Queen of Hearts Project

I found this pattern which I think will work great for the bodice of the Red Queen costume for my sister. She's decided not to go full on with authentic undergarments to keep the cost down so I think this pattern would work great with just a little tweaking. :)
I'm hoping to grab it during the next JoAnn's pattern sale and then start fabric hunting.

Her friend has also decided to be the Mad Hatter so I'll need to start researching his costume soon! These are going to be fun projects!

I've been collecting pattern options for some of Alice's dresses which I will try and get a post done this week.
Hope your all having a lovely weekend!

Regency

My mom is doing a Jane Austen Tea at the end of this month and I just realized...I haven't anything Regency to wear. *sigh* I guess I shall just have to make something new. Bummer. ;)I'm going to start from scratch as I've outgrown all of my Regency things so first off, I need to make some underpinnings! I'm going to use Jennie Chancey's Regency underpinnings pattern because it's amazing. :)

I haven't decided what sort of dress to do yet. But I was thinking it would actually be fun to go simple and do something like Charlotte Lucas' dress.

I just love love love this dress.

I still haven't tried the crossover bodice pattern that my friends gave me for my birthday so I could try that and make something like Lizzie's Pemberley dress which is one of my favorites:

Or I might just try something out of me head. We'll have to wait and see. I need to turn off Robin Hood and put Pride and Prejudice on. I need inspiration. I'm still dreaming of hoods and bow and arrows. Which wont quite fit in with the tea cups and English Country dances. ;)

Regency Dress Finished

I finally finished my Regency dress yesterday and posted pictures HERE.
Whew, I'm so glad it's finished. It feels rather unreal, like somethings going to pop up that I didn't finish on it. haha But I think I'm really done. *sigh* Now on to other things. I have a whole list, and some things I've already started...sewing never ends. :)

Regency Embroidery

My Regency dress is almost done! I finished embroidering the hem so now all that's left is the buttonholes and buttons and contrasting fabric for the hem.
Hopefully I can get the fabric and embroidery thread tomorrow. :)

Ahhh....it feels so good to be almost done with a project. Especially this one, as it has taken me ages! Oh well, it's been fun. :)

Maid Marian

I have yet to finish a complete season of the BBC Robin Hood but I've been addicted to the few episodes and clips I can find on YouTube while I'm waiting for the dvd's to arrive from the library. But...I'm so thankful for Amanda Beth's amazing costume study on all of Maid Marian's costumes! I've added a link to the side of my blog so be sure to visit often and see updates or just pour over past costumes like I do. ;)

Makes me want to get out my bow (if I had one) and dress up. Robin Hood has always been my favorite hero growing up. It's funny because I never wanted to be Maid Marian, I always pretended I was Robin Hood and made my friend's be the girl because in the cartoon, Maid Marian didn't get to shoot a bow and arrow. ;) Thankfully in the history books Maid Marian was as good of an archer as Robin Hood! So now I can dress up and still get to have my bow. ;)

I love the modern twists they put into the costumes as well. :)

I think Lucy Griffith's is the perfect Maid Marian. She's strong but beautiful. :)

But enough of my gushing! Go check out Amanda's COSTUME STUDY. :)

Plans

(yikes, I wrote this a few days ago and forgot to post it! Well, here it is anyway!)

I'm up to my elbows in Civil War sewing at the moment. I've almost finished hand sewing my chemise which I will be posting about soon and I'm getting ready to start a dress.

I've been watching clips of Cold Mountain on YouTube which has seriously got me in the mood for the sewing task ahead of me. I'm in love with the costumes in that film. :) (Though I still haven't plucked up the courage to watch the whole thing yet)

I can't stop staring at this dress:

I'm also plotting to make one of these:

So pretty and cozy looking. :) Would be spledid for reenacting in the rain, don't you think? But I'm already working on a cardigan so we'll see. :)

Alright...I'm off to sew some more. :)

A Satisfying Day :)

I've been busy busy sewing all day and feel quite satisfied. :) I've got a few lovely things to put in my Etsy Shop tomorrow, so check back to see what they are! I've taken a little break from historic costumes and I've been making a bit more useful things for today...but still pretty, I think. ;)

I've also got "hooked" on crocheting again. I haven't crocheted much in years, except the fingerless gloves I made this winter, but now we've started crocheting every week with the lady who taught us how and now I can't stop. I'm on my second doily and now I've started this cardigan:
Oh well...it's fun! :)

Here's a sneak peek at one of the things I was up to today....

The best thing to do while sewing all day is to drink lots of tea and listen to Roald Dahl books on CD. I listened to most of James and the Giant Peach today...brilliant. :) He's one of the most clever authors.

Well, I'm off to bed...home all day tomorrow, hopefully I'll get heaps of more sewing done! And more lovely sewing time with friends on Friday! Whoo hoo...it shall be a fantastical week! :)

(Alright...perhaps I've had a wee bit of too much tea?) ;)

Jane Bennet Short Jacket Finished!

