Bubblegum Goodness

Like I forecasted, I am several months past my anticipated post date, but I am back (temporarily)! Back in October, I finished my bubblegum pink 1840s ballgown and I proudly wore it to the Victoria and Albert dance weekend, but in typical fashion, I only managed to get one decent photo of it, which i post thus:

The gown features about six or seven yards of bubblegum pink silk taffeta which I scoured the NY Garment district for, initially searching for lilac and ending up on pink because the lilac would take 10+ weeks to order. Who knew that lilac would be impossible to find? In summary, I am quite proud of my little gown and its ability to function for 2 eras (yes, 2 - with hoops it can also pass for 1850s). It is missing sleeve piping which I hope to remedy in the future, and lacks a Bertha (due to my lack of time finishing it for its first wearing) but it is what it is. Its next debut will be at Costume College in California in July!

Adding on

Writing this the night that I got back from my Victorian dance weekend and I am absolutely exhausted, but in a very very good way. The last couple days have been a series of furiously fitting, cutting, sewing, and sewing some more, culminating in the ball last night. My gown was done mostly (I'll get into more in the next post), but I had something to wear that I was proud of (and got several compliments on). But I ramble.

Just the Basics

It's been a very long time since I've actually blogged, which has to do with a number of personal issues and lack of motivation to actually do any sewing. This past summer I got the bug to make things again and decided the best way to get anything done was to make a deadline for myself in the form of a hard ticket event. Enter the Victoria and Albert dance weekend (hosted by the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers) ¹. The event spans a weekend in October where attendees learn dances from the time of Victoria and Albert's reign, culminating in a fancy ball on Saturday and a casual dance on Sunday.

Well hello there old friend. Remember me? The person who left without saying goodbye 3 years ago? Well a lot has changed since that time and with all the fun things coming up, I might as well share some of the fun projects I'll be working on shortly.

First off, I'm attending ball! Yes, a real, victorian era ball with dancing and fancy dresses! And since I have no fancy dresses, it's time to make one... and all the undergarments related to it (which at the time of posting, are mostly done - corded and ruffled petticoats are done, except for the waist hooks, and corset is fitted, just needs to be cut and stitched)!

So, to be blunt, keep an eye on this space. More content should be up soon!

Cording a Corset

Since my last entry, I've definitely neglected my plan to blog more often. I think grandiose plans are often easier said than done. Regardless, this lack of blogging has meant more productivity in terms of sewing (as well as lots of time going to work). In my recent sewing endeavor, I managed to crank out the remainder of one of my many UFOs (unfinished objects) or as I like to call them, UFPs (unfinished projects).

This particular project started back in the fall of 2012, when I made the decision to sew a complete regency outfit for my graduation ceremony in the spring of 2014. I figured that I would complete it a year ahead of time and be super organized. Long story short, I purchased the fabric, got it all cut out and marked, and then got lost in other projects that were less daunting. I think it was also forgotten at home when I moved to Michigan for 6 months after college graduation. When I moved back to Massachusetts, I eventually came to the conclusion that I wanted to volunteer in August at Old Sturbridge Village's Textile Weekend, thus making this a perfect project to complete and wear.

Make it Blue!

After quite a bit of finagling, I finally completed the first of my many projects for the Battle Road reenactment I plan on attending in April (I still have too many to go!). This project was chosen completely out of a need for certain things for a reenacting kit, but I later realized it would fit in well with the Historical Sew Monthly's challenges for the year.

Now on to the specifics:

Summer of 1774

Within the last couple of months (okay, maybe the last year), I've made headway on a number of new projects, and like most sewers, the majority of them are half finished. The majority of these projects stemmed from my work this past summer as a historical interpreter at 1770's fort in northern Michigan. Over those six months, I "lived" as a 1770s british woman, dressing in the appropriate clothing and answering visitors questions, all while cooking over a hearth or working in the gardens. With the need for appropriate clothing 5 days a week (with most of the supplied options not well fitting to my petite frame), I made the decision to make a jacket of my own that I could wear at work, as well as bring home with me to Massachusetts for future reenactments.

To make the jacket, I borrowed the forts copy of JP Ryan's 18th century jacket pattern

and ordered 2 yards of historically correct fabric from Williamsburg (which ended up taking nearly a month to reach me since Williamsburg doesn't ship to PO boxes...). What I later realized was that this particular fabric was printed from a jacket that they have in their collection.

For those of you that know me, you'll realize that decisions are not my strong suit, but I really love this fabric. Two yards ended up being just enough fabric to make a jacket with a shorter peplum, not following the cutting layout in the pattern. With the leftover, I made a simple pinked trim for the neckline. 

Not my favorite photo, but one of the few I have 

an action shot a photographer took one of the days I was tying lavender sachets

With this jacket (and the petticoat, cap, and kerchiefs I made this summer), I'm hoping to get involved with some local reenacting groups and attend Battle Road (or the reenactment of the Battle of Lexington and Concord) this spring. I have a couple more projects in the works for April, so keep your eyes peeled! 

