Hiatus-a dress for me!

Some months ago, I went on vacation to San Diego and we drove to the fashion district in LA. I knew that I was looking for a lovely piece of fabric and a ridiculously cheap price. I found it! This is 8 yards of polished cotton that the gentleman measured out with a yard stick and tore with his teeth. The end is almost perfectly straight. I have been thinking about what to make with this, because it is a slightly Georgian print. I will make a round gown that is entirely draw-stringed so that there aren't any fasteners. I will have the bodice tie at the waist as well as at the neckline. I think it will look lovely.

$2 a yard in LA. I should have gotten the blue as well

The pattern I drew out. I like having new things with new patterns

While sewing the mock up together, my bobbin ran out. That means time to stop for the night

I have been sewing new modern clothes so much lately, I forgot how fast I am at regency as well as how much I love making it. I was a little hesitant to cut the fabric, being that if I mess up, there is not way to get more...but I think I am over that. It took less than an hour from draft to mock up. excellent

Mock up almost done..just need to put some channels in and some drawstrings  and its ready to try on!

I will post once the mock up fits and is cut into the fashion fabric. I really need to use my down time wisely, and get my Retreat wardrobe up to snuff so I can focus on my next two commissions. Luckily, they are for Mrs. Mari Roll, and they are regency. Yay!

I almost forgot the Fall Front pants. Do not fear, I will be on it..this dress very well could be done tomorrow...

Your Modiste, and a Baronets Daughter,

Nora Azevedo

1930's Dress Commission COMPLETED

I have to say, that when I took this on, I was daunted, I knew that it would be a challenge, and I love challenges. This one pushed my creative process to the limit (we all have one, writers and seamstresses and actors etc...we all have a cycle). I would like to give a shout out to Aria, proprietress of Aria Couture and a new friend of mine who I know will become a staple here at ABD Designs. She was instrumental in getting me through my process while sharing her extensive know how with me. Trial by fire and error happens to me, and did during this as well, but she helped me make less of those. And she's awesome. Even The Petite Charlotte "helped". I would also like to shout out to Melody Rossiter,  the drafting guru! She was instrumental in the process of taking the pattern given and turning it into the back that Mrs. Mari wanted.

The measurements she sent me were a little odd, including a 29 inch waist and a 41 inch hip, but being who I am with a 15 inch difference in the measurements of my waist and hips, I made to her specs.

So, I will close with the pics. I now have a no sew day tomorrow, followed by an article for The Belletrist for Mrs. Cunningham as well sewing on Thursday to make diaper covers for little Master Logan and a trip to Seattle to make visits than on to the mock up for the fall front pants that have been tentatively ordered by the proprietress of Wells and Verne. If she likes the mock up, we will start the process to get my trousers into a store. No rest for the weary. :) Yay!

The Petite Charlotte helping. We will make a seamstress out of her yet!

A great shot of the back

The front on the dress form. It was not cooperating with being put on the dress form, so I tacked it on

The finished back

The zipper...Its perfect..Thanks Aria for your help

packaged up

And Ready to go. 

So, with a big sigh of relief, I bid you adieu and good night!!

Nora Azevedo, Modiste and A Baronet's Daughter.

1930's

A fellow custom enthusiast has commissioned me to make a 30's dress for her. I took the opportunity to learn and master something closer to modern clothes and so I accepted.

The Red one is the shape she wants. I have artistic license on it, as she wants the back to plunge and I have made that happen.

I have done multiple mock ups and have hit a wall, but, I know that once I sleep and get back to it, the wall will be scaled. The sleeves are now my bane. I will be adding to the top so that the low waist is  appropriate and than I will be drafting the skirt, as she has a tiny waist and flared hips. She will look AMAZING but, I have to get over my wall.

Here is the front and the back of my latest mock up. I'm tired, and will be adding inches to the back in the top tomorrow and than working on the skirt.

I think the other problem is that the dressform is, for lack of a better word..ghetto. Perhaps, if I am good, someday I will have a better one.

Enjoy my mock up

Little Things

There are few things that are consistently lovely, pretty and joyful, and I have to say they are all shoved into the Little Things shop on Lovejoy here in Beautiful Portland Oregon.

The proprietress, Andrea Angell not only keeps all the loveliness of other local Portland artisans, she has her own line of jewelry as well.

I am proud to say that ABD designs, a non regency-clothing division of A Baronets' Daughter Designs, now has a few little tidbits in there to add to her collection, and yes, you can come into her corner of beauty and pick some great things up. There are purses, and pinata's and jewelry and nicknack's of all shapes and sizes.

Do yourself a solid and either go see her, or purchase something fantastic on her website.

Thanks for checking my website out and hers as well. I am currently working on a Rockabilly dress and will be debuting it on here soon.

Apparently, my talents are asked for in more than just my all time favorite type of fashion.

More as it comes in .

Etsy

So, I have made some jewelry inspired by regency things. Go check it out! Let me know if you like it, have some ideas...etc. I'm happy to sell something, but feedback is more what I'm going for!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ABaronetsDaughter

Let me know what you think!

Delivery of Commisson

So, I am pretty proud of myself today. I finally delivered my OpSail Commission to customer. I only posted pics of the dress, but I also made a fall front trouser and a shirt for her one son who will be a powder monkey along with his brother. I'm really just feeling like a boss right now, so I'll let the pictures do the talking.

For the pants, I deconstructed a pair of ladies size 0 linen capri pants.

I chopped up the other linen pants that matched closest and added the fall front:

There was an injury. For the record, I was attacked by the roll cutter. I stand by my story.

I started on the shirt. For the record, I don't read patterns. The lingo is like greek to me and the pictures are sometimes not helpful. April, my lovely friend and client, went to Fabric Depot and got me a historical pattern. Yes, I followed it.

I even made the button holes by hand. Yeah, like a boss.

This is AJ in his whole outfit. He really wasn't happy, but he was sure makes a great powder monkey!

And April in all her glory. God, I am so happy with this dress!

And the whole family!

And, with the exception of the details, like shoes and neckclothes, the family is ready to go to OpSail. If any of the Ladies and Gents of the Regency Society of Virginia or any of our other sister societys come across this lovely lady, go ahead and presume to make introduction, I know she would like it!

Nora A Baronets Daughter, Modiste

Spencer Commission-Done

This is what my project was at the beginning

We had sketched out the idea based on a picture of a spencer made from the Mode Bagatelle pattern. I draped it on her and came up with a pattern to fit her.

I cut the silk with the lining and started putting it all together

It started to come together until the silk dupioni started to fray at the seems.

I improvised, and made it look decorative.

Here it is on the mannequin before I attached the sleeves.

This it in the front with the hand sewn button holes.

Back view of the finished project..

and..Im spent. It will look lovely on Miss Emma and she is so happy, she said she will commission more clothing from me. I will probably not charge her nearly enough, but her joy was a part of the payment. I hope to post pictures of her in my creation. Sincerely, Nora Azevedo, Modiste and a Baronets Daughter.