All posts filed under: Miscellenia

I can’t believe this is a thing

There was, up until a month ago, a sign in Wellington that reads “The Royal Antedeluvian Order of Buffalos”. The sign was on the very artsy, independent (dare I say ‘hipster’) Bats Theatre, so I assumed it was a joke. Nope. Turns out its real. There really is a Royal Antedeluvian Order of Buffalos, and despite all the stuff they have going against them, they take themselves pretty seriously. In order to be a member, you have to be over 18, enter of your own free will, and be a “true and loyal supporter of the British Crown and Constitution.” Oh, and be male. Obviously (thanks to the British bit), despite the name, there aren’t a lot of Buffalos organizations in the US. I have no idea what goes on at Buffalo meetings today, but they started out as a club for stagehand and theatre techies in the early 19th century (well before techie was a word). Their history sounds like it came out of a kids book: the actors had a club called Lushingtons, …

Isabella has a companion!

Published by The Dreamstress

Remember Isabella my dressform? I’ve just bought her a companion. Meet Lady Murasaki: Murasaki is a vintage Japanese dressform. She’s a size 8 (so one size down from Isabella). She’s also slightly longer – so suitable for draping garments that are fitted over the hips. Doesn’t she have beautiful lines? She is foam (great for pinning and draping on) with a synthetic taffeta cover which has a bit of foxing from age. Right now I like the evidence of what she has been through; if it gets too bad I’ll re-cover her. I found her at the Asia Gallery. I’d actually noticed her months ago, but I didn’t have the money for her at the time, and the price was a bit more than I wanted to pay. I also wondered if I really would get much use out of such a small dressform. However, my last three clients have been size 8 or smaller, and I find it easier to draft on a small form and size up than to draft patterns and size …

Meat, fur, feathers & me

Published by The Dreamstress

This post was sparked in part by a reader question, and in part by tomorrow’s terminology post (which means, in a way, you are getting a response from the future.). It also interlocks with Steph’s post on taste, and judging (or not judging) other people by their clothes. First, the reader question: A reader asks “How do you feel about fur? Would you use it if doing so was historically accurate? Could you consider a reproduction with faux fur historically accurate?” As a bit of background to this, I have a very specific and defined attitude towards animals and meat. I will eat local unfarmed fish as long as it’s not a species that has been identified as being at-risk (bluefin tuna, orange roughies etc.). I eat wild game in areas where the wild game is an introduced species (so deer & goat in NZ & Hawaii). I don’t eat commercial meat, even the ethically farmed stuff. I just don’t like the idea of something existing merely to die. I don’t eat pork. The thought …