Going away for a few days....

I'm going to visit my Italian Relatives up in a place called Dunkirk New York. If you know where that is, you are related to me. Even if not directly, I'm sure you somehow either are a cousin or know a cousin. It's that small of a town. So, before I go, I thought I'd leave everyone with a few pictures of different gowns I've worked on in the past. I'll be wearing all of them this year plus the new ones. I also want to leave everyone with what my future projects are.

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The first picture was taken at last years pirate costume contest. The coat is not one I made. It's real. As in the fabric was only made between 1714-1718 in France. The embroidery is actual copper bullion. The buttons, as most fashion history gurus will notices, are semi-modern. They are actually art deco, probably the late 40's early 50's. I got it off of ebay from a guy who got it at a defunct theater that hadn't been in business since the late 50's. My theory regarding the coat. During WWII, fabric was rationed. Well, for small theaters this meant having to either make do, or come up with other way to make great costumes. One way is to take old clothing that is no longer wearable but has good pieces of fabric left, and make something else out of it. Well, if they had an old sack dress, there would be a good six to ten yards originally in the gown. The bodice may have been beyound repaire, but the skirt might have some pieces left to it. The coat only needs about three yards of fabric. So, my theory is they took an old 18th c gown, tore what was left up, and used it for a 1740's styled coat. Otherwise, I have no idea where you'd find three yards of early 18th c fabric lying around or why you'd use it for a small theather. The middle gown is my "Just Breathe" gown as a remake from the movie Ever After. It's also up at the Ever After Costumes site. It took nearly 450 freshwater pearls to complete this thing. I love it. I originally just did the dress because I heard it was difficult. The beading is difficult but making the basic gown isn't. I have more on it at my own site http://www.strawberriesncreame.com if you'd like to know more. The last one is another Ever After gown. I think it's known as the ruins gown because it's when Danielle goes to the ruins to meet her prince and tell him goodbye. I wore it for the last day of faire last year, but I hadn't made the gauntlets yet. The gauntlets are just the last left over bits of silk velvet I had after making this gown, a forepart for another gown, and the sleeves to my Arwen dress.

My future projects. I've decides I want to make a skirt with the purple plaid I got at the silent auction for $3. However, with my left over purple velvet, I want to make a front lacing bodice with a panel in the front. I've seen 'em at fest but I'm not sure if anyone there makes 'em. The front panel will be reversable and be purple on both sides. The only differance will be that one side will have embroidery. I'm thinking a nice, simple, celtic knot at this point but I'm open to suggestions. It will be out of either white or black cording. Another, simple, project is a blue linen skirt. I have a red corduroy bodice that I love. I figure the combo will be perfect for Sept 11 this year since it falls on a sunday. That way I can be patrotic but still be period. Corny, I know. With some more of the blue linen, I also want to make the 15th c gown made famous in many of van der Weydan paintings. I have the fabric (although the sleeve material I have is hillarious. I'll post it when I get back on Wednesday or Thursday), I just need to sit down and cut the darn thing out. I figured out the pattern and it's very easy, believe it or not. If you look closely, there is an underbust line. I think it's kinda fixed like a sports bra. In another picture of a similar gown, but from the back, (it's even the same model!) it has a V back. I'll keep everyone updated when I start working on it.