A Creative Start

the start

2009-12-13T12:28:23Z

Ok just about finised my new bonnet - I just have to tack down the trim.

I started my new day dress. Pattern as been chosen (sense and sensibility drawstring). Bodice has been mocked up. Bodice has been cut out. Back is sewn. And front lining is half hemmed.

I wish she would pick something and stick to it

2009-12-06T08:58:45Z

Went to poisonkitty today for a craft/sewing afternoon (thanks Mel for the scrummy afternoon tea) and what did I do??????

Shoes????? ..... NO

Reningote?????? ......... NO

New Regency day dress??????? ........ NO

I actually started a new bonnet.

I had some left over strips of straw??? from a hat I took apart and started to sew together a brim to make a bonnet/hat. Well I started to use my left overs but they weren't long enough and weren't giving me the right shape I wanted, so I used some of kasmith1970 's strips from a hat she took apart (thanks sis).

This should be just the right kinda project to really get me back in the creative mood. Getting my mojo back peeps.

Which means I WILL start shoes, Reningote and Regency day dress soon.

OH and I just bought some white silk chiffon with dots to make a ball gown - *squee*

what a way to begin

2009-02-10T12:10:30Z

After just about 2 months of no posting this is what I wanna know .......

Please give me a list of people (and I have to have heard of them) who have STARTED (and I mean started not re-started or comebacks) a successful career in the creative fields that were over 40!!!!!!!

I need some inspiration for perhaps a major career shift.

I have too many projects on the go

2008-12-18T11:13:14Z

And I know this because I can have a change from sewing and can step straight in to scrapbooking without even thinking.

After the disastrous Tuesday night / Wednesday morning I needed to get out of the house so went for a visit to the lovely Cats (ainead</lj> ) Wednesday night and as she was scrapbooking I took along my stuff too. Now I actually have 3 albums on the go, 1. my wedding album (and yes I KNOW it's been 20 years), 2. An album for the ~~professional~~ Pixie photos of my kids/family and 3. an album journaling the houses we had built.

Number 2 won out probably because it would be the easiest AND because I haven't actually started it.

I spend the greater part of today at Cat's as well (she had today off too - yippee) ... aaaaaand I managed to do 3 pages .... 3. I am actually really happy about that.

At 3 1/2 months of age I had some photos taken of each of my bubs (well except for Georgia who was actually 4 months but she was number 3 child *shrug*). These are the photos I decorated up, one page for each of them. I am sure that the scrapbooking gods would scoff and laugh at my simple attempts but dare I take photos for show and tell ....... nuh :(

The biggest buzz about today was the NON RUSH!! No time limits on having lunch, playing the Wii, scrapbooking, watching the GORGEOUS Prince Caspian and his embroidery - just fun and relaxing.

Thanks my dear for a lovely day, for letting me use all your stuff and my Chrissy pressie.

EJC project

2008-12-09T10:14:17Z

I am going to do this!!!!! First thing is research ....

AND my wonderful friend Cat (who now has my unending adoration) found a newspaper clipping describing the wedding.

"The bride was adorned in white satin with a long train tablier embroidered with small pearls, a spray of orange blossom in the front of the coiffure, long tulle veil fastened with diamond pins. She carried a handsome bouquet of the usual bridal flowers"

It certainly is enough to get started (fabric sourcing, buying beads etc), not sure I will be able to get anymore info than this, unless someone at Newstead has some. So I will have to just have to make some decisions on aspects of the dress on my own (with some help from anyone who is willing to - hint hint).

BUT first thing i will be making is a new corset and Erin saraic has made an absolute brilliant one, you can see hers here: saraic.livejournal.com/21239.html

So I am going to pull apart the simplicity one I made and make this instead. This will be the project for the school holidays. Will need to get some fabric for the top layer, silk I am thinking.

I wanna ...

2008-12-05T09:47:56Z

I have been very nicely hinted at to reproduce this:

She is Evelyn Jane Casey, nee Harris, who was married in 1888 from Newstead House. I would like to make it for the Q150 event at Newstead house next year.

I would really really really like to do this but it will mean that if I do I will have to drop other projects for next year.

I guess I have some serious thinking to do.

Mental note

2008-12-02T12:43:37Z

Don't travel along a very windy roads with 5 people in the car in a hurry - spells disaster and vomit.

That pretty much describes our trip to Legume (about 180km south west of Brissy). This was all for a Twilight tea we were invited to.

We were supposed to arrive around 3:30 (I left my house around midday) but didn't get there until 4:20 at which time we were expected to be dressed and ready to be presented at 5. So can 5 gals be totally dressed (and that means hair as well) in 40 min ......

well actually we can !!!!.

