viennabelle

Today was an insane day. I'm hosting a display at a major disabilities meeting tomorrow for the Democratic Party--just at the point where it seems that all the campaigns are switching logos. So--I was scrambling for fun stuff, like stickers. I've spent the major part of the past two days hunting down simple lapel stickers. Oddly, I ended up with a glut of tee shirts for various campaigns. Go figure.

With that behind me, I was hoping to give

bauhausfrau a belated birthday present--but no luck. I left it at work--and the terms of my status as a headhunted contractor means I can't go in the building after 7 pm Fridays (an advantage in my mind) meant no legal way of getting it at this point. So, it will wait to next week. I was totally nackered. I called her, gave my regrets and took a long nap.

When waking, the urge to make progress sustained. I have so little time to finish this dress! So, while more embellishments are still on their way from India, I decided to make as much progress as I could with what I have already received. I'm really happy with results so far...

Just a little background...I am basing my efforts from Reconstructing History's pattern 707. My first effort was getting the bodice to fit--an effort made complicated by my recent gain in weight and my DH's general bewilderment over general principles of fit. Over the past few days, I've made the bodice layer (which incorporates a kind of corset) and cut/sewn an outside layer.

Tonight I devoted my attentions to the most enjoyable part of construction: embellishment.

Ironically, I must admit that I've spent more for this than any other part of the project--and didn't do so until I got a job that gave me an accessible income. Fabric for this gown cost $40--I was lucky enough to get 8 yards of rayon/synthetic something or other (I burn tested it and rayon came clear, but whatever else was there was only notable as slight and vaguely melty). On the other hand, I spent about $80 on trims--but only after landing the "job." Spending more on trims seems to make this really seem like the kind of dress a King's mistress would wear. The combination of spangles and baby pearls make it appear just right--although getting the right effect took a significant degree of layering.

So...here are the piccies. Enjoy some embellishment porn below the cut. Apologies to folk on both the Chas II & Dress Diariies lists and my friends list. I just couldn't stop from treble posting. The look of layering is just so darn decadent.

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I hope I finish this in time for Costume College!

Now for a little costumy porn!