Happy New Year!

2014 is here!  I hope that this new year's day has found you healthy, happy and ready to begin the next chapter in your creative journey.  I am ready!  With the holiday celebrations behind me I am turning my eyes and mind to the year to come.  I have the Bath, England trip to think about and get garments ready by September.  There are a couple of minor events here California that I am planning to go to but at this point I don't think I have to make anything new for those...now that is a concept! I have a wardrobe to draw from!  Hurrah!  

As usual, I was sewing up to the last minute to get the day bodice for the 1885 bustle dress ready for the Christmas Tea at the Palace Hotel.  (See previous post).  Sigh, one day I will be able to not be sewing up to the last minute for an event!  Anyway, in fits and starts I have been working on the embroidery for my chemisette started, oh, way back in November?  Here are some updates:

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I am using a fern stitch, satin stitch and French knots.  The design is a simple trellis of leaf and 4 petal flower sprigs along the center front opening, up and around the neck.  The linen for the chemisette is not a bright white, so I had to go with an ivory embroidery floss.  I like the slight difference in the whites.

Next up on my sewing is to finish a Regency boned bodice petticoat, and continue the embroidery on the chemisette.  However, I am set to make an 18th century riding habit by hand.  Yes, by hand.  I am working with friends to learn how to drape the jacket and vest.  I am excited about this and hope to share later on in February.  In the meantime, I will continue to work on the Regency wardrobe.

Again, to all my lovelies, please have a wonderful start to this new year.  Best wishes on your projects - come by often, say hello and I will be peeping in on you, too!  Cheers.

Happy New Year!

I want to wish all my readers a wonderful and happy 2013!

2012 is nearly done.  Here in California, we have about 14 more hours of this past year to enjoy even as I write.  The anticipation of a new year is often a joyous romp of wishes and resolutions and to-do lists.  With the best intentions I plan to get rid of those UFO's (unfinished objects) out of boxes, off shelves and either put to use or moved on to someone else. How about you?  My goal is to make room for those newer projects that have flitted into my head and flutter with great urgency in the cocoon of my thoughts.  But, let me not wax poetic and share some of my hopes and to-dos:

1.  Simplify, simplify, SIMPLIFY! (I am making progress in simplifying my lifestyle so I can enjoy life rather than live it in spectator mode).

2.  Do something creative everyday!

3.  With all the trouble in our world, continue to be a positive and supportive source of light and hope.

Three simple things to do, I think I can manage this.  :)

On the 'New' sewing front here are my plans:

1.  Pet en l'air (just started that, actually)

2.  Brunswick

3.  Victorian corset 

4.  A Tissot era bustle dress

5.  A few nice 50's style dresses for regular wear.

UFO's:

1.  Renaissance corset I started a while ago.

2.  Tudor Shift I started but got stuck on the embroidered pattern which I think I worked out now.

3.  Pair of 18th century cloth mitts

4.  I have a couple of Art Deco outfits that I started but didn't finish.

Phew!  That's a lot to start with and the plan is to get going on them without an event in mind so that I am not sewing before an event.  I really don't like working under pressure.  Do you?  I know some folk do but I don't.  It is such a great feeling to have an event to go to and all you have to do is pull out something from the wardrobe.  That is bliss...until I get that urge - "I can't be seen in that again?"  Alas, do I really need an excuse to make yet another historical garment?  No, of course not.  I have a sewing machine, ergo anything is possible!

In any case, best wishes in the new year and I hope that you will have a prosperous and joyful year.   As Audrey Hepburn says: Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'! 

Happy New year!

New 18th century pics...from LACMA

A friend of mine living in Los Angeles has gone to an exhibit at the Los Angeles County Musuem of art and viewed the latest historical clothing exhibit.  She was allowed to take photos!  Here are two 18th century images that I am just so excited about!  I would love to do both!

Photo by Sheila Murphy Nelson 2010

Photo by Sheila Murphy-Nelson 2010

I would love to embroider a skirt like the one above - yes, that would take forever, I am sure.  Yet, I have no deadline or event to push for...on going project perhaps?  The bodice could be done and used to go with other skirts I have.  The redingote - OMG!  I have fabric that is an olive and sage green stripe that might be awesome for that.  Oh boy!  PROJECTS!  Never mind that I have other UFO's banging on their boxes to be let out and finished.   Oh dear - what to do, what to do? 

Oh, by the way, dear readers - Happy New Year!  May this year bring all of you joy, and good health as well as prosperity.  I appreciate all of you following my blog and look forward to another year of being a part of this wonderful and fun community.  Cheers.