The Saturday Shoe, The Elder

I usually post and lust after pretty shoes of early modern history … but we have been wearing shoes for thousands of years.  As you can imagine, they looked rather different then: Looking at shoes so often, I was curious about what the oldest shoes found were. For one thing, they’re far older than I [...]

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Quickly

Stays are in progress!  Proper update with pictures to follow …

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Sewing Box – A Girl’s Best Friend – Plus a Mystery Sewing Machine Object

I think I mentioned a while ago that I had managed to get my little mits on a sewing box of sublime beauty and perfection.  Well, I finally got around to taking photos and now I can tell the tale of the sewing box that was fated to be mine.  Sometimes what you want manages [...]

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I Hate Zips (And so does Zombie Antoinette)

Working on the Zombie Antoinette costume this weekend has revealed that a prominent feature of all future sewing will be the avoidance of zips.  They are complete little bloody &*^£$&*^%”%£^£*£&*£&*”£^&(%!%!!!!! I don’t know whether it was my not-so-epic sewing machine skills or the slippery fabric or a combination of the two, but after four attempts [...]

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Bargain Antiquing – Part II

Here you are, dear reader, he promised pictures of yesterday’s pretties (or, to thieve The Dreamstress’s phrase, Pogey Bait!).  We set off early on the bus to get to Heanor and hit the Antiques Centre and plenty of charity shops. First off, some true sewing pogey bait – a few bags of mixed buttons: Vintage [...]

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Antiquing (and not the kind with flour)

Guess who spent a long and tiring, but very fun, day at charity and antique shops???  And got some pretty things!  Pictures coming shortly – for now, sewing …

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On Net and Tulle and the fact they’re different things

Net is stiff and sticks out, which is great for making petticoats.  The petticoat for my vintage 50s dress is net. Tulle is soft and drapey, which is great for making flowy skirts like this one. They are not the same thing.  Therefore, do not advertise fabric online as “tulle” when it is net. Yes, [...]

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Dim and distant memories – Zombie Antoinette

We’re taking a little step back in time today … and not to the 18th Century for a change.  Slightly less far… Ah, last year, you seem so far away now!  Perhaps you will recall my Halloween project that never was, scuppered by staying in for the first Halloween in more years than I care [...]

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Not the Saturday Shoe – How About Free Pattern Sunday?

OK, so yesterday’s Saturday Shoe didn’t happen.  Instead Ikea happened.  And after Ikea happened (for three hours!) the making of the things from Ikea happened.  It’s great because the flat is looking awesome and most of the storage problems in our bedroom should be sorted out (huzzah!), but it’s not so great because I’ve discovered [...]

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Georgian Period Films

I must have been a good girl in 2009 because I was lucky enough to receive amongst my presents a voucher for HMV, which I trotted out with at the weekend and bought a couple of Georgian films I hadn’t yet seen … As I had the flat to myself on Sunday night, I had [...]

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