Hey, who likes shiny swag and helping out folks in need?

Everybody is raising their hands? awesome-sauce!

Over on livejournal, this has been all over the costuming and several fandom communities, but BritGeekGrrl (someone I actually do not know outside of knowing she runs the dw_cosplay comm and is one of the mods on corsetry comm) lost her best friend, her husband, on December 1st to cancer. I didn't know him myself but judging by the enormous response to this, and all the folks that have been talking about him, he sounded like one hell of a guy and I'm sorry I never had the chance to meet him.

In an effort to help her with bills and crazy expenses associated with chemo and hospice, a community ( [link] ) was started strictly to help raise funds to assist her. Lots of awesome stuff has been posted - jewelry, art, fandom stuff, antiques, books and more - and I decided to help too and have listed a custom Regency Dress auction which you can find here: [link] . I don't have any spare cash right now to donate outright, but if I can use my "mad skillz" (not really, I just like to sew) to help a good cause such as this, I will.

If this style of dress isn't your thing, there's lots of other cool stuff you should go look at.

Pass this on if you know folks who might be interested, or list something yourself if you have something to spare.

After seeing photo after photo of my friends on the west coast and in the north east going to lots of pretty events with pretty people in pretty clothing... I've decided it's the south's turn to have a go.

I have founded the Georgia Regency Society ( [link] ) and we are holding our first event on December 5, 2009 at 1:00 PM at the Sugarplums Tea Room in Canton. The best part? You're all invited. Go to the website and click on Events for more information.

So, why Regency? Besides the fact that it's my personal favorite era and I'm a Jane Austen Junkie, it's very approachable for people who have never ventured into costuming. It's far easier to create a dress for those who aren't used to sewing, and far more comfortable to wear being that if you wear a well fitting bra and a slip you can wear one of these dresses without worrying about the proper silhouette. We do have the SCA here, but I've tried to join them before and as nice as some people can be, the pressure to be perfect and 101% historically accurate and the amount of cliqueyness that goes on... it's a bit daunting. We also have a couple civil war groups, but they're rather scattered and nothing is really very organized. It's more of organized events that happen and then people come to participate with that, rather than having an actual group that does various things together.

I wanted to have a picnic at first. I had visions of a group of my friends out in a park in the spring drinking tea and gossiping while sporting fabulous frocks and accessories. I ran across the Regency Society of America ( [link] ) and their forums ( [link] ) and there's a section about starting your own chapter and I took it upon myself to do just that.

I'm really excited. Our tea is already up to twenty participants, and several of them are people I don't know at all. My dress is just about done, my mother's will be done on Thursday when I can get to it again, and then I can throw together a few loaner dresses for those in the group who have asked for them. Sugarplums is a delightful venue - the owner and staff are excited like we are and have even volunteered to dress up with us! I just can't believe this has come together as easily and quickly as it has, and I can't wait before we're big enough to have a ball.

As for my commission information, you can find that at [link] . I'm still going to take commissions but with school coming up soon they'll be fewer in number than they were. Feel free to contact me though if you have something you'd like done.

This Journal will be used for my commission and contact information. If you're interested in commissioning me, please make sure you read through this thoroughly so you understand my policy.

My commission status is currently OPEN. Please sent me a PM if you have any questions or would like to have something made.


Hello!

I have decided to offer up services here on Deviant Art for commission sewing. I have been sewing for a little over ten years and am very detail oriented. I mostly sew for "big people" but have sewn, and do sew for, dolls on a regular basis. I am happy to produce whatever you may need - both for you AND your doll!

I use adjustable dress forms for people and can custom size your commission just for you. For dolls, I have SD/SD13 Volks girls, an Unoa with both large and small busts, and a CP Luts Boy. However, I have local access to many other popular brands and sizes to accommodate your doll's unique needs.

My primary areas include Kimono, Historical Costuming, Fantasy, Cosplay, and Gothic & Lolita.

* Kimono - I have collected kimono for the past twelve years and have extensively studied the fit and cut of these garments in a variety of styles of types.

