Simple Ancient Egyptian Woman's Sheath Dress

It was quite fun, trying to figure out how Ancient Egyptian women might have produced form fitting linen sheaths with the technology they had a the time.  Clothing that would be cool and comfortable and easy to move in, despite a body hugging fit.

I took a length of white plain weave one and a halt times the width of the body and put ties on each top end one vertical and one horizontal.

The end result, is simple, elegant and appropriate for the hot weather and active culture of the Ancient Egyptians.

Can re-creating an 18th Century Stomacher help me lose weight?

I’ve had an issue I’m sure many of us have, I tend to wander around the kitchen and eat at night before bed.  I eat way too much at night before bed.  This is a weird habit that came on me when I was very stressed at work a few years ago.  I’d eat a big lunch then work late and not get home from my long commute until seven or eight at night.  I’d be starving, Id eat too much and then spend the rest of the night wired from stress and exhaustion aimlessly looking for something else to eat.  I’d flounder around changing stations too tired and with too much in my head to settle on any one show.  There I was too scattered be a good couch potato.  Eventually it got so that I couldn't sleep unless I felt overfull.  I've always been a terrible sleeper and I convinced myself the food, usually some form of fatty carbohydrate was helping me get to sleep. 

A few years ago I made some drastic changes in my life and work style and am now very happy and a lot less stressed but I found myself entrenched in the bad night eating food habit.  This past year I've been working with a health coach courtesy of my health benefits, a plus in the taking a lower paying job with a larger company sweepstakes.  My coach encouraged me to find something to do in the evening that occupied my concentration and kept me physically busy, but that wasn't too active to keep me from falling asleep.  That’s actually a pretty tall order, not many activities and hobbies fit that bill.  However, I was reminded that I had once been really fascinated with embroidery and while I had never practiced it fully it was something that I wanted to learn that would be perfect for the challenge presented by Cory, my health coach.

Of course, I didn't want to start with simple steps and work my way up I wanted to jump right in and create a costume inspired project and what came to mind was to create an 18^th Century Stomacher that I could finish and frame in a shadow box and possibly exhibit someday.  Not too ambitious … LOL

Actually, I want to do a whole series … but I guess I should just start with one, right?

This is why I posted the 18^th Century stomacher yesterday.  I wanted to show you the inspirations and concept for this ongoing project.  Today I’m posting how I’ve accomplished, so far.  This is a great way for me to follow my own progress in an objective way and to encourage myself to continue until this is completed.

Of course, I have to point out that this project is inspired by an 18th Century Stomacher, but that the fabric, and content and colors of floss are modern and not historically correct.  Just saying ...

What about you, what activities have you tried or do you want to try to keep the evening munchies at bay?

A former handbag and an old pair of jeans become a pirate style corset

Today the last part of the hobo handbag and an old pair of black jeans become an 18^th century inspired pirate style corset top.

Starting with this ....

Using a best as the basis of a pattern ....

Trimming with strips cut from this fabric ...

I enjoy the way this turned out and this project was a satisfying end to a very busy day, but looking at this objectively I would like to finish the edges of the front section and add some detail and interest in the front.

What do you suggest?

Make a Victorian Steampunk corselette from an old handbag

This was one of those days that surprise you, one of those days when you set off to create one thing and wind up with something entirely different.

It started like this …

I had the other half, well, more like three quarters, of the handbag made into a Renaissance change purse on Saturday January 26, 2013.   I thought it would be great to make a medieval/renaissance wench corset.  The way this piece is patched together from smaller pieces and the way it curves up at the top edge, there just had to be a prime corset in the bones of this particular remnant.

So I cut the old hobo bag apart by separating the front, sides and bottom of the remainder of the bag.  I was shifting the front section this way and that when I actually saw the bottom for the first time.

What I saw wan’t the bottom of an old handbag.  What I saw was a no sew/ low sew Victorian/Steampunk corselette!

The shape was perfect and already reinforced, originally for the bottom of the bag but now for the front of the corselette. 

Every thing was there… I even had a button at one end that could be looped or tied for the closure. 

What could I make into a belt loop?

I tried part of the handle but it was just too thick to sit right with the button.

I dug through the scrap ribbon and found the perfect length of black grosgrain.

The only sewing I did on this project was a single small row of stitches that attached the ribbon to the seam of the corselette.

To put it on all I did was tie the ribbon around the button and finish with a little bow.

At this point, I have a little confession to make. .. there were some raw white edges from where the bottom section by the button was cut from the original handbag, and I, … well, I …. OK.  I covered the raw edges by drawing over the white with a black sharpie. 

This was really so much fun and I’m delighted with this “green” project! 

Medieval countrywoman costume

As a costume designer and historian, I find I get a lot of questions about Renaissance costume history. Since color trending is so prominent in current fashion magazines and articles it’s often one of the first questions I hear. What colors were popular during this time in history? (Approximately 1450-1550.)

According to Lucy Barton in Historic Costume for the Stage this was a time of “strong, often dark colors,” reds, deep blues, wines and gold brocades accented by white linen and black velvet. This was also a point in time when foreign trade and travel increased, and with the expansion of the know world, Europe gained new knowledge in the areas of fabric production and the creation and use of dyes. Patterns with color combinations rose in popularity with woven patterns and embroidered cloth at the higher price points and applied dye combinations more accessibly priced. It has been noted that black and gold was a particular favorite color combination of Lucrezia Borgia. Politics also played a part in fashion, for example, the trend for applied woven braiding and embellishment arose as a way around sumptuary laws that forbid the use of silver and gold embroideries. Synthetic dyes were a long way in the future and all colors had to be produced from natural resources.

This was a time of historic upheaval, violently partisan politics and economic hardship due to huge long-term military expenditures. Then, as now, people looked to fashion and entertainment as a way beyond the hard times as they waited for the economy to improve and the new globalization to bring new opportunities and tends.   (Koehly, Examiner.com)

Today’s costume is inspired by an illustration of medieval French countrywomen in the medieval tailor’sassistant: making common garments 1200 – 1500 by Sarah Thursfeld.

Make a Renaissance Fair change purse from an old hobo handbag

Accessory Day

A Re-purpose Project

One old “hobo” handbag with a broken handle that’s a little beat up around the edges.

Plus, one large dinner plate to use as a pattern for a perfect circle.

Cut out a circle, using the plate - or a similar perfectly round pattern - from the beat up old handbag.

Clip an even series of slits to thread cord through.  (Here I cut two lines close together and then left half  an inch then cut two more.  I did this all around the circumference of the circle.)  Next reinforce the edges of the slits with clear nail polish on the inside.  When the nail polish is dry proceed to thread the cord through the incisions.

Pull the cord tight and behold, a small leather coin pouch suitable for Medieval and Renaissance Fair garb.