sewing at last!

[mlsdesigns]

the reason for my posting silence is i've been struggling a lot lately, going through a phase of depression i think. i can't get up in the mornings and i just sit for hours WANTING to do something, but just, not.
so far this week has been loads better, i've sewn! seriously, it got so bad last week i was finding cleaning jobs to do so that i didn't have to sew :( another thing, i keep meaning to post things, then can't pluck up the energy, but now, i actually have sewing photos to show you!

we have a playford ball on saturday (help, one day away!!!!) and a regency ball in 2 weeks, so mummy needed a dress in a hurry, and i need one for 2 weeks time ( i'm going to wear my blue anglaise for the playford ball) so i'm making mummy a bodiced petticoat, and i'm hoping i can manage to make me a new shift, pair of stays and petticoat as well as a dress.
so, here is where mummy's dress is at right now!



as you can probably tell, it's made from a sari, silk i think, and it'll have elbow length sleeves, with a puffed cap if i have enough fabric.


the drawstrings seem to be enough to close the dress, which is great, less to do! i hate hooks and bars :)
i'm hoping to be able to curl mummy's 'front' hair, and use some (horrid) fake hair to make her a bun, and wind fabric or ribbon round her head to hide the short hair. i need to get her some nice hair pieces, but her colour is not to found in shops round here!

things are getting better, i think i've just been in a bit of a slump, here's hoping :) anyway, at least i'm sewing again, yay!!

Comments

[bauhausfrau.livejournal.com]

It's a lovely dress, I just adore Regency gowns out of sari fabric!

You have all my sympathy on the sewing front, I've been struggling lately too. But you've made a grand start to getting out of the slump! :)

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

thank you! saris are such a cheap way to get really fancy fabric!
i have really had to drag myself up out of this slump, but i'm getting there!

[koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com]

Lovely dress!

And I'm glad you're feeling better as well :)

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

thank you!
i must be feeling lots better, i actually got up when my alarm went off, instead of lying there, wide awake, but not bothering to get up.

[countess-rosina.livejournal.com]

Beautiful - I love the neckline especially!

It's funny that you mention being in a slump - I just posted about feeling that way too. Must be the beginning of Autumn or something.

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

thank you! i was really worrying about the neckline, it didn't work so well in mockup, but i'm so pleased with it now :)
yes, i think it has a lot to do with the season, the fun of summer is gone, christmas is far off, and it's cold and wet and dark :p

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

So pretty! That fabric is just beautiful.

Glad that you posted. I think we all get into those kinds of slumps at times.

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

thank you! the fabric is even more wonderful in person :)

[girliegirl32786.livejournal.com]

Your mom's dress looks great! I just love the cream and red together with the gold.

And *hugs* on the slump. Those days can be so rough, but Im glad you are looking on the bright side again!

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

thank you! mummy really likes this dress, she doesn't have to wear a corset :p
thank you, *hugs back* :)

[gilded-garb.livejournal.com]

Pretty dress! I so want to make a dress out of a sari - they're always so lovely.

And I'm glad you're coming out of your slump. I hope you're able to continue :o)

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

yhank you! i'm making my dress from a sari too, shocking pink, gauzy, and embroidered in white and silver with silver spangles :)
thank, i hope i can continue too, n=being in a slump is not fun!

[scarlett1908.livejournal.com]

That fabric is gorgeous! It fits her wonderfully too!

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

isn't it wonderful fabric?!
thank you! i love regency dresses, they're so easy to fit - they have drawstrings :p

[laracorsets.livejournal.com]

Oh my! Mummy's dress is stunning!
Makes me want to make a Regency gown very badly

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

thank you!
i'm actually having lots of fun with this project now, regency was what started my interest in costume, and i'm finally getting to it now!

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

Don't let the fact that you're not sewing get you depressed. Sewing is NOT everything. There are other things to make you happy.
Just take your time, and let inspiration come to you, without forcing it.
((Hugs)), Val
ETA: and your mother's gown is very pretty. Saris are a great way to do make something look awesome.

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

the fact i don't want to sew is a huge symptom of my being depressed, i would NEVER normally want to clean instead of sew :)
i have become a huge fan of the sari now i think!

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

No, I've been there, done that. I decided I'd rather wash windows one day. I made up excuses not to sew. I think sometimes you just have to get away from it.
I know it's not work, but it's like taking a vacation from it.
BTW, love your icon!

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

me too, thank you :p
the cake was very yummy!

