since I turned out to be a spectacular failure at marketing, I still have a guest room full of boxes of books. (Want one...or two...or six hundred? )
I also like to cook, play my guitar (badly), and and watch old movies.
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)[link:www.flickr.com/photos/kathy0552/sets|
I also have a Facebook Page for Custom Designs by Lady Kathleen
I have found that Social Media has been working far better than having an actual website. I network wherever I travel wearing what I make. Word of mouth works, as do referrals. I have clients all over the United States.
I have a Commission for a Civil War Ball gown for an October 2018 wedding that I am going to be making out of a darker Green Dupioni Silk with Black Venise Lace accents for a client in Texas(formerly Minnesota) who met me 3 years ago at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival and contacted me via my Facebook page.
shenmue
(38,506 posts)crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)I'm a political consultant--- aka field director on campaigns. I've given the last 8 years (and soon to be 9) of my life to various Democratic campaigns and causes.
In the offseason (which hopefully won't be long this year as I have a video chat interview tomorrow) I like reading and crafting (mostly jewelry but have been knitting a lot of pink hats). I'm trying to expand my Etsy store for a good source of income in the offseason (link is in my signature).
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)Love the Pussyhats and jewelry better than Ivanka's. That's a keeper.
crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)Let me know-- they offer referral/referee bonuses and I'll send one your way.
kimbutgar
(21,192 posts)I take them to my classes where I substitute to share with the kids. They love them and its a way they get comfortable with me. I bring 3 pairs and show them the first one then if they are good I will later in the day share the other two if they do their work for me.
lunamagica
(9,967 posts)cilla4progress
(24,770 posts)Your work!
Im a Limited License Legal Technician, a new class of legal professionals designed to help low and moderate income folks in family law matters (divorce, custody, support) access the justice system. Washington is the only state so far with this license, and I am the second to earn it 2 years ago, at age 60.
Main hobby is horses - backcountry riding. We also do other outdoor sports - skiing, cycling, canoeing. Its why I moved out west.
If I can figure out how to post a pic here, Ill put one up of a beautiful mountain scene with the horses!
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)1. You need to open another window so you can peruse the Internet.
2. Your photos need to be on a site that will transfer over to here. Mine were already on different sites that people uploaded for their files.
3. Once you find the photo you want to post, RIGHT click with you mouse on the photos. A box will pop up. SCROLL down to where it says PROPERTIES, click that. Another box will pop up. With your left click of the mouse, highlight the address where the photo is. Press Ctrl C(to copy). Then click CLOSE.
4. Come over to this site and type in[img] [/img]
5. Between the 2 img brackets, click CTRL V(to paste image)
6. Be sure to preview to make sure your photo copied over. Hope this helps anyone who wants to post photos.
Lindsay
(3,276 posts)I am retired now, but for a number of years I worked as a seamstress (and salesperson and secretary) for a theatrical costume rental company, so seeing your pictures brought back a lot of memories. Since our costumes were for stage productions, we did fewer fine details but had to have the silhouettes right - and they had to be easy enough to get in and out of for changes between acts. (We rented primarily to high schools and colleges for dramas, musicals and operas.)
One of the high points of those days for me was going behind the scenes at the Western Reserve Historical Society costume museum in Cleveland. They had such treasures as a swan's down muff and a monogrammed linen shirt worn by Enrico Caruso. I am so jealous of your upcoming visit to the Victoria and Albert!
Had I known the possibility existed when I was growing up, I think my dream job would have been doing textile restoration. I had a chance to do a little of that for a small local museum, and I loved every painstaking minute of it.
Having spent my life since childhood being artsy-craftsy, my current hobby is working with polymer clay. I actually sold a few Christmas ornaments at a tiny local craft fair a couple years ago. I've only just messed around since then, but I am trying to work up a bit of inventory for another go at at that fair next year.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)cloudbase
(5,525 posts)Hobbies are amateur radio, riding motorcycles, and glider flying.
Laffy Kat
(16,386 posts)I used to soar but then started having babies. I'll return to it in a few years.
cloudbase
(5,525 posts)89TA is the airport designator.
We're in Waller County, about 45 miles northwest of Houston.
Laffy Kat
(16,386 posts)I took my first glider ride when I was 15-years-old in West Memphis, AR and the conditions were "meh". Started lessons in Colorado and it's a whole other story, of course. I took my check-ride in Sheridan, Wyoming; it was beautiful. I've also flown at Turf in Arizona (first solo there) and Caesar Creek in Ohio (which reminded me a lot of Arkansas). My dream is New Zealand, although not sure how to make that happen, LOL.
cloudbase
(5,525 posts)No ridge, no wave, but generally good days in summer. Oddly enough, most of the club's annual altitude records have been made in January and February. Thermals generally top out a 6,000 ft. or so, but there's that odd day when 10,000 ft. is attainable. Have to be careful above 6,000, as we're right under an arrival into IAH. We're about four miles outside of the class B ring for IAH, and right under an IFR arrival into Navasota. Our XC pilots regularly run 300k triangles, and we had one pilot (world class competition pilot) a couple of years ago who racked up enough miles to circumnavigate the earth at the equator.
I'd like to do Omarama as well, but have done wave in Moriarity and aerobatics in Hollister. Back when I had a job that required lots of travel, I'd always drop in at the local gliderport for a ride, so was fortunate to fly out of lots of places. Dillingham has the best view I've experienced.
