An Unexpected Party - Part 1 - Invitation and Decor

Last September my cousin, Josh, turned 9, and he is a huge fan of The Hobbit [book, and movies] and is nearly completed his first read through The Lord Of the Rings. 

He wanted to have a Hobbit/LOTR themed party, and that is just what we did! Grace [Josh's big sister] made these incredibly cute invitations to look like Bilbo's door, at Bagend!

[back of the invite]

We used reclaimed white newsprint paper [like the kind used as packing material] and made a tree shape in a corner to be The White Tree of Gondor. [This was an idea from Pinterest, I believe, but it was a jungle tree, or some other theme, with brown and green paper]

The little girl wanted her picture by the White Tree...

Such tourists! [Couldn't NOT share these smiles!]

--> The Birthday Boy dressed up like Bilbo Baggins! Here he is eating second breakfast [an apple] standing outside of Bagend. [Grace set up a dome tent and covered it with a sheet, then drew the door out of more packing paper, and added greenery around]

Here is Bilbo in Shelob's Layer! Look out behind you!!!

They made a large banner [just like in the movie] to wish a happy birthday to Josh.

The Black Arrow. This was a game, I think Grace thought up. She drew the picture of Smaug, including his missing scale, and taped it to a cardboard box. Then they had a couple bows and arrows and everyone got a chance to try and slay the dragon! This was a LOT of fun!!

Another fun game [and more appropriate for the younger hobbits in attendance] was Mount Doom Ring Toss! The target was a picture of the top of the Mount Doom volcano, and each contestant got to toss The Ring into the burning depths! [they were actually small washers] :^) 

A welcome for the front door of the house. 

The Mark Gandalf leaves on Bilbo's door so the Dwarves know they are at the right house when they arrive to seek Bilbo's services as a burglar.  

There were fun goodie bags/party favors for everyone to take home! 

Paper and yarn bunting completed the look on the porch. [get a printable template here!]

This is Part 1 of at least 3... Stay tuned!!

Blessings - Kerry

Adventures in Wedding Tripping + DIY Embroidery Hoop Wedding Gift

Once upon a time...

So, I had this friend. And she is pretty cool. We met once in Missouri and then she went back home to Northern Illinois and we wrote letters for four years before we met again.

Then I visited her. And she had a party, so I got to meet all her cool friends that she'd been writing to me about for the past four years. 

Then they became my friends, too! 

Then one day, two of those friends of my friend, got friendlier. ;^) Having known each other for, like, ever, they discovered that it was no accident that they were such good friends.

So, 'they knew that this was much more than a hunch', and he asked, and she said yes, and plans were made, and invitations sent. And this friend of a friend [me!] was invited to go [and bring a guest!]. 

So there I was, hum-druming, about who I could take with me... And I decided to take one of my awesome best friends, so these cool people could meet. 

We had a great adventure journeying to the north country and over came many obstacles [really, it's a long story]. And finally made it there the day of the wedding!  

We primped and drove through the snowy city-side to a beautiful church and witnessed a beautiful union of God joined love-birds. [The bride walked down the isle to the song "Life is Beautiful" by the afters; like my favorite part!]

Hearts were moved, lives joined, hearty laughter had by all and happy tears shed. 

They were pronounced Husband and Wife, there was a kiss, and a grand exit. There was a starbucks pit stop, and a quaint reception with adorable details, keurig coffee, tasty horderves, donuts and cupcakes. There were pin-wheels and mason jars, striped straws and baby cheese balls, there were old friends and new, precious flower girls and more cupcakes. And...

There was snow. More and more snow. It was magical. It softly glistened the whole day, covering anything that wasn't already hidden in snow. 

There were instagram moments and well wishes. There was speeches and tears, speeches and laughter, there were clinking glass and kisses, there was joy all around. And a proper send off in the snow on their way to a honeymoon destination. 

Then there were leaving guests, and guests who didn't want to leave. There were some goodbyes, and other-non-goodbyers. There were mentioned plans, and then sitting and soaking in the last moments of a glorious day. There was talking, and then no talking, but there was still a sort of communication. There was still snow as darkness fell, comfy clothes where exchanged for formal ones, people piling in cars to skid through the snow packed 'back-roads', and a stop at Oberwise where there was shared chocolate milk for all.

Then these Southern Missouri girls [Missour-ee, not Missour-a!!] where taken back to the train for another journey [thought less eventful!] with the memories of a whirlwind weekend still swirling in our heads. There was long talks, and no talk, and there was lots of snack eating. There was interesting train-rest-room-going, and lots of IL fields covered in snow. There were bridges and the Arch, there were parents waiting for us at the station, there was two more hours of sitting in a confined space, and then...

There was home. 

Happy Thursday,

Kerry

Muslin 1710 Shirt - Hope Purple is okay for a guy...

I've been commissioned to make a gentleman's costume from 1710-1720. It's very specific and I'm working on the pattern drafting and muslin fitting pieces.

The 'third hand' comes in handy for hand sewing work. 

It's just a brick, with a rice bag on top, covered in wool. :^) Doubles as a pin cushion. 

Hand sewn shirt hems. Wrong side view.

Right side view. 

The final version of this shirt will be made from beached linen. Not blue cotton. But I like to just use cheap-what-I-have-stuff for muslins. 

Done! It's a little clown-ish with the blue/purpleness, but, it was great practice!

Till next week!

Kerry

Dryad - Narnia Costume Profile

I was invited to a super fun birthday party the last week of January. The invitation stated; Please come as one of your favorite characters from one of these books: The Chronicles of Narnia, Inheritance Cycle, The Wingfeather Saga, The Hobbit, Dragons in Our Midst, Lord of the Rings, The Mysterious Benedict Society, or Viking Quest.

Woah. What a fun collection of choices! It was a hard decision, but I've always loved the dryads in the Narnia books and have been looking for an excuse to make this costume anyways. :^)  

I made this waist cincher a week or two ago, with no real plan or purpose for it. But once I began sketching out my ideas for my dryad costume, I KNEW I had to include this lovely to the design.  

I used a metallic gold look leather purse to trim the edges of the front of the cincher, and added little leaf shapes to add interest. 

Seamstress Confession: I use a hot glue gun in my sewing a LOT more than I ever thought I should. [Not, of course for Historical garments]. But I stuck these little leather leaflets in place with hot glue, and then stitched them in permanent place. It can gum up your machine needle if you get to much right along the edge you are sewing, but just tack it in the center if your stitching the edge, and you can avoid this. It keeps it secure better than pins at this point, cause all the thick layers, the pins don't do a whole lot. [or they bend and then are completely useless!]. I've also hot glued patches in place on stretchy fashion fabric or on leather vests/jackets, where it's hard to keep pins straight. 

Here I am below with the birthday girl, who was Bonnie, a Dragon/Human from the books Dragons In Our Midst. 

I just wore the one shoulder 'dress' over a green long sleeved tee and green leggins. 

Here I am with Hope, a Miniature Tauriel, from the new Hobbit movies. [Grace, aka Bonnie, made the Taurial costume!!] 

I made some hair decorations to match the dress and cincher. [ahem; More hot glueness]  

I did some fun viney/leafy paint designs on my face and chest with acrylic paint. 

I added little strips of the same colors of fabric in the dress and leaves and braided them in to my hair, just pinned them to be flowing and twisted them to other sections. 

Thanks for stopping by!!

-Kerry-