New "new" parasols on the market

Hello everyone!  I had posted a little while ago about buying modern made parasols when you don't want to bring a fragile, beloved antique parasol to your event for whatever reason.  Maybe you're afraid you'll lay it down at a picnic and it'll get stepped on or even lost.  It's happened to the best of us!

I had shared an image of a black lace parasol for which I could no longer find a source, but that's all changed!!  Check it out from Old Mill Mercantile on Ebay:

Get it here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Lace-Parasol-Victorian-style-extra-long-handle-BRAND-NEW-/291096227143?pt=US_Reenactment_Theater&hash=item43c6afed47

Here's another I hadn't spotted before.

Comes in red, white, or black and has a natural wood handle for only $9.99!

http://www.greatlookz.com/product/8PALK9036/Simple-Nylon-Parasol.html

3rd Annual Francaise Dinner

Wow, I had no idea when I helped launch the 1st Francaise Dinner that it would turn into an annual thing.  I didn't run it this year (Judy did), but attended as a guest.  I wore the same gown the first and second years, so I wanted a new one this year.  One that would actually show up in photos, which my lovely black with black trim gown did not.

As usual, I used a commercial pattern.  The Simplicity 3637, which is OOP, but not too hard to find on Ebay or Etsy.  If you have patience and ask Ebay to email you whenever it pops up, you can get it cheaper than the usual BIN high prices.

I like this pattern a lot.  I find it pretty easy to put together as long as I transfer all the markings and follow the directions carefully.  The pattern calls for something like 20 yards of fabric, but I used 13-15 yards of 60" fabric to make mine.  I could have gotten away with less for two reasons:

1) It's possible to make the back of the petticoat out of a less expensive fabric because no one sees it.
2) I'm 5'5", and I had to cut off like 8" from both the petticoat and the overgown skirt when I hemmed them.  I suppose the pattern maker gave directions for the tallest possible person (or the highest heels?). Seriously, all that extra hem fabric could have gone towards sleeve flounces or trim strips.

Things I'll remember for next time:
1) Cut out the big pieces first and then use the scraps to cut out the bodice.
2) The upper sleeve flounce is just a suggested size and shape.
I didn't use the bottom sleeve flounce pattern piece because I used my left over embroidered net lace trim from the Regency bonnet (trim from ejoyce.com)
3) I used almost all of the 24 yards of gold trim I bought to trim the trim.
4) The sleeves are on the small/more fitted side.

Snowbear loves to show off how much her eyes match the fabric

I shortened the horizontal length of the petticoat skirt because my hip pockets are not as large as the pattern calls for.  

It's together, but not trimmed yet.  Hrm...those sleeves need to be rotated!

Almost done!  Needs decorations on the stomacher

Here I am at the dinner

It was a truly lovely event!  We had prizes and giveaways from American Duchess, Portmanteau Fashions and shopping from The Bohemian Belle, In The Long Run, and Dames a la Mode.  The company, however, was priceless!

(photo by Bohemian Belle)

Photo by http://inthelongrun.wordpress.com/

Photo by http://inthelongrun.wordpress.com/

Photo by http://www.ipernity.com/doc/jubileel/album/624945

Here are all the photos I took as well as some from a few other guests

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14941369@N07/sets/72157641774366714/

A Regency Winter Walk

A member of our local costuming group was having a birthday, and desired a Regency Winter Walk in Philadelphia.  Since I had no cold weather Regency wear, I had to get sewing!

My gown is the Period Impressions 1809 gown.  The only changes are that I switched out the front skirt panel for the Simplicity 6630 so it could be flat front, and I had to take out about half the back skirt width because the velvet I used was so thick that it wouldn't fit into the bodice otherwise.

                 

 

With my gown I am wearing a cute brooch I found on Etsy

I also retrimmed a bonnet I made a few years ago from the Timely Tresses Virginia pattern.

Here is my inspiration for the gown 

I love that the lady in the portrait has a brooch on her gown that looks like mine!

A warm gown was not enough.  I needed a warm pelisse, too.  I used the Wingeo #255 Pelisse and Spencer pattern.  The drawing is a little misleading because the sleeve heads are very full.  Much more like this

I LOVE the military looks, so I was inspired by many paintings and fashion plates that depicted braid trim on pelisses and spencers

But I was very happy with it and it went together very well.  The pattern comes with very little instructions, so previous experience with putting together a coat is needed.

I also made that reticule.  I followed the pattern from HERE but made mine 4 sided instead of 3 so I could fit as much as possible inside.

Here are the photos from our day out!  We visited The Betsy Ross House, Christ Church, Independence Hall, and had an AMAZING lunch at City Tavern and got to meet its famous chef Walter Staib, who treated us like royalty (sadly, chef not pictured).

