a fit of sickness

I'm sick again. Another pesky head cold. I'm not really surprised, with all the craziness, stress and not eating well of the last few days of my trip plus the jet-lag coming home. It's pretty typical for me to get sick after that sort of thing. So I'm back to having a tissue box by my side and popping vitamin C tablets. Just as well you weren't able to come I guess elizabethdress. *pouts*

My body clock is still way off, which is annoying. In a fit of not being able to sleep but being too tired to do anything productive with the Redingote I completely took apart my Pink Pimpernel dress last night. This was a very last minute dress for Costume College last year and while I had great fun wearing it I wasn’t really happy with the fit.

Really, I wasn’t happy with it at all until I tweaked it a bit for the Stratford Hall event in December. I shortened the sleeves (just tacked them up), polonaise the skirt and added color in the form of aquamarine bows and jewelry. Suddenly I LIKED the dress and wanted to wear it again. That's when I decided to ditch the original Scarlet Pimpernel design and create a more generic 1780s ballgown from the ashes. I thought about just making my tweaks permanent but then I thought about all the other things that bugged me about the construction and thought, why not start from scratch and fix everything? So I picked the whole thing apart.

In the light of day I'm wondering if that was a clever decision or not but it's done now and I think I'll be happier in the end for it. At least I hope so.

Yes I really am insane.

Regency turban 101

A friend wants help picking out fabric for a new Regency turban so I thought I'd spend the afternoon doing a little Google research before our shopping trip. Here are some interesting links I thought I'd share. After all you never know when you will need a new turban! :>

http://rochestercontra.com/WomensBallClothing.pdf - handout from a Regency Ball - good overall info, helpful for when someone who needs help getting started

http://hal.ucr.edu/~cathy/dress/turb.html (Regency Fashion Page) - Regency turbans by era - pretty cool

http://fileblogs.com/Regency-Headdress--Hats-Caps-Bonnets--Bandeaux&article_27946 - interesting info on turbans and other Regency headwear

http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/miscellany_pdf/Other_Articles_V_Turban.pdf - how to drape a period middle eastern turban - always helpful to know how the original your inspiration comes from is done

http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2008/02/22/bonnets-caps-and-hats-a-regency-fashion-accessory-no-lady-can-do-without/ - more on bonnets & caps but good links


Yes, and may I just say that music on websites is a nice idea but seriously annoying when you are surfing. Especially when you are already listening to your CD player. That is all.

I hate the 18th century right now

I had a spurt of energy this afternoon (didn't last too long blah) and worked on the redingote. I cut out a new toile and tried it on. The front doesn't look to bad I guess but the back needs a lot of work. Those wrinkles in the back, none of that is stress - that is the way it lays. So frustrating!

I think the seam angles are just wrong. I really like that curvy back seam line thing but it simply doesn't work on my body. Every time I've tried it this is what happens (to some degree). So back to the equally historic but not as "cool" straighter back seams. *sigh*

What do you think of the front collars, I know the back of the top one needs work. I don't know if I like them or not.

I think I've been looking at this project for too long. I wish my deadline on this wasn’t so close, I'd love to put it on the back burner. Of all the projects half started and mulling around in my head this is the one I want to work on least. And that is without the problems now facing me. I should have picked something less challenging and moved onto something fun. Costuming ADD anyone?