You Will Find Your Courage

What have I done? The burning fire
Is closing all around.
I am consumed, am perished -
Ash falling to the ground.
Is this to be my ending
Of the adventure i have led?
What of me will they speak of
After I am dead?

 What have I done? The burning fire
Is eating all my thoughts.
I am screaming, suffocating -
Battles here come to naught.
Is this to be my ending,
Another vast mistake?
Will any good be remembered
When all learn of my fate?

 What have I done? The burning fire
Is tearing me apart.
I am bleeding – can no one hear?
 It's shattering my heart.
Is this to be my ending?
Will any weep for me?
Regret I now my fool's head -
In death I wisdom see.

This is another two-part set. This is Peregrin Took's.

this is actually an incredibly simple one - hardly any pictures or complications. Beyond finding the material, of course - but that's irrelevant.

This is mainly inspired by Pippen and the Palantír. I don't really know why - but..... There's something about that and his character that got stuck.

However, this is also massively inspired by Pippen's eventual role as the Thain of the Shire. (I finally opened the book again to reread it, and one must ALWAYS read the prologues, and opening notes, and basically every single word on the page.)

So I somehow balanced a responsible king - or leader - with the curious Took that caused so much trouble and yet brought so much good.

And youth too, for he's not as old or as dignified as the others.

This gown is the result....

Onen i-Estel Edain, Not All Those Who Wander are Lost

 

The men were still and silent,

The women bowed their heads -

The children were not moving,

Huddled in their beds.

Darkness filled the whole world,

The day would never rise -

Greed corrupted power

And truth gave way to lies.

 

The world was still and silent,

All creatures bowed their heads -

The waters were not moving,

For all things were dead.

Poison filled the whole world,

The day would never rise -

There was no one to answer

The people's broken cries.

 

The hope was still and silent,

The weary bowed their heads -

Despair was all-engulfing,

Following every tread.

Sorrow filled the whole world,

The day would never rise -

Hope came again to mankind

And the sun once more would rise.

 

So this got out of hand rapidly.

 

How did this even begin? There was something about Boromir's Lament, and then I started reading Faramir again, and the reread Web of Treason and Time to Reap and then wanted a Citadel guard uniform and.....  It just went downhill from there, didn't it....

 

Well, this is likely going to go on for a little bit. There are a LOT of characters I can do this for and quite a bit of styles to adapt. My apologies to the Reader.....

 

This is - in the situation where the opening picture did not clue you in - Aragorn's gown. Except, because that just sounds horribly weird, it's Ellessar's gown. Which fits better because it is inspired by and made for the Elfstone.

 

This whole thing started because I have a green stone on a delicate silver chain that I named the Ellessar - and I got thinking about how I'd make a gown for Aragorn.....  As I said: this got out of hand.

 

As far as I know, the Elfstone is not shown in any of the books, and I've really not studied the books recently to tell you if there's a description. That being said, the picture on the right looks well enough for me.

 

It's not ACTUALLY featured in the design, but given that it is the original inspiration I thought it should be SOMEWHERE.

 

 

 

The picture on the left is the actual inspiration for the gown. I'll probably play with it later and see if I can make it...more green - but for now, it works.

 

That is the character of Aragorn that I am portraying: the King, the Ranger, the warrior, the leader, the Dunadain..... An old, regal, yet simple man.

 

I probably failed miserably - but! These are for women! And from High Fantasy! I'm allowed to make them a LOT more feminine....

 I also took a lot of inspiration for this from Arwen and the Eldar.

Sensibly, given he was raised in Rivendell.....

By the way, what IS Arwen's mourning veil made of? It's so pliable, and yet still sheer.....

I want one.

Basically, I want to live in Middle Earth. Or any other Fantasy world.

Why can't I?

Reality is dull....





Anyway!

I also took a lot of inspiration from the Argonath - from their robes and whatnot.

Inspiration for the neckline and decorations came from Aragorn himself - from the garments he wore for the Council of Elrond.

Which is a gorgeous costume, really.

Yes, I say that about most of Lord of the Rings costumery.

Is that a word?



So there's the inspiration.

Really, after Faramir, everything's so simple.....  It's diconcerting.....

Construction at least I know.

