Gwendolyn

I just 'finished' a new painting, and I'm left with the overwhelming sensation of having SO MUCH that I need to work on.  

I seriously need to amp up my drawing skills and really the only way to do this is by doing a lot of drawing from life, something which until this very week I hadn't even thought about doing since my junior year of college.  The past few days I've taken to drawing during my lunch break... drawing things in the real world, not stuff in photographs.  None of it is interesting or deep:  flowers I pass on my walk, the salsa jar on the table in the break room, gestures of sheep in a nearby meadow (sometimes I love working across the street from the historic area!), etc.  And it's really proving to me that I'm way too used to taking shortcuts with my drawing and relying on what I think I know about an object instead of what's actually there.  It would also behoove me to step outside my comfort zone a bit and stop always drawing things that I know I can already draw (more or less).

Also, if I want to start successfully incorporating backgrounds and settings in my work, I'm going to need to be able to draw and paint environments and landscapes MUCH more convincingly.  Again, I think I'm going to have to start going outside and doing some plein air paintings instead of heading straight for stock images on the computer.

And then there's color!  Good lord, color.  Basically, I need to start putting a lot more thought into the color scheme of a painting before I even think about picking up a brush.  Having a vague idea and making decisions as I go simply creates a lot more work in the long run and leads to a whole slew of headaches along the way. 

All that said, I really enjoyed painting every evening after work (even if it was only for an hour or two), and I desperately want to keep working and improve.

Inyhoo, new painting!


The plan for the summer is to put together a decent body of work and then actually get out there as an artist and start selling myself.

This weekend is Ft. Fred though, and I need to make a petticoat to go with my new-ish pink jacket or I'll be stuck wearing my ancient stuff.  I also want to finish the miniature I'm working on, but I don't think I can get it done before the weekend. 

 Weee!  First time cross-posting from my blog!

New 18th Cen clotheses.  Or, more specifically:  new 18th Cen jacket.

I should preface this post with the disclaimer that the jacket is Not-Done-Yet and is still in want of trim. That said, I've worn it twice now to two different gatherings, and wanted to document its existence.



The jacket is made of a pink cotton homespun, lined with a natural medium-weight linen. This was one of those situations where I had both fabrics in my stash and really didn't want to spend extra money... Also, I'm trying very hard to move away from blue in my costuming, as about 2/3's of my historical wardrobe is in the blue family. Not sure how successful I'll be in the long run, as I still adore blue (and it never fails to look good on me).

Like the majority of my historical clothes, the interior seams are all done by machine, but everything visible is hand-work.





The fullness of the skirts is achieved with five inverted box pleats, one at each seam, which are whipped to the lining for stability.

The pattern is very loosely based off the robe à l'anglaise in Jean Hunnisett's book. I say "very loosely" as I looked at it for general sizing, and drew what I thought would work. Fortunately, it did. I didn't bother drafting a sleeve pattern though, and just adapted one of Nicole's personal sleeve bases.

I'll probably write more about research and general info once I really truly finish it, and can post pictures of it in all its trimmed glory.


I'll most likely be wearing this at Ft. Fred at the end of the month (hopefully by that time I'll have made a new petticoat as well, and won't have to borrow this one of Nicole's which I have on in the photos.)

I just placed an order for the patterns for my secret spring project!  I already have most of the fabric for said project, and since time seems to be literally flying out from under my feet, it's high time I finished amassing goods and got to work!

There are plans afoot, and they involve the Civil War and things-I've-never-sewn-before and a good dose of fun, but that's all I'm saying for now.  ;)

Also, what I've gotten to see of the accessories conference etc has been really good so far.  Lots of new ideas and mental connections and general info to let simmer.  Not to mention, this afternoon we basically learned where the evil reenactorism of the "bodice" came from... and yes, one can blame the 70's and 80's lack of research and the fact that Williamsburg sold off its old bodices once they were eliminated from the site (which were then used in many small historic sites and were patterned and spread around by reenactors and sutlers) pretty much equally.

In about two weeks from now, a fair number of people will be descending on Williamsburg for the accessories conference, and there are several 18th cen. style social engagements around that same time.

Oh, right.  I was going to make myself a new outfit for that.

I'll stick to my old plan of making a new jacket and petticoat, though after talking with Nicole, I decided to not make a pet en l'air since my fabric is too lightweight and soft for a nice saque-back.  I'll probs do something caraco-ish, though I haven't solidified a design yet.  Better get cracking though... time is running out!

I also have to finish three illustrations, of 1790s lower-class menswear, this weekend as well.  As soon as those are done, it'll be full speed ahead on the new 18th cen stuff.  It'll be quite novel to sew something for myself.

 Sometimes when I look at my slow progress on personal projects, it's easy to forget that I actually DO sew for eight hours a day.  Up 'til very recently I was still in a three-month 'training' process at work, and it was only about two weeks ago that it ended and I became a regular member of the team.

This means that I am finally doing actual production instead of just daily maintenance, alteration, and finishing!  As a tailor (stitcher, really), I don't get to cut at all (sad face), but being able to sew entire garments is SO refreshing after three months of bits and pieces!  Of course, we all have to do a certain amount of daily maintenance and repair every day, but at least for half of the day things get interesting. ;)

And this past week I made my first military coat!

Next up on my assignment rack is a livery coat with lots and lots of silver trim!

 Hit play, close your eyes, and let the music just wash over you...


I have been listening to this nearly nonstop for the last two or three days... and even though I am dutifully sticking to my current projects and plans, this song has filled my head with dreamy images of turn-of-the-century lace gowns and foggy English mornings and walled gardens and early spring.



