I found 4.5 yards of fabulous Chinese brocade fabric (brown background with gold and blue flowers) for $3/yard in the LA Garment District on Saturday — now I am consumed with what to do with it! I’m thinking of an 1890’s dress with the bodice and front and back skirt gores made of the brocade, with the other skirt panels and sleeves made of brown or blue satin…

Of course, I really should get busy on all my other in-progress projects! I’m hoping to get to work on my 1796 dress next, but I’ve promised to make a friend a Regency dress for the Jane Austen ball (Feb. 1st), so that has to be finished first. We’re making a reinterpretation of one of Charlotte Lucas’s dresses from the recent BBC version of Pride and Prejudice — the dress will be made of a lightweight purple satin, with a narrow black stripe organza overlay on the bodice, sleeves, and skirt.

And, of course, I still have to repair my 1874-77 dress in time for Gaskells on Dec. 20th!