Sunday, July 1, 2012

Winners Choice Weekday Giveaway!

This really helps us out and you get to win!


Welcome to the Winners Choice Weekday Giveaway!
You work hard all week, whether at home or out on the job.
A great group of bloggers and businesses have teamed up to give
two winners a $20 prize of their choice this week!
This giveaway starts 7/2 at 12:01am EST and ends 7/7 at 12:01am EST
All you have to do is enter on the easy Rafflecopter below!
Good Luck!

Note: If you are a blogger or business and would like to help sponsor this fantastic event, please contact Meg@megsmoxie.com.
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Friday, June 22, 2012

Pirate Clothing


Pirate Clothing



There are many things that make people think of pirates; be it a ship, a Jolly Roger flag or the good old use of the word “ARRRRR!!” However, I don’t think there’s anything more noticeable than the costume itself, pirate clothing. I use the term “costume” loosely as I have no doubt that there are others out there, much like myself, who prefer pirate clothing to their standard 9-5 attire.

After all, what’s not to like about a creature what gets to sail the seven seas in pirate clothing, looking for loot, cutlass in one hand and a wench on the other? Nothing, that’s what. Pirates have become so popular that they’ve invaded most aspects of our pop culture; from movies and music to, of course, pirate clothing, jewelry and other such awesome trinkets to adorn oneself with.

It’s the first thing you see, unless you’re headed for a battle at sea, but I’m assuming that you’re not. This brings me to my first point; pirate clothing or garb of any kind is easily recognizable, flashy and stylish. Most pirate clothing today consists of black, red and white. Those are rather striking colors that go well with most anything and the cut is of an almost gypsy-esque style for added flair. Wear any pirate clothing to a party now a-days and you’re practically guaranteed to be in the spotlight for sheer notice ability alone. On top of that, the flowy nature of pirate clothing allows for comfort ability and ease of movement as well.



Secondly, it is a mix and match sort of style, which is rad if you only have a few pieces of pirate clothing. You can easily make more than one pirate outfit out of those, plus some other stuff that I’m sure is floating about your closet. A scarf here, some jewelry there, and an extra belt just for good measure and you’re ready for a night of plundering booty in pirate clothing down at the local whatever it is you do on Friday nights.

Thirdly, pirate clothing is noticeable, it’s a good conversation piece. Twenty bucks says someone’s going to say something about it, it is a positive and interesting way to meet people. And of course, like all fashion, pirate clothing makes a statement about you whether you’re going all out with your pirate crew or just in a bikini to the water park to loot the locker rooms for all the gold doubloons you can find.

So what are you waiting for? Get yourself some pirate clothing and go plunder some booty!

For examples of fine pirate clothing visit Aurelia's Regalia

Looking to make your own pirate clothing? Shop fine fabric at Gypsy Caravan Fabrics - Wool Fabric, Linen Fabric, Hemp Fabric

Medieval Wedding


Medieval Wedding



Would you like a truly romantic medieval wedding. Have you always been inspired and touched by the Renaissance and Medieval periods of history. Are you charmed by the tale of Robin Hood and Maid Marian. Have you ever wanted to be a royal. Here is one way to plan a medieval wedding or renaissance wedding, inspired by those periods in history.

Here a few simple suggestions to help your medieval wedding fantasy along the way.

Clothing:

Brides during this medieval wedding era wore dark velvet dresses. They came in dark colors like deep purple or hunter green. Some of the medieval wedding dresses laced up the back or the sides. The hem flowed floor length with pleats and long sleeves. They were low cut but done with taste. Sometimes metallic ribbon ran through the medieval wedding dress design.

For today's bride who wants a medieval wedding, she should to stick the above type of medieval wedding dress for herself and bridesmaids. Hair should always be left down and flowing free. Instead of a veil use a crown wreath of ivy or flowers. You may even attach ribbons to hang down if you so desire. Costume stores have period clothing available and cost less than the traditional wedding dress in most cases.

For your medieval wedding, men should dress in tights, breeches, tunics, pirate shirts, laced vest and boots are a must.



Location:

Renaissance and medieval weddings were usually held in a church or outdoors. Look for a church or hall that has a Gothic or medieval look to it. Such as ones that are made of stone with lots of stained glass. Decorate the church with a banner, heavy wooden chairs for the guests, vine wreaths on the doors and votive candles set in gold or dark green holders.

If you're opting for the outdoors for your medieval wedding, decorate your space with lots of ivy, scrolls, family crests, banners hung down from wooden dowels and large baskets of flowers. You can add flowered garlands on wooden or iron poles if they are present. Use big wood chunky candle holders. Check out your thrift stores as can find a lot of candle holders and garlands for a medieval wedding done on a budget.

You may also wish to hold your medieval wedding at, where else? The local Medieval Faire. Nearly all states and counties hold one. Medieval dinner theaters are also a great place to have your renaissance or medieval wedding and sometimes will have special packages for such a occasion.

Flowers:

A medieval wedding has an unmistakable need for the use of herbs. Rosemary, Thyme, Basil usually play a distinctive role in the flowers.

