Inspired by Emma

I watched Emma yesterday and fell in love all over again with her wardrobe. One of the things I love about this movie is the color pallet. All the pastels are so gorgeous. I love how pretty this movie is. 

 Now I'm quite in the mood for something Regency. (when am I not though?) I have a few plans as soon as I finish my Maid Marian costume!

 I'm also determined to figure out a lace fingerless glove pattern. I love these gloves Mrs and Miss Bates wear.

 I've always been in love with Emma's pink archery dress...oh if only I had pink in my fabric stash! Well, that's a good reason to use my fabric up...so I can buy some. ;)

 Isn't Jeremy Northam the perfect Mr. Knightly? I don't think anyone else could ever play him as well. He just IS Mr Knightly.

Well, I'm off to finish up a project for my grandma and clean house...then maybe I can squeeze in some work on my Maid Marian dress. I'm thinking it may not get finished this month either...but hey! The month isn't over yet! You never know...

2012 Costume Challenge: ~January~ Georgiana Darcy Regency Gown

I finished my first month of costuming for my 2012 Challenge! This is a costume that has been in my project box for a very long time. Mainly because I outgrew it so I had no motivation to finish it. But I decided I would go ahead and finish it, one day soon it will go into my Etsy shop.

As I was working on this Regency dress, I thought about who it reminded me of...and I kept coming back to Georgiana Darcy. Although I'm sure if it really was her dress it wouldn't be made of cotton and would probably be much more grand. But something about the soft cream color made me think of her. 

So...here are the photos...I am in great need of a better camera...and some skill! So, sorry for the not so great photos. :P

 The sleeves on this dress are detachable so it's perfect for winter or summer!

Back View:

  I used shell buttons for the back closure and the sleeves.

On to February's costume...maybe I can get a bit of a head start! :)
How are some of your challenges coming?

Feeling Persuaded

I watched Persuasion the other day and it has done nothing to help cure my Regency mood. :) I'm even more desperate to pull out my fabric stash and make something. Maybe I will do that today....

I really love Anne's pale blue dress.
I love the sleeves and the neckline...
It's just lovely. :) And now I'm in the mood to read the novel again. There's time for all that aside from all the wedding stuff I have to do, right?

Regency

I've been in the mood all week to make Regency clothes. I don't have time right now to take on a huge project...but I'm trying to dream up something small that I could make to satisfy me until I can make a dress or something.
What era are you in the mood for lately?

Regency Progress...

For my next Regency project I decided to try out the crossover gown from the Sense and Sensibility pattern, The Elegant Lady's Closet. I got all the pattern pieces traced yesterday so I will start cutting fabric soon! I haven't tried this pattern yet so I'm excited to see how it turns out. :) Have any of you made up this pattern before?

I'm also thinking about making the drawstring gown at some point. I'm not sure if I have the right fabric for that one or not...we'll see. :)

Anyway...I'll keep you posted as I progress. It feels good to be working on a historic project...I haven't done one in awhile!

Something Regency....

Is swirling around in my mind....

I'm digging through my fabric today and have quite a pile of things to make Regency clothes out of...it's so hard to decide what to make first though! Will update soon with my progress. :)

Bright Star

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."

Yesterday I went to the theater to see 'Bright Star' the new film about John Keats and Fanny Brawne. If you love beautiful clothes, hand stitching, and poetry...this is the film for you. I left the theater so inspired, and slightly gloomy. Do take a handkerchief with you as it will be needed!

Ben Wishaw did an incredible job as John Keats. One couldn't help falling in love with him.

And despite all the gorgeous costumes in this film, Keat's frock coat was my favorite:

Abbie Cornish was amazing as Fanny Brawne, and her costumes are stunning:

She designs and sews everything she wears so there is a lot of detail that we don't normally get to see in costume dramas. My friends and I were in awe over this sweater that is made of what looks like really tiny granny squares:

I am in love with her striped spencer:

Her little sister 'Toots' had some of the most adorable little dresses I've ever seen. Now I want to make children's Regency clothes. :)

Overall the film was brilliant. Beautiful cinematography, excellent acting, intricate clothing, wonderful soundtrack, and as if that wasn't enough...it's filled with the beautiful poetry and letters of John Keats.

Anybody else getting excited?? :)

I can't wait for the new Emma to air on Masterpiece Theater. I've heard rumor it's to air sometime this Fall.
The wonderful Romola Garai plays Emma:
Jonny Lee Miller plays Mr. Knightley:

Michael Gambon plays Mr. Woodhouse: (I adore this man)

Blake Ritson plays Mr Elton. Oh dear, I love this guy too.

And *drum role please* Rupert Evans is to play Mr Frank Churchill. *sigh* I've been dying for this guy to be in another period role since playing Fredrick in North and South. Now I'll most likely fall for him instead of Mr. Knightley. Why do they always pick my favorite actors for Frank Churchill? Oh well...perhaps he'll astound us all and make us reel with hatred. We shall see.

The costumes look so amazing. Now I must go sew something Regency...

Lost in Austen

I just finished watching 'Lost in Austen' with my mom. I confess I didn't like it very much as they twisted the Pride and Prejudice storyline waaay to far. But it was quite funny in some parts and I loved the costumes.

I loved this spencer that Elizabeth Bennet wears...which reminds me of the one Jane wears in the A&E Pride and Prejudice when she gets caught in the rain on the way to Netherfield:
I just think it's darling:

Bingley looking dashing in his high collar and cravat:

I also fell head over heels in love with the bonnet Amanda Price wears. I'm so tempeted to try and make one. :)
I loved Amanda's spencer as well...when I have more time I'll look for better pictures of it. I just love those sleeves. :)

So now I'm in such a costuming mood. I feel like I haven't worked on something historic in ages. haha I guess it's only been something like a week. See how addicting it is!? :)

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. ;)