Joining the Curtain-Along

Now that Celebration VI is over, I am diving into the 18th Century headfirst!  

I've been collecting fabrics and patterns for literally years now, and it's time to finally do something with them.    *Puts determined face on*  One of my first projects will be a hooded cloak much like this one:

I got inspired by the Curtain-Along started by Festive Attyre and several other costume bloggers recently.  I decided to make the cloak mainly because it should only take one curtain, but also because it seemed like most people are making gowns and I thought it would be fun to do something different.  Also, I can't start on any 18th Century gowns until I have appropriate stays.  (That's my next project.)

I was originally going to make a red cloak with the crimson colorway of the Waverly Felicite curtain panels, but when I went to Lowe's to buy one, I saw the samples in person and decided I liked the noir version better.  So my cloak is going to be even closer to the original version than I first envisioned.

I even plan on adding the pleated trim around the hem, if I have enough fabric.  The only thing I haven't figured out yet is what to line the cloak with.  I'd like something warm so I can wear it in the winter.  Any thoughts?

Costuming Query

Does anyone else ever "visit" fabric when they go to the fabric store?  I'm talking fabric that you've picked out as perfect for some future project, and then convinced yourself that you don't need it or can't afford it right now.  But somehow you can't get it out of your mind, so whenever you're in that store for something else you can't help but check to see if it's still there...

I do this with a certain deep purple linen at JoAnn's that I've been eyeing for months now.  I haven't bought it yet because I had made a rule for myself back in July that I am not allowed to buy fabric for a new project until I've completed one of my old projects.  I would love to make this particular linen into an 18th Century petticoat to pair with a purple floral embroidered caraco jacket:

Something like this, but with a solid skirt

But of course I have yet to complete one of my old projects.  July and August were incredibly busy for me, with sewing for work and sewing for Celebration VI so I didn't have much time at all to sew for myself.  I am learning, however, that when something is important to you, you have to make time for it.  So I plan to update this blog three times a week, starting today.  Wish me luck!

Celebration VI

Celebration VI was a blast!  I got my Corset Gown done in time for the Costume Masquerade, which I'll blog about soon.  I also wore my Family Gown and my Light Blue Tattooine Gown, which have not changed since 2005, when I wore them for Celebration III.  More in-depth posts on each day of the convention are forthcoming, but for now here are just a few quick shots of me in my costumes:

I'm the one on the right in the slightly less-awesome Family Gown.

My Corset Gown

This one is supposed to look like I'm on Tattooine  :p  

I am a Seamstress

I sew for a living.  I do alterations on bridal gowns, bridesmaid, mother-of-the-bride, and social occasion dresses (Prom, Homecoming, black tie events, etc).  I end up doing a lot of sides seams and hems, which can be very monotonous after a while.  Once in a while I get a bride who wants to make custom changes to her dress, and then I get to design!  I do things like adding cap sleeves, lace keyhole backs, adding one-shoulders, sweetheart necklines, and changing an A-line skirt into a mermaid.

I glory in these custom jobs, partially because I so rarely have the time to do any personal sewing - projects just for me.  And when I do have spare time, I usually want to do something other than the thing I do all day, every day.

...Try and take over the world!  :p

When I'm doing custom work, I get to play a little bit.  I get to make something fun.  I get to put my own personal stamp on a wedding gown and make it one-of-a-kind, created by Chelsea.  And I get to personally interact with the bride throughout the design process, and see her joy and delight when everything comes together just as she'd imagined it.  This is what I love most about my job.