Monday, March 18, 2013

The Great Tea Party Project

Okay I think I have finally drug all the pertinent posts from livejournal over to this new blog.  It has been a long time since I have posted anything online.  2011 was a blur and I decided to take a long, very needed break from sewing.  Then 2012 came along and it was a difficult year, but on my birthday I recieved a wonderful 9 lb 2 oz baby girl and things have been going great..  For Christmas my husband had my sewing machine FINALLY put in the shop.  It is now home and in good working order and the sewing bug has bit, but I have gotten so out of the habit of sewing that I am struggling to find direction/motivation so i thought I would return to the internet communities for inspiration and focus.  I have lurked the past few years enjoying everyone's lovely creations so maybe posting my projects will keep me focused.  When I have a definite plan in mind I tend to follow through.  So here is my plan if you are interested in following along.....

Double Period Project: Final Pictures

The next few posts will just be old entries from livejournal that I am bringing over to this blog
 
 
Here are my final pictures of my entry.  I went to a local museum and they were kind enough to let me take pictures all over the place including several roped off areas.


  
   
 

Here are a few detail shots, including the only shot I got of the dust ruffle.

 

I used a modified TV Fantail for the underskirt and draped the overskirt.  The bodice was also a modified TV pattern.  I had originally wanted to make the bodice with the high neck and collars like men's coats and vests, but then I found this painting

and I like the idea of a more "evening" style dress.  I would like someday to add lace cuffs etc., but not right now.
Nothing special about the underwear.  I was able to make a slip and tournure out of scraps of last years new undies.  I do wish I had entered the corset part of this contest.  Ithought I had a perfectly good victorian corset so I couldn't justify making a new one, but after using it I noticed several seams are just about done for and the busk is rubbing through....time to canabalize the parts for a new one :-)
Well that's all, I can't wait to see everyone else's entries!!!  WIth two popular eras I hope there will be more than last year!

Double Period Project: Inspiration

The next few posts will just be old entries from livejournal that I am bringing over to this blog
I finally got my dress done!!!  I will be posting pictures later today, but thought I would go ahead and post my inspiration pics and some misc.

I had a hard time deciding which era to enter for "Your Wardrobe Unlocked's Double Period Project".  Natural Form or the 18th century Revolutionary era.  I love them both so I choose to sort of combine them as per these fashion Plates

 

I set a few rules for myself....Stash Fabrics Only!!  As I got started that rule was very hard to follow.  I would have done a few things differently with more funds availble.  The stash only was hard, but sewing with baby was even harder.


Why is the dress on the desk?

To keep it out of these sweet little fingers!

More pictures laterThe next few posts will just be old entries from livejournal that I am bringing over to this blog The next few posts will just be old entries from livejournal that I am bringing over to this blog

SPP - Final Pictures

The next few posts will just be old entries from livejournal that I am bringing over to this blog

I finally finished the dress, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it.
We went out today and took a ton of pictures.  It was very sunny out, but they turned out pretty good.  Someday I would love to go to a historical mansion and get some period style pictures. 

Making this dress has been so much fun I hope I took enough pictures to show you all everything.
Here they are, Enjoy!!!


Click on the pictures to see the full sized version.
 






SPP Corset contest

The next few posts will just be old entries from livejournal that I am bringing over to this blog

Vena Cava sponsored a corset contest in conjuction with Your Wardrobe Unlocked, and here is what I came up with.
I have always loved the look of the "ventilator" corsets like this one below.



I wanted the shape of the 1860's with the fun details of this type of corset.  Here is what I came up with.  I used black twill tape for the body, and black satin ribbon for the binding.  It is only boned in plastic because that is all I had on hand.  I really, really love this corset so much so that I have started another in cream, satin ribbons and I intend to do it up in steel.


  


SPP More inspiration and starting my dress pt 2

The next few posts will just be old entries from livejournal that I am bringing over to this blog

While toying with the whole decorating idea, I found that I really love peplums and little overskirts.  Like these.



And of course my favorite Worth dress of all time has a peplumed over bodice, and it became my main inspiration


Here is my first mock up of the overbodice.  On the final one I ended up making the bottom much fuller.  But all in all I really liked the look of it.



SPP - More inspiration, and starting my dress.

The next few posts will just be old entries from livejournal that I am bringing over to this blog

Now that my undies and my mock up were done, I kept trying to figure out how to make my dress.  I had found the most beautiful black shot copper taffeta, and a corresponding heavy, gold satin, and I just couldn't figure out what to do.  I started out with the idea of a fall inspired dress with embroidered leaves and I went so far as to embroider some of the leaves.  I also made several yards of  bias tubing out of the gold fabric to try making branches out of.  When it came time however to start decorating the skirt, I started pinning the tubing around and found a completely new idea that I just fell in love with....... So with out further ado here is my test that I fell in love with.



Of course I couldn't leave it that simple!!



SPP Undergarments - All Finished

The next few posts will just be old entries from livejournal that I am bringing over to this blog

All my undies got done eventually, here are some grouped shots and a few more details.  All in all I am very pleased with the finished products, and I love the ivory, I am very glad I went the less traditional way.
Now it is onto the Corset, and the Dress!!!!!


I ran out of models so the modesty slip is missing.


Bottom edges
Clockwise from top:  Modesty slip, Pantalets, Petticoat, Chemise.