What I’m Working On | If I Had My Own Blue Box:

Fanchons for 1865

There are only two Fanchon bonnets left in my Etsy store.

Here are a few finishing ideas.

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on February 9, 2015 at 1:15 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Anna's Millinery

When you stumble across yourself

You know those moments when you stumble across yourself on the vastness we call the web?

Lily and I some years ago. No, I am not sleeping. I’m working on sewing a sewing case. I think this was just before or just after the Sunday shower.

Here is one of those moments. Given how often I lament about not seeing the photos I hear or seeing being taken, I should be happy to see these. But, goodness, can’t I have a pleasant expression when people take photos? (Just do not try to look at the other photos from which I took these.)

This is at a tiny local event some years ago. We attended on the invitation and encouragement of Barb, who you can see in the lower photo on the left. She has put together a nice Widows and Orphans Relief Society impression, which is a nice platform for teaching. Knowing there would be a canopy of trees, we skipped the canvas and followed the shade through the day. We really did develop a bi-hourly routine of picking up the table and inching further into the shade. As such, I started the day with my bonnet. As the day progressed, the tree took ownership of the bonnet.

From left to right, Barb, Gail, myself and someone who joined us for a short while.

For us this was a demo and teaching event. I brought sewing cases to work on. Lily demonstrated writing with pen and ink. Gail brought her drop-spindle and wool. Each demo was one that could easily become hands on to the many children in attendance. People were fascinated by Lily’s writing. Actually, there were moments when fascinated simply was not a strong enough description. Through the day others joined us with sewing projects of their own.

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on January 22, 2015 at 4:00 pm Leave a Comment

The Tear-Drop Tip

One of my more recent collection additions has an elagant tear-drop shaped tip surrounded by tightly gathered stripe silk and a fluffy puffing of wool. It is on of those construction componants that just catches you with “how did she do that?”
It is also one of those things that just call to me, from the other room, “make me”… “figure me out.”
The original tip is made of layers about a third the weight/thickness of pasteboard. Theses layers are also wrinkled and crushed inside the layer of silk on the outside and lining on the inside. The best I can tell (for want of one of those probe cameras) there is a gathering of silk between the layers of almost pasteboard, but it isn’t enough material to be the gatherings from the body of the hood. (I think I figured out what she did with that bulk. Rather nifty.) The teardrop is piped with a thick silk covered cord. I went from thinking “that is going to be a pain” to “ah, that takes care of that.”
I’ll get around to doing the photos of this piece soonish.
Now, my creation of the week was all about figuring out this tip. The rest of the hood is just a basic wadded construction.

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on January 17, 2015 at 2:47 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Anna's Millinery

The Ultimate Winter Wind Hood

Here we are, the first bonnet of 2015.

This winter hood is taken directly from an original in my collection. The original is a dark, royal blue on the outside with black silk on the inside. I went all black for this one. This is one of those hoods where I really wanted to know why it went together the way it did. All the measurements are as exact as I could get. I kept with the original seam construction as well, right down to the use of salvage which I’ve come to love for its great reduction in bulk. I did make two additional changes besides the color. The original has a piece of half inch broken cane. As it is only a fragment and the pinholes that previously held it only showing in a small area, I could not determine exactly where it ran. I have not included that. There is a piece of black ribbon attached flat along the bavolet seam on the outside that is just off. I suspect it was either added later to cover pinholes from where a decorative ribbon was placed or to cover wear. (Here is the Etsy link.)

Now, I’m sure you are wondering why I’m calling this “The Ultimate Winter Wind Hood.” When I finished it and tried it on, I was greatly impressed by how wind resistant this hood is. The brim comes very forward of the face. At the same time, the ribbons inside the brim draw the interior of the hood down around the head, holding it snuggly and comfortably in place. The photo to the left an show you sort-of how those ribbons draw the interior down.

The bavolet that appears flat and rather long is just right for keeping the wind off the neck. It sits right around the neck so to not let the wind catch underneath.

Trying it on was truly a moment of understanding.

Back to the exterior, you’ll see an interesting combination of quilting. All the quilting is made of diagonal stripes spaced at 1.25″. But, the front of the brim and where it turns under to the inside the quilting makes diamonds, while the mid to back section of the brim is simply diagonal stripes. I happen to really like the way the look comes together. The bavolet and tip both have the full diamonds. (I can tell you, this is a lot of quilting.)

For 2015, I’m going to try to share the time and materials for projects. (which I know may be a little weird since many of the pieces will be available for purchase. But, I really like how others share their numbers on their blogs and for challenges.) So, here we go…

research and drafting – I didn’t count.
Cutting, marking, quilting and sewing – 19 hours
Approx 2/3 yard of black silk taffeta
Approx 2/4 yard of 1/2″ wool batting doubled
4 yards of 1/2″ black silk taffeta ribbon
1 yard of 1 1/4″ vintage black silk faille ribbon
Black cotton thread which I almost ran out of.

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on January 10, 2015 at 9:15 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Anna's Millinery

The Winner of the 12 Days Of “Christmas” Give-Away

I hope you have all enjoyed my 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away.

The Winner is:

Lisa Lindsey

For the First Day of the the 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away….. A blue paisley sewing box

For the Second Day of the the 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away….. A Bodkin to go in your sewing box

For the Third Day of the the 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away….. A Thread Winder to go in your sewing box

For the Fourth Day of the the 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away….. A Decorative Sewing Wax for in your sewing box

For the Fifth Day of the the 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away….. Add a Pin Ball to hold your pins

For the Sixth Day of the the 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away….. A Wooden Needle-Case

For the Seventh Day of the the 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away….. Now that your sewing box is full…. You might want to make something of your own. In that case, you will need some Pretty Period Cottons.

For the Eighth Day of the the 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away….. You will want a Bundle of Silks as well

For the Ninth Day of the the 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away….. You will need some Paste Board to work with

For the Tenth Day of the the 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away….. You have to have some Templates for Needle-books

For the Eleventh Day of the the 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away….. Of course, you will need some Wool for Pages

For the Twelfth Day of the the 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away…..

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on December 6, 2014 at 11:43 pm Comments (2)
Tags: 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away

The 12th Day of the 12 Days Of “Christmas” Give-Away

Today is the last day of the 12 Days of Christmas Give-Away.

I will be drawing a winner this evening!

The Give-Away: