The North Carolina Renaissance Faire

A tradition of the Scruggs is to go to the Renaissance Festival just outside of Charlotte, NC. Here we are from our 2009 outing:

 

 

 

We missed last years trip, so we were eager to go. Like most things dorky, the fun quadruplifies with friends, so we invited our comrades Abby and Danny and a few others. Danny was the photographer for our wedding and also the guitarist for The Sea Wolf Mutiny. Abby is his beautiful girlfriend, who’s just plain ol sweet and awesome to hang out with.

I had mad a second rennaisance dress a short while ago (because who needs just one?). The fabric was a wopping 3 dollars a yard and had been sitting in my fabric box for some time. Abby needed a costume, so I hemmed the new dress to her height. I think Danny will agree that she looked like the real deal in it. I say this not to brag on my sewing but to brag that Abby could have been a renaissance model for court-wear back in the day. In fact she had someone ask her if she worked at the park.

The dress was based off of the Red Dress from Everafter. It’s the one where she goes to break up with Henry in the ruins…(where she could have saved herself a lot of heartache with a little healthy communication). Anyways, I altered the simplicity pattern (picture below, right) adding some darts along the bust for some extra shape. In the back I added an opening so the bodice could be laced up via ribbon and grommits. The zipper is hidden where the grommits end to allow extra room for getting in and out. I made gauntlts for the sleeves as pictured but only had one finished so she skipped those.

 

Abby was doing such a great job as a personal barbie doll that she even let me do my hair. We tucked it in a bun and attatched the snood with bobby pins. The snood was actually a belt that I had as a teen. Oh the things I used to wear…

 

 

I made the cloak that Mac (below, left)  is wearing as well a long time ago. Charley (below, right) wore a graduation robe and halloween cape with his carnival mask. He creeped out more than a few wary-eyed children with the mask on.

 

 

A little late: our fall table

Okay so we are gearing up for Christmas now (I know, I know) but I am currently in the process of making sure my files are all still there on my external (major downer hardrive crash on pc), therefore I am coming across all the old stuff. So for your wrong holiday enjoyment:

I took a scrap piece of burlap for the base, added our everyday chargers and dishes, put candles in the centers of our cookie jars and added some leaves from outside (one of my candles melted to the ground and caused the leaves to catch on fire in the glass jar momentarily....not smart on my part). I made the napkins out of some velvet fabric from a renaissance costume.

Oh Christmas tree Oh Christmas tree

...Your leaves are so-oo bare! (imagine an off key scratchy noise, that would be me singing). The hubby and I trekked into the cold  got into our heated car last night to find our first ever Christmas tree! After scavenging in the woods in the 25 dollar aisle at lowes, we found ourselves a hunkydory ol tree. We the hubby tied it to the top of the car and prayed that it wouldn't fall off. Upon arrival,we were greeted by our pup whom we comforted and told that we would never ever leave her in the crate while we were away from home again . After about 30 minutes of barking, because of course the tree was an intruder, therefore scary and in need of being barked at.....the tree was put in it's place. The lights were put on (but only on the top 3/4ths of the tree to be away from munching teeth) and.........we realized we had no Christmas ornaments. Never fear, I had recently purchased from Michaels three packages of clear glass ornaments. Shockingly my husband helped me paint them:
"now how to I mix yellow again?"
"honey, that's a primary color."
End product:

Can you tell which one's he painted?

Paper Paper

I've been on a hunt for pretty paper, it's almost as addicting as shopping for fabric. Here are some of the good finds (they could be used for a small wallpaper space, book binding, drawer lining). 

kate's paperie

Check this out- wood veneer paper!!

and here is some great stuff from www.paper-source.com