Diary of a Costumer

No UFO completion for me. Or at least, not really. I did initially say I would do mending as my ufo, but in my mind, I had changed that to the riding habit (or at least the jacket part). Technically, I did actually do a little mending! I bought a fur stole off of ebay that I had intended to cut and make into a fur muff. But it was just too pretty! So instead, I stitched up the three tears in the fur, and now it's wearable! And pretty! And soft! And apparently I really like fur now. (Only vintage - I would never buy a new fur).

On the other hand, I didn't do any of the mending I had originally intended, and the riding habit jacket is pretty much nowhere near completion. At this point, the skirts have been pleated to the bodice, the collar is/was finished, but has not been attached (mostly because when I went to attach it, I found I had cut it too long, so now I need to adjust it...), and the sleeves are sewn together but not attached. And then of course there's all the trimming. Pretty sure I'm not going to have it done for the portrait sitting I'm doing next Friday, either. I've just been feeling so unproductive and unmotivated this week!

In past news, I had an absolutely wonderful time at the 18th c card party last Saturday. The pictures from my camera can be found at this facebook album (let me know if you can't see them - I have no clue what my privacy settings are anymore). Everyone looked gorgeous, and it was lovely to meet new people, and catch up with the few people I already knew. Here's a quick teaser:


Here's a couple additional pics of the completed Robe a la Turque.


And here's my mink!


This week, I'm looking forward to joining at least one of the ladies from last Saturday's card party at an Austen-based Improv Show, where I will be dressed up in my pseudo-Regency Chemise a la Reine. :)

I finished the cloak! I'm really happy with it. I'm sure I'll post pictures eventually. And I cut out the shoulder strap pieces for the two bodices. I have to attach them, attach the underbodice sleeves, figure out the pattern for the overbodice sleeves, make those, and hem the robe and the petticoat. And I'm wearing this all in less than a week. Ahhhh!!!!

In other news, my silk came today for the 17th c gown. Of course, I'm not sure I like it. I held it up to the inspiration portrait, and the base color is the same, but it's shot with either brown or black, so the whole thing just seems so much more brown than orange! But if I send it back, I'm out like $20+. And I have no perfect fabric. So now I don't know what to do. Why oh why didn't I buy that gorgeous orange silk taffeta back at Home Fabrics?!?! I'm honestly thinking - if any of you socal readers are planning on hitting the fabric district sometime in the next couple months, would it be possible for someone to send me fabric, and I'll pay you back? Because I can't seem to find that perfect orange anywhere online...

Otherwise, maybe I'll just settle for poly taffeta.

Here's the Robe a la Turque pictures I promised you! You'll have to wait a little bit longer for the 1950s makeup pics.


( Photos Under the Cut! )



Unfortunately, I got nothing done on it today. I went and saw Anna Karenina (the art direction and score were amazing, and the cinematography was wonderful. The costumes were fantastic on everyone except Keira Knightly, who looked like she was stepping out of a Victorian-inspired Vogue photoshoot.) After running some errands, my roommate dyed my hair, I redid my nails, and I wound up having enough time to cut out the cloak pieces (minus the hood), and write this post. :) Hopefully I'll get more done tomorrow.

I'm suffering from a mild case of CADD, mixed with lack of time. It's making me not very productive. On the other hand, I've come up with an idea of sorts for the pre-CosCol Disneyland trip which [Poll #1888814]

As far as the robe a la turque goes, I've assembled the outer overbodice pieces and the skirts of the robe, and have cut out almost all of the pieces for both bodices - all I have left to cut out are the straps, and the the interlining for the back and side back pieces.

I don't feel like I was all that productive this year, probably since the early candy bustle wound up taking up soooo much of my time, but I did make a fair bit leading up to CosCol.

( Pictures under the cut. )



My goals for 2012 were:
-a black knee length skirt. I didn't make one, but I bought one!
-the 1869 Pink Candy Striped Early Bustle Gown. Completed!
-Titanic gown. I started one, but I never finished it. The skirt is done, and the bodice is partially done. Now it's languishing as a ufo.
-Teens-era corset. Completed!
-Ballgown bodice for my black and gold plaid Dickens dress. Completed!
-Late Victorian jacket for my mom. She decided she wanted an Edwardian one instead. I've fitted the mockup to her, but haven't actually started the final jacket.
-Late Victorian bathing suit. Completed!
-18th c Robe a la Turque. Not for 2012, but I've finally started it!
-18th c quilted petticoat. Completed!
-1780s-style red wool Riding Habit. Started, but not yet finished.
-18th c red wool cloak. Nope, not yet.
-a Victorian waistcoat for my dad for Dickens. Nope, but I'll do it this year!
-18th c mitts. Nope.
-Regency corset. I didn't get into the CosCol class last year. We'll see if I can manage one on my own before this year's CosCol.
-Regency day dress. Nope.
-Regency overgown. Nope.

Overall, not too bad.

I started on the robe a la turque petticoat after work today. I washed the fabric, cut it, serged the edges, and assembled the pieces. It's such a lightweight fabric that I'm doing four panels instead of my usual two, so it will hopefully have a lot of nice pouf. Tomorrow, I'm going to pleat it all up and attach the waist tapes (note to self: buy waist tapes). I'd like to finish it, minus the hem (which as usual I don't plan to do yet) by tomorrow night. I was originally thinking of adding a ruffle to this petticoat, but now that there's going to be so much fabric in it anyway, I'm not so sure. Plus, I don't get my discount at work until Jan 10th, and I would need a new pinking sheers if I'm going to do a ruffle.

 

Also, I hate Downton Abbey. That Christmas special was just plain cruel.