The event went swimmingly smooth after that with my sister Kerry, in front of an audience talking about crinolines, was the star of the show. We were all one at a time escorted to the compare and had mini interviews. We were quite a hit.

I'll post pics soon but you can look at my sister Kerry's here picasaweb.google.com.au/kerryannphotos/TwilightTea#

Oh by the way we went a different way home (the proper way may I add) with no adverse affects.

Oh dear

2008-11-22T21:51:56Z

I have been looking back a my latest posts, scarce as they are and realised that I haven't posted a photo of Georgia from montville....

well here she is

one sort of showing the back and her drawers showing ...

and here is me by myself ...

I am so happy now

2008-11-22T21:41:43Z

I did manage to finish my 20's dress and wore it to the Vintage fair and I was really happy with the result. I am so in love with the 20's.

A photo of us gals at the fair (photo curtesy of my sis Kerry).

What a day!!! I purchased 2 hats (one green cloche which I am now dying to make another dress for), a beautiful shawl, a mini fan and vintage fur stole. Cat bought me a pair of green gloves to match the hat - I am definitely going to make it now!!!!!

We had so many compliments from all the stall owners and the organisers, I am pretty sure that we will be attending the next one and I will be making sure I have heaps of money on hand - oh the beaded bags were just gorgeous and I want one

Cat and I were in one stall and I saw the most gorgeous parasol, the handle was to die for .. but the fabric was torn in a couple of places so I said *wishingly* I could recover it and Cat said that I am very good at it, well the stall owner jumped at that and wants me to cover parasols for him. I am very flattered at his insistance and I gave him my email address. I will have to think long and hard about this. It is one thing to make your own and pull apart new and not very expensive umbrellas, it doesn't matter if you stuff it up but to recover a vintage one - ooohh it scares me abit. Plus there is the time factor and if husbands and children are already complaining about how much time you spend in sewing room .... well you get the drift. Still I can't help but be tempted cause it would be a great feeling bringing these old lovelies back to life and the money wouldn't be bad either.

We also met another organiser/stall owner who is in a vintage car club and has invited us to their rallies - now that would be fun and a wonderful opportunity to make a teens travel dress.

Nice surprises and sewing flatness

2008-11-21T10:06:18Z

If a very good friend of yours (who has been to your house many times) rings and asks for your address, you get just a little suspicious even when she said it was for her new address book .... mmmm ... SO anyhow I decided to believe her and didn't think anything about it after that and received in the mail yesterday a lovely hand written letter on very pretty paper with personal touches all through it.

It was just what needed as I had the most crappiest day. Thanks Cat xxoo.

I love email and the tech world and being connected to people on line, but there is just something very special about receiving letters in the mail especially these days of tech as usually the only thing you get in the mail is bills.

I should take a leaf out of her book and write back and to others that I love. I am not the best letter writer but should remind myself of how it felt to receive and do to others etc ..... Maybe it is something that I should do during my morning/afternoon tea breaks instead of getting sprung by HG ..... personal joke.

ANYHOW on to the sewing business. As most of you now know my sewing room had an inch of water in it and has left the floor very filthy, which is really not that much worse that the state it was in before.

Thankfully my sewing machine and overlocker still work (the feet were under water), so there should be no obstacle to sewing my little heart out.

But I just feel very flat, the 20's dress isn't going to plan and that is putting me off. I love my cloche hat though.

Well I should go and try to pull a rabbit out of my hat and wave my magic wand and come up with something wearable ...

... *sigh* ....

videos

2008-11-17T11:25:59Z

Power is back on, yeah - haven't been in my sewing room yet to see if everything is ok.

Here is the videos from my phone (so sorry about the quality as it was taken behind glass,
That is Kerry you can hear, freaking out.

Next one is from my daughters room

and last one is Kerry's footage from her phone

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Biggest happening of the week

2008-11-14T11:51:12Z

My little girl is growing up. She had her semi-formal this week. *sigh*

I am very thankful that it been and gone and she is unscathed.

Kate invited a few girls over for Pre-formal and having fun getting ready together.

Not long after I got home I was summoned into the sanctuary and was presented with one of her friends in her dress. I just stood there, looking. I was then "reminded" that I promised to alter her dress. I do vaguely remember something of a question regarding Ashleigh's dress .... mmmm .... one thing my kids take very much advantage of - their mother's bad memory.

So ... I grabbed my pins and started to pin - but where the heck was the zipper (see the photo below if you need visuals - the white dress with the green band). I asked Ashleigh how she got it on??? Over her head was the reply - no wonder it was baggy in the bodice - so I calmly responded that I will need to put in a zipper if she wants it taken in. You can guess where I went after that - Spotlight - to get a zipper.

