Victorian Boise at The Bishops' House

Yeah!!!  Today was the day!  "We Wear History" went to the event "Victorian Boise at the Bishops' House" today and we had a marvelous time!  The Bishops' House is a wonderful historical site here in Boise and it is a beautiful example of Queen Anne style architecture.  I want it.

Anyway, this was also the day that the captain's dress debuted!  I felt really good in the dress and it fit me very well!  And praise God it was cool today!!  Yeah!!  The only time I got hot was after walking up the stairs to look at the wonderful ladies dress display on the second floor....I think I'm getting or out of shape or both!!  Below are many photographs my fabulous Mama took of my dress and hat....

The lovely ladies of "We Wear History"!  Me, Lana Walters, Marilyn Holly, and Tammy Eliasen....such a wonderful and gracious group of women to share my love of costuming with!!

It appears as if we have scandalized the newest member of our group!  She will soon come over to the dark side!  Bwahahahaha.....

Well, I am home, the corset is off, the shoes are off, the dress has been hung in the closet and the hat is back on the mannequin head.  Today was a GREAT day and I had so much fun sharing it with my friends!  Can't wait for next weekend!!!

Blessings!

g

1884 Military Inspired Bi-Corn Hat: Complete!!!

Ok!  Here is it....I tried to get the pictures to sit side by side, but they don't want to work and play well this evening!  That's ok!  I'm too happy about the finished product to be overly upset!

Now all that's left is to wait for September 21st!  

Blessings!!

g

Sewing Binge and Prep for Costume College Has Come To a Screeching Holt!!!

So....I was minding my own business this morning, had the laundry folded, did my stretches and back exercises (I am under the care of a fabulous chiropractor with the Maximized Living team of chiropractors), finished my coffee and was heading up the stairs when it happened....BAM!!!!! My back once again went out on me.  This has been happening yearly for the past 22 years.  This year however it was about 3 months late in happening.  I attribute that fact to Dr. Baker.  I began seeing him for the injury in my lower back that I got in my Junior year of High School while I was in the ready position for Volleyball.  I just rotated my upper body to the right and that movement right there was what started the whole thing.  For 22 years I have battled this injury.  Come to find out via X-rays taken at Dr. B's office, my pelvis is tilted and the tendons and muscles have been seriously put out since that one time in High School.  But hopefully through prayer, the adjustments at the PreHab office, ice, stretching and rest, my back will heal!!

Since the sewing binge has ended for now, I have decided to go ahead and share what I have completed so far on the tealy/green military dress.  I need to take more pictures of what I got accomplished this a.m. before the pain set in, but I can barely walk let alone take a photo...so those will have to appear at a later date.   

I went on line and discovered how to make frog knots!  I think I made about a bazillion of these and I am so sick of soutache I could puke!!  I purchased over 50 yards of the stuff!  

The faux vest is on and ALL the knots and soutache added to the bodice...

This part of the shoulder will have to be totally worked on.  It is super puckery and ugly.  I hope the addition of the collar and sleeves cause it to lay flat.

Overskirt with soutache buttons...

Underskirt with miles and miles of soutache.  This part took FOREVER to sew on!

I am particularly fond of the soutache frogs at the point of the overskirt!  Don't know why, it just makes me happy!!

I have added the row of large pleats at the bottom of the skirt and finished the back bustling to the overskirt.  Just need to take pictures!!

Second Bustle Dress Era....How I LOVE THEE!!!!

(Enter a crazed, maniacal laugh here)  Oh Second Bustle Era!!!  I have miiiiiiiiiiissed you so much!!!  I have come home to you after wandering the lonely, scary, and confusing streets of Regency and 1860s!  aaaaaaaahahahahahahaha!!!!  I am so happy to be once again in your loving embrace where I know the lines, curves, nuances of your big bustle and billowy over skirt!  

Ahem.....cough....sorry!  I am just so happy to be back in an arena where I am comfortable and know what I am doing!  For Costume College my friend Josie and I have been paring down what we will be making to wear and instead of our most fabulous Sisters Pratt outfits, (which Josie was going to have to up size an Ageless Pattern for the both of us) we have decided to one day go with a Naval wardrobe.  Well, actually we are going to be going Naval two days, but this day I will be a ship's captain and she will be a most devious Lady Pirate!!  Blast!!!

Le Salon De La Mode August 1884

I came across this most delicious military inspired teal dress a while ago on the Au Fil Du Temps Ebay Store and instantly fell in love!  As happiness would have it, I already had a yardage of the exact same color of dupioni silk in my stash!!!  Laaaaaaa!!!!!  I am not so thrilled with the gold trim as it it reminds me of a local high school's colors, so for my dress, I will have black trim.  I also may make the faux vest black and not green depending on how much green I have...

My luscious dupioni!!  I love this fabric...feels so soft!

Just a shot of the teal with the black!  I love it!

Already have the under skirt completed sans the trim.  I don't have enough fabric for the long pleats that are in between the braid on the bottom of the dress, so I may add strips of velvet ribbon between them...we'll see!!

Next stop!  Over skirt!!!