Jumping ship and joining the crowd

Goodness Goodness

2009-12-22T20:27:39Z

So very busy...will post again after my head has come above water....

So busy....

Dug out....had a great time...have to be working from home this week since schools are out.

Very busy...

New everything 3

2009-12-18T19:20:14Z

new computer...lalalalala, new computer...lalalala

Great weekend

2009-12-14T16:50:06Z

Had a really good weekend. Busy, but good.

Friday night I spent alot of it on my back. Get your mind out of the gutter....my back seized up nicely Friday afternoon, so I took some muscle relaxers and stayed on a heating pad for a lot of it.

Saturday I did some mundane things in the morning, followed by rehearsal and a lovely evening at the Lochmere bardic Saturday night.

Sunday I was able to complete my Christmas shopping, and clean the house for a small girl time soiree. Ended up being even smaller then anticipated, but was a lovely time anyway with food, drinks and friends. How could you go wrong?

And now it's back to the grind stone. This is always a hard time fo the year to feel like I am getting anything done, because this is the last place I want to be.

But I am here...plugging along.

Hope all is well with all ya'll.

OK, this was a little creepy

2009-12-07T21:06:48Z

I go out to my car to drive Brandon to school this morning and find something very odd on my car. There is a business card for a local healthcare system company ... on it from someone I don't know with a hand written note saying "Dinner sometime - if available" with a smiley face.

My first reaction was that it was one of those advertisements that are getting more and more clever everyday...(personal looking letters that are actually an invitation to a new church around the corner or a realtor in the area trying to sell your house).

So I look around....no one else has them on their cars.

My next assumption was a joke...still possible, but far fetched.

Then I started thinking about it...and it creeps me out a bit for the following reason:
1) I live in a townhome at the end of the street that U shaped around. Every single person on my block is married with kids, older couples, or single women.
2) This person (if it wasn't a mistake) knows which car is mine and since I park RIGHT in front of my townhome, knows at least vaguely which one is mine.
3) Card had been then for at least a day and Saturday it snowed.

I am hoping it was just a weak attempt by a desperate man categorized as a 10 percenter...

Never the less, it definately gave me an ick vibe. I kept the card...if I become a lifetime movie, they will refer to that as evidence. :-)

Lily Dress documentation

2009-12-03T15:02:44Z

I finally have SOMETHING up about the 15th century Tournament of Lily gown, but honestly the documentation in it's entirety is better viewed here, so I figured I would cross post.

docs.google.com/fileview

For more information on additional projects or more pictures take a look at <lj user="larouxprojects">

I am open to comments...

Thanks for taking a look.

Happy Birthday

2009-12-02T17:51:50Z

Happy Birthday Wishes to attack_laurel

Sorry I couldn't go dancing on Friday, but we will soon.

lisettelaroux @ 2009-11-30T10:00:00

2009-11-30T15:01:01Z

Had a wonderful couple of days off...Wonderful holiday! Wonderful Weekend.

Just can't say enough about either one.

Brandon is also getting into youth combat. I am excited, but I want to make sure it's something he is interested in, so let's hope for the best.

Still working on larouxprojects and trying to add more info. I have recently added a link to a Flicker page with a multitude of pictures. I was not feeling well last night, so I was unable to take detailed pictures of the dress, but the dress diary (with the exception of adding a few more pictures) is done! YEAH!!!! I will take some pictures tonight and get it posted. For those of you who would care to take a look.

Still trying to figure out the ins and outs, cause it's doing funky things like DELETING INFORMATION!!! which as you can imagine after the 3rd try was REAL FUN....NOT!

But I will figure it out.

Hope everyone's holidays were safe, fun and happy.

ROFLMAO

2009-11-25T18:42:09Z

www.youtube.com/watch

WENDY MUST WATCH!!!!!!

Yes, Muppets doing Bohemian Rhapsody

Ok, kids, let's try this out

2009-11-25T14:50:54Z

I am playing around with the concept of the LJ for a way to send my projects out to the world.

I put up recent class notes to use as a guinea pig. I am diggin on the google docs page, cause it allows me to give a sampling of my pictures...but a link for the full ball of wax, including bibliography and additional images.

Give people options, and I am all about options.

