Mrs. Banks: Rough Draft

Given that I have invested some money into the fabric for Coco's costume for her role as Mrs. Banks in the school play Mary Poppins - I wanted to make sure I did it correctly.  I made a rough draft first!

This is the pattern I selected for a proper Edwardian 1910 London dress.
All of the pieces work together. I struggled terribly with the choice of whether to do to the kimono sleeve or the regular tailored sleeve.  While the kimono would be much easier - it may be too 'evening' wear (or maybe I just watch too much Downton Abbey!!).   I should mention it is an 'older' style pattern. Which made me very nervous with statements like 'the modern sewer may not be familiar with....'.

SO I jumped in with plain white inexpensive fabric.  Sloppy Copy if I may!  Which does not show the detail well in photos.  

I made the skirt first - which had a placket (do you know what a placket is?)  I do, now! (It is used to add the hooks and eyes on the inside of the dress in place of a zipper.)  The hardest part of the skirt was cutting the large pieces. 

Second, I worked on the under-bodice.  Which took several rounds of 'do I need to make this part?' because it was very confusing.  BUT in the end - it was necessary.  It is like the undershirt of the dress.  Clearly the 'bust' part needs to be taken in some!  This involved a lot of piecing.

Lulu modeling this for the camera

Finally the sleeve - kimono style because it was the easiest!  I think it really pulls the dress together.  I love the silhouette.

with the large sash style tie added

the back view

SO, I did not hem, or put any closures or do any final edging on any of the seams.  But I think it will work.... It may still require a high neck ruffle blouse 'dickie' but I will let the art director make that final decision.

Here is a sneak peak of what my plan will be, keeping in mind plans can change!

  

Perspective

This post is really not a typical post for me.  When you start at little crafting blog you begin to e-meet other people out there.  You don't really realize where it will take you or which blogs will pull you in and which ones won't.

I had an 'aha' moment today.

One of those - gee I think I have it so bad - then you e-meet someone who is so amazing they put your thoughts into proper perspective.

I wanted to share a blog of an amazing young woman who is going through a difficult time.  And she does it with grace.

If you have not met Ashley at  Lil Blue Boo let me introduce you.  Her message is 'Choose Joy'.  Something I think we all have the ability to do.

Today - she shared a moment that I wanted to share with you.  I thought it was beautiful.  I also think that I will stop worrying about what color my hair is and accept the blessing that I am healthy.  

Stop by and take a peek around her amazing blog.  Bring a tissue with you!

Slow Start to 2012

I think the photo says most of what I would type!

Mrs. Banks!

Something finally arrived!!!

That's right - FABRIC!!  

For Mrs. Bank's Costume!

Confused?  You can read about it HERE.  I did not have to use yellow but Coco asked me to.  Not to mention the color will look lovely on her.

The yellow is a Shantung Sateen (polyester) as is the white.  

The yellow stripe is cotton but has a nice sheen to it.  

I have a plan for the dress.  I hope to be able to use the stripe.  I will be sure to share once I get my mock version made.

I won't even mention the 10 yards of white broadcloth that I got for 1.74/yard for aprons, ruffles, and so much more!

I really have to get moving on this - once I am done with this I have so much more to do, like a coat, nanny aprons, alterations to clothing, and 'Mary's white dress' that I am working on with another mom.   You may find me humming 'a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down...'  to help pass the time!

April will be here in NO TIME!

Photo 101

I value it greatly.  

I have owned my Canon EOS Rebel XT since 2006.  I remember when the girls were little skimping and saving all my birthday money, coupon money and counting through the big jar of saved change to be able to afford it.  I even remember returning Christmas presents so that I would have enough to purchase it.  I remember thinking should I even have this camera.















As an experienced scrap booker I take my photos very seriously.  The quality of my pictures and scrapping improved immediately.  But I never claimed to be a great photographer!!

Over the years I have tried to learn the 'other half of the dial' via internet websites, books from the library and other moms.  I was not successful.

2012 is bringing me a new adventure - I am taking my first classes!  Some mom friends and I recently started.

Currently, we are working on the Tv and Av settings. I prefer the Av for the type of photos I take.  I am sure there is a formal word for that 'fuzzy' background you get with portrait shots but I like fuzzy.

