$50.00 Gift Card Giveway!

Sign of the Thistle Historical Costuming Co.

Sign of the Thistle is dedicated to the fine art of historical costuming and the persuit of correct historical clothing for the everyday person, museum or re-enactor.

Gift certificate give away!

Since the summer is upon us and we've begun dusting out our closets in preperation for the summers events, there is always those items that you mean to replace every year.... but never do.

This is your chance to fix that!! 

How far would a $50.00 gift card to Sign of the Thistles web site go?! This can be used for anything in the shop - ready made, custom made ect. You can even re-gift the gift card if you'd like - although why you would want to give away that much re-enactment goodies is beyond me.

There are a number of ways to enter, the more times you enter, the better your chances of winning!

http://bonniemissflora.blogspot.ca/2012/05/gift-certificate-give-away.html

 

18th c. French Court Shoes!!

Check out these delightful little gems!!
The right accessories make the outfit, remember these are just as important as all the little details you took time to do on your wardrobe, with out the complete look all your hard work is put to vain...
Get these beautiful Court Shoes at American Duchess
http://www.american-duchess.com/shoes-18th-century/pompadour-french-court-shoe-white
Dyeable Ivory Pompadour 17th / 18th century French court shoes

Finish your courtly ensemble with our beautiful, exclusive, ivory/black jacquard Pompadours.  Named in honor of Madame de Pompadour, these shoes have all the high stylings of the early 18th century, with a hand-stretched, pointed toe, and custom-made, leather-covered Louis heel even the King of France would be proud to wear.  Pompadours close with period-correct lacing tabs that can be tied with any color ribbon, pom-pom, or cockade.  Follow in the footsteps of the original French fashion icons, head to toe, with beautiful ivory Pompadour heels.

• Pompadour is historically correct for the 1680s through 1740s
• Hand-sewn, Dyeable, damask jacquard upper.
• 100% smooth, hard, Italian leather soles, perfect for dancing.
• Our exclusive American Duchess Louis heels are hand-covered in 100% calf leather.
• Heels are 2.5 inches high, placed in the center of your heel, and flared for stability and the period look.
• Comes complete with ribbon.
• Left and Right lasted.
• B width

Where did I go?

Where have I been? Well my last post spoke of a special event and well some major things happend that month...
Firstly my partner and I got into a major car accident due to heavy down pour but we are ok and we walked away from it, someone was looking down on us that day and said not yet. My special event was the end of July and even after our car accident all brused and scratched up as we were we had to go as it was our favorite event of the year and it would help to get our minds off of what had happened. It was wet most of the weekend but saturday evening it let up just enough for the sunset ceremony. It had started to begin then they called me out to the center of the field. Then my boyfriend walked to me from the line and proposed to me right there infront of everyone!!! We then shot off the cannon in celebration, I like to say we started things off with a "bang"?! Hehe... so I've been planning and fretting like a mad women over girly things like weddings and such and have forgotten about my poor blog until today! Geesh sorry if I left ya hanging!! I did get many pictures of my gown that I was working on in the beautiful gardens and the weather was perfect!
 

I hope you enjoyed my pictures of my "special event" and that you forgive my dissapearance sometimes life just knows how to get in the way. I would like to say that I've made a white linen petticoat without the growth pleats which I wouldn't have worn because I'm to old. I have a picture of this gown with my new petticoat and my wig on at a ball at the Lord Nelson Hotel, here it is:

Cheers everyone I need to get some more pictures of things I've been working on while I was gone, but until then hopefully this fills your need in the mean time. Take care!

Been Busy Sewing!

Firstly I want to apologize for not updating my blog as I have been reenacting almost every weekend and sewing every second in between!
I'd like to announce that I have started and finnished an entire gown that I wanted to make for a very special event this year, and I refuse to take a picture of it until that event where it will be in all it's glory... I promise to put the pictures up right after the event! (End of July)
I also received a wig in the mail and I have attempted to style it... I know I have a lot more messing around to do to make it look right but I think it looks pretty cool right now. I had wanted a really curly wig to get a hedgehog style but with my current wig I had to do a poof style. My other problem is that the red I got is alot darker/brighter than I had expected so to wear this wig I have to dye my hair to match... I think I will only wear this wig in the winter time as my hair gets darker and I don't mind dying it then. Here is the picture:

Another project I started and finnished was a cap! I had a regency one that I wore around for almost 2 years and I kept putting off making an approprate one, but I finnally broke down and made one with rolled hems and all!! I really love the look it gives, it is essential to complete the 18th century look, all my pictures looked ok, but something was just not right but now with this cap I definately look the part! Here is the picture:

Just so you know my head isn't really that big lol I put a ratt on top of my head and I piled my hair on top to look like the poof hair style. I didn't really try very hard and I just pinned it together but you get the idea, pull the back over to the front and pin then the front over to the back and pin, and leave a chunk to do a barrel curl with too. If I were to do it again I would tease it, spray it, and put the ratt higher on my head but I will have to wait a little bit longer before I can move the ratt up as my hair isnt long enough to pull up that much!
Here is a picture with the cap off:

When I first started my 18th century reenacting I made a jacket and I would love for you all to see, I hacked the sleeves at the elbows as I just couldn't understand how the patterned worked. But still have a look at my very first 18th c. article of clothing. You can sorta see my regency cap under my hat. This picture was really taken to show how important the undergarmets are to the overall look of the clothing. I have my stays on ofcourse but also my hips I made earlier on this blog! "Baby got Back"!!

