Showing posts with label Yellow Sheer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yellow Sheer. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Kristen: Jane Austen's Birthday Party!

Let me preface this post with the following statement: I need sleep. If at times my text is confusing, I apologize! Within the past week I've participated in a Civil War Christmas "party," Jane Austen's birthday party complete with Regency dress and underpinnings, wrote /edited a 15 page paper, and finished a website for class (http://18thcenturyclothing.weebly.com/). Yet it was all worth it! You've already read my post here about my Civil War party...now for Jane Austen's birthday!
 I am a proud member of JASNA, the Jane Austen Society of North America. This fall I went to a tea party/book discussion that I mentioned in a previous post. I was ecstatic to be invited to a birthday celebration for Ms. Austen with such a lovely group of women, and at the Inn at St. John's, a former seminary!

The chapel itself was gorgeous! I was one of only a few women who dressed in Regency attire, so there was a *gasp* when I walked into the room! After a short blessing we headed down to the banquet room, where a party was set to honor Jane Austen's birthday!


We first started with a toast...and since I didn't have my license (left in the car) they wouldn't serve me champagne! My 26th birthday in one week, and I toasted with sparkling grape juice! Everyone at the table had a good laugh at that one...After our meal, we sang "Happy Birthday" and ate some cake.

Our host had little prizes for the tables if we could answer enough trivia about Pride and Prejudice without the use of modern devices. One of the women at my table could nearly quote the book! We didn't win, but I did learn A LOT about the text itself, and that I truly was in a room of Austenites! They also had a little lending library and games that we could admire. Did you know Jane Austen has an action figure????

Did I mention that everyone kept snapping pictures of me? I was quite a novelty; one women even commented that I looked like dear Jane herself! I take pride in the time/research that I invested in this ensemble. 

Finally, I had to return home. Along the way I stopped at my Aunt's house to hem my cousin's choir dress. I made her take a few pictures, since the lighting at the party was difficult. I'm reminded of how well everything fell together. Seven yards of light yellow cotton voile fabric, several feet of embroidered leaves, a set of short stays, a sleeveless chemise, white stockings, dainty black slippers, perfectly curled hair with grecian hair band, my own teardrop pearl earrings, reproduction ring, and a silk/wool shawl imported from India...so many pieces had to fall together *just so* in order to make this work. I'm glad it did! As my first Regency wardrobe, it certainly displays the advancement of my sewing skills.

It has finally happened...I am an Austenite! It's not enough to read her writing...I needed to spend some time in "her clothing" to truly understand her. 

Now I shall SLEEP! That is, until I start sewing for The Historical Sew Fortnightly...more on that later, you nosy reader you...

~Kristen

Monday, June 3, 2013

Becky: GFV Prep and Greenfield Village Memorial Weekend

Ugh! Im such a bad blogger! Im sorry its taken me a WEEK to talk about Memorial Weekend. I caught up with a few families from that weekend, with larger family members, and they said that Sunday was the last day of taking care of the 'Memorial After Math'.

Yesterday, my boyfriend (of 7 months!) and I enjoyed a beautiful day at the Detroit Zoo. Because he is the owner of a business, he is often not available, or gets home really late. Im happy that the day went really well and we have became even closer because of this trip! Unfortunately this was the ONLY picture taken of that day:
Andy and I at the Arctic Circle, Detroit Zoo  
And for the long waited post:
May 24, '13, Friday 
It was confusing day for all of us. My boyfriend had the trailer at his shop, yet he worked in the morning, so I didnt know when he would be picking my brother and I up. Sue was at home waiting for her house sitter and Sophika to arrive. I wanted to arrive early, say, 2pm before most people arriving at 3. FYI, the gate opens at 5pm.

Sue txt me: "Where on our way!"

Oh crap! I had JUST finished packing my clothing and the night before I had made Switchel. I swear, Andy, had better remember bringing the frozen drinks!

"Where in line now!-Sue"

Great! It takes Sue an hour to get to my house. Its been an hour since she last talked to me. WHERE was Andy?!

"Andy still hasnt arrived"
"Where are you?"
"Home"

Wait. On second thought, I know Sue. She's the nice one that will drop everything for one person. I txt her right after:
"Stay there. Its first come, first serve. Snatch us the spot when you can."

"Ok"

I heard the diesel truck down the street. "Oh finally!" I think. I looked at the clock 5 o'clock! Really?! We're late!

"One more stop babe." Andy told me. Something I really didnt want to hear.

After picking up more Gatorade, we where on our way.

We pulled up and there was the line! Oh Good! We didnt miss a thing!

We had found the perfect spot near the silk tress. My brother and I had camped there last and Drew quickly snatched it up!

We had a wonderful group of friends help us set the "house" up. We had set up in record time! Our family would take hours to set the house up, but with the extra help, we split the time in half!