I am getting better photos already - but I am struggling still.  At times, I flip back over the the Portrait Mode to make sure I get the shot. I can see the improvement when I really put effort into the picture I am shooting. Like all things new - practice, practice, practice!

One thing I noticed right off is Nora, my black Flabby (lab mix with flat coated retriever) who is NOT easy to photograph being so dark is starting to show up in my pictures!

I hope to share more things I learn as I go along.  I also hope to not bore you with these very uninteresting pictures!

Learning how to 'fuzz' the background more.  

Better lighting shows off my black dog.  Love the 'fuzzed' background.

Sharper detail

Getting the color right is a challenge. 

The dog is in focus here  -  showing her off nice and crisp. 

LOTS more to learn!!  I plan to get to the dog park and try out the Tv selection this week!

Do you use the AUTO or MANUAL side of your camera???

Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey

Are you a fan???  

Season Two starts Sunday night!  

This year I have a special interest in watching:  COSTUMES!

The Edwardian Costumes on the show are to die for.  I love that the costumes almost take on a role in the show.  


And the hats!


And in service aprons are aplenty.


As I mentioned before my 11 year old is playing Mrs. Banks in our school production of Mary Poppins.  I am on the costume committee.  It is the perfect excuse to watch!  Albeit they are from 1914 and not 1910 but the silhouette is right in line with what we are looking to do.

Will you be watching??

Be sure to watch along for my Mary Poppin's Costume Creation posts in the next few months.

The White Factor: Month 6

I am still on this journey.  For those of you who are new - you can read about this journey (Month 3 here and Month 4 here).

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SO, here I am.  It is 2012.

Six months with no color added to my hair. My hairdresser told me to plan for a year transition.  This is the halfway point.  This is a big one. January brings me another birthday, the one that takes me into my Mid-40s.

Christmas was tough for me.  I tend to see the same people day in day out who don't really notice the slow change happening.  Yet, the holiday gatherings brought people I do not see all the time together, mostly family, and I felt like eyes were upon me.  I was very cautious about what colors I was wearing.  But I am feeling less anxious now that we are back to a normal life.  

I guess I need to share more photos!

For reference I am adding Month 3:

and Month 4:


And... here we are today:

I would say it is a full 3 inches at this point.

A rare photo of it up.  

Indoor lighting shows that pesky 'old color' is an even lighter brown now. 

Yup - that is my hair.  The hair I was born with and destined to have.

I am struggling mostly right now with the cut of my hair and the curls than I am the color.

I have grown to like the white - but there is this constant nagging going on that I should not be wearing my hair 'long and curly' if I choose to have its natural color.  Like I am 'supposed' to cut it shorter thing.  But that is not what I want to do.   The curls in my hair can look pretty unruly with the crazy whites on some days.  And why do women with the women I see with gorgeous white hair always have that smooth hair?

I committed years ago to being a curly girl - not blow drying/ironing, I only use SLS free shampoos and water soluble products in my hair.  I am not sure I can abandon that right now.

SO I spend a lot of time going over my options to include:

• go back to color (NO!)
• cut it shorter (NO!) 
• keep having frequent trims and keeping the current style
• making a change but keeping the length - maybe bangs again
• stop wearing it curly - and ironing it more (not comfortable with that!!)
• keep it the same, wait and see
• and my favorite: stop worrying about all this - it is JUST hair. 

When I start to feel anxious about this journey I like to go here:  Going Gray Looking Great and then I do not feel so alone in this big world of colored hair.  I am following along with these ladies.

On a positive note - I do not miss the blistery bumps that hair color caused on my skin. Or having to spend a day removing the hairdye off my hairline after a color. I have enjoyed having more money to spend on other things.  I recently starting taking photography classes.  That's much more fun than sitting in a salon!  I plan to go back to the gym soon too.

While my birthday passes by this month I am hoping to not be fixated on how I look but rather on how I feel.

A full blend of white, dark brown and light brown. 

Thanks for reading along!!  

Leave a comment to tell me how you feel about YOUR white/gray hair - have you thought about growing it out?