I made a Frock this summer for my man in his desired "Black Wool" with pewter buttons, I made this in 3 days so I still have some work to do on it like fake button holes on the cuffs and actually putting pockets in with working button holes! He has also asked me to rip it up a bit or to shoot it with a musket ball to age it and so I can patch it... but ITS TOO PRETTY!! Here is the picture:

Well I hope you liked my update and all my pictures... more to come very soon!!



New Stay!

Yay! I got my new stay from my friend Gail, she is amazing at creating these pieces of art in no time at all! I always leave this project to the professionals!!! I was so excited I had to take a picture right away and wear it around the house, so comfortable!

Tip: Order front lacing as it is so much easier for camping!

PS. I was already wearing my pirate shirt before I received the stay, not intended but awesome anyways! Honest!!

Sewing Update

Midway through a few projects at the moment, I tend to do a little on one and then move to the next etc. keeps things interesting.  I am working on my Flowered Jacket, a White Weskit, and a Brown Sleeved Weskit right now. I am mostly finished with the White Weskit, just some buttons, and button holes to be done. Oh yeah, you know I am purposely putting those suckers off.

I’ve been having some technical difficulties with the sewing machine lately, so I have been frustrated and I’ve put away my sewing this past week, and only 8 weeks until our first event! The list is still very long so I’ve got to push to get everything I want done for this season! This weekend coming up I am getting together with my girlfriends so hopefully I will get re inspired to cross off some projects of my long list.

Finnished Bum Rolls!!

First I cut out both small and large sizes. Small for camp and Large for special events... don’t forget seam allowances!

 Second, I sewed them together like a pillow leaving room for my stuffing; the old pillow I reused had shredded foam in it, which gave the rolls a more authentic look... Bonus!

 Third, I sewed the opening together and attached the twill tape (ribbon if you want to be fancy). Easy, so make some and work it Ladies!! Ps. The twill tape says yes in the picture...  just noticed that, cool!

Hello again Reenacting season!

Well it’s time again to set up the tent in the back yard to air it out, to wash up all the dishes and utensils, to season the cast-iron, and to restock the “spice box”. It’s time to think back at the last event, was it a wet tear down? As your unfolding the canvas the dread sets in, “please don’t be overcome with mould!”…  “Sigh, thank the heavens!” However through the dread come all the wonderful memories as you dig through the mounds of boxes and baskets, for example finding an old Tim Horton’s cup from when you all decided to run to Timmy’s because there was no use in trying to get the kettle to boil on a wet fire pit! Ahh good times, seems that all my re-enacting memories are dealing with the wet and rain.

Reenacting spring cleaning time wasn’t something I usually did at home, however now that I have moved out I have a few of my own things that need cleaning. Luckily I only have a few things, but hopefully that will change as I desperately need some new gear. A table and two chairs would be nice, oh and trust me this is already on Gabriel’s to do list. A blanket is all well and good to sit on when you don’t have a stay on, but with one, no way! We have tried second hand stores but with very little luck. We have slowly acquired more gear these past 3 years and I don’t think we will get there for another few more years but I know we will get there.

Picture of my Tent (the grey one...)

Oh our wonderful tent… it’s aged, unique and we love it. We would never complain about how it looks as it keeps us dry and it’s nice and big for just two people to sleep in and it was free! Our tent was stored away for more than a couple years, and probably in a damp place as it is grey to black with mould in most places, but we love it despite what our lungs have to say about it. When I was in Ontario with my parents I had it good with the large Marquee that was crisp white, and all the luxury one could want while camping. When I moved away I got my camping dishes and utensils, a blanket, and my current tent. I was lucky to have received a free tent as tents are an expensive investment, and people usually don’t get to start out with one. If you’re looking at ordering a new tent this site it your best bet for pricing and good quality as I have been told: http://www.tentsmiths.com/ most of my fellow reenactors have bought their tents from here, but if you can’t afford a new tent just keep asking around at events and eventually one will come on the market.  

I just wanted to say thank you to all who have read my blog so far and all the blogs I follow as it has been very inspiring for me to really hunker down and get sewing. I have been able to get more sewing done since I started this blog than I have done all through the off season. Thanks so much, with your support I will get my very long to do list done!