An Introduction

It seems that I have done a lot of introductions here on this blog.  And although I do not typically personify all my objects, sometimes it just makes the work more fun.  This is especially the case when sewing with a dressform, which is why I would like to introduce you to Cora.

This form was a graduation gift from my wonderful parents.  They knew how much I loved working with the school ones during my program and thought I should have one for my future career.

I get asked a lot if it is my exact size (it is not) and why it isn't an adjustable size.  The reason for this is that it is a professional form.  When commercial patterns are drafted, they are usually developed in a medium size (typically 8 or 10) and then graded up or down.  The eight is a little bit larger than I am, and for personal sewing it is easier to take things in after draping rather than enlarge them.

I also get asked a lot why it says "collapsible shoulder" on the hips.  That is because the shoulders are spring loaded and can retract into the body.  This allows for fitted garments to be slid onto the torso.  Imagine if you were getting into a tight fitting garment, your shoulders typically contort to fit through the waist seam.

There is your brief lesson on dress forms!  Random trivia of the day.

Too cute not to share...

**I thought that The Three Spinsters might especially enjoy this!

A Valentine Post

A happy valentines day to you all!

This year I am celebrating in style with my new roommate and all our friends.  We're having a grand bash, with an abundance of tasty food.

Our party includes:

Tea cup invitations inspired from this Etsy shop.

Garlands galore from Pintrest

Shortbread tarts -- recipe below, it's my favorite!

Teabag cookies from Frost Me Blog --so cute!

Shortbread Tarts with Cream Filling

Ingredients:

Tarts:

1 cup butter, room temperature

½ cup confectioners sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 ½ cups flour

3 T cornstarch or rice flour

¼ t salt

Filling:

1-8 oz package cream cheese

1-14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

Zest of one lemon

1/3 cup fresh squeezed Lemon juice

1 t vanilla extract

Procedure:

Tarts:

Beat together the butter and sugar for 1-2 minutes, until smooth.  Beat in the vanilla extract.  Add the flour, cornstarch and salt and mix just until incorporated. If the shortbread dough is too soft to roll into balls, cover and refrigerate for about 30-60 minutes.

Take a scant 1 tablespoon of shortbread dough and place in the center of each (lightly greesed) mini muffin tin.  With your fingertips, press the dough onto the bottom and up the sides. Once filled, cover and place the tart pan, with the unbaked shells, in the freezer for about 15 minutes so the shortbread can become firm.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until lightly golden brown.  About halfway through the baking time, if the shortbread has puffed up, lightly prick the bottom of each shortbread with the tines of a fork.  Once they are fully baked, remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.  When completely cooled, remove the tarts from the pan. They can be frozen at this point.

Filling:

Beat the cream cheese until smooth.  Add the condensed milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla and process just until smooth.  Do not over process or the filling will be too runny.  Transfer the filling to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for 6-8 hours or preferably overnight. Can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for about a week.

Serve tart shells with a dollop of filling and a berry or slice of fruit on top.  Makes about 36.

My Sewing Kitty...

1904 Vest and Blouse

 I can't seem to get enough of this blue swirl silk (previously it was made into an 1880s polonaise).  I love how this picture shows it's many characteristics.  From some angles it looks bright blue, from others it is brown.  I believe they call that "shot" silk because the warp and weft use different colors. 

Above is a late 1800s vest made from a Folkwear pattern.  It went together easily and is line with cotton.  It is made to be worn over the cotton blouse pictured below:

This is a cotton muslin from the home dec section that has diamond pin tucks all over.  the front gathers at the neckline and it buttons down the back with some antique shell buttons. 

Although the designs on these fabrics may not be perfectly accurate, the fibers are, and the styles are.  It's two out of three, and for me that is enough.  Always an interesting question though.  As my reader, what is your opinion on historical accuracy?  Are you a purest?  An "accurate as you can be within reason"?  Or a "don't really care, just want to sew and dress up"?

Careful...

...someday you just might get the urge to pipe everything in red.  I did.  But don't worry, it's historically accurate.  Linda, my friend at the museum found an extant 1905 blouse with blue check fabric like the one above--piped in red. 

This blouse is for Linda actually.  The living history program she curates (is that a word...the living history program she is curator of?) just made the switch from 1880 to 1904 so she gets a new wardrobe!  This is a work blouse incorporating as much detail as possible so it feels *slightly* more like a nice blouse. 

I used a Rocking Horse Farm pattern, botched the cuffs--I'm sure of it, and piped everything.  The buttons were an amazing find from a 50 cent clearance rack at the fabric store.

I've got many more 1904 garments to post.  I suppose I should even make a new category for them.  Now isn't that fancy!

Wally Pops

Some girls I love run the Etsy shop, Pretty Wit.  Marguerite is the designer and creator of the irresistible Wally Pops.  Morgandy is the little guy who lives with me. 

He is a frequent resident of my rear view mirror, and while at school last semester, my friend Kami fell in love with him. 

For Kami's birthday I commissioned Marguerite to make a wally pop perfectly suited to my friend and she didn't disappoint!  Gabrielle arrived beautifully crafted with the sweetest smile!  The only things I told Marg were that Kami loves pink, Paris, and cupcakes.  Below is the description that was impeccably penned on Gabrielle's birth certificate:

"Bonjour! This is Gabrielle. She loves to bake sweet things and always takes time to make everything beautiful. She is often found sitting at sidewalk cafés sipping Perrier and having long conversations with friends. She loves to ride her bike over the cobblestone streets and stop at all the old bridges to listen to the music drift over the river and fade into the pink sunset beyond the sparkling lights of Paris"

If you're looking for a gift for your bestie, I suggest you check out the Pretty Wit shop to adopt a Wally of your own!