All posts filed under: Crafty stuff

A trio of Medieval accessories

You’ve already seen my medieval dress, and a costume-y medieval belt, but I’ve been working on much more historically accurate accessories. My first belt was fun and sparkly, but I wanted a proper belt: (shown, with complete lack of properness, with my Miramar Gothic dress) I made the belt from two strips of soft leather in mid-brown. I couldn’t find a leather scrap within my budget that was long enough for a single strip (a $200 hide is out of the question at the moment), so I joined the two strips with a bit of stitching. I have no idea if a leather join like that is accurate, but I suspect it’s plausible. And it reminds me of the mended sashes of the sword-wearers of Damar, so, win! I used a vintage English-made brass buckle I found at an op shop: it’s not quite right for the 14th century, but isn’t too bad. I had a stroke of luck the day after I cut my belt, but before I’d finished it. I found a crappy …

Making a medieval inspired belt

Published by The Dreamstress

I first wore my ca. 1369 medieval dress to a historical banquet, so I felt it needed fancier, glitzier accessories than I will usually wear it with. Enter the silk veil, gold circlet, and embellished gold leather belt: My belt was primarily inspired by the effigy of Katherine, Countess of Warwick. Her narrow belt sits at the hips, fastens at the front with a small buckle, features raised floral motifs, and has no hanging end. The belt I ended up with isn’t historically accurate, but it’s attractive, gives the effect, and was quick, cheap, easy and fun to make! To make my costume take on Katherine’s belt, I started with a cheap belt with an embossed floral pattern: Using an Elmers Painters Metallic pen, I coloured it gold. The TRG the One Colour Dye & Preparer I recommend for my dyeing leather shoes and bags tutorial comes in gold and works even better, but I didn’t have the right shade on hand when I did this belt. I didn’t worry too much about getting my …

A little house sewing, and a little housecleaning

Published by The Dreamstress

I’m really feeling the urge to blog today, but have really struggled with picking a topic. This is partly because while I’ve been doing tons of modern sewing, I haven’t photographed any of it, so don’t have something obvious to blog about. More importantly it’s because I’m feeling quite down about the negativity of the internet. It’s slightly unfair, because there are so many of you who read and comment and interact and make my corner of the internet a wonderful place, and I shouldn’t let a few negative people who just look at everything and see the flaws in it rather than all the amazing work, and time, and learning that has gone into it poison the experience. I can laugh at the real trolls, but every once in a while the people who *think* they are being helpful but do not understand the concept of help, or charity, or kindness who get me down. So, for those of you who do know how to support, and help, here is a quick little look …