We decided to “Apple-umpkin” today thinking fresh air would be good for us. It was. This parasol had to come home with me. It was getting played with by a child.
Slipper progress
Both slippers are together. When I started working with the leather soles, I decided the leather just wasn’t going to work. I think a big part was that it was too thick. So, these have canvas soles with soft wool inside. (The leather will get used for a Christmas gift for hubby.) Up next is the ruching, which commence once I locate the pinking scissors. Hopefully, the ruching will add some dimension.
Slipper progress
This evening I finished up the quilting and pieced together on slipper. Here it is inside out with a hint to what movie I watched while sewing.
Here it is right side out.
I opted for wider spaced quilting. I just couldn’t confine this silk with tighter spacing. Maybe the red.
Left to do…. the same for the other slipper, the leather & cork soles (I don’t think I’ll be doing the wool as planned) and the ruching with rosette. The last part will let me play with the lines some more. I’m trying to get a slim/sleek period look while also fitting wide feet.
Quilted slippers progress
I felt like quilting today. One and a half slippers are quilted. The silk’s weave is very tight. So, it was slow going.
Quilted Slippers Project
I finally got around to cutting out my slippers. I figured, if I put them on my fair entry form, I should start them. Right?
Here are the must have inspiration slippers from the Buffalo, Erie Historical Society:
This is the fabulous tealy-green I’ll be making this first pair from (yes, I will make a red pair too):
(Goal – post photos at each stage)
Fanciful Utility is released!
ESC Publishing and I are very excited to bring you…
Fanciful Utility: Victorian Sewing Cases & Needle-books!
This book is packed full of detailed instructions for making historically accurate sewing accessories. Each one is based on an extant example or nineteenth century directions. The 180 pages contains 117 illustrations, templates and numerous project variations, over 68 variations actually.
Millinery Ribbon Talk
I’ll be talking about millinery ribbons and displaying ribbons from my collection this Saturday, August 25th, at the Genesee Country Village for the “Wrapped Up in Silk” event. I’ll be in the Romulus Seminary on the village square in the morning. Stop in to see the ribbons and say “hi”.
Fanciful Utility Pre-Orders in July!!!!
Fanciful Utility will be ready for pre-sales in July!! Please visit the Sewing Academy for a video preview and to order.
Some updates from the Publisher:
1: I need to have the last details from the bindery on the final price, but it won’t be more than Dressmaker’s Guide ($30), and includes all the projects and templates and techniques, plus you’ll gain the skills you need to design your own project from imagination or an extant example, so it will be a very valuable book for dozens of projects to come.
2: When we get that final pricing back, we’ll finish coding the shopping cart, and open full reservations immediately. If using a credit/debit card, your information will process about a week before the book ships. We’ll add cover shots and such when that shopping card goes live. The book has black & white illustrations, templates, and a color photo section of the gorgeous samples Anna made for the book project.
2.5: We are looking at the probability of offering two different binding options: normal perfect bound (softcover with spine) and spiral spine.
3: We’ll be able to process credit and debit cards with Visa, MasterCard, and Amex logos, and yes, we’re pleased to be adding a PayPal option as well!
4: Books will be shipping by the end of July, if not sooner (this is based on the binding house schedule; they usually try to push us up the line toward the top, because they’re lovely!).
5: You’ll be able to reserve and pay for your copy at http://www.thesewingacademy.com… and don’t worry, we’ll have the announcement and link put up LARGE on the front. 🙂
We can’t wait to see snapshots of what everyone will make with the book! You’ll all be thanking Anna for making this great resource available.
Regards,
Elizabeth Clark
Embroidered Shawl update
The shawl’s embroidery now has more detail in he cone and two of the major vines started. There is a little more needed for the outer curve of the right hand vine and the left hand vines. Then it is time to focus on the flowers. I have an idea of how I’m going to do them for the vines. The flowers that go in between the blue fir stitch an the brighter green still need to be determined.
Wandering Findings
Here are two pretties we saw yesterday. (I’m not yet sure how to rearrange the photos on my phone.) This first is a dress tagged 1880-90s. I thought folks would be interested in the print.
This next is the wool shawl I wanted but had no price on the tag. I have to laugh at the no price bit because that happened to Dad all the time and now seems to happen to me. Based on the size and embroidery, I would say it is 1840s. Somewhere in my image notes for my embroidered shawl project (which I will get back to soon) is a shawl I remember being similar. I’m hoping the seller (this was a co-op store) will call with a nice price.
If I Had My Own Blue Box: 