Costume College Thoughts

Got my limited class confirmations — I’m in Sarah’s French hood class, and the burn testing fabrics classes — yay! Got both of the ones I wanted. I’ve so scaled back on limiteds — I’ve found that I don’t really enjoy making things at College, and signing up for a limited commits your time. I’d rather be free to run around to whichever classes suit my fancy — plus the all important socializing!

I’m starting to think about my classes. I want to tweak the 18th c. overview class. In the past, I’ve done it very chronologically, but I’m thinking it might work better to show the basic elements and how those changed over time (ie sleeves, for example). Not sure if that’ll be more or less confusing! And I need to figure out how to work the models for the hair & makeup class (thanks to those who’ve volunteered, I’ll be contacting you soon!).

And then there’s the all important what to wear question! I’m thinking about something for Thurs. night, Fri. night, Sat. night gala, and Sun. tea — although crikey, that’s four costumes! Definitely the Daniel Deronda dress for the Sun. tea. The Gala dress could be either the Florentine or Lady Maud dresses — depends on which one turns out more fabulous. I don’t think I have time or money to get more done than the Florentine and Daniel Deronda dresses by August… So that means I need 2 more costumes. I love the bonnet on my Meg dress, but I don’t really want to deal with a hoopskirt so that one may be out — or I could wear it over my crinoline instead? Hmm, that’s only three costumes. Maybe I’ll make an evening bodice for the Daniel Deronda dress, and so get more wear out of that?

Random Ramblings

Whitaker Auctions is starting to post photos from the upcoming Tasha Tudor auction and WOW is there some great stuff! I am particularly in love with this later 1860s dress (you know how there are eras you think you’ll never get into, and then suddenly you go OHMYGODIMUSTHAVEIT!? Well, I am having that lately about late 1860s. Weird. When I have enough money, I’m going to make an elliptical hoop and then…). There will be more pictures (hopefully soon!), and as I posted previously they will be publishing a catalog (yay!).

In other random news:

I’ve found THE PERFECT FABRIC for an 18th century stripey francaise, and another PERFECT FABRIC for a stripey pet-en-l’air — only to realize that we are flat broke and there’s no way I can afford to spend $150 on fabric. Sob.

So I am thinking about what I can make out of my stash — most obvious is the 10 yards of black silk duchesse satin that I scored last year from Trim Fabrics. I am thinking about a natural form evening gown, and am poring through tons of images trying to find something that I want to make. The question is whether to go all black with black beaded trim, or to use this gorgeous antique purple brocade that I got at Lacis a few months back (but is in lots of little pieces, so can only be used as an accent). I can’t decide!

I did, however, find the perfect fabric — a super sheer silk/cotton voile, which goes perfectly with the vintage accent fabric I had in my stash – for The Come Hell or High Water, I’m Going to Have a New Dress for Gatsby if it Kills Me Dress! at Stone Mountain. Purchased, thank god, before I realized how broke I was.

And I am woefully behind on movie reviews. As a note to myself, I need to write reviews for: The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton, The Painted Veil, and The Ruby in the Smoke. And I really need to find time to watch: the new BBC Dracula, new ITV Mansfield Park (still trying to find Persuasion and Northanger Abbey), Amazing Grace, and Miss Potter. Shocking!

Costume Depression

Agh! I simply CANNOT find anything I like to make for the Costume College gala/GBACG guillotine picnic! Yes yes, I have a few 18th century options so it’s not like I’d be naked at the picnic. The real focus is having something fabulous to wear to the gala, but I literally can’t find ANYTHING that’s making my toes curl. I’m pretty settled on 18th century (last night I went through my image files on all other eras that I like, and they BORED [gasp!] me!). What I really need is to find a portrait that I really love and want to reproduce (but they’re all white, blue, pink, and yellow — zzzzzzzz) or some fabric (STRIPES??!!) that knocks my socks off (but so far, no go). Sob. Is this the end??!! And I’ve actually been working on my Meg dress, but my husband went off for four days with the camera, so I have no proof!

This post brought to you by Whine(TM).

Because I’m Just Not Going to Get Anything done Until I Decide…

What to make for the Costume College gala (and probably the GBACG Guillotine Picnic)? Some kind of stripey 1760s/70s pet-en-l’air (too similar to what I wore last year?), one of these 1772 robes a l’anglaise (pretending that the greenish cast to the blue dress makes it green, or the orange [is orange too close to the peach I used for my francaise?]), or this 1790 stripey redingote/anglaise ensemble (might have some red/white left over from my candy cane dress, but is it too boring to make another ensemble in that fabric?). CADD strikes again! Must decide! Mind consumed with thoughts of ruching and big hair!

La la la…

Okay, so I got distracted and busy over the weekend, but I am so getting back to my Little Women dress tonight! Saturday Sarah and I geeked out watching Marie Antoinette, and my thoughts are filled with making SOME kind of exciting 18th century fabulousness for the Costume College gala. But I’m being hampered by my desire to reproduce some sort of period portrait (I want the challenge of doing hair/accessories/etc.), and needing to get over my aversion to blue and pink (everything is blue, white, and pink! aaaaaa!). Could I handle a white with groupings of narrow pink stripes? Would I look like a total dork? Is there a reason most of my costume wardrobe is green and burgundy (yes)? I’m also thinking about making one of the dresses from Marie Antoinette, but most of them are either in a color I don’t like or have something inaccurate enough about them to stop me…

Sunday was Costume Academy — I taught a class on bustle era hairstyles, which included a demo that went very well! And I took a class on working with feathers, and successfully was able to curl an ostrich feather, which made me unnecessarily happy.

In the meantime, I was randomly inspired to take a photo of my 18th century pocket, made years ago when I was in the mood for some embroidery. More interesting updates soon!