I think this is quite a known method, but just in case it might be useful to someone...:-)


To get a nice picture frame, if no miniature shop is nearby, simply go to the nearest haberdashery shop or browse through your stash; chances are you'll find some buttons which are made of two parts like those in the picture above. Pop the middle insertion out. Usually it goes smoothly, but in case it doesn't, press it against some hard surface and it will. And voila! A space for a picture!

Make a template. I do it by pressing a piece of paper against the oval/circle and going around the edges with my fingers so it forms a relief - I guess there might be better ways of doing this, but it's just how I do it.

Use the template to trace the outline on your chosen picture and cut out a piece of plastic sheet (for example from discarded food packaging or other such), glue it together and that's it, you're done:-)

This week's prompt is to write about the one Lolita item we most desire right now - and for me, it's definitely been this dress my sister has been working on - remaking a Classic Lolita skirt she made for me a while ago into a jsk. She finished it just yesterday and I adore it! It's comfy, lovely and lacy - and washable, yay! It's just perfect for a nice spring picnic, drinking tea and picking daisies and dandelions and making wreaths out of them...
Speaking of which, spring is almost here. Snowdrops, the snowflake flowers and squill flowers are everywhere - let's hope some sudden frost won't kill them.

I've got some of the lace left, so I'm kinda thinking about making a pale yellow organdy underskirt trimmed with it to peek out underneath the hemline...

Blogs participating:

Cupcakes and Unicorns
Marionette Cemetery
The Bloody Tea Party

17. 10.
So, today it is drafting the pattern. By myself.
My knees are wobbling.
The only part of the pattern which I have ready-made is the sleeve, which is going to be more or less the same as on the lingerie blouse.
*gulp*
I need a shot of courage, please.

After four hours, I'm giving up. I'm gonna frankenstein it from my sister's patterns.

22. 10.
For invigoration - a mini teaparty, yay!!!XD

Finally the back is cut out, including the interlining, but the electrical machine just had to break when I need it - so my sister said she'll put it together for me on the mechanical one, if I baste it together. Great!

22. 12. 2015
After much arduous work in stolen moments from both sis and me, the jacket is about 80% finished. There is still the elaborate braiding on the front to be done; so far it closes with hooks and eyes, but I think I'll swap it for frog closures as was the original plan. In the back, there is the cord to be put in a decorative corset lacing. Plus I need to line it. So far, so good.
I'm not happy about the sleeves though and will have to fiddle with them a bit... originally I wanted really big silk leg o' mutton sleeves, but somehow it didn't look good - but this small is perhaps a bit too small. So I'm thinking about adding a frill that would cover the puffed part; something like the beautiful Nance O'Neil is wearing here:

And maybe I'll replace the silk with another fabric. And maybe I'll put a bit of pretty lace over the frill. Not sure yet. In any case, I need to make a standing collar. I'm wavering whether to add some steel boning or not... we shall see about that.

30. 1. 2016
No progress whatsoever :-) I'm not feeling so well still thanks to the amount of medication I have to take, so I'd like to apologise to everybody to whom I haven't replied yet - if the meds don't kill me, I will reply soon.

What it looks like so far:

The back, which I like very much, because it looks the way I wanted it to so far; it's still missing the decorative corset lacing and a bit of braiding.

The front. As you can see, only the cuffs of the sleeves are braided yet, so it feels kind of bare to me... and those sleeves. Sigh. Sleevils is more like it. Too narrow, too long and the puffed part's too small and a bit plain.

The braiding on the sleeve - my sis drew the pattern based on one we found on the net, I stitched it on with silk thread. *fingers crossed it doesn't snap*

Detail of the front

What are you girls and guys working on? Let me know in the comments!:-)

      I've come to call this bonnet The Vinnetou Bonnet in secret because I keep watching the Vinnetou and Old Shatterhand movies as I work on it (RIP Pierre Brice:-(  ) - but when my sister learnt that, she said it's very cool and so it's its official name now:-D
      I'm trying out the stiff fabric/netting and wire method of making a base frame here and so far I'm very happy about it - opens up so many possibilities! This bonnet is a belated Christmas present for my sis and it is from some 70% her design - I initially meant to make something rather simple like the last velvet bonnet (as this started as a commission that was eventually put on hold and simplicity was the customer's wish), so when my sis brought me her sketch of what she'd like, my knees wobbled a bit. The crown and the tip are going to be complicated... but it's gonna be an interesting challenge.

