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Check the link below for more photos!

Finally! I finished another project — one that has been sitting around gathering dust for a while, at that! And just in time for an event this past Saturday.

I was nervous I wouldn’t even finish in time or that it wouldn’t work out, but I somehow pulled it off. I tried it on for the first time as I was getting ready for the event. Whew!

I made a page in the costume section so you can see photos and information on the construction. See below for the link.

The event was the Dallas Ft Worth Costumers Guild (DFWCG) tea at a local antique shop. The theme was hats… you didn’t need a full costume, but many of us went ahead and made something new for it. I still haven’t finished my husband’s 18th century costume, so he had fun shopping around for a hat to wear.

It was a blast, and a great way to have some fun after the past couple of months I’ve had. These folks are wonderful, supportive, and you’re guaranteed lots of laughs.

The food and tea was lovely, and we were there for a few hours. I had hoped to look around the little antique shop, but I didn’t get very far before others arrived and I stopped to chat with them.

After the tea, we went to a nearby park and took photos. I need to get better at taking photos, but we’re hoping to get a better camera. Phones can be handy for some things, but not for event photos (at least for my needs).

I did set up a Flickr account, and I changed the image gallery setup on my blog. Here are the links for the event photos and the costume information and photos:

It was a great time, and I’m already looking forward to trying to make a few accessories before the next event!

To see more photos from the picnic, click the link at the bottom of this entry, or go to the "Image Gallery" on the header above.

The Dallas Ft Worth Costume Guild (DFWCG) had their third annual Georgian Picnic on November 19th at the Ft Worth Botanical Gardens.

I have wanted to attend since the beginning, but sadly did not have a completed costume.  This year, I finally had one!  I wanted to wear another jacket since I have worn this costume before, but I was trying to finish something for my husband.  Unfortunately, a lot of things came up and distracted me every time I tried to make progress on Christopher’s costume, so I didn’t finish it in time.  We decided it wasn’t worth the stress and there would be other events.

We had a blast, and plenty of people dressed up.  I am still a little unfamiliar with some of the members of this group.  When it first started, I was going to join and then had to stop sewing for a few years.  I’m hoping to finally join in the next month or so, and am looking forward to more events so I can wear the 18th and 19th century costumes I make and meet fellow costumers. Everyone we’ve met through the group has been a blast!

My husband was taking photos for me on our iPhones, and he ended up focusing more on me.  He was a little shy about taking photos of people he hasn’t met before, so I didn’t get as many photos of some of the members.  We’ll get better about it over time.  It can be hard to worry about photos when you’re having fun!  Plus, security at the Gardens thought we were professional photographers, when all we wanted was a few snapshots of our fun time out.

Some of us brought period toys and games to play.  There was a period kite, the game of graces, some wooden toys (like tops) for the kids, and even a yo-yo.  The graphic the DFWCG used to advertise the event showed a period drawing with people playing with diabolos.  A member had a smaller, wooden, period diabolo, but we all had trouble getting it to work.  Christopher and I juggle and have a modern diabolo, so we brought ours out and took photos as well as taught some of the members how to use it.  It was definitely a hit, and at least one person is wanting to buy one to practice for next year’s picnic!

Christopher and I also juggled a little.  Unfortunately, we don’t have period juggling props, but we just can’t resist a little juggling at a picnic in the park!  While I was pleasantly surprised that I could work with the diabolo while wearing my costume, juggling wasn’t as comfortable as I would have liked (mostly due to my mitts, which are unfortunately tight on my hands due to the fabric having less give on the bias than I originally thought).  I only juggled three balls, and didn’t bother with the clubs.

I’ve posted some of my photos (including a few from friends) from the Third Annual DFWCG Georgian Picnic here.

We had a blast, and I’m looking forward to attending future events.  In fact, I’m hoping the weather holds up for a 19th century event coming up!

The outfit I wore to the Antique Elegance Show. Photo by Jen Thompson of FestiveAttyre.com

I attended a show this weekend called the Antique Elegance Show. I met up with fellow costumers, and we had a great time shopping and taking photos. We all dressed up in some of the items we’ve made, and I put the photos we took into the gallery (including some photos Jen of FestiveAttyre.com let me share). You can see the photo gallery here.

I’m feeling a little rushed and clumsy today, so I’m keeping this entry short. I still need to make a page for the new bodice I made to go with the old bustle skirts I had, but I’ll get that up soon (I probably won’t do an entry announcing it).

I also need to start loading those knotting shuttle videos. I’ve been so busy sewing the bodice that I didn’t get to edit the very last video. Unfortunately, they’re so large I might have to do one video a day so I don’t go crazy (especially if I have issues with everything).

Also, there’s no time to rest! I’ve got to start sewing Christopher’s 18th century garments if I can, and maybe finish another project before November. Whew!

Wearing my first 18th century costume to an event.

I finally have my first 18th century costume, and had my first chance to wear it out this past Saturday.

La Bonne Compagnie

A few of us are part of a private costuming group called La Bonne Compagnie that focuses on 18th century.  While we are not re-enactors, we hope to learn about 18th century and have fun sewing and wearing the clothing we make.  We are hoping to get in character a bit as well, to make it even more special.

It’s nice to be able to really celebrate all that hard work we’ve done sewing our outfits!

The event

The party Saturday, hosted by the lovely Kaycee, was a small gathering with wine, champagne, snacks, and learning to play whist.

Kaycee and her husband went out of their way to set up a fun little space to inspire a nice 18th century atmosphere.  It was an excellent evening, and we hope to keep having great gatherings like that and get the group active.

There were several members who couldn’t make it this time, and they were greatly missed.

I didn’t finish a costume for my husband, but he dressed up in his kilt and had fun chatting with us.  He’s looking forward to having a few costumes as well.

New photo gallery

I set up a photo gallery for posting photos from some of our events.  I think it would be easier than trying to put them all on one blog entry.  Especially for those events with a lot of photos.

I didn’t get as many photos as I should have, but Kaycee (who is a wonderful photographer), took some photos.  Some of them are posted in her blog entry.

My event photos are located here.

The costume

I’ll hopefully have an entry and costume page up soon about the finished outfit and how it was to wear it.

I look forward to finishing many more gowns and definitely look forward to many more gatherings and events to wear them to!