I just finished the Jane Bennet short jacket I made for a customer. We took our inspiration from the jacket Jane wears (above) in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice and this cardigan from J. Crew:

Here are the results!

Fabric: 100% linen from fabric-store.com

See more pictures HERE.

Costume Sketches

Every great costume designer, after researching the era and character their designing for, starts with a sketch.

I love keeping a small idea book full of sketches that I later will end up using in my concept sketches. It's nice to have a small sketch book that can fit in your hand bag but there have been times I scribbled on any old thing just to remember the idea until I got home. :)

Here are a few Costume/Fashion sketches that I love:

Fashion Sketch by Kat Macleod:

Costume Design by Deborah L. Scott for the film 'Titanic':

Fashion Sketch by Laura Laine:

Costume Design by Catherine Martin for the film 'Australia'

Costume Design by Jacqueline Durran for the film 'Atonement':

It's interesting to see different people's styles and mediums. I love trying different techiques.

Some of my favorite Art supplies:

-Pencils: Derwent and Prismacolor
-Watercolors: nothing special, bought at Trago Mills in Falmouth, UK

-Rubber kneaded eraser (these are the best!)

-Pencil Sharpener

-Pencil Case made by Genevieve of Pretty Wit

My stack of sketchbooks:

These are just a few of my sketchboooks. I have so many! But I think that's a good thing? ;)

From top to bottom:

-Spiral bound sketchbook (not sure where it's from, reject of Matt Parker photography I love being at the Parker house when they clean out their closets!)

-Hardbound square Sketchbook by Winsor and Newton (bought in Truro, England)

-Moleskine softcover notebook. (the thin ones that come in a 3-pack)

-Leather Bound Sketchbook from Barnes and Noble

Want to turn your scribbles and ideas into art? Check out this amazing book:

Are you inspired yet? :)

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. :)

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. :)

Elizabeth Swann Corset Half Done!

I finished the last hand sewn eyelet on my corset the other day. I'm now officially half way!

There are 25 eyelets on the front alone. I haven't gotten tired of making them yet though. I think they're fun!

I need to get some more boning before I can get very far on the second half. But I'm excited to be half way. :)

Handmade Buttons for "Jane"

I made some buttons for "Jane's" half robe by making a yoyo and then sinching it up around this little bit of wood.
Voila'! Covered buttons. To sew them on I will just sew through the fabric scrunched up on the back.

I made cute little cuffs with piping as well but I haven't taken pictures of them yet. :)

Noteworthy Underpinnings

(above corset & shift from the film "The Patriot")

I can't explain why I have so much interest in underpinnings. I just love chemise/shifts, corsets, panniers, hoops, etc. It may have something to do with underpinnings being the core of the costume. They define your shape and give you that feeling of what the women from that era felt like. So often in films the costume designers make sure that every single person is dressed right down to the stockings in accurate clothing, even extras, because it gives each person a sense of who they are portraying.

Here are a few of my favorite finds over time.

18th Century

(above photo from the film "Marie Antionette")

I love this 18th century shift in this Simplicity pattern. It reminds me of one that Kirsten Dunst wore in Marie Antoinette

(above photo of the stays worn by Keira Knightley in the film "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl")

Butterick Patterns has a lovely 18th Century underpinnings pattern. This one has the option of laces up the front or not. I'm using this pattern right now for my Elizabeth Swann corset and I'm liking it so far! :)

(above photo from the film "Pride and Prejudice")

Past Patterns has a new pattern I can't wait to try. Check out these Transitional Stays.

19th Century

I love this beautiful embroidered corset from the film "Gangs of New York".

(above corset worn by Cameron Diaz in the film "Gangs of New York")

I've heard wonderful reviews of the Silverado Corset from Laughing Moon Mercantile. It's on my "To Buy" list. :) Katherine made a beautiful corset from this pattern HERE.

*sigh* Now I'm inspired. Maybe I shall work on my Elizabeth Swann corset! :)

Now on DVD

THE DUCHESS

(I must confess I rather like these big wigs. :) I think they're awesome!)

Sorry there has been so much movie posting and so little of my actual projects. I will get back to sewing soon as the Holidays are almost over. I haven't stopped dreaming up projects! I've been doing a lot of costume sketching in my sketchbook, so the ideas are there. :) But you can't see them until later. ;)Well...a note of excitement! The Duchess came out on DVD today! My sister rented it and I've just finished watching it with my family. Not quite as epic as in the theater but I still loved it and could eat up every costume.

Now I REALLY can't wait to start my Dutchess gown! I need to finish a few other projects first though and probably make some panniers. I shall try to be patient.

For now...I shall enjoy the DVD for the few days we have it and try to content myself with sketches and reasearch.

Oh, and in case no one has seen it, I posted pictures of the Crusoe Pirate necklace I made to go with my dad's pirate costume for Christmas at Pemberley Couture. :)

Hope you all are enjoying the Holidays!