Long overdue goodies!

So, I have been MIA lately. Things went down with the Sellwood House and we had to move like...IMMEDIATELY...so now, we are safely at Jennings Lodge. My studio is complete

I also have a new friend, her name is Lilyan...we call her Miss Lily, she is 12, she is silly and she lets me dress her up. Say Hi Lily!

She is really silly, and looks lovely and the entire ORS pretty much wants to dress her up. She has Steph willing to make her some stays,  and Mari, my biggest client, is giving her some Robert Land shoes...yeah, I told her she was spoiled, she said she was living the high life. yeah.

her 12th birthday present

sleeve before

sleeve after

hem of the skirt

one happy Lily.

the first gown she made (mostly) by herself

Oh yeah, Lily is a piece of work. :)

So in October, Amanda and I went to the Wedding of Miss Maggie Waterman and Mr Albert Roberts. So lovely, it was at The Hermitage, yes, President Jacksons' digs. Photos were limited, due to the venue but we had some lovely pics and were lucky to be invited as it was a select group. We were also very lucky to meet and stay with Mrs. Bennett Nelson who is most definitely one of my favorite people I have met.

completely hand sewn white lawn for the wedding.

the hat to go with

the peacock frock

The most lovely ladies, Mrs Gentry, Mrs Nelson and myself

 I took some much needed R and R When I got back. The venue, the ceremony, the fireflies and cicadas in the sultry evening...yeah, a beautiful Tennessee adventure.

Next up, The Duchess' Dinner. At the The Portland White House we had a a delicious meal, seriously elegant Bed and Breakfast with a staff of whom I can not sing the praises of this place enough for! The menu included rabbit and pheasant and good laughs and fun!

The whole group

the triumvirate of Awesome

Celine loaned me the amazing tiara.

After dinner cards with Lady Sully and the good Mr. Bellini

the entryway

the dining room

pre dinner drinks

the Texas Tiara.

Eliza "helped"

Mari's Duchess dinner gown.

She gave me American Duchess shoes!!!!

And lastly, but not least, my first window dressing at the Ribbonry and Button Emporium with the dress I made for Mari for Phi's party, but she didn't get a chance to wear it.

There is more, sewing and playing and kitties, but its past my bed time.

Yours,
Mrs. Azevedo, Modiste and A Baronets Daughter.

Regency Stays in a day

I know what you are thinking, a DAY? No way! well, yes way! :)

Stays are traditionally one of the hardest things for a lady to make. Lets face it, we are all shaped different and all have different levels of skills. Even for the well versed dressmaker, sometimes stays can be something that is daunting.
I'll admit, the first set of stays I ever made were a disaster, and as I made seconds and third attempts, they got better and better. Now, I am no where near an A+ in some ways, in others, I don't mind saying, I'm worth every penny. How do I know? Well, first...my last post on stays continues to get more hits than any other and because I have successfully gotten the "assets" of the ladies who have purchased Stays from me to the proper regency silhouette, which when we get down to the nitty gritty, really is the whole point.

Now, I primarily cater to the Plus Size women, as it is harder for them to go on say, Etsy and order something pre-made in their size and, and I have to say, every shape is quite lovely and a unique challenge.

So, back to Stays in a Day. Start was around 3:30pm after my customer had come down from Seattle and we had spent quality time drooling over her sari fabric. (I stole some so I could make a regency gown for her out of it)

We started by getting her into a set of stays of mine to see how I might need to make adjustments to the pattern. (they are my favorite set, btw.)

They just needed a few tweeks and some different bone placement, so I cut pieces and went for it.

About 6 hours in...I had three layers sewn together and half the boning in.

We broke for dinner at Cartlandia (yes, I'm a gastronomically spoiled Portlander) and than we got back to it.

Rest of the bones and the binding going...we were almost done.

Note that the cups protrude a bit, that is because unlike myself.. this customer has more to work with and needs to be properly formed. She also chose the fashion fabric as she loved it. It looks brown in the pictures, but its really purple. This wont be a problem as most of her wardrobe are jewel tones and dark colors.

I know, you are wondering where the straps are? Well, Straps have been and can be put on in a few ways. She wanted more adjustability in straps that are ties on both front and back.

It was perfect.

Yes, the back is spiral laced, which is both crazy comfortable and period correct.

