Category: shopping

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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!

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Sale Update

Just a quick update on the sale — I am slowly listing things on ebay, but lots of stuff is still available. If you see something on my sale page that doesn’t take you to ebay, you can still contact me privately to arrange to buy. Once I get things on ebay, I will link from that page, so you can still see what I’ve got until it’s gone. I’m removing things from the page as they are purchased, altho a few things are reserved.

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SALE – Vintage & Antique Clothing, Patterns, Costume DVD

I’m broke! But my broke-ness is hopefully your gain. I’ve got a bunch of costume-related things for sale, which I’m going to offer to my costuming friends for ONE WEEK – until about 9/11/06. After that, they go to ebay.

All items are first come, first served. I ship via Priority Mail (you pay exact shipping) to US – international buyers are okay, but it may take me a week or so to mail your package (I have a hard time getting to the post office with my work schedule). I’m happy to combine shipping.

I’ve got some stunning antique c. 1860s pieces, a bunch of larger size vintage 1920s & 40s dresses, some patterns, and a Vanity Fair DVD.

Want to buy? Email me at kendra at tweedlebop.com (change the “at” to an @).

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18th Century Excitement & Color Quandries!

Okay, so how excited am I? Some Bay Area costumers have organized a two-day workshop on 18th century gown making techniques. Next Saturday, the supervising mantua maker from Colonial Williamsburg is going to teach us how to drape, fit, and make (by hand!) a 1770s sack-back gown/robe a la francaise. Then Sunday we pair up and drape and fit and start sewing our own gown! *does the happy costumer Kermit dance of joy*

But now on to color quandries. ARGH! I cannot decide what color to make my dress! For years I have wanted a pale silk taffeta sack back gown, and this seems like the time to do it. I’ve always thought ivory or peach; ivory would be too hard to take care of, so okay, peach (like this dress from the upcoming Marie Antoinette). But then when I’ve shown swatches to people, they’ve thought that peach is too close to my skin tone and would be boring and monochromatic.

But then when I go to look at other colors, I’m either bored or they don’t seem right for 18th century (which seems to be mostly all about white/ivory, yellow [no], blue [I hate blue], green [I ALWAYS do green, boring!] and pink/peach [no pink]). There are lots of nice silk taffetas out there in dark and jewel tones, but they just don’t look right to me. There are some interesting rosey/orangey mid-tones at C&J Textiles (like 6016 and 6017) — I have swatch cards and they’re much more interesting in person — but I just don’t know if this is working for me!

Usually I find fabric, and then let that dictate what I’m going to make. This is a rare occurance when I need fabric (in about a week!) and the universe is just not helping me out.

So! Do I:
A. Stick with peach (I was thinking of maybe edging the ruches in fly fringe/“rococo” trim in a darker orangey or red/rosey tone to liven things up)?
B. Go with a rosey/orangey mid-tone (not too bright/dark)?
C. Go with something like a pale green (I always do green)?
D. Run screaming?

I know, I know. My mother once told me that I’m jaded, and I think it’s true!