2014 Costumer's Picnic in pictures / Pique-Nique des costumiers 2014 en photos

(La version Française se trouve plus bas.)

Last Saturday was held the annual Quebec Society of Amateur Costumers costumer's picnic. It was a beautiful warm day and sunny day, and there were many new faces this year. Costumes were varied, just the way we like it: Steampunk, Superheroes, Medieval-Fantasy, Teen era, 1940's, India, Pirate, etc.

Samedi dernier s'est tenu le Pique-Nique Annuel des Costumiers de la Société des Costumiers Amateurs du Québec. C'était une magnifique journée chaude et ensoleillée, et plusieurs nouveaux visages se sont joints à nous cette année. Les costumes étaient variés, comme nous les aimons: Steampunk, Superhéros, Médiéval-Fantastique, Années 10, Années 40, Inde, Pirate, etc.

 

Group picture (minus Nancy-Raven & Son who left early) / 

Photo de groupe (avec Nancy-Raven et son fils absent car ils ont dû quitter plus tôt)

Nancy-Raven & Son (photo by Laurie) / Nancy-Raven et son fils (photo de Laurie)

Please note that Nancy-Raven is wearing a Shocking Pink Sari. This needs mentioning as she never used to wear any other colour than black (remember our 10 year High School Reunion, when she dressed as the Wicked Witch of the North Shore?). You have to admit, the colour looks great on her.

Veuillez noter que Nancy-Raven porte un Sari Rose Fushia, Je le mentionne parce que pendant longtemps, elle ne portait que du noir (vous vous souvenez de notre réunions de Secondaire 10e anniversaire, quand elle avait décider de s'habiller en Vilaine Sorcière de la Rive-Nord?). Il faut admettre que cette couleur lui va à merveille.

Food time!  / À la bouffe!

Mommy, who is that pretty Lady? / Maman, qui est cette jolie demoiselle?

Food fit for a Pirate (photo by Laurie) / Un Repas digne d'un Pirate (photo de Laurie)

Laurie in her Wearing History 1940's sailor dress /

Laurie dans sa robe nautique des années 40 de Wearing History

 My little Indian Princess / Ma petite princesse Indienne

I found that dress at Value Village for 5.99$. And what a find it was! If you look closely, the front of the bodice and skirt are decorated with pearls and lots of them.

J'ai trouvé cette robe au Village des Valeurs pour 5.99$. Quelle trouvaille ce fut! Si vous regardez bien, le devant du corsage et de la jupe sont décorés de perles en grande quantité.

 My little gentleman / Mon petit monsieur

I was going to dress my son with pants, a shirt and his 11th Doctor Jacket, but it was just too hot and humid, so instead, I choose a polo onesie and shorts that match his pageboy cap.

J'avais planifié d'habiller mon garçon avec un pantalon, une chemise et son veston de 11e Docteur, mais il faisait beaucoup trop chaud et humide, je l'ai donc plutôt habillé d'une combinaison polo et d'un short assortis à sa casquette de petit monsieur.

In true Me fashion, I decided to make myself a new dress, and I made it last minute, finishing at 1 AM on the day of the event. But I am happy with the result.

Étant fidèle à moi-même, j'ai décidé de me faire une nouvelle robe, et je l'ai confectionnée à la dernière minute, la complétant à 1h du matin le jour de l'évènement.
 

Teen Era Garden Party Dress / Robe de Garden-party années 10

It was inspired by Lady Mary's garden party dress from the 1st season finale of Downton Abbey, but I'll tell you all about it in another post.

That was this year's picnic. We were quite lucky to have such a lovely day (though the ground was still a bit humid from the rainstorm a few days before), and we were thrilled to see the event grow again this year. Here is to a bigger, better picnic next year!

Ma robe est inspirée par celle portée par Lady Mary pour la garden-party dans la finale de la première saison de Downton Abbey, mais je vous en parlerai plus longuement dans un autre billet.

C,était le pique-nique de cette année. Nous étions vraiment chanceux d'avoir une si belle journée (quoique le sol était encore humide suite à l'orage survenu quelques jours auparavant), et nous étions vraiment touchés de voir l,évènement grandir encore cette année. Souhaitons-nous un pique-nique encore plus gros et plus réussis l'an prochain!

BBC's Wartime Farm / Wartime Farm de la BBC

(La version Française se trouve plus bas.)

