The Dreamstress

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Hawaiian haul: what I brought back from the islands

I didn’t do much shopping in Hawaii: I spent all but two days of the trip on Molokai, which has very limited shopping opportunities, and the final two days were spent in Waikiki – aka: shopping hell (I lasted less than 7 minutes in Ala Moana). So shopping opportunities were limited.

Despite this, I still managed to bring home lots of stuff, because whenever I buy something that won’t ship to NZ I have it sent to my parents, and I also still have three large chests of things stored under their house (I swear the stuff multiplies. Every time I come back to NZ I fill a suitcase, and every time I go back there are still three completely full chests…)

So what did I bring to NZ? (I’d say ‘home’, but Hawaii is also home, so I’m having a definite crisis of home-ness)

Millinery feathers! A gift from Lauren of Wearing History, who was clearing out some of her stash. I was a little worried about bringing these through NZ biosecurity, but they were totally fine.

And some of my grandmother’s vintage children’s sewing patterns, because I’ve hit the stage in life when my friends are announcing pregnancies on an almost weekly basis, so these will come in useful in a few years. 😉

One of my few purchases of the trip, Anwei Skinsnes Law’s ‘Kalaupapa: A Collective Memory.‘ This is the Kalaupapa book I’ve been waiting my whole life for, and it’s signed. I got it from the wonderful, wonderful Kalele Books, which is an oasis of coolness (oh, the glory of AC!) and culture in the heart of Kaunakakai (the main town on Molokai).

For more information about Kalaupapa, read my three posts about it.

More online purchases: Jane Fales ‘Dressmaking’ – a 1916 guide to dressmaking (just as it says on the cover), and a 1909 dress and 1930s coat pattern.

From the never-ending chests under the house, my grandmother’s Jiffy-Stitcher and awl:

And my grandmother’s lace and tulle dress made from Butterick 6485:

And finally, my only Honolulu shopping purchase: three vintage 70s Aloha shirts, because it turns out there is a Goodwill just down the street from the Honolulu Museum of Art, and I couldn’t resist popping in.

I’m extremely excited about the green one. It has nene geese and the Hawaiian flag! I’m going to re-make it to fit me using a 1940s shirt pattern as a guide – very much in the spirit of 1940s re-making.

Other than that we just bought lots and lots of chocolate for family and friends. As you do!

Rate the Dress: Romantic Era Red Moire

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week I showed you an 1880s Pingat in a mix of black fabrics relieved with ecru floral lace. Reactions too it were mixed, to say the very least. Some of you were extremely disappointed in Pingat (in all caps no less!), while others thought it was understated sophistication personified – hard to get more of a contrast than that! The thing that got the most agreement was that the beading on the skirt just wasn’t quite right – it either needed serious rearranging, or to go altogether.

I’ll be back in a few hours with a proper tally of the score for the Pingat gown, but for now internet problems are holding it up, so we’ll just move on to this week’s Rate the Dress:

There hasn’t been a lot of colour in my last few Rate the Dress selections, so I thought I’d best remedy that this week, and what could be more colourful than a dress completely in vermillion moire?

Dinner or reception dress, ca. 1837, American, silk, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 37.192

This dinner or reception dress in red moire features elaborate detailing throughout the bodice, with layers of what we would call ‘crumb catcher’ pleating to the bodice front, a variant of roleaux trimming down the centre front, and tiny dragons teeth dagging framing the neckline.

Dinner or reception dress, ca. 1837, American, silk, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 37.192

There is more detailing in the sleeves, with tightly pleated fabric held in place by banding in the upper arms, and releasing into full puffs just above the elbow.

Dinner or reception dress, ca. 1837, American, silk, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 37.192

The slim sleeves are held closed with buttons, and trimmed with more of the dragons teeth.

Dinner or reception dress, ca. 1837, American, silk, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 37.192

In contrast to the elaborate bodice, the full, pleated skirt is relatively simple.

Dinner or reception dress, ca. 1837, American, silk, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 37.192

What do you think? The 1830s can be a rather odd era stylistically, especially by modern standards, but as a dress of its era, how does this one rate? Is the vivid colour fun and refreshing in contrast to the many pale Romantic era frocks, or is it too bright and garish? Does this dress balance its silhouette and all the trimmings?

Rate the Dress on a Scale of 1 to 10

Mama Muscovy protects her babies

Published by The Dreamstress

The next batch of ducklings have hatched on the farm, and they are adorable.*

Mama Muscovy is doing a great job of protecting her little ones and keeping them nice and warm. She’s a bit huffy with us, but knows we’re not really a threat, so she did raise up enough to allow us to peek in under her and watch a couple of the eggs hatch.

However, once the ducklings started venturing out a bit, she wasn’t quite so pleased when I tried to film them. In fact, she attacked my camera!

No publicity for these little ones yet says Mama!

OK, maybe just a few photos:

* OK, when are ducklings ever not adorable?