Eowyn's Riding Costume

I am in love with this dress. I want to make it right now.

The collar is my favorite part:

I love the buttons down the front:

Look at that emboridered trim:

It didn't get nearly enough screen time and I'm longing for more detailed photos. But I can see enough to know it's gorgeous. Definately on my "To-Make" wish list. :)

And the Oscar for Best Costume Design goes to.....

THE DUCHESS

Indeed. :) I'm thrilled...although all the nominations were stunning this year!

More on the Oscars later hopefully, but for now I must go to bed. Hope you were able to watch them! Hugh Jackman was amazing! But...like I said, more on that later, I must be off to bed! :)

Academy Awards Tonight!

Hosted by Hugh Jackman....print out your ballots HERE. :)

Cora Ashling Gallagher

Dear me, I had just written a post and somehow deleted it. *sigh*
Anyway...I wanted to show you all my lovely new china doll that my three dear friends gave me this week. Indeed I am quite spoiled!
You can read more about her HERE. Keep checking on Miss Emaline's Circle of Fashionable Friends to see more of Cora and all the other lovely "ladies". ;)

Check out Miss Emaline's beautiful underpinnings. Aren't they divine? :)

Dreaming in the 1860's

I'm in such a mood to make a dress for myself. I haven't made a dress for myself in such a long time. I always sell all my dresses. *sigh* But I truly want to make something to keep.

So....I'm thinking of starting with a Civil War dress as I've sold all of mine and will need one if I go to a reenactment this summer. I'm going to start with the underpinnings, because this is wise. ;)

First step will be a chemise. I'm researching at the moment to see if cotton or linen is more accurate. I'm sort of hoping linen as it's so soft and lovely. :) But...it is more expensive. I just need to decide between these two chemises: (maybe I will just do both!)

Someday I hope to order the Silverado Corset Pattern. But for now I'm just going to use my Simplicity patterns.

Also...I read something about sewing in the Civil War and that there were sewing machines but that they were not used in household's until later. Thus, I'm thinking about sewing my chemise by hand. Because I'm just crazy like that. But I like hand sewing anyway. :)
In the past I've never put a ton of though into my wardrobe...I just put fabric and trims together I liked. But I'm going to take my time on this one. I think it would be fun to truly put together a character with this wardrobe. So, I'm thinking on that. :) I'm actually into being a farmer at the moment. I really love work dresses and aprons...much better than silks and taffeta's. Although they are very pretty. :) Maybe one day I'll do a fancier wardrobe.
Alright...I'm off to dream and will update when I have more plans. :)

Bliss

I stocked up on Civil War underpinnings patterns today as there was a 5 for $5 sale on Simplicity patterns at JoAnn's today. SO HAPPY. :) I used to have these but the silly girl that I am I gave them away when I moved to England. Oh well...I have them again. Can't wait to make some new underpinnings!
And I got some much needed Gutermann thread and boning so I can finally finish my Elizabeth Swann corset!

All I can say is...yay. :)

2007 Persuasion

I've just watched the new Persuasion for the first time. :) And yes, I know I'm WAY behind. ;) But I loved it.
The only thing...Captain Wentworth wasn't quite weatherbeaten enough, wouldn't you think? But never mind, he was quite lovely.

I confess, no costumes stood out to me the first time watching it. But maybe next time I will notice more. I was quite swept away by the acting. Though I can't help laughing at Mr. Eliot's shoes in this picture. What a peacock! I loved how he carried a miniture mirror with him.

And you may recognize Anne's spencer as being worn by Kitty in the BBC mini series of Pride and Prejudice. (Or else a very similar one.)

I thought this was one of the most beautiful scenes, there's something about a man in full costume astride a horse. ;)

Overall I thought it was beautiful. Now I want to go read the book again...

Another Finished Project

I've been getting some serious sewing done the past couple days. :) I made a list of all my projects I haven't finished and I'm making myself finish them before I start anything else.

One of the things was this Regency blouse I started last year. It's perfect for Spring! See more pictures HERE.

A Peek...

...at what I made while you weren't looking. ;)
More pictures HERE.

