Fabergé Friday

A few days ago I was hemming a dress, and the fabric was so sturdy I lost quite a lot of skin on the finger I used to push the needle through the fabric. That would never have happened had I owned a thimble though. And since Fabergé created most things you might need in life, of course I found a little thimble among his creations! It was made by workmaster Feodor Afanasiev, around 1890!

The thimble is 0.9'' (2.2 cm) high and made of gold. The base is decorated with a Greek key ornament in turquoise enamel. It can be yours for 11.500 USD, and it is for sale at John Atzbach Antiques.

Source

Stage Fright

My best friend - and landlady - Fanny started a project she calls Stage Fright a few months ago. As she loves the sparkling world of burlesque, but actually have stage fright, she decided to put part of herself on stage by sewing costumes for other burlesque dancers instead. And so her project began... Fanny has a degree in Fashion Design and is very talented at coming up with ideas for incredible costumes! As we both know many burlesque dancers, she quickly got a full sewing-schedule, as many of them wanted costumes created by her. These last few months the apartment has looked like burlesque heaven, with sequins, pearls and feathers flying around everywhere! Here are some of her amazing creations, designed, sewn, and meticulously decorated - often by hand - by herself...

Photo: John-Paul Bichard

The Circus Dress for Fräulein Frauke.

Photo: Darklark

Black dress for Elegy Ellem's Bat Night act.

Part of a costume in progress for Contessa Blackbird.

30s inspired New Years Eve dress for Elegy Ellem.

New Years Eve dress for Fräulein Frauke.

Detail of the dress above.

Belly dancing outfit for Yvette Les Fesses.

Harley Quinn dress for Elegy Ellem.

Carmen Miranda hat, modelled by gorgeous Fanny herself!

Hat for me!!! I didn't even ask for this, she just made it anyway!

As you can see, Fanny makes creations that doesn't have to be used on stage too. If you feel like you need a costume, fancy dress, or maybe a hat, you can always contact Fanny on her Facebook page Stage Fright here! 

Black Lace Dress

In December I told you about a pattern had bought from "What-I-Found", and that I was going to make it in black lace.

The pattern! Finding the time to actually sew it took a while. But when I started sewing it went really fast!

This is the result! The reason it went so fast is because I wanted to leave all the edges - neckline, sleeve edges, and hem - raw. So all I did was sew the pieces together and put in a zipper. Done!

Since it is transparent I wear my black slip from the 40s underneath. The good thing about this dress is that it can be varied a lot by using other-colored slips underneath the black lace for variation. Or why not just some nice lingerie...

The belt I did of the same fabric, in four layers.

I couldn't find a fitting buckle for it though. And one day when I was visiting Fanny and told her about my little problem, she quickly pulled out this lovely "ring-thing" from one of her treasure troves at "Kellerman Vintage". We're not sure what it was used for in the beginning, but she gave it to me. With the help of three snap buttons I made it hold the belt together. If I breathe too much while wearing it, it pops open though, so I might have to change the buckle in the future. Far now though it works!

Monday's school outfit

This, my friends, is a sad day...It's the day of the last "Monday's School Outfit" post!

But let's not cry. Let's just remember the good times we've had!

Like Ceved - the fake raven...

...and Polly - the polyester raccoon!

And we still have today's post left! 

For the last PR-class (wow it's gone fast!) I went with a skirt I made after a pattern from the 50s - here shown in fifth position!

With the obligatory crinoline from "Bettie Page Clothing" of course!

Love the fabric print on this skirt! It existed in many different colors, and I was tempted to sow something in every one. Didn't though. That might have become a bit too repetitive. I allowed myself to get two different colors though! The other is black/gray, and I made the dress below out of it, from a pattern from the 40s.

So. That's it! The last "Monday's School Outfit"...I wonder what I'm gonna do next..."Monday's Panties" maybe...Or maybe not...

A Quickie...

I bought a pattern from "What-I-Found" a while ago...

...Then I bought some black lace fabric...

...This is my superduper sewing machine from the 60s!

To be continued...

Monday's school outfit

I'm finally back from my little secret vintage mission trip to Rouen! In the meantime I have posted comments to my pre-programmed posts from my iPod. The problem with that is that the screen on that phone is so sensible, so two times I have accidentally pressed "delete", when I meant to press "publish". So if someones comment doesn't appear in the comments area I'm really sorry! I tried to find out how to find and publish deleted posts, but it doesn't seem possible. Think I'm going to write to Google blogs and complain about that!...But I always read the comments before I publish them - because I treasure them too much to risk not having read them if something goes wrong with the publishing...Now I'm back with my computer though...

