Historic Underthings Part 2

With the wedding planning I have been doing, I decided it would be easier to commission JM to make my stay for me. I arrived at his place this morning for a costuming day and got to try on the almost finished product. I need to bind it and get something to act as a busk (hence me holding the small ruler in place) and it will be done!

Here are the lovely progress pictures! I put my chemise on underneath to get a better effect! Just ignore the yoga pants peeking out!

Historic Underthings

I wasn’t able to accomplish as much as I wanted to on my days off, but I usually want to do EVERYTHING so I never accomplish it all. Big D and I attended a wedding for friends of ours on Saturday night. I did get the pink dress finished in time to wear, and even installed the zipper first try without incident. A whole bunch of the wedding guests, including Big D and myself, came down with a horrible bout of food poisoning from the dinner. So my Sunday and Monday sewing days turned into lay on the couch with Big D while eating chicken noodle soup and drinking ginger ale, watching Netflix while we recovered. I was sad it happened on my days off, but at least I didn’t have to miss any work. Big D was delayed a day heading out on the road, but things seem to be working out okay.

I started feeling a lot better yesterday, so JM came over in the evening to saran wrap and duct tape me up for a pattern for my stays. For those of you new to the reenactment game, stays are a type of corset although not as restrictive as you would think. There’s a really good blog post here that explains quite a bit about them. She used a pattern from the same place I got my pattern for my spencer jacket. JM’s way makes things a little more custom to you and the style you want. Plus, the photographic evidence is just too much fun!

All saran wrapped up!

The duct tape, although hard to see in this picture, will be what the stay is.

Side view!  Things are popping up.  It's going to be scandalous in the dresses.

The t-shirt/saran wrap/duct tape mess is hanging on Roberta at home waiting to be turned into a pattern. Hopefully JM and I can finish it soon. Mine should look something similar to the pictures in the blog.

Tonight, after making myself some pad thai for dinner. I hope to have the pockets FINALLY put in the work woman’s jacket. I’ve decided not to go to Grand Portage this year because Big D and I will be buying a house in 6-12 months, and we decided Mississinewa was enough of a splurge. I feel a little more relaxed because now my deadline is back to a reasonable 105 days.

Happy sewing everyone!

Let the Rendez Vous Countdown Begin!

I have completed quite a few sewing projects in the last little while.  We had an event with the MLHS at Mr E and C's place and quite a few sewing days of just C and I.  as such, I finished my chemise, a bonnet, half of a low class work woman's jacket, a reticule to match my spencer jacket, started on a willow basket and embroidered one of my pockets.

Outer fashion fabric of my jacket.  

What the finished product should look like.

The embroidery on the first of two pockets.

My reticule with embroidery done by yours truly.

New bonnet.  I changed out the fabric from purple/grey to brown so it matches more of my outfits.  Looks quite nice over my day cap.

This is the type of basket we were working on.  Mine is more football shaped and not nearly done but in progress none the less!

In addition to the 114 days until Mississinewa, there is another event in Grand Portage, MN in August I'm going to try to attend.  If that's the case, I hope to finish my jacket, two bed gowns and a skirt.  It would be amazing if I can attend, although it does drop my deadline for finishing costumes down to 51 days.  We will see what happens.

In other news, there have been a 7 sheep born at Mr E and C's farm.  One had to be bottle fed and has become everyone's little buddy.  His name is Blue and he is just the most adorable little thing ever!

We also have a garden this year at Big D's dad's place.  Our tomatoes, cauliflour, peppers, peas, beans, carrots and even purple carrots are coming along nicely.  I can't wait to start enjoying some of the veggies!  I'm so excited for fresh peas. Oh, and lets not forget our bad ass, bobble head, gangsta gnome that Big D picked out.

Back at it again

Wow! Has it really been over a month since my last post?  Not a lot of crafting was completed during that time, but a lot was done.  Big D started school, and at this point only has a week left.  He passed his road test first try and is now fully licensed to drive a big rig.  He'll be off to work on March 4th which I know he is both excited and apprehensive about.