The journey of one bonnet

The first steps:

Transferring the pattern - I made a mockup for the last bonnet using toilet paper, but as it was frail, I had to trace it onto something sturdier The brim cut out and the binding pinned on

The crown cut out and the binding sewn on

Mockup - but I actually like it this way and so does sis - so she asked me to make one for her like that for summer, haha:-)

The outer brim covered in black cotton velvet - in real life it's beautifully matte and intense black

      I'm covering the inner side of the brim with ruched velvet at the moment, but it goes slowly because I'm busy and sick - still I hope to start on the crown soon. Pintucks. On velvet. Gulp.

      On another note: I wish you all just the best to the new year 2016 - and cliche as it is, health and luck most of all.

My sister made this for me originally as one of the "day dresses" or OPs to be worn at home, to work in and nevermind the dirt or the wrinkling- but ended up so cute I'm scared to use it like that, haha!:-)
It was inspired by the Arcadia Dolls' Twilight Garden series and it's incredibly comfy to wear - but I think I might need to sew an apron to wear over it like Victorian girls did so it wouldn't get injured...:-/ God, I love, love, love it to pieces!


Few pics of the sewing process:




I know, I know, I'll really try better next timeXD

What's brewing: a post about a new bonnet I'm working on (hopefully, if I figure out the base layer) and another of the 'day dresses', this time a jsk! Or more appropriately, about turning a skirt into a jsk. And maybe something about the progress on the dollhouse - so stay tuned, folks!:-)

I think my list is going to be more of a to-sew list rather than a to-buy one:-)

First of all, I'm kind of thinking about making myself a new coat, because the BTSSB one I have just doesn't have much room to accomodate a good petticoat. I'm eyeing a sax blue wool/polyester blend, but I'm a bit torn whether I shouldn't rather try to find some wool blend in pink. The coat would be ideally something similar to this Mary Magdalene one:

 Then, getting more of what I think the Victorians would term the "day dresses" is definitely in the plans - i.e. a bit simplier OPs of easily washable cottons for daily wear around the house, to do the chores in and so on. Something in the vein of this:
Cute, practical, comfy = win!

Some simple white dress a la Picnic at the Hanging Rock would be great, too. Like this, maybe:

I'm also kind of in need of an eyelet lace-trimmed white underskirt to peek underneath my skirts... I have the lace, but the fabric, not yet.

Finally, I'll try to restore the antique parasol I've got as a present; at the moment, it is a bit rusty and stripped of all fabric and it will be a lot of work to make it pretty again - but if I find the money to buy the white silk and the lace I want to use on it, I'll try my best.



Blogs participating:

Pastel Jelly Beans
Gray Velvet
It's Witchcraft!
Vanilla Bear
The Bloody Tea Party
Alice in Lolitaland
Gosu-Rori

Back in October I mentioned a black bonnet is in the plans - and here it is, finished at last:-) I'm trying to sell it actually, because I'm in need of cash *cough cough, dentist, Christmas, rainy days, cough*, but it's with a bit bleeding heart, because I've grown fond of it during the process of making it... oh well, wish me luck with the sale, I hope it will make someone happy:-) If it doesn't work out with either of the girls who've shown interest, onto the Lacemarket and Egl Comm Sales it goes. It's 16 USD + shipping, if anybody is interested.

14. 12. 2015 Edit: Sold and on its way to its new owner:-)  Thanks a lot and Merry Christmas to Finland!

No progress pics this time, but I'll work on it when I start with the next project. I have a sort of taupe/pinkish fabric that could be turned into a dress... or I could make another bonnet with the black and white striped fabric I have in my stash... or I could start with the brown and white striped Regency dress. Now there is a thought!:-) I'll see what energy allows.

It's mostly handsewn and partially lined, made of polyester velvet, decorated with a velvety rose and a bit asymmetrical leaves + with black cotton lace, with which it also ties. I'll try to take a picture of the inside and lining later *waves sleepily*
Edit: Added!