[corchen.livejournal.com]

*hugs lots* autumn is horrible, I am struggling with lack of wanting to be awake in the mornings too.

I recognise that sari, I think! It's a nice colour on her too - and I'm not surprised that the lack of corsetry is a positive ;)

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

yes you recognise it. it was sitting in the laundry basket for years!
you never want to get up though, i usually do :)

[corchen.livejournal.com]

point. did you look at dollsandfriends? they have a cherishdoll ally for 40% off ;)

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

yes, i looked, i've decided Next Doll.TM will be lati green coco. and i still want a boy, a dollzone BB, but hate their silly short legs and gorilla hands :p
hmm, although, maybe a cherish might make a good brother for them, ote's are very cute little boys :)

[corchen.livejournal.com]

I like the cherishdolls. I'm keeping an eye on the site - apparently things will be on sale sporadically until the close, so. something might come up! slightly annoyingly, did you notice the serendipity section? does lily rose need a twin? ;)

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

no, lily rose does NOT need a twin :) and i should NOT be looking seriously at the cherish dolls either!
i can't decide who i like best (notice i didn't ACTUALLY say 'who to get next!!!) chubby, or jodie, or lani, or you know, alley! chubby is cheapest?!

[corchen.livejournal.com]

very true, you shouldn't. *is good*

they're not closing until december 2nd, though.

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

true, but they only have one of most of them :)
and, i got a letter from school saying they're upping my paycheck (more than the ususal rise from the last year) to pay for 'increased living costs', so my back balance is not QUITE so dire as usual :p

[my-stitching.livejournal.com]

I've been in the same sewing slump. I think it is burnout from all of the frantic sewing we did for Wales. That wasn't that long ago. I also think the change of season is to blame. Change of season is always makes the body go weird for a bit.

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

i think you're totally right about the wales sewing, i guess i used all of my sew-jo up in those few crazy weeks, and i've only now started to get it back :) and i don't even have the excuse you have, you're MOVING as well :)

[my-stitching.livejournal.com]

That is the main reason we decided not to go to the ball this weekend. It was all just too much going on. We have the girls coming to stay next weekend so we are looking forward to getting some pre-move organizing done this weekend. Well... David will be doing that while I finish my ballgown. I've been going through my stuff this week and sorting clothes and shoes into the Keep/Trash/Donate piles. I don't want to move anything into the new place that we really don't need. We have boxes right now that were packed in GERMANY! That is before we were even married!

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

wow! no wonder your super busy :)
(last time we cleaned out one of the freezers, i found some filo pastry from BEFORE I WAS BORN!!!!!)

[my-stitching.livejournal.com]

We are doing one of the freezers too! I will NOT miss this stupid freezer. It looks really nice because it is covered to match the cabinets, but it doesn't close super tight which means it always gets a lot of ice on the drawers.

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

what's the kitchen like in the new house? does it have a built in freezer too?

[my-stitching.livejournal.com]

No, not like in this house where we have the tall fridge/freezer that matches the cabinet. There is a small fridge under the counter in the kitchen and I know there is a freezer, but I can't think where it is. It might be in the utility room off of the kitchen. We also have our freezer which will be coming with us.

The kitchen in the new house is pretty much the same size, maybe very slightly smaller. But we had to give up the super wonderful 6 burner hob with the warming plate! But then again... I don't cook, so no big loss. :p

[ladyhelen.livejournal.com]

That dress looks lovely :) And I'm glad to hear you're feeling better, too *hug*

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

thank you! *hugs back*

[jennil.livejournal.com]

Sorry you've been in a slump - I'm happy that you're feeling better! And, I think you've made some lovely sewing progress - what a beautiful gown! :)

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

thank you :) i think i've made a good start so far :)

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

Hi there--I've bumped into you on other people's LJs, so I've friended you. I hope you don't mind! I'm friends with Jenni, also into costuming.

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

i don't mind at all! i will do the same :)

[last-bloom.livejournal.com]

Hello! Your mom's dress looks like it's coming out beautifully! I made a similar gown from a sari a while back, when my hair was cropped just as short as your mom's is. I used some of the extra contrast fabric and scraps from the dress to make a turban and just curled the hair that peeked out around the edges. It's a good solution if you're having trouble matching her color.

Good luck!

[mlsdesigns.livejournal.com]

i'm so bad, i haven't posted the photos from the ball last week! it turned out really well, i'm very pleased with it!
i do want to try to make a turban, like you said, i just had to convince my mother!!