* Historical Garments - From Medieval France to 1950's American, historical clothing is my passion and I have access to a wide variety of resources at hand to help produce a beautiful and accurate garment no matter the time period or place it was meant to represent.

* Fantasy - Detail work is my forté. The sky is the limit with fantasy based outfits, beading, embroidery, you name it!

* Cosplay - I was a cosplay at the age of thirteen, and cosplay was ultimately what led me to become a seamstress. I understand the need for attention to detail and accuracy in order to make a top class reproduction costume, whether it be anime, video game or movie.

* Gothic & Lolita I have made several outfits, both for humans and dolls in varying styles of Gothic and Lolita. Simple or ornate, I can custom tailor clothing to your tastes and needs.



These are the areas I'm most familiar with, however, I'm more than happy to branch out to create whatever you might want. Just send me a PM with your ideas and I'd be more than happy to help work something out.


_.:~ How I work ~:._


As stated, I am very detail oriented. I don't do "cheap work." I don't take shortcuts or use sub-standard construction methods in order to cut corners. I believe in providing the best for my customer, as well as for myself, since it is my name that will ultimately be on the piece of work. I do a lot of hand sewing with every project, ensuring that details are finished correctly and the final piece is clean and neat.

I take pride in my work, and I want my customer to take pride in their choice. I make sure I line where things need to be lined, I finish all seams appropriately, detail work is finished cleanly and securely and all pieces are carefully pressed and wrapped in tissue paper before packing.

Material choices for each project are important and I will make sure that quality, long lasting fabrics and notions are used so that your commission will not only look good, but wear well and stay beautiful over time.

After I receive a commission request, I will work with you to determine fabrics and other materials if needed, and give an estimated time of completion with a price quote. After the quote has been accepted one half of total payment, not including shipping, is to be sent. This first half is NON REFUNDABLE. If you decide you don't want the commission half way through, this covers the materials purchased and part of the time spent creating it.

I prefer non-credit card paypal, but I can accept it if need be. I will also accept US Postal money orders (No western union or money gram) from US residents only. International customers will need to pay by paypal. Work will be started as soon as this clears. Throughout the work process I will send pictures of progress so you may see progression. Once the garment is completed I will send final photos and an invoice for the second half of payment and shipping will be sent.


_.:~ Pricing, Turn Around, and Shipping ~:._


My base price is $15 an hour plus the cost of materials. However, on large scale projects pricing may be determined differently due to longer than average construction time.

My total turn around time for doll commissions is usually under 10 days from first half of payment received, but I reserve up to six weeks depending on the difficulty of the piece, amount of work involved, and just general real-life obligations. If you commission a Human size commission, typical turn around time is about three weeks but can take anywhere from eight to twelve depending on the same speculations as previously stated.

I ship Priority mail for US residents, and EMS for international customers, unless otherwise requested. Shipping is calculated on a case by case basis and I DO insure and I DO use delivery confirmation with tracking numbers so that you can keep an eye on your package's travel as it is on its way to you.

Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you and feel free to ask any questions you may have!

I really do take too long to upload anything. Oh well.

Saturday I got back from visiting family. While I was in Florida I went up to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (not that far away actually) to be with my friend Alex and her family. We went to the beach, went shopping, and ate good food (except this crab place, that stuff was nasty).

Anyway, I took my camera (of course) and took some pictures of various things and people : ) All of these I did in Black & White, I think it seems to tell a story better than color photographs... that and Color always makes it look like touristy "lookit what I did" pictures. I hate that.

Anyway : ) Take a look and tell me what you think!

So last Sunday (June 3rd) was my birthday. Woo. I turned 22~ go me.

I went to the Georgia Renaissance Festival - Again. But this time I was with friends and wore one of my dresses I'd been working on for a bit.

We had fun, I got sunburnt (huzzah!) and got to see =ladydove7, =girlanime, ~eveshka and some of my other friends, all at the same place. It was pretty groovy.

