Civil War Sewing!

November 28th, 2009

sewing1

The Christmas ball is one week away, and we want to make sure everyone’s outfits get completely finished!

sewing2 sewing3
Hemming and sewing scallops on Ashlee’s over skirt.

sewing4

Leah’s bodice is looking beautiful – and just a year ago she declared she couldn’t sew!

sewing5

Putting finishing touches on Ashlee’s bodice.

We ended up staying at our friends’ and sewing for the whole day. I guess you could say we were on a roll! We just want to make sure that we won’t be doing any sewing the actual date of the ball. :-)

Hope to see you there!

-Kasie

P.S. I trust everyone had a pleasant Thanksgiving!

Making Progress…

March 27th, 2009

It’s down to the wire in the dressmaking shop (i.e. the contents of our newly discovered highly versatile vintage wardrobe and closet encroaching it’s girth over the once comfortable Willis living room; counters, table, chairs all hidden underneath the splendor. And also as well; Kasie’s and mine own chamber, as French and as pretty as ever has been transformed into a ~boudoir~ (or so it seems! ;-) )

I.define:boudoir
a. A lady’s bedroom or private sitting room (citing from the illustrious pen of Master Google Internet, Sr., and with regards to him deferentially and with good will to shoulder the responsibility of solving this, somewhat troubling to some, but elegant epithet for takes place in my boudoir ;-) )
b. Small, elegant, feminine sitting- room where the lady would retire to read, write, or entertain some intimate friends (Angie’s acquired notion, confirmed by experience and knowledge through real life, [heh heh, that would mean trials and testings for those of you who want to know] effectially alters every aspect of my normal existance! Which means…relating to the girls of the past and hopeful of our future, also lumps of lace, ribbons, bows, rich satins and taffeta sashes draped over every single stand-alone structure we own :-D )

I’m continually ruminating as the culmination of this week at the grand ball is right thereover the horizon (Just matter of hours so to speak!),  this what it was like for life in the old days for girls, maidens, the joyous wonder of the design of the Lord for womanhood. I’m experiencing a taste of it and it is more than covering my quiet moments alone with awe. Spending the bulk of the day preparing for the ball…girlish dreams… hope for the present and future…love continually pouring out from on high and turning around and pouring around to those around me… this is the theme that has been rippling through my mind, as I busily hum away trimming the dresses this entire week. I’m feeling “splendifourous” and I can’t ever think enough on, or sing praises enough for all God’s blessings to me. :-)
So I’m off to finish up! Things to do….places to sew…hmm…strike that! ;-)

~Angie
———
Oh she spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I’m sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It’s been a long day
And there’s still work to do
She’s pulling at me
Saying “Dad, I need you

There’s a ball at the castle
And I’ve been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?”

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don’t want to miss even one song
‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone
-Steven Curtis Chapman
…………………………………

Thinking…Green?

March 17th, 2009

I had a slight dilemma this morning.

I wanted to write a short post honoring St. Patrick, but I also wanted to post some pictures of my sewing progress. There’s not enough time for both – what to do!

Then I came up with this amazing plan: combine the two! Many people associate St. Patrick’s Day with green, my ballgown is greenish, so… vuala! Brilliant! isn’t it? I’m a genius, I know. “I flatter myself…” :-P

Here are a couple of teaser pictures of my dress, which is almost done! All that’s left is to trim the bodice and put on sleeves. YES!!

dressbottom

~skirt bottom

rosette

To find out how to make the cutest rosettes ever, go here

buttondetail

~button details…

It’s all getting there! Perhaps later on this week I’ll post pictures of our other projects; the guys’ vests, Angie’s gown, and Mom’s.

Concerning St. Patrick, if all you know about this guy is Ireland and lucky clover, check out his incredible story! It’s amazing to see God’s hand of Providence on his life. Wow!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day y’all! There’s the end of yet another random post. :-) Cheerio!

-Kasie

A Morning of Sewing

January 16th, 2009

Sewing classes have started! We just had our second meeting of the month this past Tuesday with our homeschooling friends, and it went very well.

For those of you who didn’t read my previous sewing post, we’ve be getting together every week with our homeschooling friends to sew in preparation for our Civil War Ball (I’m telling you, that’s going to be loads of fun!). Angie and I and a few other ladies will be teaching those who don’t know how to sew; we’ll share patterns, ideas and such.

Here are a few pictures from our last get together;

That’s all for now folks. God bless your day!

-Kasie

Gone Sewing

December 19th, 2008

Pattern pieces are being cut…

cuttingitout

…a hum from the sewing machine fills the room…

sewingmachine

…all of this careful construction in preparation and anticipation of our Civil War Ball!

Some may argue that March 29th is ‘still a long ways off,’ but knowing myself and my procrastinating ways, I need to get this done now.

