Peach Silk Regency Apron Front Dress

A Regency dress commission I was working on most of the summer for a client in Australia. Not that the dress should have taken all summer - but I worked on it here and there in bits and pieces, and there was *lots* of handwork, so things went slowly. It was so nice to finally get it all put together!

The pattern is the wonderful Regency apron-front style that I love so much. The fabric is a gorgeous semi sheer silk and cotton blend made by J Crew, shimmery peach in color with a teeny cream colored pinstripe. The fabric was a dream, so ethereal.

Edges of neck and sleeves have a bit of lace edging.

Very small fitted back bodice, and super full gathered skirt.

 

 Dress shown worn with a simple V-neck chemisette.

An elegant train in back. (This dress also has detachable long sleeves, not shown)

Just before finishing the dress I had also made this really fun orange/gold silk Regency weskit. I loved the way it coordinated with the peach dress! (this was not part of the dress order, just a little something I got inspired to make) Instead of my usual lacing in front, I went with covered buttons this time - and I really adore the look. I want to do more in this style in different colors for the shop.

 

The weskit shown and two style of regency chemisettes are currently available in my Etsy shop, which by-the-by has a new name. My old shop that was named 'Bonny Blue Historical Clothing', is now simply 'Atlanta Goodwin'.

Blue Silk Victorian Ball Gown

 

I recently finished a mid-Victorian ball gown for my Etsy shop. It is a blue-pink shot silk taffeta. The fabric was originally ordered for a custom dress for a client, but when I got the bodice and skirt cut out, I realized that I wouldn't have enough fabric to complete the dress. So, I ordered one more yard, in the mean time got the bodice and skirt near completion. However, when the extra yard arrived, there was a horrible sinking feeling when I saw it. It was *technically* the same fabric - a blue/pink shot, but the weave was such that it looked much darker and had more pink tones - it just wasn't a match. So - unable to get any more of the exact shade of the first fabric, I had to completely re order for the custom dress, and I had a blue silk bodice and skirt that I had to do something with, and absolutely no matching fabric to work with. Yikes!

Finally I decided on a design, and I made it up into a differently designed ballgown. I think it turned out rather well - I'm pretty pleased with it! It's now for sale in my shop.

 

Since I had no extra fabric for sleeves and trim, I used sheer cotton voile to make little puffed sleeves, and for trim went with a gorgeous piece of netted lace that had been in my stash for a while. The ruched trim was the darker shot silk.

 

 

This was my inspiration for the fabric and trim - 

an original dress found on my 1850s-60s board on Pinterest.

 

 I love the creamy white with the bright blue tones! In fact, I was a bit sad to use this lovely piece of lace on a dress I was going to sell, as I would have loved to use it on a ball gown for myself (shame on me! lol), but it was just what the dress needed.

If you know anyone who is in the market for a new ball gown, do send them over!
This dress wants to dance!

Pale Green Linen Regency Dress

 

 A new Regency dress is listed in the shop. (finally!!) I've been working on this one since last fall. Not because it was all that time consuming, but because I've only gotten to work on it in bits and pieces, and kept having to put it away for other projects or trips. It's a wonder I didn't loose some of the pieces over all this time!

 

Anyways. Pale green linen in an 'apron front' or 'bib front' style. I love working with pure linen.

 It drapes and flows so nicely.

 

The pattern is from one found in Janet Arnold's 'Patterns of Fashion'

 

At the last minute I also constructed an apron to accompany it in brown linen. I most enjoy making 'everyday' Regency clothes - or actually historical clothes in general. It seems like a lot of what you see available is all geared towards representing the rich and fashionable, but I prefer to make clothing items that 'normal' people would have worn. The upper classes are often far over-represented in reenactment/sewing world.

Very small back bodice with higher waistline than the front. Makes a very elegant silhouette with the back skirt train. Because I was on-the-go a lot of the time while working on this, much of it is hand-sewn, all the exposed seams, and many of the inside ones as well.

More pictures and details at the shop listing for dress and apron.

Regency Bodiced Petticoat

 

An historical Regency"bodiced" petticoat.

Basically just a sleeveless dress, made from super-soft white cotton batiste.

 

 

 

I took my basic Regency drawstring dress pattern and lessened the gathers, lowered the neckline

 and narrowed the shoulder straps.

 

 

I made one for my personal Regency wardrobe,

 but I haven't had them available in the shop until now. If you haven't yet added a petticoat to  your Jane Austen ensemble - you will be surprised at how much it adds to the look of an outfit.

 

It's now available to be ordered in your custom size in the shop!

What I've Been Up To: Doll Beds

Hello again, everyone! After such a long silence here on the blog, you may be wondering what I've been up to.....well. I'm about to tell you, and you may be surprised!

As I mentioned earlier, my fiance Jordan, was down here visiting from Tennessee. He came right after he finished logging and sawing all the lumber for our future house. However, before he can start actually constructing the house, he needed to work for a couple of months and make enough cash to pay for supplies and various expenses during construction. So, the original plan was that he was going to visit for a week and then go back to Tennessee and work out of town on a job he had lined up. But - plans changed a bit (actually an answer to my prayers, I think! :) My parents offered to let us temporarily take over the doll bed business that they had previously had going as a small side job, but were too busy now to continue. They had a waiting list of about 30 customers that wanted to order, and the actual dollars per hour for makingt he beds were higher than Jordan's other job - (and we could be together!!) so we said yes!

So - Jordan has been welding the metal doll beds, and generally improving the whole process,  and I've been doing the painting, sewing bedding sets, photography, and customer service. Busy!

And yes - our goal is the pay the rest of the way towards the house with doll beds.

Are we crazy?

.......probably.

But hey - if Jordan and I can do it, and do it together - I'm all in! :) It's been good and steady work so far with plenty of orders, and I pray God's blessing on our continued efforts.

As a fan from childhood of miniature anything (especially having to do with dolls) I'm really loving the photography part. I've set up little 'rooms' with fabric wallpaper and miniature furniture to give my bed photographs more interest. Such fun!

 

The beds are antique and retro in style, which I love. All strong steel welded together by hand, completely sturdy and heirloom quality.

  

If you would like to spread the word about our new business on your blog, etc.

then please do contact me, I would so much appreciate the support!

Please check out our Etsy shop, FB page, and Flickr photostream. And if you spot a picture you like, pin it to Pinterest! That helps us because our link is written on all the pictures. :)

BonnyBlue2 on Etsy

Bonnyblue2 on Facebook

Bonnyblue2 on Flickr

And be sure to tell me what you think!

Do you think we are crazy and this is a ridiculous, hair brained scheme?

Or, are you also, like me, a secret fan of miniature worlds??



Historically Inspired Costumes

Three newly-added costumes in the shop...

Blue and Cream Brocade Elizabethan Dress

Is it a Shakespeare heroine, a member of the Elizabethan aristocracy, or Cinderella?

You decide! :)

Yellow Satin 'Belle' Dress

Inspired by the 18th Century and Beauty and the Beast. :)

I love the combination of the shimmery yellow satin and the soft lace with the pearly white and pink accents!

Fairy Princess Dress

Well....maybe this one isn't so historically inspired - but it was still lots of fun -

 a whimsical 'flower fairy' dress-up costume. I think it would make a delightful birthday party dress.

Don't forget to visit the new Bonny Blue Facebook page!