This gown I had already basically planned out, and THEN I began documenting it. So.....it's different.

The Ellessar Gown is inspired as much by the Thirties formal wear as it is by Aragorn.

The dress on the left here is perfect if it were solid satin, and if the neckline were high. And if it had sleeves - but we'll leave that for the moment.

The dress on the right is also excellent. Excluding the pleats or seams on the front of the skirt, and the sort of cape hanging behind, that would be what the front view is.

The rest of the gown comes almost straight from Aragorn's Council garments.

The neckline is EXACTLY the same.

The sleeves for this outfit are fitted, and are made of two parts: the sleeve of the main dress which ends at the elbow, and the sleeve of the underdress which ends at the wrist.

Now! On to construction.

These posts just do NOT cooperate with me....

They are too long, or too short, or all over the place......  I don't know why I do this.

I'd say that we're going to start from the top, but I've already posted Aragorn's Council picture here TWICE, and it hasn't changed, so....  We'll skip the picture this time.

The high collar itself is black velvet. The undershirt, or underdress - if you look closely, there's the embroidered collar, and further down there's a deep v-neck and then the velvet turns darker. Well, the lighter velvet would be the undershirt in white satin. The gown itself is simple, emrald green satin.

this satin is definitely NOT matte, although some weight is still necessary.

The overdress' sleeve ends at the elbow and is trimmed with black velvet. The underdress' sleeve ends at the wrist and is cuffed with black velvet overlaid with silver lace.

The v-neck is also trimmed in silver lace.

The white undress' sleeves are also overlaid with a delicate green lace, and the white satin at the neckline is overlaid with a white lace.

Lastly, the sheer black robe that hangs from the shoulders of the gown is made of a layer of sheer black cloth, and the same green lace lain over the sleeves.

Fear No Darkness, Shieldmaiden of Rohan

Question not your station,

Hold your head up high.

For you it is to smile,

To comfort with each lie.

You are the one who watches,

Who prays for safe return.

Who will guard the homegates

If you leave them to burn?

 

Speak not against your portion,
Hold your head up high.
For you it is to shelter,
To watch while others die.
You are the one that's weeping,
The one that mourns the lost.
Who will sing for the buried
If you go to pay the cost?

 

Answer not for action,
Hold your head up high.
For you it is to live on,
To never even try.
You are the one that's silent,
You bear your own regrets.
Who will recall your service?
The good all men forget.

 

 

Yeah.... Anyway! If I make anything for Faramir, Eowyn's half invariably follows shortly after.

 

Buess what? The Reader gets to be subject to another long, rambling, picture-filled post that's absolutely useless to everyone else!!

 

This is for Eowyn and Theoden mostly, although Rohan sort of got mixed in as well. Not nearly to the extent it was for Faramir though.  This is basically just Eowyn and Theoden.

Alright then! To begin with inspiration! Let's start with the obvious, shall we?

 

This is actually the main inspiration. The colours, the theme, the style.... Basically everything comes from this picture.

 

I did say Theoden had his part too.....  It's hardly my fault she has very. brown. costumes.

 

Except for the Victory Gown, and I couldn't find any good pictures from the film of it.

 

 

 

 

 theodred's Funeral is the other major inspiration.

I ADORE her costume in that scene. Just ignore it's a funeral, alright? She's sad at basically any point.

But the colours! And the hair! And the fashion! And! And!

Funeral Gown

For the longest time, due to the design of the collars, I actually thought that her Funeral Gown and her Green Gown were actually one and the same - thankfully not, because I don't like the Green gown and this looks much better!

So! Two main points of inspiration.

On a side not, I really do love her hairstyle in that scene. And it is almost ridiculously easy to do if you know rope braids. Well, more or less. Those worked best - I couldn't find a picture for the back of her head so I made most of it up based off of Celtic knots.

I love research.

That being said! Back to clothing design.

 The picture on the left is just because she DOES wear the red - and I think the belt came in later.....  I'm not that good of an artist, so....

the picture on the right, however, is what I want the gown to basically be. Except, with a little more colour given that it's a royal gown and not a mourning gown. But, stately - like that.

 And the source of the majority of the embroidery and trim on the gown, as well as the skirt design.


Alright! Inspiration done.

