You know, I use the word “lovely” often, and I think it is so neat that Caroline, of the blog Dressed in Time, has described this very blog as “lovely” and nominated it for the One Lovely Blog Award! Thank you, Caroline! I am so pleased to be included on your list of nominations.
You probably know how these awards go: there’s a list of things to do:
1. Thank the person who nominated you.
2. Add the ‘One Lovely Blog Award’ image to your post.
3. Share seven things about you.
4. Pass the award on to seven nominees.
5. Include this set of rules.
6. Inform your nominees by posting a comment on their blogs.
Since this is all about being a lovely blog I am going to use pictures to share things about me, and since you often get to see pictures of the lovely historic places I visit and beautiful clothes I wear, I’m going to change it up and share places I’ve been in modern clothes. I can’t take full credit for the picture idea because it was inspired by the One Lovely Blog Award posts by Caroline and the blogger who nominated her: Susan Ardelie of Life Takes Lemons.
Just visiting: the coast of Maine.Tromping through the English countryside, though I can’t remember exactly where…Laying on the grass right next to the Washington Memorial in Washington DC to watch the 4th of July fireworks.Flying kites where I grew up in Edmonds, Washington.Kayaking in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.Just visiting: outside New Orleans, Louisiana.At the top of Mount Tom, in Western Massachusetts.
Now it’s time to share the blog love! I nominate:
1. Edelweiss Patterns An all around lovely blog with beautiful photos and lots of posts with absolutely lovely content.
2. A Fashionable Frolick Fantastic content with lots of tutorials, beautiful clothes, and other useful and interesting info is what makes this blog lovely!
3. The Fashionable Past Stunning clothes with immense attention to detail that are photographed in cute photo shoots. Plus, lots of picture filled tutorials. Lovely!
5. If I Had My Own Blue Box Fascinating information about the lives of mid-19th century people and lovely clothing related tidbits.
6. Kleidung um 1800 This blog is lovely all around! It’s full of beautiful clothing and lovely pictures, and it’s a blog in English and German!
7. The Lady of Portland House Always full of beautiful events with lovely looking people and the occasional side trip into a modern reality which looks lovely and stays in keeping with the tone of the blog.
Thank you to all the people who take the pictures that are included on my blog! You know who you are, friends. I wouldn’t be able to do it without you!
Well, it’s that time of year again. Yes, the end of 2012 is here (and as I suspected, we successfully avoided world’s end…). When I look back on last year, 2011, and this year, 2012, I immediately think “WOW! I make a lot of things!”
First, let’s look at what I made in 2012:
In February: re-made 1819 dressIn April: 1912 tea gown and mushroom hatIn April: 1912 evening gownIn June: ivory painted AstoriasIn July: 1895 blouse (and skirt)In August: 1812 square neck gown (hand sewn)In August: 1893 ball gownIn August: 1900 skirt and hatIn August: 1903 skirt, bolero, and hatIn August: 1928 evening gownIn September: 1812 underdress, chemise, and staysIn September: re-made 1780s robe a la anglaiseIn December: 1820s petticoat (hand sewn)In December: 1822 walking dress, muff, and tippetIn December: 1824 ball gown
And this list doesn’t even include things I was paid to do! Thus, work (full time), and side jobs (a few weeks a year), and commissions (I think I did just two this year…) are extra icing on the cake in terms of things I completed.
Probably in January: 1780s petticoat with ruffleProbably in January: 18th century (I think could be worn for 1780s) jacketProbably in January: 18th century basic pocketsProbably in January: painted Kensingtons… yellow or pink, my inner debate is coming soon!In February: 1812 ball gown (this silhouette and trim feel, but with different trim and a different neckline)In March: 1864 ball gown (like the one on the left)In April: under dress for 1812 square neck curtain gown (not just like this, but it will be blue and hopefully have a similar feel)In April: a Regency reticule (perhaps not like this one, but regardless, this one is so cute!)In April: 1814 pelisse and hatIn April: 1815-1818 dressPossibly in April: 1815-1818 bonnet to go with the new dress (these are pretty much all super cute…)
Plus, leftovers from 2012:
Finish the 1820s petticoat
Finish the 1820s bonnet
Finish trimming the 1822 walking dress
Finish trimming the 1824 ball gown
Make a 1800-1820 chemisette
Then there is a category of things with amorphous “to be finished” dates:
Sometime: 18th century quilted petticoat (perhaps not this exact pattern, but I am drawn to it…)
18th century wool cloak
new ballroom competition dress
I think that in April I’ll probably be playing the “AH! Catch up on all the stuff I set out to do but didn’t actually finish!” game. Beyond that my project list is anyone’s guess. I’ve got plenty of ideas floating around (of course!), including 1790s, 1800s, 1860s day wear, 1870s, 1880s, 1900s… Right now I’ve got lots of wool things on the brain because it’s winter time, but I’m not sure that I want to work on wool things in the summer, so we’ll see what happens.
