Mrs Maupin

I had the little yearly chat with the kids. Heimlich wants to be Batman, and Toad, quite predictably, Elsa (I am rather surprised she hasn't asked before, actually). Now onto the brainstorming part :

Batman :
- will get black jeans, because I really don't want to make pants just for that
- check if black boots still fit
- make a "bat-ty" cape out of the black felted wool I have
- possibly buy a belt, I found some cheap ones
- make or adapt sweater with bat appliqué
- solve the mask vs. glasses conflict. Ugh.

Elsa
- she may reuse her sparkly shoes - they're a darker shade of blue, but still good.
- cape of some sort, with sparkles
- sparkly dress, not floor length because I'd like it to last longer than one evening, thankyouverymuch
I don't really have any fabrics for her, though...

Not sure what I will wear... If I managed to make myself that silk 1890s blouse, I could wear it with the black skirt I refashioned and my Little Red Riding Hood cape, though. That's a bit much maybe for a month on top of regular work, but it sure would feel good to strike that one from the projects list...

Not really much sewing happened today - I worked a little ont he 1890's walking skirt. It now has piping at the hem and a partly attached large stirp of organdi at the bottom. when the strip is done I still have the waistband to finish, and I need to add something to support th epocket. and hope for the best as the skirt is insanely pieced.

I really really did not want to stay home this afternoon, so we tried out a museum I didn't know yet with the kids. Local history thing, not very big and a bit jumbled together. Half a room in bronze age, the next half room in iron age, then gallo-romans, then renaissance... On top of first Crhtistians stuff. Mostly I pointed out objects they might not know, oil lamps, coins, silex knives, and tried to give them big outlines. The museum advertised as including some kids' activities... couldn't find them, and the general language was geared more towards adults. they had pretty fabulous small scale models of prehistoric shelters and houses, so that was a clear winner.
The kids were pretty wiped after that, so we crashed at a nearby bakery and I let them have two pastries ech. Nazgulette ate one and a half, and the big roll ate his + what her sister left of her strawberry tart. I have *no idea* where he puts all of this. I was afraid they would'nt eat anything for dinner but they cleared their plate ( I guess making cauliflower pancakes helped).

I haven't been very good at posting my daily pictures, or at takign them. I'm trying to get into it again. Not really easy this week. Although I am very proud of the pictures I took of the kids today, because for the first time ever I shot in manual, and the result was reasonably good ! Woohoo ! Not going to abandon auto-focus anytime soon, though, I just can't see if the picture is blurry before it's on my computer screen with my eyes :(.

Not really now but it's getting really close, and before then we will be away (from the sewing machine) for a week, then I have another week with a) my in-laws in the house but mostly b) tons of appointments. I need to get crackin' this week on the kids' costumes !
Choosing the costumes was... interesting. Nazgul-girl wants to be a princess or a fairy - but mostly a fairy. Her choice hasn't changed since we first asked. The little darling has settled on the dress she wants :

She saw it while I was scrolling for ideas on Pinterest and screamed from the other end of the room : "THIS ONE ! I WANT THIS ONE !"
I have started mocking up the bodices. The inner bodice is sewn together and will get a try-on tomorrow before school starts. I think I have some orange taffetas and velvet that would look good for an autumn fairy. I just need to figure out which wings to make - she likes koshka_the_cat's vellum wings, and so does her father, and they seem doable in a time-crunch.

The Troll on the other hand...
First : I want to be a pirate ! Me : we'll take your 1780's kit, add a tricorn, a parrot, and a sword
Then : I want to be a wizard ! :Me : yay ! you will wear your Harry Potter costume, I'll even make you the scar !
So of course today he decided he wanted to be... a prince. But mind you, his Prince Edward costume (loosely based on the Tudor Tailor) won't work, because that was supposed to be a king's costume. *shakes head* I'm just hoping he won't change his mind after we have bought the fabric !
After showing him lots of pictures, he decided on one outfit from OUAT, in the colors we can find :

I think we will go fabric shopping tomorrow, because I have nothing prince-y in the stash, except the orange velvet. I might just buy a simple jacket pattern as a base while I'm at it, to make things quicker. I will do the jacket, sash and cape, he'll get black pants and his usual shoes, unless I can find really affordable ones or some faux-leather t make him spats.