A Bittersweet New Year: The End of the Tent

I write this from the sickbed, being plagued by what seems to be the flu...

The tent project ended on New Year's Day, and yesterday the shop was cleaned out. I didn't think I'd be this sad to see the project end, but I do feel a strange emptiness now that it's all over. It was incredible to be a part of such an important undertaking, one that hopefully will last just as long--if not longer--than the original artifact. I have to remind myself when looking at the tent that "I made that!!" because it is so surreal to see the great big marquee standing, and to think that it will stand in a museum for all the world to see!

But more than that, I got to work with some of the most talented people I've ever met. And even more than that, I am lucky to call those people my friends. I've never experienced such camaraderie in the workplace before, and I don't know if I will again for some time.

Here's a handful of images from the past 4 months, taken by us at The First Oval Office Project. Click on the link for more information about the reconstruction of George Washington's marquee.

Journey to the 1920s

Later in January, Mike and I are attending a Jazz Age ball. It's my first official foray into the 1920s and I'm really excited! I've always loved robes de style with their fun silhouettes, so that was unquestionably the dress I was going to make. Simply searching for "robe de style" on Pinterest provided me with a ton of visual inspiration. Instead of recreating a particular dress, I came up with my own design based on what I was seeing in originals. 

The silk taffeta is a tiny portion of what Katie and I bought on super sale ($3.99/yd) from Fabric Guru. We got so much that I can use it not only for what we've got planned, but also these little side projects! All I needed was silk tulle for the trim and a bunch of beads (Swarovski crystal rhinestones too).

Here's where I am on the skirt. The flowers will have rhinestones on them as well, once I get the stuff for setting them. I'm having a lot of fun! Maybe the 20s are my new thing... We'll see!

I've also got a hair tutorial planned, since I think other ladies would be interested in how to turn long hair into a cute 20s style.

Merry Christmas!

I STILL haven't gotten to take pictures of my new print gowns! Soon, I promise...

But in the meantime, here is a gown I made as a commission for a friend. It was lovely to work with such pretty fabric, and very easy to fit and make since we are the same size. I just made the gown to fit me, and it fit her perfectly as well! Her mother contacted me about having the gown made up for Christmas, completely without her knowledge. Needless to say, she was very surprised. ;-)

I have a lot coming up in the new year, including the Felicity Christmas gown and a robe de style! Maybe even a polonaise-in-two-weeks for a 12th night party. Not to mention working on my paper for the Colonial Williamsburg millinery conference in March!

I really am sewing! Gowns for work...

Here's a sneak peak of what's been keeping me busy, other than working full time on George Washington's marquee tent.

There's a discussion about period 18th century prints coming...

Fashion Copy Cat!

I've been swooning over this coat from Modcloth for a while...

http://www.modcloth.com/shop/coats/luxe-y-in-love-coat



Turns out it's a copy of an original 1930s coat in the collections of LACMA! Crazy!!!!!!!!!! No wonder I liked it so much! ;-) 

http://collections.lacma.org/node/249923

An Historical Weekend

  

My best beloved Maggie came out from California to visit. Usually we go to Gettysburg Remembrance Day, but since this was the 150th, everything was insanely expensive... So we decided to still have an awesome historical weekend palling around the equally historical towns of Winchester and Harper's Ferry. We stayed the night in the fabulous (and affordable!) Nancy Shepherd House Inn in Winchester. The owner had many family heirlooms, including a c. 1864 dress which we got to study. Northern Virginia was stunning in its late fall colors, especially along the cliffs at Harper's Ferry.

I wore my blue plaid wool dress with some new trim added. The poor thing needs a new bodice and the skirt repleated, but I'm not sure when I will be wearing it again, so that won't happen for a while... I also threw together a new paletot. I love the color and hope to put more black velvet trim on it. But again, I'm not doing much 1860s stuff anymore...



 










  

Steampunk Outfits for Teslacon

I have written up an extensive post over at my Livejournal about all the steampunk outfits I created for Teslacon. Here's a few teaser pics. Please visit the following link to see and read more!

http://reine-de-coudre.livejournal.com/197761.html