too fast to live, too young to die

more doctor-y stuff.

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:00:13 GMT

so i went to my primary doctor today. she referred me to an ears nose and throat specialist for my ear ringing and my occasional loss of hearing in one ear,a dn to talk to them about my ever stuffy nose. i have a referral for physical therapy, and someday they'll call to make an appointment. i made an appointment with the optometrist for an eye exam (regarding the blue spots i mentioned). it they find anything unusual in their exam i will be referred to an ophthalmologist. i also got some blood work done to see if i have an autoimmune disease (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and the like) (wait,what!?) because of my joint pain. tomorrow i am going to the neurologist, and it sounds like i am getting a CAT scan. and to top it all off, she took me off the neuva ring (BOO! HISS!) and put me on an estrogen free b/c to see of that helps my headaches. if not, then i can go back to the neuva ring (YAY!) quite a lot going on all of a sudden. i'm not too sure how i feel about it. i've always wanted someone to take interest (but i've never been aggressive enough). but now everything is just crazy. i don't feel worried, but a the same time it's like 'holy shit.'

could this be the begining of the end of what i am most known for?

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:29:36 GMT

well, it looks like someone's finally took interest in my case. AND I FINALLY GOT A REFERRAL TO A NEUROLOGIST! YAY! i am, or course, referring to my chronic headaches. apparently there is someone else in the world who thinks that a 21 year old should by no means have this many headaches. especially not since i've had them since elementary school. he recommended that i try taking a more physical approach to helping them. ie, physical therapy, massages, acupuncture and so on. he's also decided that they are mixed headaches. my most recent one i found out yesterday it a combination of a really bad tension headache and a migraine. so to tide me over till i can get my hands on acupuncture (which i want to try), i have flexaril and a warm compress topped off with Excedrin. i also have allegra, which just helps my FACE feel better, ya know? today wasn't bad, though i can still feel it as like an undertone, i just need to remember to relax. i am hoping taking flexaril nightly will not only relax my neck, but help to break the cycle of doom.
the doctor also thinks (after reading a list of everything i've been prescribed since i was in 4th grade) that i may have done some damage of sorts from all my body's been through. medication over extended periods of time can change how your body functions, which can lead to your body saying "omg, wtf?". and that depression is probably a contributing factor (no, really?).

hopefully i can get this cleared up and taken care of for good, and if not for good, find a solution that is relatively long term in comparison to pills every day, and sitting on the couch with a warm compress relaxing your neck all day every day.

tomorrow it's off to the primary doctor to update her and try and get some prescription strength hydrocortisone for dry winter skin.
then wednesday, i go to the neurologist in panorama. remind me to mention the blue spots. i keep seeing them. and the ringing ears, but that's more normal the neon blue spots and lines, i think.

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:12:04 GMT

so, in a strage twist of things, my faded green fabric (it was supposed to be dark green) is now a blue grey. oh well, it'll have to do.
i also just broke down and bought a pattern for 18th century stays. 4 patterns in one, 1740s-1790s. they're reconstructing history, which means all sizes included and it's on thick paper. any one need a tracing?

'Faith'

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:31:32 GMT

stunning...

http://thistle-threads.com/blog/

news article

threads that have been out of production for hundreds of years can now be found here (and they're a reasonable price for a small project)

ouch.

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:32:24 GMT

i was thinking of going to the bonfire. infact i as thinking of visiting. but the day after i got back from camping, i pulled a muscle in my back, and it seems to only be getting worse. combine that with an abnoxious cough that i've had for the past 3 weeks, that just got worse this past week, i'm for the most part, and invalid--at least i am for this week. seriously, i can hardly walk. even sitting is uncomfortable. i don't know what to do with myself. i have several things i could be sewing, but since i don't feel good, i don't feel like doing them. i think it's time for a nap.

pockets are sewn, and fabric is dyed (as seen in the background):

next they need to be sewn to the waistband/ties. it's probably take me about a month to get around to that because it's a small lat detail needed to produce a finished item, which always take forever to get around to.