It's really a lot more straightforward than Faramir's Gown was - at least there are better full-length pictures available for Rohan's characters.

The majority of the shape and style does come from Eowyn's funeral gown. The main difference is that the robe is done away with, and there is a visible underskirt. Other than that, and the colours, it's much the same.

The skirt is the same as the one on this orange - red dress over on the left. In fact, if the bodice had a high neckline - a high collar - it would look exactly the same. The underskirt is a dark red, and the overdress midnight blue.

 The dress has a train much like Eowyn's white dress. Just barely there.



 The sleeves are fitted down to the wrists - no bag sleeves. They look nice, they just never turn out well.

No.....

And I ran out of room here too - I'll ramble about sleeves later. Below this mess.




This on the left is the collar.  It will probably be made in a very, very dark red.

Underneath, wrapping around the collar in much the same way the green does in the faery dress below, is a sheer red material that will cross over the arms (basically just like the faery dress) and fall to a robe in the back.


















I did say that picture did a lot.

The v-neck, embroidered collar will be just the same on the gown. It will barely peek out below the crocheted collar, but still.

The cuffs of the sleeves will also be the same, although more fitted. A little above the elbows, there is another band of embroidery, but the sleeves remain fitted.

The embroidery along the edges of the overskirt will ALSO be incorporated. The waist is cinched with a dark red belt.

Alright then! Almost done!

isn't this fun? I think so.

Now, from the top again.

You've seen the collar before, and it would probably be in dark red. Perhaps in a dark gold - but not that close to my face. I look terrible then. Dark blue or even black would also work depending on the depth of the blue velvet.

The overdress and the sleeves will all be made of dark blue velvet. A heavy material, but still rich.

The underskirt and the material beneath the embroidered cuffs and collars and waists is dark red velvet. Again, heavy.

I had thought about brocade, but I didn't want this to be Tudorian. That's just....almost, but still so far off. Velvet works better.


Well, that's about all of the cloths! No, wait - the cloak, or robe. The ornamental whatever you want to call it.


It's organza again - it's the only sheer cloth I know that's somewhat durable and yet still easily bends and folds. Simply sheer cloth tends to be.....ick. Stiff and unravels SO quickly.




The edge of the sheer robe will be covered with the lace below. That lace - or at least that pattern of embroidery - is going to reach a foot up on the skirt of the underskirt.









This next part is rather....confusing?

Rohan is based on Old England. More or less. The embroidery especially reflects this.

This is the embroidery around the wrist cuff of the sleeve. The large part will be on the outside of the cuff, facing away from the body; and the slender parts will fasten underneath. It's not like Theoden's, but it's more feminine and this is INSPIRED by anyway. It looks better.

 

This is the bottom of the embroidered v-neck on the overdress' bodice. It's also basically the only visible part. How it continues up from there is...undecided and probably would be a mixture of the other samples.

 



This is the basic embroidery or trim at the waistline of the overdress, and around the edge hem of the overdress.

This is the lace that will trim the edge of the collar - I'll slightly adapt the pattern, likely.

And this is the embroidery that will go around the upper arm of the sleeve.

Stern as Steel, Daughter of Kings

 

 

 

 Who is this man? He seems so fair -
Like one come hence from yore.
He walk is stately, his carriage humble -
He has learnt from those before.
He is a man to be admired,
Who learns when he has failed
But only falls to rise again,
Will not himself be hailed.

 

Who is this man? Upon his head

Rests no ancient crown.
Rather his head is stained with sweat,
Knees stained from kneeling down.
His clothes are torn, his wealth he gives -
Others will he clothe.
He will stoop where others scorn -
Serve where others loathe.

 

Who is this man? He seems so fair,
And yet a common man.
He is a lord, and yet no one -
He leads because he can.
There is no pride within his heart,
Another would he praise.
For his service do him men hail,
His loyalty men praise.

 

 

When I spoke of doing a post on Faramir, this is NOT what I had in mind. However, I've never quite cooperated with myself.....  thus! Another dull, rambling post that only I find any use in.

 

I design clothes. Not official - goodness, no one would want them! My fashion is rather outdated. However, I've no patterns and make my own clothes from my own designs. I've made Barbie clothes almost my whole life, and have always drawn out the outfit first, and then sewn it. More recently, I draw out the costumes for my books, or outfits I would love to make at some point.

