Gallery of In Progress Projects

[isabelladangelo]

(sigh)  Fantastic... everything! 



And Lady K, the wedding dress is going to make your bride so happy!  It's elegant simplicity is highlighted by the dramatic splashes of color from the flowers... and I can't wait to see it with the cloak!

Rani! My Bride stiffed me. No calls from her on the progress. The numbers I had for her were no longer in service or belonged to other people. At least I collected a little more than half for the commission when I took it on. But the fact that this customer had moved numerous times told me I had to be careful. So I need to look for a buyer for this project just to break even. this is the first time in my career that this happened. I am so pissed. 

Send me an email.  Prior to my current employment, I used to work in law enforcement - I find people like this.  You can't really call the police on her, but you can sue her for the remaining balance provided you can prove some sort of contractual agreement.   

[Rowan MacD]

 Lady K-That seriously sucks, but Kate has good advice there. 
There are standard contracts for consignment work out there, just fill in the blanks. 
  If you  have an attorney you like, I would invest in him drafting you a basic business contract-enforceable in court-for big, staged payment projects like this, just like building contractors do.


  If worse comes to worst-It's a gorgeous gown and I don't think you will have a problem selling it-hopefully for a profit.

   I hope it's just a misunderstanding.  If she really did stiff you, make sure the world knows who she is.   She will have a hard time getting anyone else to make her anything.

[Rani Zemirah]

(sigh)  Fantastic... everything! 



And Lady K, the wedding dress is going to make your bride so happy!  It's elegant simplicity is highlighted by the dramatic splashes of color from the flowers... and I can't wait to see it with the cloak!

Rani! My Bride stiffed me. No calls from her on the progress. The numbers I had for her were no longer in service or belonged to other people. At least I collected a little more than half for the commission when I took it on. But the fact that this customer had moved numerous times told me I had to be careful. So I need to look for a buyer for this project just to break even. this is the first time in my career that this happened. I am so pissed. 

Oh, LadyK... that is just bad form!  I don't understand people like that... and I can't even imagine putting down money, even part of it, and then reneging on the rest!  I am so sorry that this has happened to you, but I'm sure there will be someone who will absolutely fall in love with this gorgeous gown, and hopefully you will be able to recoup all of your expenditures on it, including your labor! 

I do agree that this person's name should be shared in your circle of custom seamstresses... if only to prevent her from causing anyone else this sort of hardship.  I would even let Isabella see if she can find the woman, just to see if you can shake her into paying.  If she knows you can find her then she might be "nudged" into forking over the rest of what she owes, just to avoid even the possibility of any legal action. 

I hope it all works out!  (hug) 

[Crimson]

Pirate coat almost done.  Just need some buttons, trim and hemming.  This pic shows it with and without the sleeve.  I'm very pleased.  I altered the pattern quite a bit.  My first time to step that far out of the box.  But, then again I don't usually like to follow directions to the letter, lol.  I like to put my stamp on things.

http://s26.postimg.org/9fkiey9yh/20140106_184346.jpg

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Well, after some time off from the sewing machine, I thought it was best I  get back to work on the first of 2 Elizabethan gown projects I have planned for myself.

I drafted the Bodice pattern from a basic corset based on my current measurements. I am a 14/16 now, down from a 20/22. The main fabric is a blood red cotton velveteen that I got for under $5 a yard last week at Hancock fabrics. Almost 8 yards worth left on the bolt.

I could not find wide gold trim I liked, so I am using up what I had in my vast stash to save some money. I love the Gold on Black Frames from Pillaged Village a lot. i also have some narrow gold and crème trim left over from Europa imports that will add more of a touch to the wider trim. Where there is trim there will be 6mm pearl clusters followed by a single pearl.

The inspiration for this project...



The bodice pieces...





The Contrast fabric for the sleeves and forepart for the underskirt...



I have an event in mid March that I am planning to wear this to. By then I should be at goal and fitting well into this gown. There will be a Modesty panel in the back as a precaution. I plan to make new Ruffs for this gown as well as a Partlet similar to the portrait in an embroidered Silk if I can find some locally.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

The trims are sewn on, the pieces pearled. I found I had enough of a gold metallic piping that will add a nice finish to the picadils and shoulder wings. There's even enough to go along the top edge of the bodice.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Though the piping is just pinned onto the appropriate pieces, this is just a preview of how this Elizabethan gown ensemble is going to look. There will be straps coming down the front as I get the back pieces together.

