The Woman in White

It has been a while since I have done a post. In part this is because I have been doing projects rather than writing about doing projects! At the prompting of a friend I have decided to do some updates. As stated in previous blogs I have been vacillating a bit about my sewing projects. Patience paid off again as I decided to take up the nearly completed white regency dress. I had enough time to stop hating it for it's difficulty and fall in love with it again simply because it is so pretty. So out of my frustration I decided to take the matter in hand and see if I couldn't resolve the issue of the sleeve which had been too short and very ill fitting. I also was encouraged by the discovery of enough extra fabric to cut not just one, but two different new sleeves. The image of the dress and sleeve all pinned on me was the first attempt. This is the Ballgown sleeve (from the Sense and Sensibility Elegant Lady's Closet pattern) attached to the long sleeve I already had. After fussing and hand basting everything together I decided to try the elbow sleeve as well and see if I liked it better. In the end the elbow sleeve won. In part because it just felt right, in part because it was a probably going to be quite a bit less hand work. As much as I have been enjoying this final push toward completion, I don't want to, as they say, "press my luck." A bit more hand sewing ahead of me, but I am close!

Nothing says "pretty dress" like a tin snip

I made a long overdue visit to Home Depot yesterday to purchase galvanized hanger strap from the plumbing isle. Believe it or not this was an errand essential to a particular costume. Blue dress #2 has to have a corset (the exact form of said corset is yet to be determined). Based on all the research I have done this is a great and inexpensive solution to the need for a whale bone substitute. If I'm going to go through the detail and hassel of putting boning in a corset I want it to be sturdy and do its job. So here are my supplies. The tin snip and metal file are on loan from my dad, who happens to be a metallurgist and therefore, has all things needed for manipulating metal, on hand. If you are wondering this is not bringing me any nearer to a decision about the blue dress dilema.

Choices in Blue

Choices: Part I

Creative choices (and others besides) are usually difficult for me. Many mental Pro/Con lists are created before I commit to a project. I'm at a bit of a crossroads right now. I have two blue dresses in mind the decision I have to make is this: Do I do one, the other or both, and if both, which first? My first inclination is to start with blue dress #1. Inspired by the above gown worn by Marianne in the recent Masterpiece Classics adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and also worn by Kate Winslet's Marianne in the Emma Thompson version. I have always loved this dress and recently found a pretty very pale blue voile that I thought would translate well.

Choices: Part II















For literally years I have been occasionally researching the Elizabethan period in hopes that I could get the nerve up to actually tackle a dress. I feel another bought of ambition coming on so I am thinking about it again. I used a coupon about 3 years ago to buy this blue and tan heavy weight fabric in hopes of using it for an Elizabethan dress. Somehow I just feel like it is time. In part because it would give me something new to wear to the MN Ren Fest in September. Yes, I know it is May, but this sort of thing takes just that long and I have a busy toddler, so I need the extra time. So here is blue dress #2. I was hoping this post would help me decide which to start with... I guess you will have to check back to see what (and if) I actually decide!

Art in Bloom

Springtime means a visit to the art museum for Art in Bloom. It is wonderful to see the overlapping of so many expressions of art come together through the interpretation of flowers. It is a great reminder to always push my creativity by trying something new, or seeing something through different eyes. This is a great place for inspiration on so many levels.

A solid idea. Finally. I think?

I have been in a quilting mood. As evidenced by the stash, I have a lot of potential quilts hanging over me. Yes, I say hanging over me, because although I love the stash, it has it's drawbacks. Buying fabric without a certain pattern in mind means you have to pick a pattern that works with the fabric you already have. A challenge I usually enjoy, but I have been hitting the wall lately. I haven't had this fabric as long as the others, but it seems like I have the right idea. A good starting place. I like to be confident before I cut, so I deliberate. A lot. Part of the triumph of this particular idea is that instead of slicing up the fabric I just made a few color copies of it, cut those out and just laid them together. Then took a picture, copied it several times and voila, a visual.

Nothing left but the binding

I don't know why, but this is usually

where I stall out on a quilt. The final stretch, the end in sight, and I just want to chuck it over my shoulder and never look back. I have trouble finishing things. You think? What is "funny" is that, as I have said before, I love finishing work, hand work, something that requires great sedulousness. (yeah, I just really wanted to use that word, but it fits) But the steps just before that always bog me down. So it is with great triumph that I can say I am past the bog and racing to the finish with needle in hand. Amazing how if you do it enough you can get pretty fast with those little needles. So - nearing completion - a tiny quilt, and a tiny victory. I will take what I can get!

Almost done

This is a little gift for a new baby. Another small quilt to be used for a washable portable changing pad and a tiny bonnet. There should be just enough cold days left for her to get a little use out of it.