For our last photoshoot Madame Ornata borrowed my ‘By the Seashore’ ensemble and went as Aline. It’s fun to see the ensemble on someone else, and it fits Madame O better than I because the skirt is a bit short on me. And she got to try out the new bonnet!
So, Monday I told you about beginning Aline’s bonnet, and getting all the basic construction done. Here are the finishing details. After cutting the brim down a lot, I bound it with blue and white tartan bias ribbon (from Nana, her stash is the gift that gives and gives!) that I folded into bias tape. I like the way it works with Aline’s skirt fabric, without matching exactly. And it’s hard to find two tartans that work with each other! I sewed a piece of florists wire under the the bias tape around the upper brim of the bonnet, to help it hold the tight curve of Aline’s bonnet and my inspiration bonnet. First I zig-zagged on the wire, and then bound it with the bias tape. The tension of pulling the wire through the machine actually curved it into the perfect curve. The brim didn’t hug the face enough once it was bound, so I ended up taking in little pleats where the brim meets the back of the hat and tacking them down …
Last week I presented a painting of a wealthy young Englishwoman of the 1750s, and the vast majority of you rated it very highly, and it achieved a 7.3 out of 10. You know what though? I’m disappointed in you! So many readers criticised it, and then gave it a 9 out of 10 anyway! What does that mean? Shouldn’t a 9 be almost absolutely perfect ‘must-have-now’ with just the tiniest tweaks needed? I think you are all just brainwashed to think that anything 18th century is fabulous, and don’t stop and think “but is this a good example of 18th century?”! So this week is about pushing our usual inclinations. You, dear readers, have been rather disapproving of historical children’s clothes in the past. But I’m feeling brave, and am wondering if I can’t tempt you out of ingrained likes and dislikes. So I’m presenting a striking girl’s dress of about 1865 in muted red and white. I imagine this would have been worn by a girl of about 9 or 10. So, do …
