All posts filed under: Miscellenia

Black and white delight

Remember the darling black and white flowered and spotty faux ribbon corset I blogged about back in May? Well, last week I finally had the time to sit down and do the tiny bit of handsewing to finish it off. Yay for finished projects! All it needed doing was hand stitching along the front busk to hold it more securely. It’s really quite pitiful that it took me so long to do that. I really like the effect of the hands stitching on the front. It adds a nice handmade touch, and contributes to all the different graphic stripes and spots and splotches and flowers going on with this corset. And makes it look even more like something from a Tim Burton film. The corset isn’t looking its best on little Isabelle. She’s only a size 10, and this corset is more a size 14+, so it is massively pinned in the back and doesn’t show off the right curves. I need to do a proper photoshoot with it on a model.

The Sunday market in Wellington

Published by The Dreamstress

I’ve been going to the Sunday vegetable market in Wellington ever since I first came to Wellington to study, some 8 years ago. Mr Dreamy and I love vegetables and fruit. We have a massive fruit bowl, and if we got to design the ideal refrigerator, it would be 50% vegetable bins. My vege buying habits are just as extravagant, but my market going has changed a little since 8 years ago. I’ve moved from the Aro Valley market which was near the university housing, to the waterfront market, which is more convenient to where we live now. Also, it has way better views. The market has changed a little too. When I first shopped there, it was a mad dash for cheap vegetables: long lines at every stall, all the veges sold by bulk resellers, and no time for chatting and visiting. The market has slowed down a little since then, has diversified, and gentrified. Now you can sit in the sun and eat a breakfast bought at the market, or stop for …

Grandeur & Frivolity – the 1770s suit

Published by The Dreamstress

I’m pretty happy with my 1770’s man’s suit, especially as it is my first real go at 18th century menswear, but I do still want to make some tweaks to it. Even so, I was quite pleased with how it looked at the Grandeur & Frivolity talk. The model certainly helped: Daniil carried off sky blue satin, wig, stockings and bows with all the poise and hauteur of a proper French courtier. The duchesse silk satin creased something awful from being sat on. I’m not sure how I feel about that. Would 18th century silks crease like that? Daniil and Chiara are good friends, so we got them to pose together after the talk. The outfits may be over 100 years apart, but they sure look gorgeous together!