green linen will be used for an outer petticoat. the excess fabric will be used for stays, i think. though i really wanted to make them brown. i'll have to see how much fabric they use in comparison to how much i have left, i may be able to dye some brown.
i know what allison's thinking..'enough with the green and tan already' (you've said it before). and i quite agree with it.
i am going to do some research on caps and see if i can make anything up. other than that, all i can really make till i have patterns (ie, stays, mitts and stockings). i could make a chemise (pattern). i am going to make it from white 'tissue linen', but that implies getting off my ass and going to joanns, which i am not up to at the moment.
i am going to make the bedgown from an original pattern (manteau de lit). but i need stays for the right measurements.

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:31:53 GMT

pretty pictures for your entertainment...

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:02:57 GMT

so, i am going camping with my dad this weekend. i think we're going out to the desart somewhere, but probably won't know till when we leave tomorrow.

in other news, i am crazy, and decided to start work on my 4th of july costume. i've always wanted to make a working class 1770s costume and wear it for said day. it's actually coming along.
i finished the apron a few days ago. hand sewing gingham is wonderful because you have a template. cheating, i know.
the original apron was blue and white linen gingham. it was made of 2 widths of 27" fabric (i ripped 45" fabric in half, and then sewed it together in the CF.) waistband of self-fabric, and attached ties of blue and white patterned linen twill tape. the apron is in fitting & proper, which i picked up somewhere in virginia.

my apron is of cotton (because i am poor). same as the original, save is it red and off-white (joanns homespun collection is fun). also, the waistband and ties are of the same self-fabric, made from two widths of the cotton.

i am going to make the bedgown (apparently longer than the shortgown) out of this blue and white plaid cotton. i know, i know. right now it seems to veering towards red white and blue, but there is hope... since this is such an easy/simple costume, and i have way in the hell too much time, i think i will be making several aprons. and i wish to make a shortgown. i'm just waiting for hanukkah to see if my mom gets me the stays pattern in need to make jumps--the 18th c equivalent to a sports bra--(i oddly enough don't have any 1700's stay patterns).

also in the making...a pair of pockets. i'm going to make the backs in white linen, the top is the striped cotton. i am going to bind the slits in the red gingham (because clashing fabrics is the norm in this style).

and it will all grow up to be something like this....

and after i pick up daniel from school, it's off to joanns in porter ranch.

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:30:37 GMT

she pratically kicked me out and forced me to go away for school, but now she won't let me leave. i love my family, but i can't live out here anymore. i'm always getting yelled at, and i'm never doing good enough.

general update

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:34:45 GMT

i am finally over generic fall virus no. 1, and with the help of antibiotics i am getting over the simultaneous sinus infection. i popped my ears yesterday, and it was wonderful. no more night sweats as of today. and i slept in till 10, as opposed to waking up at 7:30.
i will be going back down to encinitas to visit my friend jen, who will be back in town from san fran. and then i will come back up here for thanksgiving.
i am sorry i failed to hang out with people more than i did, but first davis was sick, and then i got doubly sick for far too long.

on another note... i went on ebay today and picked up a turn of the century petticoat for $3.00. those things are hard to get, simply because i always think "okay, i just bought a silk wedding bodice for the 1890's for $15. why would i spend $30 on a petticoat from the 1900s?" but i can handle $3.

oh, and i totally want one of these.

stuff

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:44:21 GMT

At age 77, Richard Ramsey is likely among the oldest people in the U.S. to undergo a sex-change operation.

on another note...i have $600, and i can't bring myself to spend less than $20 on a pettern that i need to go forward with my evil 18th c plan of...stuff...

p.s. i am seriously considering just working on nothing but corsets from every era, just to get it out of the way. seeing as i'll need to make them sooner or later.

p.p.s. i have an interview at a jewelry store in conoga park tomorrow.

