Diary of a Costumer

I feel like (compared to past years) I have sewn very little this year, especially when it comes to historical pieces. I have also (at least since CoCo) posted very little on here, since the sewing and the posting tend to go hand in hand. It's also frustrating that I don't have an easy way to post pictures to here, so any pics in this wrap-up are just going to be links to instagram.

I worked on the first couple of projects all sort of at the same time, but I think the first finished one was my plaid 1880s bustle dress, and the trimmed bonnet to match:
www.instagram.com/p/B6iy6_Gg5IX/

The second was a multipart project -- The Fairy Godmother bustle, which had a skirt with a day bodice and an evening bodice, and also included a new petticoat and re-trimming an old hat. 
www.instagram.com/p/B6lat3kA8IH/ - day bodice (this combo is, I think, my favorite historical costume at the moment)
www.instagram.com/p/BvmbUdXAHM3/ - evening bodice
www.instagram.com/p/BtalqksABqN/ - petticoat

This hardly counts, but I made a new stomacher for my 18th c court gown:
www.instagram.com/p/Bu2v2v5gBth/

Not sewing, but costume-related: I built a large walk-in closet in my garage! I honestly can't remember how I was fitting things in before I made this closet. And apparently I never posted pics of it to instagram, so the only pic to share comes from this post: theladyrebecca.dreamwidth.org/294624.html. But now I keep all of my cotton or poly projects in garment bags out in this closet, and the wools and silks are inside. 

Star Wars flight suit commission. I don't think I have pics of that. 

www.instagram.com/p/ByzE2wsgivc/ - 18th c style skirt commission (with provided fabric).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0c881ugtSA/ - Natural form gala gown, plus chemise, reticule, and bib to go with it

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0eWhN-gAIj/ - 1840s dress, version one. This included adding a tier to my ruffled "Victorian child" petticoat, and curling four human hair hairpieces. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Iay_ngqfi/ - Trimmed and shaped a straw hat out to make up into a teens-era hat

www.instagram.com/p/B2VsFD8AYcL/ - Elsa base bodice commission

www.instagram.com/p/B18BFwugcDy/ - Rocky Horror bodice commission

www.instagram.com/p/B2tH5vBAP7W/ - BB8 baby dress commission

www.instagram.com/p/B5Mq_IUAdvd/ - Rapunzel Dapper Dirndlbound

www.instagram.com/p/B5BWSEnAfgJ/ - Dole Whip ears and skirt (which I apparently need to share better pictures of, if I have them)


www.instagram.com/p/B4UJSregXH3/ - Ariel. Though to be fair, all I did was the sleeves, plus styling the wig.

www.instagram.com/p/B4WxkdyAsWg/ - Altering/repairing/practically remaking the Queen of Hearts dress, plus re-styling my 18th c wig and making the card collar


www.instagram.com/p/B4jdGg3gHqH/ - Sleeves for the 1840s dress

www.instagram.com/p/B41eB7lg8-0/ - Light up fireworks skirt

www.instagram.com/p/B43jdqoghbl/ - Harry Potter skirt

Commission of alterations for the Silverbells carolers, which luckily turned out to be much easier/less than I had feared. 

www.instagram.com/p/B5pKpxKguZY/ - Victorian Christmas outfit commission

www.instagram.com/p/B56-_pdgJar/ - Christmas skirt

www.instagram.com/p/B6ZwfacAwWk/ - Pelerine/fixing the sleeves on my 1840s dress

A Star Wars bow tie for my dad for Christmas (which I guess I didn't share a pic of)

I know looking at that as a list, it seems long, but a fair amount of it is either commissions, very small projects like modern skirts, or alterations/accessories to projects. I'd love to have more actual full historical projects this year, but that is for another post. 

My 2016 Goals changed a few times over the course of the year, but this is what they were:

Navy blue swiss dot Regency - Done!
Black silk taffeta bustle ballgown - Done!
Child's Victorian Gown - Done!
Daniel Deronda Riding Habit - Still hasn't happened, and is no longer on my specific upcoming goals list.
1860s Fully Handsewn dress - Didn't even pick this up all year. Maybe someday, but probably not anytime soon.
Turquoise Silk Mid-19th c  Giant Ballgown - I kind of knew this was going to be a 2017 project, and sure enough, it will be.
Fur-trimmed bustle-era skating outfit - Coming up next; I've already started cutting pieces out.
Winter bustle gown - Almost done!
Super-secret Disney-related project - No longer super secret. This is the Snow White Designer Disney dress, and will be made for the CoCo pool party this year.

