lady constance

hmmmm... first event we went to PIP, we had no problems... excepting the beach was a HUGE draw for the kids...(ummand myself)... but since we really were not part of a crew, thst ws no problem.... as we homeschool, we just presented it as " what was it relly like to LIVE back then--clothing customs food..." every single one of our nine kids is INTO re enacting.... although some prefer other ages... (like the the 21 year old likes buccaneer and pirate and medieveland renaissance ages, the 17 byear old prefers 14th century clohting and GAOP, clothing presented a bit of a problem( at thst time they were 4 and 5}... they young boys were not about to wear any dress type thing....so we sewed wee pirate clothing.... we breached them early!! LOL!! our kids are used to doing everything with us ( homeschooling i suppose}... so it was not a great shock/ cultural difference between what the kids at school are doing versus what they are doing....and infact the kids friends kind of find it exotic and cool that our kids do this... that even mom and dad dress in costume! ad usually we can clothe a friend or two to drag with us....LOL i see it as a no brainer--- back then, kids did as needed and at younger ages...they learned far more,did far more and did it at earlier ages than todays soft/ kids...but then again, we aint trying to raise delicate not get your hands dirty kind of kids....we believe the more skills you have the LESS money you have to make to pay another for doing things you can learn to do yourself.... our kids just kind of fell in---and if momma and daddy are hyper excited and passionate about what they are doing, well that excitement carries over and can easily transfer to ones progeny..... one does not need a plethora of baby euqipment to do this....people back then did not have them, and some how the human race continued.... and i know that when i attend events, i am always looking for a baby to gank and hold and attend to...( of course if you nurse i am not going to be able to help in that endeavor) but when ever i attend any event with salty and hamish and callenish, well... if they want their child, they have had to come looking for him with us....LOL...i can cook and child care simultaneously... or i can sit and watch another work while i have the BEST job of holding and entertaining the baby!!!

THAT IS THE BEE ITCH about jumps-- function/ purpose was worn solely for in home use alone-- or alone in the tentage with family...perhaps they would be seen alone/only when i was tending to outside fire for breakfast preparation.... so i choose the fabric according to what would please me to wear....couldnt see using that yard of fabric for stays or anyother item....this was simply a fabric i had that was cheap and not much yardage the jumps that sterling posted were extremely decorative....some embroidered, some quilted, and the other pair, a bit of both.. they were a learning endeavor...the sewing/crafting is not that brilliant..the pattern design was the object of the project...( certainly easier than the pink 1690s stays pattern that i am still working on...grrrrr..tons of cuts in cheap fabric, tons of thinking, tons of planning--but still satifying to work on}

gathering from the amount of hits on this page/ topic, i know folks are looking at the finished product. but there are no comments on them? that suprises me-- and then again, maybe it does not.i find that pyschologically interesting. my offer still stands. any one wanting a copy of this pattern can ask me for it and i will trace off the peices. you can then adjust for size. and i will send basic directions.

this is the back of a jacket that i found.. note the sleeves/ cuffs ... shall attach a voluminous skirt to inner jacket back,rounding to the front yet wont close completely--will have to wear a front skirt that shall be contrast-- perhaps the light punkle ( cross between pink and purple) that is already shown with the back pic of this gown shall become the under skirts the front i shall make a stomacher-- and attach the front to it.... may have to cut the neck to hang a bit lowernd farther on the shoulders.... what do yah all think? ( yah it is cheating--but it is FAST and if you think the lines are close enough, well that means i can make a pattern off of it!!} thoughts please...TIA

photos by grace--the 9 year old--

i have 4 more eyelet holes to sew around... then garb up and pic and post,,,, and lets just say that if i share the pattern with some one else, they wont have to make my mistakes--as in FIND YOUR SEWING AWL!!!! AND USE IT!! 1. dont double fold a damask fabric at the edges ( too hard to sew eyelet holes in and thru} 2.that you spply a stabilizer/interfacing to the damask or silk or tapestry 3. that you are going to HAVE to put those lead leaders(from middle ages} on the edges of your ribbon that you plan to use for going thru the eyelet holes (i am thinking that is shall enclose a shoe string in ribbon) 4. that you modify the way you sew your eyelets--by dropping the needle thru the holes and THEN pick up your stitch thread on the top ( or you risk making the diameter of your hole severely smaller....thus the riboon won't go thru!! 5. bodiced gown dresses are actually easier than jumps!!! 6. BUT I DID IT!! YAH!!!!

wanna hear a funny..... ryan ( who has suddenly taken to reading like a duck to water), looked over his phonics papers this morning at the computer and said " momma, what is a FB?".... and for a split second, my over inflated ego thought, " maybe i have finally attained the status of FB "....... so there is your laugh on the depraved ego of mine......hahahahhaahahaaaa!!

but if one could tat a period looking lace, would it really matter that much? ahhhh where does one draw the line.........? captain, there are some days i feel your grand displeasure so heavily upon me....

down at the bottom of the pages... they are complete... done---

yah it has come to bloody rayon poly viscose.......... sir, have you considered tatting or crocheting? even knitting? tatting , i think wou dget you very CLOSE-- patterns for such things still exist.... pay attention to old ladies knitting... got o craft fairs and speak with the OLDEST maidens....they might know some patterns that would produce the desired things you are looking for.... and i will keep looking at thrift stores around here for you... i have had fabulous luck finding quite a few things that could be chopped -- they are quite floral { what a lady would use} shall i post what i have found?

