CC Countdown!

I starched all my petticoats again, since the summer heat has taken it's toll on the almost 4-month old starching job I did. They stand up again! :) I just need to get them all ironed up nice.


I'm almost completely done with the red dress. I spent today fiddling with the bodice and getting the skirt underway. I got the neckline pinned. I'm not completely happy with the way it turned out in the end, but as a first attempt at not only this specific technique, but also a first for the period.


And another view of the pinning...


There are some fitting issues, but they're mostly hidden. My list of dislikes:
-I hate the back of the sleeves. I didn't cut a deep enough curve to fit my armscye
-I'm dissapointed that the neckline doesn't lie as flat as I'd like it to. Steaming the pleats helped a bit
-I wish I had cut the skirt a smidge fuller. I didn't realize how poufy all my skirts would end up after all the starching.
-I cut the back of the bodice up a smidge (ok, more like 1- 1 1/2") too high, the skirt gaps...unfortunatly, I'll have to add hooks and eyes to the skirt and bodice to keep the gaposis to a minimum.
-I made the back of the neckline a bit too big, and I have to keep the shoulders pulled down quite tightly to keep it looking like it's supposed to.
-The bottom of the bodice ended up with a weird slight flare at the bottom, so it looks kinda weird. :(

I'm not wearing my corset, and it's not pulled very tight, but you kinda get the idea. I originally was going to tack up the sleeves for a layered pouf, but I think I like it better without. Also, I tried adding lace to the neckline, but I wasn't too fond of it, so I think I'll leave the lace for the sleeves only.


I tacked the neckline pleats with a weird reverse blind stitch I kinda made up. (I'm sure it's an actual stitch -- I've just never used it before, and I don't really know what to call it!)


Neckline half the way done...


Bodice after tacking, clipping, and steaming the neckline.


I got my hairpieces and headwear done! I need to remember to dye my hair before I go!


I am not sure if I'm going to wear the hairpieces with the bonnet or not, but I think it is kinda cute!


I put on the whole kit 'n kaboodle this afternoon, but I forgot to take pictures. I'm sure I'll be putting it all on at least once more before CC, so I'll try to remember to take some pictures!

Things I need to do (X is finished!!!)

Underclothes/Accessories:
Wash gutchies
make drawers (?)
X-sew buttons on petticoats
X-starch petticoats
iron petticoats
X-Make hairpieces
X-Wash shawls
X-Wash cap

Red Velvet:
X-Tack neckline and sleeves
Make lace inserts (sleeves)
CURRENT - Sew skirt

Purple cotton:
Sew on hook & eyes
Starch dress

Weekend Sewing not-so Frenzy

I had originally planned on working on my stays and drafting up a bustle pattern. Seeing as it is now 3pm on Sunday, I'm not so sure how the whole plan will work out. Yesterday, my sis came over in the morning, then I went to the movies with mah hubby, then we ended up working in the yard for the rest of the afternoon. With going to bed early, I got next to no sewing done yesterday.

I did, however, get to finish the other front piece of my effigy corset!

Today, I got the back piece cut out and the lines all drafted out. After posting, I'll start on sewing the lines. *blah* I am really excited to see this project to completion, but my fingers are turning to hamburger.

Ok, on to the pics!

Starting to look more corset-y, no? :)


Lines, lines, lines!


I really am quite excited to start getting all the boning in, but I'm making myself finish *all* the casings first.

Fabric/stash!

I finally snapped some photos of the new stash fabric....

These two are probably my favorite, and most appropriate....


This one is quite pretty. It has an odd streak of blue through the ground, though.


I love the pattern and the color. Again, the ground is kind of funky. It's stripey!


Again with the strange stripes in the ground. It's by far the most noticable, but at $3/yd, I couldn't pass it up!


I finally figured out how to store all my boning zip ties!

CCRVD - update

I've been slowly plugging away at this, but have not been posting much of it. I got the sleeves on (which I'm not totally thrilled with), and the armscye bound. Still left to do on the bodice:
-tack ruching/tucks on neckline
-tack ruching on sleeves
-attach ribbons to sleeves

Not looking very impressive, but there it is.


Binding on the armscye....


The pleating on the sleeve cap. I totally fail at this sleeve. I like the front OK, the back is horriffic.


Inside view of the sleeve...gathered to the sleeve lining to create *pouf*


Headdress before addition of velvet 'ribbons'.

Effigy Corset Update

I have the channels sewn on the front left side. I'm about 1/4 the way through the right hand side, then I'll move onto the back.

I'm not that worried about it being too loose now...I wore the corset I based these off of all day for MMM, and was comfy, even after a big huge meal. I wouldn't want them much tighter, though! (I did overlap the front a smidge though.)

