The Bumbling Seamstress

So, my Ren project has kind of taken a backseat to the house hunt. And work. To pay for the house, and the Ren dress. :)
Ive just been working so much lately, that when I get home, I hardly have energy at all, and the hubby keeps pestering me to hunt for houses. 

I really want to get my fabric for the dress soon though, I keep looking but I havent quite found "THE" fabric yet.
I did find some gold and cream colored brocade for the front of the bodice and the underskirt, and it was the last on the bolt, so I grabbed it up. Now I just have to find something to compliment it.


I am also hunting for some awesome accesories to go with the costume. I do have a bodice dagger that I found on ebay, but unfortunately I think it may be a little too long to fit inside my bodice. But nonetheless, I now have a really pretty, really sharp dagger. :) So I keep looking for more jewelry and such to be add to the bin I have deemed "All things renaissance" (basically If its big and gaudy and shiny, I toss it in there, and sort it out later) I like a lot of jewerly and I figure since I am dressing as nobility, the more the better. Right? Sure, at least thats what I tell myself.

So anyway, back to the house hunt before I get too far off track to recover.

Also, I thought, while I am creating this whole outfit, I should probably create a character too.
I will be dressing as nobility ( I cant help it, I love the clothing, and the attention)
But I need a name, and a story. Any suggestions?
I think I want a Gaelic name. But nothing has really jumped out at me. And I have a hard time properly pronouncing them.

If anyone has any ideas on creating a Renaissance character, please feel free to share.

Ok thanks.

xoxo
T

So, If you dont already know, you should know that I am a total bibliophile. I live to read. And recently, I finished the book Julie & Julia (the one that is an upcoming movie with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams) and I was feeling very inspired to start a project and blog about it.

I dont know if anyone will even end up ever reading this, but I wanted to document my project.
I have been introduced into the world of the Renaissance Faire, and let me tell you I LOVE IT!
So I decided to make an entire costume by hand. And I have a year to do it. Im not limiting myself to a year for any other reason than, that is probably the next time we will go to Bristol. I know there are many other faires scattered all over, but Bristol is close to us.

I cheated this year, and rented a dress from the local costume shoppe. But, I did make most of my accessories, with exception of a few pieces of jewelry, and my shoes, and corset. 
 
So I chose to undertake this HUGE project to create an entire costume. The only things I will be buying are hopefully just the materials and trimmings. I may possibly be buying a corset as well,  but that will be determined at a later time. I may try to make one, and if it doesnt work out properly, Ill buy one.

So far this year I have made, two paddle fans, two pouches, a french hood, and several different necklaces and bracelets.

Now some of you may think 'yea, thats great.....not' but the thing you dont know is, that while I have the best intentions, and several great ideas, they dont always translate that way. Not to mention the fact that the only thing I have ever sewn before this project is a pillow and a pair of boxers (and that was um....over 10 years ago)
My mother has graciously offered to teach me how to use the sewing machine. She is a sewing goddess! She is the master seamstress for the local Madrigals Troupe. (Which totally works out in my favor, because she already has all the patterns, and knows what to look for in fabrics etc)
So this project is like this great big mountain for me to climb.

I plan on making the following for my costume:
-The dress (consisting of a bodice, and an overskirt, and underskirt)
-Chemise
-Farthingale
-Corset (possibly)
-Cape
-Snood


The first thing I am going to be starting on is the Cape. That seems to be the easiest, but somehow I have already managed to screw that up.  I found a free pattern on the Simplicity Classroom website, and I followed that, but apparently whilst cutting the fabric, I thought my neck was much larger that it really is. So the neck hole is like waaay too big.
So im now debating if I should attempt to fix it with some different fabric, or if I should just scrap it and save the fabric for something else. We shall see.

Any comments, hints or tips are always appreciated.
Negativity, however is not. I know Im no domestic goddess, nor do I expect to be. But I dont need you telling me I suck.

Thanks!