Category: balls

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Events – PEERS Fairytale Ball & GBACG Buckram Bonnet Workshop

After being literally tied to my computer for about a month with heinously huge work deadlines (literally!), I’ve finally been able to get out and about!

Two weekends ago I went to the GBACG Victorian bonnet workshop, where I finally learned how to work with buckram. Yay! The class was great, most especially because Frannie and I were very punchy and basically whined (and laughed) through most of it. Lynne is as always such a fabulous teacher (and her work is amazing — you can see her in one of her bonnets here on the right). I was most excited that she brought one of her OWN patterns, so we got to work on a really period 1850-60s bonnet shape, and not the typical “Dickens bonnet.” I was waiting to take some pictures of the bonnet (still in progress), but I’m not 100% sure whether I’m going to stick with my original plan (which doesn’t really work with any of my current or planned outfits). I have plans for a sheer 1860s dress for next summer, so I may redo the bonnet to work with that.

Then last Saturday I went with Katie and Bridget to the PEERS Fairytale Masquerade ball. It was lovely, particularly because only about 1/3 of the number of people I usually see at PEERS balls were there, so there was actually ROOM to move around and dance (gasp!). I wore my courtesan dress with a glinty butterfly mask (I decided I was a princess — that’s fairytale enough!). I had fun dancing, but most especially enjoyed getting to dress up. Yay dress up! Pictures

Now I just have to get back to some sewing (I’ve been working on my 1780s jacket and am actually near to done, but I need to take some pictures so I can update that diary). Then I need to get back to work on my 1770s Paris dress and start thinking about my Costume College gala dress. Phew!

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GBACG Goes to Gaskells

So this past Saturday GBACG went en masse (well, some of us anyway) to the Gaskell ball (semi-monthly Victorian balls in Oakland). It was really really lovely — there were less of us than last year, but we did a better job hanging out together so I actually got to talk to lots of people. Plus there were lots of lovely people, like Trystan looking stunning in a purple and gold dress, Sarah all the way out from Utah in her Colonial Coquette dress, and Jwlhyfer in her Elizabeth Siddal posing gown. Our group theme was costume in bloom, and everyone did a great job accenting their costumes with flowers.

I didn’t dance much (still recovering from a knee injury) but those that I did dance were great. We were even awake enough that Jwlhyfer, Bridget (in my brown 1830s evening dress) and I met my husband and a friend at a bar in Berkeley afterwards — where we made MANY friends (nothing like drunk frat guys who actually know what a bustle is!).

aaaand… PHOTOS!

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Gaskell Ball

On Saturday night the GBACG went to the Gaskell Ball. It was much more successful than I thought it would be — there were at least 35, maybe 40, of us, and I think I got to say hi to most of them.

PHOTOS

Possibly because the guild was promoting that specific ball, and probably through some freak of the space/time continuum, the costuming was MUCH better than it usually is (meaning, there was more of it and less corset/prom skirt!). I had an excellent time dancing, chatting with friends and fellow costumers, and stalking all of the lovely costumes. Some of the best gowns were on Barbara, who wore her grey striped (!!) wedding dress (more info on her website), and by Heidi’s recreation of the Madame X dress from the Sargent painting.

I wore my stripedy 1780s robe a l’anglaise, and had fun ratting my hair out. As I was leaving the house I mentioned to my husband, “You know, about half of the people there are going to say, ‘What the $!)# did she do to her hair?'” — and I was right. One person said, “It looks like you’re going for a servant look or something…” Le sigh!

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PEERS Mardi Gras Ball

On Saturday night I went to the PEERS Mardi Gras ball. I was actually quite impressed; possibly because of the theme and the fact that it was a masked ball, the costuming was much more exciting than usual. Lots of great masks, Heidi had FABULOUS 1830s hair, and there were two other robes a la francaise other than my own (Jenn in the red even had a BOAT in her hair! Yay!).

So here you are: PHOTOS

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I Am Incredibly Boring

I’ve been slammed at work, so have very little energy to sew or be costumey or come up with interesting content for this here site! In a desperate attempt to post something, I offer:

Charles A. Whitaker Auctions is having another one of their pesky costume sales — only one gallery is up, so check back later for more images.

I bought some beautiful silk brocade (well, we hope — it hasn’t arrived yet) on ebay, which will be perfect to make Henriette de Nevers’s dress from Queen Margot.

Two weeks ago the GBACG had our open house, which was ever so much fun. I wore my stripey Regency dress and spencer in the fashion show. Sarah at Mode Historique got some good pictures.

Saturday night I’m going to the PEERS Mardi Gras ball; planning to wear my green robe a la francaise plus an appropriately Carnivale-colored mask. Wondering if I can do something with a veil to make my costume more interesting.

I did cut out and sew together a mockup of my 1910 wings of the dove dress, but haven’t done enough to warrant posting.

La la! I am boring!