Isabella's Project Diary

What happened was Mom told me Dad wanted to go see the "caber tossing" this weekend and I figured that spending the weekend with my Dad on Father's Day weekend was probably a far better way to go. After all, the hassle just to get to Hagerstown, only spend a couple of hours, maybe 3, and then have to go home because I need to let Miss Ginsie out? It's just not fair to Ginsie when I could take her and spend the day with my family while listening to great music. And then there is the whole paying versus non-paying thing I mentioned.... That just keeps getting me more and more angry.
So, Potomac Celtic Festival it is. I should have the purple linen Italian Scottish gown done in time (hehehe) for that. I did work on the partlet for the Eleanor gown. I need more trim. I think I've already used about 20 yards or so. I didn't really count. I have plenty, I just need to make more by sewing the ribbons together.
After I get the partlet trim done, I'll sew up the Italian Scottish gown. That won't take long at all since that doesn't require much handsewing at all; only the eyelets. The rest will all be machine.
After all of that is done (this week), I'll get back to the 18th c stuff that seriously needs to get done next week. I might make a 1790's gown first out of this red and white striped cotton I bought a couple of years ago just for a late 18th c gown. I have 13 yards of it so I know I have more than enough and considering it's July, a 1790's "patriotic" gown would work well...

Mom decided I needed kidnapping today. We took Dad to the airport and then went to Tysons (Corner Mall, 8th biggest mall in the USA). The Hallmark store there was the only store left (that I've found) that has(d) the "New World Candles". It was a group of candles that Yankee Candle brought out in 2007. Mom LOVES the Mediterranean Cypress and I love the Moroccan Rose (It smells like Egypt! Honest.). I also like the Indonesian Ginger (it smells yummy). So, we each bought a ton of candles (Pennsic will smell really nice this year!).
I took Mom around the mall which is always interesting. We went home and I got a bit of sewing in (I brought my 18th c stays with me and worked on those) as well as some knitting (it's looking like a blanket!!!). I also played with the baby and told him all about the contrast and comparisons between the old Charlie and Chocolate Factory and the new one. (Hey, it was on! We must integrate the child into geek...er pop culture sooner or later. Who cares if he's only three months old and thinks Aunt Sissy is amusing?)
Also, it looks like I will be teaching a class at Sapphire Joust. This should be funny....it will be on early 16th c Italian styles (How they vary from region to region, the variations in the first 30 years or so, how to recreate them, ect...) I'll bring (probably be wearing at least one) a few examples and all..

I've decided that I finally know what I'm going to do with the maroon velvet that I've had for four years or so now...it will be a coat. Specifically, the coat on page 122 of your Janet Arnold book as well as page 174 of your Historical Fashion in Detail book. I have pink silk (somewhere. I think it's in Harry Potter's room.) I have silver lace with spangles (Thank you India! I've gotten some amazing trims from people in India...). All that with the maroon velvet should make for a similar looking garment....

There are some gorgeous icons up that I think a few others might like. A lot of them are very costume-y related. The icon I'm using with this post is one of the ones I kidnapped. 18thc yumminess.

I made a 16th c corset Friday night because I was bored. It's sidelacing and it's most defiantly not the best (I used a machine to stitch it up. That's fine for the boning channels but not when working with bias tape...) but it will work under gowns and no one will see it so I'm not too worried. I have to sew up the eyelets and then it will be wearable. (The problem with side lacing is it means you have more eyelets to sew up. Nearly 50! Ack!)

I also wanted to wish everyone a very

Happy and Blessed Easter

I started on the 18th c stays. I think I might bind them in the remaining red silk I have but I don't know yet. I'm using black thread to make the outlines of the boning really pop. I'm going to hand sew it so it might be done by the time I'm back from vacation. Yes, I'm bringing the project with me to St. Kitts.

I was going through my fabric stash yesterday and saw, again, this fabric that I've had for a while. It's gorgeous. It's a cotton jacquard in a deep red and gold. I finally have decided what it should be. I'm going to make (another) 1550's Venetian gown out of it. The slight difference this time is that I've created my own pattern for it. I normally just edit an existing pattern of a bodice and add a skirt. The muslin I made for this one is a slight bit different. Hopefully, it will come out okay.

I basically want to make a couple more Venetians for myself before Pennsic because front lacing dresses at Pennsic are a good thing. Not that I mind asking people to help all that much in the morning but I would like to be able to lace myself in and run if necessary...and have a pretty dress to boot! ...especially a pretty PERIOD dress and not one of the "irish" dresses. (Okay, so I have one up in my room...I only wear it to renn faire though. It's not an SCA dress.)

I finally got around to taking the skirt off the Elizabethan. I think I'm just going to make it more mid 16th c Italian now that it's in pieces. I still need to cut the skirt up and then resew the entire thing. That, hopefully, won't take too long tonight.

Poe Dress: In pieces as well. :-) Although I did go last night to Joann's and get the flannel backed satin attack_laurel suggested. It still seemed a bit thin so I'm creating an inner layer of the super thin fleece. That should make it warm. The fleece is grey, the satin is black, and the coat is black velvet. I'm thinking of adding some of the lilac cording I've had since 2003 to the sleeves of the coat around the cuffs. I saw a pattern I liked...just need to find the thing again...eh, that's what's work is for! Looking for random things no one else can find or remember!

...I'm so bringing my muff to this....

18th c gown: Yes, I'm making plans for this now. I figure I'll make one out of the 7+ yards of brown cord I have lying about. That with some sort of pink fabric (velvet?) should look okay. I'll make a second one after I figure out the problems with the first. Which is why I want to use the $1 yard cord I got ummm...three years ago? first. I have patterns for it, I think I'll go with the later 1760's early 1770's style for now but we'll see....

Miss Ginsie got stung by a bee. I had just let her back in after her final potty run before going to bed when I noticed she was trying to bite something on her paw. At first I thought it was a tick and grabbed a paper towel to discard of the creature permentantly. I got a better look and noticed it was black and thought it was a big spider...until I heard the buzzing and saw the yellow markings. Great. Ginsie doesn't cry anymore when she gets hurt which bugs me. She just stops and looks at you for help. So I managed to get the bee out of her fur and it's now disposed of mob style. She seems to be okay and the paw isn't swollen but I wanted to stay up for an extra half hour to be sure.

I did get some sewing done today. I'll post the psuedo-Venetian pictures and auction up tomorrow. I'll also post a poll about a very expensive fabric I got today. I saw it and I had to have it. It's changeable turqouise and purple irredescent silk with pink flowers embroidered on it. I love it. I have almost 8 yards of it and need to know what to make out of it. It's a modern looking swag embroidery (I'll post a picture tomorrow) so I'm not sure about using it for a serious historical gown. I was thinking maybe a psuedo 18th c gown ala Cinderella? With pink silk organza as an overlay?