A sewing friend gifted me a pair of sheer voile curtains to see what I could make with them. One became a ruffled 1780s apron and the other became a white muslin summer mantelet!
One of my favorite 18th Century costume references is this portrait of Olive Craster by Sir Nathanial Dance-Tolland. I love the puffy blue stomacher bows. I love the enormous pearls worn high on her neck. I love her pet squirrel. But mostly I love the lace mantelet that she is wearing over the top of all of it! When I found this embroidered silk fabric I reckoned it was MEANT. Let’s see if i can make the blonde silk gauze mantelet from the portrait!
My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen! I had been visiting with a Miss W– (lately removed to Virginia from the newly declared Republic of Chile) and together we attended a small – and very select – card party!
In the collection of the Victoria & Albert museum in London, there is a stunning antique Portuguese brooch. Thanks to an aliexpress seller who likes the piece as much as I do, today we’re going to make our very own 18th Century Stomacher Brooch!
It began with fiberfill – fiberfill and a dream. Mr Tabubil was getting one serious Christmas present – the biggest, most giant-est Christmas Squid ever seen in Santiago.
In which I take my 1790s printed cotton round gown, and this time, I finally get it all right!
In which I sew a 1790s printed cotton round gown, and make some really REALLY dumb technical decisions.
Sewing something large on holidays takes determination and the ability to iron in VERY low-light conditions.
Good gosh! – I went over to Story of a Seamstress tonight and discovered that my 1850s Child’s Dress has been nominated as a finalist in the Most Creative Category!