So, please check it out and give me your input....

larouxprojects

New livejournal site for projects

2009-11-24T03:46:16Z

OK, so I have been trying...and Iam getting wrapped around the axle.

So, at the the suggestion of a wise woman, I created a page in the interim on livejournal to better document my items as I go....while I am still learning to be internet savvy.

I will add to it tomorrow, but int he meantime...if you are interested in what projects I am working on, I will be posting my diaries and progress here...

larouxprojects

Finally, an internet I can use.

This weekend

2009-11-23T16:14:32Z

Well, I had to make changes to Kalisa's jacket, so it wasn't done in time for Holiday Faire. Bit of a fail on my part, but I will survive.

However, the weekend was really fabulous. Mom came into town friday night, and although I had to drve to DCA at 5PM, she was patient and all was well. We got bunches of stuff for our Thanksgiving meal. She has a lay over ON Thanksgiving, which works out perfect. Brandon is with greg on Thanksgiving Day, so she and I are doing prime rib, stuffed tomatos and garlic mashed potatoes for the day of....then I will do a turkey the next day when I have Brandon.

Was also able to go to dinner and the Carbon Leaf concert on Saturday night with a bunch of people. It was the ultimate in cool.

Sunday more time was spent with Mom and then rehearsing for a show I am doing in February after I dropped her off at airport. Brandon had so much fun watching me practice. He kept yelling "Encore".

I am really looking forward to this week and this weekend.

The dress diary went through my Laurel for some edits, since I have never done one before. However, I am still trying to make this webpage thing look like an adult did it and it wasn't a second grade technology class project. So dress diary will have to wait a bit longer. If anyone is THAT interested in it I can email it to you ahead of time.

November has been a good month.

Dress Diary

2009-11-19T17:22:47Z

OK, so I am truely computer stupid I guess....Now I can't figure out how to embed my dress diary in here....

Pout....and I was hoping for feedback.

See? This is why I need a website.....

Pout

Need to create a website

2009-11-18T18:45:26Z

So I have come to a cross roads. I have so much information gathered and projects to document that I want to start a website. I figure it's the only way to document everything I have going on in one nifty place. Seems to have been affective for others.

However, I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS...I know enough about computers to not get me fired and to do everything I want to do...except this.

Help....does anyone KNOW anyone that designs webpages for a living...or a book on it they have found to be user friendly?

Many thanks.

The weekend of the Lily

2009-11-16T14:30:46Z

Well, I am a couple of projects done.....and am very pleased with the results. This weekend was Tournament of the Lily and let me tell you...it was fabulous. Everyone made such an effort and the end result was ...well... fabulous.

Speaking on the tourney. It was well done. Very exciting and entertaining to the ladies of the gallery as well as all the on lookers. I had the honor of being the consort of Syr Christian Darmody, who made me proud time and time again. I even got bling out of the deal. Gorgeous bling. Green beaded necklace commissioned by Kevn from Lucia. With a fleur on it.

I loved the pagentry of the event, the formality and the way it was run. I just can't say enough about it. Many came out to support Christian's efforts including many of Lochmeri, with the war cry of "Joie de Vie, Darmody" everytime he did well. I know it was very much appreciated.

Brandon even got a little part in it with the children's procession (great idea BTW). I also thoroughly enjoyed the show and tell that was done during feast compliments of Geoffrey Bourette. It was so informative and a different way to teach in the SCA. Kudos.

So I am working on finishing up my dress diary (although I've never done one so I am sure I am missing tons of information), but int he meantime, this is the final result. Thank you to everyone who helped me with it.

Image courtesy of Mistress Theodora. More info to come.....should I post my dress diary here???

Crown and Update on projects

2009-11-10T18:12:08Z

Crown weekend was lot of fun. I had Brandon, so we headed down Friday night and stayed in a hotel in Hopewell. Bubba loves staying hotels. He has a blast. He is such a great kid. I am so very blessed.

Saturday we got to the event. Brandon was able to spend some time with Greg watching the fighting, which was great. I was able to do some retaining, which is fun.  Met new friends, saw ones I haven't seen in a bit and was able to talk some Lily logisitics. Congratulations to our new Prince and Princess.

Pretty much right after the fighting was over, we got in the car and headed home.  It was a long drive and Bubba was so tired I couldn't keep him awake to feed him. Slept the second the car went faster then 5 mph.