If I look at last year’s “to do” list I can say that I accomplished a hefty portion of my list. The other portion got dropped along the way: either discarded entirely or put in the unfinished pile. The dropped half include:
1900 blouse (half finished before August, then put in the UFO pile)
1780s embroidered pockets (dropped for now)
Quilting 1820s/30s corset (dropped)
1860s child’s corset (dropped)
I did have a “blog first” award last year! In fact, I was actually awarded The Versatile Blogger Award by a few different people in the last few months of the year. Thanks everyone!
Overall, I have pictures from 29 different historically clothed events in the year 2012 (that’s about 2.5 events per month)! Jeepers! Granted, some of these are intense weekends or weeks, like Dress U, Newport Vintage Dance Week, and the Guerriere Weekend, where lots of events are bunched into a short period of time.. but still! The events fit into these basic categories: 9 balls, 8 vintage dance performances, 3 picnics, and 9 other events (like teas and strolls). Whee! All of these things were SO MUCH FUN! I love, love, love this part of life!
And finally, this year finishes up just over 2 years on the blog! I’ve met a lot of wonderful and inspiring people along the way. In fact, this year I have made a significant number of new friends! So thank you, lovely friends, who in person and online share in my experiences and contribute to the fun and adventures!
Here’s to us, and another fabulous, fun-filled year!
Product links in this post contain an affiliate code, which provides a small benefit to my shoe fund. This does not affect my impressions and reviews of this product.
As I shared in my last post about my recent stash additions, I have a 9 month sewing plan to keep me going on historical sewing through May of 2013. Now that it is November it’s really a 7 month plan, but regardless, in my head I keep calling it the 9 month plan. Here it is, with my progress noted on it:
By December 2012:
1823 hand sewn corded and bodiced petticoat (95% done)
1823 ball gown with hand sewn appliqués (40% done)
1823 walking dress (50% done)
1823 bonnet to match walking dress
1823 muff (50% done)
1810s or 20s chemisette (patterned)
By January 2013:
1780s petticoat with ruffle
1780s jacket
18th century basic pockets
18th century yellow shoes
By February 2013:
1812 evening dress (75% done)
By March 2013:
1860 ball gown
By April 2013:
1812 underdress for existing 1812 gown (75% done)
1812 bonnet to match underdress
1812 reticule
1814 pelisse (cut out)
1814 turban/hat to match pelisse (cut out)
1815-1818 day dress
1815-1818 bonnet
By May 2013:
1920s beaded evening dress
Other projects that will probably also get started but don’t have a deadline:
18th century hand quilted petticoat
18th century cloak
a new ballroom competition dress (started)
As I go along, I’ll start posting more specific information about the projects. Right now I’m really focusing on my 1823 projects, so I can get ready for events in December. (December is surprisingly close! Eep!) The 1823 things are going to be super pretty and exciting, and posts about them are going to come soon!
I’m putting my last Gurriere post on hold for a few days, because…
Wow! It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was just starting this blog and spent a lot of time sifting through the mountains of fabulous blogs out there to look for inspiration in terms of sewing and good blogging. I kept running across side bar images like The Versatile Blogger, the Duchie Award, and the Liebster Blog and wondering if my blog would ever get to enjoy an entrance into that crowd of awesome blog-ery.
Well, today is the day! The very kind, ever supportive, beautifully dressed, wonderful Sabine of Kleidung um 1800 has nominated me for the The Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you, Sabine!!!
When your blog is nominated for this award you have to follow the rules:
1- Thank the person who nominated you and link back to that person’s blog.
2- Post the award on the sidebar of your blog.
3- Tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.
4- Choose 15 other fabulous blogs and nominate them for the award.