I've never before had a piece of music so thoroughly inspire me for any sort of art or sewing.  I don't know quite what it is... perhaps Chopin somehow wove a bit of magic into his nocturnes and it's infected my dreams. 

Granted, I've always had a soft spot for this period due to my rapturous love for Anne of Green Gables and childhood favorites like The Secret Garden and A Little Princess.  I don't know if or when I'll actually make something from this period, but it's bound to happen sooner or later, perhaps with a little push from Mr. Chopin.  



Then there's this blue dress (1905-06 from the collection at the Met) which, while perhaps a little bit "frothy", seems like exactly the sort of thing that Anne would have in 'Anne's House of Dreams'.  Imagine wearing it to a picnic on the grounds of a lovely estate, or simply strolling along a wooded path with the sunshine breaking through gaps in the branches...

 Every new year I like to do the annual round-up of what I wanted to do costume-wise during the previous year compared to what I actually accomplished and then list what I intend to make during the coming year.

At the beginning of last year my plan-making was crippled by a severe lack of money, so my to-do list was restricted to making things solely out of fabric I already had.  However, my plans included:
-Dark cotton print regency 'work' dress (yes!)
-Cotton voile long sleeved regency dress (nope)
-Blue silk 1812 evening gown (nope)

In 2010 I actually made:
1860s Windowpane check silk day dress

It doesn't really feel like Thanksgiving or the end of November.  Partly because of the weather (the trees are still bright yellow and red and it's been nearly 70 the past few days!) and partly because I've never been away from my family for the holidays before.  One of the ladies from my Tuesday night sewing circle has invited me to her house for dinner today, so I at least won't be alone on Thanksgiving, but it's really not the same thing.

Also, it's been my habit to put up my Christmas decorations on Thanksgiving evening or the day after, and I feel really strange thinking of decorating for Christmas when it's still so fall-like outside.  There hasn't even been a proper frost yet!  I suppose I'll just have to get used to living in the South and adapt... and after all, it's not as though I'm in Florida like my brother where it's still next door to summer.

Last week was crazy busy as I quickly made my wool dress for Gettysburg in between friends' visits and several dates (though there's nothing exciting to report on that front).  As usual, I was up incredibly late the last two nights before the event getting it done, and the final stitches were put in at the hotel room the morning of the event!  Of course, now that I've actually worn it I want to make changes so I hesitate to call it done, but it's a complete dress so it's technically on the finished project list.

Even though the wool is a light, tropical weight, it ended up being super bulky when box-pleated into the waistband which threw off the fit of the bodice.  The bulk of the waistband causes there to be a gap between my body and the dress right above the waist and the bodice doesn't quite close at the front point.  I'm thinking of taking the skirt off the waistband and re-doing it with cartridge pleats instead and will probably add a couple bones to the bodice as well before the next major event.



I'm really happy with how the trim on the sleeves turned out though!  I used a narrow, velvet ribbon which I applied before the sleeves were completely constructed.  I used one of the discontinued Martha McCain patterns from Simplicity to get the shape of the pleated sleeve, which ended up being much easier to make than I had anticipated.

We match!  Sort of.  :)



And a couple more dress photos:





Katie and I both got quite a few compliments over the course of the day, which was naturally very pleasant, and in spite of fitting issues I'm really pleased with the dress in general and had a lot of fun wearing it.  I think it'll probably see quite a bit of use in the future.

One thing I will definitely say for my new job, is that already my buttonholes have shown a marked improvement.  This is a result of the hours and hours I've spend doing a buttonhole stitch along worn edges and corners of garments.  In fact, I've done nothing but mend so far, and still have another week of mending ahead of me before I get to progress to alterations. 

Yet whenever I start to get tired of fixing yet another hem or patching another hole, I just remember that instead of sitting in a large, quiet room stitching I could be waiting on customers, and I instantly feel much better about life.  And in a week's time I'll be able to take on more interesting projects, but for the moment I feel like some sort of mending queen. 

Tuesday night I attended dance practice with the Williamsburg Heritage Dancers, and had so much fun!  We did several dances that were way more complicated than anything I'd done at previous balls, and for once I felt like a novice instead of the experienced one!  Every other Tuesday evening is sewing circle though, so I'll only be able to go dancing every other week unless I decide to try Scottish folk dancing which is apparently on Thursday nights... I'm thinking if I'm not too tired I'll go for sure next week.

And my mind is swimming with all the dresses I want to make for myself, but I'm just. so. tired.

I might work a little bit on my wool dress for Gettysburg before going to bed.  The skirt panels are sewn together, and I want to attach the hem facing yet tonight.

Right up after the wool 1860s dress though must be a new 18th cen outfit.

I have some pretty pale pink homespun look cotton that I think I'll make a little pet en l'eir jacket with.  Right now I'm thinking of doing something like this:
 

I also want a charcoal grey robe a l'anglaise, but I don't even have fabric for that yet.  And I absolutely need a cloak and mitts if I'm going to spend the winter in Williamsburg!

I have a new etsy shop!

I'm still in the process of adding items, but it contains costumes and art prints and at some point should have original fine art as well.

Etsy IdlewildIllustree

I want to at least maintain some thematic consistency within my shop, so I'm not going to list a lot of the art I made during school (like I did last time), but I'm also not quite sure which of my paintings would be more desirable as prints. And drawings? I do love the 'Livestock' historical fashion drawings I did, but I don't know if anyone will want to buy them.