And only slightly terrified. I really need to crack down and seriously work on my costumes. I think my original idea of no visible machine stitching was a bit ambitious. I think I may stick to hand-sewn finishes for the gown itself, but machine on the chemise and petticoat, that way I can switch them out for handsewn at a later date if I choose to ( Read more... )

Opera Atelier (an AMAZING opera company in Toronto) decided to have a costume sale. And guess who was there.

This guy! :-D

Most of the costumes were too tiny for me (damn dancer's physiques!), but I scored a great hoop skirt and panier for, wait for it... 25 DOLLARS EACH!

( A few blurry mirror pics )

Hedgehog!


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I got a LOT of progress done on my polonaise yesterday.


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So, I decided to go for scaling up a Janet Arnold pattern because, frankly, I am just too impatient to wait for a pattern to arrive! I decided to be easier on myself, though, and used a pattern with separate bodice and skirt pieces, rather than en fourreau. While I LOVE the look on en fourreau pleating, I thought I'd save it until my next project, ( Read more... )

I am trying to make up my mind over whether or not I want to buy a pattern for the robe a l'anglaise I am planning to make for Polaris. I have scaled up patterns before, and am fully capable of doing so, but buying a pattern would cut out so much of the fitting time, which is in my opinion the worst part of sewing. And I am a bit scared of ( Read more... )

I am absolutely in love with this portrait I took of picture of while at the Louvre.


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Yep, it's one of those 50-posts-in-on-day days.

After doing more research and not being thrilled with my embroidery pattern for my sunflower pocket, I decided I needed some quick and pretty pockets for my 18thc wear. So I pull some scraps of linen out of the stash and voila!


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...it's the perfect night to take pictures with my self-timer.

So, more stays pictures!

( Pink goodness! )

I've been agonizing over my 18thc wardrobe. I tried my stays on recently, and they're starting to fit better. I think I'm getting better at lacing it, at the horizontal boning is starting to bend into the correct round shape, rather than flattening me out. Now I just need to bind it and I'm done!

So for this spring/summer I want to make a jacket/ ( Read more... )