There and back again

I realize it's been nearly 3 years since this blog has been updated, but there's this thing called college that gets in the way of blogging and time for myself. But since 2012, I have graduated and am back on my feet with a reasonably steady post-grad job (I work at a toy store which has its perks), plus I have time for more projects. Since my last post, my sewing skills have gotten much stronger and I've completed a whole bunch of projects. I'm also in the middle of a pretty cool (small) project which I'll post soon, but in the meantime I'll post some photos of my older projects below the cut.

Starting Spring Break in the Garment District

So by the time you all read this, it will be a couple days later than I would have liked to have posted this, but I didn't have wireless internet access in my grandparents apartment.

I finally made a thorough trip to New York's famous garment district today! For me, it marks a couple milestones - first is that it was the first time I got to actually explore the garment district and go to all the stores I wanted to. A couple weeks before my trip, I followed the advice of a very informative garment district blog and made a google map of all the stores they suggested which I later followed in order to find some of the coolest stores. The second landmark is that I navigated the city of New York all by myself. Surprisingly, I have never had the guts to travel to the city and walk around it all by myself, so this was a very exciting trip for me. I managed to get myself on a train from my grandparents apartment and walk from Grand Central Terminal to 39th street at 7th ave with minimal interference (especially considering the streets were packed with too many St. Pattys day celebrators). Step one to adulthood is now in gear!

Anyway, I made this trip to the district because I was looking for fabric for a couple projects I've been considering for a while (a cinderella costume, a summer shirtwaist dress, a summery skirt, and a bathing suit). I only managed to purchase some fabric for my cinderella costume, even though I highly considered a blue polka dot spandex for a new swimsuit (and am still considering ordering when I arrive home). 

Finally Something Good

As most of you followers realize, I haven't had the chance to post on here in a long time, mostly because I've had lots of work to do, some health issues, as well as a lot of rejection - never fun. Lately I've applied for a number of internships and jobs and haven't gotten any of them - which was especially frustrating when one of them totally flipped around my upcoming fall semester plans. Grrr. But on Saturday, I finally got an email that I had been accepted as an interpreter at a local museum! Yay! So it looks like I will be spending my summer dressed as a historical interpreter presenting historic trades for the public (including my favorite pastime, sewing). It looks like everything is finally falling into place!

Revving Up...kinda

I'm officially off and running! The semester has started up and is slowing starting to build, so I figured I'd get a post in before it gets crazy in the next week. I've figured out and settled all my classes which is usually the first big change each semester. I'm taking Material Culture of the Victorian Era, American Lit, Musical Theater Jazz, a lecture series on Disabilities, and a self-designed special studies which will look at the change in women's clothing from 1915-1920ish (second season of Downton Abbey anyone?). It certainly looks to be a good semester.

I'm also working on a number of internship applications and I'm hoping to land one of them for this summer. I'm also working on an application for studying away from campus this fall, so all of these will keep me busy over the next couple weeks while I complete them and also deal with homework, social events, and auditions for Leading Ladies spring show Godspell. 

End to a long day

So I had my first real day of classes today (as in multiple classes that I am actually intending on taking).  I started my material culture class today, which seems somewhat promising, except that it will be taught like a lecture in art history and very little of it will be about historic dress. Neither of which I am totally thrilled about, but will deal with. I also had my musical theater jazz class today which was excellent, except now I am very tired and a bit sore. We are starting with a Fosse style piece choreographed to "Two Lost Souls" from Damn Yankees (which I know little about). The grad student who is teaching it also announced that we would be working mainly in character shoes, so I'll have to go on an adventure to find a pair this weekend. I have never owned a pair of character shoes that actually fit me well, so this will be a fun adventure.

Tomorrow, I'm planning to go back and talk to my advisor about the special studies and hopefully solidify things before online registration ends. Good night!

Changing Plans

Ok, so maybe my schedule will be changing after all. I attended my first class on Thursday and it turned out to be a bit of a flop. Not the actual subject matter, but the class itself. There were over 60 people registered, with discussion groups that would be half that size. No thanks. I don't do well in large classes or discussions, so I'm not taking that course. Instead, it looks like I will be doing a special studies about something related to historical dress or clothing. I have a bunch of options, so I'll need to make a decision and report back.

My biggest news is that I was accepted into the museums concentration!! Yay! I'm even more excited because my advisor is the professor who taught my costume design class and will be my supervisor for my special studies! How cool is that?!?

Now I'm back to getting some work done for my American Lit. class, as well as maybe ordering some new makeup.

Prepping for the Semester

Like most breaks, I didn't totally get done everything I had wanted to (like part of my corded petticoat). Nope, I've been busy getting my life in order to pass the museums class on collecting I took this J-term. But hey, plans change right?