The use of herbs in a medieval wedding was to signify health and destiny.

Flowers just like the attire should be in rich deep colors such as red, orange, purple, brown, green.

The bridal bouquet should be large in size, overflowing and hand tied with a ribbon. Do not forget to add a small amount of wheat to the bouquet, it is a symbol of fertility. All flowers should appear natural. Remember there were no floral shops during the medieval period.

Invitations: One should use calligraphy-style fonts with elaborate borders. Parchment paper should be used. Fold the invitations in thirds and seal with a wax seal. Enclose each invite in a parchment envelope. This will add a very enchanting touch to anyone attending your medieval wedding.

Music: Hire musicians that can play Renaissance or Medieval music. A Harpist can add a elegant touch. If you can not find musicians for a medieval wedding or do not wish the expense, Renaissance or Medieval music tapes or CDs are fine.



Ceremony: The music for the medieval wedding ceremony should be done by pipe organ, flute, harp or lute. The ceremony should take place outside the church doors. Just like today the man stands on the right side and the bride on the left. The priest will begin by asking if anyone knows why this couple should not be married. He then will ask the couple if there is any reason why they should not be married.

The wording of the renaissance wedding ceremony varies some. There is the traditional way where the priest asks the groom's name and says "wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, wilt thou love her, and honor her, keep her and guard her, in health and in sickness, as a husband should a wife, forsaking all others on account of her, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?" The priest than asks the same of the woman. Etc and so on. You know the rest. However, nowadays many incorporate handfasting and other methods of becoming joined at a renaissance wedding. It is YOUR medieval wedding, after all. Make it that way!

Cake:

In a traditional medieval wedding, pancake-sized cakes are made for each guest. The guests stack these as high as possible in front of the bride and groom.
The couple than share a kiss over the stack.

Reception:

Find a caterer that can serve foods from that era. Roasted meats, cheese, vegetable filled pastry. Remember people ate with their hands back then, along with a spoon and a knife no bigger than a steak knife.

Please remember to let your guest know that your wedding has a medieval theme. Make sure invitations are mailed in plenty of time in case the guest wish to rent or make their own medieval costumes.



For examples of fine medieval sewing and custom medieval wedding dress maker, visit Aurelia's Regalia

Looking to make your own medieval wedding dress? Shop fine fabric at Gypsy Caravan Fabrics - Online Fabric Store

Medieval Dress


Medieval Dress



To be quite honest, even grown-up women love dressing up in medieval dress. Being incognito for a few hours or days can be an exciting escape from the mundane everyday grind. For instance, have you ever attended a Medieval Faire and observed the populace dressed up in medieval dresses and renaissance clothing? If you have, you have more than likely taken a look through the medieval dress shops there. Yes, they can be spendy! However, the medieval dresses for all their beauty call for a particular attitude while wearing them.

If you're curious about the terminology that I am using, it comes from going to medieval Faires. I say mundane, because that is what a person that is not in medieval dress is called. They do not use the term costume either when referring to the renaissance clothing and medieval dress, it is called garb. It is also an interesting little factoid that half of the people that you see at medieval faires do not work for the faire, they are average, everyday people dressed up in medieval dress and renaissance clothing to celebrate and take part in the ambiance of the era.



One of the biggest reasons that so many people are attracted to renaissance clothing and medieval dress is because of their era in time. It is a time in history when radical changes were taking place. Many things wonderous, many things dark.

If you ever get a chance to attend a medieval faire, go for it! When else will you have the opportunity to truly be Queen for the day and gorgeous in your medieval dress? In fact, why relegate yourself to a general costume? Why not go as the saucy wench or the elegant medieval maid? That's the beauty of these medieval faires and medieval dresses; you can be whomever you desire.

Word of warning ladies! Before you strap on that corset remember to take a big, deep breath. It will be your last until the corset comes off. Those Renaissance ladies were not naturally small waisted, oh no. This is how even the more plump ladies were able to achieve the coveted small waist. So make your medieval dress comfortable. After all, the point is to have fun, right?

So have fun out there!

For examples of fine medieval dresses and renaissance clothing, visit Aurelia's Regalia

Looking to make your own medieval dress? Shop fine fabric at Gypsy Caravan Fabrics - Online Fabric Store

Medieval Clothing


Medieval Clothing



To be quite honest, even grown-ups love dressing up in medieval clothing. Being incognito for a few hours or days can be an exciting escape from the mundane everyday grind. For instance, have you ever attended a Medieval Faire and observed the populace dressed up in medieval clothing and renaissance garb? If you have, you have more than likely taken a look through the medieval clothing shops there. Yes, they can be spendy! However, medieval clothing for all its beauty calls for a particular attitude while wearing it.



If you're curious about the terminology that I am using, it comes from going to Medieval Faires. I say mundane, because that is what a person that is not in medieval clothing is called. They do not use the term costume either when referring to the medieval clothing and renaissance dresses, it is called garb. It is also an interesting little factoid that half of the people that you see at medieval faires do not work for the faire, they are average, everyday people dressed up in medieval clothing and renaissance garb to celebrate and take part in the ambiance of the era.

