Summer rundown

I am so sorry to be away for so long, but.... and this is a big but. I am having a craft room built onto the back door entrance of my house. At last, I will have a room for all the hundred and one things I make and do. It will be started on very soon now, so all this time of hauling and sorting and throwing away, will prove to be very worth wile.

For the next month or so, things are going to escalate. Then I should be able to "move in".

It will more then likely take , most of the winter to "settle in", but I am so looking forward to it.

As soon as I can I'll be back to sewing and working on all those dolls standing in a line demanding new clothes.

I hope your summer is going just as well, or better then mine.

Deirdre

Here is the white cat

What's under the skunk costume!

"At Home!"

Evangeline is now At Home.

I have not seen a doll as beautiful as this one for a long time. I can't see how they could possibly make her "better" in any way. I have been waiting for a redhead, and when I saw this one, I wanted her with a capital W. I am so glad I got her, and now can't wait to begin designing and making her clothes. I already pulled a lot of fabric in the expectation of her arriving home. Now, I shall get out the drawing pad and start the process of turning the fabric into gowns. I will post them as soon as I can complete something.

In the mean time, I did bring home a couple of her outfits, and as always Tonner does a bit of fairy goth magic and gives Evangeline not just something to wear but something to show off her own unique self. You won't be disappointed in anything he makes for her, this go-round.

I shall be waiting for more shoes! lol.. what else?

Another wedding gown

This wedding gown fits Cissy, and is so elaborate, that you can't help but see it, and admire it.

With it's own jewelry set , of a crown, necklace, earrings, ring, pin and 2 bracelets bracelets.

The dress is complete all in one piece with underskirt, overskirt drapes and train all sewn to the bodice. The sleeves are toward the more medieval side of the time line. On a whole she looks regal and of royalty. At the least she is a nobly born lady.

Wedding White

This wedding gown done in the 1840's style is close to what Queen Victoria wore on her wedding day. Made from white satin with a beautiful bridal lace along the bottom of the skirt {made separately}. Her overskirt/train is from my own wedding gown train. It's made from a very thin fabric but I don't remember what it was we bought to make my train over skirt from. Her bodice has a bertha style collar that is covered with the same design bridal lace that is also gracing the bottom of the bodice and a smaller version of what is on the skirt.

The drapes on the over skirt are held back with pieces of the same lace. It also backs the white roses and white flowers in her bouquet and her headdress.

The Velveteen Bonnet

Instead of waiting on black straw, I decided to make a black velveteen bonnet. It matches the black velvet pelerine. There is also a matching black velvet bag. This completes the black velvet set.

Next on the list for now and it will be the last as Monday I shall be starting on something new.

Her name is Evangeline.

But before I get to her, I shall make a wedding gown for Electra.

A simple white dress

This gown is made of fine white lawn, and trimmed very simply with pale yellow embroidery in a chain stitch. It's a carriage dress with shirring across the bodice in the front. Simple but elegant. It's from the 1840's to 1845 time frame.

Black is black

This gown turned into an involved bit of work. Black flocked see thru fabric over black taffeta, with black velveteen bodice and trimmings. I did a lot of beading over the front of the bodice and as trimmings on the petals over the sleeves. It's a visiting dress with it's own Pelerine trimmed out with black lace. The same black lace trims the bottom of the dress. I like the way it turned out and will make a bonnet to match when I can get black straw.

Otherwise it's fine as is.

Pale yellow turns Gold

This silk has a wonderful sheen to it, so I used an embroidered chiffon for the overskirt. This evening dress comes complete with a hat. Something that they use to do back then and may seem strange now. A bit of beadwork and it's done. I hope you like it as much I liked how it turned out.

A bonnet to match

This is a ribbon Pelerine, to be worn over the plain pink dress that was under the flowered print.

I also made a matching bag from the same ribbon.

Then I decided to make a straw bonnet to go with this ensemble. Hand sewn and then decorated with hat veiling, flowers and some ribbon, all to match the rest of the collection but still be able to be worn with something else.

Rose pink print

Who said a redhead couldn't wear pink? I used a very wide rose pink lace to line the collar and drape on bodice. Then I used a deep hunter green velvet ribbon for the leaf shapes, and a power blue ribbon bow. For some reason these little touch really bring out the blue in her eyes.

This is called a morning dress. The print morning dress is worn over a rosy pink plain dress. This dress can be worn with other items of clothing such as a ribbon Pelerine, or lace collar and cuffs. Both the print morning dress and the plain pink dress are made up of a fine cotton lawn.

Moving on!

Here is thew first of the 1830's styles. This mint green dress is made of a fine lawn fabric, with a tulle and lace trim. It can be worn plain or with the tulle and lace apron.

The 1830's styles have very wide sleeves, and full skirts. Many variations with just these factors, created many different style. This one is an afternoon dress. All the undergarments are of a pale ecru and are pretty much like the last 10 years undergarments. Except the skirts are a lot fuller. The nightgown and wrapper, are very much the same design, also.