We were done and she was on her way home around 1:30. I was bushed, but it was worth it. Happy Lady, happy assets and I know she will look amazing in her regency finest at the Washington Regency Society Retreat. :)

Another set of Stays I have finished were completely different, as the ladies in question were completely different.

 

 

These work the same just on a different shaped lady. She looked lovely in this gown I made for her

Yes, Indian Cotton of Drool. I know. ebay ladies, ebay.

Well, there is more in the works right now, including gown for an 11 year old lady who isn't quite "out" yet, but will be attending the ORS 6th Annual Pittock Mansion Picnic, plus a rush order on a white silk halter dress and a pair of fall front pants I have neglecting....and than MORE TO COME since the REGENCY RETREAT OF EPIC is closing in!

Adieu!

Mrs. Azevedo, Modiste and A Baronets' Daughter.

Quick update

So, due to the amazing-sauce help of my minion, I have been able to get another gown down for Mrs. Roll.

So, now I’m going to make a gown for me. I want something new, Especially since the last Sunday in July is the Pttock Mansion Picnic. I have some lovely white striped fabric. I love these sleeves and Miss Kelly was kind enough to draft the sleeve for this one, since as everyone knows..sleeves suck.

 The challange: its 6 pm. its 80 degrees and I'm over heated. Can I make myself a gown in one night? we shall see.

Adieu

Mrs. Azevedo, Modiste and a Baronets' Daughter

What has been going on in my crazy world!

Oh! Ladies and Gents, thank you for your patience since it has been quite a while since I have let you all know whats going on here at ABD studios.

First, I would like to formally introduce you to my new helper, sewing paduan learner and MINION!!! Miss Kelly Hunt comes to us from Washington, but is firmly rooted here, in the ORS!



Kelly is PRETTY EPIC!

Unfortunately, due to circumstances out of her control, she will not be coming to the retreat...but she is still learning and helping, and I can not express my thanks appropriately. As I type she is ironing and cutting pieces!

This is her HARD at work.....we are kicking out a HUGE order that just had the customer add more things......at least I have till the retreat to deliver! I am fortunate to have a minion as well as the BEST customers!!! YAY!

So, I want to do something for me....and I needed Inspiration. 

I am thinking that this needs to belong to me. Am I crazy? will I get that plus another whole regency wardrobe for a customer as well as two stays for two other customers done before July 31st? Probably not, but I am still working away a little at a time on something for me. Perhaps, Ill wear it to Maggie's Wedding??? That's October, so I have time. 

I finished stays and a gown for Miss Pamela from the most sheer, delicate and wonderful Indian Hand block printed Indian Muslin she got from ebay. Yes, ebay

Than, I cleaned, to get ready for the next project: Mari's gowns for her retreat wardrobe

I cleaned...which....didn't last long cause The Minion is deep in it!

And than...in the middle of it, we got dressed up and went to the Lilac gardens in Woodland Washington. It was lovely

Well my friends, I should get to it as I have three dresses to start on....and than when I'm done there will be more!

I'm hoping to put my photo portfolio up on a tab shortly, Saturday Miss Kelly and possibly Miss Pamela will be with me to a trip with the camera to get the whole wardrobe and items for order up on here so everyone can see my lovely things!

As always, I am Mrs. Azevedo, Modiste and A Baronets' Daughter.


 

My foray into Steampunk

I will preface this blog by saying that I love Regency. I LOVE REGENCY! I always have, than I got into making it and I am as deeply in love with it as I am my husband (that’s pretty darned deep)...That being said, lets delve into something a little different....not much but a beginning to a new chapter.

As some of you know, the WRS is hosting this years Regency retreat, and I have been commissioned by a couple of people to make their entire wardrobe for this event..Mari is one of my regular customers, and she will be beautifully turned out, as usual...but Shea MacLeod has commissioned a wardrobe too!!! She is one of the local celebrities one runs into when out and about and have a steampunk like hat to sell. I met Ms MacLeod at the JA faire a couple of weeks ago. She bought my riding habit hat and she was hooked from there.

Ms. MacLeod is a Steampunk enthusiast (as that is part of what she writes, I gather) and needed a chemise that she could use at a steampunk convention as well as start her Regency wardrobe.

Here it is! Enjoy! :)

a back view

side view

front view off detail

Thanks for looking, Ill be posting about the other things Im doing soon, I have a lot going on and can't wait for more orders!

Your Servant

Mrs. Azevedo

Modiste, and A Baronets' Daughter