The third series of documentary by my favourite trio, historian Ruth Goodman and archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn, Wartime Farm, is somewhat different from the two previous ones, Victorian Farm and Edwardian Farm. This time, it is not just farming and housekeeping with the available technology of the time, the team also has to deal with pressure the farmers were under to produce more and more food and the rationing system that British people were under during WWII.

Cette troisième série documentaire par mon trio préféré, l'historienne Ruth Goodman et des archéologues Alex Langlands et Peter Ginn, Wartime Farm, est quelque peu différente des deux précédente, Victorian Farm et Edwardian Farm. Cette fois-ci, il ne s'agit pas seulement d'agriculture et de tâches ménagères avec les technologies disponibles à l'époque; l'équipe doit aussi faire face aux pressions que vivaient les fermiers de l'époque de produire de plus en plus de nourriture, ainsi que du système de rationnement imposé aux Britanniques pendant là 2e Guerre Mondiale.

Peter Ginn, Ruth Goodman and /et Alex Langlands, Wartime Farm

From plowing the fields at night to be able to produce enough and in time, to building quick hay bales housing for refugees, we learn all that was required of British farmers during wartime, but also of the jobs taken over by women through organizations such as the Women's Land Army and the Women's Timber Corps.

Entre labourer les champs de nuit pour produire en quantités suffisante et à temps, et la construction rapide d'abris de ballot de paille, on apprend tout ce qui était requis des fermiers Britanniques en temps de guerre, mais aussi des tâches que les femmes prirent en main au travers d'organisations telles que la Women's Land Army et la Women's Timber Corps.

 Peter Ginn, Ruth Goodman and /et Alex Langlands, Wartime Farm

I do have to say that 1940's fashion is not my cup of tea. Maybe it is for the show, but most of the women wear scarfs tied to the top of their head to work. I am sure it is very practical, but to my tastes, it is also quit ugly. And that shapeless apron Ruth wears; although I don't like it much, it does make me nostalgic. My paternal grandmother was 18 in 1939, and in the mid 1990s, she still dressed like that, so it reminds me of her.

Je dois admettre que la mode des années 40 n'est pas vraiment ma tasse de thé. C'était peut-être pour l'émission, mais la plupart des femmes portent des foulards noués sur le dessus de leur tête pour travailler. Je suis certaine que c'est très pratique, mais à mon goût, c'est assez laid. Et ce tablier sans forme; quoique je ne l'aime pas vraiment, ça me rend nostalgique. Ma grand-mère paternelle avait 18 ans en 1939, et au milieu des années 1990, elle s'habillait encore ainsi, alors cela me la rappelle.

Ruth Goodman, Wartime Farm

The suit, shirt and marled orange striped sweater are alright, and I really love the tilt hat Ruth received for Christmas. It was made from a repurposed man's hat.

Son complet, sa blouse et son chandail orange chinés à rayure ne sont pas mal, mais j'aime vraiment le chapeau incliné que Ruth reçoit pour Noël. Il a été fait d'un chapeau d'homme réutilisé.
 

Peter Ginn and/et Ruth Goodman, Wartime farm 

As always, what I find most interesting is when she makes her own clothes. During WWII, there was rationing for everything, not just petrol and food, but also fabric for clothing. Even the number of buttons and the length of skirts was dictated by Ministry rules! I had learned in Costume History classes that Wedge shoes were in fashion during that time because it was more practical to have one big piece of cork as a sole and an heel that would not get used up as quickly as small pump heel that would require frequent fixing. But I don't remember learning of how cleverly ladies (with the help of Big Brands) found sources of material for new frocks without using up their clothing coupons.

Comme toujours, la partie qui m'intéresse le plus est de la voir se confectionner de nouveaux vêtements. Durant la 2e Guerre, la nourriture et les combustibles ne sont pas les seuls biens de consommation qui sont rationnés, le tissu aussi. Même le nombre de boutons et la longueur des jupes étaient réglementés! J'avais appris dans mes cours d'histoire du costume que les chaussures à semelles compensées étaient à la mode à l'époque parce qu'il était plus pratique d'avoir une semelle d'un seul bloc de liège qui ne s'usera pas trop vite contrairement à un talon haut qui devra être remplacer plus souvent. Par contre, je ne me souviens pas d'avoir appris comment les dames débrouillardes (avec l'aide des Grandes Marques) trouvaient des sources de tissu pour un nouveau vêtement sans utiliser leur coupons.

