Victorian "Cottage" Bonnets

I've made three lovely bonnets and will be shortly putting them in my new on-line shop connected to my website. www.costumesnthings.com.au

I have based the colours and decorations on photos of reproduced pieces or actual museum/auction items. They are the first few that I have made, and have mostly been hand stitched. Seeing how they go in the shop and will in future be adding more. I wont be making to order.

Also available will be satin gloves and fans.

I am currently sourcing parasols, steampunk items such as brass telecsopes, spectacles, maybe fob watches (we'll see about that one) tophats etc.

Lady penelope costume

Finally I've got the time to add the photo of my "Lady Penelope" costume which I made for and wore to our NSW ACG end of year picnic.
The theme was open genre' so I figured why not go as my ACG forum name sake.

I picked this outfit because I figured I can also use the outfit for a mod sixties girl.

I made the costume and matching handbag out of white square - sequinned lycra....eeegh! what a pain to sew. It was hard enough to sew as it was, but my machine at home just didnt want to have anything to do with it, so I ended up taking it in to work and sewing it there. As a result the stripe down the front of the dress (made from a leather look lycra...and also a pain to sew) is off centre...just letting you know that I know and that yes it is annoying but too bad so sad, it will have to stay as is.

I teamed it up with black gloves, the aforementioned handbag, white boots, gun in the handbag (and now a mod sixties looking hat that I have made since the picnic). I think also I will wear white tights (to hide my nobby knees).

Whats happening in 2010? heaps!!

Ok...January
..sewing #1 a Regency Day dress for a AGC regency picnic at Callan Park (not sure I like the first one I made) and #2#making Joan of Arc costume for Tarin's (god daughter) 21st. The theme is "French". John is going as Louis Pasteur, he can wear part of his Victorian outfit again, yay!

February
*Regency Picnic
*Tarin's 21st
.....Sewing Queen of Hearts (Tim Burton style), Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter, etc.
Cant wait to start these. I've already got some of the material - Queens over skirt, corset,. Trying to find the "just right" material for the Mad Hatters coat, I have ideas , but just got to find a fabric shop who matches my idea.. Thinking of doing decopage (is that how you spell it?)on a top hat to get the right effect. Will keep you posted on that one.

March
The new Alice in Wonderland movie......cant wait!!!!!!
......Sewing #1 regency ball dress for the Jane Austen Festival...I found a lovely white cotton with gold flower print.Thats all I've got so far...the fabric, I think I have found a picture on a fashion plate...that may work...I will keep you posted.
......Sewing #2 Victorian-ish/ steampunk jacket to add to my Victorian skirt for Ironfest in Lithgow. It was blistering cold last time so I want to be warm... Got the material for that already, I think...who knows I'll probably change my mind.
......Sewing #3 Cape for a friend for Iron fest, she wants to be warm next time as well.

April

Jane Austen Festival in ACT
Ironfest Lithgow.

Busy Busy Busy

Photos - Victorian Era Festival

Victorian Era Festival - October Long Weekend

What a fun time I had.

On Saturday we learnt how to make a bonnet for the period, which means I can now make some more to use with outifts I have in my shop. Bonus is that this task is quite easy to do. I'll put up a photo of the first finished project when its done, hopefully the end of this week?? Maybe??
Saturday was also taken up with learning some easy dances of the period. Well my head and heart were in it but they forgot to tell the feet what they were meant to be doing..... Having said that I did manage to actually learn and retain for the ball in the evening so maybe I didnt do too badly.

The Ball gave me a chance to show off weeks of hard work. I ran out of time to make my Ball bodice to go with my skirt so I wore the day outfit.
Evonne's outfit turned out nicely. I need to change the back of the over skirt...It was nice for the ball but needs to be pulled up at the back to make it more suited for the period. Now that I'm not rushed, I'll have time to make the adjustments.
Evonne also wore her own long black skirt (modern) so I'm going to make a period accurate skirt....and day bodice, for a complete choice. My first bonnet (from the workshop) will match the day dress and new skirt. (I'm being indulgent)













Titbit of info: I found out this weekend also that bonnets mostly were not made to match a particular outfit, because it was unaffordable to do so. So they would add something to their dress to match in with the hat. ie Flower decoration to match the ribbon tie ups.

