Easter Bonnets

~Easter Bonnets Herald The Coming of Spring~

I will only post a small this time, as I am, quite pres

sed for time. For the last two weeks or so, I have been working on a few bonnets, both are from the Regency or Early Victorian era.

The first was of earthen straw. (Earthen Straw is straw of greenish browns rather than

a yellow or white straw.) I decorated the bonnet with a brown satin rose and several smaller rose buds. The rose and buds, I made by hand.

The bonnet ties with a filmy green tie that is edged in gold tassel. The inside of the bonnet is lined with white, and around the crown is a thin band of green embroidered-edging with a green velvet ribbon thread through it.

The bonnet dos lay flat when untied. If worn loosely, it stands out much like the picture from Pride & Prejudice seen in the upper left corner. The bonnet can also be worn tighter, lik

e the lower left picture.

For the second bonnet, I wanted to go with a more fun and spring-like look. I chose to make this bonnet blue. I found these amazing roses -- made of foam!

They are so beautiful and fun to work with. (Very soft too). This bonnet retains its shape, but also can lay flat. I accented the

blue with one pink rose, just needed that last finishing touch. The bonnet ties with a shimmer ribbon-like tie ( to match the shimmer in the crown.) The crown is made of rows of plastic straw and cloth, intertwined with clear plastic thread, that gives a shimmer to the bonnet. The vertical brim is covered in pale blue cloth, detailed in a floral pattern of small silver sequins. ~Ashley

Custom to Order: Moon & Stars

This recent parasol was requested via our online store.

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers,

the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained."

I was naturally pleased when I received a request for a custom design via the online store. I was also thrilled to be able to price the materials and labor in the same price range as the simpler parasols. The request was for a simple black parasol with either silver or white moon & stars around the edge. You'd be surprised how hard it is to find materials that would lend themselves to this design.

I first thought of beads, but I could only find red and blue stars, while moons were non-existent. I opted instead for a liquid silver pen. This pen was wonderful! Not only was it fun to use, but it worked great. The design turned out very clear.

The moon & stars pattern was the first challenge, surprising the lace was more of a challenge. Black lace is VERY expensive in our area. The cheapest I could find at first was 4.99 a meter! These parasols take several meters for even a simple design (you wouldn't think so, but the circumference takes a fair bit). I did eventually find affordable lace and this was the result.

~ Ashley

Cotton Whimsies

Yesterday proffered a random excursion to the grocery store, five minuets before closing time. I dashed madly around making one quick side trip to the discount section.

The 9.99 cotton flat sheets, which had previously hit the rack for 6.79 a pc were reduced again. Delighted I snatched up a few and have since dreamed of many wonderful possibilities.

Online Store!

Well, it has finally happened! We are in business!

Check out our new Etsy store! Click the picture below to visit our store! Feedback is welcome. :)

Fabric

~Fabric~

One of the best parts of an outfit is the material. Whether dealing with the crisp mediocre appearance of broadcloth or the soft luxury of silk, each fabric holds unique value. Fabric holds significant value in matters of authenticity. For example, you would not dress Robin Hood in silk any more than you would dress a king in burlap.

~The Greatest Error a costume designer can ever make

is using the wrong fabric ~

For example, what decides the difference between the following two costumes -- fabric.

This is a great costume -authentic, a good replica, and the model even looks like Russel Crowe! The differences in design are in keeping with the style and are convincing, BUT there is one huge difference: Velour.

The velour is completely out of place in the outfit. Grant it, we can not afford leather and chain mail, but broadcloth would have been better suited. Broadcloth and velour are equally as cheap.

A profusion of pink roses bending ragged in the
rain speaks to me of all gentleness and its enduring.
- Quotes William Carlos Williams

I was recently asked how this dress was made....

A tablecloth

A wedding dress

Some hair elastics

Roses from the Dollar

Store

I promised to share the "In progress" pictures ~ Enjoy!

~Ashley

The Blue Dress

"Ooh! What shall I wear? I wonder?" - Mrs. Howell, upon news of being rescued off a deserted Island.

"Why don't you wear your bleu dress?" -Foreign news reporter via radio

"Oooo, my blue dress, splendid!

Wait. How does he know I have a blue dress?"

~ Gilligan's Island

I loved that scene in Gilligan's Island. The legendary blue dress. They say every closet needs a little black dress, and I agree, however nothing quite suits as a blue dress. In my last post I lamented the fact that I did not have a picture of the blue dress in the castle. Well, my sister surprised me, and here, is the blue dress.