Swishing my way out West

When Hank and I first started planning our vacation out West, it was clear that we had very different approaches to the 3000-mile trip out to Yellowstone and back.  He immediately pulled up Google maps, started plotting cities, researched attractions and calculated mileage.  I casually thumbed through my sewing patterns.  Hank anxiously gave the 1950 Chevy a thorough run-through, hoping she'd hold up for just one more roadtrip.  He changed the oil, checked the brakes, checked the suspension, double-checked his emergency toolbox and, just because he's that cautious sort, signed up for AAA.  I thrilled at finding the perfect piece of summer-weight wool.  Priorities, you know. 

When I think of Summer vacation , I immediately picture billowing, cotton sundresses and snappy playsuits in novelty prints.  But when I combine that image with Summer traveling, I cringe at the thought of ironing said cotton dresses with teeny hotel irons and flimsy boards (should you be *lucky* enough to even have one).  Such was my dilemma.  The South Dakota Badlands in August were sure to be hot, but once again, I opted for wool.  Hank looked up from under the hood of the Chevy just long enough to raise his greasy eyebrow at that decision, but I sewed on.   Ultimately I decided on two staple pieces on which to build my wardrobe:  an A-line skirt and a pair of pants. 

DIY: Steampunk keychain

This past Christmas one of my friends on facebook posed a question regarding homemade gifts.  She wondered if they were still appreciated in this day of "money can buy anything."  What if they weren't exactly your style?  Or if they were done a bit shabbily or resembled a doorstopper (like the fruitcake I've been gifting for the past couple of years)?  The resounding answer was YES!  It seems that home-sewn or -crafted or -baked goods are always appreciated for the time and effort the Giver puts in.  And as a Giver of so many homemade things over the years (dishtowels seem to be my favorite here and here),  I'd have to agree.  The gift doesn't need to be extravagant, just sincere.  Homemade gifts require a bit more forethought, more understanding of the Recipient.   To that point, I thought I'd share a small gift that my daughter made for my husband.

Steampunk Airship Pirate: Part V ~ The Finale

Today I proudly present for your viewing pleasure, (drum roll please) 

my fully-assembled Steampunk Turkish Airship Pirate!

Steampunk Airship Pirate: Part IV

Just wanted to do a quick post on the turban.  I used black broadcloth for the main wrap.  The burgundy poly satin is the same as I used in the pants.  And then I added a poly chiffon face veil. 

As I did for the pants, I followed Miss Kagashi's tutorial on how to wrap a turban.  It's pretty straight forward.  The tricky part is tucking the folds and fluffing the extra frou-frou to reduce the bulk and make it all hang nicely.

Steampunk Airship Pirate: Part III

Let me begin by saying that I am feeling sooo much better about this project now that I've finally gotten to the 'embellishment stage.'  The first photos I took revealed a pirate that was slightly predictable and perhaps a little crazy.  This project started out like so many other sewing projects by not living up to the wildly creative picture in my imagination.  But layer after layer, I think we're finally getting somewhere.

For the final piece of the outfit, I chose a heavily slubbed tapestry that looks like it has been trampled under my feet for the past 100 years.  Using the same pattern, I cut a long-line vest which scoops under the bust.  The tails are split at both side seams allowing for ease of movement.  I also added small caps at the shoulders.  The vest is fully lined with the same blue silk I used for the jacket.

Steampunk Airship Pirate: Part II

So obviously I'm going for the fashion statement of the century here.  Today I had planned to stay home and clean the house, hence the rollers.  Well, as you can see, I am home, but not cleaning.  My sewing machine sucked me in.

I decided to tackle the pirate pants.  Clean bathrooms are overrated anyways.  These were actually very fun to sew.  I used a pattern posted on Multiculturalism for Steampunk.  This blog has been a great source for my Turkish-inspired costume.  Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that Miss Kagashi is updating her blog anymore, but her source material is excellent.