On Sunday, dancing once again, I really enjoyed it. Its not something I've done before so was wonderful to do something new.

.)


Well, its been a while since I have updated this blog. Just been busy.

Four enthusiasts finally made it out for a Regency Lunch. Yay!! Organised by Wenz, we all met at the Lachlan Cafe at Old Gov't House in Parramatta. We had a lovely lunch and then did the tour.

I was able to wear my Regency dress that I made earlier on in the year. I've pictured two bonnets, One I wore on the day and the other I made for my daughter for another day. I was happy with the result, copied from Fashion plates around 1807 ish.

Next sewing project is my Victorian (1880's) Day Dress consisting of Skirt and Curaisse style jacket.
We (me, hubby and two friends) will going along to the Victorian Era Festival in Canberra on the October long weekend.
I want to attend a couple of workshops hopefully wearing my day dress, (friends will be sight seeing) then we will attend the ball on Saturday night.

I intend to make a Ball bodice, making double use of the same skirt. As I also intend to make a vest to create a steam punk look, I may run out of time to make the ball bodice, so I may just wear to the ball, a Pink 1800's ball dress made a few years ago....if it still fits....sigh.

The picture shows the striped fabric for my skirt and the purple Shantung for the day jacket (and maybe the ball bodice).

Medieval Fun at Winterfest, Sydney

Yay, what fun.

Here's a few pics.
My daughter chose and helped make her dress. We ran out of time and had to use a zipper, but that will be replaced with eyelets.
She had quite a few photos taken of her by parents of little girls who thought she was a princess. She was chuffed.

For my outfit, I used an overdress I made a few years ago, and I made a new under dress. My hair is encased by a snood attahced to the round head piece.

My friend also dressed for the occasion.

Supanova Syd

I took hubby John and daughter Miss Penny (or should I say dragged them along) to Supanova today and had a great time.

I was filled with intrepidation when we first arrived, I seemed to be the only one dressed up in costume but that was all put to rest once we reached the front door.

IT was great to see so many people dressed as their favourite characters. I didnt know half of the characters represented, but that doesnt matter. There were also a lot of girls dress in lolita as well. So cute.

And the good thing is, miss Penny, enjoyed herself as well (and hubby) and she may dress up next time.

I went as Bellatrix Lestrange - deatheater from Harry Potter.
Photos for your enjoyment, the top pic is a closeup of the corset I made for the character
.

Winter Magic Ball

We had a great time. Photos as promised. This one is of my partly finished Bellatrix costume. I'm not happy with the sleeves, so will be making them tighter. I'll also be making a bodice that looks similar to bella's (hers looks like leather and looks stitched). I wore bella with cape during the day, while checking out the stalls.

The first lot of photos are of Chucky & Chucky's bride and friends.

Chucky shared first prize for the ugliest costume. Such an honour....hehehe!!
For someone who said he would "not be wearing a mask", every time someone looked his way, it went back on again....and again.
IT was funny tho, people actually hated the character, but loved having their photo taken with chucky.

Winter Magic Katoomba

Should be a good weekend this weekend.

The winter magic festival is held this time every year, usually the closest weekend to the 21st June for the ahortest day of the year - winter solstace.
Any way...
The mountain folk start with the parade at about 10am, they dress up in all sorts of garb...teddy bears, vikings, fairies (yes fairies but in big jackets...so cold)medieval faire etc. so much fun. This is paraded down the main street of town then folk open their stalls. Even if you dont make the parade, you still see people walking along in their costumes.
I'm wearing my partly made Bellatrix costume with a cape for warmth. There is also street entertainment in the grounds of the Carrington Hotel.

After wards in the night we will be attending the annual ball at the Carrington, usually a themed affair, this year its "Horror House".
My hubby and I are going as Chucky and Chucky's bride.

Yes pics, I promise...really I do....

Regency Picnic

Well, we didnt make the picnic afterall. So annoyed!!

I still havent taken pictures of the costumes I made for my daughter and myself, hopefully that will be done soon.

My Diary Dates

June 28th - Supa Nova ...Going as Bellatrix Lestrange from Harry Potter

July 19th - Medieval Faire - North Ryde

Aug 29th - ACG annual Ball - SA

Sept 27th - "The way we wear" vintage market - Hunters HIll