Edwardian Aqua Tea Dress

So, since starting this blog less than a week ago, I have already gone through a long thought process as to "Ooooh, what project should I finish next?"  Having many projects in the works, I started work on one, only to find out about two events coming up that require me to make a new outfit (which will fit for both).  And so, back to the project list!

Confession time: like many costumers, I tend to run on two costume speeds: sewing to a deadline, and bored.  :)  When I have events coming up, I am better spurred on to actually finish projects, so I don't mind this so much, as long as I know about them far enough in advance.

Thanks to the Costumers Guild West class of the Truly Victorian Edwardian Teens Corset in February 2016, I was able to make (and finish!) an Edwardian 1910s corset.  (Whoohoo!)  Costuming note: if you ever get the chance to be fitted by professional costumers, take the opportunity.  It is well worth it!

(No pictures of me in the Edwardian corset yet.  For that, I need to actually put it on, and lace it up.  Maybe next week.)

While I have Victorian outfits up to my ears (Victorian = 1837-1900, which includes the American Civil War, First Bustle, Natural Form, Second Bustle, and Belle Epoch eras), I have only started Edwardian.  As in, I have yummy Edwardian hats, and one pair of Edwardian shoes, and plenty of fabric for planned outfits, but no Edwardian dresses yet.  But now that I have a corset, it's full speed ahead!

Next step: Edwardian underthings.  I have a finished chemise, and partly finished French Drawers and Corset Cover.  Which should hopefully (!) take about 8 more hours of sewing time total to finish.  And then, DRESS!

This is the fabric I am going to use, to match the yummy Mela Hoyt-Heydon hat!  I have the hardest time color matching with Mela's hats, but I do the best I can.  :)  Thanks to Heather C. for helping me pick out fabric!

 The fabric I am using is from a brand called "Radiance" designed by Robert Kaufman.  I absolutely ADORE this fabric, which is a blend of cotton and silk.  To my eye, it has the sheen and drape of charmeuse silk, but is thinner and lightweight, less expensive than dupioni, and available in a wide variety of colors.  You can find it at Michael Levine's online store or Fabric.com.  I love it!

My pattern!  Yes, it's the Titanic tea dress.  But it will be lovely!

Of the many Edwardian dresses (with matching hats!) I have yet to make, I chose this one because: a) it's a tea dress (and one of the events is a tea), and the underwear I have closest to finishing will work underneath (i.e. I don't need a black petticoat).

Staring at the pattern, I am reminded: jewelry!  Hmmm, what necklace/earrings to make/wear?  This may require some book flipping, Downton Abbey watching, and semi-precious jewel pondering to decide.  Mother of pearl?  Aquamarine?  Coral?  Decisions!

Check back later for project updates!

First post!

Welcome to my blog!

"I could write a blog.  I have thoughts." Julie Powell, Julie & Julia

My internal monologue fills life moments with movie quotes.  It's fun!

Why start a blog now?  After years of reading and following other people's costuming blogs (Historical Costuming, Time Traveling in Costume, and Tortoise and Plume, just to name a few!), I thought I wanted a place to share my costuming process, and my random thoughts.  With pictures.  What could possibly go wrong??

As life goes, this year my August was PACKED.  From July 28-31, I attended and taught at Costume College, a three-day (mostly) conference on costuming, in Woodland Hills, California.  It's AWESOME, and amazing, and filled with talented, amazing people who make the most wonderful costumes!!  The experience always leaves me excited for next year, energized about what I'm going to make next, and exhausted since I rarely get enough sleep.  It's a delicate dance of making sure I get enough food, sleep, time with friends, and not take too many classes or teach too many classes.  This year, I seemed to get it just right, and had a FABULOUS time!!

My pink Natural Form Dress at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA.  Otherwise known as "the girliest dress I will ever make".

Then, two weeks later, I was on a plane to vacation in the United Kingdom for two weeks!!  I've never been to the UK before, and I had a blast!  I went with a friend, and we did everything you could possibly do in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow.  Being both big Harry Potter fans, we took a trip on the Jacobite Steam Train (aka the Hogwarts Express), saw "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" play at the Palace Theatre (!!), and went to the Harry Potter tour.  It was amazing!!  Of course, we did other things, like took a trip to Chatsworth House, saw the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, went to the mecca of costuming the Victoria and Albert museum, and took a day trip to Paris.  We had an amazing, busy, crazy, exhausting, fantastic time!

Then, a week after I got back, I went to a Civil War reenactment at Huntington Beach, California, one of the largest (if not the largest) event on the west coast, held every year over Labor Day weekend!  The weather was gorgeous, and I had lots of fun hanging out with lots of different friends.

And now, it's back to real life, and back to sewing.  Sewing!!  Which means, create a blog, create a project list, and start sewing!!

Have a great day!!