Let me preface this one by saying that the character name is Not My Fault(tm). I can't remember the long version that he rattles off so fast that the words distort as they pass the sound barrier. Seriously. Brian is one of my magician friends (a statement that leaves me wondering when my life got to a point that I have "magician friends" -- that doesn't seem quite normal. Then again, a woman who lives with three cats and has been known to sew for thirty hours straight probably shouldn't quibble about normalcy.) He does shows and street performances out at the Maryland Ren Faire, which I hear actually *pays* its employees and performers. Brian wanted a moorish costume, and he was impressed with some work I did for another magician, so I got the honor of making this a reality. Now, I knew about it last year. I had a design last year. What I didn't have was Brian available for a fitting, until about two weeks before he needed the darn thing. (To complicate matters, the mathematical genius over here managed to sneak an extra week in between the first week of august, and the third -- I thought I had three weeks, so I didn't start immediately. A friend eventually straightened me out on that one, and panic ensued.)
So, basically, the vest-thing was made in a week and a half, and overnighted on a thursday with good faith that it would, in fact, arrive overnight. It's made from a wool crepe that's been slightly felted. The trim is made up on separate strips of crepe, then applied as an edge finishing and trim all in one. The trim is two overlayed knotwork patterns, and yes, they're real knotwork -- the trims are twisted together throughout the patterns. The base pattern is made from green gimp, and the upper pattern is made from a gold trim with silver tinsel in it, and continues around the entire thing. There's a green sash that's supposed to go with it, but due to the insanity that is distance fitting, it needs to be remade.
I've been promised better photos, she says, in her incredibly subtle way.....