I was able to get some project stuff done, and Sunday was filled with shopping, sewing and video game playing.

Update on projects:

Need to get fur trim on the hem and fix the fur on my cuffs -nearly complete
Need to finish the hennin (see attached pictures) - nearly complete although I may make another before Saturday if perfectionist side has it's way
Need to make favor -won't take to long
Need to make belt - nearly complete
Put sleeves on (final step) Kalisa's jacket

I am not going to be able to complete the furniture before this weekend...have to place priorities first. So I guess I know what my winter project will be. Oh well, something had to fall through the gap I guess.

I am doing a dress diary for this ensemble, but here is a bit about the hennin.

The truncated hennin I am basing this one on....

Portrait of a Young Girl
by Petrus Christus c1470

The frame of 18 gauge wire

With two layers of buckrum

With the velvet attached (had to use my son for a model). My head is bigger then his, so it sits right where hers does in the portrait on me.

What Simon did during all this.....

I bought some nice gold thread trim that I love and will trim the edge with it. I also have the sash that will be pinned to the top and drape under my chin.

Lessons learned and the reason I MAY make another one...I feel it is to big. I tried to extrapolate how big it was in comparison to how big her head was in the protrait. It is approximately 8 inches tall, which is the "tallness" of my head at that angle. I think it's to tall. If that were the only issue I would live with it, but it is also not conical enough and a bit to cylindrical.

I may just run out of time and have to update the idea with my next iteration of the hat, but structurally it rocks.....so it doesn't completely suck.

Halloween weekend....did not FAIL

2009-11-02T14:19:37Z

So Friday ended up pretty good. Even though I had lack of Halloween Mojo goin on, I gained it back a bit once I went to Brandon's Halloween parade. He is such a trooper. He was Can Bain this year (new character from Clone Wars), and was told his mask was to scary to wear....which was complete and utter BullS**** since the pictures that Greg took for effect on the point were blood dripping skulls from other classes...but in response Brandon said "well, at least I got to wear my hat". I love my son.

Afterwards I went home and did LOADS of sewing. I have Kalisa's jacket virtually done. Quick question sent off this morning to my Laurel...but I think I am nearing the final stages of that project. Spent LOTS of time doing that and I found my panic level lowering.

Saturday morning I headed off to Gen and Alan's, so Alan could help me make the table to match the benches we did a few weeks back. The top is simple and doesn't relaly require big hefty power tools, so we concentrated on the trestle legs and such. I am thrilled with the outcome and so happy I virtually have furniture for my dayshade. Thanks Alan...you rock, and thanks Gen for letting me borrow him and your house so early on a Saturday morning.

We finished up early enough that I was able to run home and ...yes, you guessed it, sew for a few more hours before picking Brandon up for Halloween funness. I decided that the best way to get my Halloween MoJo was to look at it through the eyes of my seven year old. So I did. I pulled out a bunch of silly and fun costume type stuff (goth, pirate, devil, cate, angel, bee, etc.) and let BRANDON dress ME. I picked him up from Greg and brought him home. Laid it all out on the table and said "dress me" and he did. He had fun with it...

After I dropped him off with Greg, I went home and ...yes...performed more sewing.

Sunday, well, yeah you guessed it. More sewing. I actually had fun working with the fur. I have never used fur before and thanks to Laura was told how to cut it properly. The cuffs are on the V Neck gown, as well as the back V and the fron is ready to go. The hem took me a lot longer then expected. Well, that's because it is a 20 foot hem. Can't wait to put all the fur on THAT puppy.

Went to JoAnns to try and find something to fix a screw up (you should have HEARD te colorful language coming out of my mouth when I discovered THAT one) as well as wire to start the Hennin.

Worked Sunday from 9 am until 9 pm with a brief trip to JoAnns. I feel like ihave things under control.

Yippee.

Hope everyone had a good Halloween.

Eeeeeeee...cough....eeeeecccckkkkk

2009-10-30T15:16:01Z

Having a hard time getting into Halloween this year. So I am looking back on old Halloween pics to help perk me up...

Brandon at 20 months

Grrr, Baby

OK, that's better

lisettelaroux @ 2009-10-30T06:40:00

2009-10-30T10:42:19Z

Checklist update...actually accomplished something...albeit something easy.

