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laurensasdress' Journal  I just finished this little quilt last night The contrast is really extreme,making it hard to photograph. The background is dark blue, with stars embroidered in silver metallic thread. The hat is dark red felt, and the beard and mustache are a heavy interfacing for texture. The trim on the hat is quilt batting. There's a jingle bell sewed on the tip of Santa's hat. I've had this pattern for ELEVEN years. It's from Issue 12 of Miniature Quilts Magazine, which isn't even published anymore. ( Picture )
Current mood:  pleased.Current music: Silent Night, Il Divo. One half of the bodice is fully beaded. My fingers hurt. :-) ( Pictures ) FINALLY a real start on the Iron Dress. I've cut out the bodice, marked the pieces for pearling, and done the slashing on the front bodice pieces. The slashes don't show yet, because I haven't added the silk puffs yet. But it's a start! The pictures show the three bodice pieces laid out on the floor, a closer view of the one bodice piece, marked with white basting, and the first row of pearls sewn on. The third pic is of some of the 4 mm freshwater pearls I'm sewing on. ( Pictures ) Current music: Paul Simon, Negotiations and Love Songs. The decision has been made. I'm going to go with the blue velvet and the white brocade. I'll trim with black velvet and pearls, and a partlet of white silk. Is it the 16th yet? Current mood:  creative.
Fabric Pics!    
Woo hoo!! I've signed up for Margo Anderson's Iron Dress competition. Now to decide on the fabrics... I have nine yards of dark forest green cotton velveteen, and nine yards of a white brocade. That's one choice. I also have a chunk of sapphire blue cotton velveteen, and a good sized piece of this really pretty drapery weight cotton fabric. That's the other choice. I have black velvet, a metric buttload of gold braid, and pearls to trim either one. Opinions welcome! Current mood:  energetic.
Progress is being made...slow but sure...but now it's down to the wire!! Only ten days till EK 12th Night, when I plan to wear this gown!! So. So far, I have one side of the front opening of the skirt beaded, and the skirt cartridge pleated onto the waistband. I JUST finished a new corset to wear underneath. It's cotton, boned with basket reed, and spiral laced. (Go me!) I drafted the pattern from Drea Leed's custom corset generator, and the fit is damn near perfect. Pictures are forthcoming. To be done today--cut out the bodice and the tabs, and start beading the tabs. Also, I finally found the white silk I need for the puffs on the bodice and shoulder rolls. It was buried in the very bottom of my Footlocker O' Fabric. Whew! Current mood: accomplished.Current music: Fellowship of the Ring on the telly. Skirt is cartridge pleated to the waistband and I'm starting on the beading. Two rows running along the opening edges of the skirt of pearls alternated with gold beads--in between the rows will be single pearls, pearl quintuplets, and cabochons. Trying to decide if I really want to bead the hem--or if I will have time! After the beading is done, I'm going to line the facings with muslin dyed with brazilwood. I wasn't planning it, but the beading stitching might get torn up if I don't and I don't think I could force a needle through another two layers of the burgundy cotton! Well, I pulled out the velvet for the gown. Horrors! It's not 60" wide, it's only 44". Since I only have five yards, and I need a yard for the bodice, this means my skirt will be quite a bit narrower than planned--I only had enough for 3 panels, 44" wide by 45" long. (I'm short, but I do have to allow for what is taken up by cartride pleating, and allow for a hem.) It also means that teh waist tabs will be lined with the burgundy facing fabric instead of self lined. Luckily, they're not only small, but they are beaded, so I won't worry over much about the direction of the nap on the tabs. I'm sewing the gown by hand, with silk thread (this stuff is a dream to work with) and my fingers were quite sore by the time I finished sewing on the facings! Anyway. The skirt panels are sewn together, selvages stitched down, and faced at front opening and top with some burgundy cotton fabric. It's fairly heavy, and will give a nice support for the beading on the opening edges, and for the cartridge pleating. I also made a new farthingale of plain white muslin, with plastic tubing for the hoops. I can't start on the bodice until I get my new corset made, and that has to wait until after the move. Most of my crafty stuff is packed, or getting packed today, but I'm leaving the stuff for this dress out so I can work on it in down moments. I'm getting antsy to start beading the skirt! I'm finally ready to start on the Gown of Doom. I've got the pearls, cotton velvet in the most glorious rosy-royal purple-y color, and beads and cabochons in theis lovely mountain jade that's the color of lapis lazuli, but waaay cheaper. And awaaaay I go!! Current mood: excited.
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