Kakesdad-- that rye whiskey little ditty.... ahhh the 14 year old son said " hey ! that the song gret grnadma taught me!!! now the darn tune wont get out o me head!! THANKS!

they look awesome!! good job!!!! you should be proud!! so--- what is next on your to do list???? LOL!!

only the neck line all the way around and the bottom left are sewn done back and front...all the rest is to be finished by hand....the arm holes are a bee itch.... asked hubby to find his leather punch for eyelets....and he is getting soooooooooo fabulous with button holes that i think i may pay him to do all the eyelets....wonder what he will charge me???? and the whole thing needs pressing....

Lady B--- well the biding is half sewn on.... complete around neck.. and on one side at the bottom-- it needs pressing and then eyelets.... chose a satin biding and not a bias tape for better color match.. promise pic tomoorow or later tonight.... thanks for the interest!!!

i think it would well be worth learning-- as i tell my kids-- every skill you have means you are not dependant on some one else to provide you with that service or item.... you get to keep more money you make and then you can make some more with your new skill!!!! and personally , i like the fiddly parts of life ... the things you must refine and fiddle with to make good and better and look and feel wonderful!!! lady c

Captain that lace is beautiful.... but i would not purchase any...too pricey ... but if one was so inclined, one could learn to make thatkind of bobbin lace.... i know there are so many fine alternatives out there now adays..... and i have seen many a portrait where it s a linen cravat with lace only on all the side edges..

BEFORE CUTTING LACE ANYTHING--- you MUST mark your size and pattern.... THEN TAKE IT TO YOUR SEWING MACHINE AND 1. ZIG ZAG on your cutting marks, with loose then tight or just tight zig zag ALL THE EDGES where you will be cutting then 2. SATIN STITCH THE EDGES 3.then cut the piece out....and trim very carefully the threads that stick out beyond the edge that you satin stitched to be finished if you cut before you zig zag, you will lose the design and it will unravel into a ungodly mess and doubt/KNOW you would NOT NOT end up with the finished size you want.... and as faras lace.... look in the wedding gown section of fabric stores....( some times they are in glass cases because they are expensive to purchase BY THE FOOT--versus by the yard} also ,look at good will for old wedding dresses-- pay attention to the laces on edges and ruffle and trim... you should have good selections in doing this...you can even try ebay....old wedding dresses.. not antique , but older out of style ones good luck! andhappy hunting fro bargains....

well----- decided the damask was the best choice for fabric... kinf of peachy salmon.... so now i all i have to do is decide whether i am going to put a binding on the edges all the way around... or just stitch together..... SO WHICH IS IT? BIND OR STITCH TOGETHER??? and i am thrilled that my patterns match like near perfect!!!

the coat is now in pieces.....so blanket /throw here we go!!! ( ok tonight after work) they are very nice to sit on-- keep your back side very warm.....will be a nice thing to throw on the pirate bed

Bo-- you DO have some thing special... they are yours! you own them! :) lady c

wel now.. seems you have a few choices here.... one option could be to send the book to a person who you know can scan them and post them all !! I VOLUNTEER SILAS!!! hahahahahahahaaaa! teasing you--- perhaps if you have a really good digital camera, take pictures of the pages and then post them... our digital camera is able to do this..... is yours? perhaps the instruction manual of your printer can tell you how to do this? cant wait to see them Bo!! cant wait.....

whooooooooooooooooooooo hoooooooooooooo!!! Niam---- FREAKING AWESOME TAILOR YOU ARE.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! may the money come to you!!! check your pm's......

well Lady CH, that is a generous offer i will not refuse....!! when i am not so ill(hopefuly i wil be recovered tomorrow} you shall find a note in that inbox of yours... i will take any spare prayers for my and my childrens return to health!

as i await an email reply, and since you really cant screw up anything so bad that cant be undone....( my personal belief}(golly hope they can draw or explain really well} i am taking a stab at guessing the boning....( BECAUSE I can remove any piece that wont function as i think it ought to} really struggling with shall i place boning on the diagonal near the sides as they are placed in stays....????? so.... here we are thus far.... i am thinking that the boning under the bust should be all vertical, and to the side of your tata's, it should be placed on a 25-30 - 45 degree angle....( not sure which angle to place it.. looking at the stays pattern i have made for ideas.... again-- IDEAS WANTED.....suggestions, comments and other thoughts and natterings requested....

Michael, thank you DUHHHHHHHH (what was i thinking look comes over my countenance)-- i am laughing at myself and my silliness!!! LOL!!-- what? no opinion of what you see Michael???? xxxxxooooo to you and the wifey and kitty