Done...

Brandon cloak (done)
Kalisa's skirt (done)
Kalisa's bodies (done) - now this is kinda a fib cause I need to have her try it and the skirt on to possibly put in lacing holes from bodies to skirt..but it's wearable.
Placket

Not done:

15th century dress (need to add fur trim on cuffs, neck (collar) and hem) - need done before 11/13
Belt - need done before 11/13
~~Placket - need done before 11/13~~
Hennin - need done before 11/13
Kalisa's jacket - need done before 11/21 (hopefully a week or so before so I can have her try it on) - got the F(*#^&)@*( gores in
Benches - need to be painted and polyed before 11/13
Table - need by 11/13 - maybe....

Things are better.

Status on projects

2009-10-29T12:48:34Z

So I figured, for my own sanity, I would list out what I have done and what I have left to do....Kinda a checklist of sorts.

Let's start with the happy parts...

Brandon cloak (done)
Kalisa's skirt (done)
Kalisa's bodies (done) - now this is kinda a fib cause I need to have her try it and the skirt on to possibly put in lacing holes from bodies to skirt..but it's wearable.

Not done:

15th century dress (need to add fur trim on cuffs, neck (collar) and hem) - need done before 11/13
Belt - need done before 11/13
Placket - need done before 11/13
Hennin - need done before 11/13
Kalisa's jacket - need done before 11/21 (hopefully a week or so before so I can have her try it on)
Benches - need to be painted and polyed before 11/13
Table - need by 11/13 - maybe....

Also, need to mend my undergown before 11/13, since the last time I washed it, the dress protested in the form of seams going EVERYWHERE....Like it couldn't just wait ONE MORE FREAKING EVENT!

OK, must not panic.

Mousehole weekend

2009-10-26T15:08:49Z

Had a wonderful weekend with Brandon. Started Friday with visiting with my Mom and having dinner on her layover.

We headed to Bob and Laura's for a bit of Mousehole fun. I love that event and Brandon had so much fun watching the rapier at Lochmere, I figured he would have a blast. The weather was ... exciting...but honestly it did not detract from my enjoyment...or my sons. I love the "Farm". Brandon really enjoyed watching the fighting in the woods. I was so appreciative of how welcoming the Gardiners group was to Brandon...even indulging him in explaining different kinds of weapons (blunted of course). Jimmy had a playmate and showed him the basics of rapier fighting.

We had perfect accomodations thanks to Bob and Laura allowing us to have one of the bedrooms. When Brandon decided he was done.....he had a quiet place to go....

And I got new knitting needles (without training wheels but still bamboo) from Heather (THANKS!). When I am a bit more capable and stop increasing my stitches as I go, I can use the steel ones I got from Laura.

I haz pictures.....

Thinking about starting

Tending the fire...yumminess thanks to Sandy, Carla and Tom

My little 16th century boy hanging with the fighters...

The cat's perch

Laura working her animal MoJo...

I mourn ye still.....

Thank you, everyone...it was a great time.

We came home, carved pumpkins, played video games...and I was even able to do a bit of sewing.

It was a good weekend.

Shocked the hell out of me

2009-10-23T12:19:00Z

Next to the book that I received from Laura, it's the first time I've seen my SCA name in print....

Did I mention I my device is moon and stars.....LOL

What a wonderful weekend

2009-10-19T13:24:45Z

So, even though all the activity made the weekend zoom by, it was all very wonderful, friend and memory filling.... Wow, don't even know if that made sense.

Friday night I was able to get some sewing done. The mock up for the Burgundian was completed, so I was able to unpick the seams on the mock up and eye the beautiful blue wool....it knew what was coming.

Saturday I had to change my plans up a bit. Originally I had planned on going to Alan's to work on the table. However, there was a lacking of retainers on the list that were going to be able to attend...so Alan, in his wonderfulness agreed to move our day to two weeks in the future...so I could help out.  Baronial Investiture at Dun Carraig was very nice, but due to the weather being crappy didn't pull as many fighters.  Not to mention more people showed up then was expected that could retain.  So I was able to work my first shift from 10-1 and then head home to work on one of my many projects, instead of staying for my second shift.

