Back in the Saddle

It's been a while since I've posted about sewing projects.  That doesn't mean I haven't been sewing, I have.  Starting in 2016, I started attending Costume College, its an amazing event put on every year by the Costumers Guild West. During the day there are classes in pretty much all aspects of costuming and in the evening costumed events. It definitely feeds my costuming soul since I stopped going to  the SoCal Renaissance Faire. After 40+ years of attending, I just couldn't do it any more. It has become "Ye Olde Renaissance Swap Meet and Food Truck Con" I just found myself depressed attending so that was it for me. Another event that feeds my little costuming soul is Dapper Day, an event at Disneyland and other various sites in the LA area.  Dapper Day is what I thought I would post about today to get back into blogging.

Three years ago I wrote about loss, we had a heart wrenching year with the loss of several family members. To find balance and cheer, John and I started going on outings together, basically dating each other now that we were empty nesters. Since John works in education he usually has Friday off, this was the start of "Fridates".  One of these Fridates we went to my happy place, the Downtown LA garment district. It was there that I found an amazing silk/cotton fabric. It was white printed with pink flowers, it was vibrant, happy, and just spoke to me. I wasn't sure what the fabric would become but I knew it had to be vintage inspired and that I would have to honor the fabric by using couture techniques to make it.

Fast forward 3 years to now and I pull the fabric out of my stash. Two years ago, John and I attended our very first Dapper Day at Disneyland.  I made my dress and altered a seersucker jacket that belonged to John's Dad along with some white linen pants for John and a brand new obsession was born.

For this year's spring outing, John requested we dapper Disneybound as characters, but which ones?  John chose Pooh and Piglet, for him, we found a Pooh Bear colored suit in LA, paired it with a red shirt, a hunny colored tie, pocket square, a hat, and he was good to go.  I, however take a little more planning. so I pull the 6 yards of silk/cotton out of my stash and get to thinking.  I decide I need a full skirt and it just needs to say springtime! I also started thinking about accessories, because sometimes they make or break an entire look.  I wanted to be thoughtful about it.

I found this pattern in my stash, then began the process of grading up the pattern to fit my more, shall we say, voluptuous shape?

              

I used only the bodice pattern for the dress, I had previously graded up the skirt from another pattern and decided to use that.  Once I had traced this bodice, adjusted the size, I was ready to cut my first muslin of the bodice. 

pattern check number 1 As you can see, the midriff seam is too high, a full bust adjustment was needed. Messy but done. Success!!! This is the 4th muslin I made and I added the gathered bodice piece to check the look.  Time to cut my silk. I underlined the fashion fabric with silk organza to give it a floaty quality. This was hand sewn to all the pieces. It gives the silk fabric a rounder shape which is noticeable in the skirt.                Once I got the bodice put together and the skirt put together I gathered it and basted it to the bodice while waiting for the hubby at Kaiser. I noticed an outlet and thought to myself that I should have brought my sewing machine.                    I ended up removing the skirt because of a small fit issue with the bodice.  It needed a stabilizer piece that I made from the organza.  Also it was a little too poufy, my daughter said it looked like I was trying to sneak snacks in my bodice.   Finally got the skirt and the zipper in, then onto the lining! Once I got the lining put in and the hem done, I did a final try on and discovered another issue.  The back neck was gaping. Ugh. So I explained to John how to pin the excess so I could look at it and decide the best course of action after I had a good cry.  While helping me John snuck a selfie in. 😂                                                                             Mostly done, but the back neck issue still needs to be solved, hence my unhappy face. The solution turned out to be 3 inch darts in the back neck. which meant unpicking about 5 inches of the back neck, adding the darts and sewing it back together, joy.  Lining neck dart Outside back neck dart And finally my label! Last but not least, my accessories. I purchased a plain paper parasol from Hobby Lobby in pink for $7.99, originally I was going to buy a yellow one and paint it to look like the hunny pot but decided it wouldn't look right, so I went with the pink.  And drew on it freehand, first in pencil then with permanent marker. I used a stencil for the lettering. I purchased a vintage pink hat from an Etsy seller and also made a hair flower to wear under the hat brim, my pinks didn't quite match up so at the Dapper Day Expo I bought a white double lily hair flower from La Casa De Flores that was perfect! And finally, the piece that I considered for a while, had my doubts about and ended up being the most popular part of my outfit, my purse.  I found a vintage 1970's wicker purse in the perfect shape and decorated it to look like Pooh's Hunny Pot, my friend Heather cut the vinyl lettering for me.  I found a little happy bee to hang on the zipper pull and I was ready to go! Overall, our trip to Dapper Day was perfect! We met up with some friends, it was their first time attending and had lunch with them. The parks weren't as crowded as you would expect, and the weather was perfect! What more could I ask for?  This picture cracks me up because of the reflections on my glasses and the Mickey sign looks like it's attached to John's hat. I also get asked about shoes, I'm known for my shoes by most friends, for Dapper Day I go practical, I'm wearing a pair of Rockport MaryJanes that are comfy and have great support. If it's one thing I've learned, it's always take care of your feet! Selfies while waiting for lunch, After I took this photo I discovered that my bodice lining is riding up, this can probably be solved with a small weight attached to the lining. Oh, and did I mention I met Gertie Hersch? She is beautiful, inside and out!