My wonky lil sketch:

And the nicest button hole I think I've made yet (I'm horrid with button holes!):

What Men Wear

I love men's historic costumes. Growing up I always thought they were the most boring thing...but over the past few years I've come to be so intrigued by men's costumes. They're incredible. Perhaps there aren't as many variations for men's costumes in some eras...but I love that the fabric gets to tell it's story even stronger this way. The quality of fabric might show you how rich or poor a man is...the cleanness or filthiness, just what this man may do for a living. Here are just a few of my favorites over time.

Farimir, 'Lord of the Rings':

This outfit tells me this is a man who travels. The leather jerkin is heavy and will protect from bushes and hold up through rough travels. Makes me think he would travel through woodsy places as he'd camouflage well.

Mr. Darcy, 'Pride and Prejudice':

This costume tells me this is a man who has taste and thinks about what he wears. He's fashionable, but not too showy. Also, in the context of the film, you'll see that the looser fit of his clothes are showing that Mr. Darcy is softening up a bit. Further thoughts on Mr. Darcy's wardrobe HERE and HERE.

Dick Dewy, 'Under the Greenwood Tree'

Dick's clothing shows us he's not a man of wealth, but the hard working sort. Yet he still knows how to polish up for a party!

Inman, 'Cold Mountain':

Okay...here's one I'm totally guessing on because I haven't seen the film yet. :) But Jude Law's costume tells me he's a farm boy...maybe not the tidiest of fellows. But I think his costume is amazing. (now any of you who have seen this movie can tell me what he's really like!)

Drover, 'Australia':
Drover's wardrobe shows us he's a man who only wears what he needs. He's a hard worker, which show in the wear and dirt on his clothes. But really, isn't that attractive in a man? ;)

Well, there's just a few of my thoughts on the masculine side of costuming. I hope it wasn't too dull. But I just love men's costumes just as much as women's...but I don't seem to get to talk about them as much. One of these days I'm going to make some...then I'll have plenty to say. :)

Toile Pinner Aprons

I finally put my pinner aprons in my shop. :)

Farewell to an Epic Show

(apologies to those of you who've already heard me rant about this on my other blog!)

I'm not one who gets hooked on a tv series...pretty much ever. But I couldn't help myself...every week I just had to see what happened on Crusoe. My dad and I even would watch past episodes online if we missed one. Sometimes I'd even watch them a second time. I LOVE this show.
The sad thing is...not everyone else did, it's now been canceled and it didn't even conclude which I find most upsetting. Well, at least we were given it to enjoy for a little while.
Here's the trailer from when it first came out:


Doesn't it look epic? :)

Most of the costumes were far from histroically accurate...but I loved them anyway.

I love Susannah's cloaks:

Olivia has the most beautiful costumes of all I think. (that is, when she's actually dressed like a girl) ;)

Crusoe and Friday's costumes are my favorite though:

I love those billowing pirate sleeves:

Such a beautiful show.

I think Phillip Winchester is brilliant.

I love all the props and gadgets.

And the theme song...I get so excited every time this part of the show comes on...makes me like, "Yeah! Bring on another one!"

I always seem to be sewing pirate shirts when this show was on. haha Which was perfect as it kept me in the mood.

Well, I shall just have to enjoy past episodes online while they are available and try to remind myself...it's just a show.

But really, why would they have to cancel the only show I was ever really interested in?

Oh, in case some of you haven't seen it, I made my dad one of his necklaces for Christmas to go with his pirate costume. You can check it out HERE.

A Dress for Spring

Is in the shop.

The Young Victoria

My new obsession:

I've been watching the costumes for months getting excited about this one...especially excited seeing it has so many AMAZING actors in it. (I love Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, not to mention many others that play in this film) Just today I saw this trailer and now...I'm even more deeply in love.

I'm sure I will do many more posts about this...I just wanted to share the trailer real quick. :)
The release date for the US hasn't been announced as of yet, but it comes out in the UK next month if your lucky and live there.

Also check out the awesome website HERE. There's an awesome section on the costumes!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I'm swooning over these: