Ye Olde Costuming Journal

movies

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:16:42 GMT

I just watched The Bostonians on DVD. Didn´t know anything about the book and the story, so I had to watch it twice to understand it in full. The story... well, there´s not much I liked about it and Christopher Reeves didn´t work for me in a period drama, but the costumes are a feast!! I migth have to get the DVD just for the costuming.
Went to see the new Sherlock Holmes a few days ago - sheer awesomeness! I loved everything about it, it was highly entertaining and I hope there will be a sequel. Jude Law rules as Watson!! Although Jenny Beavan did the costuming there isn´t much loveliness going on with the female characters, but anyway it is a great movie! Great images of victorian London and just everything a Holmes movie needs. Go see it if you haven´t yet!

Piping foot anyone?

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:55:41 GMT

I´m pondering about getting some extra feet for my sewing machine - does any of you own a piping foot and is it worth having? Other possible options are getting a gathering or pintuck foot. I´d love to hear about your experiences!

snow

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:10:14 GMT

It just started snowing in West London!! Come on God, let it snow!

Nehelenia´s etsy store

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:30:57 GMT

I just listed some new items in my etsy store!

Christmas shopping

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:41:01 GMT

Awesome new Christmas items just added to our store!
Christmas at Neheleniapatterns.com

Giuliano on youtube

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:11:24 GMT

Handmade? It looks like you made it with your feet

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:49:07 GMT

www.regretsy.com
I laughed so hard it made me cry. Enjoy!

New sewing patterns!!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:09:01 GMT

It is official now: from today on I hold the London branch of Neheleniapatterns.com and sell our range of sewing patterns here in the UK! I uploaded them to my etsy store today and must think of other uk-related marketing options.
I only sell our own line of patterns, that were either taken from antique patterns or hand-drafted (not computer graded!!) from extant garments by yours truly.
The line includes 18th, 19th and 20th century patterns, from underwear to accessories to dresses. If you´re curious now go take a look at
my London-based etsy store!

Giuliano is here!!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:15:51 GMT

The little fluffer came home to us on Friday and we are having a wonderful time with him! He is so sweet and friendly to everyone, it´s amazing! He is moving around our house like he´s always been here. Our big ones are a bit upset but it´s getting better. I´m sure the boys will be buddys soon. Bella is quite the diva and still hissing and growling at him, but little G is rather unimpressed!
As you can see he is really talented & helpful in the sewing room!

MUST HAVE

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:39:27 GMT

I wanna be a bearded lady. With this thing I can!

New Regency gown for sale

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:45:52 GMT

The first ever gown to be completed in my new studio is up for grabs:

I am quite happy with how it turned out. The inspiration to make this was a dress from Vintagetextile.com. I am asking £850, which is a fraction of the cost of a made to measure dress. Hope it finds a new loving home soon.
For more info and pictures please click here.

Linus in Hats

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:31:40 GMT

What an amazing cat blog:
Linus in Hats

gorgeous cat accessories

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:36:07 GMT

If you like shopping for cute accessories for your cats you gotta check out the Kittycat Boutique.
I already bought a collar from her etsy store and love it, very well-made and stylish! She even does seasonal cat collars for Halloween & Christmas. Must get some more.

18th c. event pictures

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:48:20 GMT

Finally, here are some pics of the most recent 18th c. events I attended in Germany:
Fulda 2009
more Fulda
Minden 1759
more Minden 1759

Starstruck Exhibition

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:34:30 GMT

I went to see the Starstruck at the Cathedral exhibition at Worcester cathedral today! 2.5 hours train ride, but it was worth seeing. The cathedral was a gorgeous setting and I loved seeing that awesome dress from Portrait of a Lady and The Prestige. That only costume from The Duchess on display was a huge letdown by the way, it is made from cheapo looking poly-something fibre and is just hideous from up close. The other costumes they had at Chiswick house were much better. Anyhoo, I enjoyed the exhibition, bought a catalogue (which is nicely done and well worth the spending of 3 pounds) and took some pics to be uploaded soon.

Edit: and here are my pictures from the exhibition (and also some interior & exterior shots of Worcester cathedral)

pictures of Regency dresses

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:02:31 GMT

Somebody put a lot of effort into collecting & uploading all these pictures of original dresses from 1800 to 1830s:
entertainment.webshots.com/album/559724070ejfUpj

Sense & Sensibility and Sea Monsters

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:35:29 GMT

If you would like to see Mr. Willoughby get what he really deserved than watch the trailer for the upcoming book Sense & Sensibility and Sea Monsters .

Skinny got lolified

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:54:32 GMT

I just received this from a friend:

1759 open robe finished

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:31:51 GMT

My dress for Saturday is finally done! As most of my dresses it´s half handsewn, I prefer doing long skirt seams by machine. I also made a little apron to go with it and a new cap. I´m quite satisfied with how the skirt shape turned out. I decided to go for a simple linen pad, after experimenting with different types of skirt supports. I chose sleeve cuffs instead of flounces to keep it closer to the informal milkmaid look of the Hayman portrait:

There are a few details on the dress which I would have prefered to be different, so I think I might just wear it once and then sell it on. I made the neccessary changes to the paper pattern already, so the next dress will be more what I had in mind. Overall I love the shape of this dress and look forward to wearing it.
The multisized paper pattern for this dress will be released in our shop soon.
I noticed the dress is hard to photograph, you can hardly see details of the robings, neck binding or back pleats. I´ll try to get better ones at the weekend.
Anyway, on to the pictures:

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:09:58 GMT

Did I mention I´m looking forward to moving?

open robe fabric

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:20:17 GMT

I just collected my fabric from the post office! I chose a handprinted silk taffeta with flower garlands on ivory ground. Look:

Tomorrow we´re going home to Germany for my mom´s birthday, so I can collect my stays and start drafting the pattern.

1759 open robe continued

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:46:35 GMT

I did a little research on the early 18th c open robe and made a flickr album for it, including some paintings by Francis Hayman. I settled for a printed ivory silk taffeta with flower garlands now, pictures later!
I think I will need dome shaped paniers to go under it. As this dress has a big part in patternqueen´s upcoming novel I will also draft a multisized pattern for it to be released in our shop soon.

ps: my sewing mojo came back to me.

Starstruck

Mon, 25 May 2009 17:05:59 GMT

Thanks to padawansguide , I found out about Starstruck in the cathedral, that big costume exhibition in Wocester cathedral. I am so going!!!
And by the way: do you already know this book? If you like romance and zombies, this one´s for you!

prohibition

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:04:59 GMT

I just discovered this clubnight in London. That might be an excuse to sew more 20s dresses and play dress up!!

UK sewing supplies

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:31:12 GMT

After desperately browsing London for some decent sewing supplies (that are not ridiculously overpriced as in MacCulloch & Wallis) I discovered this little webshop and thought I´d share it with you: Vena Cava Design has a nice choice of costuming and especially corseting supplies at really good prices. Mission completed!