sewloud

Roku is still lingering. He's stopped eating and he's cozy and surrounded by his favorite things. I even let him sleep in his dust house. I heard him moving around all day. But he's clearly on a steady decline. I have to work 12 hours tomorrow so poor Rob will be home alone with him.

I'm coping by distracting myself with 1830s party planning because, you know, avoidance. I'm 90% sure that the date will be April 20th, at the Joseph Ambler Inn and it will be around $70. Pricier than I wanted. But when I comparison shopped a little it's basically what a private party with salad, meal, dessert costs. I have a meeting with their event coordinator on Wednesday at noon. So wish me luck there.

To further distract myself I've started shopping for candelabras on ebay and pinteresting for what a historically accurate table would be. like not the literal table but the setting. Obviously we'll probably use what they offer but did they do flowers? centerpieces? these are the things I want to know. I'm hoping at least 15 people would come. Less than that and I think the inn won't be interested in a private party...

Hey look my laptop is working for a hot second. Let's update!

Belvidere: Short version. SO FUN. LOVE MY FRIENDS. LOVE EVERYONE. HAD A BLAST.

Long version: Woke up suitably late on Saturday and dawdled getting my act together. But so did everyone else. When I rolled in Amanda was half dressed on the curb, Adrienne pulled in behind me and Jess and Alice were already on site visiting. I had planned to wear the yellow dress on Saturday day, new dinner gown Saturday night and Tea gown Sunday...but saturday was drizzly and Sunday was a predicted wash out. Amanda had to leave after breakfast for a paper and Jess had to leave after breakfast for family so I made a half dressed decision to swap and wear my tea gown on Saturday because I was so happy with it and wanted to be sure and get pictures. (spoiler alert: none of us managed to dress Sunday due to the cold wet weather and our sleeping in).



We did our quick sidewalk change (a Belvidere tradition) and then wandered off to find Mick and Shane and Alice and Jess. Found the boys first as the girls had gone off shopping. We said hello to a very crowded tent and then wandered off to do our own shopping. There were less vendors and tragically my very favorite jewelry vendor wasn't there this year. *sob* But Lara was vending as Lara Corsets so it was nice to see her and be tempted by her lovelies. Overall though there wasn't anything that blew me away. I think they tried to be selective and in the end they just didn't have much. So one lap around the square did that for us. Then we checked into the hotel (spartan and small but functional and couldn't beat the location. no complaints). And while we were waiting around for a tintype it started raining and was deemed too dark. That was the one real drag for me, we always get a tintype and this year we just couldn't.

My consolation for the lack of tintype was we finally took the carriage ride Amanda and I have been joking about taking for...seven? years?...and I have to say it was a lovely long ride in a comfy carriage. Would do again.




After the carriage ride we chilled in camp under the fly out of the drizzle. Then wandered to the hotel to change for dinner. I had a total moment of "omg they have all these lingering friends and we planned a formal mess for eight due to limits on china and when all the food shows up and us in dinner wear it's gonna be aaaawkward, but by the time we changed it had cleared out.







Despite fighting me the whole way and needing to be rescued by Adrienne I didn't end up hating the dinner dress. Although I tried REALLY HARD to drop a few pounds before and I had fitted those darts two weeks ago so I ended up being able to stick a finger up each side of my bodice. ah well I'd rather be wrinkly and feel svelte ;)



Everyone looked AMAZING. and I managed to get zero good photos of them.






"Quick. Alice look like you're mad at me"

And I have NO GOOD PHOTOS of Jess' STUNNER. I'm really mad at myself. I have nothing but blurry photos. I have to get a real camera one of these days.



For dinner Jess had taken care of a caterer (Jess gets an award for awesomeness) and the food was delicious. We had stuffed cornish hen, lamb, pasta, salad, rolls and cake for dessert...alfresco at a camp. I felt so very silly and victorian. And the really magical thing is once it's dark and the site is all alight with lamps you can't really see out of the island of light and all the modern park around you just fades to black. Much drink was had and mirth made. It was magical.




