Saturday, July 11, 2009
Newstead House Q150
Today, I attended the celebration of Q150 Separation at Newstead House. There's not really much I can say about it all, other than the day ran very well and I had a great time. I am exhausted, but you get that after wearing a corset all day. But I really think that the photos speak for themselves.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Debbie's 1850s Ballgown
It's amazing what some extra time of work can do for progress. I have taken today and tomorrow off on flex to finish doing my July costuming projects. I am hoping that I will be done. I only have a small amount left on my 1830s history alive dress - just the hooks and eyes that do up the back of the dress. My ballgown has started coming together as well. I am really happy with how it is turning out so far, even though I have only just started with the bodice. But lets face it, As long as the undergarments are done, the putting together does not take that long. It's only the trimming that really takes a lot of time. It will be my focus for the whole day tomorrow.
But the main reason for this post is that I have finally finished my mum's ballgown. I finished the skirt a few weeks ago, but I really wanted to get it all done sooner rather than later. I picked the fabric up some time last year at east coast fabrics for about $6 a metre, and when I needed to make my mum a ballgown, I realised that it would be perfect for her. The skirt did take quite some time to make and just about drove me up the wall in the process. I had decided to do a feature on the skirt by creating a detail bias strip. I am really pleased with how it looks, but it was very annoying joining up the boxes so that the fabric matches perfectly. The best thing though, is that it stands out on it's own. I had thought that I might need to sew a bias detail on the top and bottom of the band, but it really does not need it. The bias is quite noticeable without anything to draw it to.
Though the bodice took me the longest to make. Mainly because of the eyelets down the back which had to be completely covered so that they look hand sewn and not show the metal that they are. I love the style of the bodice too. The poofiness of the sleeves and the puffyness of the bertha (the bertha is the decorated poofy bit at the top) really help make the bodice look formal. I was very happy when I got the lace for the bertha too, not only was it not overly expensive, but because there was a join, the lady gave it to me for half price. This is from lincraft too - huge shock. It actually looks a lot better on than it does just lying on my floor.
The weekend upcoming though. Starting with Newstead House on Saturday and then Abbey Medieval on Sunday. I should mention that the Newstead Houseevent is open to the public, so anyone is welcome to come along and see the pretties. I shall be there all day with both my mum and dad in full costume. Oh and of course, Abbey is a huge event, but if you have not heard about it www.abbeytournament.com/home.htm. There is some pretty awesome stuff there. The markets are generally pretty neat too - I am hoping that they guy selling the honey mead will be back this year. So far, I think my brother is coming with me, but that leaves three spots in my car if anyone wants to come along.
But the main reason for this post is that I have finally finished my mum's ballgown. I finished the skirt a few weeks ago, but I really wanted to get it all done sooner rather than later. I picked the fabric up some time last year at east coast fabrics for about $6 a metre, and when I needed to make my mum a ballgown, I realised that it would be perfect for her. The skirt did take quite some time to make and just about drove me up the wall in the process. I had decided to do a feature on the skirt by creating a detail bias strip. I am really pleased with how it looks, but it was very annoying joining up the boxes so that the fabric matches perfectly. The best thing though, is that it stands out on it's own. I had thought that I might need to sew a bias detail on the top and bottom of the band, but it really does not need it. The bias is quite noticeable without anything to draw it to.
Though the bodice took me the longest to make. Mainly because of the eyelets down the back which had to be completely covered so that they look hand sewn and not show the metal that they are. I love the style of the bodice too. The poofiness of the sleeves and the puffyness of the bertha (the bertha is the decorated poofy bit at the top) really help make the bodice look formal. I was very happy when I got the lace for the bertha too, not only was it not overly expensive, but because there was a join, the lady gave it to me for half price. This is from lincraft too - huge shock. It actually looks a lot better on than it does just lying on my floor.
The weekend upcoming though. Starting with Newstead House on Saturday and then Abbey Medieval on Sunday. I should mention that the Newstead Houseevent is open to the public, so anyone is welcome to come along and see the pretties. I shall be there all day with both my mum and dad in full costume. Oh and of course, Abbey is a huge event, but if you have not heard about it www.abbeytournament.com/home.htm. There is some pretty awesome stuff there. The markets are generally pretty neat too - I am hoping that they guy selling the honey mead will be back this year. So far, I think my brother is coming with me, but that leaves three spots in my car if anyone wants to come along.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Norm's 1850s suit - frock coat
This time, it is my Dad's day suit completely finished. I already have the pants, shirt, vest etc done. It was just a matter of making up the frock coat for day wear. Like the pants, I used the Laughing Moon Frock Coat Pattern. There were some stages in making it that I became completely confused, but in the end it worked out well. It even has 4 hidden pockets - 2 in the chest lining and 2 in the tails lining at the back. Not sure how handy the back ones would be, but they are there and I thought it was worth putting them in. Lincraft drove me up the wall today though. I was buying the buttons for the jacket and I needed two different sizes 3/4" for the front and back and 1/2" for the sleeve cuffs. The hardest thing was finding two different size buttons that are the same pattern. And the fact that I needed 6 of each. Stupid shop sells out and does not replace their stock - most of them only had two buttons in each tube. But I prevailed and found some.
It's a huge relief that I have everything ready for this weekend coming. It's not like I was stressed that I would not be ready, but I did want to be done well in advance. It means that I only have a couple of projects left to do for the remainder of July; and I do have Thursday and Friday off work this week to get them done. Two of the remaining three are almost complete and the other one I have barely started. I see much sewing in my future. Oh and I am planning on taking many many photos at everything this weekend. So far, I think Abbey Medieval is still going ahead, but I guess I will have to wait and see. With rain predicated for the rest of the week, it might not go ahead. I shall be mightily annoyed if I don't get to wear my new dress.