Tomorrow marks the first day of classes and I don't totally feel ready. It's very strange. Perhaps it is that I only have 2 classes between today and Saturday, or that I have to be up earlier than my only class tomorrow to meet with an advisor at the Career Development office about resumes and such. Either way, I am determined to make this semester much more controlled than the last - and to start, I have organized all my notebooks and binder (as well as photocopied some readings for my American Lit. class) for tomorrow and next week. Aren't I good?

Potential Progress

So I've headed back home for the weekend so I can celebrate my upcoming birthday with my family and friends (after spending over three hours on busses and in terminals today). I'm planning to visit with friends, pick up my birthday freebies at the mall (little indulgences here and there never hurt anyone), email a couple professors, and knock out a sewing project. All before I get out of my teenage years.

A while ago my mom and I visited the New York garment district in search of a green coating wool for my regency pelisse. We did succeed in finding the wool, but also came across other treasures, particularly a soft cotton print with a pink background and desserts all over. We discovered it was a print by Nick and Nora (high end pajama company) and bought six yards of it. Now, this yardage has been sitting in the closet for a while and I've been dying to make a nice nightgown or pajama shorts with it. So I bought a pattern a couple months ago, looked at it this evening, and discovered I had bought the wrong size. Ooops. There's no chance the size large will come close to fitting me properly. It looks like I'll be off to JoAnn's sometime tomorrow to switch out the sizes.

Now on to finishing this museums studies paper. Tally ho!

New Year, New Goals

I realize I've been neglecting this blog, which is entirely because of large amounts of schoolwork, as well as stress and health issues. Lots of fun.

Anyway, with the incoming arrival of my American Duchess "Pemberley" shoes, my brain has been cranking around the clock ways that I can wear them. If you've been reading this blog for a while, you'll know that my very first sewing project was a regency dress made from light blue linen out of the Sense and Sensibility "Elegant Ladies Closet" pattern, sewn entirely by machine. Of course, since then, my sewing has improved by leaps and bounds and naturally I'm aching for another gown...or maybe another 5 or 6 gowns (of all different eras).

Like most costumers at one time or another, I'm currently suffering from costume ADD, with piles of goals I want to achieve. As of this second, I really want to make a new regency gown, but that would require a fresh new shift, a set of short stays, as well as a new pattern (I like the S&S patterns, but I feel like I'm ready to graduate to a better pattern, like the La Mode Bagatelle set). I'm also really yearning to make a pair of 18th century stays and a beautiful petticoat and short gown to wear on top. I'd also love to vamp up my wardrobe with 30's and 50's style clothing (which is extremely difficult in the middle of New England weather without tights and such). I can't make up my mind.

So yes, I have a bunch of goals for this year - here are the most reasonable ones (in no particular order):
- sew up the 30's circle skirt with the green cotton sateen I bought this summer
- finish the corded petticoat I started months ago
- sew a new regency shift
- make a nightgown from the Nick and Nora fabric I got in NYC a couple years ago
- fit the cover for my dress form (it's about time - I've had it nearly two years!)
- hem up the dotted 30's skirt so it's more wearable
- finish the christmas gifts I started
- sew up a wrap style vintage dress (using a pattern purchased on Etsy)

Of course all of these would be a dozen times easier with my own machine, but that can wait until I get a real job.

Oh and on top of all these, I need to apply to all of the internships in costuming/museums (especially those with a living history component) before early March.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you all a very wonderful holiday season - whether or not you celebrate Christmas. I'm very much enjoying my holiday. Earlier this morning I received several sewing and costuming books (including Lauren Rennells' Retro Makeup book) from my family, along with a note for a pre-ordered pair of Pemberley regency shoes from American Duchess. I also received a few sweaters and tights which will keep me warm at school this coming year. The best gift I have received is the snow outside my window - it's a White Christmas!

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Counting the days

I have exactly one week, six classes, one test, one composition, one showcase performance, and two essays left until I can go home. It will be so good to be home.

Caught in a Whirlwind

I realize it has been more than 2 months since I have last posted and. Basically this semester has not been a cup of tea - I'm not totally thrilled with my classes, plus I'm taking more credits than my brain can handle so I will be very glad to be done with this fall (exactly 2 weeks to be precise!).

So much has happened over the last couple months, that it would be hard to go into detail about everything that has happened. Instead I will post some photos highlighting what I've done.

I made sushi at an event hosted by one of the student groups and was taught how to wear and tie a traditional kimono (see the rest below the cut)

Seasons of Cities and Mountains

It is an absolutely gorgeous day outside today and there is no Mountain Day. Very disappointing (for all you non Smithie readers, Mountain Day is an unannounced holiday in which classes are cancelled on a nice fall day. I think originally Smithies did climb mountains, but now we go apple picking, sunbathe or just catch up on homework). Hopefully it will not be next week, as fall break starts on the 8th.