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:08:22 GMT

sal's shindig was fun.
today davis wanted to go to china town, but i don't feel like driving and paying for parking, and i rather like taking the metrolink. but it's sunday, and i don't think it runs on sunday. so we're going to the mall by IKEA instead. i kinda feel bad for not really being around the house at all. i'm supposed to be watching it and the boys, but davis gets bored senseless, so we go out. the frustrating thing it that he has no concept of spatial relationships. he seems to think that everything is near each other. at least he does in LA county. his plans of what to do require a ridiculous backtracking numbers.
to top it off, my ankle is fucked up. and not in a constant 'maybe i shouldn't walk on that' way. it's more of the random-fall-on-the-floor-and-stop-breathing pain. right in the joint. if it doesn't get better in a few days, i'm going to the doctors, because walking is an important part of my life, y'know? unfortunately davis doesn't seem to understand that walking=severe pain, and maybe i should lay-off it for a day or two, rather than aggravate it more every day.

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:09:20 GMT

halloween doesn't feel like halloween down here. and i miss you guys all the more for it. today is my last day at work. unfortunately we didn't make the sales needed to keep too many people on, so i will be officially out of work in about 10 hours. i have no idea when i am going to be getting my last check, but i hope it's soon. davis is now out of work, too. however i will be visiting in a few days, and then again for a week starting the 6th.

once again, no photos of the costume i made. as usual. maybe i'll arrange something soon.

well fuck...

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:50:50 GMT

i had decided the one thing i would get with my first pay check is stays to finish a few corsets i have almost done. farthingales LA is closed for now (online anyways), hedgehog handiworks only has 1/2" (i need 1/4"), and alteryears only sells lengths up to 14", and i need several 16.5" and 17". i can only guess it is the gods that i am not supposed to but them right now. in the mean time, i have to convince myself to not but a janet arnold book off amazon. they have them for like $25. AND the have the recent patterns of fashion 4.
maybe i shouldn't spend any unnecessary money. i already bought awesome boots. that was my impulse purchase. *sigh*

regency stays

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:56:03 GMT

a little progress documented...

step one-ish, trace pattern, cut pattern, pin pattern and can cut out. repeat 3 times...

step 2-ish, pin and sew all pieces together. repeat 3 times...

step 4-ish, hold up pattern and realize it's WAY too small. do research online and and discover that it runs a size too small. and on top of that, 2 inches should be added to the back to ensure proper fit. also this is not victorian cosetry. if your measurement falls in between 2 sizes, go one up, not one (or two for tight lacing) down.

step 5-ish/1-ish, trace and modify pattern, cut it out, pin it, and cut it again...repeat 3 times...

so far i have all 3 layers sewn together (LIES! i have the hip gussets left on the top layer).

still to come...mark and measure the boning channels, order stays (i will be ordering for a random incomplete late 1600s corset i found as well), put them in, binding, eyelets and DONE. sounds simple enough.
and since i have a job, i am going to order the pre-cut spiral spring steel with the metal tips. excitedness.

btw, does anyone read these? or is it just for my own amusement?

costume-y stuff

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:19:01 GMT

"Now why couldn't a nice little 12th C person from Provence wear a lovely little

bliaut up to Ireland and fall into one of their darn bogs and get preserved

for all time....."

so, i got lazy. i was going to replace the frog closures on my houppelande with the period appropriate buttons, but before i even consider that, i need to make the belt. it always amazes me that you can spend months diligently researching one style of dress, and be left in a complete daze as to how it closes or how the bet was worn, and then one day, sit down and open a book and have it right there. the one thing i need to do is work out the head wear bit. the veils were a.) intricately folded, b.) used a wire frame, c.) made use of hair WAY longer than mine, and i've not been able to find something suitable for structure, and d.) were yards of light fabric folded back on it self to produce many layers, and had a small pleated trim. hair nets had wire frames i do not have the time to make. head rolls look too cliche. the two options is hair down with a garland or hair up with foliage in it.meh...lazy.
i'm also going to have to piece the belt together with what little fabric i have left. thank god that was common practice back in the day. though i might end up with some weird pieces on the bias. i hope it doesn't look too funny.

