Gallery of In Progress Projects

[Rani Zemirah]

It looks to me like it's somewhere in between the two, certainly not as high as the Florentine, but not anywhere near as low as the other.  I hate when I have to make a decision like that, though!  Either way it will change quite a bit.  I think it looks wonderful, though...

[operafantomet]

*Blush!* Aw, thanks, Rani. That's very sweet.

I'm having Indecision at the moment, because I'm wondering if the bodice is too low-cut. It looks like the portraits it's inspired by (like this one), but I was hoping for something with a higher neckline (I kind of always am), so it could be worn more like an early Florentine gown.

I tell myself I have absolutely decided to recut the front of the bodice... until I look at the pictures of it, and then I decide it looks fine, so I shouldn't mess with it!  Aaaaaahhhhh! 

Gem, here's your bodice! Or at least similar constructions:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze1/ghirlandaio1486d.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/ferrara/maineri1490sferarra.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/ferrara/costa1490canoniciferarra.jpg

All these are from the late 15th century. Yeah, the general neckline were a tad higher, but with variations. Some seems to be as low as yours, some are a lot higher. There doesn't seem to be one standard. The late 16th century have the extremely lowcut bodices, both in working class garbs and in nobility (though the latter mostly applies for Venice), but that's when they started stiffening the bodices and/or construct them differently. That gives us this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia2/tintoretto1593helsinki.jpg

Gotta love it!

[Rosamundi]

Oooh, I love this thread. Dustin, congratulations to your wife on her work! Is it done now; may we look forward to a "finished projects" post?

Faye, your Kaylee gown is so great. Like others, I loved Shindig and can't wait to see the gown come to life. 

Gem and Lady Kathleen . . .happy sigh . . . I eagerly work toward the day when I have the skills to actually tackle something like your projects. :-)

[Dustin]

Oooh, I love this thread. Dustin, congratulations to your wife on her work! Is it done now; may we look forward to a "finished projects" post?

It's here.

[Rosamundi]

Thanks, Dustin! I wish I could get organized enough to do that in 2 1/2 days. Kudos to your lady wife!

[ladyharrogate]

LOVE that ruffled dress!!!  Can't wait to see it!

The pelican dress is turning out wonderful!!! Love the blackwork...did you do all that?  AMAZING!!!

[LordPaulet]

UPDATE!!

Here are the pants and doublet together


(sorry for the smiley face...I wasnt looking my best today LOL)
Still have lots o work to do...but im confident by saturday night the doublet and pants will be finished (not pearling...thats a week endeavor)

[DragonWing]

Lord Paulet, that is looking fab. I can't wait to see it finished.

[auntiegiggles]

Great work LP!  I think the smiley face is very attractive 

[DonaCatalina]

I can't wait to see the finished project. You do come up with some unique clothes.

[Valencia]

Lord Paulet, that is FANTASTIC!!!

[LadyShadow]

I love the color combo and the doublet.  Such wonderful work.

[Rani Zemirah]

Ooooh... very nice!!!  Can't wait to see the pearling! 

[LordPaulet]

Thanks everyone!

Rani, after the initial pearling of the doublet and slops are done I will have gone through approx 300 glass pearls. 

thats not counting if I decide to put more pearls per pinch, also not counting the canadian smocked leg o mutton sleeves that will have a pearl at every intersection (as seen in the sleeves of QE in Shakespeare in Love)

Apparently Im a masochist?

[Rani Zemirah]

Wow... that's a lot of pearls!  Will it add much weight to the garment, or are glass pearls lighter than I'm thinking they are?