Halloween 2016

I am literally starting on this now in hopes that by some miracle, I can get them done in time. Also, we may have multiple events to attend and I am toying with having a few different outfits to chose from (its not like they can not be used for other events too), but not sure on that yet. Right now things are just in the "idea stage".

Possible Costumes for Me

1. Mrs. Lovett - I have been wanting to do this for a long time. I had a simple version of it years ago, but really would like to do a better one. Not sure how close to the movie version I will go. I may be a bit more historically authentic. Maybe.
2. Hobbit Costume - Another, I have been wanting to do for quite a while.
3. Something from Harry Potter?? My husband wants to be Hagrid for Halloween so I am toying with the idea of making something from HP as well. Only things I can think of that I wouldn't mind from that would be a version of Mrs. Weasley or  maybe the Gray Lady. Or maybe Bellatrix LeStrange.

Possible Costumes for Husband

1. Hagrid. He wants to be Hagrid.

Possible Costumes for Elaina

1. Viking from How to Train your Dragon.
2. Lynkel -- the famale version of the video game character.

Possible Costumes for Stephen

1. No input as of yet, but I am sure it will have a million pieces.

Regency Tea

On my sewing list are outfits for a Regency Tea at the end of June. I of course, have absolutely nothing made for myself so this will be a from inside-out sort of thing. I had toyed with making my long corset for this, but really do not feel like messing with it right now, not when I have other things I would rather be sewing, so I will go ahead and make a bodiced petticoat for this. I also need to decide on the style of the dress that I would like for the event.

Pride and Prejudice was my favorite Jane Austen book and then film (the Colin Firth version of course) for the longest time. But as I have gotten older, I find I am really drawn to Persuasion. To me the characters are much more authentic, and I find I really relate to Anne Elliot. Perhaps because he family and friends take her for granted. Anyway, I really think I will be doing something Anne inspired. I love how she has such unassuming colors in the film (the Rupert Penry-Jones one of course), so I am leaning towards going that way. Not certain how appropriate it is for a tea...

18th Century Corset Update.

It is finally done. And I hate it. That is all. Will post pics at some point.

18th Century Linen Shift and Silk Corset Update.

Rule #1--do not sew when you are sick. I screwed up the shift and wasted 2 yards of linen.
Rule #2--do not try to fit yourself in a corset, assuming it will be okay because it fit before. It fit about a year and 10lbs ago. So now it is finally done and the back is all wrong. Do I pull all the binding off and re-do the back? Toss it in a corner? Start over? Who knows... Very irritated to say the least.

18th Century Linen Shift

Linen was on sale at JoAnn's, and they actually had one that was not a blend. With the sale and my 20% off coupon, I was able to squeeze 2 yards (which I hope us enough) out of my budget. If I can just feel a bit better I will try and get this cut out today.

Venetian Courtesan

 As usual, I have been MIA. I have been working, but not on anything for myself so I have not updated here. I have a HUGE LIST of things I need to sew for events, so I need to get busy and stopped messing around. Hopefully blogging will keep me on track? Hasn't worked in the past but I am determined to give it a try.

One of the things I have been wanting to make, for years, is a Venetian Courtesan. I had put it on the back burner because I had never decided how I wanted to go about it and was not motivated enough to figure it all out. Then I got my hands on this GORGEOUS fabric! 100% Silk Taffeta in the strangest gold, green, purple-shot colors you have seen. It changes constantly, and in person has a strange bronze quality to it. When I saw this a light went off in my head as to what I wanted to make. I don't want to say until it is finished, but this gown will do double duty as not only renaissance fare, but as a twist on a popular cosplay design. It makes me very excited.

I only have 6.5 yards of this which really isn't enough to do what I am going to do. Thankfully I am very short (5') so that saves me some, but I am going to have to be very careful with the design I pick. I will have to put some other fabrics with it but as of yet have not decided on what. I am ordering the fabric for the camica Friday while I think about this.