My dress addiction

 Seww... I've hinted a few times on here, that I have a bit of a sewing craze. But it's only really be hinted and I've never said why I sew, probably because I didn't think I could explain it without confusing/boring you all. Well anyway here goes...

I love historical sewing. Why? I don't really know, I just want to create something fabulous, mending bores me and it's kinda hard to find the inspiration to make normal clothes -it just sounds too easy and plain. Victorian clothing is may favourite 'genre' of sewing and for some reason I just keep wanting to make a new dress.

How did this all start?
When I was younger and we had just started homeschooling I found out that a lot of Mum's friends had older daughters who would make amazing dresses. And these dresses were amazing, I was pretty sure one of them owned Cinderella's dress. Anyway these 'older daughters' would go down to Oamaru heritage week every year and go to balls and dress up in these beautiful gowns for a week. Me and my friend looked up to these girls and dreamed of having pretty gowns (we loved dress ups) and going around places in them. We couldn't wait till we were old enough to go Oamaru.
When we were about seven we started taking sewing lessons with one of the older daughters. My first project was a red tartan t-shirt and skirt, it was hardly princess material and I didn't wear it much but it was a start. After that I went on to make curtains, bags, skirt, a hoop skirt and other really basic stuff, but I just couldn't wait to start a 'real dress'. Naomi, my teacher was very patient and not hugely fussy which encouraged me to do better, and to take on bigger stuff, which eventually came.

My first Victorian dress, was a pale cream colour made out of old sheets and calico, and was made without a pattern. It was alright but not as good as I expected, the shoulders sat a bit funny but it was a start. I wore it to my first Oamaru back in 2010 (my friend and I had an amazing time) And I've worn it several times since, although I have adapted it a bit. It's not my favourite dress but I like it.

My second dress was a Regency dress (1800-1820) it was navy blue with a lace overlay, it was made for a friend's ball. Unfortunately I made the hem at the front too long (read tripping over half the time) and for some reason the dress didn't fit at the front. I've been meaning to fix it but it'll be a lot of work, maybe one day. But having said that I do like how it falls at the back.

The next year I made a blouse and skirt for Oamaru, the skirt being part of my third sewing expedition. This one was a lot more difficult than the last two, as I was undertaking it by myself without Naomi to guide me. It was two years in the making and I have posted a few pictures on here before, it is definitely my favourite, it still needs decorating, but I'm really happy with it (1870-1880)

And since then I've made lots of little sewing projects, and done a lot of research. Until these holidays when  I started on my next project, it is a late 1850s day dress in a dark burgundy colour, it might be a mourning dress, it might not. I'm hoping to get the bodice (top) done before the next semester.

And the most addicting thing about this is the piecing together, seeing the dress take shape not the sewing so much. Although I must admit I do geek-out a bit at the prettiness of the seams (yes, I know, I know my family doesn't understand me either) And the awkward thing is I just noticed that I make more often than I wear them, but I'm trying to change that.

In the meantime (lol) I also have a fifth dress in the making, it will be a mourning bustle dress (1870-1880) and it's inspired by this painting by Anders Zorn

pinterest

I know it's just a picture of a face, but that's just another start. It might be done in time for next years Oamaru -it might not. And for some reason I don't think this'll be my last dress cause yeah...dress addiction.

Updating the last update

Oh wow! Excuse my terrible blog posting - the last real post was a new years one!! Oh dear, so much for wanting to post more :/

So what have I done lately? Got my licence, school work and contemplated sewing again :) My favourite place to haunt at the moment is the dreamstress (she runs a challenge to make a historical costume once a fortnight ) dreaming about getting some costume done in a fortnight so that I can make something. Well it's only been dreaming as I haven't got the patterns or material to pretend to start :/
Although I have started fixing a bodice of on my Regency dress that I made years ago -the bodice length is way too short, and on a Regency dress that looks hideous. Got so far but don't know if I have any material left -lol.
But even if I had a costume I don't know where I would wear it -Costumer problem #1. So I was thinking of making some undergarments, something that would go underneath the stuff I have. But corsets are kinda out of the question as I don't have half the material, although I have drafted a elizabethan pattern :P
Today we went through the linen cupboards and Mum gave me a few sheets, so now I have lots of ideas buzzing round my head, mostly including part silk table cloths. Ah oh well.

Anyway I have to have lunch, hopefully I get round to posting again soon :/

Idea, help too!

Name HELP!!!Please see end of post

Why?

I'm brewing up a story.I'm gonna try Romance, I probably won't get that far.
What is the idea that is the water to my story soup?
Mail order Bride.
Why? I like the idea, but I'd like to add some flavour, some stock, the guy who 'ordered her' has died and the farm has been sold.
It'll be set in the 1800s.South Dakota.
Herbs she's an optimist he's a pessimist.He tolerates people, she couldn't be without them.
Spice: she's terrified of angry people, scared of the dark and scary dreams  [similar to someone I know]
He has an explosive temper, hates himself, he's a choleric type.
She's 4#, 7# 3#.
He's 8# 6# 5#.
The last thing he wants right now is a wife, and when he wants one, she'll be quite, demure, shy a 2#, but God had other ideas.So when a small bubbly red head [well it's auburn, funny how most of my females end up with red hair] with big violet-grey eyes, turns up on his door step saying she's his bride, things go funny.
If I used one word to describe her, it'd be alive
him, grumpy
So I have to now go and figure out the rest.

