JAFA Progress entry #14

It's been a productive weekend already. I am really striving to make headway on my late georgian gowns. The first step after getting the stays, pockets and false rump made up, was to make inways into the petticoats. I decided to go with two. You can't see the underneath one in the photo, but it is white. The outer petticoat is made of what was left of my $2/metre 150cm wide cotton. It's actually a bit fuller at the back than the other one, and the idea is that it will slightly show through the white voile skirt to give it a creamy cast.

Now that the petticoats are done, it is onto the dresses themselves.

JAFA Progress entry #13

Finally some more substantial progress to show. My ballgown is complete. Just another part photo for you lot, but I can tell you about it. It is made of white silk dupion and lemon yellow crinkle chiffon. It draws up slightly under the bust in the front, and then laces in the back with my lovely hand sewn eyelets. I am supremely pleased that this one is now complete, it means that I can finally make more progress on my late georgian gowns as I can set up my mannequin with the correct undergarments.

Only two more gowns to go.... *one very happy costumer*

JAFA Progress entry #12

Okay, so it's not really a progress report per se, but it does have to do with JAFA. I have been hunting for historically appropriate shoes for regency that I am able to dance in. Most of the current ballet flat shoes are appropriate, but they tend to fall off my feet when I dance. And then today I went to Wittner. I got these most perfect lace up flat shoes. They don't really look like much, but they are exactly what I was after, and they are leather too, so they should last for quite some time. It would have been great it they had some lightly coloured ones, but it was either black or white with polka dots.

Now I just need to find some form of footwear that works for my Georgian outfits. It may come down to me wearing my 1940s style shoes as they at least have the correct heel shape and height. I foresee some internet shoe hunting tonight.

JAFA Progress entry #11

I know it's not much but I finnished one of my reticules. I intended to be making all my matching reticules as the very last of my projects as I can do without them. But this one I actually did want to get done. It is of a different style and quite a bit bigger than my regular reticules. But the reason I did this was so that I would have something that would look slightly period correct to store my camera accessories in when I am in costume, ie flash, second lens.

It is made from some white dupion silk that I had left over and lined with white cotton voile. It is supposed to be very simple and plain so that it will go with anything. But at least that is one less thing that I have to worry about now that it's done.

JAFA Progress entry #10

After a sewing day at kasmith1970 today, I have made more progress on my next JAFA project. Namely, my blue silk bonnet to match my blue silk spencer. I decided to go with something very simple so as to carry the colour through but not to detract from the prettiness and focus that I want the spencer to be. I used one of the timely tresses patterns to work this one up, and to carry through the embroidery, I added a little on each side. It's the only decoration on the bonnet in fact. I also decided after trying it on that I like how it sits without ties, so I am not going to add any of them either.

Now onto getting my ballgown done.