29 November 2008

I write about my wife a lot saying "MB did this," or "my wife and I did that" or similar. But, there aren’t that many photos of her here. Mostly, I think, because she’s critical of her own appearance (aren’t most women?) and likely wouldn’t approve of most photos. However, this is the smiling face I go to sleep with every night and wake up to every morning. The woman of my dreams.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 3 December 2008 )

Listening to:
Betty Lou’s Gettin’ Out Tonight by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
from Nine Tonight

Camera: Nikon D70
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 135 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS Windows

Tags: Clothing, costume, Daily, Faire, Festival, MARITA BETH, Photoblog, Texas, Texas Renaissance Festival

8 November 2008
Marita Beth & I have had numerous recent discussions revolving around the beauty and reality of friendship. We are truly favoured with some amazingly wonderful friends. Charming, talented, beautiful, exceptional people surround us in every aspect of our lives from the professional to the personal. This one, this Iris and her sister Rose, have gone from the professional acquaintance (as Iris & Rose) to the dear friend. And, despite the occasional "theft" of hat, I’d not change my friendship with them for the world.

~KR (Written on 10 November 2008 )

Listening to:
No Quarter by Led Zepplin
from Mothership CD 2

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 80
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash fired, auto mode, red-eye reduction

Tags: Clothing, Daily, hat, Iris, Photoblog, Texas, TRF

20 August 2008

I always wanted to be the coolest aunt in the world.  Unfortunately, I live too far away to be a regular part of McKenna’s life.  And, I guess I’d say that I’m a bit more of a disciplinarian than her Daddy is.  So, I guess I’ll just have to settle for being the wacky aunt who has the crazy cat and who sews cool stuff.

McKenna and I had a fabulous time together last September, when she accompanied me to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival.  I put her in a makeshift costume, and she liked that so well, that I bought her one from a shop onsite that same day.  She enjoyed that one so much, that she wore it again for Halloween, and still loves it.  So, I came up with the bright idea that I could make her an even better outfit for next year.  And, now, it’s next year!  In only two and a half weeks, she and I will once again visit the renfaire together.  And today, I finished the main bits of her new outfit.  I still want to make her a little pink chemise, and some sort of hat or French hood.  But, the bodice and skirts are done, and the hoop is on order!  She’s going to look like a real princess!  I only hope I can dress to complement her!  Perhaps I should simply plan to look like her nurse!

My photo today is of her fabrics and trims; garments  piled on top of one another.  I want to add beads to the underskirt, like I did to the bodice, and when that’s all done, I’ll take another photo.

Dinner tonight was at Larry and Denise’s.  Kelly has just completed one of the new gowns Denise will wear this year at Dickens.  And, Larry and I finally organized our thoughts and finalized the design and fabric choices for an outfit we’ve been talking about me making for him for way too long.  I’m hoping to get it done for him for debut at TRF.  Anyway, the need to see them, and the love of their company, meant Kelly drove us up there and Larry cooked us dinner.  Yum.  As always, his cooking was much appreciated!   We even brought home leftovers!  And we got the extra bonus of enjoying a visit with his mom and dad, too. 

Hump day gone . . . the remaining weeks fly by.

~MB

Tags: beads, brocade, close-up, Clothing, costume, Daily, Faire, Festival, purple, satin, trim

20 August 2008

I always wanted to be the coolest aunt in the world.  Unfortunately, I live too far away to be a regular part of McKenna’s life.  And, I guess I’d say that I’m a bit more of a disciplinarian than her Daddy is.  So, I guess I’ll just have to settle for being the wacky aunt who has the crazy cat and who sews cool stuff.

McKenna and I had a fabulous time together last September, when she accompanied me to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival.  I put her in a makeshift costume, and she liked that so well, that I bought her one from a shop onsite that same day.  She enjoyed that one so much, that she wore it again for Halloween, and still loves it.  So, I came up with the bright idea that I could make her an even better outfit for next year.  And, now, it’s next year!  In only two and a half weeks, she and I will once again visit the renfaire together.  And today, I finished the main bits of her new outfit.  I still want to make her a little pink chemise, and some sort of hat or French hood.  But, the bodice and skirts are done, and the hoop is on order!  She’s going to look like a real princess!  I only hope I can dress to complement her!  Perhaps I should simply plan to look like her nurse!

My photo today is of her fabrics and trims; garments  piled on top of one another.  I want to add beads to the underskirt, like I did to the bodice, and when that’s all done, I’ll take another photo.

Dinner tonight was at Larry and Denise’s.  Kelly has just completed one of the new gowns Denise will wear this year at Dickens.  And, Larry and I finally organized our thoughts and finalized the design and fabric choices for an outfit we’ve been talking about me making for him for way too long.  I’m hoping to get it done for him for debut at TRF.  Anyway, the need to see them, and the love of their company, meant Kelly drove us up there and Larry cooked us dinner.  Yum.  As always, his cooking was much appreciated!   We even brought home leftovers!  And we got the extra bonus of enjoying a visit with his mom and dad, too. 