Your part:
 I have though of names but I would like your opinion
what names do you think would suit?
Can't wait for comments!!

Miss Tiffany

Meet me.

I've decided that this week as I'm allowed to do 1/2 an hour a day of writing on my blog for school work.[It has to be school work related]That I am going to share with you what I know of making up characters.

When you are writing a story you want to make your character as human as possible, nobody likes a know it all, and most scoff over damsels in distress and Prince Perfects.It can be quite hard to make your hero/ine "normal".

A really good tip is not to make her really beautiful, I read a book where the main character was not "beautiful" but "pretty",  it was really interesting as what one noticed about her was her "honey" coloured  eyes and, well her, she went to balls and taught her self to enjoy them, to find new things in the stagnant water of normal.It was really neat to find a different kind of beauty.Anyway...

 "A character prompt sheet"
this is something to use to create your character, but it is a prompt not a fill in the gaps so it is a good idea to write sentences eg Will the reader dis/like  this character: he loves the night his dark features will repel the reader, he'll be my villain e.t.c.

Name:

Age:

Height:

Weight/Build:

Birthplace:

Colour hair/eyes:

Physical peculiarities:

Education:

Married:

Best friend:

Enemies:

Family:

Core need:

Pathological manoeuvre:

Ambition in life:

Gestures when talking:

Gait:

Strongest character trait:

Weakest character trait:

Laughs or jeers at

Philosophy:

Political leaning:

Hobbies:

What others first notice about him/her:

What character does alone:

One line characterisation:

Will reader dis/like character:

Does s/he change in the story? How:
            [your main character should]

Significant event that moulded him/her:

Significant event that illustrates the character's personality:

[In Depth]- not really needed, from NGJ well the top two

Is he a: "King"
           "Preist"
           "Prophet"

Is she a: "Queen"
             "Servant"
             "Dreamer"

Are they a: Teacher
                   Servant
                   Leader
                   Encourager
                   Perciver
                   etc:


You don't actually have to write down all these things.Just the ones you need to paint the out line of your character.If  you have trouble imagining things drawing is a good idea or looking on the internet or in books for what you want be it person , scene or location.

Hope you have fallen asleep or that you have been able to understand me.


-Tiffany

An Interview

Question 1: Give us your name (not last name for safety reasons), age (optional), location, hobbies, interests, etc. Basically, introduce yourself! :)
 Hello I'm Tiffany.I am a born Kiwi, no not a bird ;) I love reading, writing, dancing, historical reenacting,  sewing well a whole lot of stuff. I am homeschooled teenager.   

Question 2: How did you become born again?

Well that is a question.I was born into a Christian family so I've know about the Lord all my life.I gave my life to the Lord at the age of five, but nothing really "happened"  it seemed to me anyway. Well when I was 12 I fully realised the extent of my sin. I got baptized in Feburary the soonest possible.

Question 3: What is your current walk with the Lord like?

Like nothing I ever expected.Strange and wonderful high and low.

At the moment I am mostly just learning how really wise He is and beginning to grasp just how big.

Question 4: How do you help and serve your family?

Cooking, things like that, I'm sure I could do a lot more.

Question 5: How do you serve others?

Well the biggest thing would be writing with the organizer of this great interview- Esther, we do a girls magazine JoJ [The latest issue is on Esther's blog, have a peek !]

Question 6: What are some of your favourite things?

Writing -which has actually been since I've become a Christian, strange huh?

Dancing, Reading a good [morally] book that starts with a bang and keeps the attention held all the way through.Hash browns.

Question 7: What are some of your struggles?

Temper. Words. Thoughts.

Question 8: What encouragement do you have to give?

God made you as you are, and He loves you for that, why if He made the autumn leaves beautiful, do you think because of your sin, He missed you out? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

This doesn't mean you shouldn't exercise, every one should.

And also be very careful in what you say of other's physical apperance. I have a very special friend who is teased because of her "width" some don't mean to hurt her, but she really does feel it.To me she is a really lovely girl but she won't see this if people do not tell her. And that is really sad, but it mustn't be left 'til the moment when she has heard it soo many times she believes she's ugly and will laugh at you if you say otherwise.So be extra careful.

I decided I'd bore you...

...So I'll do just that. I've got choir tonight I'm a soprano [highest female voice group] I can [just] sing an A# one octave about mC, if that interests you, wait it doesn't and if you say anything is interesting in this post I won't believe you. I've sewn the elastics [that go round the ankle] on my pointes.
Oh by the way I can draw [ahem, only females in historical costume and mountains mostly]And I wish I knew how to put pictures on my blog, but'll ask Dad, it looks a bit bleak without them. I barely know anything about computers.
So continue my train of thought, I'm going to read my A night of characters for DB [to explain DB in this post is the best time I think] In short its our writing group and it stands for Dead Boring, see told ya it'd fit :),  and perfect for us budding authors to get good comments and things to work on and hear others [awesome!]  stories.
 Ok I've got to go eat tea. I hope you missed the last line, because you were snoring [that might be a bit harsh] Ok you were taking your beauty sleep and are very sorry you missed the, end but when you reach the end again your in the place were dreams are woven.

-Tiffany