nuranar: Hortense Bonaparte. La reine Hortense sous une tonnelle à Aix-les-Bains (1813) by Antoine Jean Duclaux. (Default)
I haven't sewn anything since the last time I reported status. So Eleanor's dress is still unfinished (but still looking adorable), patterns are un-printed, and the sewing room is still dark. But I did drive an hour plus to the guild's Tiaras and Top Hats Tea Party on Saturday. That was fun! The tea was lovely. I liked the main course best, and the white tea was very good instead of disgusting. (My only previous experience with white tea, alas.)

I finally wore Maid Marian to a guild event, too! She's been out for Costume College and Halloween for two different years, but this was the first time at a guild event. As usual I had some minor difficulties with the belt (this time because I forgot which set of hooks to use), but it was fine for a mostly-seated event. Although I would have liked to wear a tiara, it was nice to check the "Maid Marian @ guild" box and not have to worry about anything else. And Maid Marian does have a circlet!

Pictures from Jen, as always, because she's generous and I'm a moocher. :p

Me and [profile] kaesha_nikovana. She made her crown. It's mesmerizing in person!
More pictures! )

I did order Jill Salen's Vintage Lingerie on [personal profile] jenthompson's recommendation. Not that I don't think a bandeau would give the wrong look as such, for me! But a longer type of brassiere would probably be more appropriate for me back then. And most importantly, with a pattern, I don't have to make it all up. :D

Note: I was surprised at the number of critical/negative reviews on Amazon. I have her earlier book, Corsets, and I can recognize some of the complaints; but most seem to show a basic misapprehension. IMHO the negative reviewers are both (a) legitimately reflecting the lack of construction detail, along with the condescending tone of her commentary, and (b) not reviewing the book for what it is: scale drawings of actual garments. As more recent reviewer said in response, "Sewing and pattern drafting aren't the same." Yep, this book is not the same thing as buying a pattern envelope with multi-sized block-drafted patterns and illustrated directions.

So with that book on the way, scheduled to arrive Saturday, what should I do? (When I actually have some free time, that is, which may be Wednesday evening; or Friday afternoon.) Hmm... I think I'll finish tracing the patterns Lauren lent me, and then start on the white wool stays. I've sized up and drafted some shape changes on the pattern, but I haven't actually tested anything yet. My least favorite part, but when I get into it, I tend to make rapid progress.
nuranar: Hortense Bonaparte. La reine Hortense sous une tonnelle à Aix-les-Bains (1813) by Antoine Jean Duclaux. (knighthood)
... the Gala dress has one set of sleeves and a hem. Except for hand stitching down the neck binding, it is DONE.  (Not the whole outfit by a long shot, but the big piece.)

YAY!
nuranar: Hortense Bonaparte. La reine Hortense sous une tonnelle à Aix-les-Bains (1813) by Antoine Jean Duclaux. (Sewing Bunny)
Fantastic Gala dresses look more fantastic when they have skirts attached. \o/
nuranar: Hortense Bonaparte. La reine Hortense sous une tonnelle à Aix-les-Bains (1813) by Antoine Jean Duclaux. (cool)
Life has been particularly atypical for the last two months, thanks to a temporary re-assignment at work. I'm now back to my usual duties, which is both sad and a relief. Enough of  that.

I have done a lot of sewing in the last couple months as well. Pretty much every chance I got, that wasn't at work or otherwise committed. First in June I had to finish up my bridesmaid dress for Bro. No. 2's wedding and my dress for the rehearsal dinner. The wedding was lovely (Saturday June 23rd), and both dresses were finished on time. The buttons made it onto the RH dress in the car on the way down the day of the rehearsal, and I put the hem in the bridesmaid dress right before getting dressed the day of the wedding. No worries! :p

I have no shame about sewing up to the last minute, provided that it actually does get Done In Time. That did NOT happen at Costume College last year. It didn't bother me too much at the time, but looking back I really regret the time spent staying up late and holed up in my hotel room sewing and being stressed instead of enjoying time with friends and hanging out.

So I made a determination this year to not be sewing at Costume College. Maybe a little beforehand, on the plane and with [livejournal.com profile] fancyfrocks, but not otherwise.

The problems are (1) inspiration doesn't strike easily for me, and (2) I have little experience in deadline-geared sewing, especially in a working/no school situation.  Making the two dresses for the wedding ended up eating WAY more of my time than I expected. In particular the RH dress, which was FABULOUS and you will definitely see it here later.  But it dominated June, so apart from diddling with the 1780s something-or-other I'm working on, and thinking through and sourcing stuff for the Semi-Secret Gala Gown, that was all I did.


Enough of wimpy woes, though! My life is good, and I am very blessed by God.

A way I keep motivated is by accomplishment.  I have literally made a list, beginning with things I have already done, just so I can start by crossing things off. I get an adrenaline rush from crossing things off!  That's one reason I hate making muslins and patterns, because there's nothing to complete.  I've done a lot of that recently, for both the 1780s pink wool and the Gala.

The timing of the Independence Day holiday and the end of my job reassignment worked out really well.  I got nearly 12 hours of steady work in on the Gala dress Friday, from finishing a last component muslin, to cutting out EVERYTHING, to completing construction on the bodice. (Down to the fastening! I'm SO proud of myself.) I could have put the rest of it together then, too, except I wanted things to hang a bit.

Saturday and Sunday I didn't have nearly as much time and Sunday I wasn't feeling so well, but I chipped away some more, finally bought some desperately-needed materials for accessories, and finished two simple components.  (See, finishing? Yay for accomplishment!)  I've also realized I need to go back to Dallas to get some more fabric, but both should still be there and it won't be expensive. I had the perfect amount of main gown fabric, [livejournal.com profile] jenthompson!

I still have a lot to do, though.  Time for a list!

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nuranar: Hortense Bonaparte. La reine Hortense sous une tonnelle à Aix-les-Bains (1813) by Antoine Jean Duclaux. (Default)
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