So Saturday afternoon was spent with wonderful woolness while Simon and Brodie played at Tara's. Then as a finish off Tara and Clint came over for wingy goodness.

Sunday morning went down...but not as originally planned.  Last week started chatter about Sunday and the Komen walk. We had planned on going up to Hunt Valley and participating in the walk for the Race for the Cure. However, the weather had been crappy and was getting worse.  The forecast was HIGH of 42 with 15-25 mph winds and 70% chance of rain. Which in of itself would have not been terrible, except that one of our team members had been suffering from upper respiratory issues all week. I saw her on Saturday and was extremely concerned about her doing the walk in those conditions. It's one thing to be committed to a cause. It's another to support a friend getting pneumonia in order to do it.  So Tara came up with a great idea to perform the walk at the same time, wearing our shirts to advertise the cause,...except under conditions that were more favorable and non pneumonia producing. So we walked the mall, same time....ended up walking a bit longer then I think we would have. Saw three other women doing the same. One of the team members decided to brave it and walk it in the elements...KUDOS DEB!  She even picked up some bracelets for us. Gen, I have yours.

After the walk, the large group of us went out to the Ren Faire...those that were well enough to do it....:-) Watched Albannach under extremely cool conditions.  Because of the weather, they had to play in the tavern area that was covered.  What it did was produce an extremely cool close knit experience.  Lots of cool people.  I was able to walk the faire a bit and check out the merchants.

All in all, it was a cool weekend.

Arts and Sciences ABOUND!

2009-10-13T15:18:23Z

So I am excited about this new project. I am well on my way to planning and creating my first Burgundian. I have my dress diary all spelled out. I really need a website.... I am excited, but debating on if I share....or work and share the final product. Thoughts?

So my projects are going along. I have Kalisa's skirt and bodies completed. Jacket is moving along nicely. My benches still need to be finished, but at this point, Alan and I are meeting Saturday to do the table. So no reason to finish the benches until I have the table done and do it all at once. Brandon is getting a cloak since he will be attending Crown and Lily, and now I have this Burgundian. So through Mid November I am booked to the hour.

I now have a new prospect for a project...non SCA related, but will not deter me from SCA pursuits...and it only lasts through February.

I used to do a lot of acting. I haven't in a great many years. I have an opportunity to do a simple one act (my co worker is directing and asked if I would do it). Doesn't require more then 2 hours a week and the performance is on a weekend I don't have Bubba, so it doesn't conflict. However it does conflict with Ymir, unfortunately. But it's a unique opportunity that fits into all other aspects of my life and planning (ie doesn't disrupt anything else). So I think I am going to do it.  Only a few months commitment. Small commitment.  Sounds perfect.

Happy travels

2009-10-09T17:55:36Z

Hope everyone has safe and happy travels to the various places you are going.....WoW, KWCS, Florida, the Farm.....or just out for the night.

Be safe.....Have a good time.

I have Brandon this weekend, although I do not feel good. I was hoping to take him to the Apple Harvest Fesitival this weekend. We shall see.....

Good time was had by all - and a cry for help!

2009-10-05T20:23:07Z

Had a great weekend. Headed down south to University. I have spent so much in doggie daycare lately that I opted to miss out of the fun that Gen, Kit, and Giacomo had on their trip since I opted to drive home right after my last class. But I had a great trip anyway with Christian. He kept me company and drove some so I could do nighttime sewing by the light of the car. We only got lost twice on the trip because of talking. LOL

But I had a great time learning how to knit and do reversible blackwork. My class went well, I think. AOD would be proud. I had I think 11 students. Gen did a great job as Chancellor. It was a good trip over all. And I got sewing done, which is a plus.

OK...AND HELP! My creative crack habit has made it necessary to spread myself just one inch thinner. I need to find out how to do a proper Burgundian V Neck Gown.....and QUICK! Is it possible to do it in a day? Or a weekend?

PLEASE....and help would be greatly appreciated. Let me clear though...NOT ASKING FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE IT FOR ME. I am a big proponent for doing it myself, but it is a foreign dress that I know nothing of. I have been researching...just need some help on a good pattern (I prefer the thin sleeves as opposed to doing a Houppelande).

With sugar on top..... anyone.......:-)