Some exciting news

As some of you may or may not know, I was fortunate to become acquainted with the dear Miss Waterman on my recent trip to Seattle. The consequences are both delightful and worrisome at the same time. Worrisome as I will have to neglect my only duties in favor of money making endeavours as I have now come into possession of tickets of passage to back East in order to be witness with her family and friends at her coming nuptuals.

I am sad that I will not have much time to do anything but sew and as well as the unpleasantness of modern concerns, but rest assured, Once I have more to report, I will.

Adieu for the future.

Mrs. Azevedo

Shameless plugs!

Normally, my shameless plugs are for myself. I admit it, as I continue on my sewing journey, I find that I am rocking more and more...but there are two things I feel passionate about that I'm going to pimp the crap out of, in the parlance of our time.

 The Washington Regency Society presents their first Regency retreat! Talk about SQUEE!! Have you ever wondered how it would feel at a Regency House party at a country manor? I can tell you from going to the last two from The Oregon Regency Society, that with a full regency wardrobe, good friends, new and old and some imagination, you can immerse yourself in 1813. These ladies have been working really REALLY hard to bring you something that transports you! The venue is on the coast of Washington, halfway between Seattle and Portland at the Falls Creekr Retreat Center. I can tell you, as I was privileged to tour the facilities, that the grounds are calm and lovely, the waterfall is worth the hike and the deer in the front made it for me.

I know that a lot of you aren't from my part of the world, but we had people from other states come last year and I recommend that if you can, please do come. The group of ladies and one or two gentlemen really are a treat and would love to meet you!



Come party like its 1813!

And in your quest to get ready for the Retreat, or any regency events, please PLEASE go to American Duchess Shoes and pre order your HIGHBURY Regency slippers!

Right now, they are discounted for the pre-order and if they seem a little expensive know this...A, she has a layaway program, B. You will not find a better quality or researched shoe and you will never go back to the ballet flats from payless again!! She has researched and is doing her pre order now so that she can keep them affordable. She needs 100 to be pre-ordered before she can go into production. Splurge and pick these up. You will not only feel even more period correct, but you will help the rest of us get a pair too!!

Follow the link and buy some shoes people!!

One last plug, after May 4th, I will be available to help you make your regency wardrobe dreams come true! 15% orders if you are going to the retreat!

That concludes my shameless plugs for today! Go get your tickets and your shoes today!

Mrs. Nora Azevedo
Modiste, and a Baronets' Daughter.

Happy Birthday Pride and Prejudice!

On January 28th was the 200th anniversary of the publishing of this lovely book. As a Jane-ite through and through, I get pure enjoyment from it every time I read it. I find something or other that I had missed the time before. That is what makes a solid book stand the test of time. I'm currently reading Sense and Sensibility, and it is funnier and sadder every time I read it as well.

In honour of Jane, I have some pictures randomly to post. I have been busy in Seattle with the Washington Regency Society and Lady Sully and Mrs. Cartwright and Countess of Monroe, Mrs Gentry as well as Lord Forest and Mrs. and Mrs. Henricks. 12th night dinner, Card parties and tea..OH MY!

First up, the Feast of the 12th Night, hostessed by Lady Sully and Mrs. Cartwright at Fort Necessity....and it was SOOO MUCH FUN!

The Guests arrive

Dinner in full progress

Her Ladyship, Lady Sully

I had been, at this moment, tippling the punch..as they say.

I was extolling the virtues of the Regents punch as Lady Sully indulges me

Lady Philippa in all her elegance

Mrs. Kristen Sprague

 

The sassy and lovely Countess of Monroe, Lady Amanda



Next up was Cards with the Mrs. Hendricks at their lovely home in Purdy

American Duchess Shoes...excellent

Lord Christopher in his Banyan, Myself in the White and Lady Sully, sporting the Kermit Dress

The whole Lovely Group!

