Monday, July 8, 2013

What I've been up to...

While this blog is more of a place for finished projects and tutorials than daily ramblings (for which you should be grateful for), the complete silence of the moment isn't what I want for it either! I do have a few more Williamsburg projects to share (two jackets, a banyan thing and a shortgown of questionable authenticity (linen lined in wool!) but it was for just around the house...), but I've been so engrossed in current projects that I haven't updated.

First--and this project is actually finished--a beaded 1920s dress. Here's a preview of some of the beading on the bodice

DSC_5887

It's tambour beading with size 15/0 beads on silk chiffon with a yellow China silk slip. I'll be wearing it at the Costume College Gala.

Next, the very close to being finished apron front plaid 1820s gown.

Untitled

It just needs the skirt trimmed and attached and a belt. Not bad! I'm happy with how it's turning out, but at the same time, I'm not devoting as much to it as I wanted to with this fabric. I blame one of the worst coughs in the history of the world (see also, reasons for not updating blogs--especially the antique one). Seriously. It should be a good dress though!

And next we have the Grumpy Cat sundress. Yes, you read that right!

Untitled

I'll be wearing this the day before Costume College. We decided against dressing up dressing up, but...

This will have a narrow skirt from a 1951 pattern. The bodice is from another 1950s pattern that I have. I loaned it out a few years ago, so I'm not sure of the date--I had the my size pattern from it though! I initially had a 1950s Vogue juniors pattern that matched my measurements for this dress, but it had almost seven inches of ease. Even pretending I was wearing a bullet bra, it seriously didn't work! I was going to use the skirt from that pattern, but it had a center front seam, which really wouldn't work too well!

Oh, and my No necklace should be here shortly...

9 comments:

  1. Can't wait to see you and your lovelies at costume college! :D I've not even gotten around to cutting out my plaid fabric..... oy! Must get sewing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm excited to see you too! And you can do it--plenty of time, and it was really nice fabric to work with :)

      Delete
  2. Such amazing projects! I'm truly looking forward seeing the finished 1820s dress...the colours and pattern look so promising! And that grumpy cat sundress is such fun :)

    Sabine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you--and isn't that the best fabric? I can't believe I passed it up the first time I saw it. Of course, I bought the brown damask for the chocolate francaise that day and knew that they'd have the plaid next time I was in LA. It worked out :)

      And I'm having way too much fun with the sundress. I can't believe I found a No necklace. It seems such an odd thing to have on a necklace!

      Delete
  3. Haha Grumpy Cat sundress, I love it! I've always thought it would be fun, although very time consuming, to do my own beaded 1920s dress. You are so brave to to give it a go. Can't wait to see the whole thing. Also, I'm absolutely in love with your 1820s plaid dress!! Remains me of one from the series "Wives and Daughters"
    -Emily

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did think of Wives and Daughters with it--that definitely is not a Scottish plaid!

      I really enjoyed doing the beaded dress. I have some bad pictures of it finished here:

      http://koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com/1473610.html

      As for the beading, I'm glad I started with the bodice first--it got very loose at the bottom:

      http://koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com/1472635.html

      It's not the more typical type, but I wanted something different, especially since you can buy recreations of those. Mine is very loosely based on this one:

      http://pinterest.com/pin/85498092897599589/

      Hmm, lots of links there :)

      But I think my most excited about at the moment dress is the Grumpy Cat dress. Because why not? It's so silly :)

      Delete
  4. Dacã te-ai sãturat de numãrul usilor care þi-au fost închise în fatã, înscrie-te la un curs calificare si asigurã-ti mãcar o usã deschisã. Datoritã programelor de formare pe care le derulãm, caltitatea unui curs calificare este la cel mai înalt nivel, garantându-ti performanþa si oferindu-ti cheia succesului. Alege varianta potrivitã tie si înscrie-te la un curs calificare Expert Training!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dacã te-ai sãturat de numãrul usilor care þi-au fost închise în fatã, înscrie-te la un curs calificare si asigurã-ti mãcar o usã deschisã. Datoritã programelor de formare pe care le derulãm, caltitatea unui curs calificare este la cel mai înalt nivel, garantându-ti performanþa si oferindu-ti cheia succesului. Alege varianta potrivitã tie si înscrie-te la un curs calificare Expert Training!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ooh, the 1820s dress looks lovely! I hope you'll put up pictures when it's finished!

    ReplyDelete