Naughty Nellies - Not so Much

Just a sneak peek right now.  Had an amazing photoshoot with the talented Claudia Garner last weekend.  We were making Naughty Nellies ("clean" ones - no nudity here thank you very much) for a fundraiser for my friend Amy Beechler's ball up in Buffalo NY this coming weekend.  I have to admit I was a little hesitant at the idea at first.  But it was so much fun and the pictures came out beautifully!  I'm going to post a few here, but there will be more to come. 



Little Orphan Annie - Take Two

As promised, here is the most recent creation of the Little Orphan Annie costume.  I am waiting for pictures from the customer of her granddaughter wearing it.  Can't wait to see it on the real live little girl.  :)

If you're curious, I used a 1970s pattern to recreate the dress.  It is an A-line dress with no waist (more comfortable for little girls) with the addition of the white belt.  This allows the little girl to wear the belt at the natural waistline or lower for a low-waisted look.  Just add white bobby socks and black Mary-Janes and you've got the look!

Remembering Gettysburg - November 2009



Micky (1-1/2), Me, Renton (6), Emily (4-1/2)

 I will always remember this day fondly. The weather was perfect, the kids were agreeable.  We even managed to get an authentic tin-type done of us.   It looks real because it was an authentic camera and authentic processing. We all had to sit absolutely still for 16 seconds.  That's one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand . . . I am still in awe today that they all cooperated. Was a miracle! Small movement at the end by Micky made him a little blurry, but all in all, it was a success.

Of course, there are little things I don't like about the picture.  Emily's hair, for example.  She refused to let me pull her bangs back and looks more like a late-Victorian boy than a mid-Victorian girl.  But I just LOVE her expression!  She was having a great time and was not upset, but it's such a classic little Victorian girl expression, it makes me laugh whenever I look at it.  I also don't like my arm pulled back on the arm rest - wish they would have let me just keep it in my lap.  And Micky's shaved head.  But again, ah well.  It was good overall.  =)

Things I LOVE are:
1.  Renton's jaunty expression
2.  Emily's striped stockings
3.  Micky's little dress

If you are ever in Gettysburg, you have to stop by and check this place out.  Reservations are best because the process can take quite a while.  But it is well worth the wait!

IN THE STUDIO:

Renton waiting patiently for our turn behind the lens

Another great shot of Emily's striped stockings

Cute shot of Micky's dress



OUTSIDE THE STUDIO:

It was blustery that day - wish I'd taken pictures of them wrapped up, too.

Yes, I know this is an Edwardian pram (not Civil War era).
Whatever I could get Micky to sit still in worked for me.

Micky's bonnet and dolly

Ahhhh - Dracula!

Just in time for Halloween . . . stumbled across these old reviews of a production I costumed back in 2009!

"The production delivered in every way – incredible costumes, lighting, music, and fight choreography, as well as fine acting. The set, costumes, and properties, designed by Anastasia Ryurikov Simes, created an appropriately spooky atmosphere. A gigantic metallic spider arched above the stage, framing everything within its spindly, notched legs. Dracula’s wives dressed in vivid red gowns that exposed their cleavage. They emerged suddenly from the seams of Dracula’s cape like drops of energized blood. Their arms wildly moving resembled the flames of Hell."

-Ballet-Dance.com 

Dracula

• The Washington Post
• Washington CityPaper
• DC Theater Scene
• DCist
• MetroWeekly
• Potomac Stages
• WeLoveDC
• Fairfax Times

My Little Orphan Annie . . .



Emily Ann as
Little Orphan Annie

Emily showing off her
"Annie Attitude"

Amazing how time flies! 

I recently received a few requests to make Little Orphan Annie costumes for Halloween based off the pictures of my Emily on my website. It feels like just yesterday I was making that Annie costume for Emily. 

Now when I look at the pictures she seems like a totally different little girl.  The same spunk and fire!  But more grown-up.  Hard to beleive she was ever this little - but she made the PERFECT  Little Orphan Annie! 

It's going to be fun to see the costume on some new little girls - can't wait for Halloween!





Recent eBay wins

Dresses with peplums!!! I love this pattern. Can't wait to try it out. I already have the fabric waiting.



Love the detail down the front of this pattern. I'm thinking of doing a light-weight wool. What say you?



And if this isn't the cutest boys' pattern then I don't know what is! Might make matching outfits for Renton and Micky.



Although who am I kidding? If I can get a sitter to go to events I'm going to! ;)

WWII at Sully Plantation

Well, here we are. First ever WWII event and I think I might be hooked!



What a fun experience, just wish we'd gotten there earlier so we could spend more time walking around and talking to people. It was a completely different atmosphere from Civil War reenacting though I can't really put my finger on it.






(Caitlin "shocked" by the naughty magazines.)

Anyway, Amy, Caitlin and I had a great time and plan to go to more events soon. Micky enjoyed the first thirty minutes, then threw such a huge fit in the middle of the field that some German officers actually came out and tried to recruit him for the SS!





