Démodé

historical costume projects & resources

Where I’ve Been

It’s not that I haven’t been around, or that I haven’t been sewing… it’s that I foolishly decided, “Hey, why don’t I just whip something up for the Guillotine Picnic?” So I’ve been doing a bit of offline sewing (because I thought it was just going to be this super quick thing!). Next time I decide to “whip something out,” remind me not the handsew the entire frickin thing. I win the genius prize! The event is Saturday, so you shall see the result of my madness then. Don’t worry, it’s not terribly exciting.

In other news, I have been hugely busy trying to stay on top of my life plus plan every little detail for the Guillotine picnic. To date, I have gathered music and lyrics for the song booklets, found dance music and steps for the dancing, typed up letters from soon-to-be-guillotined personages, found engravings of more guillotined personages, bought a bazillion yards of ribbon (yay for Bastille Day being after July 4th, and for after-July-4th sales!). Thursday night is assembly night, during which I have to make 60 cockades and assemble 60 song booklets (hopefully with a few helpers). Still need to burn music to CD, figure out the stereo, frame engravings, figure out the rest of the altar (we’re going to have an altar in memory of the guillotined), make a sash, sew some organza ruffles on my sleeves… Crikey!

In yet other news, this offline sewing has put a crimp in my Costume College sewing. I am itching to get cracking on the Daniel Deronda dress – Sunday! I shall get weeks of sewing done on Sunday!

5 thoughts on “Where I’ve Been

  1. oh I hear you. Oh, right. Everyone said the chemise would only take 4 hours. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

    Neck ruffle, sleeves, etc. THEN I need to make a chemise to go under the chemise (it won’t be pretty. Two white sheets and a serger, yo). Then, when that and my hat is done, I can feel free to pretty up the dress with the block printing around the 8.5 yards of fabric I have at the circumference. And I can’t seem to find good fabric for a sash. Yikes!

    So how many of us are going to be in chemises do you think?

  2. Ooo, I can’t wait to see the mystery costume.

    I love the idea of the Guillotine picnic. We had a Bastille day dinner for my big b’day last year complete with, I kid you not, an only slightly smaller than life sized guillotine care of a carpenter friend.

    I still haven’t finished my DD dress but am very close!

  3. Whaaaaaaaaah, now I reallyreally wish I were going 🙁 Can I sneak in & pay in cash if I hitch a ride w/someone. I’ll bring champagne.

    Of course, I still have plenty of practical dull things I should be doing this weekend instead…

    *le sigh*

    A real guillotine! Omg, I totally want one of those, Bauhausfrau. Yeah, I’m sick that way 😉

  4. Looking forward to this weekend and you will look great as always! So will I for that matter, because you are the fabulous friend who loans me clothes!

  5. ooh, can’t wait to see it, and yes you’re a genius in my book for hand sewing a costume :shudders:

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