Sassy me with "tea"

Than This last Sunday, Lady Heather and Miss Robertson hosted a lovely tea at Lady Heathers home. Mari got to wear my latest creation (trying it on at delivery.) and we have the tiny tiny Master Alex, the latest creation by Mrs. Johaneson 
was in the best form. Photos will come as I get them.

For now, just Mari and I in my rose gown and her newest gown, and the whole group

Thank you
Nora Azevedo, Modiste and A Baronets' Daughter

The Red! the debut!

So, "The Red" has been under discussion for quite some time. It started out with this:

Toquet Brode. Robe a Collet

 It is a card. I bought it at a store recommended to me by Lady Sully, Lady of Portland House and the card said "1799 Journal des Dames et des Modes". The number An. 9 in the left corner and (292) in the right corner.

I love everything about it except the hat. Some people adore the hat, especially Hat-o-philes like The Hungarican Chick but, I think it leaves something to be desired.

So, as most of your sewing enthusiasts out there know, creating, even from a premade pattern is a process, and everyone has a different process.

Aria Clements, of Aria Couture and I scrutinized and agonized and argued and agreed over this plate for quite some time. Mrs. Cunningham was kind enough to gift me PLENTY of the most delicate flowing red cotton for this creation. :)

I purchased buttons at Button Emporium and Ribbonry and we set off. Aria was kind enough to drape on me, as I wanted it custom, and Large Marge has not been successfully altered to look less like a pointy boobed something and one can not drape on oneself without heartache, and I had enough of that in my future. Aria is quite skilled at this and we had a little helper!

front drape

and the Petite Charlotte "helping"

and, finally, after months.....I drew the pattern out, and pinned it to the cotton and *gulp*..began to cut!

no going back now!

We decided, and by "we" I mean Aria....that I would hand sew this. Not the best idea, but not the worst. It was basically drawing it out as long as possible. Perhaps its a mental issue I should look into getting fixed. Meh.

Collar

 Aria thought I should go with a higher collar, but I am not a barbie doll and I wanted it to stand  up..so I went with a smaller one.

ROAR!

Than, after fitting it a couple times...I got a little mad. Of course, that is all part of the "process"...see Mary? Writers aren't the only ones who have a process....but being a seamstress as well, you already know that. (She's more than a fair bit of Awesome)

Sleeves of WIN

So, contrary to what Miss Lauren says, there is at least one sleeve of win on the market! YAY! I LOVE HOW THE SLEEVES CAME OUT!!! I am just now getting into more intricate designs and I have to say, these sleeves make me incredibly happy!


So, finally...after DAYS and WEEKS and MONTHS of this process, we have achieved!

imitating the fashion plate

weird pic taken at the JASNA event

Full Length!

no project is complete without a kitteh laying on your fabric. :)

So that is it. The Red is done and mine and fits well and I lurves it! One of the ones I may never get rid of.

Thanks to all who have contributed in every way...:) Now, onto some things for other people again. :)

Nora Azevedo, Modiste
and A Baronets' Daughter

A Dinner a la 1812

This weekend was a blur of activity. I sewed, and delivered my latest commission, a black and white voile dress for Mrs. Roll.

Mrs. Roll in gown

Side look....

bottom detail

sleeve detail

other sleeve detail

 We spent the weekend staying at Casa de Phillipa...a very awesome lady of refinement, and Spode. Wow..the lady has some epic Spode. We drank tea, and had tea...and than, on Saturday, after watching Tom Jones (and my epic sewing to get the dress done) we started to get ready for the Gala affair.


We arrived at The Jacob Smith House and where escorted in by the help.

Lady Philippa, Miss Tara and Mrs. Gentry, Lady Monroe,

the ladies and gents before the dinner. I love Amanda, Lady Monroe's face!

Mrs. Cartwright, Lady Victoria, Lady Jersey (as I have been known to go by)

We were seated to a dinner resplendent with Duck in the salad, Salmon and Pork of a grand proportion not to mention the other small dishes.

the salad with duck. THE BEST

Than, after an appropriate time, the gentlemen repaired to the card room with Brandy, and the ladies danced. I called the dance for the first time and it was wonderful. I did also dance as well.

