Whispers of Roses

Another sneak peak! Here I am fixing Sarah's dress, just before the storm came rolling in.

(I recently bough this lovely hat from KaKy Co. )

The Marathon is On!

Labor Day Weekend, what more perfect of an occasion to start a huge costume project?

With the Victorian Festival only a couple weeks away, the designing has begun with a flourish.

Check back daily this week for updates, I'll likely be posting late at night, hopefully with pictures.

So far, I have 3 "yes" designs, and 2 more "maybe's"? Still have to come up with sixth design. Also, there are plenty of costumes available from last year, if any one is looking for another

~Fashionable Socials~

Last years theme for the Victorian was Historical Events. Each dress had a date when the style was in fashion and a story that centered or mentioned a historical figure, place, or event.

This year the theme is Fashionable Socials. Look for the new designs and their stories, coming soon!

Jane Eyre Costume

"All my confidence is bestowed on him, all his confidence is devoted to me;

we are precisely suited in character--perfect concord is the result." ~ Jane Eyre

The first time I read Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre, I was captivated. The book remains one of my favorites, I've read it so many times. The story is challenging, inspiring, and a little dark. While Charlotte never mentions a green outfit in the book, the color green is a reoccurring motif associated with newness and life. These photos remind me of Jane Eyre.

The made this bonnet from straw hat, remnant materials, and a soft filmy scarf. Each rose bud and the larger rose are hand made. I sold this bonnet on in the Etsy Store.

Up Coming Events

Greetings,

Well, I hope you are enjoying summer as I have been. Here in southwestern Ontario, we have had some great weather. I trust August will be another good month as well.

As some of you know, Northville's annual Victorian Festival is coming soon. September 16-18 are the dates. Once again, we are planning to attend in full costume, so if you are looking for a fun way to spend the weekend of Sept 18th, come join us! We will be giving out free magnets as usual and maybe some fun book marks for the children too!

You can check out the Historical board's event on this website http://www.northville.org/Events_Calendar/Content/Victorian_Festival/

And Girls, you know who you are, it's time to start costume planning! I am looking forward to your suggestions, requests, as well as looking forward to seeing your own creative designs!

Will keep you posted with new developments, here is a sneak peak at some of the parasols that are hot off the press and waiting for display at the festival. Email me! Love to hear what you think ashtreemeadowdesigns@gmail.com.

~ Ashley

A Treasure from the Past

Along with sewing, crafting parasols, and designing costumes, I like to up-cycle. There are so many beautiful & interesting costumes that are sitting at one's fingertips in the form of second-hand clothing.

A young friend of mine suggested I make dress up clothes for "little girls" and young ladies who still love to have a dress-up parties and tea parties with their friends. Well, I have been concentrating on getting a few little outfits together. Here is the first :)

Plaid is a icon in the Victorian age. Whether you are concentrating on the American Civil War era or the turn of the century auto-mobil age, plaid was in. The fascinating thing about children's clothes is that the design did not change much over this period.

I up-cycled this child's dress from 20 years ago. Niether petticoat (not scene) nor hoop included. I am currently working on a petty coat to sell, maybe a pair of bloomers?

Apple Trees & Pink Coronaria

“We plant, upon the sunny lea,

A shadow for the noontide hour,

A shelter from the summer shower

When we plant the apple-tree.”

I made is parasol awhile ago. I decided to create a new 3-D design by adding silk flowers. Adding the flowers was difficult, the challenge was adhering the flowers to allow the parasol to open and close without crushing the flowers.