So now she has two full sets of undergarments. The corset being the only piece that is different, and it doesn't have the shoulder straps. It's completely strapless, and decorated with a wide ecru lace. The same lace decorates the nightgown and wrapper, lending them a bit different air. All of the sleeve designs, long or short, are full. It seems this mint green hue has changed her eyes a different shape of blue.

It's getting filled up!

Here is Electra's wardrobe, and it's beginning to get filled up. These gowns are all 1820's style gowns. And this was the last of this era for now.

I shall work on 1830's for awhile, or perhaps work on a different doll for a bit.

Pink and cream

This gown was a lot of work, as each little poof was hand gathered and sewn down. The gown is cream colored taffeta. The tie belt, hat, muff and pelerine are pink velveteen. This is a dinner dress, and as she might be going out to dinner at friends I added the hat, muff and pelerine in a rosy pink tone.

Around the bottom of the skirt is a wide band of lovely lace, bordered on both sides with the little poofs. The hat and muff are trimmed with pink feather boa's. I really like the gown and it's endless little poofs. Something we would not do today, but I still like it here.

A dress for the Day

This dress is called a day dress, one would wear it during the day at home. It has some very interesting design elements to it. The front of the bodice is gathered, and it also has a white cotton lawn collar attached. There are two triangular shapes for each sleeve called jockeys. {Don't ask cause I don't know this one... lol} She has a ruffle of matching lace at the bottom with a hand dyed velvet ribbon trim just above it. A belt trim of the same velvet ribbon, and a matching bow tie at the neckline of a hand dyed wide satin ribbon.

This shade of blue turns her eyes another shade to match, as well.

Skirt and blouse

This was the earliest version of the skirt and blouse. Made from a fine cotton lawn the white blouse has pin tucks front and back. At the neckline are two rows of gathered lace. The long full sleeve gather at the wrists, into cuffs.

The skirt is a pretty yellow flower print on white cotton, and along the top of the upper most ruffle is sewn a yellow silk ribbon, The yellow silk scarf match it in just the right hue.

Considered a walking dress, it was light and airy, and unrestrictive.

Underthings

Here is my lady in her chemise and drawers. All of her under garments are made from white cotton in varying thickness. Next is her corset. This one was very different from others I've made but very much like the Elizabethan corsets I've seen and made for myself.

Her petticoats are fairly simple and not heavily decorated as other eras were.

I keep forgetting to take pictures of her under things and her nightgown and housecoat, so tonight after finishing the peachy pink gown I took the time to add pictures of these.

Nightgown and Wrapper

This nightgown was very interesting to make, as it is the first one I've made that could be truly termed from "neck to hem". Made from a very soft fine white cotton, it would be very nice to sleep in, and I think she thinks so too.

The "wrapper" which is what they call the housecoat back then, is made from soft but heavier white cotton. This also made up in an interesting way as it only goes to the lace line on the nightgown. That is where the upper piece is set in, and does not happen on the wrapper.

The last piece of this ensemble is the nightcap. One can't but wonder ... "Did they really wear those back then?" But I'm sure they would wonder the same of us with our hair curlers and caps.

{The picture with the bow at the waist is the housecoat, and the other two are the nightgown. It's hard to tell these apart.}

Is it peach or pink?

How about peachy pink? lol I loved the color of this fabric and I think she looks great in it.

This is a visiting dress, and while she has a fancy beaded necklace, and beading trim on her hair ribbon, I don't think it's to much. She doesn't have to wear the necklace but I think it adds a bit of sparkle to her attire. The gown is made of taffeta, with an organdy over skirt, sleeves and collar. The lace trim has the same peachy pink color woven into it's design.

The necklace is hand beaded onto a colored ribbon that matches the ribbon belt in a wider width. There is one wide tuck and the bottom of the overskirt with the lace just peaking out from under it. In all a lovely gown, and another wonderful piece to add to her wardrobe. Don't you agree?

A house dress?

This blue print cotton house dress is worn over a plain white cotton underdress. This will allow for additional dresses to be worn over the white underdress. She also has a lovely village bonnet to go with the blue overdress, allowing for an outing or just to take a stroll through the garden.

The fine voile cotton print is a lovely shade of royal blue on white. The gown is decorated with hand died silk ribbon, and white edged lace .

The bonnet has artificial flowers, more of the ribbon and some royal blue hat veiling, to finish off the trimmings.

Aubergine Pelisse

This is called a Pelisse Dress or Robe. The style was very popular in the 1820's and so I decided to make one up in a royal purple crinkle like mixed blend. It's lined , and overlaps in the front. The edges of the gown are trimmed with a beaded appliqué in a long narrow design, and of a lighter purple color. The Color was called Aubergine, and that is a french word for eggplant.

She has detachable collar and cuffs of a fine Bordeaux Angeles. She also wears a bonnet trimmed inside the brim of the same beautiful white lace. The bonnet is finished with a trimming of ribbons, feathers in a lighter purple hue, and the beaded applique used down the front of the gown and around the bottom hem. There is also the very long shawl of deep purple lace.