Christmas Shimmer| 1950's Christmas Outfit

Hello dear readers!!! Remember me? No I didn't forget you all. The craziness of life has kept me from blogging but I am glad to be back! I hope 2016 has gone off to a great start for everyone! This post is several months over due but better now than never. Right?

I'm excited to share my 2nd annual 1950's Christmas Outfit with you all! You can read my first one here.

 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I got my outfit inspiration from this 1950's Christmas card. Isn't it so cute!?
For the blouse I used Simplicity 1166. It took me awhile but I finally found the right sized metallic gold polka dot fabric for the blouse. The skirt is a full circle skirt with an elastic waist.

I am so in love with the fur wrap I made for my last Christmas outfit.

 

Happy Sewing!
Samantha

// My Dear Jane //

 

 

 "I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!"

-Jane Austen

December 16th marked the 240th birthday anniversary of the beloved author Jane Austen! If you haven't already noticed I kind of have a little obsession with Jane Austen. I fell in love with her, her books, oh and the movies not only because she was a great writer but also because of her irony, wit, and wisdom.

Sunday I got to go to a birthday celebration in honor of her with the Austin Texas JASNA group. I wore my white dotted swiss gown and a teal bonnet that I recently made.

"There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature."
-Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

Happy Sewing!
Samantha

Gold Circles On Red Day Dress

My beautiful sister is on the blog modeling her Regency dress that I made her. She picked out this lovely cotton fabric from Joann's. I am quiet stunned by its beauty and the same print came in a lovely light blue and silver. This day dress is so beautiful that it would make an elegant ball gown after some gold trim was added.

Simple gathered bodice with short puff sleeves.

The gold buttons are so pretty!

 

 

Striking her pose;)

Happy Sewing!
Samantha

Floral Print Regency Day Dress

I am so excited to share my very first bib-front Regency dress! I had been wanting to try a bib-front Regency dress and I am pretty pleased with how it turned out!

So what makes bib-front Regency dresses unique? Well unlike most Regency dresses that fastened in either the front or the back, bib-fronts have a panel in the front that gets fastened (in my case with handmade dorset buttons).  The panel also gets tied around the back and then tied in the front inside of the bib.

 The added bonus to bib-fronts is that they're super adjustable! ;-)

Handmade dorset buttons

I love how the gathering turned out.

You can slightly see the panel opening in the front.

Inspecting the shrubbery :P

I also made the reticule!

More dresses to come. I am currently working on three ball gowns for a Regency dance workshop and ball coming up next month.

Happy Sewing!
Samantha

Regency Underpinnings

Here are my completed Regency underpinnings!! I used the Sensibility Underpinnings Pattern for the shift and stays.

I was pretty pleased with how the stays turned out. The only thing I would fix is to fit the cup size to me better. The cup is slightly large.

Ballet shoes from Bloch

 The petticoat I drafted myself with help from a tutorial from Sensibility Patterns. The bodice is boned and has a drawstring in the neckline.

Boning in the darts

 

I am excited to be adding more to my Regency wardrobe!!

Happy Sewing!
Samantha

Spring Tea-Dressing Mr. Darcy

The Jane Austen Society region of North Texas hosted a delightful Spring Tea last Sunday! I had the pleasure of attending it! The Spring Tea was held in the stunning French Room at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas!!

You have bewitched me, body and soul. -Mr. Darcy

My Regency ensemble, that I sewed, consisted of a drawstring gown made from dotted swiss, my straw bonnet, and a reticule.

Isn't the French Room stunning!! I couldn't get over its beautiful architecture!!

Stunning chandelier!

Lovely place setting!

The delicate food was very scrumptious! Almost to lovely to eat!

Itty bitty little desserts!

Mr. Darcy *aka Brian Cushing from Beneath the Layers * did his excellent presentation on men's Regency clothing! This the was main highlight and reason for the tea!

I found Mr. Darcy! :P

I made my mom's ensemble too!!

Playing the piano forte on this 1860's Steinway!

I had a lovely time and look forward to going to their next event which is June with Jane and the Netherfield Ball!!

Samantha