Frock Chick

Wheeeeeee... I am high! legal, let's be clear about this.


My autoimmune disease is so active right now that I am currently on a Biologic (antibodies- as in cells created in Vitro- luckily not in mice though there are still some made that way) a Non Steroidal Antiinflamatory (1000mg of Naprosyn) steroidal Antiinflammatory (today 15mg prednisone) a pain killer (tramadol- hense the high) sleeping pills to actually sleep and pretty soon I will have to have a drug used in chemotherapy (again, had it before) just so i can sit and type.

I wish that was overkill. It's just barely on target. But it is working. Just scary that I need all of it.

Trust me, if there was an alternative therapy that worked I'd be doing it. But unless it works on the immune system directly then there is not much point. And by the way Accupuncture makes me worse. It stimulates nerves too much and there is nerve involvement in the disease (possibly why it is symmetric- there seems to be some signal pathway linked with the nervous system). But there was recently a study that explained the actual physiological effect and it is a fascinating read. Given different body chemistry from person to person it may explain why it works for some and not for others :) It was a Nature article, it may still be available online :)

So I am just going to be napping and then maybe working on some gluing and scanning later. I have some images for embroidery and armour making set up for printing off and making proper hand drawn templates.

So actual contest content :)

Shae Vizla is having a break, I have no big events to wear her too until C6 so I am able to take my time and rework the problem areas and get the whizzbang stuff sorted as well.

So far:

Jetpack:
Half an inch taken off the top and ditto the sides, this has considerably reduced the weight but also made the piece look more like in game. Proportion wise I was pretty close- this should not be oversized or it looks like a backpack.

Arm displays:
Removed, sanded back to resin and the light up areas cut out. Just debating exactly how I am going to work them (insert clear acrylic or pour clear acrylic. I am going to dremel out some more of the back too for wires and leds. I have a whole heap of brilliantly functional lights from Xmas tree decorations and I can probably cut them down to fit :)

Ammunition armbands:
Tubing procured! Woo! I suspect it was junk (in a bin) but for the price I was quoted I don't care. Also the shop is in receivership so again a hand ful of dollars is fine. It is about the width of curtain tubing, the stuff usually reserved for net curtains, but is plastic so they will be light but also won't trigger any alarms!

Pouches:
Forms made from sheets of sintra lamenated together. Made the form the same size as my phone to allow the leather to fit exactly. Over time the pouch should ease a little and soften a tad. Not much! I have just enough leather left over to start forming it :)

Greaves:
Template in card is not working. Partly because the humidity in Auckland means card goes wobbly all too quickly, partly because I am way too impatient. So I have started what I hope to be my final pass at a form to reisn over (I want to get cloth and need filler so I need to save up for that). Love the shape of my pattern it's just a matter of getting the method down.

Blasters:
I have cut up two freebie toy guns as I am not risking any prop I work on getting confiscated by airport security. These look really good and in world. In fact they remind me of early weapons I used in the game. Also I found blasters offer far more easy posing opportunities. I love my big gun but it requires two hands to hold. I Will probably use magnets and hooks to secure them to my belt. there will be wires going through the belt anyway so hiding some magnets between layers will be fine. I de-sparkified the trigger mechanism. Though am also tempted to just rip that out. I'll see how the glue has held up and if I can gut them I will.

So next on the agenda:

Belt
I will need more leather sadly :( But I should be able to find other uses for the rest of the leather. Heck my SCA kit could do with a few bits and pieces :) Belt grade leather should be easy to use up :) Same shape as my current belt but it will be tooled and properly dyed and polished.


Thigh pieces
Might be the same method as the greaves, given how the armour looks in game :)


Gas cylinder and belt cannister:
Both tubes, both getting resized to be smaller and lighter and be functional.


Sanding chest guard and back plate to crispness. I was doing this already but I spent way too long trying to get the size right so now I can cut out the back and smooth the top.

Widening the tidying the guantlets.

I also need to decide if I want to keep the current non-roll elastic or try for another fastening method. There are not buckles anywhere yet there are straps. This only works with magnets and hidden snaps/velcro. It works but seems a bit fancy pants for a bounty huter ;) That said she is lit up light an Xmas tree anyway...

I do also want to crisp up the helmet details and I have to make a new rangefinder. With proper pvc this time. I swear I have styrene not pvc.... if it glues with shoe goo but not with pvc weld......

So uhhh.. long time no write?

There are reasons...

1) This computer has been out of commisson for a while- the date/time won't stay stable and it keeps reverting back to factory date/time.. umm.. April 2007... Not really a month I want reminded of every day...
Also I have been trying to get data off another computer with the mouse and keyboard.... gave up so this computer is fired up :)

2) So I have my netbook but typing on it is very painful. Very. Especially atm as my RA is flaring quite badly. I can barely get my hand up to brush my teeth or get out of a top to shower. My shoulders and elbow have very little range right now.

3) The pain and post event wipe out knocked me sideways and I had a very bad not good depressive stage. I am not in need of head pills, I am very much in need of iron and B12. When they are both at nearly zero levels they play hell on your brain. I know it was the root cause becasue my face was also quite numb and tingly. Also drinking 3x the daily limit of berrocca (all the B vitamins but esp. 12) helped.
And no, this is not self diagnosis my B12 and Iron issues are at the inject nearly every month stage. I am kind of hoping this last episode will push the local health board into letting me be infused with iron ratehr than have the injections which I will not be able to deal with on top of my curren thip pain.

