"Big girls need big diamonds."- Or what I bought

Jewellery purchases to go with my new dress.. A total of $20 + $3.50 postage.

Quote — Elizabeth Taylor

Shape without form, shade without colour

Colours for my latest project have been decided. I have a stash of beautiful brilliant blue silk dupion which was just waiting for the perfect project. For the embroidered plastron and skirt front I have decided instead to use a contrast fabric. A chocolate silk dupion fabric.

Something like this.... Minus the embroidery and please excuse my bad photoshop skills

Quote- T.S. Eliot

New Dress Project

Well I have been avoiding sewing since November last year, and last night I got the sewing bug renewed. I began on another 1880's outfit.

This one to be precise. I drafted up and cut out the foundation skirt last night. I have not decided on colours, so any input would be awesome!

Pictures will follow soon, now that I am sewing in daylight hours :)

Deadline

The deadline has been met!

Woohoo.. I have now officially finished my early 1880's natural form outfit. I will be wearing it tomorrow and taking photos.

Now to rest my poor hands and then give my sewing machine some much needed TLC. Back soon with pics :)

Mx

Tissot's Bridesmaid

Well I am continuing my sewing frenzy. I received my bodice pattern last night and am currently working on perfecting my toile (mock-up).

I was inspired by this Tissot painting "Bridesmaid" and feel my dress has a similar feel, though without the many ruffles on the skirt.. Hmm whether to add a lace ruffle to the neckline and bows on the cuffs? At the moment my dress is very simple, no embellishments. Any suggestions or thoughts?

Victorian Outfit Update... Again!

Well I took the trip to Melbourne yesterday, FINALLY, and it was awesome. I had such a fun day and the trip to R J Harvey was amazing. I rode in an attendant operated elevator, then walked into the most amazing tailors supplies shop... and I think Mr Harvey actually served me. Anyone else like old-fashioned service? Two rooms filled floor to ceiling with old cardboard boxes (think Ollivander's in HP) and a gigantic tailors bench takes up most of the floor space, and to top it off he wrote my receipt by hand and wrapped up my supplies in brown paper and string. Heaven.

Of course I started my corset as soon as I got home. I've put it together now, and sewn all of the spiral boning. I'd love to hear your comments!

Here is a quick preview

Victorian Outfit Update

Well, I certainly have been busy, and am about to take some pictures for you lovelies while this sits open :)

This is my hat :) Made from a pre-made fascinator base, I then covered it with the pale blue velveteen. I then rolled the velveteen and attached to the edge. I am yet to find flowers I like, so will be keeping an eye out for those.

The layers you see, or don't see here are as follows-

• Chemise and drawers

• Corset, which is still the mock-up- though I have cut out the white and organised a busk and boning

• Petticoat- As before, and still not ironed

• Underskirt that I drafted and sewed yesterday, the waistband is not yet attached and nor is it hemmed, but I am extremely pleased with it.

Yay, I now need to make that trip to Melbourne this week, sew an overskirt (which looks kinda like an apron), complete my corset and bodice. Sounds simple, in reality though...

Update

Well life has been crazy here for the last while. Work, trips to Melbourne, sewing madly, trying to remember to eat, going to the gym and personal training, rock climbing, re-enactment and of course trying to keep the house in some sort of order (an endeavour in which we certainly haven't been entirely successful!)

I shall post some photo's now, so I can then go curl up on the couch and contemplate my Victorian Outfit some more

This moth we found last night in the study, then he came to join us on the couch ^__^

Luke found this little guy on our clothesline about a week ago fixing his web in the dark

And our beautiful lilac bushes are smelling divine at the moment

Re-enactment

Well this is what has been keeping me busy!!

Petticoat done (3-4 hours) and corset in the making. A trip to Melbourne is is order to pick up the necessary notions (such as a busk, boning and grommets) Yay.

Re-enactment

Update time. So I've been working on a few things at the moment which are re-enactment related, both 13th C and 1880's. Yay!

Well first things first. I am making a 13th Century underdress. Nice basic white linen. Geometric shapes. Superb comfort.

Secondly: 1880's. My corset pattern should be delivered tonight so I can get a move on with that. Then comes the underskirt, and borrowing a pattern for that. I CHOSE A COLOUR AND FABRIC. SKY BLUE COTTON. Then I am quite happy with making the skirt, but am terrified about the bodice. But I at least don't have to worry about them until after the underthings are fully completed.

Thirdly: Accessories. 13th C. Well shoes, Luke has the leather for them and could easily make me a pair, but I am still owed a pair which I paid for, so I am still kinda in a touchy mood about that. 1880's accessories... Boots well can't make them, so here is the next best thing, the low heel ones in black. Parasol and fan are coming from the same store, cream Battenberg lace parasol. Last night we came up with an exciting way to overcome our glove issue.... Crochet lace cotton table runner, turned into lace mitts :-) I have ordered a 1887 pocket watch (so pretty) and am waiting for that in the mail. Yay. I am also in the process of working out a hat. I have a pattern and such, it is essentially a small wire frame with velvet ribbon wrapped around it and then sprigs of flowers and a BIG BOW.

So that't where all that is at. So I will hopefully have some pictures for the next update :)

Mxx

Re-enactment

(Design of dress in the bottom right hand corner)

Ok, still waiting on my corset pattern, but have come upon another block in the road. Overdress colour(s). Any suggestions? It is a summer daytime dress.

M xx