Elwyn

Yep, Thats it for me too. See you guys there! Partying in a Middle Eath Stylee. Being with other like minded fans is th greatest release for me. Elwyn (Jo)

We can not wait much longer. We will have to get on and book the hotel any way. I want to make sure we get in the Radisson. C'mon SM.

Well, if it's wrong in getting sooo excited... I'll join you. I can't wait. The sparkly elven gown is off now. Oh well. There is lots of other stuff to make. Wow, Ring Con with no costume. AHHH. What a thought. I am going with my husband, Who is not going to dress up either. I'm working on him. He has a Saxon re enacment kit he could wear. But he will not wear a costume. Cor, Liremaer, Sounds too technical for me! But no doubt will look stunning! I am a Saxon re enactor. The ladies did not wear such gorgeous and technical stuff then. But is still fun. I use the name Elwyn as a re enactor. It means Elf Friend. I thought it was apt. The new re enacting season gets underway soon. I will have to think about this year's Saxon kit. Not as fun as Elven gowns. Although I am having a nightmare at the moment. Can your boy friend at Whalleys get any sparkly embroidered beaded and sequined silk chiffon in a pale yellow or pale gold? I look at their web site and they seem do stuff that people can modify themselves. LOL. Have you tried the reneactors market at Coventry. You can get real suede there at reasonable prices. It will be held at the Connexion Centre next week end (15,16 & 17) March. There is loads of great stuff for costumes as well as re enacting. We will be there. Here is the web site: http://www.reenactorsmarket.co.uk/ I hope it is useful. Back to the Elven dresses. Elwyn (Jo)

Well, Ive got 'tix'. There is another thread I replied to on the same subject but I am sooo excited I do not mind posting twice! OOHHH talk about exploding with excitement! I can't wait to swan around all Elven like!

Yeh, I forgot to mention the things that do go wrong. The thing is not to let them get you down. Although that is hard at the time. Things go wrong even for the best of dressmakers. (Of which I am not one). Ta, Liremaer. I am having a nightmare sourcing my chosen fabric at the moment. Whalleys have been really great so far. Lucky you, living so close to Whalleys. I wish I did. It can be expensive especially if you do not have any fabric markets any where near. I have my savings. When they run out..... Ah. Oh well. The belt I embroidered took me three weeks of very long days. The effort is sooo worth it in the end though, Isn't it? Or are we just nutty? That won't stop me though! I have bought a load of beads and embroidery thread for my next venture with plans to make it really sparkly. For my very first venture I used a dress out of my wardrobe. I put colourful gores in the skirt and added a collar and made a quick Elven belt for it. It was a good starting point. Are you going to another show? What are you making?

Rachel, Well your dress is great. Advice, I've been thinking. Keep it simple for your first venture. Some people buy a pattern and use that. If you do not want to go that way (I didn't) use a dress from your wardrobe that fits you well as a pattern. Do not buy expensive material for the first solo effort. That makes it less nerve racking. A sewing machine is very helpful. My first machine was a second hand one that cost a tenner. It worked when it felt like it. I used to browse the local newspaper's second hand ads. That's good. But these days I suppose there is Ebay! Check out this site http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/ It is fantastic. I use that a lot. I do not make copies from the movie as I find the actual material hard to come by. I use what is going cheap. Markets are good. I have started using the internet to do my fabric shopping. I am buying from Cheap Fabrics UK and Whaleys of Bradford at the moment. But there are lots out there. I hope that helps. Contact me if you want more advice. Elwyn

Fifteen quid. That's good. I use the internet to get my fabrics. I have made quite a few elf gowns now. I am addicted to them. I make my own clothes because I do not want to wear boring everyday stuff now. The costumes in the movie were breathtaking. I love swanning around a con as an elf. I also love meeting fellow LOTR fans in costume too. I usually just spend hours talking to other fans about dressmaking and stuff. I am self taught too. I wanted to learn how to make these wonderful things when I saw them. It is a passion now. I do some of my own embroidery. I have to because I find it hard to buy exactly what I want. Or I will buy a fabric and imbellish it further. I like to design my own stuff but using the dresses in the movies as a guide. Back to the research! Elwyn

Looks great. I'll be watching that space!

Wow, Absolutely gorgeous. I love the picture with the cloak over your head. Your hair do is great! Where did you go to get the pictures done. It looks beautiful. There is a lot of detail in your costume. The trim on your cloak is lovely. Where did you get it? I am still a learner. I can say that my stuff is not as great as yours. Don't you feel great when you wear it! I know I do. I have had some fabric swatches arrive this morning. I am bursting with ideas. I love doing the research too. Sometimes I have to scale down my ideas. I will have to find a way of getting some of my pictures out there. But I am useless with these computers. I have never been abroad. So I have not seen all the other costumes. I can not afford it although I want to. Oh well. With the money I save I can buy more fabrics. Elwyn

Me too!! EEHHH OOHHH!!

I enjoyed the sessions with 'The Elven Taylor' at TFF. Is he going to be there? What about an area where people can show their costumes on dummies and an area for people who make replica props. I would not mind displaying some of my creations. (They are not great). *Elwyn*

Ohhh Got our tickets!!! Can't wait to meet up with some old friends. I second that too Strider. I don't care who goes. I want to meet up with you guys just as much as seeing guests. Maybe we should have little badges or something with our forum names on se we can get to know eachother.

As far as I know there will be a party on the Friday night. We are planning to get there on Friday and leave on Monday. OOHHHH Can't wait. Elwyn

I love the costume aspect of this event. That is a big draw for me. I love seeing everyone in their great outfits. It feels like you could be walking through Middle Earth. Dwarves. That's a great idea. I am about Dwarf Height! Just finished a Medieval dress. I just can not wait until November! If My husband wanted to go as an Orc he would not need any make up He he. I could not help it but I am designing another Elf dress. I may have enough costumes for people to borrow by November. Anyone else making anything? Elwyn

We have just bought our tickets and are waiting the hotel code! Any News? Elwyn

My birthday is on the 24th of November. There is no better way I can think of to celebrate. May be we should all have a birthday bash! I'm getting over excited already. *Elwyn*

Without the Payment scheme I can only afford the £70 option. But I still can not wait. Roll on November! I will be spending quite a lot on costume making too for the event. How much is the Hotel accomodation and Convention package going to cost? Some of us have to start saving...Hard.

I love the costume workshops. It is great that they are gong to be included. I big part of an event like this for me is to become an Elf for the weekend. How about Elvish lessons. I missed them all last time. I love the idea of Middle earth food. And the Hotel/another show package sounds great. I'll be going for that! Elwyn.

Yep, I am on a diet ready for November. Why do elves have to be sooo thin! It makes it hard for us mere mortals! But, the effort will be worth it. More visits to the gym too. I am thinking of another costume. It is hard to resist. Elwyn

Me too! It is happening over my birthday, I can't wait. It is going to be special.

Hi! I'm back. I will definitely go as an Elf. It was a dream to swan around looking beautiful and Elf like. I have made a couple of elf dresses I have not had the opportunity to wear. I can not wait to get them out. I am really looking forward to this event.