(Micky throwing a fit.)

Purple Floral - Phase II

Just a picture of the progress. Have only buttons left to do. Will update with pictures from the event when I get some.

Borrowed hat, shoes and bag from my friend Amy.

Purple Floral Dress - Phase 1

Whoo hoo!

So I started off really doubting my fabric choice (picked a small purple floral calico because my grandmother said she used those types of fabrics for her dresses - midwesterner ;). Then I hated the pattern because it didn't look like it was going to fit right at all. But I quickly realized it was waaay too big! Took in each side seam about 2-1/2 inches and voila! I actually really like it.

Still left are the detachable collar and cuffs, and I want to add some really cute purple glass buttons down the front.

I'm thinking of using these shoes (I know the heels are horrible) if I can't fond something more suitable by the event day. Do you think they're passable?



Now I just need the perfect hat and gloves and clutch! Yay! Can't wait to start the next one.


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Blue Sheer Madness

So this is the blue cotton sheer dress I started well over a year ago. I typically do not like sheer dresses for myself, but I love the idea, so I keep making them . . . And always end up selling them.

(side note: this picture is awful because the lighting is terrible in my basement and the curtains are a distraction, but I was removing the dress so I could put my 1940s dress on it so thought I'd snap a quick pic in the process.)

Anyway, it's a fabulous fabric. You can't tell in these pictures but it has a tiny woven diamond pattern that probably would show up in the daylight over a nice white petticoat.

I'm thinking of doing a narrow brown trim. I love the contrast. Its just pinned on right now, but you can get the idea. There's a lot left to do and I just lost momentum last year. Not a huge fan of this pattern and the waist it awfully high . . . Well, I should just get it done after the 1940s things and get it over with.

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WWII - The Beginning

So I'm going to attend my first WWII event in two weeks. Yay! I decided to pick out a couple of my grandmother's old patterns and see what I can "whip up".



I'm totally undecided so tonight I cut out this one (on the left) in a purple floral calico.

And this one (again on the left) in a blue pinstripe.



We'll see if I manage to get either one completed! ;)

Wish me luck.


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November Ball 2009

Looks like I never posted the final results of my November Ball Dress! Well here it is!  I was thrilled to death with the final results.  It was a stunning blue silk with a train that could be bustled up in the back or let loose.  The tail was split in the back and fell nicely over the full bustle.  I overlayed the bodice with cotton lace/netting as well as the underskirt.  The accents were royal purple velvet rickrack and bright pink silk roses and satin bows.  A fun time was had by all.

Cedar Creek 2010

Just some miscellaneous pictures I never got around to uploading.  This was my Emily's first camping experience and she LOVED it!  Other than the late night and the sugar "crack" high that hit her around 8pm, we had a very successful weekend.  We are working on getting little Emily a bit more authentic and she is starting to love her new things!  (Although we did revert to a boy's frock and trousers on the last day of the event.)

Yay!  Bangs pulled back and hidden within the bonnet. 

(Which lasted about 15 minutes)

Emily's skirt is made of the left over dress fabric from my dress (being worn at this event by my friend Caitlin).  It features two very deep growth tucks which can easily be let out as Emily grows taller (any fading where the stitches were would be covered with some pretty black velvet ribbon or rouching).  She also wears a full sleeved white cotton bodice (back hook and eye closure) covered by a large black cummerbund rounded at the top and pointed at the waist, topped by a black velvet jacket adorned with frog closures.  Emily is wearing a crinoline petticoat, not a hoop.

My friend Caitlin and the Red/Black Boots

Camp life - Jacket and Bonnet are nowhere to be found . . .

You can see the wide black cummerbund worn over the white cotton bodice.

Food is always a big hit with the little ones.

Here we've at least covered up Emily's bodice and skirt with a simple cotton pinafore.

Back view of Caitlin's Dress - I LOVE this silhouette  

Resting in the tent.  (Have not abandonned the bangs entirely yet.)  What I love about this picture is the the black and grey striped stocking peeking out from under her skirt.  You can see the detail of Emily's white cotton bodice (back closure) and a few of her wooden toys.

Mommy and Emily playing games in camp.

Spring is in the Air

So Spring is in the Air and it's making me want to start thinking about sewing again . . . HOWEVER, my basement is still ice cold in the evenings and it does not motivate me to go down there.  :)  What is a girl to do?  I still have the blue sheer cotton on my mannequin (I need to upload a picture) that has received absolutely no attention lately.  I'm a bit angry at it to be honest - I keep attempting sheers even though I don't really like them.  I mean I LIKE them - they just don't ever look right on me - so why am I wasting my time?  Hmm . . . I think I should force myself to finish the sheer first - I can always sell it on eBay - before I allow myself to start a new project.  But ahhhh . . . new projects!  I have so many in my head right now.