In the upcoming months Angie and I will be teaching/aiding friends and other homeschoolers with sewing their ball gowns. Since I don’t know for sure how much time we’ll have to work on our own costumes, we’re using this time while we can!

myfabric

Isn’t my fabric so pretty? :-)

-Kasie

P.S. Angie said to tell anyone who may wonder about her recent disappearance from our family blog that she’s gone sewing…

Colonial Costume

July 4th, 2008

Hello folks! Happy Independence Day!

I thought I share with you what I’ve been doing in my spare time (besides picking blackberries;-))

I call it an “everyday colonial dress”.

It wasn’t at all planned on my sewing schedule. It wasn’t even extensively labeled and packed with appropriate trims and notions, like my other future projects. I just discovered some colonial-looking striped fabric while sorting through our bins last month. A large sky blue piece (also from a fabric bin) made a perfect match. :-)

I still have to hem the sleeves and bottom, sew a hook or two, and somehow resew the zipper so it doesn’t bulge and wrinkle. But it shant be long before it proudly hangs in the costume closet. :-D

Costume Blessings

May 27th, 2008

Last week we visited Goodwill: the best to find the good, the bad and the ugly as far as fashion goes. :-) But for costumers, any old shirt or dress can be transformed into something completely wonderful! For ideas on how to use thrift store items I highly recommend the book Elegantly Frugal Costumes.

I had costumes in the back of my mind, but was so surprised with what God blessed me with! Two dresses and one robe thing, and neither of them need much altering at all! I am so amazed and just wanted to share them with y’all.

The first and my favorite I’ll just call the Crimson Medieval. It has belled sleeves, circle neckline, and makes me feel like royalty :-) . The tubular slitted skirt was no problem to remedy. I wore a my full skirt underneath and hiked up the dress enough to lay gracefully over the skirt.

P1000199.JPG

The second needs to be altered a little, but the color and the fabric is just amazing! It is very easy to dress up or dress down. I want to raise the waist till it’s more empire, and then I can use for either Regency, or Medieval/Renaissance by attaching full sleeves (Thanks Em for your ideas!)

P1000164.JPG

The third I don’t have any pictures of, (packed it away already) but is very easy to describe. It is an overdress like Kasie’s from her Regency costume. However, mine is red velvet, shorter, and edged with metallic gold thread. It would look very stunning and Napoleonic to wear over a white regency gown. It can also serve as a short cape with no difficulties :-)

I am so happy and grateful for the new additions to my costume wardrobe!

The Vintage Family Ball

April 8th, 2008

I was so thankful that we had this opportunity to go to a “real ball”! God is so good in blessing us this way!

We received an invitation a couple weeks ago to a “Vintage Family Ball”, held and taught by home schoolers in Bedford. Since our friend E.M. from church wanted to attend as well, she got to come over as we finished last minute preparations! Kasie and I had finished our gowns a week or so before, but I had forgotten about Walter’s cravat, and was cutting it out the day of the ball! Walter dressed as half Mr. Bingley, and half Captain John Smith, but everyone thought he was the coolest looking gentleman of them all. I quite agree :D .

I wish we took some video of the ball to show y’all! Alas, we had were too busy talking and dancing to really think about that :D . The fellowship was so amazing!

As far as the dances went, I was expecting more of the slow Pride and Prejudice dances (English Country Dancing) that we’re familiar with, but Kasie and I were both surprised. Most everyone was dressed in Antebellum style, (hoop skirts and all) and the dancing was very aerobic, faster than most square dancing. (Though not as crazy as this dance that we did once). Kasie and I were thankful for our lady-like fans, and we employed them vigorously!

There were simple dances such as Virginia Reel and the Grand March, and rather funny ones like the Polka and the Broomstick Waltz. In the Broomstick Waltz, there is one extra gentleman on the floor who begins dancing with a broom. As soon as the music stopped, all the gentlemen had to switch partners as fast as they could, so they wouldn’t end up dancing with a broom!

Also I liked “Strip the Willow” and “The Snowball Reel” which included lots of weaving arm turns, twirling, sashaying and arching! All the dances were delightful, and so much fun to sway my skirt to! Thankfully I didn’t trip on my dress, but I did sympathize with Cinderella when I lost my shoes! I was twirling and skipping round so fast, that they were flying off. Eventually, I decided to join everybody else and dance barefoot :-) . The ball reluctantly ended at 11:00, yet we were all happy to rest in the car and sleep like logs when we came home!

“Oh I do love a ball!” – Lydia Bennet

As usual, I have written far to much! It’s so nice to easily blog again (Past couple weeks have difficult, with our mouse malfunctioning). Enjoy the pictures!

P.S. Sorry they came out blurry…. Our built in flash was just not doing the job, so we had to resort to longer exposure times.

Gentlemen’s Attire Throughout History

January 29th, 2008

Well, here it finally gentlemen! Would I ever go back on my word? I hope this shall inspire y’all to expand your costume wardrobes; or begin one if that is the case :-) By the way ladies I’ll have you know that the gentleman’s costume is far from boring.
I realized that my last post on this subject was a montage of pictures quite out of order. A little different this time. Here are my pictures and the outline/explanation/discussion is below.

Read the rest of this entry »