Condottieri, the travelling reenactment group

So, also back in September, Condottieri went to Sydney for the St Ives Medieval Tournament.  It wasn't our full camp, neither was it our full group, but it was mostly an awesome event.



I did end up sleeping all weekend in Courtney's tent instead of my own, on the friday night I curled up in my tent and ended up not being able to breathe.  The tarp that I use for the floor of my tent is one that needs 24 hours to air before you sleep on it.  So, it would have been fine the 2nd night, but I didn't want to risk it after the night I had on the Friday night!

Other than that, and one of our group having a run in with a self-entitled Council worker (don't ask!), we had a great time.   I had made a new fancy parade Cioppa...



And I got to see sewaddicted as well..



But best of all, the ladies got to relax a bit, while the guys worked hard.  We didn't cook lunch either day, choosing instead to buy from the many vendors there, so we did some impromptu fingerlooping displays, went to the tavern and generally had a lovely time (and we got the guys to do the washing up as well!)

Brisbane's first look at Oz Comic Con...

So I had originally planned a whole weekend at Comic Con back in September.  Then I ended up seriously sick.  So there were no new costumes, even though I wanted to do Cinderella for it, and possibly a dieselpunk outfit.  Neither happened.  In fact, I couldn't face the whole weekend either.  So, I did the disneybounding thing.  I wore my blue Cinderella wrap around skirt, the matching fluffy top, and I did my hair and accessories like Cindy.  I met up with my Costuming Hubby, Michael, who looked AMAZING in his diselpunk.  Nyssa showed up, then we managed to catch Mel and Abi as well.

I couldn't do the whole day, but took a bunch of photos in front of a makeshift black backdrop.

   

 

I had a great time, even though I didn't end up lasting all day.  I was kinda stoked with how my hair turned out, and it's inspired me to finish Cinderella in time for Supanova at the end of November.  I think I'm being a little crazy.  I'm doing 3 new costumes I think, a costume for a group thing that will be revealed, Cinderella and Missy from Doctor Who.  I have a week off in just over a week, so we'll see how it goes!

As for the Con, I am looking forward to the next installment of Oz Comic Con!  Should be great!

Trip to Adelaide - ACG Ball

So, back at the end of August (eesh FAR behind again!), I went to the ACG Ball in Adelaide.  It's a great chance to go off to catch up with ALL the Aussie Costumers... It's such a great night out, and I love that I get to catch up with W as well.  This year, we did our own thing really, deciding that we wanted to actually see some more of Adelaide.

We did do our usual fabric shopping with all the peeps, but decided that at lunch we would head to the beach.  Man oh man am I glad we did. D, W and I went to Henley Beach, where we had a really delicious lunch, followed by walking on the beach (and some paddling).  We had such a lovely day!

    

Then we had dinner in our room as we got dressed.... There may have also been a couple of drinks as well before we went to the ball.  Last year we did a group entry into the competition, and after that I vowed and declared I wouldn't do that again so that we could do things like stroll along the beach and paddle in the water.

We had a great time at the ball, even though we have decided that we'll have to take our own food from now on since there really isn't anything appetising for us to eat.  Even though I didn't enter the competition, my Idris managed to take out a best in hall award.  Many people have told me I should enter again, so given the format of the competition has changed for next year, I've emailed the National President to find out what is involved.  As long as I can still do my shopping/tourist trip on the Saturday, I may just do it.  Anyway, a couple of the photos....

 

On Sunday, D had to leave early, so we missed seeing her mores the pity.  W and I had decided though that we would head to Maggie Beer's farm.  Maggie Beer used to host possibly my favourite cooking show that is no longer on the air, and her farm is where it was filmed.  We had lunch, and a really good walk around.  It was really lovely.  We think we'll go back next year, and possibly head to a couple of wineries.  It's a beautifully stunning place though, and they put on dairy/gluten free food for us which was delicious!

  

The Bloodlust Ball - August 2014

So you'll remember I was working on Mina from the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen for the Bloodlust Ball a little while ago.