It's a huge relief that I have everything ready for this weekend coming. It's not like I was stressed that I would not be ready, but I did want to be done well in advance. It means that I only have a couple of projects left to do for the remainder of July; and I do have Thursday and Friday off work this week to get them done. Two of the remaining three are almost complete and the other one I have barely started. I see much sewing in my future. Oh and I am planning on taking many many photos at everything this weekend. So far, I think Abbey Medieval is still going ahead, but I guess I will have to wait and see. With rain predicated for the rest of the week, it might not go ahead. I shall be mightily annoyed if I don't get to wear my new dress.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Medieval Gown
And another of my July projects is complete.
I know it sounds like I have been knocking all these up in a day each, but I have really been working on them all for quite some time and am just now determined to get them finished. Especially considering that I will start wearing them as of next weekend. This one is my medieval gown for Abbey on the 11th. Now please do not get the wrong idea; I am in no way a reinactor, especially when it comes to medieval. My idea is to get something that looks mostly correct but is flattering to me. And this one is actually based on my LJ user icon. The most accurate part is the fact that I used linen fabrics. Mainly because for a start I can get them relatively cheap, they are rather nice to wear and they look fantastic for this kind of garment.
There are three layers to my outift. The first one is a chemise which is basically a sack with sleeves that is gathered at the neck and wrist with ties. It is made of white cotton voile and you can just see it at the neckline of the outfit. The second layer is the main dress. It is made of brown linen and cotton (I ran out of the linen) and it has long flared sleeves that are decorated with the green trim. This doesn't actually have fastenings of any kind, it just slips on over my head. And the top layer is the hooded robe. It is sleeveless so that you can see the brown sleeves through, and of course hooded. It also laces up the front so that it is easy to slip on and tighten. For my hair I am planning to have long braids using a couple of the hairpieces that I own. I am really happy that it turned out quite nicely, but mostly I am just glad to be done with it. The amount of hand sewing was driving me up the wall and my poor fingers could really do with some moisturiser. My favourite part of wearing this dress though is the train. It is just so pretty following along behind me (not too fun though when people tred on it and strangle me!)
Tha's about all I can really say on this one. The next one that I need to work on for myself is my 1830s gown for History Alive. The bonnet is already done so I don't have to worry about that. And all the petticoats are the ones that I wore to the ball last year. The corset I will be wearing is only new this year (I made it over Christmas). I have already started on the dress and I did a mock up earlier in the year, so it should not take too long to finnish. Thankfully they are all coming along in time for me to wear them. I have to say that I am really getting excited about wearing them.
I know it sounds like I have been knocking all these up in a day each, but I have really been working on them all for quite some time and am just now determined to get them finished. Especially considering that I will start wearing them as of next weekend. This one is my medieval gown for Abbey on the 11th. Now please do not get the wrong idea; I am in no way a reinactor, especially when it comes to medieval. My idea is to get something that looks mostly correct but is flattering to me. And this one is actually based on my LJ user icon. The most accurate part is the fact that I used linen fabrics. Mainly because for a start I can get them relatively cheap, they are rather nice to wear and they look fantastic for this kind of garment.
There are three layers to my outift. The first one is a chemise which is basically a sack with sleeves that is gathered at the neck and wrist with ties. It is made of white cotton voile and you can just see it at the neckline of the outfit. The second layer is the main dress. It is made of brown linen and cotton (I ran out of the linen) and it has long flared sleeves that are decorated with the green trim. This doesn't actually have fastenings of any kind, it just slips on over my head. And the top layer is the hooded robe. It is sleeveless so that you can see the brown sleeves through, and of course hooded. It also laces up the front so that it is easy to slip on and tighten. For my hair I am planning to have long braids using a couple of the hairpieces that I own. I am really happy that it turned out quite nicely, but mostly I am just glad to be done with it. The amount of hand sewing was driving me up the wall and my poor fingers could really do with some moisturiser. My favourite part of wearing this dress though is the train. It is just so pretty following along behind me (not too fun though when people tred on it and strangle me!)
Tha's about all I can really say on this one. The next one that I need to work on for myself is my 1830s gown for History Alive. The bonnet is already done so I don't have to worry about that. And all the petticoats are the ones that I wore to the ball last year. The corset I will be wearing is only new this year (I made it over Christmas). I have already started on the dress and I did a mock up earlier in the year, so it should not take too long to finnish. Thankfully they are all coming along in time for me to wear them. I have to say that I am really getting excited about wearing them.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Norm's 1850s suit - evening jacket
And baby makes three. Well, Daddy really.
In particular, his evening suit. It is now complete. Which makes it my third complete costume. I know it sounds like I am super busy and getting so much done in such a short time, but I have really been working on everything at once and now they are all coming to an end as I complete each piece. This time, it is the evening jacket and the cravat.
The cravat fabric colour is called 'smoke'. I was originally going to go with white but then I saw the silver / grey and I just couldn't resist. I really must thank Donna though for the introduction to Eastern Silk. I put in an order last week and got the smoke silk; along with some blue for an upcoming project and an orange colour called sherbert which I have big plans for a corset in the not too distant future.
Other than my sewing, I made a trip out to East Coast Fabrics and spotlight at Morrayfield this morning where I picked up a couple items that I will be needing to finish all my upcoming sewing. As well as some fabric for my new Lolita jacket that I plan to make in the not too distant future. I am hoping to actually get it made while it is still cold and not end up makeing it just in time for winter next year.
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