Hiatus

I’ve already missed a couple of posts and I’m here to tell you I will be missing a couple more.  Mr Victorian-Not and myself are off on a driving trip tomorrow.  Usually, when I head out of town I write a few extra posts and set them on automatic pilot but fate and time have conspired against me and I couldn’t keep up with regular posts, never mind write extras, this past week.  I should be back and on track by this time next week and hopefully will have relevant material from my trip to share with you.  I will be back…hope you will be too!

The one that nearly made me cry

My final offering from the Costume Museum of Canada’s display in May is a 1911 day suit.  I don’t love this era but this one was so pretty I nearly cried when I saw it.  It is purple!

I was so in love with the details on this gown that I forgot to take a photo of the full front. Isn’t the collar yummy!

It looks like the details were machine sewn but that would have been one skilled machinist!

The buttons were divine!

May be this is a better shot of the front?

 

Oh, the trim, the trim…sigh.

Side view.

In my mind, I saw this jacket with a pair of jeans and boots.  As modern wear, you’d have strangers running up to you and asking where you bought it.

The cuff and collar contrast with the main part of the suit.

As you can see, the details are everywhere!

Close up of one of the motifs.

This suit was in danger of being stuffed into my car.  Great danger.

Back view.

Close up of back.

And even with the jacket off, this suit stays lovely.

Skirt

I’d love to make a copy of this suit but I’d never be able to put all that work into it.  And where would I find buttons like those.

Crown jewels done

I’ve finished the jewels for my 1838-40 Green Queen V dress.  I did a little shopping at a local craft store and bought some jewels and beads to make these.

Bracelet for the right arm

Pin that goes at the throat

This last was made by putting together a brooch and a pendant.

The jewels at the hip. In the painting you can’t really see what the shape is so I made it up.

I put a pendant and a belt buckle together for this last one.  Finally, I replaced the chain I had on the head piece with a golden wire.  I didn’t like how the chain sagged.  It was also too short.

I still need to put in the lining on the bodice, put the hooks and eyes in for the closure and hem the skirt.  Before I do all that though, I think I will be taking the bodice in a bit.

I wonder how a Victorian lady would deal with this?

I got home the other day after a long day of being on my feet and my back was killing me.  So I dealt with it in a nice, modern way.My little doggy is behind me keeping me company.

But, what is a lady to do about dinner?  I don’t have “a girl for that.”

Ah, Mr. Victorian-Not to the rescue!

In this Victorian vs Modern scenario, I think modern wins.

Smart suit that could be worn today…

I have only two more dresses to show you from last months Costume Museum of Canada display.  The one I want to show you today is a smart little suit that I think could be worn today if the hem line was higher or it was pants instead of a skirt.

1911 Grey Suit

Isn’t this smart!

 

I really love the buttons on the back and the sleeves.  Yup, I’d wear this today.

Made the best of a rainy weekend

Shirley and I had plans to go out this past weekend to see an old church in our mourning gowns and then for tea afterwards.  But we have had weather that looks more like a monsoon than a spring rain.  So we cancelled.  And we both had a weekend of sewing, sewing, sewing.  I managed to go from cut fabric to a finished bodice in one weekend.  Gads, I feel so relaxed!

I’ve now got the bodice of my 1838-40 Green Queen V dress done.  Again, here is the inspiration for the HSF Art challenge and the Politics of Fashion Challenge. It is an 1840 John Partridge painting of Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria is obviously a political figure and many fashions were launched by her…for example, wearing white gowns for weddings.

Queen Victoria 1840 John Partridge

And here is the gown so far.

The bodice is done but I need more jewels and the hooks need to be put on (but they don’t get done until after the skirt is sewn and attached.) I’m especially pleased with how this turned out!

The Challenge: Politics of fashion

Fabric: polyester sheer fabric, polyester solid fabric cotton lining

Pattern: TV455 Romantic Era Dress

Year: 1838-40

Notions: boning, beaded ribbon, hooks, buckles

How historically accurate is it? Hahahaha NOT! Fake jewels and machine Sewing and polyester says it all! 30%?