I had SUCH a great time at the ball.  I used to go to the Gothic Ball years ago, and managed to go last year with my Cousin.  It's a great night out, there's food and drinks, the venue is awesome, there's a great variety entertainment, and there was dancing!  

My skirt was a little bit big, so I kept standing on it, but other than that, all good!  Here's the combo on the mannequin...

  

And here's a couple of pictures of me and my date for the evening, my good friend Michael, who was dressed as Alucard.  He was the perfect date (although he makes me feel really short!), we had a great time, we chatted amongst ourselves, we chatted to random people, we had a few drinks, danced.  It was really great.  Michael has already declared that we will be going again next year, so that's awesome!

 

And as perusual, you can find other photos from the event at the Blogspot post here....

A trip to Fort Lytton for a Canon Firing

So my reenactment group went to Fort Lytton in August, along with millions of other people! 

We set up a picnic on the deck on one of the buildings, the Captain had his tricycle out with him.  Relaxing day, we chatted, ate/drank and promenaded around.  I don't have many pictures at all..  But there is a gif of me walking towards David, one of my friends that is a photographer.


I knew he was taking photographs, I didn't realise there were enough to make an animated gif of me walking!  It's kinda wierd, but lots of fun at the same time.  I love the way this dress moves in the breeze.  I had forgotten my petticoat this day though, so it felt really strange!

Besides one annoyance with reenactors who bring horses that are easily spooked to events with lots of public, loud noises and many other distracting things (including some very awesome black parasols), we had a great day out.  Here's the scant number of photos that I have, including a group one that David took for us.

An Edwardian Picnic

So back in August (argh, two months ago!) we had a picnic at JC Slaughter Falls in Edwardian dresses.  I've wanted to do Edwardian for SO long, and I made an outfit, although I still have to do proper undergarments.  I have already done another Edwardian skirt, which formed part of the Mina (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) costume.  But anyway, here's my outfit...

 

I'm not completely sure about the blouse, I'm not sure whether I wouldn't prefer a less froofy one.  I know that the era kinda calls for the pidgeon full front, but I'm not sure it really suits me.

But we had a lovely picnic in the shade of the trees, it really is a nice spot for a picnic!  We were snapped by a local photographer as well, who kindly sent us some pictures.  The above right is one of hers, as is the group shot following..



I have another event next week, and I'm thinking I'll wear Edwardian for it, even though it's probably going to be really really warm, I want to wear my high waisted skirt possibly with my white lace blouse.

Abbey Medieval Faire - July 2014

So, I've finally sorted through ALL the photos from Abbey Medieval Tournament.  I once again attended with my Italian Renaissance group, Condottieri.

My mother informed me yesterday (and I did already know this, but she seemed shocked to learn of it) that the Condottieri were rather nasty mercaneries, who would fight for whoever paid the best.  Our group does like to get paid, and we'll do what is needed to enable that, however, we also like to laugh, and eat food.  Lots and lots of food.. :)

So my outfits for the weekend?

 

Yep, nothing new made for Abbey this year unfortunately!  But, there will be next year - and I'm on the way for that already, since I have since made a new Cioppa (the coat).  Irony is that I'm carrying my bow in both - the first was right after the archery comp, the seond I was off to walk along the queue with the gents, and of course you need to carry weapons with you when you do that!

Here's a photo of me in the archery comp...  My veil blowing in the wind is a nice touch, right?  We had 6 archers in the comp in total, which on the Saturday meant we could fill a full flight on our own.  It was reassuring to be firing with people you know!  In this comp, you fire at a pig that is released from the side, but the speed often varies.  So I missed.  Completely, both days.  Shot at the pig 10 times, missed 10 times.  MEH!  I wasn't the only one, so I didn't feel too bad.  Hopefully I'll do better next year!

 

So I had a great time, Condottieri is LOADS of fun.  Not really any bad bits about it, despite the cold on the Friday night.