4) I am stressing out like woah in regards to D*C and CElebration. I keep reading stuff about how perfect I need to be and there is no way I am going to live up to it. Not physically and not in terms of my work and definitely not in terms of health. I'm going to be a mess. To this end I want to bring my best work but I also really do not because I know what the stats are for missing luggage.


Anyway, angst post out of the way I will have a cup of tea and rest for a bit and hopefully come back with a bit more of an actual update ;)


Oh yeah and:
5) I have leveled my Bounty Hunter to 50 and am very near her end of story. I'm on the mast mission, I think second to last big story fight. And an NPC on the fleet spoiled me!!!!! Not that the Trials on Voss didn't already give me a heads up.....

So I treated myself to some really pretty gear. It's Shae Vizla but in pale grey, old gold and metallic lilac.

Okay, so I am testing my suitcase, I am so easily going to travel with Shae XD I can even get her gun in the case!!!! However I may do her two little blasters so I can hook them to my belt :)

So this makes me think I can do the maybe possibly costumes.



So anyway, comments are screened as I'd be interested to know what people might think I should bring of costume I already have. Comments won't be unscreened, I'll reply and hide my reply if it is anything beyond "yes" "no" "it needs repair" kind of replies in case it would spoil your surprise plans :)


And I can get my Shae jetpack in my suitcase!!! This is amazing!

Okay... so umm... I have a specialist appointment on Tuesday and that day cannot come soon enough. There is a month wait for each visit so imagine how hard it is to see through the hospital system. Sigh.

There is a phrase that comes to mind and it rhymes with clucking bell.

Chopped my post to this. Too easy to fall into mope regardless of valid it is to feel that way ;)

http://www.vads.ac.uk/large.php?uid=89841
new to me de la Cruz portrait :)

Sooo... not much activity over here huh?

There are reasons.

Firstly: I got addicted to swtor and the only play time I got is my usual journal the day time. So there is that. Got to properly group up once and didn't completely suck! nb, I'm on The Harbinger with my BH merc and have some healing and a lot of missiles. Just saying. 34 atm, want to get to 35 before takling my clearly end of Chapter 1 mission and get my legacy name. Way too many up close and personal enemies..

Secondly. Flaring. Quite badly. Pretty much any joint that moves. So you know. Everything hurts. I am actually able to type more than a sentance tonight because my GP gave me intraarticular steroid shots. A lot of relief. It's temporary.

Thirdly, related to the last, had a spot of depression sneak up on me. Mainly the looking down the surgery barrel and seeing the end really soon. Like really really soon. And that will be a very drawn out dangerous process. Dangerous because of the compromised immune system with high risk hospital stay with surgery involving bone. That is freaking terrifying given how my last reaction to a cold went down.

And the thing is this will be two surgeries so it'll be even more protracted with recovery. Just think about what fun that is going to be. Especially given it won't be a replacement. It'll be fusion. Still involves metal and cutting up bone but there will be zero flex.

So I'm enforcing a major rest this year. Fantastic timing really.

And sucking it up and seeing my specialist and begging to be let back in on the Humira programme. It works.

Oh and I will probably have to give up the subscription to swtor given how hard it is to type let alone game. So there is that too. There is no break from this. No substitute. Except vperhaps speech recognition software to write up some stuff I have put off.

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/34903/34903-h/34903-h.htm

YESSS!!! Finally it has been made available again :) The copy at the old HEARTH site was removed I think because that was the copy used by Dover for the reprint? But I'm guessing more than one copy was available while still out of copyright and so voila!

yes there is a copy on googlebooks but you can't see it outside the US...

One of myfave images is plate 30. the first shows the bodice on back to front (which is funny because most bodices of the time would be worn backwars now- the assumption of where fastenings go ;) ) but the second image is of a bodice I just adore and have used for inspiration in many many doodles :)

Also the first two of plate 24. :)

You will recognise many of the garments as they were later donated to the V&A. *so happy to have access to this book again :) Auckland Uni used to have an original print and I used it all the time. Fantastic as a syudy of the study of costume! This is was a serious attempt at not just a survey of the styles but oto examine the actual dress of the time. Pretty darn fab for an early 20thC book!

So I finally have a chance to make and wear one of my fave Disney costumes: Cinderella I am being cheeky and doing a blend of promo and actual costume. So it is light blue with a silver overlay. I have *just* enough of the blue from Glinda’s petals to make the skirt and bodice and a bodice for glinda. So in theory it only is the netting that is new. I was going to use some of my stunning shot blue taffeta but I really do think that is better for a smocked francaise, 1660s or Guardainfanta gown. I only have nearly 9m of it so it’s not an option.
Might just drape it on the stand to see how it looks
But yes. Cinders Light and able to be packed with minimal fuss and finally a chance to use my own (newly naturally curly) hair for a vintage look

Mirrored from mdb- costuming.

Relay for Life Team :)

So who wants to see me try and wear my Shaak Ti costume for 12hours straight?? ANyone? Well if you do please sponsor our team here
Clicky Linkie

Basically Relay for Life is to help out the Cancer Foundation of the country that is participating

Also if you are in Auckland I would really love to add you to the team ;) Seriously the more the better becatse it is a tough night to spend walking if there is a small team :)

http://www.relayforlife.org.nz/event/event?EventID=128

Saturday 3 March 2012
Millennium Institute of Sport & Health Antares Place Mairangi Bay Auckland
Opening Ceremony and Survivors Lap of Honour - 3.45pm
Relay starts - 4pm
Candlelight Ceremony - Dusk (approximately 8.45pm)
Big Breakfast - 7am
Relay finishes - 10am
$200 to register a team of up to 10 members, extra members $20.

I just need to know by Friday morning so as to have all names ready for Maureen :)