Miss Tara and I dancing with Lady Phillipa

Lady Monroe on the right

more casting off

Lady Phillipa leading the dance, Mrs Gawne, aka Lady Cowper calling

Than, we drank and talked and had a great time. The evening closed much too early, but 2am was approaching.

Thank you to the sponsor, our own Lady Ruth Haring

I have come away with two new clients and more projects than one can shake a stick at.

If you are new to this and want more information on Regency Society in your area, please go to Regency Society of America. We are out there, and we party like its 1812!

Your Servant
Mrs. Nora Azevedo, Modiste and a Baronet's Daughter

Let me begin my blog post with begging your pardon. I have been busier than a bee and have had neither time to put into my dressmaking or my daily life. If only I didn't have to go to the silly modern day job......Id be a wonderful housekeeper, as apparently, I can handle multiple irons in the fire. I digress.

So, August was a blur. The retreat was amazing, and the push at the end there to sew was as usual, a marathon. I had help by my niece Sarafina to get the pieces for my patroness Mrs. Roll, and I made it happen, even though I was hand sewing the hems at the retreat, I did my best and my patroness was so happy, I have a pile waiting for me. :) She will looks a fashion plate of elegance once I'm finished with her, though, I am not entirely certain she will be finished with me!

Here she is in candlelight in the red dress

Just lovely.

To prepare for the retreat, we had a few get togethers, including a picnic co-hostessed by Lady Sully of Portland House and her particular friend Mrs. Cartwright and we had a great time. I debuted the new trimming on my chip bonnet

Wearing my retrimmed Bonnet

Charlotte, Lady Cunningham wearing my retrimmed Bonnet

Don't we both look fetching? Indeed. I think she needs one of these shaped chip straw bonnets..Maybe for her birthday, which is coming up. :) shhhh


The main event was what everyone expected, Tea, picnicking, archery, dancing, eating, drawing and promenading. The white dress I am wearing seems to be the only dress I was photographed in, and I am more than happy as that is my favorite dress....EVAR! Made by Aria. I watched her sit there and use my pattern and in like...two hours she was done, with everything except the pintucks on the bottom. It is amazing, and the cameo I wore was a gift from the lovely Agnes, who is also known as The Dowager or Lady Cowper....depending on how we feel as well as how much Cliquo has been consumed. Fair, right?

Here are the pics. Pardon if you were there and already saw them, but here they are. Emjoy!

Lord and Lady Sully

Mrs. Robinette Kowal dressed as Justice

Megan, with arrows in her hair. There needs no other explaination

Mrs. Cartwright in ALL her loveliness....her dress is based on a fashion plate. She looks much more fetching in it that the plate did.

The Pemberlies, on the illustrious Mrs. Johanesen, also known as The Duchess.

The ever lovely Miss Bernsdorff, all the way from Utah and the ever brilliant Miss Robertson (rumor has it soon to be Mrs. Meier)

Dinner

Dancing. The lady in red was later outfitted by some of us ladies and the smile on her face in regency clothing was why we do this...and to wear the pretty clothes too.

the lethal ladies and Mr. Smith

Miss Amanda Rogers, has repaired to Virginia, but with the proper introduction, she will take Society by storm!

Ladies need to cool off too!

Picnicking with my particular friend Mrs. Gentry, Countess of Monroe

The Dowager, Lady Monroe, myself and Mrs. Carwright learning how to write with quill and ink.

Here she is Lady Cowper and I am Lady Jersey, the masque must have proper patroness' and the only waltzing or scandal partaken of at the masque was thoroughly approved by us. :)

Young Master Logan, the heir to Lord Cunningham and his lady, the elegant Charlotte, Lady Cunningham. We were discussing the company, he was scandalized.

And I leave you with Young Master Logan. Cuteness overload. As his mother says, if we can't get the men to come, we will grow them into it. :)

Adieu and good evening. I shall do my best to not go so long between posts. I promise


Yours,

Mrs. Azevedo, Modiste and a Baronet's daughter.