My 18th Century

Back from the dead!

2011-03-25T00:47:00.002+01:00

So after a looong time I've decided to come back and start writing this blog again!
A lot has happened and a lot of projects have been started (although rarely finished!). My main project at the moment is a replica of the lovely brown silk dress from the Kyoto costume institute.
I just love the brown one in the middle and so I'm trying to make a similar one with some lovely dark green silk that I managed to get cheaply a few months ago. So far I've managed to make the bodice but it's hard to tell if it's any good before I sew the skirt on.

Now though, I have to get back to finishing off a jacket I made for my job at the 18th century café. It was originally made for the 12th night ball which I was planning on going to and so it's sewn after me wearing a pair of stays. Now I have to sew a new closure with ribbons to make sure I can wear it without. (Working with stays on is twice the effort!)
I'll probably post some pictures of it later during the week if someone attending the event at Kristinehov tomorrow has a camera. Hope to see some of you there!

Bored stiff!

2009-10-02T13:00:00.002+02:00

So right now I'm at my mums house feeling quite sorry for myself. On Tuesday evening I got a bad cold which then escalated to a fever and sore throat during the night. I am however a lot better today and all that's left is a very stuffy nose. Being ill has prevented me from being able to model Isis' fantastic lecture on 18th century beauty (on Saturday) and all my sewing projects are at my dad's so I haven't been able to get any of that done either. I can't wait to get better!

Vauxhall at Cristinehof

2009-09-23T19:42:00.002+02:00

Last Friday (the 18th) there was a wonderful ball at Cristinehofs malmgård which Madame Berg, my younger sister and I attended. The location was superb and it was a lot of fun meeting some of my readers and members of the forum. As I had no camera of my own I'll have to re-direct you to Isis Wardrobes Livejournal which can be found here. Unfortunately I can only be seen in one picture but I hope to be able to show you more once I find them. If you go down the page you will find a picture called sisters faeturing me and my sister Lady Swales. I am of course wearing the fantastic pink creation on the right. 8-)

Regency cat

2009-08-31T23:25:00.001+02:00

Right now I'm busy making my bonnet and my skills are extraordinary! NOT. It's probably going to end up being unwearable. Madame Berg made the kitty-bonnet. Doesn't he look fab?

Regency stays!

2009-08-27T23:36:00.003+02:00

Sorry for not bloging for almost a week but I've been quite busy with my new internship.
Anywho I just finished my regency stays. They're not perfect but they'll serve their purpose. Here they are in all their glory!

I feel special today!

2009-08-20T22:59:00.003+02:00

Today I was informed by beautiful Berg that my blog has been awarded the Amadeus Award for Taste and Excellence by the lovely Lauren! (Notice the double letter thing I have going on?)
I feel VERY honoured to receive this award so early since this is only my 16th post! It's made me feel quite special and I am grateful to all you readers who have given me the will and inspiration to carry on. (This is getting a bit too emotional isn't it?)
Anywho, I shall post tomorrow to tell you all who I choose to pass this award on to and to keep you busy until then, here are some pictures from last night. Enjoy!

Stressed out!

2009-08-19T16:18:00.001+02:00

In about 2 hours I have to attend a piquenique in Haga park and I didn't have time to make a jacket so unfortunately I'll just have to wear my Chemise. I'll post pictures when I get there!

Regency stays!

2009-08-16T21:09:00.003+02:00

I know I've got a lot to do but in a month there will be a party themed 1809 and I sooo want to get everything perfect. I'm totally addicted to Pride and Prejudice (BBC 1995) and so I wouldn't want to disappoint Madame Berg (who I believe has suffered while I watched it for the 100th time this month!) by wearing a hideous and historically incorrect outfit. Well today was my lucky day! I just found the easiest stays ever and I got some fabric scraps that were just enough to make them. They're from sometime between 1800 and 1810. What do you guys think?

Picknick perfect!