One of the biggest reasons that so many people are attracted to medieval clothing and renaissance garb is because of their era in time. It is a time in history when radical changes were taking place. Many things wonderous, many things dark.



If you ever get a chance to attend a medieval faire, go for it! When else will you have the opportunity to truly be Queen for the day and gorgeous in your medieval clothing? In fact, why relegate yourself to a general costume? Why not go as the saucy wench or the elegant medieval maid? That's the beauty of these medieval faires and medieval clothing; you can be whomever you desire.

Word of warning ladies! Before you strap on that corset remember to take a big, deep breath. It will be your last until the corset comes off. Those Renaissance ladies were not naturally small waisted, oh no. This is how even the more plump ladies were able to achieve the coveted small waist. So make your medieval clothing comfortable. After all, the point is to have fun, right?

So have fun out there!

For examples of fine medieval clothing and custom renaissance dresses, visit Aurelia's Regalia

Looking to make your own medieval clothing? Shop fine fabric at Gypsy Caravan

Fantasy Clothing


Fantasy Clothing



Remember when you were little and played dress up in fantasy clothing? Don’t lie, of course you do. Be it in your mom’s heels and lipstick singing along to “goodbye horses” or your favorite Halloween costume while saving/terrorizing your neighbors, you, at one point in time had the time of your life pretending to be someone or something else. Make believe wasn’t enough, dressing the part in fantasy clothing somehow always made it more real. That’s been proven throughout time itself. Hunters in tribes used to dress up to try and trick their prey or to gain favor with the animal spirits while Bugs Bunny did it for, well, probably for more personal reasons than Tex Avery would have us believe. But that’s not the point. The point is that fantasy clothing is fun, and depending on your livelihood, profitable!



Of all the genres out there to dress up as, fantasy clothing has got to be one of, if not the most diverse one of them all. It’s like the melting pot of creativity, although what we associate with fantasy in our day and age more so than anything else is the classic high medieval fantasy, Lord of the Rings style, if you will.

You’ve got diverse humans, stoic, if not staunchly dwarves, mystical elves and of course more orcs, goblins and the gods only know what else than you can shake a broad sword at… or a very big club.

Elves are known for their links to the woods and similar lines and patterns show up in their fantasy clothing while the earthy dwarves tend towards geometrical shapes and designs. Humans have, of course, a well rounded take on whatever they see, enabling them to fit in just about anywhere while still maintaining a sense of “human”. You know, as opposed to, “not human”.

In any case, most of the fantasy races that are humanoid in shape tend to have certain similarities to what they wear. Though each race has its own sense of fantasy clothing style, the cut of said style can still be similar. This would prove most true with shirts, pants and some dresses and tunics. That along with a clever background story and you’re well on your way to mixing and matching to come up with more fantasy clothing outfits than you initially though!

Then of course you get into the extra stuff. No, not inter-racial breeding, I’m talking about latex. Not that kind either. I mean elf ears, horns, beast noses. You know the stuff that makes fantasy clothing less status quo and more, well, fantastical.

But of course, the prosthetics are only if you or someone you know is comfortable in dealing with that much adhesive and make up. But there’s always the jewelry, even for the men too, whether you want your fantasy clothing as an Elvin noble man with a crown of flowing silver or a no-nonsense dwarf and his bad ass Thor’s hammer ‘round his neck.

There’s always more room for the nonsensical and the fantastical in this world, so get out there and spread the imagination, but don’t forget to put on your robe and wizards’ hat before you go!


For examples of fine fantasy clothing sewing and custom fantasy clothing, visit Aurelia's Regalia

Looking to make your own fantasy clothing? Shop fine fabric at Gypsy Caravan Fabrics

Fantasy Wedding Dress



Fantasy Wedding Dress



A fantasy wedding is a special event and thus it’s only appropriate that it be a totally unique experience for those involved. There are many aspects to planning and going through with a wedding, but the part that many brides focus on, the part that nearly all the guests focus on, is the bride’s fantasy wedding dress itself.


There are many types of wedding dress, from the simple “best dress you own” to the iconoclastic “pure-as-the-driven-snow white princess ball gown” made famous by the Victorian era along with all the different styles and colors in between, or of course a fantasy wedding dress.


Just like any fashion trend, things come and go and one of the things that has been back with a vengeance is the fantasy wedding dress. Whether it’s for a faerie tale wedding or something more historical, the fantasy wedding dress is both fanciful and leaves a lot of room for personal and creative alteration.
From the early medieval period to the lavish renaissance, there’s just something almost exotic about a wedding dress from an era long since passed. Not to mention the gamut of style for fantasy wedding dresses, just like modern dresses, ranges from the sleek and simplistic to the ornate and complicated. And it’s not just the fantasy wedding dress, but the accoutrements as well that also take on an exotic and fanciful air, from the headdresses all the way down to the jewelry and shoes. And what goes better with a period wedding dress than a flowing cloak? Absolutely nothing, unless of course you’ve got a carriage with 6 white steeds to get you to the appointed place, but that falls a bit far from the dress category.