Hela & Game of Thrones

Hela is the ruler of the Norse underworld, Helheim. She is described as half living, half dead and usually she's depicted half living/half skeleton. Luckily, as my makeup skills are still somewhat sub-par, the dead parts are sometimes described as rotting, not skeletal, and so that was what I went for. The makeup is just a few layers of liquid latex and tissue, with water based makeup on top.

Pictures taken by Malene Richter Lien.

It's a very simple, but incredibly comfortable costume. The blue linen dress is based on Simplicity 4940. The fur collar is borrowed from my daily wardrobe - I found a piece of fake fur at a second hand shop and made a linen backing for it. The crown, which sadly turned out too small and not as eye-catching as I could wish, is made from jewel beetle wings. (The beetle wings remind me of nails, and when Ragnarok happens Hela will come sailing to battle in Naglfar, a ship made from the nails of the dead. I liked the symbolism.) And the jewellery is borrowed from my viking wardrobe.

Queueing for a couple of hours. I'm almost tempted to dress up like this outside costuming escapades.

A few days after Banzaicon, me and my best friend (who dressed up as Qarth!Khaleesi) dropped by the GoT-Exhibition while it was in Oslo. We fangirled over costumes and props and a couple of awesome viking bloggers we met. We were stopped by HBO, who took our picture, which was awesome, and the 4D Climb the Wall Experience was scarily exciting.

But the best part was sitting on this chair... 

HSF Challenge #8: UFOs & PHDs (or, what I wore to Banzaicon)

This challenge might need some explaining. In sewing terms an UFO is an Un-Finished Object.

Apparently there are some lucky sods who don't have UFOs, because according to the challenge, you could choose a project you've put off. I was looking for a way to fit this into HSF, so I jumped at the chance. (This outfit has been on The List since early October.)

I didn't finish it completely for Banzaicon. (Skirt needs more trim, I'll need to make a bigger bustle and maybe redo the bodice?) So, as proof of some cosmic irony or whatever, I managed to make a UFO for this challenge. Go me.

Challenge: #8 - UFOs & PHDs
Fabric: Silk, polished cotton, linen.

Pattern: Truly Victorian, 1870s Ballgown Bodice (TV4I6) and 1875 Parisian Skirt (TV216).
Year: 1870-75.
Notions: Thread, eyelets, satin band, cotton ties, wired satin band, decorative bands, netting.
How historically accurate is it? Materials are period, except the polyester thread (silk one didn't arrive in time.)
Hours to complete: Worked on this for two weeks.
First worn: Banzaicon 2014.
Total cost: Not gonna tell, cause I don't wanna shock anyone with how expensive this hobby is when you live in Norway...

Photos (c) Malene Richter Lien. 

HSF Challenge #7: Tops and Toes

For this challenge, I went for toes and made some viking socks.

I might be going to a few viking festivals this summer, and in our viking group there's an unspoken rule about bringing at least two pairs of socks to minimize the smell that comes with running around mucky festival areas. (Just because you look like a viking doesn't mean you have to smell like one!) And now I've made the first pair.

This is the second pair of socks I've made by needlebinding. I like to think there's progress - the first pair was in Lettlopi and I used Oslo stitches, and they barely survived one day. For this pair I used Fritidsgarn and Finnish stitches, and I'm fairly certain they'll survive Ragnarok.

The challenge:  #7 - Tops and Toes
Fabric: Wool.
Pattern: None.
Year: Viking era.
Notions: None.
How historically accurate is it? 99% (The yarn is dyed with chemicals.)
Hours to complete: Far too many.
First worn: They were on my feet 3 seconds after they were finished. I'm wearing them NOW.
Total cost: 20 USD.

Embellishments, Constructing Victorian Detail (or, I'm gonna put trim EVERYTHING)

Say hello to my new bible. I haven't had the time to sit down with it yet, but after just skimming some pages, I'm already in love. (If you listen carefully, you might be able to hear my Victorian muse cackling gleefully somewhere in the distance.)

Costume making

Last year I visited the costuming department of Hålogaland Teater. One of my questions for the costumers there was, what's a normal day like for you? And they answered, we don't have normal days. After making costumes for a while, for myself and others, I have to agree.

One of the things I love most about costuming is the varied work you get do. Some days I make endless ruffles for period gowns and undies, then next I hand sew wool for a viking, and then I find myself with paint up to my elbows to add patina to an armful of garments.

During the last weeks I've happened to stumble upon the chance to make costumes for a short film set in a postapocalyptic setting. We got the clothes second hand, and then I set about painting and discolouring them (along with my hands, because in the end I gave up on using brushes).

Real quality pictures taken laaate at night.

The best part about this project was being allowed to set fire to some Gucci pants. Once upon a time they were expensive, I presume, so I got to it with great enthusiasm. Perhaps too much enthusiasm, 'cause I ended up setting fire to my own knee too, but that's what comes with playing with fire while having the attention span of a goldfish.

Mad Baggins

It's become tradition to sew by hand every Christmas. 'Cause I go home to my family, where the sewing machine is cruelly banished during the festivities, and if I don't have anything to do I get testy.

The Christmas Project of 2013 was not a costume, but clothing, which doesn't happen often. It's going to be a loosely fitted morning gown made from scraps, inspired from the one Bilbo Baggins wears while the dwarves invade Bag End. I also took inspiration from this antique piece from 1935, which I suspect might have also inspired the costume designer of the Hobbit.

I've seen Bilbo's robe criticized as an example of bad worldbuilding, but I love it to bits, pun not intended. The way I see it, Hobbits take pride in tradition and family, and it's not a stretch to imagine that there are some memories sewn into the garment.

My morning gown solves a few problems I've had. Finally I have a use for the fabric scraps I can't bring myself to throw away because they could be used for something, , and in addition I get to practice different embroidery stitches on the crazy quilt. And maybe, just maybe, getting up will be easier if I get to wear this every morning! (I don't think this is likely, but I can hope.)

To my joy, it's not turning out as dark as I expected. When I'm finished quilting, I'm going to find a nice flannel to line it with. Sorrowfully it's not going to be finished in a while, because I've two big outfits planned for a convention in April, and this project is put on the back burner until I'm finished.

HSF Challenge #1: Make do and Mend

I did the first challenge of Historical Sew Fortnightly, which the unitiated can read more about here. I know I'm not going to be able to do all the challenges this year, but I'll do some of them.

So, starting very small, I've made a choker for evening use. In the fashion of make do, the glass stone is from a repurposed bracelet.

The challenge: #1 - Make Do & Mend 
Fabric: Velvet, satin.
Pattern: None.
Year: Late Victorian
Notions: Velvet band, satin band, thread.
How historically accurate is it? Not very, but it (hopefully) looks the part.
Hours to complete: 0,5
First worn: Not worn yet.
Total cost: 2 USD.