Hump day gone . . . the remaining weeks fly by.

~MB

Tags: beads, brocade, close-up, Clothing, costume, Daily, Faire, Festival, purple, satin, trim

10 May 2008
HOT! HUMID! GROSS! Days like this day make me wonder why I’ve tied a substantial part of my livelihood to outdoor events. No one wanted to be at the festival on this day; those that were were cranky & not really willing to part with hard-earned cash. But, we muddled through as best we could. And through it all, not a photo was taken. Evening rolled around and I crawled into bed only to have to crawl back out & take a photo. This is what I took. It’s a close-up of a single pearl on my noble’s outfit as crafted by A Wardrobe in Time.

I love this outfit!
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 13 May 2008 )

Listening to:
Iko Iko by Indigo Girls

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.2 sec (1/5)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: Clothing, costume, Daily, Decoration, Faire, pearl, Photoblog, Texas

27 November 2007
November rapidly closing to an end. TRF has ended and Dickens is just around the corner. Dickens is the start of a very busy holiday season. We save all year for it and enjoy the bejeezus outta it. This year, Marita Beth has crafted for herself a new dress. For years, she's bemoaned the fact that she has only ever had time to sew for others. This year she made that time to sew for herself. In so doing, she commissioned also, a new outfit for me. Here you see the new waistcoat (the checked) and the new frock (the orange) as they lay folded on her table.

I was half-afraid to take a peek, but eventually I did. I love it.
Cheers.

~KR (27 November 2007)

Listening to:
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap by ACDC
on Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 1 sec (1)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 1 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: Arlington, Clothing, Daily, Festival, Photoblog

20 November 2007
I have in my possession a great many hats. Most of them are single-purpose event-specific types of hat. This one is cross-purpose existing to please both the modern sensibility and that of the elegant gentlemen from the early 20th century. It’s a beautiful black felted fedora with a touch of feathery colour to the side.

I love this hat. I bought it specifically to go with a zoot suit I had acquired for a Fractured Fairy Tales party I was hosting; but I have since worn it on many an occasion just because it’s a damn fine hat.
Cheers.

~KR (20 November 2007)

Listening to:
Leaving Nancy by Dubliners
on 25 Years of Celebration

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 1 sec (1)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 1 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: FEATHER, FEDORA, HAT, CAP, CANON, PHOTOBLOG, CLOSE-UP

Tags: Clothing, Daily, Photoblog

12 August 2007

Sunday. What’re Sunday’s for? Football, that’s what! Sadly, I didn’t get to play in the second to last game of our football season. And, I think I’m glad. The pitch-side temperature according to reports was 104 degrees Farenheit. I’d have likely keeled over from that kind of heat. I did get to watch my Gunners play against Fulham though. A lovely 2-1 win at the Emirates to start the season. And that in spite of Lehmann’s howler at the 57 second mark. Had Arsenal lost, likely this would be a different photo. But, since they won, I figured a photo of the shirt I was wearing, a 2003 Arsenal away strip, might be appropriate. Of course, I wasn’t wearing it during the photo, but none-the-less, we’re calling it my lucky strip. At least for now.
Cheers.

~KR (12 August 2007)

Listening to:
The Prince Song by Ghetto Pony
on Post Apocalyptic Bubblegum Music

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.25 sec (1/4)
Aperture: f/3.1
Focal Length: 8.5 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: Arsenal, Football, Strip, Jersey, Away, Yellow

Tags: Arsenal, Clothing, Daily, Game, Soccer, Texas

4 August 2007

 After a marvelous day in Racine on the 3rd, it was time to give in and head back to MB’s little corner of the world at her booth. We slept at Joseph & Kelly’s house but had to be at faire for open. So, we got up a little early (much earlier than I’m used to doing on a Saturday) and headed to the faire. By the time the drive was done I was awake, so went ahead and clothed myself appropriately for the day and wandered out. I watched a number of shows, drank a number of beers, ate a number of food items and saw lots and lots of friends and strangers. This is one of those strangers:
I don’t know who he is, but I appreciated the feel of his character. I believe he is Bristol cast of some sort, but whether busker or masker I know not. Late in the day, the skies opened up and the deluge started. But, it didn’ t dampen the spirits surrounding and participating in the 9th annual Fire & Ice. I forgot to take my camera so have no pictures of it this year, and I can’t seem to locate any from last year. I should remedy this next year.
Cheers.

~KR (4 August 2007)

Listening to: Triple Concerto in C Major, Last Movement by Ludwig Van Beethoven
on Classics

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 48.6 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: Bristol, Renaissance+Faire, Faire, Festival, Wisconsin, Bristol+Renaissance+Festival

Tags: Clothing, Daily, Faire, Feather, Festival, People, Show