Sunday gown

Yes, I'm crazy, but I grew out of my regular Dickens outfit, so I really need to make a new one that fits the bust better.

I chose the 1857 Wisconsin Governor's Wife pattern because I have never really explored plaids, as plaids aren't really in style today. I found a wonderful green and black plaid taffeta on eBay at a great price. I started on the skirt panels last night and it is sooo much lighter than my wedding gown!!!

It was extremely difficult to find a feminine pattern without it screaming out "lumberjack." It was also hard to find one that wasn't too big of a plaid. I'm only 5'1" and many prints easily dwarf me.

I'll publish photos as soon as this project gets underway. I'm hoping this won't be too popular of a pattern, and at least it is very easy to change up. (My wedding gown is from the same pattern!)

less than 2 weeks till the wedding!!!

I'm just finishing up the gown today. This has taken more work than I had thought, as work has been getting in the way of everything these days. Thank God I have this whole week off for Thanksgiving!

Yesterday I finished putting all 7 alternating layers of lace and silk chiffon! All I have to do is replace the silk chiffon that goes over the shoulder because it must've slipped in the machine out of place and it needs to hang over the top of the lace on the sleeve to make things right.

I tried everything on last Sunday and I think it looks even bigger on me than on my dress mannequin! (Could be because it sits in a corner.)

I bought the tussy mussy on eBay and got one for my matron of honor too. I got them both engraved. They are a bit awkward to handle, though, because they are top-heavy, of course. Because Island Flowers is still not doing business, I made the bouquet for myself and a posy for Cathy for only $30!

When sunnier weather comes (hopefully before the wedding) I hope to go to Bay Street Park and take pictures in the gazebo for better lighting and background.

Feels good to have to change my new serger's color from white to black. I'm soooo sick of white! I'm honestly surprised I didn't get the gown stained up more than I did. (I just had to dry-clean it once without the ruffles because the center fold of the fabric came dirty from the store.) I'm just worried how much this is going to take to dry-clean.

I think this should get people's attention at Dickens on the Strand.

Surviving Hurricane Ike

OK, I'm going to get a little off-subject from sewing and talk about my wedding since everyone is wondering what has been going on.

The Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) has declared Dickens officially on for December 6, although as of yesterday The Strand is still looking pretty pitiful with cleaning "parties" and gutted buildings.

http://www.galvestonhistory.org/Dickens_Press7.asp

Also, my reception hall (which we ironically had PAID OFF the week before the storm!!!) has been affected, but not so much as the others. I think the designers put in a marble floor and partial marble walls on purpose. However, the Galveston Railroad Museum only rents and does not actually own the building. I might be having my reception at my school gym, as it has been graciously offered to me, but it's just not going to be the same. We're going to hold out until the board meeting on the 29th to see what will go on, as we'd hate to bail out in a time of need.

http://www.galvestonrrmuseum.com/

I ordered some plisse pleated silk chiffon from Hong Kong on eBay and was very pleased with it. I finished one whole ruffle that goes across the bottom. It will alternate with the 6" lace I have, and probably another 6" lace I need to get as I don't think I'll have enough.

I still have to put on the sleeves and line the bodice. I started making the buttons for it but they are hard to make perfect. Here are a few pictures:

Getting fitted

My matron of honor's mom, Sandy, was so kind as to do the big job of fitting me for my wedding gown. Sadly, we decided that Harriet's pattern I bought for $40 (http://harriets.com/Ballgowns.htm) just wasn't a good fit, even though I had made it in the largest size, which, in theory, should have fit given the sizing chart. I was very disappointed that the pattern was so small, as I am clearly never even remotely the largest size in any Simplicity or McCall's patterns.

We found that not only did the bodice not fit around the bust, but also the armscye was rediculously tight, and so was the sleeve. Also, the sleeve was small in circumference where it meets the shoulder. And on top of that, she didn't follow the original fashion plate regarding the pattern of ruffles and lace.

The skirt was extremely complicated. Weird random pleats, which did not fall even recomtely correctly on my new hoop - in fact, the skirt collapsed into the little "window" in the front of the hoop, and that was the last straw.

I am very disappointed that I cannot use that pattern, but luckily I brought the mock-up of my Sunday dress - and wouldn't you know, it is a great pattern from Simplicity (http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=3727) and can easily double as my wedding gown as well as a day dress for Sunday!

New Renaissance gown

This is the one I remade because I wasn't happy with the style, as it just wasn't flattering on me. (Seems like women back then didn't have much on top!) This one seems much better :)

new pics of mom's Dickens outfit for the wedding

I made this last year, and was never quite happy with how it looked, never mind how she flat out refused to wear a hoop skirt. She just never had "the look." Now that I'm getting married at Dickens, she wants to wear one. How things change when it comes right down to a wedding! We had our little photoshoot today at the Davison home historical park in Texas City and here are some pics of her:

New Website!!!

I finally invested in a real website (and not just a blog.) Now my blog will be more personal, while my website is my Internet storefront to the world.

www.margaretsmillineryanddressmaking.com