Teal Velvet, Sparkly Silver, and Fantastic Sleeves for my Sister

 I've been dragging my feet when it comes to taking down my Christmas decorations. The stockings hung by the fireplace, the Christmas tree set up by the window, the nativity on the mantle, and the goat with the Santa hat hanging out in the entry way - not to mention the various wall hangings and nick-nacks scattered around. But Christmas is over. The historic 12 days were completed last weekend, so it's past time to take it all down. 

I'm going to procrastinate just a few minutes longer however, and take a moment to share about my sister's Christmas dress.

My sister came across some fabulous teal stretch velvet in the clearance section at Hobby Lobby and called me to ask "How much do I need for a Christmas dress?"

"That depends on the style of dress you want," I responded, "What are you thinking?"

"Remember that dress with the really flowy sleeves that you made me? You also made me a Marauders Map tunic from the same pattern? How about a dress like that?" She asked.

I remembered. It was the Lammas Tide pattern by Mother Grimm - I made my sister and I several items from it a few years back. I told my sister how much fabric to buy, and she did so, sending the fabric home with my mom when she went down to visit. My mom got the fabric to me, and the weekend after Thanksgiving I found the Lammas pattern in my file cabinet of printed off PDF patterns and made the dress.

Per my sister's request, I gave the dress the longest, flowy-est sleeves available in the pattern,

My sister also asked if the waistband and neckband on the dress could be metallic silver. I said I'd see what I could do, and thankfully the City Sewing room delivered with a very shiny metallic silver textured knit. The silver stuff didn't have a ton of structure to it, and I was worried it would be itchy against my sister's neck, so I backed it with some gray jersey. (Actually left over from these tops I made for the two of us years ago. It pays to save your fabric scraps!) 

I personally loved how the double neckband looked, a fun element I might just have to remember neck time I sew myself a knit top!

And my sister? 

She was absolutely thrilled when she came home for Christmas and found the dress waiting for her in a closet at my parents' house! She wore it to church on Christmas Eve and to one of our family Christmas gatherings!

I'm glad she found the fabric and requested the dress, it was a lot of fun to supply her with a Christmas Dress again this year!

Frolicking with my Sister in 1780's

 Before my sister left the state for Bible college at the beginning of the school year I really wanted to do another photo shoot in historical clothing with her.

Well, we ran out of time.

So I went to visit her and brought the historical clothing with me!

My brother, who’s going to the same Bible college, agreed to be our photographer and we were all set!

Well, almost.

We still had to find a place to take the pictures.

The area where my sibling have moved is in a major drought, so finding a place that was somewhat picturesque (green), in an area we don’t know very well yet, was. . . daunting.

After a weekend spent running around, trying to fit a week’s worth of activities into two days, my sister and I took an hour to drive around and scout out locations.

We found a park with nice green soccer fields surrounded by green trees.

It even had the cutest little stone bridge!

This would do!

We hurried back to the house to get dressed and collet our photographer, Mom, and the dog.

The main purpose of our trip to visit my siblings was to deliver my sister’s diabetes alert dog to her.

They missed each other an awful lot during the weeks they were separated so it was a joyous reunion on both sides!

And it seemed only fitting to get a few pictures of the pair!

For this photo shoot my sister and I decided to do early 1780’s

I had a new ensemble I’d made over the summer and wanted documented.  And, now that my sister has a proper set of stays, we needed to see how her gown looked with the right foundation layer.

Quite well! 

We definitely need to make her some proper accessories (a fancy apron would be fantastic!), but her 18th century look is coming along!

Maybe we can work together on some more projects for the ensemble when she comes home for Christmas break.

Meanwhile, it was just fun to dress up with my sister again and frolic in an open field!

Running

Spinning

Dancing

Showing off our dresses!

My sister's dress has been blogged here.

I’ll share all about my dress later this fall.

(Bonus points if you can identify in the comments the inspiration behind my dress!)

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves until the light completely faded and it was time to return to the house.

My mom and I would be leaving early the next morning to return home.

And my siblings would be up early to see us off and head to class.

Some fun pictures together were the perfect way to finish off our visit!

Now to decided what era we’ll dress up in for our photo shoot next time we’re in the same state!

The Glittery Tulle Skirt

 I despise glitter.

Ok, for some things it has its place. For example, I chose to put glitter in my sister’s hair for prom this year to make her look like a fairy princess.

But I hate glittery fabric.

Ok, sometimes it’s pretty. But it sheds. Everything becomes glittery when you use glittery fabric.

I despise it.

So when my sister found yards and yards and yards of glittery ombré tulle at the City Sewing Room?

“NO!”

“No, no, no!”

She ignored me and bought the tulle.

“That’s not coming to my house!” I said.

She ignored me and deposited it in my sewing room.

“I’m not touching that!”

She ignored me and moved out of state so I couldn’t return the bajillion yards of sparkly glitter shedding tulle.

I gave up.

And turned it into a skirt for her, like she requested. 

This won’t teach her not to bring me scarily glittery fabric in the future.

But I made the skirt.

And delivered it when I went to visit her.

It really didn’t take long to make. An hour or so one afternoon two days before I left home.

I didn’t use all the tulle, only about 2-3 yards. So I still have a ton of the stuff in my sewing room to destroy use.

I made a quick lining from a cotton/poly bland in my stash. Seamed up the center back seam of the lining, and both layers of tulle. Gathered the tulle onto the lining with my serger, and zigzagged all three layers onto an elastic waistband.

It came together beautifully and looks amazing on my sister!

Almost amazing enough for me to not despise glitter tulle.

Almost.

But not quite.