Ruth and her daughter / et sa fille Eve, Wartime Farm

In this case, she uses a red and white checkered flour sack (now that is marketing for you - have the best looking sack and ladies will buy your product just to get the packaging). With some clever patterning, she makes a simple summer dress to wear to a party.

Dans ce cas-ci, elle utilise un sac de farine à motif de carreaux rouges et blancs (ça c'est du marketing - si vous avez le sac le plus joli, les dames achèteront votre produit juste pour l'emballage). Avec un patron astucieux, elle se confectionne une robe d'été simple.
 

Fundraising Dance / Danse pour Levée de Fonds, Wartime Farm

Ladies, if you are into 1940s costuming, there is also an interesting part on makeup and how women made do with some home products.

As with all the two previous series, I really recommend you watch it.

Mesdames, si vous êtes intéressées aux costumes des années 1940, il y a une scène très instructive sur le maquillage et les produits de beauté fait maison.

Comme avec les deux premières séries, je recommande celle-ci chaudement.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition

Today we had a nice Family outing to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition at the Montréal Exhibition Centre: that is my Sweetheart, my Daughter, Auntie Cici (Nancy-Raven) and myself.

Narnian Heraldry

I have to say right away I was quite disappointed in this exhibition. There were perhaps 4 rooms to visit and there wasn't that much to see in each. Many games for kids and facts comparing the melting frozen river of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) to Global Warming, but not as many props and costumes as I expected. And from what I hear, they did not have the entire exhibition due to lack of space. Hmm... Not worth 15$ per adult that we had to pay. But, since I was there, I took lots of pictures to share with you!

Baby and Daddy arriving in Narnia

After reading about C.S. Lewis and seeing some of his things, we entered the wardrobe, passed through racks of fur coats and arrived in Narnia a snow fell down softly on us. A lovely and magickal moment.

Of course, we spent the rest of the afternoon dusting ourselves and the stroller off of the fake snow, but still, it was a nice touch.

Daddy showing Baby that ice is cold

I don't want to sound (too) mean, but to Quebecois who get 6 months of winter a year, a wall of ice is not much of a thrill; most of us grew up on ice skating rinks either learning to figure skate or play hockey. In my opinion, they could have dropped the ice wall to make place for Aslan (he was one of the items for which they did not find space at the Montréal Exhibition Center).

Of course, I'm sure it was a hit in Jacksonville, Florida.

Tiny White Witch with her Daddy

She'll be ready to terrorize you right after her bottle

Nancy-Raven is loving this Queen thing...

By the way, please notice if you will that Nancy-Raven is wearing COLOUR (as opposed to her usual all black scheme). After going shopping with her for her birthday and pestering her about looking only at black pieces (without any bling please), she is actually following my advice and going for adding colour to her wardrobe.

Apparently, she has also been watching What Not to Wear and is now hearing voices when buying new clothes that tell her "Do you really want to be ordinary and invisible?". If the voices persist, I might worry, but for now, I'm just glad to see her trying something different.

Gwenyver, the self proclaimed North Witch (matching with the decor - what did you expect!)

The White Witch throne was a nice touch. Sure it wasn't the real prop (they would never have allowed us to sit on it) but it was cool (haha!) nonetheless. It was even cold to the touch to simulate ice. As you can see, we all had fun taking turns sitting on it and snapping pictures.

Nancy-Raven in front of the Narnian War Camp display

I know, I know, I promised you costumes. Geesh! You are so impatient little one. Here they are now:

Edmund's and Peter's Play clothes, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

Susan's and Lucy's Play clothes, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

Detail of Lucy's Play Dress, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

Lucy's School Uniform, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Oh look, it's a Gymslip!

Susan's School Uniform, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Girl's School Blazer, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Edmund's School Uniform, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Peter's School Uniform, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Boy's School Blazer and Edmund's Cap, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Edmund's School Scarf, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Peter's Battle Outfit, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Prince Caspian's Battle Outfit, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Miraz' Armor, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

A Bust of Glenstorm, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Of course, these are just an overlook of all the pictures I took (55 in total). To seen them all, visit my Flickr Gallery here: The Chronicles of Narnia - The Exhibition (August 21, 2010 - Montreal, QC).

Again, if you are interested in making costumes from any of the Chronicles of Narnia movies, I strongly suggest you visit The Wardrobe Door.