Wow, it feels good to take off my shoes...

Yesterday I mentioned that I was headed to LA to check out the costumes at FIDM and to find some fabric for a future Renaissance Faire costume both goals were accomplished.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day, the weather was perfect as you can tell from this photo of the Eastern Building on Ninth Street.  The Eastern was recently converted into lofts, pricey and in the heart of downtown but I'm happy the old building is seeing some life again. 
 

The movie costumes were amazing, one of the things that always fascinates me is how tiny they are.  Ellen Page is super small!  I love the detail work that I saw in the Academy Award winning costumes from Alice in Wonderland.  I was hoping to see the costumes from Black Swan but no such luck.  They did however have on display the costumes from Clash of the Titans, Inception, Burlesque, King's Speech and Last Airbender which I'm told were much better than the movie itself.

After the Costume Gallery we headed over to the FIDM Scholarship Store, I scored 3 yards of black and white polka dot fabric for $3.00! I will add it to my stash and use it when I think of something to do with it.  While in the store Cheryl, Lacey and I found some vintage-y looking brooches and rings we plan on making a brooch/silk flower bouquet. If you haven't seen these you must check them out, try  here  These things are super gorgeous.  We wandered down the street from FIDM to the garment district and found ribbon, more jewelry and diet coke.  We met up with Lacey's fiance, his dad and brother to outfit them with new suits.  I like the idea of purchasing a suit that can be worn again instead of renting a tux, considering the deals on suits from my man Tebbi at Sina Suits how can you go wrong?  He even has a tailor on site that will do the work in about an hour.

So after all the shopping we ended up at Phillipe's the Original for french dip sandwiches.  I am a second generation patron of this fine establishment.  They have been in business since 1908.  My dad loved the place and passed it on to me.  I have in turn passed this tradition on to my kids.  My hubby is also a second generation patron.  His dad grew up in LA and loves the place.  I know that LA has some great restaurants but given the opportunity, Phillipe's lunch counter is where I will end up.  I love every thing about the place, the ceiling fans, the sawdust on the floor, the lemonade, the candy counter, the long tables that guarantee you will sit by a total stranger who may be homeless and was able to pay $.09 for coffee or Francis Ford Coppola you never know, but most of all, the sandwiches with their special homemade mustard.  HEAVEN! 

Today we attended church.  Due to responsibilities my husband and I have for the last 2 Sundays I've had to stay in my Sunday wear.  I have different classifications for my shoes, some are wear anytime all day long like my favorite summer flip flops or my Uggs, some are every few days is fine but not everyday, some are 3 hour shoes (the length of time I am at church), some are 3 hour but I better be sitting down for 2 hours and others are what in the world was I thinking?!?  Last weeks shoes were 3 hour shoes ( I was in them for 8), today's were more the fine every few days but I believe I will be barefoot the rest of the day. I love Sunday afternoons, I usually try to get a nap in somewhere, I am a true believer in the siesta being of Mexican descent.  The other reason Sunday is awesome?  I get emails from my Missionary son.  He is 19 hours ahead of us so for him it's Monday.  He gets 1 day a week called P day (preparation) to write family, do laundry, go shopping or whatever he needs to do to get ready for the coming week.  Today he emailed me this:

I want you to know I've been thinking a lot about you. I had a conversation with Sister Mautz before she left about having children serving missions. She said that it was a little sad because she felt like she never really got her children back. I thought to myself that you'd never "get me back either" but that's only because you can't get back what you've never lost. 

I feel so blessed to have a son who is so willing to lose himself serving the Lord.  I'm grateful that our family is so close and we enjoy each other, are we perfect?  Definitely not!  But I am indeed grateful that my kids know where home is and that they love to be here.

This was a good weekend,
Terri