Sunday, December 27, 2009

And another Christmas passes

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas day. Ours was spent inside with the house locked up and the aircon blasting. As usual, we do Christmas lunch, this year I cooked a pear and cranberry stuffed turkey, veggies and salad. We had a fantastic morning, and I got some wonderful gifts. Spending money for my trip to Japan in February, a new jug to replace my broken one and the book "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" to name a few. But what I love most about Christmas is picking a fantastic gift for someone.

My brother and I gave my dad an Art Nouveau mirror which he loves and this year I made quite a few gifts, so I though that I would share photos now that they have been given. My friend Sarah got the Christmas faerie cross-stitches...

And the rest were for my mum. Firstly I finished her regency day outfit by completing her bonnet and spencer. I adore the colour of the silk that we chose and it matches really well with the dress. And lastly, I made her a new Victorian corset. Her first one was always slightly too big, so I took the pattern in a bit at the bust, waist and length and remade it for her. I even added some steel bones into it this time (my first ones). She tried it on for me this morning and I am very pleased with how it looks.



Sunday, December 13, 2009

Kaleidoscope Soiree

Last night I attended the Kaleidoscope Dancers end-of-year Soiree. As it was rather warm (putting it mildly) last night, very few of the attendees dressed up. But by now you should know that I never pass up the opportunity to dress up. Of course, this called for a new gown. To be specific, a regency evening gown. It also meant that I needed to get motivated and make my mum's first regency gown as well.

Mum's gown is made out of a cotton fabric and with a silk ribbon underbust tie. The gown is made from a Sense and Sensibility pattern, using the size supplement. We bought the fabric on sale at spotlight earlier this year, and it has just been sitting around waiting for an excuse to be made up. I did add an extra row of stitching above where the skirt is attached for a gathering ribbon. It helps to make the gown fit nicely and also gives me my lacing ribbon at the back. Now, I know that the eyelets are not period correct but because the fabric is so soft, I could not get my machine to do nice ones. And I was overly proud of Mums hair too - hello rag curls. So glad that she has started growing her hair out.





As for my gown, I decided on the design from a fashion plate I found somewhere. It is made of cotton, lace and purple georgette. I took me two patterns, some butchering and a bit of guess work, but I finally got the pattern sorted out, and I am very pleased with how it turned out. I especially love the gathering on the back and the train. The lace sleeves also help to make it cooler, but before I wear it the next time I really need to make a petticoat.

That makes one gown ready for the Jane Austen Festival.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Proclamation Day 2009

Yesterday evening at twilight, I attended the Proclamation Day (official 150th Birthday of Queensland) celebration at Newstead House with the Kaleidoscope Dancers. Since the weather has been so very stinky hot lately I decided that I would wear my regency gown instead of crinoline (Way too many layers in this heat). I got to wear my new regency short corset and I dressed up my outfit with some Christmas ribbons. Oh and my Dad decided to dress up too.

Unfortunately I am a little disappointed with my short corset. I normally wear a 12C size bra, but when sewing, my bodices are always a 14 in commercial patterns. So I thought to make the size 14 with a B cup because I have heard that the pattern bust cups can run large. I took it in slightly at the centre front, but that meant I couldn't fit in the second piece of boning, and the thing still laces closed. Grrr. I think that my next one will be a size 12.