Picture I Promised

Here are the pictures.

This is the fabric I used for the stays.

Stays pinned together on my mannequin These are my drawings of the pattern I liked and the pattern pieces I figured were used to put it together.

(the lacing I just noticed is wrong for the time period. oops!)
This bodice is similar to a bodice used for the American Girl doll I had, Felicity. I always loved this dress the best out of all her different outfits. After years of dear Felicity sitting in the old playroom, I looked to her for inspiration. I'm surprised now at how accurate her clothing is! Who would've thought? :) So I'm thankful I have something to look at in case I get stuck in it's construction.

Side note: Oh! And if you're wondering what in the world happened to my bonnet, its still coming together. Slowly but surely. I've almost finished getting the crowning on the buckram.

18th Century Stays

How long ago it was that I decided to make an eighteenth century bodice, I have no idea. This year or the last, they're kind of running together at the moment. So I was inspired to make an 18C bodice, and so I googled patterns. I found one, drew it, and am sometime going to attempt to draft my own pattern and try making a bodice myself. *gulps* But then it hit me, DUH! To make it fit proper I'm going to need the correct time period corset, or stays, whichever. So when I found the perfect fabric for the bodice-which is exactly how I had imagined it-I also found in the sale bin of scrap fabric a fairly small roll of gorgeous blue and white floral fabric. It was a bit thicker than normal cotton and I'm on a restricted budget. So i though 'hey, why not??' and decided to use the cotton instead of the usual silk. The fabric has the perfect print, since the floral patterns for the 1700's were more spiny looking rather than the round, soft flowers that came later in the next century.

Ok a little side note here: Does anyone else hate how the flimsy tissue paper used for patterns seem to float around everywhere? I mean, one time I just sighed, and the pattern flew off into a corner of my room! crazy...and not helpful.

Anyways...Last night I pinned the corset pieces together, and today found that it was a few sizes too large, even tho I had used the right size according to the measurements and the pattern. So the rest of today has been spent taking up more fabric in the seams, and a little earlier I FINALLY got it to the right size! Now all I need to get is the 30 yards of boning *gasp!* the broadcloth to line it with, and some ribbon. For the lining, I was thinking either a pale green or pale blue. Maybe the pale green? I will post pics of the pinned together stays, the fabric, and the drawing for the bodice as soon as i possibly can. (My day is going to be pretty busy tomorrow)

Poetry is Ah Sae Fine!

Poetry. What would our lives be like without it? (I shudder at the thought) I absolutely adore poetry. Just to name a few of the poets I love are Lord Alfred Tennyson, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Emily Dickenson. (though I have many besides just these) My all time favorite is Robert Burns, who wrote in the Scottish Dialect.

He wrote 559 poems and songs in his short lifetime. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1759 and died in 1796. I recently discovered that his life was not what i had expected and his pleasures were not what they ought to have been. I was terribly disappointed. Well, as someone once said: love the sinner, hate the sin. The first poem I ever read of his was Handsome Nell. It's so cute and he wrote it when he was fifteen too! (how sweet)

Handsome Nell

O, once I lov'd a bonnie lass,

Aye, and I love her still;

And whilst that virtue warms my breast

I'll love my handsome Nell.

*

As bonnie lasses I hae seen,

And mony full as braw,

But for a modest gracefu' mien

The like I never saw.

*

A bonnie lass, I will confess,

Is pleasant to the e'e,

But without some better qualities

She's no a lass for me.

*

But Nellie's looks are blithe and sweet,

And what is best of a'

Her reputation is complete,

And fair without a flaw.

*

She dresses aye sae clean and neat,

Both decent and genteel;

And then there's something in her gait

Gars ony dress look weel.

*

A gaudy dress and gentle air

May slightly touch the heart,

But it's innocence and modesty

That polishes the dart.

*

'Tis this in Nelly pleases me,

'Tis this enchants my soul

For absolutely in my breast

She reigns without control.

Here's one of his songs. It's quite lovely when played on the harp.

A Red, Red Rose

O, my luve's like a red, red rose,

That's newly sprung in June:

O, my luve's like the melodie

That's sweetly played in tune.

*

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I;

And I will luve thee still, my dear

Till a' the seas gang dry.

*

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt w' the sun!
I will luve thee still, my dear,

While the sands o' life shall run.

*

And fare thee weel, my only luve!

And fare thee weel a while!

And I will come again, my luve,

Though it were ten thousand miles.

The Stars at Night are Big and Bright...

Yesterday was one of my best friend's Birthday party and around midnight, we got sleeping bags and blankets to lay out on her upstairs deck. We had brought a TV out there and watched a chick flick, then afterwards, we lay back looking at the stars. Even though we were in the suburbs, I was awed at how many stars brightly shone in the night sky! I don't know about you, but every time I lay back and watch the stars I feel so peaceful and close to God. Then I thought how the sky was like black fabric pulled over the heavens. Behind the fabric is Heaven and all the glory of God. And each star was a pinprick in that fabric, allowing a tiny hole to allow that Light to shine through. Then at the end of the world, when Jesus comes back in all His glory, and defeats Satan, that God will roll back the black fabric and we will behold Him Who Created heaven and earth. Makes me giddy with happiness to think of it, not to mention an amazing peace.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language were their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world.

~ Psalm 19:1-4

The Bonnie Blue Bonnet

Several months ago (truth be told, last year) I began a bonnet which i planned to wear to the Bonnie Blue Ball. Alas, it was not finished. Until recently, it's lain somewhat (not quite) forgotten in a dark corner of my room collecting dust (no joke) and now I've started working on it again.

This is the McCall's pattern I'm using. Last night and this morning I have been working on getting the piping juuuust right. I'm a real perfectionist when it comes to my sewing projects which can be rather frustrating. Now I'm working on the "crown" and for some reason it does not fit exactly how it should, even though I cut the fabric and the buckram the required length. Ach! So now I have to move back the second contrasting piping back further from the edge than called for. Like so...

Once I get the piping finished, I'm going to sew lace around the inside edge to frame the face. When that is finished and the crown and lining, I'm going to work on bending the wire into the right shape. For now it's just going to stay a bit bended.

A Lovely Sunday Afternoon...The Perfect Time to Begin a Blog

I have finally been persuaded by my dear friend to begin a blog. This blog will be a conglomeration of my thoughts, bits of stories I write, favorite verses, poems and hymns, as well as what new project I'm working on or dreaming of. (for I frequently get swept away by new ideas) Since today is a beautiful Sunday, I think I'll begin with one of my most beloved hymns. It's an Ancient Irish hymn, and the music is an Irish folk melody.

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught all else to me, save that Thou art-

Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy Presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thy my true word;

I ever with Thee and Thy with me Lord;

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son,

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise.

Thou my inheritance, now and always;

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,

May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still by my vision, O Ruler of all.

Amen.