Steampunk Airship Pirate: Part I

Many of you were very excited about Hank's steampunk jetpack and ray gun that I blogged about recently.  Unfortunately he hasn't gotten a chance to do any further test flights as it's already on display at the Oshkosh Public Museum in anticipation of their upcoming exhibit in June.  But it was really fun to watch him work on it.  Every night after scheming all through supper, he'd race out to the barn to tinker a bit more.  Well, now it's my chance to get in on the action.  I'm happy to announce that the museum has commissioned me to create a steampunk Airship Pirate costume!  Think Ottoman Empire meets Turkish dancer meets Victorian aristocrat and throw in a bit of Johnny Depp because who doesn't love that pirate?!

Admittedly, I was a bit stumped by this request.  To me steampunk style immediately conjures up Victorian wasp-waist, bustle dresses and rakishly perched hats.  Pirates?  With turbans?  Not so much.  But I did a bit of research, and apparently this character is legit in the steampunk genre although not as commonly portrayed.  Historically, it makes perfect sense.  Throughout the mid and late 1800s, the Ottoman Empire was in decline, with many of its territories being colonized by Britain and France. And the "Golden Age of Airships" began in 1900 with Count von Zepplin's ground-breaking designs.  So it makes sense that rogue Turks, angered over their crumbling economy, took to the skies in their airships and began a reign of terror across Europe, laying waste to...the other airships?...that had recently destroyed their way of life.  Anyways, let's get to the sewing, shall we?

Jetpack Test Flight #1 : Success!

You read that right.  I said jetpack.

A couple of summers ago, Mr. Hank Schimstock (shown above) stumbled across a three-fer deal of Electrolux vacuum cleaners at a rummage sale.  One he generously polished up, and I use it for my housework.  The other two went in the barn and proceeded to get lost in amongst the thrifted furniture and swapmeet car parts.  He joked that they would be perfect for a jetpack.  I rolled my eyes and forgot about the whole thing.

Fast forward to last month when the Oshkosh Public Museum put out a facebook call for any and all ray guns in the Greater Wisconsin area.  Ray guns?  This warranted more investigation.  Come to find out that they are busily working away on a Steampunk Exhibit scheduled to open this summer.  They were asking for masterfully crafted guns to be submitted for consideration.  I forwarded it on to Hank as a 'here might be fun project' idea.  Well, let me tell you, the whole thing has exploded.

farmpunk : : my turn

Hank and I thought ourselves quite witty the day we coined the term "farmpunk."  Ours eyes widened and our conversation accelerated as we rushed to define it.  It all started with a mild mannered discussion regarding Steampunk, but what if the punk was taken out of the Victorian Era and placed elsewhere?  Somewhere more accessible to us, personally, on a daily basis; like on a farm?

But how exactly do you punk a farm?  Google searches lead to an interesting, albeit short, list of what was already labeled farmpunk.  To our dismay, we had not coined the phrase, but the movement appears to be in its infancy.

Let's begin with a general definition of "punk" as set forth by the Urban Dictionary:

"Punk is:

1. the personal expression of uniqueness that comes from the experiences of growing up in touch with our human ability to reason and ask questions.
2. a process of questioning and a commitment to understanding that results in self-progress, and by extrapolation, could lead to social progress.
3. a belief that this world is what we make of it; truth comes from our understanding of the way things are, not from the blind adherence to prescriptions about the way things should be.
4. [and my favorite] everyone has the potential to be punk."

1950s meets Victorian

So lately I've been feeling a bit bored with straight-up vintage styles.  My sewing pattern collection is almost purely from the 1940s and 50s, and over the past years, I've always tried to be conscious about using the proper fabric with the proper cut.  Lately I find myself using contemporary fabrics (or the "wrong" fabrics) and blending design elements from one decade to the next.  And this Halloween project was the perfect chance to have fun!

A local merchant, Country Rose Shop, was hosting a Witches' Night Out last week.  It involved spooky, late night shopping, in costume, while sipping hot cider and eating delicious, tiny cheesecakes.  The shop was awash in the sights, sounds and smells of everything Autumn!

But this meant that I needed a witch outfit.  After a bit of time spent at Hobby Lobby, I walked out with this great novelty print and some inspiration from the Steampunk costume patterns.