If the Houston area is in your travel plans, shoot me a PM. We've got a nice fleet of two place ships. Two 2-33s, 2 L-23s, and an ASK-21. We recently sold the G-103. I liked that one. The seat was like sitting in a La-z-boy.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Laffy Kat
(16,386 posts)Happy Thanksgiving backatcah.
tapermaker
(244 posts)my all consuming hobby of fly fishing became my sole support after the meltdown of 08. I now sell split bamboo fly rods and do repair to same. my webpage is currently in flux (chinese hacked it to sell lawnmowers) but the home page comes up .[link:http://stonerodco.com|
DesertRat
(27,995 posts)I greatly admire your talent!
hermetic
(8,310 posts)But I used to work for COMPAS in St. Paul. I also worked at the Ordway Theater. I have been to several MN Ren Fests and I absolutely love your creations. Pleased to make your acquaintance.
Mad_Mongol
(86 posts)Kudos to you for your dedication and artistry.
Radiation physicist/material scientist who dabbles in bigdata here.
PennyK
(2,302 posts)Sewing is also my hobby, but I make clothes for myself, sometimes my daugthers, accessories, and quilts.
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)I started sewing at the age of 9 learning to embroider and do hand stitching. Then by 10, I had a Barbie Doll. The neighbor ladies sewed and I would go to their house and they would teach me how to read patterns and cut out. I would make Doll clothes.
Then by 11, I was making my own clothes. I sewed for some of my teachers in High school to earn extra money to buy more fabric to make my clothes. In my Senior year of High school, my sewing teacher had worked in Hollywood during the 1940's through the mid 60's as an assistant to Edith Head and the top costume designers of the time. She taught Tailoring and Pattern Drafting. I grew up in the SF Bay area during the 1960's.
I still make from time to time, actual clothing not costume related. It is like I have to relearn some new tricks.
UrbScotty
(23,980 posts)I used to work for OFA. I started my own company in 2014.
Those are some wonderful items that you have made!
iamateacher
(1,089 posts)My hobby is making jewelry, including art glass with a kiln.
Your work is incredible.
SeattleVet
(5,479 posts)I retired just before my 58th birthday, so now I'm the Chief M-F'er in Charge of Diddly-Squat.
I have been doing orchid photography (as one of the volunteer photographers for the American Orchid Society) since the late 90's. Here are a few samples:
These flowers are about ¼" across:
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)Those photos are stunning!
Anyone can take a picture of something. But it takes an EYE to bring out one's subject as stunning as you have, SeattleVet. HUZZAH!
SeattleVet
(5,479 posts)My task is to create a 'botanical record' of flowers that are receive national awards from the American Orchid Society that will be useful for orchid judges down the line when evaluating another one of the same species or cross. For the ones pictured above, they all had to be natural color, balanced lighting, and centered, facing straight on to the camera. I use the lighting to bring out the texture and delicate features.
I just submitted a series of photos this afternoon to a task force that identifies species. The flowers on this plant were less than ¼", and I had to get in close enough to show a very specific detail in certain parts of the flower that will help them in identifying the exact species. The structure that needs to be examined is very tiny...and the difference between one species and another similar one concerns the texture of one tiny part of the flower!
Here's the entire plant, with over 1,000 individual flowers, growing in a 12"x15" tray:
And a closer look at two entire flower spikes (there are probably 40 or 50 flowers on each 5-6" long cluster):
...and a closeup of a single flower that I nipped off, next to a millimeter ruler:
(The images I sent them are a larger, higher resolution than I'm posting here, and there were several more that showed the bits they needed.)
Boomerproud
(7,964 posts)It must be nice to say you've achieved something in your life. I have a job, not a profession (after 33 years in banking I work in manufacturing thanks to age and no jobs in banking). My hobbies are genealogy, reading, oldies music and photography.
UTUSN
(70,741 posts)You take "work at what you love" to a new level!1 Congrats!1 Thanks!1
LeftInTX
(25,555 posts)Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so impressed.
I can't sew anymore due to bad back, neck and eyes.
Sanity Claws
(21,852 posts)I have heard that the clothes won't hang right if you don't wear the undergarments appropriate for the time period. Do you have to wear an old fashioned corset with your Elizabethan creations?
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)For each period I dress in. I have corsets I have made be it Elizabethan, 18th century, Victorian eras.
infidel621
(36 posts)Incredibly talented and have a very good eye.
As for me, I'm in IT and my hobby is trying to find a hobby. I'll find something I think is interesting and jump in with both feet for a couple weeks and then off to find something else. I will eventually circle around and repeat the process.
csziggy
(34,137 posts)I had to stop after a colt snatched my left arm (he didn't mean to, he was just playing, reared and I didn't let go fast enough) and I had to get the rotator cuff completely rebuilt. The surgeon told me to stop wrestling baby horses - if that shoulder got injured again he couldn't fix it. I still bred horses up until 2011 but I have now stopped. Horses in my price range are not selling for enough to pay their upkeep. My mares are aging and the stallion I used to breed to is gone.
At the time my shoulder was injured I was studying Japanese embroidery to up my game at needlework. I do fine embroidery when my fingers are nimble enough. I also work on the family genealogy, having inherited all the records from my father's mother, my mother and my mother in law. They were mostly looking for teh bare records - I try to learn the stories behind the people.
Solly Mack
(90,787 posts)And very cool!
I wrangle dust bunnies when I'm not observing them. I used to teach. Same thing, really.
onethatcares
(16,185 posts)I, myself, have the handyman gene.
better to be handy than handsome, I say
sakabatou
(42,174 posts)Hardest piece is this:
japple
(9,839 posts)eom
sakabatou
(42,174 posts)I can give you videos of other songs I've played or currently playing.
DFW
(54,437 posts)[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]
bluecollar2
(3,622 posts)Very authentic looking. Nicely done.