Next Cosplay: Hornet (Hollow Knight)

 Why? Because she's ADORABLE!

Image from hollowknight.fandom.com

Black pants, black long sleeved shirt, black gloves, black shoes (boots? booties? something with a heel that I can still walk in [test angle with injured ankle/fit with brace]).

The cape should be done in a stiff fabric. Neoprene would hold the right drape. Neoprene in burgundy can be found here: https://www.fabricwholesaledirect.com/products/neoprene-scuba-fabric?variant=23987054790

A more accurate color for the cape would be Dharma Trading Company's fiber reactive procion dye in Dances With Raisins. Dying neoprene doesn't seem like a good call, though. Maybe try a sample of DTC's cotton velveteen (https://www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/cotton/cotton-velveteen-55-inch.html?lnav=fabric_cotton.html), as it is said to take dye remarkably well and some of the reviews mention that it has a stiff drape. This might work with horsehair mesh around the bottom hem for stability?

The mask could be done from craft foam, paper mache, pepacura, air dry clay, or a combination of the above. 

EDIT: A power-ranger helmet base with a frame for horns, covered in expandable foam then carved down, filled, sanded, and painted. Attach a black cowl to the opening to cover the neck.

The eye holes should be filled from the inside with transparent black fabric (silk or organza scrap from stash).

The needle could be done with pvc and expandable foam with body putty or clay to fill in the gaps at the eye.

EDIT: EL wire for thread here: https://www.amazon.com/JYtrend-Neon-Light-Wire-Battery/dp/B017GCSV2S/ref=sr_1_26?dchild=1&keywords=JYtrend&qid=1609800247&sr=8-26&th=1 

Signature Scent

I'm trying to find a signature scent. So far, here are my ideas:

Blend 1
Orange	4
Lavender	8
Clary Sage	4
Frankincense	4
Blend 2
Bergamot	4
Rosemary	6
Lavender	7
Frankincense	4
Blend 3
Orange	4
Lavender	12
Frankincense	3
Patchouli	1

Blend 4
Lemon	5
Lavender	19
Frankincense	3
Cedar	3
Blend 5
Bergamot	3
Orange	1
Clary sage	3
Lavender	9
Frankincense	4

I also found a recipe for a hair tonic (?) on Pinterest called Mermaid Spray. It is 30 drops each of Lavender, Rosemary, and Cedarwood in a 4 oz. spray bottle, topped off with alcohol-free witch hazel. To be used once daily on wet or dry hair.

This might tie into Blend 2 a little better than the others.

I have already mixed up a batch of scent from the following: 3 d. frankincense, 3 d. lavender, 2 d. cedarwood, 2 d. orange. It feels unbalanced. Some research into top, middle, and base notes has revealed that it is base-heavy. For more information on oil notes, read https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/blend01.asp. Basic research has led me to the following proportions: Top should make up 5-20%, middle should make up 50-80%, base should make up 5-20%. I made a calculator in Excel that looks like this:

Here it is with formulae shown:

I have conditional formatting set for C1, C6, and C11 so that if the percentage falls outside the suggested proportions above, the cells highlight red.

c# project helpful code

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1139181/a-method-to-count-occurrences-in-a-list

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/16112622/2d-sprite-animations-without-using-xna-or-other-third-party-libraries

Logo Design

Fonts:

The Current Favorite: https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Crimson+Text?preview.text=THE+DRAGON%27S+DRESSMAKER&preview.text_type=custom&category=Serif,Handwriting

The second-favorite: https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Sahitya?preview.text=THE+DRAGON%27S+DRESSMAKER&preview.text_type=custom&category=Serif,Handwriting

I like the G https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Playfair+Display?preview.text=THE+DRAGON%27S+DRESSMAKER&preview.text_type=custom&category=Serif,Handwriting

Patchwork Plague Doctor Mask

I found the pattern via Facebook and decided I'd crazy-quilt mine. It's been coming along slowly, but now there is a contest at work for the most creative mask and I intend to win.

The only problem is that I wasn't sure how to do the lenses for the eyes. My dad is going to cut some for me with his lazer, and I'm going to tint them with some mirrored window tint, so that's all fine and dandy, but what about fixing them to the mask? The pattern provides pieces, but I don't care for how they are constructed. Then it hit me: Shisha embroidery!

https://www.needlenthread.com/2015/01/stitch-fun-shisha-embroidery-with-cretan-stitch.html

It's awesome and I'm totally gonna do that for my lenses. They won't be detachable, but that's fine. I just won't put it through the dryer after a wash. This is definitely more of a costume piece anyway, and I plan to wear it with my apothecary costume when I finally get it finished.

Guitar Strap Pattern

I have acquired a bass guitar and need a strap. Last year, for my birthday, I acquired an Inkle loom. Coincidence?!

Yeah, actually, it is just a coincidence.

BUT ANYWAY!!

I don't know how to do anything fancy yet, like pick-up weaving or tablet weaving... but I can do plain weave and I can read "patterns" for the fancier plain weaves. AND SO!!!

https://carolingianrealm.blog/PatternGenerator.php

This place is awesome. You can design your own patterns. Guess what I did...

Musical OCs

I like to write a lot (although not many people have ever seen the results) and am constantly looking for new short story prompts or character ideas. One of those came to me via Pinterest. The gist of the "game" is this:

1. Put your playlist on shuffle

2. The first song is your first character

3. The second song is your second character

4. The third song is their relationship

I have a "Festival Season" playlist that I like to listen to all spring to keep me in the Renaissance Festival spirit. Here's what it churned out:

Character 1  - Dark Lady (The Bilge Pumps)

Character 2  - Loreley (Blackmore's Night)

Relationship - Devil Down Below (Gaelic Storm)

___

Character 1  - Satyros (Faun)

Character 2  - Black & Tans (The Bilge Pumps)

Relationship - Wiskey You're the Devil (The Craic)

___

Character 1  - Dulaman (Celtic Woman)

Character 2  - Play Minstrel Play (Blackmore's Night)

Relationship - Under a Violet Moon (Blackmore's Night)

___

Character 1  - The Ravens (The Craic)

Character 2  - Lover's Wreck (Gaelic Storm)

Relationship - Ghost of a Rose (Blackmore's Night)

___

Character 1  - Why Paddy's Not at Work Today (Bedlam Bards)

Character 2  - Hunting the Wren (Heather Dale)

Relationship - An Hini A Garan (Cecile Corbel)