foliage in the hair and wire frame veil

garland and an oddly shaped head roll? (and i love the black white and blue dress with white tippits)

i just like the dress :)

quick update

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:02:45 GMT

so... i finally got a job. YAY! it's at a halloween store in the del mar highlands. some company called RIP. i start friday 5:30-9:30 pm, saturday 5:30-9:30, and sunday 5:30-8:30. apparently they weren't going to put me on the schedule until next week, but a few people flacked, so i start this week. it'll be nice to have something recent to put on my applications. the last time i actually had work was 2 years ago. we're not going to count fosters freeze or emeralds trinkets because one job hated me, and the other fired me. so...and update would be good.

ps, sorry for any misspellings, i am like 4 feet from the computer screen, and i can't even read this post from here.

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:08:10 GMT

new photos up on DA

http://charlottevale.deviantart.com/

XD

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:11:50 GMT

yes, another post

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:04:18 GMT

so, davis managed to lose the bag with his work clothes in it last night. joy. but i did find my jury papers, and my car is clean. unfortunatly, i still have to go in tomorrow and deal with it. then things flipped bitch again, and now GIA won't let me turn in assignments. said my account was close of something. however i can do everything BUT turn in my assignments. i have them all done. i just have to submit them and take the final, and then i will have my graduate pearls certification. not that it is doing me any good. other than that, i have spent the day recording movies off the DVR to DVD, and not getting my sewing done. *sigh*

and a happier note,
today is one of those days when the veil feels very thin. i love days like today. a joy to be outside.

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:46:09 GMT

well, still no job. i get the feeling i'm not too good at interviews. i'm going to apply at the spirit on thursday. unfortunatly, i found out they were hiring about 20 minutes befor they closed, so hopefully there's still room left. davis is working now, which is exciting. though i hope he get's more hours soon. however, i am not going to be looking forward to 8 hours of self-entertainment. it would be better, but i have very limited gas resources, and about the only way i can work it is by going somewhere and pretty much staying there all day.
so i've taken to reading, since party city is accross from barns & noble. i'm almost done with anne bronte's agnes grey. but when i went to finish it before i left for LA, it was GONE. who the fuck else would read that random of a book. i mean, i think it's random. i'd never heard of it before.
on another note, i saw richard dreyfuss at Starbucks today.

and now for the angry news. i did jury duty. i served 2 days. i should be getting a check. but instead i got a failed to appear notice. i can't get ahold of a human when i call, so i have to go in tomorrow and argue my point. i had the papers they give stating that you served, and for how long, but they disappeared. all my jury duty stuff was in my jane austen book, which i was reading while i was there, and then i just left it in the car. and then of course i give people rides and they just throw stuff in the back. so now i am having issues finding it. so i have to go through paper by paper looking for it. *pissed off*

progress coming along on my stays. i have the linerlining done. i am almost done basting in the gores for the lining and outer fabric. now i have to decide on what kind of stays to use, spiral spring, spring steel, or a heavy plastic. i'm going to us 1/4" wide. so do i wait to go to farthingales and save on shipping? or do i buy everything i need (for the 1810 and the 1680 satys) at one time online?

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:13:42 GMT

How jobless treasure hunter unearthed greatest ever haul of Saxon artefacts with £2.50 metal detector

official flickr

read first, cut later.