Um, what _wasn't_ so groovy was the nice little, I dunno... could you call it a prank? that they pulled on me. We were in the one sit-down restraunt in the park, the Peacock Teahouse. It's nice, it's covered and sorta kinda airconditioned... and better yet they bring your food and drink TO you, instead of having to stand in a line. Now that is huzzah worthy.

Anyhoo~ Ick, the Troll King, is taking Tea with his daughter Amonia and what I think was her boyfriend... not entirely sure. As they get ready to leave they have to pass our table and ~eveshka decides to be cute and tell them it's my birthday. *sigh* Well, Mr. Ick comes over behind me. This guy is huge, let me tell you what. Massively huge (this coming from a girl whose badonkadonk has its own zip code) and gets the other two to join him. After he gets Amonia to stop chewing on ~eveshka's wings, they sing "The Birthday Dirge:

This isn't your average happy birthday song. Oh no, this one is "special". I mean that in the best way of course. Here's a couple lines from it, just to give you an idea:

Happy Birthday! *THUD*
It's your Birthday *THUD*
People dying everywhere
The whole world is in despair

Happy Birthday *THUD*
It's your Birthday *THUD*
You like children yes you do,
Fried or Baked or in a Stew

Happy Birthday *THUD*
It's your Birthday *THUD*
Now you are the age you are!
You know your end cannot be Far!

And so on and so on for about... five or so minutes. It might have been longer. I was too distracted actually, by the big hulking beast behind me snorting the biggest loogi in history. I was freaking out, not beacuse of the sounds he was making, but because I thought this crazy thing was going to spit. on. my. dress.

No. NONONO. No. I'm sorry, if he does this I'm going to get kicked out or arrested or something, because I'd have to kick his green butt into next week. Doooo not spit on mah dress. Thats why I was wigging out.

But yeah, we had an interesting day. A friend of mine gave me a very lovely Ear Cuff with a shamrock and a tiny CZ, it's quite lovely. I am super into Irish stuff so it was perfect. It also happened to be her birthday that day, I had gotten her a tinkerbell windchime ^_^ She loves Tink, so she really liked it.

My brithday isn't such a big deal to me, because it's not such a big deal to anyone else. My mother has forgotten more times than I care to think about. She didn't actually forget this time because I mentioned it a few times - but she didn't get me anything. She made she she got my brother his end of school gifts for his teachers but uh, yeah, she didn't have enough money for a card for me. I really don't care about presents, but it would have been nice had a little thought been put in my direction. My brothers got ribs on their birthdays. I had a TV dinner while I played Sudoku. Last Night I bought BBQ for everyone, cleaned the dining room and everything in an effort to have us do something together (a family eat dinner together? What a novel idea) and no one wanted to. So I ate what was supposed to be my Birthday dinner alone. Fan. tastic.

I think I've just been bitter. Usually these things don't bother me so much.... but June 2nd, I went to the memorial for my friend Valerie who was killed in a car accident back in April. That day, she and I were supposed to be going to see Celtic Woman, having a night on the town, and just being girly girls. She would have just gotten back from her trip to China. I was looking forward to this like nothing else. Instead? I went to visit with her family because she was no longer with us. Her sister in law, Andrea, who is a really amazing person did something very special for me that day.

Val, two weeks before her accident, had ordered two dolls. Andrea was given all of Val's doll stuff and decided to give Colleen (A best friend of Val who had known her since Highschool) one of the dolls, and the other to me. I am still sort of in shock that she did that. I don't really know what to think, even though I've had him for a week. I really don't think of him as "Mine." He's Val's, I'm just looking after him for her. He's gorgeous though, I wish she had gotten to see him.

His name is "Phi." It's the Greek word for the Golden Ratio. His brother's name is Rho, but I'm not entirely sure what that means. They're both math terms, I know that much. Val was such a math dork, she could do Calc in her head and understood things that made my brain just die... so trust her to name her dolls after math vocabulary.

He is a beautiful doll. He's a little punk, or thinks he is anyway. I'm sure his bark is worse than his bite. I see her in him though, her influence and style - He just needs a cigarette and a starbucks cup now.

Wow, I talk a lot. I just realized I've written a book's worth of crap. Oh well