The Industrious Lady

 The Competition Dress that Never Competed Wait... That's Not the competition dress Yes, because it isn't. The competition dress is now just a dress.. When does one decided that an item needs to be demoted? The truth is that what started out as one of my best dresses, turned into subpar work. That conclusion reached me as I stared at the dress one night after taking a week break to clear my mind and de-stress. And the love of the dress was gone, too much had gone wrong, too much looked sloppy.  It wasn't about what the other people would think, it was about how I would feel as a seamstress, and as an artist about turning in something that I didn't have 100% confidence. Not even winning, but just being happy with it. And this dress was not it.  So it got pushed into the role of fun running around dress and as for the competition, the bustle dress from the tv pattern. But I still wanted to finish the dress. There is a yearly historical iceskate and how fun would it be to ...

 Foundations Revealed Competition Dress Entry Some of you may remember the TV Bustle Dress, it was the one out of gold striped fabric.  The post about the skirt is here .  The theme was "Once Upon A Time" and I chose the character of the traveler from the Poem by Robert Frost "The Road Less Traveled" Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less tr...

Part 2 Competition Dress Basque-ing in the Glory or making a victorian dress with 3 yards of Wool So I knew I needed to made something that would cover the white part on the skirt. I found a few ideas online from fashion plates that seemed to be in sport settings.  I really like the kids in this, and the pockets. Because every lady need pockets. Even thought this is a later era than I was shooting for (this is more natural form rather than mid 1870's). But something about it seems so relate-able. Maybe its the bag thrown over her shoulder, or her sweet alluring smile, or her relaxed lean against the fence that shows she just doesn't give a care. Also liked the length of her bodice and how it hits very nicely upper thigh.  Can we appreciate this for a minute. My girl is iceskating in a full skirt, bustle, and has her hair completely on point. Loving the side front closure with the rounded bottom. And the trim, a girl could die for trim such as this. I didn't have a really go...

Confession time, I'm going to just put this out there... I didn't want to do the foundations revealed competition.  There, I said it. I didn't get the hype. Why would someone want to take their beautiful creation that they put their blood, sweat, and dozens of hours into for others to judge and possibly put down. There are other who could do it if they wanted, but with each dress I make a little piece of my soul goes into it. They're my babies and I want to be a total helicopter dress parent. But then the guest judge was announced on the Foundations Revealed Website, and it was none other than the woman who made me fall in love with living history. Ruth Goodman who had stolen my heart in her tv series, when I heard her historical nerding out over white washing walls, chasing around sheep, and helping to harness a draft horse.  So for Ruth Goodman, I decided to enter.  Even just the chance that she might see my entry was exciting. Plus the majority of previous years entr...

  ORIG ANTIQUE 1870 LILAC PURPLE SILK FAILLE FAB CHENILLE TRIM GOWN BODICE PARIS From the Seller A very fine original 1870s ball gown bodice in the most beautiful shade of lilac purple adorned with unique matching purple very tiny loop trim and darker purple 2" long chenille fringe. The trim is sewn as a collar backed by horsehair ? crinoline. Fabric is silk faille and it is quite sturdy, in fabulous condition. Lined in high quality glazed cotton, 8 various size metal stays with the longest being the one in the front supporting the V and in the back supporting the points. Double piped completely around the bottom. A waist cincher with ROBES AND CONFECTIONS MERLOTLARCHEVEQUIE  21. BOULEVART des CAPUCINES.21 which was in PARIS. A low scoop neckline that was to show cleavage. The sweet cap sleeves not only had the fabulous trim but also short box pleats and a narrow layer of off white tulle lace, Most of the lace has deteriorated. With the tiny eyelet pointed lace up, the back is...

  Antique 1860s Satin or Silk Moire Ball Gown Bodice Well you can't say our ancestors were not resourceful. This dress is homemade but very intelligently though not exactly kosher sewing methods used. There is fake lacing on what I think is the back, we can see from the inside that the boning and just little extra space is on the side with the hook and eyes. She didn't even fake it all the way up, just far enough so from the outside it looks like it is to the top but really it only goes to right under the edge of the bertha. Being on the model backwards might also explain why the bertha appears to be hanging so strange in the photos. We also see that the hook and eye side is longer. Another reason I think this is homemade is that we can also so the stitches on the outside. Not pretty tiny professional stitches, but huge basting stitches... on the outside of the bodice... on silk.... in a non matching thread. The maker did try, and with such rich fabric its hard to believe that ...

  Ca. 1850's Antique Civil War Era Day Dress From the Seller Ca 1850's Civil War era day dress Brown mohair with sloping shoulders Wide pagoda sleeves with attached white batiste under sleeves Trimmed with black silk velvet buttons and piping Note damage and fraying to hemline and bodice Silk collar included Crinoline not included From the Industrious Lady A lovely display mid 19th century dresses, the buttons are a lovely addition to the ensemble. And how nice to see a dress that has not yet been parted with its undersleeves. Under sleeves that have survived are rare due to their fabric being reused for other projects, under sleeves still left inside their original dresses are even rarer. Without looking its hard to say for certain, but fancier undersleeves were sometimes basted to their dresses, especially undersleeves made of more decorative material and whose purpose was more fashion than protecting the fabric in the sleeve above from body oils. How terribly sad that the he...