Jess changed into her tea gown for the relaxed portion of the evening. She was STUNNING.

On Sunday we slept till 8 (except Alice who woke up, did laps, walked the town, ate breakfast and found Jess) then wandered to breakfast. We had a chilly breakfast on the balcony as the tables downstairs were full. Amanda and Jess left. Alice, Adrienne and I wandered to camp. Adrienne left. Alice did dishes and I supervised. Alice and I hit up some antique stores, found nothing. and finally home. I had a delightful nap.

And now I'm attempting to sew 3/4 of a fop in two weeks...I SWORE I wasn't going to do this. I mean yes technically I started more than two weeks ago but I made very little real progress. wish me luck! 

Ellie has been trying to wake me up since 6am. It is not 8am and I've decided I'm done trying to settle her. I even took her for a 30 min walk. fuck you Rob it's your dog. and I'm sorry if she wakes your parents, but we'll call it fair play for their dog always waking us up early. I can hear her barking..barely over these headphones...and I choose TO NOT CARE.

I'm waiting for miss_philomena to upload photos from yesterday in case she got good ones of me before I do a blog post so how about a wee write up?

The event was 10am on sunday so we decided lets go up the night before. Adrienne found a lovely cheap Howard Johnson's 15 min from the site, which frankly is as close as you could physically get without a pop up tent. I was the last to arrive as I had to go to my Sister-in-Law and Brother-in-law's baby shower. Not gonna lie I spent a good chunk of it in the bathroom or outside trying to stop crying. Anything with babies...I've hit that point where it's clearly I'm not going to be a parent and I'm going through a real grieving process. So that said I was REALLY READY for some fun friend time. It also meant I packed in 10 rushed min and FORGOT MY MOST AMAZING FUCKING HAT EVER. I'm never going to forgive myself for that.

We toddled down to the dinner on the corner, had solidly average wraps but had a hilarious waiter with some kind of spanish accent who rolled all his Rs dramatically. Also they wouldn't make Amanda a cocktail while we stared at the liquor shelf. I suspect they thought she was underage.

After dinner everyone nicely helped me finish my sewing. Amanda put a tuck in my petticoat, Alice marked and ironed and sewed my hems while I did my buttons and Adrienne finished Amanda's purse. covert muff. and then we all crashed at 1130 as we're old ladies now.

We were up by 7 thanks to bladders and uncomfortable mattress that aren't-what-i-have-at-home, breakfast was very standard hotel-fare. no one even looked askew at Alice's curler. Because we woke up early we were dressed (I was first for the first time EVAH, I NEVER beat Amanda) and were onsite at 10:02 for a 10:00 event! I know I was equally impressed with us. Also I would like to point out I had NO safety pins AND FIVE functional buttons and two extra snaps. THAT'S RIGHT I DIDN'T GAP.



When we arrived to the "encampment" we four were met with...3 re-enactors enthusiastically setting up their tables. erm. well then. I guess we'll...wander and check out the estate? Ringwood Manor IS a beautiful Victorian House. It's got grounds with a lot of eclectic collected follies. Columns, sphinxes, gates etc. We did a lap, then bought tickets for a house tour. For $3 you really get your money, something like 30 of 51 rooms, and it's really got some fantastic furniture. And I only yelled at the docent once! NO AN 18 INCH WAIST WAS NOT CONSIDERED "IDEAL" tightlacing was consider fetish even THEN. If you found an adjustable tiny dress form it's probably for a teenager and or I question if that was actually an 18 inch waist...

By the time we got to the end of the tour all of us were swaying a little. (Did I mention it was 90 and 100% humidity). So we trooped back to the car to retrieve the picnic basket and plopped on the front stoop for our picnic. Scones, clotted cream, lime curd, cheese and crackers, cookies, water, clementines and I was feeling significantly better. By this point there were a full like 8 reenactors.

We were just contemplating leaving when our friend's Mick and Shane showed up, which definitely pepped us up as we plotted Belvidere and in general chatted. We made it till at 3:00 before deciding we were DONE with corsets and sweat, headed to the car. I stripped in the parking lot and drove home..

