End of an Era

Well, as you can see, I haven't been keeping up with the blogging. And since very few people even read this blog, and I really need to look at ways to cut expenses, this blog will be closing down soon. It's been great, guys!

First Vintage Dress

So I haven't posted in a while, not because I haven't been sewing but because I haven't had time to do my own stuff. I finally finished my first vintage pattern, Butterick #6503 from 1957 (sorry, I never got a scan of the pattern.)

It was my first attempt at matching patterns for the skirt. I failed miserably, but the dress is still wearable - the pattern is such a wild gem-tone zig-zag quilt fabric that the mistmatch isn't immediately apparent.

Regardless of the pattern mess, I like it. I realized that it isn't the design of the dress so much as the fabric that is interesting to me. Otherwise, most dresses are basically the same with small differences in the details.

I have several projects to work on next, including two crib quilts, an early 60's outfit, and teaching the girls in the costume club how to sew. I am also trying to get three ancient electric sewing machines up and running well enough to use in the sewing classes. Once the girls have finished their test projects, we'll be sewing outfits for the girls in "Little Shop of Horrors." Should be fun!

By the Bog of Cats

I have no current projects right now because I am working on costuming for the high school play, By the Bog of Cats. I sort of named myself costume director, and formed a costume club for that and a few other fun things we want to do. All unofficial - since I am not directly an employee of the school district, I only count as a "parent volunteer." That's ok, as long as we come up with some interesting things.

Tombstone Costume Competition

I know I promised to reveal the dresses I had been working on here, but since no one reads this blog, and everyone I know is on Face Book, I wound up putting pictures there. But I will post the WIP pictures. Unfortunately I forgot to get a picture of Gogie's outfit before I gave it to her. I do have pictures of the skirt, which I think turned out divine.

And here she is in the parade.

Unfortunately, the costume competition was tough this year. Gogie's didn't get anything. My last minute saloon woman entry did, though - 3rd place in the Saloon Woman category:

And here I am outside the motel:

I did take one other prize - 3rd place in the Madame category with Annie's dress:

Now I have to rest up and clean the house before I can start on any other projects.

Tombstone!

I'm off to Tombstone this afternoon! Yay! I will have many pictures when I return on Monday.

See ya!

New Outfit

I just have a few more stitches to finish Annie's dress, and I am very happy with it. Pictures will come after Labor Day. I just hope Annie doesn't melt in the Tombstone heat. And that she doesn't get too close to an open flame (polyester!!). Sorry Annie, but sometimes we just have to suffer for our art.

I have also decided that I will need a new "chippy" costume. I already have it planned out, the fabric is ready, and the paper pattern pieces have been cut. That one I will post. It will be a performing outfit, one I can fall down in. Although, I have discovered that I will not have to fall in any of our performances at Tombstone! YAY! And the two parts I have are really good ones. It's gonna' be great. Now if I can only add 5 more hours to each day and lots of energy for myself, I'd be cool.

50 Best Art History Blogs

So after years of blogging about art history and other things, and then changing my blog around 360 degrees, I have been included in a list of 50 Best Blogs for Art History Buffs. It's long overdue, even if the inclusion is for Draped to the Ankles and not Out of Lascaux. Even so, if you are coming here from that list, please feel free to check out my archives. Out of Lascaux was the first and best Art History blog back in the day, and I have kept my best posts.

And if you're here for the 19th century stuff, I promise to post more in the near future. Right now, I'm very busy getting ready to go back to school (I'm a teacher) and sewing for our show in Tombstone on Labor Day weekend.

Now Voyager

While I was sitting in front of the TV doing handwork this afternoon, I got caught up in a couple of Bette Davis movies. The first one I had seen before - Dark Victory. The other one was Now Voyager. I can't believe I had never seen this whole movie before. What a tear jerker! Yes, I have seen the famous cigarette lighting scene - not so romantic nowadays, especially to someone who finds cigarette smoking gross. But what a great story. And what was I focused on? Her outfits. There is one in particular that I now want, including the hat.

I have been looking at the 40's patterns on eBay, and passing them all up as "not quite right," but now that I have an image in my mind, I know what to look for. I am also looking for a pattern for a princess coat. I used to have a vintage black wool one in college, but I wore it to death (and outgrew it, I'm sure.) I loved that coat. So, I want another.

It's amazing how quickly I have veered off-topic on this blog. 1940's is definitely not the 19th century. Oh well, at least it's still sewing.

WIP Posts

It was decided at the last Six Guns Meeting that the two new outfits would be "unveiled" at Tombstone, so I'm not going to show them anymore until after that. Don't want to ruin the surprise!

As for Tombstone, I have discovered that it will be a real snoozefest when we aren't performing. What kind of "Rendezvous" has no plans for a meet-n-greet or any other kind of get together? Frankly, hanging out in the bar all night is NOT my idea of fun. So I'm going to have to make sure the people who have expressed interest in going with me know what they are in for. Not that it wouldn't be a GREAT time to go to Tombstone as a tourist. You won't have to stay for three days. So come anyway.