1850s Evening Gown

Here's a sneaky peek of my 1850s evening gown for The Lady of Shalott film adaptation. It is made from the loveliest blue silk with a pretty floral design. It is then trimmed with satin bow and delicate lace. I can't wait to wear it for filming!

New Year, New Projects

Well the year is drawing to a close on what can only be described as a truly bleak and bitterly cold mid-winters day. It only serves more poignantly to look forward to the coming spring and everything the new year has to offer. I'm not usually one for new year regulations, but I did make a consious effort to control my finances and generally be more positive about my situation. Afterall, they say good things come to those who wait, and wait I have done. The final quarter of this year has been so blessedly busy that I finally feel I have achieved something which is buoying me smoothly into 2009.

I thought today I would make a list of projects I intend to complete in the coming months and it will be interesting to see how they materialise.

Fistly, 1850s evening gown and associated undergarments for the final part of the Lady of Shalott film to be shot in March.
I then have my first bridal commission to start, which requires the toile to be ready in March although the completed gown is not needed until August.
My husband and I are determined to attend the Jane Austen Festival in Bath in September for which we both need a Regency walking ensemble.
Then in October we plan to attend Whitby Goth Festival with a good friend. I've promised to make her and myself a Victorian, gothic inspired outfit and something suitable for my husband.

Crikey, I shall be a busy bee! And that's providing I am not over run with comissions through the business!

I now have an online shop for my tiaras!

www.joannasbridal.etsy.co.uk

or you can link to it through www.joannasbridal.co.uk

Winter

Today winter threw it's chilly mantle over us as snow fell softly from the grey sky, settling like icing sugar on the roofs, roads and gardens. It glowed mystically in the cold dawn light as the sun crept slowly over the distant horizon. A family of blackbirds trooped about boisterously on the lawn and the bunnies kept their paws inside their hutch, content to munch their breakfast in the dry whilst watching me wrestle with the new bale of hay.

1900 Blouse

Here is a little mini-project I've been doing for Orchard House Wardrobe. It's a circa 1900 blouse to form part of a range of outfits for a local college. I used the Laughing Moon School Mistress pattern (I think!), but I had to alter the design to make it back opening at the insistence of the student who refuses to wear a front opening blouse and I added an extra pleat to help fit her size better.

It is made from a pretty cotton print and is trimmed with real vintage laces!

Tiara commission

I keep a few tiara samples in my friend's shop and a customer commissioned this piece from me.

I call it the 'Lillian' as the wirework is shaped into a lily

The Delights of the Season

I am one of those people who loves to enjoy the frivolities of any given season and you can probably tell from my previous entries that I love Autumn the most. For some reason, this particular autumn has been full of wonderful things to see and I have had the opportunity to capture them on camera. So as November comes to a close and my thoughts change from Autumn's russet glow to to December's magical festiveness, I thought I'd share my memories of this years beatiful season....



The moon looking eerie through the trees in our back garden.


Bonfire party at our friends farm - look at the size of it compared to the man!


The excellent firework display they always put on and perfectly captured by my clever husband!


We also delighted in hot baked potatoes, barbecued sausages and and a delicious hog roast!


Enjoying an evening indoor with my little fluffs!


Enjoying roaring log fires on holiday.


Beautiful views at Whitby


And the abbey looking haunted and mysterious


Our first wedding anniversary!