Wednesday 31 December 2014

More reading, more writing, but the end is in sight

I spent much of December reading and writing, turned in the thesis again on Monday and have been running around like a chicken ever since.  We bought a new printer, which caused the den to explode, it's still in a state, but I have a desk again.  Today, I spent the entire day applying for new IDs and waiting in lines...I am so spent.

Tomorrow, I will get back to sewing.  I am working on regency clothing right now, new gowns and coats for Mum and I, new gown for Laura.  We wondered yesterday if my spencer would fit her as her new bonnet is brown and her dress is going to be peach and ivory lace.  I'll throw it at her tomorrow, and if it doesn't, we're off to the fabric store again.  I am working on mum's gown right now, navy blue and her coat will be camel, possibly with fur trim.  Mine is going to be shades of gold, satin with a silk striped overlay, my coat is teal, possibly also with fur trim.  Pierre will wear his uniform, but I made a new stock for his neck, a new style I'm experimenting with...he'll need a new shirt with a higher collar.

I have been reading today, this blog https://catherinetheteacher.wordpress.com/ about a full emersion event.  So jealous! What fun that would be...we can come close at Scott Manor in February.  I'm looking forward to it, and it has proven to be a raging success, sold out, so there's hope for more winter events to happen.

I made the grown up decision to put off the PhD for a year, we need to get ourselves up there, I need to meet some people.  I will also have to take some graduate level art histories, so I will do that.  I may also take a swing down to the https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marshfield-School-of-Weaving/231914120220938?fref=ts for some coursework.  I am itching to get back in the studio, back into historical textiles.

well, happy new year all, I'll be asleep when it actually turns over, I'm shortly for bed now.  Be well

Thursday 11 December 2014

New in the shoebox

I haven't written anything here this Autumn because every waking moment, all Fall I have been sitting at this computer trying to edit my thesis into submission.  I have only been updating facebook, and even that not very well.

The thesis went to my second reader Dr Jayne on the first of September, major edits occurred after that, and then mid November it went back to her again.  I got everything back again last week and just had a meeting yesterday with Dr Randi about how to proceed.  I will be reading more over the holidays and editing again while the major junior tournament is on and I have a computer to myself between Christmas and New Year's.  Then at the beginning of term I will send it back to Dr Randi and it will go to the external examiner.

Oh, and I also have a fashion collection to finish...two jackets, a skirt, a dress...

I am having a Skype interview with a professor at Concordia tomorrow, Friday, afternoon to see about taking me on as a PhD student.  I am nervous as all get out about that one.  Am I good enough, all that crap.  Right now, all I really want to do is weave some textiles and make some historical clothing...

And I am, not weaving, but making some historical clothing.  We have a Regency Ball coming up on February 14th, I am making three gowns, for Mum, Laura and myself, and two pelisse coats for Mum and myself.  I started Mum's on the weekend, I have the bodice completely stitched, now I have to decide on sleeve length and cut them and the skirts.  Then send the remaining bits of fabric off to Joy who is making her bonnet.  Her gown is navy peachskin cloth, her coat will be camel wool with either boucle or fur trim.  My gown is gold silk/cotton sheer over gold satin.  My coat will be teal wool with fur trim, possibly a dark, almost black fur.  We haven't nailed down Laura's gown materials yet, but are closing in with stuff from her stash.

I have also been plugging along on the great embroidery project, I have the body complete and have begun working on the sleeves.  The first undersleeve is finished.  I can see the light at the end of this tunnel and am hoping to have it finished for the Kingdom A&S event in March in Montreal/Quebec.

I hope to get back to posting here on a regular basis again, now that things have calmed down and I don't feel so guilty about being here in the blog instead of over in the thesis.  I will be sewing a lot more next term too, so I will have stuff to talk about again that's not "ugh, the thesis!"