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:39:54 GMT

cut the first layer of my regency corset and sewed it all together. i should have don my research before cutting the fabric. i decided to try and find examples of corsets made from that pattern. it is highly recommended by all accounts, with one exception...it runs rather small. so instead of the size 14 that should be fitting, i need to trace and cut a size 16. ANGRY! gussets are a bitch and i just did a ton of them. STILL ANGRY ABOUT THIS. *sigh* it's late, and i am thanking god i can reuse the gussets and straps, and that i somehow ended up with almost twice the fabric i needed. i'll worry about this another day. *sigh*

latest project

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:45:05 GMT

so, i'm making regencey. i was going to finish my 1600's pair, but farthingales is only open 3 days a week--3 days i won't be here. so i'm considering using the zip-tie method, though i'm holding out for spiral steel.

i'm using this pattern. the patterns are on paper, so i bought some white muslin and traced it with a sharpie. and btw, who starched all the muslin?
i got the pattern on sale at costume college for $2.

i got got a soft white cotton denim for the lining and interlining, and a white cotton sateen for the outer fabric. i have to see if the wooden busk i have is long enough. if i'm lucky i'll find some stays that are long enough.

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:51:06 GMT

this has been the most stressful first two weeks of being 21. i hope this is not some implication of what the following year will be like.
on the up-side, davis got a job at party city yesterday. yeah, not the greatest place, but it pays the same as every other job opening does now, and it's 9 hours a day, 7 days a week. i have two interviews on tuesday. one at party city, one at a jewelry store in del mar. they're opening a new store in la jolla, but i don't know when. unortunatly, since i have no retail jewelry experience, i get minimum wage, though it sounds like it will be full time.

for my halloween costume, i just need to figure out a belt pattern, and make a head dress.

next project will be a regency corset followed by a bib-front while voile gown to match. i will also be making a bodiced petticoat.

and now off to joanns for fabric, salvation army and good will looking for a suit, 99 cent store hoping for tights, and other things i do no remember, but they are written on a post-it note, so they should get done.

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:23:54 GMT

a general update. i am 21 now. YAY! i didn't really even drink last night. i just bought some stuff.i refuse to spend my $100 my aunt gave me, but i have used up most of the money i got on smokes and hair-dye (i re-dyed my hair). i still have no clue as to how i'm going to get my nails done. the nail and the acrylic are separating, so i need more than just a fill. my mom said she'd get is done for me for my birthday, but i've heard no mention of it since, and i kinda hate to push it because she's been getting freaky lately. but i if i don't get a job down there (SD) by the 7th, i won't have enough money for gas AND food, both of which i need, so now it is time for the mad fucking dash of hell.

one more closure to sew onto the dress. securely sewing frogs is a BITCH. especially 5 sets. i've still made no progress no the belt or the headdress. i'm having issues designing the belt for the right overall style, AND the right fit to keep it in place. *sigh* but the sleeves are done! i don't recall if i've stated that before, but they are, and i'm happy, and it's heavy as hell.

what i have in store....
like i had said (at least i think i said it), i want to drift away from the hard structure of corsets and stays, so i plan on doing a very specific style of early german renaissance gown (plain wool with black gaurds)... (in a similar style as follows)

and an italian renaissance gown (yeah think ever-after, not 16th c venetian) c. 1490-1510 (black velvet, red pretty stuff of sorts).

^^color scheme to be vice versa^^

though i'v been overcome by my love for corsets, and the later styles that come with them. so i juts couldn't help it.
so i want to make an 18th century riding habit (one that will bring pirates to mind because of the jacket) so i found these two jackets that really struck me. both are mid 1700s (around 1740)...

this one really struck me. it has a very sharp shape, and i like that very much about it. it is blue wool, and at the V&A.

however, this is more the decorative style i want. wool, wide silver ribbon trimmed with silver gimp. also at the V&A.

and although i am not one for 1850's ball gowns (way too frilly for me), i fell in love with this one today...and i will have it.

i'd do it in white cotton if i can find it that sheer. though i doubt that (do they make cotton chiffon? does it have another name?) or silk chiffon (which you can now order at joanns). and the trim most likely would not be BRIGHT orange.

and i'm tagging this one on just because i love robes and dressing gowns...

i love love love that watered silk taffeta, and i love grey, so it all seemed to work out well.