Pirate Jewelry

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

My senior prom is coming up in a few short months, and I am planning a very pirate-y dress, but I'm coming up short on what to do with jewelry. Any suggestions? Websites with pretty, yet pirate-y jewelry?

[Bilgemunky]

Well, first I'd steer you towards piratejewelry.com and celticjackalope.com.

Pirate Jewelry has a wide selection of sterling rings and pendants.

At this time, Celtic Jackalope only offers one piratey piece, which is a lovely aztec-medallion type deal. The picture on the website is a little too dark to see, though. There's a better one (and a review of the piece) here. Also, Celtic Jackalope about three weeks away from releasing a VERY nice skull and crossed-swords ring - looks kind of like a pirate coat of arms.

[Duchess]

Check out some local antique stores for jewelry. Also ebay. My taste tends toward the more ethnic flavor (in case you couldn't tell ), and here is a site I like.

http://www.exoticofferings.com/catalog.html

Duchess

[blenderwench]

I don't know if this is prom-style or not, but I am making my own pirate jewelry. I ordered off of ebay a faux gold medallion charm hanging from a skull, then some skull beads that have been carved out of stone. I am stringing them together using jewelry wire/thread, and using round 6 mm hematite stones in between the skulls (this is a shiny black). That is the necklace.

Then I am intending to make matching earrings and bracelet.

But, if you look up jewelry on ebay and "pirate" or "skull" I believe there is a lot out there... and if you would rather have ornate jewelry, ebay is key for that, too.

[HarborMaster]

I have one aztec coin left in romagold alloy if you want it let me know.,

Aztec Romagold

also try some beads?. Go to a craft store and have a look around. add jingles to your kit.and put some fun items in your hair ., get creative..,and dont forget a few silver rings.

[Redd Oktober]

Somethin' else to consider is tropic-based jewelry (bone or coconut bead work) ... Just depends on the pirate, I guess.

[Diego Santana de la Vega]

Good lass, Lots of Harley riders likes the skulls and crossbones and their sites too have lots of stainless steel necklaces and ear rings and the like with the old Jack Rackem flavor. Congrats on getting through school these days tis a tough time and it almost over. Much success.

[Cap'n Alex]

If you want bead type stuff (opposed to shiny gold) some of the stuff on http://www.centerstagecostumes.com/Catalog...ry.htm#Hairclip could be good. I got the no evil monkey hair clip, and love it. It's pretty expensive for what it is, but no more so than anywhere else.

Having said that, it's probably more of a guy thing anyway. I love my monkey hair clip, I'd like to dres as a pirate more often even if only for that .

[Black Hearted Pearl]

My personal favorite is C and B Treasures. It's operated by two pirates from the desert here. They carry lovely cameo's of tallships, mermaids and other "prom appropriate" jewelry. Although skull, crossbones and cutlasses be what the usual pirate chooses, you would be wise to invest in some quality unique pieces that play with people's minds.

[hurricane]

Check out http://www.piratesofthecoast.com/shop/pendants.html

Diosa makes a wide range of pirate themed items -- necklaces, pendants, bracelets, hair dangles, etc. -- some of which are at Mel Fisher's Museum in Key West and soon to be added to Pirate Soul as well. She can also do custom work...

Hurricane

[Kalum]

Bloody 'ell Hurricane...that's some great stuff. I'm gonna 'ave t' tell Shaelyn t' git a hold of Diosa now...

::watches as paycheck disappears before his eyes::

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

okay - so jewellry crisis solved! Thank you all! But running into a new crisis. The place I was planning on buying a bodice for my dress from hasn't come through on my inquiry yet, and I need to order it soon so there is enough time for it to be made. So ladies - who od you reccommend for bodices? Response would be great ASAP - like I said, running short on time.

[lady snow]

you could try the verymerryseamstress.com. she's also a faire vendor. she's right next to merlin's magic behind the chessboard arena.

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

Alrighty - yet another change of plans here - due to time/money constraints, I'm might just end up making a bodice for myself. I'm sure many of you have done this, so advice would be nice. First off, what patterns are good? I found a McCalls one that looks nice -has any one used it? Is it horribly complicated? Also, the plastic boning they have at Jo-Anns might as well be made out of paper. Does anyone know where I can get my hands on some steel boning? I've got a bout a month and a half to get this made, along with my skirt, so any suggestions would be mucho apprechiato

[lorien_stormfeather]

I've successfully made McCalls 4107 and Butterick 6196/98 (I adddded peccadill tabs to this one). Everyone will need help fitting these, so make a muslin version first.

These patterns only take about 1 yard of material, so you can splurge on something quite nice!

Yes, all you need is one yard for the main body (a little more if you add a peplum or pecadills) and one yard for the lining, and a yard of heavy craft weight interfacing....NOTE iron this to lining not main fabric in case it puckers a bit. The boning also goes in your lining. Don't forget to buy natural fiber fabrics. I made it up in wool and is very comfortable in the heat of summer and Oregon rain storms!.

Actually the commercial patterns as mentioned above are pretty good. There is one more pattern I'd reccommend that seems to make up nicely. I haven't made this one, but I have seen it alot and it is quite adjustable due to all the panels. up to size 20.

