My 'Young Victoria' Dress on Display at Blenheim Palace

Remember the Young Victoria violet silk dress replica I made last fall?

Something wonderfully exciting has happened. The lovely lady who ordered the dress, Claire, was able to obtain permission from Blenhiem Palace in Oxfordshire, UK, to do a photo shoot in the dress, in the rooms and grounds of the palace.

Blenhiem Palace was used by Queen Victoria, and can also be seen in the movie 'The Young Victoria'.

However, in return for the photo shoot, the palace asked to borrow the dress for their

 'Lights, Camera, Action' Display February 9th - April 1st, 2013.

So, currently the dress is on display at Blenhiem! (I'm rather still in a state of unbelief.)

 My friend Rebecca and her mother (on a fabulous European trip right now) were able to go by and see it, and take these pictures for me!

Soon I hope to be able to show you the pictures from Claire's actual photo shoot. They are beyond gorgeous. Right now the photographer tells me some other blogs have asked for exclusive rights to the pictures, but should hopefully get permission to post them after that. :)



Wedding Dress is Finished!

After countless hours (months?) of hand-sewing, fitting, planning, researching, and lots of love and dreams - my wedding dress is officially finished !

As of Feb. 13th.

I was scared to death all along that I would get it finished, but wouldn't be happy with it (but wouldn't have time to change it) But I was wrong. I couldn't be more thrilled with the way the fit and look turned out! I'm so glad I made the decision to change design mid-project on the sleeves and skirt construction.

I love it now so much.

(it's also quite comfortable, which is a huge plus!)

So awfully excited!

Hoping to do the first photos in it next week, then I'm going to pack it away safely with all the wedding day accessories to await March 30th...

Our Log House is Going Up!

A long overdue post about the process of building our log house! I am so very proud of all the work Jordan has been doing over the last year, preparing us a home. Things are really starting to come together now, and its getting more exciting than ever!

Here is a various collection of pictures from the last year, showing the building process!

Cutting down trees big enough and straight enough for house logs...

Dragging them down to the sawmill.

Figuring out what cuts to make....

Sawing the logs...

Besides the house logs themselves, there's alot of other smaller lumber that comes from the outside wood, much of which will also be used on the house.

Picture from last September - all the house logs finished and stacked!

Starting construction in January, after returning from Texas - getting ready for concrete!

Pouring the footers...

On top of the footers, go the piers...

All ready to go!

Oak 'sill logs' stack on the piers, and make up the bottom frame work.

 Notches are cut into these for the floor joists.

Dovetailed together...

Floor joists in place!

First round of wall logs are stacked!

Even more walls!

Aren't they beautiful?

Getting tall...

Really starting to look like a house now!

 I was almost jumping up and down when I saw this picture!

The logs to fill in between window and door spaces can be put in after the roof goes on, as they are held up by framing and don't actually hold any of the other structure together.

So far so good! Jordan has started on the second story now, I can't wait to see the next batch of pictures! (and even better, to see, and move into, the real thing in 2 months! so excited!)



Wedding Dress Update

Actually sewing on my wedding dress now!

One of my original sketches for the dress, experimenting with different sleeves. I feel safe in posting this because I unexpectedly made some radical changes in the design of the dress....so this is actually not current....but still gives you an idea. Silk taffeta under dress with a sheer white dress over. I'm getting so excited! I hope it turns out like what I have envisioned.

It's taking me longer than I thought because I decided to hand-sew the entire sheer dress. It's alot....but I know it will be that much more special when it's completed.

Reasearching styles and techniques from the 1860s has taken longer than anticipated as well. I always have so many little questions and quandries about method when I actually get down into a project, and they must be answered before moving forward!

A sneak-peek. This is *part* of the dress. The silk taffeta part. It took forever to finish - didn't help that after painstakingly hand-sewing the gauged skirt to the bodice, I decided to make a 1/2" fitting change, and had to re-do it all! But, now it's finished, and I am well on the way with the next part of the ensemble.

No sleeves or overskirt yet, but one of my first fitting looks in the mirror at the gown beginning to be complete! :)

Wedding Sewing Week with Rebecca

Last week was a wonderful time with my dear friend and maid of honor, Rebecca.

It had been a long time, really almost a year, since we had spent much time together. This 5th (I think?) traditional annual 'sewing week' was cherished by both of us. Sort of the 'end of an era', you know? We've had so many wonderful adventures at reenactments, and visits back and forth, I'm sad to see them go.

Though I hope we will have even better and new adventures in the state of Tennessee! I've made her promise to visit me after I'm married and moved away. :)

Someone has to occupy the spare bedroom, after all!

We talked late into each night, sewed up a storm, and even though we can quote them almost by heart, we re-watched some of our best-loved films including

Wives & Daughters, Quality Street, and Tammy & the Bachelor.

It was a wonderful time. We made lots of plots for the future, and I hope they all come true!

During the week we worked on Rebecca's bridesmaid dress, and my wedding gown.

Neither of which are finished yet...

But, the most delightful (and finished!) project from the sewing week, was, hands down the flower crown wreaths for the wedding. I decided since I was going to wear a floral wreath to accompany my wedding dress, it would be fun for all the girls to have one too!

Each wreath turned out beautifully different and unique. We agreed that loved every one! I can't wait to see them with the complete outfits and hairstyles. I think they will be lovely at the wedding. Just what I was envisioning.

Little sisters (and also best friends) Carolina and Michelle invaded the sewing room and went a little wild with joy at the prospect of their very own flower crowns.

Yes, the little sisters had much too much fun.

As I posted earlier, I decided not to wear a veil on my wedding day. I chose a floral crown just because I liked it, but then became delightfully aware that it was quite common for brides in the 1840s-1860s as well! Both with fresh flowers and paper/fabric. See lots of examples here on my wedding pinterest board.