Gardening

 Hello my friends. If you've been wondering where I've been, I've been gardening.

And making dresses out of strips of fabric and scarves. That's what this ensemble is.

 I was inspired by the costumes in an episode from Larkrise to Candleford. Season 3, Episode 4. To be exact. One of the sadder, better and more moving episodes.

 However... I was quite joyful and full of glee whilst working away in the flower beds.

 Here is a wooden wheelbarrow that my Great Grandpa made. It has a cast iron wheel. Isn't it beautiful?

Taking a rest in the shade.

 Happy late summer! 

I hope everyone is enjoying these last warm summery days to their full advantage.

I know I'll do my best to! It's such a lovely time of year.

 Love, Emaline

Summer Reading...

I'm still reading this lovely book month by month and enjoying every little detail!

It has even inspired me to paint and I am copying, as best I can, one of the watercolors.

{the country diary of an edwardian lady}

I also just finished Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. 

So good. So, indescribably good. You must read it.

As Anne would say, speaking of bright Autumn leaves, "Don't they give you a thrill Marilla? Several thrills?".

I am very thrilled to start the next book in the series! 

And here's my question for you....

What are you reading?

Love to you all,

Emaline

The 'Brobdingnagian Sleeve'

Here is a most entertaining and eloquent article that my cousin Olive found on the Dreamstress Fashion blog. 

The Death of Big, or shall we say, Brobdingnagian Sleeves... 

 

♥Emaline

Scandinavian Folklore Fashion

This is such a fun, beautiful website that I wanted to share with you. If you like embroidery or weaving or costuming or anything folksy or pretty, (pretty much everyone in other words) you will love this blog! Click on this link for a frolic through Scandinavia!  - Folklore Fashion -

Love to you all!

♥Emaline

a long awaited dress

 Well, hello!

I am finally here again! It is so lovely to be back. I finally was able to make some changes and now, with the help of all your much needed comments and the faithful hard work of our dear friend AnnaKristine and her tech-savvy husband, am able to post pictures again! Hooray! I am still ironing out some other little snags and wrinkles, but hopefully I will be able to post a little more often. :]

So, to start... My finished 1750's Blue Dotted Swiss. 

Here is what I started with. A lovely 1960's dress with a mystery fabric that looked very much like dotted Swiss. As you can see, this picture was taken after I cut into the high jewel neckline. :] At least you get the basic idea.   

 And this was my inspiration.

 (More pictures of this dress HERE.)

And here is the dress.

 Here are the back seams and 18th c. style sleeves.

 The hat I upcycled from a men's straw fedora that was exploding.

Flat lining, for "attaching" to my head via scotch tape. shh.

Eventually, I plan to make a sash or ribbon for tying it on.

Thank you dear readers for so patiently waiting for this long over due post. :]

If you have any comments or questions please leave as many as you like.

My fondest love,

Emaline

If you'd like to see this entire outfit (underpinnings, shoes etc.) you may go here.

Out of picture space

This is a tragic day. As I tried to upload a picture to this blog, a message popped up and said "Whoops! You have used all the picture storage space you had and didn't know there was an end of." Well, something to that effect. And of course, it just has to happen right before I post the pictures of my dress that I've been hinting about for YEARS now.

So, I am trying to decide what to do and how to do it.

But I NEED HELP! And I need some questions answered.

Has this happened to anyone else? And what did you do when it happened (besides stare blankly at the computer for a full 5 minutes).

I think, what other people have done is just started a new blog *choke* and keep the old one open for browsing through. (Is that true?) It sounds kind of possible. Otherwise, you can buy more space for $30 a year. Ouch. Doesn't sound as possible.

Anyway, Please let me know what you think. If you have ANY suggestions or ideas, please pile them on my head, because I need help!
I thank you dear, kind readers and friends for your wonderful comments and words.

Affectionately yours, Emaline

♥

1750's shoes & stockings

 Here are my 18th c. shoes!

These were so much fun to make. As usual I used the "drape" (or in this case, 'wrap') method. I did the embroidery on the same fabric I used for the dress. The soles and heels are made from leather and then glued on the upper part of the shoe. They are lined with cotton.

Because they are a slip on shoe, I was finally forced to make some stockings to cover up my, *ehem* painted on boots. 

I used some very stretchy knit fabric scraps, pinned them on, inside out, and sewed them with a back-stitch, while they were on. It worked very well. smile...

 To keep the shoes on, I stuck an applique or sequin pin through the shoe and stocking on the inside of each foot. If you look at the above picture closer you can see it.

 Here you can see how little they are. They measure about 1 3/4" x 1/2".

Love to you all!

Emaline♥

p.s. Up next will be dress pictures!

1750's underpinnings continued...

Hello my dears! 

Here are the 1750's underpinnings. The chemise I already posted here.

Here is the corset.

It is Linen, lined with cotton. The straps have a patterned satin ribbon over the top for decoration. The embroidery and top stitching was all done with hand-quilting thread. It is also boned in the front to make the most accurate 1750's look on *ehem* my particular shape! And, of course, I made it too big like I always do on corsets, so it overlaps in the back. But then, you may as well be prepared for all those macarons and petit fours, oui?

And here is my favorite... Paniers! Or Pocket Hoops as some call them.

These are a MUST for any wardrobe because they are just so delightfully charming in their peculiarity.

I can't believe I forgot to take pictures of how they work...

But they are not complicated! They have a drawstring waist, casings for the boning, flat string connected to the ends of each bone and tied to form a semi circle. You see? It is quite simple!

And of course, there is a slit on the top of each side so you can reach quite through your skirts to find your hidden pocket in cases of extreme urgency!

And... here is the pocket! Made for me by my sweet cousin Olive. ♥

It ties on around the waist.

Now for petticoats...

Here, I have put on my 19th century petticoats to see the effect. Pretty, but not quite... well, poofy enough.

So instead I am using this blue petticoat (also made by Olive)! Isn't it charming? It is made in the same way petticoats were made in the 18th century. Here is an excellent tutorial on how to make an 18th c. petticoat!

The edge, instead of being hemmed, is pinked. It was a little bit short to begin with so we decided, "Why spend so much time hemming when you can spend a very little time.. pinking?" There are MANY, many gowns from the era with pinked edged trims and ruffles, so it is quite accurate. Though, I'm not entirely sure whether they did it on petticoats... hmm...

It too has openings on the sides.

Well, that is all I have for now. I hope you are enjoying my 'dress journey'.

Next up... stockings and shoes!

Thank you everyone for following our little blog! You mean so much to us!

All my Love,

Emaline

Queen Mary's Doll House 1924

Hello my dear friends!

 I hope you are sitting down, because you must be quite prepared for what I am about to show you. 

In fact... you should probably make some strong tea and maybe get a few truffles from the cupboard.... just to be safe. Alright, are you quite ready?

 Here is a video I've found of Queen Mary's Doll house which was designed in 1924. The details are simply stunning! Very inspiring, wot? I hope you all enjoy, and have another truffle for the after-effects.
But you mustn't watch it here, it is much too small. Watch it on YouTube and make it as big as it goes. You will be much better able to see the details.

Are you astounded? I still am in a state of disbelief. The tiny Hoover vacuum had my mouth completely dropped open in a very unladylike manner. Likewise, the marble bath tub, the suit of armor, the dishes and glasses, the cars and last but certainly not least the bicycle! Oh! That I had a bicycle! What beautiful things people can make... I am inspired.

It has been a very whirlwind-y sort of month so, I do apologize for being quite absent! I will post more of my 1700's dress as soon as I possibly can! Thank you for being so patient!

Love, Emaline