 

This post is a post of what I would like to make.

 

It is called Faramir's Gown, because it's inspired by him, and Numenor, and the Kings, and Gondor - all of which are basically him. Aragorn fits into a different category - he's not quite Gondorian. His raising by the Eldar probably has a bit to do with that.....  But anyway! I designed a gown.

 

Again.

 

This is my initial inspiration. Obviously. For whatever reason, gondor is equated with the uniform of the tower guard - of silver embroidery on black velvet. Thus, the colours of the gown are black and silver.

 

I should warn you that my tastes when I've my own will tend to be much darker - and Lord of the Rings is perfect for this palette.

 

So, black and silver. And I tried to find an example of this..... It failed miserably.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The colours of the one on the left are better fitting, but at least the one on the right shows the embroidery clearly. And I could have gone into Photoshop and sharpened and contrasted it - but I'm too lazy. Besides, I was sketching the gown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obviously, Faramir. However, the reason that outfit (although it was first on my mind, but I usually picture him in black velvet, so....) does not feature first in inspiration is because I COULDN'T FIND IT!!  Which irked me immensly. But naught I could do for it. I do love the costumes in Lord of the Rings.

 

That would be an absolutely splendid job - designing costumes? That would be...heaven. Except, of course, again, I wouldn't fit there either.

 

And I know Boromir's outfit in that scene is more red and green, but the colouring on that picture is just...too perfect. And I needed SOMETHING of Boromir in it. It was about this point the gown devolved into a tribute to the Sons of Gondor. But Faramir is my favourite, and so the gown stays his.

 

I did finally find a picture of his coronation costume, which is barely visible.  And it rather fits Rohan better. What with all of the embroidery.

 

However, it did serve its purpose and I got the cloak and the underskirt decided. I did have the sleeves done as well, but those morphed when I began gather images again.

 



 

And then there's Denethor. Well, I needed SOME example of the colours!!

 

That's basically all he's good for, really. Well, in this. He is an interesting character in his own right - intruiging to study.

 

Have I spent too much time in Middle Earth? Yes, probably. Why else would I be designing a gown from it?

 

Maybe I should do a wedding gown too.....  But that would be all white - that would be dull.

 

 

 

So there's the inspiration for this thing.

 

I knew it would be black and silver. It would have a fitted bodice, and likely a half circle skirt at least. Or a full circle skirt with a train in the back - much like Arwen's mourning gown. There would also be an underdress of white satin, and an overdress of sheer black organza. And, of course, the cloak. Alright, now that I had that idea, how to share it with another given my drawing skills or nil?

 

Find pictures. Right. Besides, it's not like I've ANYTHING else to do.....  HA!!

 

This is the initial shape of the dress. That's the perfect skirt too. The neckline, of COURSE is too low - but the sleeves and skirt and general silhouette are perfect. As is the colouring if it were black instead of navy blue.

 



 

 

The peach dress on the right is a horrid colour - I did tell you I liked the darker tones - but the sleeves were....too much to pass up on. They would definitely be part of the sheer overdress as the underdress and main dress have fitted sleeves - but still. The overdress' sleeves, do NOT go to the wrist, instead they end at the elbow and the main dress and underdresses sleeves continue.

 

 

Now, these two just...fit perfectly. the high lace collar on the right would have to fall down further in the front - the V must reach down further, but the white last of the dress on the left would be silver and edge around the black high collar.

 

The sleeves on the left dress, however, are perfect. Although the main dress' sleeves would be wrist lenth not three-quarter.

 

This is the perfect example of what the undersleeves will be. The material will be white satin, but the black lace on the edge will come up over the hands. That embroidery is also rather fitting.

 

I'm undecided as to whether or not the maindress opens in the front to reveal the underdress. Or perhaps it's cut at a higer hem to allow the underdress to peek through? I don't know yet....

 

I've only made the basic sketches for this gown - I've still the finished drawing, and then hopefull a back and side view. I'm never good at drawing sides......

 

 

Now, I suppose it's a question of whether I include the fabrics and trims in here this time as well?

 

This is just a massively over-pictured post, isn't it......  Well! I did say it would be useless to everyone else!