7 things about me…
1- When I was in high school I took four years of German. Thus, while I really appreciate Sabine’s English translation on her blog (because I don’t have a big enough vocabulary to really understand all the sewing information in German), I also really enjoy seeing the German! Sometimes I can read things in German and understand them! And sometimes I just learn new words or remember things about grammar and construction that I haven’t thought of in years.
2- I may be an adult (most days) but I still have a childhood attachment to my family of Gund Snuffles bears. As you can see, I have a variety of sizes and colors.
So cute and cuddly!
3- I don’t have any live pets (I have my bears instead…).
4- I am in the group the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers, a group which recreates ballroom dances from the 19th and early 20th centuries (this is easy to pick up on my blog… since I post about our events often!).
5- I’ve been a modern competitive ballroom dancer with Mr. Q as my partner since 2005. We were members of the UMass Amherst Ballroom Dance Team from 2005-2008 and captains from 2007-2008 (hence the matching jackets…).
A picture from at least four years ago…
6- I really enjoy silly adventures and silly picture taking. Here’s an example from my everyday, non-costume life. (Yes, I do wear modern clothes!)
At the Frog Pond in the Boston Common. It was really cold that day! I was hoping the frog statue might turn into a prince!
7- I grew up in the suburbs of Seattle, Washington.
In the summer, this is what it looks like around sunset. This is Puget Sound. You can see the buildings of Seattle in front of Mount Rainer in the background. To the right is a ferry: an iconic Seattle image.
Diary of a Mantua Maker: fascinating posts about shoe making and lots of other informative and interesting historic clothing things
Dressed in Time: Caroline makes lovely clothing from the 18th and 19th centuries and blogs about it with lots of pictures and research information
Experiments in Elegance: truly versatile blog posts from Antonia about historic clothing and research, events, and lots of other fun things
A Fashionable Frolick: lots of wonderful research and photos of clothing inside and out as well as events attended from two sisters: Rebecca and Ashley
Historically Dressed: Jenni has another versatile blog with lots of wonderful research and images of clothing in progress and completed
In The Long Run: Gloria has an information filled blog with lots of pictures of clothing in progress and completed as well as events attended, and other things
My Fanciful Muse: a versatile blog from Evelyn, who shares research on historic fashion plates, furniture, paper dolls, and occasionally other things, too
Plaid Petticoats: Raven shares information and research on sewing adventures, events attended, and other random things
I have seen so many other recaps of 2011 projects and plans for 2012 that I feel compelled to make my lists as well. It is amazing how much a person can create and then manage to remember it as such a small accomplishment, until taking the time to step back and really look at the work that was completed. And that is why I am going to take the time, now, to look at what I completed in 2011 and list what I plan to build in 2012.
Completed in 2011:
In May: 1883 chemise, corset, bustle, petticoat, and corset coverIn May: 1883 tailored skirt and jacket with matching hatIn May: 1903 combinations, corset, bum pad, petticoat, and corset coverIn May: 1903 tailored skirt, blouse, and jacket with matching hatIn May: 1913 chemise, corset, underskirt, and corset (oh no! painted toes aren’t correct!)In May: 1913 tailored skirt, blouse, and jacket with matching hatIn September: 1780 shift and staysIn September: 1780 bum pad, petticoat, and open gown with matching hatIn October: 1860 gown and hair wreath (as well as chemise and drawers)In November: 1860 hair crescent (here is the picture I promised you, courtesy of a friend)In November: 1819 corsetIn December: 1819 spencer, bonnet, and muff
Not pictured: 1860 wool cape (completed in November)
Plans for 2012:
Before April: 1912 beaded afternoon gown and matching hat (far right)Before April: 1912 evening gown (From the Met (although I can’t find the link in the collections right now… sigh))Before August: 1900 organdy blouse, cotton skirt, and boaterBefore August: 1894 ball gown (using many of the details on the gown in the middle)
As well as the following items:
In January: 1780 pockets
Before March: quilt 1819 corset
Before April, possibly: 1912 day dress and matching hat
Before June: 1860 child’s corset
Before August: 1903 cotton skirt and matching hat
Before December, possibly: 1830s or 1840s ball gown
And so, I pat myself on the back for a year well spent. Congratulations to you, also, for what you accomplished in 2011, clothing related or otherwise! Finally, blessings for all of us, for what we will accomplish in 2012.
The Quintessential Clothes Pen 