Hi there!
Wow, I was so encouraged by your comments on my video blog that I decided it might be fun to try it again! Here’s a second video, answering two questions: “What is your favorite pattern?”, and asking to see close up shots of something I made. I decided to do both in this blog and talk about Truly Victorian’s 1875 Parisian Trained Skirt, and show details of the my green plaid bustle dress.
I noticed I made a few mistakes in the video, so I hope you’ll forgive me! Mostly technical terms, but I also realized the front of the skirt is cut in three pieces, so there are more pieces than I said to the pattern.
I also forgot to show you the cover of the book I mentioned, which features, what I assume, is one of the inspiration images for the pattern design.
The book is Victorian & Edwardian Fashion- A Photographic Survey. You can pick it up on Amazon for really inexpensively, and it’s a fabulous book to have for inspiration.
Any thoughts or comments on this video blog? Please do let me know! I would love to do more video blogs, so I appreciate your feedback!
CountryMouse
January 9, 2014 at 9:17 am (10 years ago)You know, I’ve followed you off-and-on for the last couple years. I like your work. I enjoy seeing you branch into videos, and I have enjoyed them so far. And I mean this is the very kindest way possible although I am going to sound bossy: you are doing that “girl” thing where you downplay your talents and sell yourself short when you talk about yourself and your work. If I could, I would sit down with you, rewatch this, and point out exactly when you do it.
Humility is a virtue, and humbleness is pleasant, but there’s nothing to be shy about in showcasing your own work – not just your sewing, but your designs and products. You are, in fact, running a business, so a video on your own blog is, in fact, exactly the right place to highlight your talents and illustrate your strengths, using your garments and your patterns. That’s not bragging or declaring you’re the best dressmaker on the planet or anything so obnoxious – it’s just owning what you do, and the standards you hold.
One of the things I like most about you is that when you do add in posts about life beyond patterns, it’s not all some fake-rosy construction of tea parties and vintage dances. You talk about having a horrible year, and I’ve had a horrible year or two. You’ve lost someone you love, and so have I. You’re brave enough to admit to losing yourself, and your confidence in your looks, and struggling, and being vulnerable – and that is what makes you real, and likable, and relatable. I suppose what I mean to say is, after you’re brave enough to put all that out there, don’t let the screen scare you, and don’t start being timid about your talent now. =)
Brigid Boyer
January 9, 2014 at 10:40 am (10 years ago)So glad to know there’s actually a costumer out there who will use poly taffeta instead of silk!!! I always try to go for an accurate fabric (even though I only do 30’s, 40’s and 50’s) but sometimes it’s just too expensive to do the natural fibre fabric! You do such a beautiful job on your garments. I’m always amazed at the work you do.
Val LaBore
January 9, 2014 at 3:58 pm (10 years ago)Haha! Name dropper! Cindy got me to make one of these skirts for Xmas and I just realized I had the same bow trim down the sides as you. But I love your braided narrow rows of silk. Great idea!
And I love my “faux silk taffeta” too.
Val TimeTravelinginCostume.blogspot.com
MissPrim&Proper
January 9, 2014 at 4:35 pm (10 years ago)Loved watching both your videos. Living in southern california suburbia it doesn’t take much to stand out and the 1940s-50s fashions I love certainly make a statement! As I’ve followed along with your blog it has given me courage to be a bit more daring in my everyday vintage styles. Would love to see some sewing tutorials via video blog and perhaps a bit on how you begin drafting your own styles.
Tracey
January 9, 2014 at 6:28 pm (10 years ago)I am literally reading that book right now. I work at a library and everything has plain library binding, so I hadn’t seen the cover before. I LOVE the photographs in this book. I’m really enjoying your videos and I also appreciate that you are not ashamed to say you use poly taffeta. If I have to wait until I can afford 15 yards of silk for something, I’m better off buying a car.
mala_14
January 10, 2014 at 3:21 pm (10 years ago)I really enjoy seeing you on your video blogs. I think that you are a lot of fun in them and that it’s a great place to show off your awesome sense of humor (which is less obvious in your written blogs). I really enjoyed seeing the details on your gown and any other sort of thing like that is always welcome. We always get to see people’s gorgeous finished products, but it’s rare to get a sneak peak into the insides and things like seam finishes. (Also, I second Tracey on being glad to hear that you use synthetics too. Affordability is an important consideration in costuming, especially because the garments eat up so much fabric.) I’d love to hear more about the pattern-making business such as how you take something from an idea of a garment to a finished pattern, or what catches your attention about a design that makes you want to turn it into a pattern. Thanks for taking the time to share with us!
Masha
January 10, 2014 at 3:39 pm (10 years ago)I loved your video blog! I would love to see some details of your 1930s creations! I love how you mix colors designing them.