At Her Leisure

Considering that I spent a lot of time cross-stitching this year, I'm surprised I made so much, but I had a good variety of projects this year. I didn't sew any clothes for modern wear so I should try to do more of that next year.

( This year's projects behind the cut )

I was planning to go to Tombstone last weekend, but a week before I got an invitation from someone I met at Costume College to go to a Victorian tea at a house museum in Phoenix. That sounded so much better. I wore the same dress I would have worn to Tombstone. There were plenty of pictures taken, but I don't expect to see them for a couple of weeks since the man who took them is a hobbyist photographer and will actually edit the pictures before sending them.

Anyway, the museum was a really good house museum, and the tea was nice too - tea the meal, that is, the tea itself was rather weak. I hit some traffic on the way to Phoenix so I was a bit rushed getting ready, but it was awfully nice of the woman who invited me to let me dress at her house so that I didn't have to drive the whole way in a corset. I met some nice people who were very welcoming and said they'd let me know about their next outing. I also met the woman who runs the Tucson Steampunk Society. While steampunk definitely isn't my thing, it would mean local events where Victorian clothing is welcome.

After the tea we went out to dinner (not like we needed food after that enormous tea, but whatever!) at a Thai restaurant. Then I stayed talking to my hostess about costume stuff longer than I should have, but the drive home was smooth. I was gone for just about twelve hours.

I was excited about meeting people, and I had a really good time. I don't know when next I'll go, but maybe I now have events to sew for.

I had to go out to California for a few days this week, which involved a ~9 hr car ride each way. I drove maybe half of it so I got a fair bit of knitting done. My second openwork stocking in particular progressed. It's a few inches long now. I've a very long way to go on it, but it's nice to see it growing.

I've also been working on an early 1880's dress. It's coming along very nicely. I'm getting close to finishing the bodice. I've got boning and a few thread eyes and setting sleeves and the waist stay left. Well, that doesn't sound quite so close, but it feels close. The foundation of the skirt is put together, and I've done the kick pleating around the hem except for sewing it on. Then there's the rest of the skirt pleating and the apron and back drapery so there's a long way to go on the skirt.

Yesterday I started cutting out the children's Hallowe'en costumes so I'm not sure how fast my dress will progress as I work through those projects. The girls' costumes are straight out of a Simplicity pattern so they'll be pretty easy, and making two just alike will also increase speed. I think the boy's is just sewing spots on a sweatshirt so his should be really fast.