2009-08-12T18:23:00.001+02:00

My mom bought it for me in italy. :) Just look at all that lace! This is so being used on Wednesday.

So much to do!

2009-08-11T23:05:00.001+02:00

So I've decided that my new stays will have to wait since right now I'm a very busy person. I have until wednesday the 19th to make two jackets out of the red and white striped fabric above for a picknick in Haga park. Only 2 days later I have to have my green gown finished for the midnight party at Drottningholm. The green dress is almost completed. I only have a few details left to finish off but once I've done that I'll most definately start with my stays. Right now I'm wearing my sisters' because I can't seem to find my own in my messy, messy room. A good pair of stays really makes a difference.

New forum!

2009-08-11T13:38:00.001+02:00

I'm guessing that most of my blog reader also read Madame Bergs blog but if there are any of you out there that don't, Madame Berg has created a forum called Historical Sewing. It's a great site for those wishing to share tips, ask questions, brag about your latest creations or anything else related to historical sewing. You can find the site here!

New book

2009-08-09T15:41:00.001+02:00

Yesterday me and my sister went to a secondhand shop and bought lots of nice things. One of the items was this book that my sister got. The author's name is David Mynders Smythe. I haven't read it yet but it looks promising. Does anyone know if it's any good?

Vote for me!

2009-08-08T21:59:00.004+02:00

If you click this link here you'll come to the site of a masquerade supplier in Sweden and their costume competition. So far I'm in the lead but I need your votes! When you open the page, press the "Rösta på Dräkterna" star and you'll find my picture somewhere among the others. Click it to go to the voting page. 10 stars would be nice and then press "Rösta". ;)

Embroidery patterns?

2009-08-07T11:56:00.002+02:00

For my new stays I'm planning on doing some all-black embroidery however the only pattern I've found so far is this. It's very nice and I think it would do well with the pink but I need something more to fill up the emptiness. Perhaps I should just forget about the Jacobean pattern and have some roses slithering in a v-like formation?

My little secret

2009-08-06T14:53:00.001+02:00

I've just got the fabric for my new 18th c. stays and they're going to be bright pink! I know the colour didn't exist back then but it's not like anyone else will know... ;)

Movies and sewing!

2009-08-04T16:39:00.001+02:00

I love watching movies like Marie-Antoinette when I'm sewing but I think I've seen most films featuring this particular era. Any recommendations? No Kiera Knightley films though. I absolutely detest her!

An uninvited friend.

2009-07-31T21:35:00.001+02:00

A cute little fox. We fed him ham, bread and potatoes. He's so adorable!

Finally here!

2009-07-31T15:16:00.001+02:00

The view from the front. Hopefully this time I won't get too many mosquito bites.

What I spent all yesterday doing.

2009-07-31T11:19:00.001+02:00

Folds in fabrics + me = yawn. Well atleast I've done half of it. Today I'm leaving for the country. No electricity or running water. If I only had a few more dresses (and someone to play along with me) I'd pretend I were a 18th century farmgirl!

Pictures from the picknick!

2009-07-30T14:23:00.008+02:00

So last saurday we went on a picknick. This was the first "real" event I've been to. I've seen one from the kitchen once when I was working as a maid but I never really had time to talk to people or enjoy myself (although you won't believe what I saw and heard that night!). Anyhow, there where quite a few people at Drottningholm that day and I'm not joking when I say there were more pictures taken of us than the actual palace. :)
As you can see in the first picture, the weather was lovely but later on the sky went gray and almost everyone headed back home. It rained for a few minutes but the air was still nice and warm.

In this picture you can see my younger sister on the left and myself on the right.

Me and my step-mother carrying the basket home.

My first dress!

2009-07-30T13:47:00.001+02:00

This is the first dress i've actually finished. It's a late 18th century chemise dress. My sister made one too so during the picknick last saturday we looked almost like twins. Not identical though.