All the channels sewn......(The large channel is based on the Effigy corset, that has the same thing. The angles are slightly off, I think it's because I'm much larger than the original, and the bust/waist ratios are drastically different)


And the front two pieces. (The side back seams are actually more angled than they show in the picture!)


I hope I will still want to make the 18th c. stays when I'm through with these!

Pictures from MMM

Sis bein' all cuteness!


Listening to Mistress Bethany


Sis and I performing for the Bardic Championship

(BTW, I'm wearing my brannew Apprentice belt, and the lovely warm muff from Mistress Bethany!!)

Catherine of Cleves Book of Hours (Thank you, dragonfly_sidhe!)

Last week, dragonfly_sidhe came over, and let me paw through all her beautiful books. (Just one more thing to be insanely jealous over her!)

My project for the upcoming Scribal A&S series is going to be the pea pod illumination I've been blathering about lately. (Thanks again to dragonfly_sidhe for taking pictures, and then emailing them to me!!)

Aren't they just the cutest ever, though?! The peas themselves are gold, and the little sticks that they are twined around are painted to look like they're piercing the parchment. Just all 'round coolness. I don't think I'll be doing the miniature, since the overall size is going to be quite small, and I do need to leave room for text. (Since, ya know, people tend to get verbose with their scroll wording. (Also in the same book is some cool examples of multiple point fonts on one page...I want to do that on something someday!)



Also, bonus future project -- a GOAT!! Isn't he the cutest?! 2nd scroll down the line is SO going to have a goat.

Last of the cupcake updates, and more RV CC updates

Cupcakes all packaged up and ready to go....


A little over 2/3 of the cupcakes set out on the table...


And some closeups...


I ran out of batteries before I took any more pictures of the wedding site...it was beautiful! Just like a miniature Moroccan palace! I'm sure they're on the web somewhere, I'll post links when I find some pictures!

I finally worked a smidge on my red velvet dress. I just barely finished the bottom binding. As far as the bodice goes, all I need to do is finish the collar (tacking down and pressing the pleats) and making the sleeves. I don't think the skirt will be that big of a deal....I'm leaning towards the separate skirt idea.



My overall to do list is:
-stitch belt for purple dress
-attach hooks for purple dress
-make sleeves for red dress
-tack neckline for red dress
-make skirt for red dress
-make headpiece for red dress
-make ringlets for purple dress
-starch petticoats

Weekend Plans Go Awry...

I was SO SICK yesterday, I spent the entire day on the couch, sleeping my life away. *ugh* I'm glad I made the frosting well before I got sick, or I would have 200 cupcakes worth of frosting to throw away. I still have not frosted the cupcakes, I'll be doing that this afternoon just in time for the wedding tonight. I also have my family bbq in a couple of hours, hopefully I'll make it through the rest of the day!

As I was making tea this morning, I spied a fox walking along the ditch in the field across the road! I grabbed my phone as quick as I could, but he all but dissapeard behind the large bush in the center of the picture. Nature is good and all that, as long as they leave my widdle puppies alone. (Kinda makes me nervous)


Holly sent me a picture of the jewelry for my CC dress.....OMG I am so excited! (Yay Holly!)

Upcoming 18th C. project...

I think I want to do the lavendar one first...since...that's like...my favorite color...and stuff!

:D

Even More Red Velvet Dress

I spent the entire weekend on the couch, alternating between working and handsewing. Both were quite productive.

I got all the hooks sewn on, the lining tacked down, and the thread bars worked. (Picture on the left is the hooks sewn in with the lining tacked, middle is the bars...light flecks at the edge, with the lining not tacked in yet, right is the outside of the bodice, with the hooks all done up)


Here's the inside of the bodice with the piping tacked down at the neckline, and the hooks and bars finished....


This picture is pretty lame, my camera was not focusing well. Anyway, this is the inside of the piping at the neckline....


And the outside of the neckline.


And here's me wearing the bodice, before the piping was finished. (Ignore my giant arms. ugh) there's a slight issue with gaposis at the back apparantly. I couldn't see it in the mirror! (I may be tacking a little flap of velvet to the hook side to give just a smidge more coverage in the back.


I conned Holly into braving all the pins so I could futz around with the neckline. I think it will probably turn out OK in the end, but it is going to require a lot of futzing and a log of tacking and steaming to get it to set the way I want it. After watching the Xmas Dr. Who on BBC last night, I think that there is a more-different-other better way to get the look of the portrait neckline, but this will work as well.


And now I'm wanting to make the Dr. Who dress too!!!! (I even have the *perfect* gold silk too! Dang, I need more venues to wear these gowns to!!!!

Here's the Doctor Who dress I was referring to earlier...i'm totally in love with it.......and not just because it's red!! The detailing on the bodice and neckline is amazing. (This picture isn't the best, but it's the only one I could find on the net!