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::Updates::

August 06, 2005 Costume & Web-Update - It's official - our online store is now up and running! We have finally started adding our available costumes to our new business webpage. Over the next month, it will be filled with numerous costumes for sale. So far we only have a few up online, but we are working steadily to get everything uploaded for you. :-) We're very excited! To check out what we have so far, please visit our new link at StrikeDaekins.com Please direct any sales related questions to: costumes@strikedakins.com - we'll be happy to answer them for you.

As for web-updates around the Middle-earth and beyond pages, we have lots of updates here, too. (Man, I need a break!) We've added an entire new section to the list of costumes here at BrandyleafCostumes. Our dance costumes have been taking priority here lately, so they have their own section. I added Brynn's Butterfly costume, and two of my new ones: Ode to Autumn as well as a more simple belly-dance outfit.
It's been over a year since I have done any work on a LOTR costume, and I think that dry-spell will be ending here soon. I plan on actually sitting down and working on the Goldenhall Gown later this fall. So check back often, a lot will be changing around here. Next weekend we're off to the PA Ren Faire, more photos to be added. I still have to get the Celtic Festival and Columbia Arts Fest uploaded....then Maryland is right around the corner. Arrgghhh.
Our troupe is getting back together for a few weekends to dance there. We're really looking forward to this upcoming season! Cheers!

May 10, 2005 Costume & Web-Update -  OK, watch all the debris still lurking around this place, I'm still remodeling. :-) Thanks again to Kat who made the graphics for my original version of the page. I hope you don't mind, Kat, but I decided to make my own graphics with our editing software, I just wanted to make the site look a little different. Also, thanks to Long Playing Computer Graphics for the gripping beasts located on the main page in addition to my graphics. New costumes, hey! There's a pretty big block of costume updates, once I have these taken care of I can move onto the Scarby trip (prepare thyself for tons many pictures, mwuahahaha!) So far, I've added Brynn's Marian gown, her Gypsy dress, my Belly-dance outfit, as well the page I've been promising for the 'King Arthur' gown. The photo links on the main page do not work right now, so don't freak because they won't open. It's not your computer, I just haven't finished cleaning those pages up yet. I will get to those tomorrow after my dance class.

March 24, 2005 Costume & Web-Update -  As promised, I got around to the posting of the new photos of the Scotch/Highland outfit we took last weekend. There are lots, we tend to be shutterbugs here. :-) Already the closet in my new room is bulging...and it looks like there's been an explosion in my room spewing random fabrics, snowboards, and now hockey sticks and gloves all over the floor. (We had a little "basement hockey" revisited...*L*) The snowboard is dumped on the floor because we through with snow and I'm taking the sucker to storage in the morning, and as for the fabric...well...I'm a costumer, there will always be random fabric scattered, right? OK, enough about random winter sports and explosive fabrics, this supposedly is a costume site. (Actually, it's whatever I feel like blabbering about! j/k)
We are officially starting the costume business at the end of April 2005, and I have been madly designing and working on upcoming items. For a small preview, I've added a page with a couple of photos of a "practice" top - a belly dance top I came up with using material I had on hand. (On the main page under "~Miscellaneous... ~"
One more costume note: we finally got around to taking in-progress photos of the 'Blue Battle Gown' and when I find some time, I'll be posting the page. Last weekend we were too busy hiking, shooting film, and going to the Tinsmith concert. (Which was wicked fun, by the way!)

March 17, 2005 Costume & Web-Update -  I finished up a new costume this week. It didn't turn out anything like I wanted it to, but, that's been resolved. (It's all mentioned on the page.) Added the page with several pics (Red Highland Outfit) you can find the link on the home page under "Renaissance, Medieval, & Celtic ...."
The 'King Arthur' gown has been temporarily put on hold as I don't have a lot of time to work on it before we head to Texas....sooo...it's one of those "I'll get it done eventually" things right now. *g* We've been working on several other costumes as well, Brynn is still working on her Celtic Riding outfit, as well as now Marian's Wedding Dress from one of the Robin Hood movies. (It looks excellent so far, Brynn!)
Well, just thought I'd post a few updates for St. Patrick's Day. Hope everyone had a kickin' great time today!! As for Brynn and I, we're looking forward to the Tinsmith concert Saturday. :-) Cheers!

February 28, 2005 Web-Update -  We added a new costume to the main page...my dad's variation of a Santa costume I made for him this past December. If you want to laugh, you should check that page out. ;-)

February 25, 2005 Costume-Update - I started work on the  Blue Battle Dress from King Arthur on Wednesday. It's nearly done (can't believe it!) I'll try to have it finished by next week. Brynn has started work on a Celtic Riding Outfit that she has designed herself, and the bodice for that is also nearly done. It looks awesome so far!

February 18, 2005 Web-Update - OK, so I've been threatening to add pics of the Irish Wench Outfit for quite some time now, right? Well, I made good on that threat, the page is up and running, the link can be found on the main page. Lots of pics. Cheers!

February 11, 2005 Web-Update - The photo gallery for the Rum Shift of the Black Pearl Gown is now up and running. The link to the page is listed in the Black Pearl Gown page.
Also, I'm still working on finishing up the Irish outfit, I may have it done by the end of the weekend. Page and pics to come soon!

January 30, 2005 Web-Update- Added about 10 new pics of the Ancient Celt Dress to the page. Wish I had the energy to do more updates, but c'est la vie. I will *try* to do some more updating later this week!

January 27, 2005 Web-Update- Yeah, yeah, I've abandoned this page as of late. Real life got in the way, but I'm back doing costuming again, as well as updating the bloody site. I took down that wretched Jack Sparrow costume from the site, I'm sorry, but it just had to go. *shudders* It was awful. I've added a few new finished costumes in it's place to the main page. The Ancient Celtic Dress, Phantom of the Opera, and the Jury-rigged Pirate. Also, I have started researching the Blue Battle Gown from 'King Arthur', and I have the material for it. I'll post an in progress page once I get started. More to come!

January 27, 2005 - Costume Update- A page with photos will hopefully be added of the Irish Lass outfit later on this weekend. I got sick of this dress right after I made it last summer, and stuffed it in the back of the closet. Now, I've taken it out and tweaked it and have gone from hating it to not being able to wait to wear it. Also started work on my Punk-Celtic duster. Been getting too many ideas from Hot Topic, lol! I hope to have that done soon as well.

September 3, 2004 - Posted several new photos of the Black Pearl Gown as well as a few in progress photos of the black underlayer. More to come soon, I'm trying to finish this costume up by the weekend. I don't know WHAT is taking forever with this, I have to get motivated.
Finished up my Scottish Highlands outfit for the Ren Fest last weekend, it was SO much fun to wear, though the weather was wicked hot. We had a blast though, and we're going again next weekend. I'm torn; I can't decided on the Highland outfit or the Black Pearl gown...any feedback? Cheers!

July 19, 2004 - Finally got around to making an "Updates" page! Updated the Black Pearl page, there are a few more current photos in there as well as more info. Added the 'Cats' link to the main page, that costume section is up an running now. I have also started to work on the Irish Wench outfit again, photos and a page coming soon.