Downton Abbey themed birthday party

It's no secret that I LOVE the series Downton Abbey.  Say what you will, I am obsessed!  So this year's birthday theme was Downton Abbey.  Guests had a costume timeline of 1912-1923, the years the series has spanned.  I chose the first season of DA for my costume and went with a pink and black colorway.

I wore the same tiara as the Marchioness of Flintshire (Rose's mum) from the Highlands Christmas special, and a necklace and earring set from the official Downton Abbey jewelry line.

I uploaded a pdf of some Downton bunting someone shared on Pinterest and made a party banner.  All photo frames contained cast members.

Someone on Pinterst shared this Downton Abbey themed votive candle cover.  I cut out the windows for the light to shine through.  Next to that are quotes from the Dowager Countess.

I have a large portrait of a woman from the 1880s, so I covered her head with a large image of the Dowager Countess.  I might leave this up!

I ordered a bottle each of the white and red Downton Abbey wine for a wine tasting.  I even decanted the red!  Carson would be proud.

                         

                       

My dress.  Pattern is the Laughing Moon #104 View A

Costume Victorian parasols

Victorian era parasols are so beautiful, but they can be expensive or too delicate to use often.  While it's certainly possible to find an antique bargain, you don't always feel comfortable bringing your antiques to an event.  That's why I like to find modern reproductions to use when necessary.  They are sturdier and less expensive, so I'm not heartbroken if something happens to it. Over the years I've found a few nice ones.

Back around 2006 an accessory designer named Deborah Lewis was selling beautiful silk folding parasols.  I got a black one with brass hardware and I love it very much!  OK, I admit I'd be heartbroken if something happened to this one!

Sadly, she seems to have disappeared from the accessories market and finding her parasols is difficult.

Another one I got that I like very much is a 30" long blonde wood handle with a white canopy covered in black lace.  The tag says Parasolsbyann.com.  I found it online for about $35.00 at Uniquely Yours Victorian Apparel and Gifts, but I don't think the shop is around anymore.  Ugh, not helpful and I'm sorry!

This one has a 30" long medium wood tone handle with an ivory pongee canopy trimmed with ivory roses around the edge.  I got it on Ebay a couple of years ago for a BIN $19.99.  I've since tried to find it again and had no luck, and the tag only says "100% pongee".  I expect it pops up every now and then.

This one I got from The Victorian Trading Co a year or so ago for about $35.00.  The price has gone up since then, though I don't know why.  White cotton eyelet with a 33"long blonde wood handle. They cost $25/each if you buy 5!  If you just want one, you can get it from The Museum of the Confederacy for $45.00 or Amazon for $50.00 (If you have Amazon Prime, free shipping might make that the better option.)

Right now on Ebay, a seller called fde1pce is selling these great looking reproductions in either white or black with a choice of handle styles.  Handle length is perfect and so is the price!  

Another choice, if you want to recover your own to match your dress, is to buy a nylon costume parasol, remove the cover and use it to create a pattern you can use to recover it with your own fabric. They are pretty inexpensive if you shop around (Ebay sellers for some reason charge double, I've found.)  These are from Halloween Supply Store and cost $8.50.

Here's a link to someone who created a tutorial, but grab it fast because I hear the Belle Alley is being taken down in March:  http://carolinabelles.net/vb/showthread.php?t=6856.  SO SAD!  I learned so much from the tutorials on that site.

One type of parasol that I avoid is the Battenburg lace parasol.  While they have a super pretty cover, the handle lengths are generally too short.  If you find one, make sure the handle from bottom to top is at least 30" long.  I also avoid the ones that have curved plastic handles.  The straight handles are a better choice for a parasol.

If you have some serious cash you are willing to plunk down for a reproduction, visit:

• Barrington Brolly
• Parashell parasol collection from Japan
• Originals By Kay

Costume tiaras

I have many titles...The Beguiler, The Ruiner, Tiara Pusher

So in that vein I would like to share my source for all my tiaras.  Seperwar at Ebay.  Hands down the best collection of affordable historically inspired tiaras I've ever come across.

Here is the Gloucester tiara c. 1913 for the Duchess of Gloucester

Here is the tiara available for $33.95 from Seperwar:

Here is the Queen Mary Fringe tiara:

Here is the tiara available from Seperwar for $35.95:

The Prussian tiara given to Princess Victoria Louise in 1913: 

Here is the tiara available from Seperwar for $29.95:

There are a dozen more, so go get yourself some affordable bling.  Even if the only place you have to wear it is in your living room while watching Downton Abbey!

Speaking of Downton Abbey, doesn't that tiara on the Marchioness of Flintshire look familiar?