Hours to complete: 20 hours

Nice little 1911 linen suit

Happy Friday the 13th with a full moon everybody!  Lets take our minds off of what some believe is impending doom and look at another dress from the Costume Museum of Canada’s display a few weeks ago.

All cream. I can’t think how this thing survived over 100 years still looking clean!

I swear!  None of my white clothing will make it to a museum.  The first day I wear my white items, I’m without fail, eating spaghetti or something smothered in ketchup!

Covered buttons.

How about a better look at the lace inserts and cording.

Side view.

And back view.

If I ever get into Edwardian fashions, I think I’d like something like this…just not in white.

All dressed up and no place to go

That is exactly how I’d feel with this dress.  Lovely but where would I wear it?  When I did the fashion show at my church last month, I explained that I like to sew my costumes the way a Victorian woman might choose her clothes (and the way we still do today).  I’m middle-aged so I try to avoid colors and styles that a middle-aged woman wouldn’t wear.  I try to trim dresses in ways that detract from figure flaws with varying degrees of success.  And I make decisions based on my persona of an upper middle class city woman who has a “girl to do that”.  No Little House on the Prairie ensembles for me…at least not yet.  And not to many “having dinner with the Prime Minister” gowns either.  Where would I wear it?  Winnipeg does not have that many high-end upper crust Victorian venues and the ones we do have are still a bit dear for me!

But, I can admire this Edwardian number even though I can’t see myself in it.

Front view of 1911 beaded gown

Close up of bodice

I love the pinks and purples with the black.

Close up of one of the motifs on the gown

Side view

I think this would have been worn to a grand affair.  Remember the day when the symphony or the opera (or air travel) were grand affairs that demanded a bit more effort than sweat pants and a pony tail?

Close up of the sleeve

The train. I had folks (with gloves on of course) lift the train to feel the weight of it. I’d guess that whole gown weighed 10 pounds!

To bad that photo was blurry.  Stupid me forgetting my camera and only having a dying iPhone!

HSF 14: Challenge 10: Art

I’m a bit late for this but here goes.  I’ve decided to combine challenges 10 and 11 and do a copy of this painting…

Queen Victoria 1840 John Partridge

…for the art challenge and the politics of fashion challenge.

For the art portion, I will submit the head portion of this painting.

The head band is a bit tight and I think I shall have to get a longer chain, but the look is right.  Then for some fun I used my paint program.

And then my photo filter program.

The extent of my sewing was the lappets or cap.

The Challenge: 10 Art.

Painting: Queen Victoria 1840 by John Partridge

Fabric: Sheer Poly something or other.

Pattern: Self Drafted

Year: 1830-40

Notions: White fringe, chain, broach.

How historically accurate is it? Everything is synthetic or fake.  Machine sewn.  Shape is about right 30%.

Hours to complete: 2 hours

First worn: For photo

Total cost: $3 for broach.  May be $3 for fringe.  Fabric is scraps left over from the dress.

Now I have to get going on the dress.  Something tells me it will be late too.

 

Oh, this is going to be a busy month

It has been a retched month already for being over worked and busy.  There really hasn’t been time for sewing.  On Saturday, I had to work in the morning (which is not usual for me).  We were doing gardening and planting flowers (gosh, I hate manual labor).  I had every intention of coming home at noon, making lunch and sewing madly.  Nope.  I got home, had a bath, ate leftovers, had a nap and then moved to the couch and didn’t move.

One thing about gardening is it does make you aware of the plant life around you.  In my walk from my car to the house, I did notice that my yard is exploding with the joy of spring.  I snapped a couple of photos and then after my nap I played around with my photo filter app.  I give you my yard:

My pine tree has these purple “flowers” on them.

I used a filter that I hoped would give the glorious illusion of a heavenly beam of light.  Looks more like my tree is under water!

Impressionist Irises

I’d hang that one on my wall.

Bye for now.  Enjoy your Sunday.  I hope I have some sewing to show you tomorrow!