mywitch

tick tock tick tock

I am in Versailles! The last few weeks have been an absolute blur of attempting to coerce my ideas into becoming reality, some of which worked and some of which did not.

Tonight is the first ball, starting in about 5 hours. Cat is finishing up some hand-sewing, and I am recovering from the absolutely delicious breakfast supplied by the hotel. If you are ever in Versailles, I highly recommend Le Louis Hotel Versailles Chateau.

First time being in Versailles in high season. It's quite warm, and I'm amazed at how many people are running around everywhere. This hotel is just down the street from the chateau, and you can see the Golden Gates shining in that very warm sunshine.

I'll be meeting with milotziherself in an hour or so. Coincidentally, she is staying at this same hotel! Very much looking forward to it!

I need to mention my wig before I post some pics of it - You know how back in the day the wigs got incredibly elaborate? Women were sporting ships and bird cages in their wigs? (Think the Queen in Bridgerton) Well, I had an idea for my wig that I feel is in the same vein, but different. :D

( My Finished WigCollapse )

My gowns!
I shared the blue, blue lace, and white pieces in my last post, and it is complete now. I will be wearing it tonight, along with the silver slippers from that post.

Honestly, time has gotten away from me so much that I haven't even tried it on yet. Hopefully, that breakfast won't wreak too much havoc on my stays and me!

I'll post some pics of it later. But meanwhile, please enjoy this picture of my new undergarments!

( Undies 18th Century StyleCollapse )

Oh, and that pink wig? That was just one of my ideas that didn't work all the way out. I tried styling it for Cat to wear tonight, but ran into Not Really Knowing How to Do That, lol.

( Wig AttemptsCollapse )

Omg I think I forgot to show y'all the shoes! Nephew J Squirrel painted some Marie Antoinette portraits on them, and then I painted the rest to hopefully look like fabric. Whatcha think? I love them. The second ball is in honor of MA and will be held at the Trianon, which was her fave hangout.

( Les ChaussuresCollapse )

More to come! Milotzi is here now, and we've put her to work sewing a couple of engageantes! lol

*also stitching stomachers at dreamwidth

Here is what is up with ol' mywitch.

I am obsessed/swamped with getting ready for Les Fêtes Galantes. I leave on the 21st and there is a lot yet to do.

One thing I have learned about myself in this process is that I have a lot of creative ideas! And that I don't know how to accomplish 98% of them! My answer to that seems to be buying all the necessary supplies and staring at them.

Balls!

Yes, ballssss!

2 extra balls. (insert filthy joke here)

Let me tell you about them in the order they will happen. Oh, and incidentally, they are all back-to-back: May 23, 24 and 25.

The first ball isn't held at or affiliated with Versailles, but it is un fête hosted by @lv_rxl and will be held at l'Hôtel de Bouillon.

I will wear my blue gown and silver slippers.

I decorated a pair of silver shoes I just (ahem) happened to have with some huge Temu jewels. I was in Arizona and asked Sis4 to help me attach. Bro5 thought the jewels should be sort of curved so they would fit the shoes better. I agreed, and when he came back with a sledgehammer, I choked a bit. But he used the handle to set the jewels against, then pounded them with a regular hammer, and it worked like a charm.





Mind, my $23 dress form is very trim, so the dress hangs off it. Also, the stomacher is still just a plan. And the pink will be white. The petticoat, which is being sewn by my pal Cat right now, will look something like this.



Eek, Cat is literally at the door. More to come!!!

*also eating cake at dreamwidth

at this beauty!

Thank you so much digthewriter for this wonderful art! I love imagining post-war Severus letting his colorful side shine! You're a gem.

Dig's Awesome Snape Art

You should be able to access it with the link above, but if you are lazy like me, just look in the cut. :D

( colorful SnapeCollapse )

👀

*also peeping the goodness at dreamwidth*

Dearest Ladies and Lords of Live Journal Land,

I apologize for not getting back to everyone on comments. As always, please know I appreciate you and them so much! I am simply freaking obsessed with my Bucket List trip to France. I've wanted to go for ages, and now it is only weeks away, and I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day!

Since I retired I've been planning this trip specifically to attend Les Fêtes Galantes.

I've spent months researching gowns, panniers, stays, petticoats, wigs, the Rococo period, painters like Watteau and Fragonard, as well as learning more about Marie Antoinette. (She never said the thing.) I started a sensible diet (and eventually even started doing some exercise). Since July I have lost quite a bit of weight (yay!). I shall continue to do my best to lose some more, since it is my lifelong dream to have a waist.

Under the cut are some things that have inspired me on this journey. Let me know what you think!

( InspirationCollapse )

Next time: Getting my ticket and figuring out what I am going to wear!

Also putting on my wig at DreamWidth

Dearest fawkesylady394and chienne_folle, I hope both of you had a day that was delightful and satisfying in every way!!


These drawings are ancient history, but I hope they will be fun to see again all the same :D




Snape and Spock - separated at birth?

*also serving cake at dreamwidth

A very intense twelve-ish hours.

We met while I was in Arizona, in early March. It was about 10 in the morning when this handsome stranger walked onto the property, unannounced. He walked toward me and looked me right in the eye. His were a beautiful green.

( M. ChâtelaineCollapse )

*also cutting onions at dreamwidth

I haven't left Arizona yet, so I am roasting. Wednesday looks like it will be the first day of 100º F. A great time to get gone. It's March. It's never 100º in March. Climate be changin' yo.

I'm pleased to say that my mental health is better than it has been in a long time! I'm trying to prioritise the things I want to do (that for whatever reason I just don't do). Such as engaging with friends, replying to comments, finishing artwork, and posting here! and there!*

( Something to Think AboutCollapse )

*also posting at Dreamwidth

...can you believe that I'm po-oh-oh-ohsting..?🎶

Hey fam, wassup?

I am once again in Mexico, this time to pick up my car. I got it yesterday and it looks amazing!



Then it naturally got very dusty overnight and some seagulls left a few gifts on it, which I tried to clean off, but in the next pic you can see that the windshield is still a mess.

Bro#6 and I went to the beach to take this beauty shot:



A few moments later I got the car stuck in the sand, because I listen to NO MAN! Rowr!
A nice hombre came up and helped us get unstuck and Bro#6 was cranky for hours afterwards. LOL

There is so much more to report, all those things in the poll from before and also my One Day Love Affaire and Serious Prepping for the Ball. Where is my fairy godmother when I need her?

I am driving back to AZ in the morning and will be back to CA a few days later.

I hope every one of you are happy and doing well 🩷

*also talking cars over at dreamwidth

You little redheaded scamp! How old are you now? Wait - don't tell me. You'll always be 14 in my mind :D



fun fact:

Ronald Weasley is an anagram of "Lose Wand Early". :P

Besties, I just got back from Mexico. I brought my car down to get it painted and have the body work cleaned up. I managed to get a big ol' scrape whilst in the Costco parking lot. Oops. I was very excited because the guy had the exact paint I have always wanted a car to be and the price was Very Good Indeed.

Took the Amtrak back to L.A. When it's ready I'll take the train back and go pick it up.

Here are the Regular Shots of the Beach I seem to always post after a trip.

sunrise


sunset


swiftly flow the days...

*also waiting for Molly to frost the cake over at dreamwidth