Orphan works --> [link]



5/6/08 I finished my french hood, cut out my forepart and fitted it onto my farthingale on my dress form, and pinned up my overskirt one last time to make sure the length is correct before I cartridge pleat it and attach it to the waist band. Tomorrow is for cutting out the sleeves, start beading forepart and sleeves and dabble in finishing my overskirt and smock. Blackwork is finished on my smock but not Shelly's.

5/5/08 I have progress!! yay! I finished all the beading on my trim of my overskirt and also I am very close to finishing my french hood..I'll update materials I bought for it later cus I'm to lazy right now. french hood --> [link]

4/22/08 I uploaded my progress on my dress, here: [link] and also started on Shelly's overskirt. I should start on the beading on the underskirts soon and hopefully get my materials for my corset within the next two weeks to get that out of the way. ^_^ excited!

4/18/08 Bought a few other things for Shelly's dress as well as fake linen for the underskirts for both our dresses. I think I still might use a different fabric for her caul and I might buy another trim for her dress, but other than that everything has been purchased. *sigh of relief* I didn't think I would ever stop spending money. LOL Other than that, I've cut our my skirt and started pinning it on my dress form.

4/6/08 I tried on my undergarments today (with old shirt, new one isn't finished yet) and realized my corset really sucks. It still fits me, but it's ungodly uncomfortable with my weight gain the gap in the back where it laces is just too wide...I'm going to have to make a new one and I don't want to. But I made my skirt measurements with help from my fiance, and started on cutting out the squares for my over skirt. Tomorrow I should be able to get them sewed together and start pinning on the trim as well as get to some other art projects. Hopefully some time this week I can get all my measurements from Shelly and start cutting out her pieces as well. (at least her corset should still fit her well, glad I don't have to make two.) I think when I get my next check I'm going to buy a dress form. I've been putting it off forever but it needs to get done.

4/4/08 I went back to Hancock Fabrics and they still had their 30% sale..I'm so lucky. I have almost everything I need for my dress and I'm thinking about taking a picture of my forepart and then creating beading designs on the computer. I think it will be simple for mine because Shelly's will be much more intricate. I bought trim for my dress and all I have left to buy is underskirt fabric and beading. Well and thread...and lining...gosh never mind I have a lot left. :/ Still looking for the right brown..or maybe a different color.. for Shelly's trim...hm..(stares at the design for her dress) Yah the colors really changed...ah well.

3/31/08 I bought the rest of my fabric for my gown so all I have left is trim, beading, and extra fabric for the underskirt, lining, and bloomers, which I will purchase sometime later this week. I'm going to start pinning the skirts, finish my smocks, and start mockups for each bodice.

3/28/08 Fabric!!!! YAY! I finally bought some fabric and I so happy to say that the colors are finally coming together..of course they always change a little from my original design. The blue for Shelly's dress is much lighter, but is a beautiful silk. It has the little notches in it like duponi does, which makes me sad not to get perfect china silk, but it'll do nicely anyway. It's a very pretty sky blue with a small hint of green to it. Then I got the inset color which is a golden color with blue accents. For my dress I bought a chocolate brown with slightly lighter brown vine pattern on it, and then an velvet rust accent color for some trim on the bottom of the dress and the puff sleeves. I still need the red though. Below is a expense tracker for each dress. I'll update it when I buy more supplies and fabric/trim.

My dress (red and brown)

6 yards of brown for over-skirt and bodice - $38.56 w/40% off coupon. (60in)
1.5 yards of rust cotton velvet - $44.99 (more expensive than I wanted but very pretty) (60in)
3.5 yards of white cotton for smock - $12.00 (would have purchased linen but couldn't find the kind I wanted) (40in)
2.5 yards of red fabric with diamond crossing pattern on it for sleeves and underskirt inset. - $29.73 w/30% sale. (60in)
flea fur - $42.00
7 yards of flat braid light brown trim 3/4 inch wide - $17.08 w/30% sale.
14 yards of light golden yellow cording 3/16 inch - $21.42 w/30% sale.
2 yards of muslin for practice fitting the bodice - $2.98. (45in)
3 yards of brown fake linen for the underskirt and lining. - $8.97 w/40% sale. (45in)
dark brown glass beads (250) - $2.99
interfacing 0.5 yards - $0.99 (20in)
large sheet of plastic mesh canvas for the French hood. - $1.29
millinery wire for the French hood. - already had. $0
brown, white, and red thread - already had. $0

Total so far: $223.00

Michelle's dress (blue)

6 yards of blue silk for over-skirt and bodice - $83.94 w/30% sale. (60in)
2 yards of blue and golden yellow fabric for inset, bodice and possible sleeves - $47.99 w/40% off coupon. (60in)
3.5 yards of white cotton for smock - $12.00 (45in)
2 yards of muslin for practice fitting the bodice - $2.98. (45in)
3 yards of gray blue fake linen for the underskirt - $8.97 w/40% sale. (45in)
5 yards of blue/brown braid trim 1 inch - $11.95 w/40% sale.
2 yards of driftwood brown cotton velvet for trim and hat - $34.98 w/50% sale. (60in)
rust color glass beads (250) - $2.99
interfacing 0.5 yards - $0.99 (20in)
large sheet of plastic mesh canvas for the hat. - $1.58
millinery wire for the hat. - already had. $0
blue, white, and brown thread - already had. $0

Total so far: $ 208.37

3/25/08 Maybe not really MY progress, but I did order a Flea Fur from Sapphire and Sage [link] and I got my confirmation e-mail!! Yah I'm wayyyy too excited. XD

3/23/08 2 some blackwork progress that I have done today. [link]

3/23/08 My fiance is working on fixing my sewing machine for me, so in the mean time I'm busing myself with the shirts (chemise, smock, etc) and Blackwork, which is tedious but relaxing. Fabric has not yet been purchased for either dress but has been for the shirts and Shelly's French Hood. Blackwork progess pictures to come soon. (I need feedback, it's my first time .) Other undergarments are finished (corset, farthingale, bumroll, etc.)

3/21/08 With my two plushies almost finished, I will be completely engulfed in making two Elizabethan court gowns, one for myself and one for my best friend Michelle. I thought it would be fun to start a dress diary to document my progress and hopefully keep me motivated.

Designs were both finished last week.






PROJECTS IN PROCESS

Commissions:

*Cait-Shoxxi-Stock's self plushie - 90% (reworking dress and hat)

Contest Prizes:

~Chroias's contest prize, full metal alchemist plushie - 85% (reworking coat)

Work for myself:

Red and Brown court gown - 10%
Blue court gown - 10%




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