The Week.

Apart from having a cold and my son having the chicken-pox I continued to move along!

One to my list, now I have a dress ( which I am awaiting fabric) , a men's hat, and a blouse to complete. The list never seems to get shorter, and that's a good thing because it means I continue to work!!

Dress Project

So I sent off the package to the UK! It not only contained the desired dress, but a matching bolero and matching headpiece! I hope she enjoys!!

Hat

I completed the black woolen women's hat with black veil!

I love creating such classic lovliess! I am so glad people still request them and wear them!!

A Little Sweetness

And since we are now into December and all the Christmas decorations around town are now up I was in the holiday mood.

Candy Striped Fascinator

Using a buckram wire based disk, I constructed this lovely fascinator / headpiece!

I had the feathers, the fabric, and the veiling! It was completed yesterday morning! More photos and purchasing can be found in my Etsy shop.

I am off to the workroom!!

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Moving Right Along!

Projects, projects, projects!

Recently I have been very blessed that I have had work coming my way! So little time, so many ideas!

I had to stop from my goal of two new items a week for my Etsy shop. But I am fighting against time to begin a couple of new ideas I have had!

Wristlets

The cold weather is here, I hate it when I am working and my hands are cold! Therefore I drafted a glove pattern. Varying that pattern I have started making Wristlets, gauntlet length.

All the current Italian Fashion Magazines contain variations of gloves, fingerless, gauntlet and opera length. I have been inspired! I am beginning to fill up my sketchbook with ideas!

I just wish I could sew faster!!

Inspiration for my Wristlet Collection.

Spats

I began making men's spats! Soon I will be able to post them in my shop!

Oh, I am also making this pair for a friend and client who is a performing artist.

Spats!

Using an orange and pink cotton fabric which I have cut 1 1/2 wide stripes, then stitched together, will be the top layer be very appealing and fit perfect with the rest of her costume and show! (I am also constructing a similar men's pair.)

The photo on the below that one, is the base made of canvas which the top layer is attached. They will contain a hidden lacing closure at the center-back. This closure will allow comfort for all types of movement which she requires as a performer. The closure will also allow her the ability for the spats to be worn with a variety of shoes.

Other

I am also working on a few custom orders including two dresses, one blouse, and a hat!

Dress Decor.

This photo is the decoration of the first dress which will be sent out on Monday!

Back to my workroom I go! I sure do love to create, I just wish I had more time!!!

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To Have Only Seen It!

On April the 26, 2009, this amazing exhibit closed at the Palais Galliera Fashion Museum, in Paris. The exhibition covered the period of the Second Empire in France (1852-1870) when the crinoline was vastly in use.

More than 300 garments were on display. Also on display were dance cards, fans, jewelry, accessories, flower-holders, headdresses -- some even belonging to the Empress Eugenie and Princess Mathilde

This was the period that was later said to give birth to haute couture, when the House of Charles Worth made its debut among other fashion firms and jewelers. With the arrival of chemicals, textiles contained prints and stripes of clashing colors. Dresses contained an overload of ornaments, fringes, wreaths of flowers, lace, and ribbon. It was normal for a women to change her outfit up to five times in one day. She had to keep up with the pace of social life and dinners, concerts, receptions, opera and theater.

Wow! What a period of history!

Reconstructing a Skirt

Recently I was working on some alterations for a client. One of the items was a basic shape skirt with a waistband and zipper. It would have taken me less time to make it from scratch.

A much older sarta had made it for my client. In Italy a dressmaker is called a "sarta" but a "sarto" is actually a tailor.

But anyway, this Italian sarta had made this skirt. It was made of an amazing Italian wool, with brown and black small houndstooth. The wool had an amazing hand and was great to work with.

As I finished my work I thought to myself, wow, it is nice to know that a traditional Italian sarta is still around and working.