I then spent the next 2 hours (and I swear half of that was unpicking - the dear who made the dress over-locked EVERY SEAM - even under the lined bodice - although I do have to give her credit as it was the 2nd dress she made (that is what Kate told me but in other words not very experienced) and she did a pretty good job). The way it was constructed was not conventional in the "formal/satin" type dresses and I have come to the conclusion that the pattern was for stretch fabrics hence why no zipper.

I am not really proud of the job being rushed but Ashleigh was pleased, which I guess is the main point.

Kate (being like her father) bought her dress in April and it looked stunning on her (yes I know I am biased). She did the other girls hair (except one) - this is one very proud mother.

Dropped the girls off at the event. They came home around 11:30, Kate had a great night. Then they changed and headed off to the "Post" party. Every parent's nightmare.

Now, I joking said I wanted to know where she was going to be and Kate jokingly said she would ring me every 2 hours. I said that would be good, and so she said that she would ring me at 1am, 3am and 5 am thinking I wouldn't want that, being woken up all night - HA it is exactly what I wanted. She did ring me at 2:30. She came home and "let me know" she was home at 3:30. I asked her if she had a good time and she told me no it was boring. Should I be happy about that?

I am very thankful she behaved herself and came home safe and sound.

has it been more than a week

2008-11-05T09:18:31Z

Since my last post?

My how time flies. I haven't done any sewing nor have I tidied up my sewing room. I have been trying to give credit to the people i have "borrowed" photos from and posted on line and it is a long process. If I have got it wrong please let me know.

Now to the next events/projects.

1. Vintage fair, I haven't been to one of these yet and really would like to attend this one. I am very tempted to make a 20's summer suit/dress for this (have been totally inspired by the movie Leatherheads).

2. Twilight garden party. A gentleman that I met at the Heritage ball has asked us ladies to be apart of the programme of his twilight garden party. Thankfully I don't have to do anything for it except drive 150 km west. Crinolines will get another work out.

3. Christmas breakup. ACG's christmas breakup - wild wild west poker night. I was going to make an evening bodice for my bustle skirt but have changed my mind as I would just like to make something simple and be comfortable for the night. SO I have decided to dress as a native american. Ash (if he said he was going - just hope he remembers this) will still go as cowboy. I could also dress G and N in easy costumes as well. AND HOPEFULLY NO STRESS

By the way it seems I have obtained a few sewing impliments from Montville that aren't mine. A small handled pair of sissors, and a maroon spool of thread. If they are yours (I am pretty sure the thread is yours Cherie) I am sooooo sorry and please let me know so I can return them.

MONTVILLE

2008-10-26T10:23:38Z

What a weekend. I am exhausted.

here are some quick pics
Saturday:

Sunday:

I decided and I did

2008-10-18T05:04:20Z

I have been ummming and arrrring over whether to make Georgia a corset. Once I decided yes (I think she needs one to help support the skirts) I then had these decisions: what kind, how much do I bone, how many panels, do I add gussets, do I lace/button it up .......

Well it took me all week to make all of those decisions and made one this morning. Just have to add the gromments (I decided to lace).

My inspiration is this one only I omitted the elastic because I wanted boning at the sides:

I am so looking forward to the weekend at Monteville and as I have this week off I am hoping I can get alot accomplished.

Also I bought this belt today that has the most gorgeous Victorian buckle. I will dismantle and reuse with a black satin belt.

Will post pics soon.

All sweetness ...

2008-10-11T23:47:06Z

Making great progress with Georgia's costume.

I am about 90% done on her crinoline, just have to join the hoops together, sew tapes to waistband and add the brads. We had a try on yesterday and she is all sweetness.

Georgia's crinoline
with her petticoat on

I bought her fabric yesterday in a lovely purple check, so we are going with this look:

I will hopefully have hers done this week/next weekend so I have the week before to do some stuff for mine such as make a bonnet, jacket and perhaps a parasol.

My my my ...

2008-10-05T12:20:56Z

I have just come home from seeing "The Duchess". OH MY MY MY!!!!

It didn't disappoint, nope not one bit. The costumes, sooooooo many silky stripey goodnesses and the hats ... OH MY MY MY .... I even enjoyed Keira's performance.

AHHH going to dream now of silky stripey goodnesses.......

Regency picnic ... photos

2008-09-30T09:55:48Z

I have heaps of photos - but not from my camera. I let my youngest and her friend have control of it most of the day, so there are lots of photos of ducks and trees and sky. I was very fortunate to have a photographer friend come (sister of irish dance client) and take some lovely shots of a few of us.

Some from mine:

A couple from my photographer friend

Go and see most (not of ducks, trees and sky) of my photos at my photobucket

http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u171/lahoo88/Regency%20picnic%2008/

I had a wonderful afternoon and really want to do this every year.