In June, I added an Elizabethan kirtle and Mary Poppins Jolly Holiday to the list, both of which I have since completed.


And here's picture proof of everything I made!

( Click here for pictures )


I think that's everything. Overall, not a bad sewing year, though being unemployed for the first eight months of the year certainly helped in that, and as you can tell by my posts, my sewing has definitely slowed down since I started working in September! 

I didn't get to make a lot for myself this year. In fact, I only achieved four of my nine goals... I feel like I started off the year halfway decently, but theatre kind of took over in the last few months, so since CosCol, I have made a whopping one thing for myself.

But here's what I did do:

Regency bonnet and spencer, Queen Elsa commission, new mid-Victorian chemise and drawers (no pics), new 1860s bonnet and mantle (which I apparently still haven't gotten pics of),


New hat for the Ravenclaw bustle, Seaside Bustle gown, new hat for the Seaside bustle,


18th c court gown and wig (and grand panniers, but no pics of those), Regency sari dress,


Embroidered Reticule, Rapunzel Commission, Delysia LaFosse dress,


18th c suit for my BF, Victorian vest for my dad (still needs buttons, but otherwise done)


I also made several things while I was working at the sewing machine shop in the 1st half of the year, and a few things for myself, including two skirts, a pair of bloomers, an embroidered shirt for my mom, and an apron. And I did alterations on my Edwardian blue skirt, my Regency stays, my 1903 outfit, and my BF's Civil War uniform.


Just as a reminder, these were my goals:
1. Finish Princess Anna (it's almost done, and will probably take me no more than 2 hrs to finish)
2. 18th c mitts - I think I actually mocked one up at one point. Not sure what happened to it.
3. Victorian waistcoat for my dad
4. Seaside bustle gown and hat (I already have fabric earmarked for it).
5. Regency evening gown (a sari is on its way to me - Well, it turned out not to be evening, but whatever.
6. Regency pelisse (lavender wool in the stash)
7. Victorian bustle ballgown for CosCol gala (already have all the fabrics) - Fabrics were used for the court gown instead
8. Most likely a commission for Queen Elsa from Frozen.
9. Button boots. I still want to figure out how to make them. - No. Though I just ordered a pair of Fugawees!
Oh, and I didn't move to LA, which was my plan. Instead, I've been with my BF since last Jan. Though I have now had 3 costuming jobs in local professional theatre, and pretty much decided that I don't want to do that as an actual job.

2011 was a pretty productive year for me, especially in the first few months.

January: Pre-Raphaelite-inspired linen dress and bodice (which I still haven't worn for anything)
             Chemise a la Reine, with short-sleeve shift, and matching sash and petticoat
           
February: Fully boned stays, which had been a ufo before this because I had never finished the binding
               My 1660s Restoration gown, with accompanying 17th c chemise
               Two pairs of crocheted mitts
               18th c floral striped petticoat
               Refurbished 17th c shoes

March: The beginnings of a hand-quilted petticoat, which I never really worked on again after that month. Maybe someday.
           Petal-shaped bum pad
           16th c escoffion
           Chemise-dress (faire-wear) commision
           I think I also made my short-sleeve chemise blouse in March, but since I never blogged about it, I can't remember.

Nothing in April, since I was busy moving across the country.

May: Floral robe a l'anglaise, with matching floral petticoat, and belt

June: Burgundy 18th c petticoat for the robe a l'anglaise,
        18th c hat (from scratch!)
        18th c cap, fichu, and pockets
      
July: Finally finished the 1950s Jean Desses cocktail dress, with matching shrug
        1940s romper suit w/ skirt
        Jacques Doucet-inspired early Edwardian chiffon and lace gown

August: Late Victorian walking skirt for my mom, w/ shirtwaist blouse
            Huge Edwardian hat
            Laughing Moon corset, started in the class at CosCol
            Short bustle, for Jane costume

September: Petticoat and skirt for Jane
                  Commissioned fish doublet and collar, with matching pants
                  Spats for Jane

October: Jane bodice, with detachable collar and tie
              Dyed the umbrella for Jane, and stitched eyelet lace to the edges
              Refurbished Regency-style shoes
              One black velvet muff and one white furry muff

November: 1860s black lace and ribbon cap

December: Pagoda-sleeved bodice for my mom for Dickens, with matching ruffle and trim added to her skirt from last year


Overall, not too shabby. Tomorrow, I'll post my list of everything I want to make for 2012. Happy New Year!