Did I mention i drove the new car WHICH MEANT I DROVE FOUR HOURS OF STICK SHIFT. Won't lie, stupid proud of myself.

I worked 12 hours today but when I came home I hemmed the shirt waist. So it's as finished as it can be without buttons. I also ordered a rolled hemmer foot from Amazon that'll be here Monday. Then I can dig out the ruffles I started for the Belvidere dress. I emailed FFC and said "yo why haven't you shipped my fabric. You gonna do that thing where you fuck up again?!" but you know more rudely.

The outfit I'm most intimidated by and feeling...lost about is Rob's fop outfit. I had an idea, it didn't mesh. I am kind of flailiing. But I think I might start with this pattern.

but now I head to bed. 5:30 comes around quickly.

Okay I suddenly realized all the things coming up....

August 5th - great war event in ringwood, NJ:
-test corset? might have to wear my 40s girdle and call it a day as I made that corset 30lbs ago...
-corset cover? thought I might order a old lady nightgown and shorten it
-skirt, fabric is ordered, pattern bought. no sewing
-shirtwaist, half assembled. ordered buttons.
-Hat thank GOD amanda made me the bestest one ever.

September something. Belvidere:
-um dinner dress? I think I only got as far as ordering sleeve fabric? and ripping strips for ruffles. so I need dress fabric, fittings, like the whole damn thing
-buy rolled hem foot to make ruffles.
-wash yellow dress
-finish hoop for yellow dress
-put waistband on mostly finished petticoat from TWO YEARS AGO
-I'd really like to make a TV tea gown for sunday as we'll be there two days

Pimpernell dinner september 22nd:
-shirt, cut out and one seam hand sewn
-waistcoat, jacket, breeches. I can't even find fabric I like.
-order shoes
-stock, order fabric, hem.

I am feeling massively overwhelmed and I won't lie...a little panicked. I'm in a serious sewing rut and staring at a HUGE to do. So here's my goal. sew a little bit at least five days a week. and post here to keep me honest. Today I whipped down the facings and collar on my shirt waist. Tomorrow's goal is to set the sleeves in it, at which point I'm stuck waiting for the buttons. Then I guess I'll pick up Rob's shirt again as that's the other thing cut out and ready to start. And I suppose I could order a rolled hem foot for my machine, that'd be an easy five second project.

I'm really struggling tonight. I really really dislike where our country is going politically. I can't help but remember the hope and euphoria I felt in 2008. I felt like if Mitt Romney had been elected the world would be over...oh how naive I was. The news of Justice Kennedy's retirement is making me feel deeply sad and helpless. This is the ultra conservatives time load the court. It will set back rights for women, minorities and anyone not a straight white man by decades. Goodbye Roe v. Wade. Goodbye marriage equality. Goodbye civil right. I feel helpless and sick. How do you focus on the day to day or even care when the world around you is falling apart? and there is literally nothing I can do. The republicans will force through a conservative justice by November. They have the majority and they will. and I don't know how to keep on going with this feeling.

We were supposed to go the the reading airshow on Sunday, but the forecast was barely 60 and rainy and frankly a stern look at my bank account really kind of dissuaded me. Hard to feel excited about something when the main draw is shopping and your whole budget would be blown on the entry. So everyone kindly acquiesced to a tea at my local tea house instead.

I woke up on time, and took out the new style of rollers I had tried last night. They were very effective. I looked like weird Al.

And that was really the best my hair looked all day. this whole vintage "brush out your wet set" thing? LIES. BLOODY LIES. I looked like I love Lucy had sex with a sheep, in the rain, and got struck by lightening. Needless to say I was quite grumpy with that and plopped a hat on it. I had PLANNED a headband. OH WELL. I'm gonna say that the brush out is a concept straight haired people who aren't frizz prone can do, and having hair that touches your butt prooooobably doesn't help either. Then I smeared make up on, and was halfway through the "FUCK NUTS WHERE'D I LOSE MY GIRDLE" panic when I realized Amanda needed picking up. Sent Rob off to fetch her from the train and was completely dressed in my FANTASTIC new flamingo skirt and world's least functional rain poncho in time for her to walk in the door looking like a million bucks. It was the perfect illustration of our friendship. really she's quite annoying that way.