But now for this weeks school outfit! 

This dress I made after a vintage pattern from the 40s. 

When I saw this fabric I thought it kind of reminded me about sinews, but I had to get it anyway!

The dress has little pleats around the neckline, and buttons down part of the front. The belt I made out of the same fabric. Vintage dresses usually has matching belts I've noticed. 

It's cold here in Sweden now. But it doesn't feel cold enough to put on the winter coat yet. So for this "in between" time, I just threw this lovely vintage fur cape over one of my not too warm fall coats. The coat used to be my moms. She bought it in the 70s. It looks a lot older than that though, and I love it! The fur stole I bought during mine and Fanny's trip to Rouen. But more of that tomorrow...

Monday's school outfit

Monday again! Will give an account for a group project in class later today. We've been doing PR-pitches. Once I misheard when someone said "PR-pitch" though, and thought she said "PR-bitch". So now I know what I'm gonna write on my future business cards - "Miss Meadows - PR-bitch"! I'm sure everyone will hire me after that!

Decided to wear a skirt you've already seen - the red one I made after a pattern from the 50s. The blouse is new though! Or, actually I got it for Christmas last year, but I haven't used it yet. It's from "Dracula Clothing". If you're a teen goth, this is probably clothing heaven, but they actually make some nice victorian inspired clothes for people who are just normal goths. You all know you have one of those dark figures living in you. Don't be afraid to let them out sometimes! If the set sizes they have doesn't fit your body, you can give them your own measurements and get whatever you decide to order made especially for you - with no extra cost!

I like the Victorian collar on this blouse. But wearing it folded down fits my vintage look better, so that's how I'm gonna wear it! At least for today...

If you have it folded up, there's also a lacy bow that can be fastened like a brooch at the neckline.

Tomorrow will be spent running around visiting four different PR-agencies, to see how they work. Then, on Wednesday, I will head to Rouen with Fanny on a secret mission. I've programmed a few blog posts though. Don't think I'm going to leave you all alone just because I go to France for a few days!

Monday's school outfit

The "Monday's school outfit" post is becoming mandatory here on my little bloggywogg. So of course I can't wear jeans to my PR-class. That wouldn't be so interesting to read about, would it?! And why would I want to wear jeans anyway?...This is what I threw on this Monday:

The blouse comes from "Bettie Page Clothing". The belt is H&M, and the skirt I have sewn myself, after a pattern from the 50s.

I hope you all see how precisely I'm imitating the pose the girl on the pattern envelope is showing. I practiced a lot for this...

It's getting cold outside, and then you need a nice coat. Like this one for example! It's vintage, from the 60s, and I bought it very cheaply from my friend Charlotta. It comes from H&M, but I was a bit surprised when I found this tag on the inside of the coat:

Luhta for H&M. And I thought the collaborations between H&M and other designers was something pretty new. Well, well...

The raccoon fur I'm wearing around my neck is made out of real polyester. Fancy, right?! It has a clip on the inside at one of the ends, so it's easy to fasten around the "tail". There was a little note attached to it when I bought it, showing how you should fasten it around your neck. Beside the around-the-neck picture, there was another illustration, showing that you can also wear it around your head...

I'm not so sure about this placement though. I think I'll just stick to wearing it around my neck...

Monday's school outfit

Yet again Monday arrived - what a surprise - and off to the PR-course I went! This time wearing a dark green dress I've made myself. The pattern I used is from 1949, just after Christian Dior had introduced the "New Look" with wider, longer skirts. The fabric is quite heavy, which gives it a nice flow.

The peplum is attached to the belt, and can be removed. Black, transparent gloves from "Cheap Monday".

The diamond shaped hole below the collar is fastened with a hook and eye. But it easily opens up by itself, so I usually ad a brooch there to keep it closed. This is the one I like to chose. I think the dark read stones go well with the dark green of the dress. Brooch is vintage.

On my head I'm wearing the "Dreadful Hat", by Magdalena Kellerman. I earlier wrote about it here.

As I've said before, I'm ok with wearing fur if it's vintage, and the taxidermy animals Magdalena uses when making her hats all died a long time ago! Some might think this hat - and the one I bought at the Vintage Fair, also by Magdalena - are a bit morbid. Well, maybe they are, but I love them!