May 25, '13 Saturday
Saturday was pleasant. The weather was cool, but it never reached to a point where I had to wear a jacket, nor cool down with iced drinks.

Saturday was my brother's 18th birthday and I decided to wear my dinner dress for the whole day in celebration. Normally I would only wear this dress after 5pm for a dinner party, but I thought I wouldnt need to change for the fashion show that afternoon.

I FINALLY met Veronica and her awesome mom! I was very happy to see them! It was really great to finally to have met them, but also to talk living history with them!

I was often seen sewing that day: 
I was determined to get the sheer dress at least presentable for the weekend. I had come to terms with myself. I could make the dress presentable, but I would not have the dress finished like the original I was replicating. I still need to work on the ruffles and to gather the sleeves.

I had grabbed a new member of the 21st to escort me to the fashion show.  He looked fabulous from the first day he joined the group and I knew that Beth needed more people for the fashion show. It was a win-win!

 


This dress is also a replication form an original. I had this fabric for years, and only last year I found an original, in the book: Masterpieces of Womans costume of the 18th and 19th century, to reproduce it. It has a predominant square neckline suitable for fancier occasions like a dinner or a small celebration and would often be worn AFTER 5pm. The short sleeves are often another sign that it is a dinner dress. Although the dress SHOULD be made out of silk, it is not, yet the rosettes and covered buttons are. To top it off I added pockets! I love them and use them often.

May 27, '13 Sunday

R to L: Me, Sue, Sophika in our fabulous wrappers
I was happy to have Dad join us Sunday morning at breakfast. His plane arrive the night before from Los Vegas for work. It was different not having Dad set up, but it was good to have him for the weekend.


Sophika offered to cook for us that weekend.

"I have the NEED to FEED!" She would say.

I never went hungry that weekend!

There was another fashion show that day and I finished the dress in time!
I had Jacob escort me again.

Kris showed off her new impression too!

After the fashion show, the ones who could go went to the Eagle Tavern. Here is only a fraction of the members in our group!

 Later that night the ball that everyone has been waiting for was held at Lovette Hall. I had recently sold off the dress I was planning to wear, and the one that I brought was borrowed from a friend that forgot hers. I didnt mind that I didnt go to the ball. My boyfriend was wearing modern clothing, we didnt have time to make him a set. Instead of the ball, we joined those who didnt go, around a campfire.

Dad and Step-mom-to-be

Sophika looking gorgeous in blue.
May 28, '13 Monday
Monday wasnt such a pleasant as the others. For the sake of Jake, it rained the last part of the day. It was horrible to tear down the tent. The tents were wet, you were wet, and everyone wanted to go home. Because of the rain, I was not able to show Andy, my boyfriend, the activities going on. I hope to show him more than just our tent at Jacksn in August.

That morning however, there was a wonderful Memorial service in front of the town hall. The announcer asked for all that have served and it was awesome to see how many have severed for this great country!
 
Besides the rain and the week after, unpacking and drying the tents. I would say that this event was a success!

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Becky: Greenfield Village Prep Day 2

Before I pass out from such a rainy day, I though Id update you on our crazy week.

School is not helping me tonight. I need this night, in particular to prep for GFV and Im stressing over the limited time I have. Its no wonder I have a cold.

I have a few sneak peaks on my sheer dress that I made presentable, but not finished to my liking.
Progress a month ago

Yesterday, day 2, I made hand sewn eyelets for the bodice. I prefer making these from now on. I had trouble with placing the hook and eyes earlier, I think I was too use to hook and eye tape that I forgot how to "manually" place hooks and eyes. 

I had this hideous gap between the waist piping and the gauged skirt. Not only did the hand sewn eyelets make the bodice lay nicer, it fixed the gap in between. 


Well, as my boyfriend likes to say, I like to tease. Here is my tease to you! The final project will be shown at Greenfield Village, Memorial day Weekend!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Becky: Rolled Hems

I always try to learn something new each project I do. This time I have a few "challenges".

  1. The many flounces on the skirt
  2. The double pagoda sleeve
  3. Creating an attached undersleeve
  4. Rushing at the armhole (armscye)
I am currently working on rolling the hems. The Sewing Academy and Elizabeth Stewart Clark's book shows a decent job of rolling hems, but I, for some reason, couldn't get it. 

So, onto Youtube!

This is the clip I found most helpful. The video is a little long, but that is what I need to understand the technique. 

I'm chugging along on the flounces. Mind you I have both sides of the fabric I must hem and there are 5 flounces on the dress. Along with that the flounces are GATHERED! Which means there are more than the width of the skirt! My skirts circumference is already 180 inches. Therefore, ONE flounce length is 240 inches... then multiply that by 5! Oh boy! Heaven help me!

On My Bookshelf: December

December has been a really rough month. Between what happened in Oxford (not far from where I live...) and just the general pandemic issues,...