Shortly there after while we were admiring my newly collapsed steps Alice pulled in and we waited patiently for Adrienne...who was already at the tea house but we all somehow missed that memo. So just a few min late we tottled off to see if she might there..she was. Luckily I only live ten min away so we didn't leave them hanging tooooo long.



I took exactly one photo at tea to taunt Amanda's boyfriend with. Aren't I on top of things? Meredith and Adrienne were already there so the three of us filled out the gathering. Lots of laughter and delicious food, I do love a tea there. although we've gone so many time it doesn't feel new or exciting anymore. I wish the alternative tea house in Lansdale was open on Sundays as it would be nice to mix it up at least a LITTLE.

After tea we walked to the antique mall next door. We didn't find QUITE as much fantastic stuff as last time, but Alice got a picnic basket and Adrienne got the world's most fun novelty glasses. I stole them shamelessly for a selfie.




I told her if she didn't buy them we couldn't be friends anymore.



playing around in the kitchen set up.

Then we said farewell to Meredith who had to drive home and prepare for being an adult today and working her real job and went back to my house for a few outside pictures and sewing day. Look I picked the one where Amanda's eyes are closed as I'm vindictive and I don't have chins in this one.



Word of advice. Don't try to take cute photos with these nut jobs.

I did a blog post with details of my open robe, but I thought I'd try an old school event write up over here.

Carolyn and Taylor arrived on Friday night. They actually beat me here, as I was relieved by a nurse who is both always late and nervous about new patients so I had to go over new kid in detail. fun. When I walked in Carolyn was already sewing my open robe...O.O have I mentioned how AMAZINGLY kind they were? They completely finished said open robe. the word's thank you aren't even enough.

I crashed hard fairly early friday night. woke up early on Saturday to head to Wegman's for chicken salad for sammiches. Came home to Carolyn putting the last stitches in my open robe. cue me squealing. Then we all get dressed, packed picnic baskets, forgot things, remembered things and headed out the door.

I was worried about wet soggy grass and sitting on the lawn but I had internet stalked them and knew there was at least a brick patio. Turns out there's actually a patio with tables and chairs and they were incredibly welcoming. brought out table clothes and let us sprawl all over. We took a turn around the lawn, tried to see the river (you can't too many trees) and then I promptly announced "I'm hungry" and marched up the lawn to start unpacking. The spread was gorgeous.

After we eat ourselves stuffed (can we discuss Carolyn's scones), and then waddled around the lawn again.
I have to say I have the most beautiful friends. And everyone looked amazing. I Loved Alice's little spencer it's the stinking cutest thing ever. and can we discuss Taylor's fun earrings!? the moved while she talked and I was only mildly staring.
We took a group photo in chronological order because of course we're those nerds.
We took a tour of the house which was really great. The guide was funny, detailed and interesting and the house itself was beautiful. I would go back in a min. and they were SO welcoming and asked us to come back any time. It was a perfect low key event and I felt gorgeous and had such a wonderful time seeing friends and recharging my batteries. 

I took a ton of photos and they're all here in my flickr

I want to make an open robe to go over my white drawstring dress for our Georgian picnic that's coming up...I don't remember how to do this. I'm sitting here with fabric and a "i want to make ___" and I'm completely like "um what do I start with? I don't have a pattern. I have zero ideas of what to start with. O.o I wish I knew where the pattern I used for the dress was but I think it's a heavily bastardized version of the simplicity drawstring dress that I made years ago...oh dear apparently sewing isn't like riding a bike.

Me, "Oh good Amanda is taking my shift on Saturday"
Rob, "um...okay.....why?"
Me, "cause my mom is coming?......did you think I meant mandie_rw was taking my underoos?"
Rob, "affirmative" 

I mean I like mandie_rw but she'd look like silly in my giant shift...