Simplicity 9966

http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm?page=t...=59&StartRow=11

BRAND NEW Butterick B4483 has a English style bodice (no grommets, just ribbon to hold the laces) chemise top and skirt up to size 20.

http://store.sewingtoday.com/cgi-bin/butte...TI=10013&page=1

The hardest thing of course is the grommets. I bought a leather punch to go through the layers of interfacing and fabric. A good grommet settting tool can be found at a hardware store or R.E.I. The fabric store ones are a bit wimpy.

Those into authenticity will tell you to cover the grommets with embroidery thread or just poke holes with an awl and then button hole stich around the opening. So you really can avoid grommets if you wish.

Have fun!!!!

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

Well, last night I picked up the McCalls pattern and all the material it called for - although, now I'm worried, cause the back of the pattern said I needed only about 3/8th of a yard. I think I should be okay though, cause I'm planning on making it 2-toned, and I picked up 3/8th a yard of each. I'm also thinking of calling in a seamstress friend of mine on it. I still have to pick up the grommets, and some boning, just have to find some first - the stuff they have at Jo-ann's wouldn't hold me up worth shit.

It will probably turn out well I think, just not the way I wanted it to be. But in the end, I'll have it on time, and it will be more cost effective - which is a good thing, now that I'm thinking I have to fly my date up here! This pirate's gold is going out faster then it's coming in. I think I'm starting to hate proms . . .

[Rumba Rue]

Here's where you can get steel boning (it's where I found it anyway).

Boning

At faires, they go by Lady and the Fool, Inc.

Phone number - 310-877-243-5239

I'll check on another place I know of, but I think it went belly up.

Rumba

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[lorien_stormfeather]

Thanks fer sharing but could not find the steel boning link within!

[Rumba Rue]

I suspect you'll have to call them.

Rumba

[morgan_thelimey_grimmway]

If ya need bonin' real quick-like, go to Home Depot.

Ask fer "Fish Tape" ( This is what them landlubbers use fer threadin' wires through walls. ) ( Usually somewhere around the 10 dollar mark if I recall, and it will go a looooong way )

Ye'll need someone who's handy with some kind o'small saw. ( I used a dremel attatchment) And cut the boning to the length ye want it, from the spool. This be fine fer boning, as it's sturdy and keeps it's shape well, also, it's inexpensive and easy to find if you need it quick. Just make sure you sand down any sharp edges.

Also, beware when takin' the fastenin's off o'the spool, as it has been known to suddenly unravel itself very violently...... not that yours truly has ever made such a mistake.........

As fer busks ( if ye need done fer yer corset style) I reccommend a paint stirrer, or a stainless steel carpentry ruler, with the ends sanded down, and holes drilled.

I've been usin' a stainless steel ruler in me elizabethan corset fer a busk for years now. Just make sure ye paint it if yer goin' t'be usin' it fer long, as it may rust and spoil the fabric. Also, take it out when you wash the corset o'course.

I find fishtape is also excellent fer makin farthingales. ( hoop skirts) or bustle cages fer more victorian styled threads.

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

The fish tape is a great idea - only thing is, I'm starting to doubt my sewing skills. What skills I have are good, but not many or large. I'm trolling the internet everyday looking for corsets to buy, but it's proving difficult. They are all too expensive, to trashy looking or the sites are blocked by the school admin dep. All the historical shops are blocked but the fetish sites are coming up. Go figure. . .

It's gotten so bad, I'm scouring even the hot topic web page. I like hot topic, but I would wear their "corsets" as tank tops, not as any kind of self supporting garment.

If anyone can think of any more advice, that would be great. Starting to panic a little bit here.

[Rumba Rue]

Ok, I've got another place you can get steel boning here it is: Dragonmarsh products

Dragonmarsh also has a nifty variety of other goodies. I had heard from several people they had gone out of business. But thankfully I heard back from my looooong time friend they are still around.

Rumba Rue

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[Duchess]

If you the home improvment boning route, and I've known many who have with great success, go by a can of plastic dip too. This is the stuff that tool people dip their tool handles in for a rubbery coating to protect their hands. Dip the ends of all your boning/busking in this, that way it's less likely to wear through your material.

[lorien_stormfeather]

Great steel boning info! I've always wondered what to look for at home depot. I've been using the fabric store variety and it is definately not as good , but is okay..

Here is a maker of bodices that I've admired. Check out the Goddess Bodice.

Reasonable prices too.

Odd Bodkin

As fer the doubt of yer skills, well just go ahead and try to enjoy making it. If you have the time, you can make 2 or 3 bodices for the price of a retail one.

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

Well, I've sold out . . . for $53.20. It's not at all historically accurate. But it should look okay . . . I liked the stuff at Odd Bodkin (and the prices are FABULOUS!!) but a)They didn't have anything in the colour i was looking for and there's no time to custom order anything - only about a month to go and 2)I check posts after I orderded the other one . . .

Like I said, the one I ordered, is more goth princess/undies of style but it was the shape, the boning, the colour and the price I was looking for.

But once I have more time, I am definitly experiment on making my own. you've all had such great ideas. Thank you all so much again. I might just keep posting on this thread to ask question once time comes to make the skirt.