Can I do it .... yes I can

2008-09-26T09:13:17Z

Can I make 2 girls regency dresses in 1 day. Well it seems that I can, I traced and cut out and made up most of the bodices last night. I just finished one off and just have the hem on the other to do. Now I did have some very good help from my sis all afternoon who sew'd the rest one of the dresses while I finished the other. But they are done and in plenty of time for Sunday.

NO LAST MINUTE SEWING THIS TIME - YEAH!!!!!!!!!

Regency, Regency and more Regency

2008-09-23T10:22:43Z

It is quite unbelievable that in only 1 week, there are 3 Regency events.

The Playford Ball (yes I got the name wrong) on Saturday night.
"Afternoon tea with Mr Darcy" an event by Abbey Museum here in QLD today.
Next Sunday arvo is the ACG's event "Likeness sitting in the Park".

The Playford Ball:

It was a great night despite my hair going crazy with the humidity.

Us ACG gals in our Regency finery.
Cherie the official pin-er-upperer.
Lovely lady Cherie
Kerry itching to begin dancing
Bek thinking if she will be dancing the next dance.

Afternoon Tea with Mr Darcy

Kerry and I went along, we met Angela (kath_a ) and her mum as well as a whole heap of other Regency enthusiasts (who have all been invited to Sunday's event). We had such a blast. The event was in conjunction with the fan display at the Museum this month - and they were absolutely beautiful, go and have a look if you can. We learnt the language of the fan and how to flirt and\or reject gentlemen from across the room. Funny thing though is the meaning for "drawing the fan through the hand" means that I hate you, I thought it meant something else.

I am really looking forward to Sunday except I really don't know how I am going to play my guitar infront of everyone who is coming now.

Edit: Playford (not Pickwick) Ball

2008-09-22T00:45:07Z

The annual ~~Pickford~~ (edit: oops) Playford Ball was on Saturday night and I was extremely busy sewing the final bits and pieces for it. The ACG also dressed up for International Talk like a Pirate Day on Friday night and I had lots of things to do for that as well.

SO I have a couple of pics for the ball but have been too lazy to put load onto my computer but my sister kasmith1970</lj> has posted a pic on her journal, so go have a look.

The lovely Cat (ainead ) took some photos with her camera and so I will have to wait until she can post them to share.

My turn ... Picture meme

2008-09-18T12:17:34Z

Stolen from, like, everybody...

Instructions:
Take a picture of yourself right now.
Don't change your clothes, don't fix your hair - just take a picture.
Post that picture with NO editing.

Post these instructions with the picture.

Really happy I have ALL of my pirate costume DONE!!!!!!! Oh and trial run on hair for Regency.

mmm progress?

2008-09-13T07:37:29Z

Yesterday I was home from work and sew'd all day. I have been busy sewin this arvo too

I have attached the skirt to my bodice and have mounted the top fabric to the bodice lining.

The front overlay is only a mock up to see if it will work and if I can get the dress on and off. I added the ribbon for effect but I am still debating if I will make and open gown.

and yes I have my chemise on inside out

I still have to add the sleeves, I like this but the sleeves are sheer so if I want to do this I will have to rethink my chemise

Getting a little ahead of myself

2008-09-13T00:46:01Z

Been thinking of our Montville trip and what I have to do.

I like to be able to use my ball skirt again but I don't have enough fabric left to make a jacket/bolero. Until I came across this image.

the top left hand image, the skirt is remarkably a similar colour to my ball gown. I love it when I find this kinda thing.

I am thinking of this for Georgia, I am hoping I don't have to make too much for her but then since I don't have to make a whole outfit for myself I should be able to get it done:

or this one or this one
EDIT: Georgia likes the last one (guess I should have asked her first).

I came across the prettiest checked fabric for her today (which is why it is on my mind), but I will have to wait until our Regency event is done before I get tooo ahead of myself.

Lists for the next event/s

2008-09-10T10:12:50Z

1. Talk like a Pirate:

I had to rethink the costume. My chemise doesn't fit in the breeches without my bum looking 10X bigger and there is a big gap between the corset and breeches which looks crappy.
SO list for the costume is:
hubby's white shirt.
Breeches
Vest (still have to make)
sword belt thingy (just add the two belts I got at City beach with the awesome buckles - will post about this later with pics)
still debating whether I wear boots or shoes.
Hat - (to make).

2. Regency Ball:

Gown (still have to finish the embroidery and make it up - I have Friday off to get this done)
Shoes (I have to find a cute pair)
Head band (will buy some silk chiffon and make a band - I may add some beading at the ends
Fan (bought some really cheap ones and will make over)
Still debating if I make an over or open gown for this.

3. Regency sitting in the park

Gown will be done for the ball
Open gown (still to make, I have the week off before to get this and below done)
Bonnet ( I bought a hat that I will make over).
Georgias gown and bonnet