All posts filed under: Miscellenia

Scraps and snippets

What’s up in the textile and costume world? Well, first of all, just in case you have been locked in your closet admiring your pretty dresses and ignoring all the buzz, pre-orders are open for American Duchess’ dyeable leather 18th Devonshire shoes.  Order yours now and save $20 (and guarantee that you get a pair in your size!).  Pre-orders close 10th August. On a more local note, Wellington Auction house Dunbar Sloane is having a ‘Vintage Costume & Boudoir Auction‘ on the 10th of August.  Based on previous costume-y auctions at Dunbar Sloanes, things will either go for really good prices, or absolutely ridiculous ones.  I might go along to see if it will be the former.  And if you really have to have something in the catalogue – well, they do do phone bidding! Later in the month, on Aug 28, is the annual Auckland Vintage Textile Fair.  Lots of friends of mine will be there selling their wares.  It would be a great excuse for me to go visit friends in Auckland.  If …

Anchor’s Aweigh: Windy Lindy 2011

Saturday night was Windy Lindy 2011, the big event of Wellington’s annual swing calender. The theme this year was ‘Anything Goes’, as in the Cole Porter musical, where anything (and everything) goes on on the SS American. It’s the fourth year I’ve attended Windy Lindy, and every year I’ve shown you my costume, from my saucy Dorothy Gale costume for ‘Pin Ups and Poster Boys’, to my human chicken costume for ‘Freaks’, to last year’s glamourous satin number for ‘Puttin on the Ritz‘. Unfortunately, every year my costume planning seems to happen more and more last minute.  Eek! This year I didn’t really thing about it at all until the night before.  Double eek! But with some help from the Army Surplus store, my long time obsession with collecting images of nautically inspired fashions, a mad pattern draping and sewing spree, a jacket I made almost a decade ago, and a few random accessories in my dress up box, I pulled together a rather cute outfit (if I do say so myself). I made a …

What I’ve been up to

I’ve been super busy in preparation for yesterday’s talk on Baroque and Rococo music and fashion, and consequentially ran out of time to blog. I always do that! I must remember to have blog posts prepared in advance for the four days before and three days after any talk or event, because otherwise I just don’t have time to blog (ergh). I’ve been doing lots of awesome stuff instead of blogging though: I made a 1770’s man’s ensemble (which I am super happy with), and a 1720’s Grand Habit (which I am not at all happy with, but oh well), and I started a 1690s mantua (which I am going to have to set aside while I finish all my other half-finished projects) and I helped Madame Ornata with her polonaise dress, and Ninon’s dress looks amazing. So now I have lots and lots of stuff to blog about! But first I have to run off up the country to give a talk to a quilting group.  More madness! And now, for your entertainment and …