I am taking one step further to solidifying my title as crazy crafting CAT lady.  Big D's Grandma is moving into an assisted living complex and cannot bring her fur babies with her.  We can't take both of them, but we have agreed to take Monte who used to belong to Big D.  He is a 7 year old maine coon and has a lovely disposition.  I know Meeko will get along with him, but Kokanee may be another story.  We'll see how it plays out with two people and three cats in our apartment. (Big D used to have a cat named Chevy, this is Monte and Meeko's middle name is Carlo...do we see a pattern here?)

Our new fur baby, Monte

I finally used my Fabricland gift card from Christmas and happened to go on a day with some killer deals!  They had cotton prints on buy one meter get TWO free.  For once, I didn't go wild for quilting fabric but instead bought enough to make a new outfit for the MLHS. (okay, you got me, it's in preparation for Mississinewa this year!)  I've also started working on the embroidery for my reticule to match my spencer jacket I made a couple months ago.  It's coming along nicely, although I think it's lacking a little something.  If  any of you Regency experts have suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them.

OOOH!!! Fabric!!

Embroidery on the reticule

I have done more work on the 9 patch quilt, but nothing really worth mentioning or showing other than its coming along well.

Keeping with the title of my post, I am back at it on a knitting project from 2006-2007 and earlier than that.  My Grandma started a cardigan sweater for my Grandpa back in 1956.  She was the queen of UFO's, so of course the back piece was finished and no more.  Some of the yarn was used years later for socks and now there isn't enough of the original red to complete it.  Her and I had discussed how to go about finishing it with what we had left.  We decided that a sweater vest with a contrasting colour for the front would be the best option and came up with a nice little design.  I haven't worked on it since she passed away.  I pulled out my very neglected yarn bin today while teaching a friend to knit, and decided it was time to get back at it.  I managed to complete 10 rows (two block strips) today and I feel really great about it!

Me and my Grandma back in 2000

The progress so far on the front of the vest.  Please excuse my laptop and over sized sweat pants! lol

Going through my stash, and knowing how many projects I have on the go at any one times makes me wonder, how many UFO's do you have?  

Scottish Symphony: A Selkirk Settlers Celebration

I had an absolutely WONDERFUL evening out last night with the MLHS at the symphony.  They were premiering a new work by Sid Robinovitch called "Red River" which was commissioned by the Seven Oaks Historical Society to commemorate the Selkirk Settlers bicentennial.  MLHS was invited to hand out programs in costume and be general ambiance.  Myself and three other ladies were present and we received free tickets to the symphony.  Not only did we get to experience the world premier of this beautiful work, but two other pieces.  Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Orchestra in C major by Beethoven and Symphony No. 3 in A minor by Mendelssohn.
 

 

I took this photo during Beethoven's Concerto.  The pianist, Beatrice Rana, was phenomenal.  She couldn't have been more than 22 and played all three movements from memory with intense passion.  When I played piano, many years ago and never this good, Beethoven was one of my favourites to play.  He didn't show up very often in my curriculum, but when he did I would endeavor to play his pieces.  I even sought out a few to learn for fun and played "Moonlight Sonata" for my high school production of Dracula.  Anyway, Beatrice's performance was amazing beyond words.  I would go again to the symphony, if only to hear her play.

I finished my spencer jacket just in time to wear it to this event.  I managed to trim the cuffs with fur but not the collar.  We all had so much fun going to the symphony in costume.  We were looking for someone to take a photo of us all when two ladies came up and asked to have their picture taken with us.  We agreed if they would take one of us.  It worked out to be a good trade.

L-R Myself, Kira-Lyn, Zaley and Debbie

Debbie took a few poses, but I like this one.  She asked me to "look off into the distance remembering your homeland".  She's such a riot!!

  
I had parked underground, not wanting to ruin my dress anymore.  It had been snowing all day and we were supposed to get this horrible winter storm.  When I left the concert hall last night, it looks like it had kicked in full swing.  We were promised 20-30cm (8-12 inches) of snow.  This is what it looked like as I drove past the concert hall, which is actually on the same street my work is!

I was sure glad Big D had put the winter tires on the car!  The plows have been out now, but not when I was traveling home last night.  It was so slow going I didn't even get out of first gear, but other than that it was fine.  When I talked to my mom this morning, she said their property looks like a winter wonderland.  I told her to take some pictures so maybe I will get to show you what a beautiful place my parents have.

Hope all of you caught in this storm are keeping warm and safe and everyone have a great day!