There will be 2 layers of Canvas Duck to give the bodice a sturdiness to withstand years of wear. I am getting more excited about this project as I am now down 49 1/2 pounds, with 7 1/2 more to go before I hit my ultimate goal weight. I plan to be well under that for the rest of my life.



How I look now. A simple dress I made for a Friend's Memorial service that took place yesterday.

[isabelladangelo]

How I look now. A simple dress I made for a Friend's Memorial service that took place yesterday.

That dress looks so much better on you than it did on the dress form.  :-)  I figured it would but it really does look lovely. 

[PollyPoPo]

Dang, Lady K!

You've got a really great reason for a whole new wardrobe for yourself.

Good for you.

[Irma]

My Mary of Hungary Gown Project:  This weekend I was able to cartridge pleat and attach the skirt to the bodice.  It baffles me how this technique can be sturdy enough to support an entire skirt.  I will have to go back through and touch up the places where the seams made the skirt more bulky, so there are some spaces that need to be filled in.  The placard/stomacher is nearly done.  It will have rings on the edges to lace to matching rings on the inside of the bodice.  Then the front fasteners, then the hem.  My finger tips are complaining a bit, but I never did learn to use a thimble, and it seems more awkward than helpful.  I was playing with my accessories, and it was suggested my existing purse is not sophisticated enough for the gown.  I am getting short of time, but if I can squeeze out a few extra minutes, I'd like to make some pockets to wear under the gown.  How far down on the side seam should I make an opening so that I can slip my hands through to the pockets?  The red things on top of the shoulders are gloves.

   

[Rani Zemirah]

LadyK, you look fabulous!  I am so inspired by your efforts, and I look forward to seeing the new wardrobe you'll have to make for yourself, so that you have lovely, well fitting things to wear all of the time!  That's a beautiful dress, and the fit and construction is definitely enhanced by the model! 


Irma... your gown is wonderful!  This fabric is truly gorgeous, and you have used the pattern perfectly, especially on the sleeves!  I love these colors, and I'm guessing they will look amazing with your coloring, also.  Can't wait to see pics of you modeling it! 

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Irma!!! 

Your Hungarian gown is GORGEOUS!!!!

[gem]

Irma, that is so delicious I can't stand it!! Huzzah!

I would love to hear (see?) more details about the front placket/closure, as it's something I've really been wrestling with on my Saxon gown. Do you have any kind of support/stiffening in the gown itself, or are you wearing a corset, or...?

I'm trying to remember my 18th c. skirt openings for pockets, and I want to say it's about 10," open straight down from the waist. But for those skirts, it's also the entry into the skirts. If it's just a pocket slit, that sounds excessive. Maybe leave the seam open more than you think, give it a test, and then close up whatever you don't need?

Your current bag is fantastic, but it is a bit like hauling your leather everyday purse along to a cocktail party. If you could find (or make) a ring frame purse in fancier fabrics, that would be very fun. We stumbled on one at a prop house auction, so I don't know how easy they are to find normally! (You can kind of see it here, hiding under the leash!) You could take your fashion fabric and whip up a simple drawstring bag that's square at the bottom and add tassels at the corners.

~gem, who cannot get enough of over-the-top German accessories. Yes: you absolutely need pockets AND a purse! (snork)

[Irma]

I have flexible steel boning on either side of the front opening, and some at the side seams.  The placket also has boning on the outside edges.  The bodice and placket are interlined with canvas, and the lining is interlined with some muslin.  And the fabric itself is rather stable.  I've sewed lacing rings to the edges of the placket, and plan to add corresponding rings to the inside of the bodice.  I'm not sure if this is a period technique, but it was something I could manage with my skill level.  Once I get that done, I'll do some placket selfies.    I do wear a corset, so there didn't seem to be any need for more support in the bodice.  My thought about pockets is to open the side seams starting about an inch below the cartridge pleats just long enough to allow my hand and my glucose meter (I am insulin-dependent and wear an insulin pump, so can't leave home without it; thus the need for pockets/purse) access to the inside.  I do like the idea of not having all sorts of things hanging to distract from the dress.  My current bag I made based on a commercial historical pattern.  There is a strap that connects the bottom bag to the smaller upper bag.  That strap goes under my belt and flaps over the top edge.  It's worked out very well for my other gown.  Thanks for the photo of your ring frame bag.  Maybe I can add a small one in the future.  I do also have a feather fan in coordinating colors.  Maybe not such a Germanic detail, but it is pretty.

[DonaCatalina]

Wow Irma.
You got a lot done in a short time. And it looks stunning.