Evening Bodice Update // Too Much Hand Sewingggg!
Goooodness have I destroyed my back/neck/shoulders over the last week, woah. Major oops. Clearly my set up for hand sewing that has always worked fine for a quick skirt hem or hook and eye or whatever does not work once hours upon hours of hand stitching are required because ache is...an understatement! Wishing I had a big clawfoot tub to soak in right about now, but alas, not so much.
But the bodice is a thing!! So that's good. I had a moment after day 2 of sewing this together where everything was taking so long that I was very afraid nothing was going to come together for this week's video, but luckily trying it on the next morning renewed most of my strength.
I realize that this black and green taffeta is a bit cliché perhaps for these sort of gothy Victorian projects, but it's for such good reason as it is just so so pretty. As a lover of the color green in general really I can't help but just adore it. I added some beading to one of the lace motifs and ended up using those leaves and berries on the center back neckline area. I added a little spiderweb-ish detail in "cut steel" style tiny charlotte cut seed beads in antique silver. I can't decide if I should add more webs on the front too, but I can always decide to add that kind of thing anytime later. I added the echoing black leaf trim all along the center front and around the neckline to form a sort of princess line/stomacher situation down the front of the bodice, and then added beads to look almost like berries on top of that too.
All I have left to do on this dinner bodice now is to attach the pleated trim to the sleeve cuffs and add some lace to the inside edge of the neckline! I'm going to try and film the modeling of this bodice tomorrow so I can get going on Thursday's video, but then I've also got to jump into the skirts. Honestly I feel like those are going to feel almost easy after all this! But I shouldn't jinx that.
The news has been bleak, so despite the shoulder pain I'm probably going to keep hunched up stitching detailed things a while longer still. I hope you're all doing well ❤ So sorry it has been taking me a while to get back to comments this week!
Comments (15)
Wow, that is beautiful, you are so talented! And yes, much like others have said, please don’t kill yourself over this. It will get done, one way or the other. As for the ways of the world, yep, right there with you. Here in the UK it is also pretty dire, we have our own toddler-in-chief at the helm, and he’s also... well, words fail me. Keep safe and keep sane (as much as you can), and fingers crossed for better news next week...
Thank you Kristy! I usually can dream about escaping to live in the UK someday, as I love it there so much (the history makes my heart swell three sizes just walking around) and it has long been a dream of mine to live within a train journey to London, but I know the news/political situation is just as anxiety inducing currently. I hope you're staying safe!
Hi, Being a sort of non visuonist - if that was ever a word - which it is not, I'm one of those people can look at a sofa standing against one wall, and not being able to tell if it's going to fit to be moved to the next wall instead, without actually moving the darn heavy piece of furniture over, just to find out that the wall is to short, and having to lug that old junk of a couch back again. You can just tell that this is an actual example from my life, can't you. Being that as it may, I can't wait to see this dress on you, and appreciate how stunning it is. The beading that you posted earlier were gorgeous, and I know this dress is going to be on par, I just can't see it in my inner eye. Funny that. I can smell any spice or herb and know if it will work in a dish that I'm reading about without even trying. I don't usually even need to have a sample of said spice or herb at hand, but give me something visual, and I have to see it, to see it. Figure that language out, those who can, and it's not even that late yet. It's just about coming up to midnight. Anyway... I second (or is it third or fourth or more?) the motion of you not killing yourself, or getting yourself run into the ground, for us. I would guess that I speak for most of us, (any complaints should preferably go to me directly) when I say that we want you to be around for a while, and even if you're still young and beautiful, there is nothing to gain from burning your candle from both ends. Not even for a gorgeous silk taffeta gown. I get the whole, keeping my head down thing. One of my best friends is American, and he was only partly joking, when he asked if he could come here if the (just put in any expletive of your choice here) = "whining toddler" (Seth Meyers, A closer look, Oct 29th) should win a second turn, and we were not at all, when we told him that our doors would be open for his wife and him, and we would figure something out for the cats, at any time. I'm severely allergic to cats unfortunately but we would figure something out. An offer that we would gladly extend to you if you should feel the need to leave. Just in case you don't hear from me before Tuesday and beyond I wish you and yours, and your country, luck and justice for the week to come. My body has figured out that it's winter, and have started to complain and making a fuss, and that means that my communication with the world at large, go from almost non existent, to even less. So luck and justice from my heart to you. And likewise to anyone else, that need, or want, to hear it from this Scandinavian. Yours, Ann
Thank you Ann! It is very anxiety inducing here this week for sure, thank you for the good wishes, I'm wishing them back to you there as well!
I know we're all super excited to see this finished but don't forget to take breaks and do some stretching. When I'm hand sewing I sit on the couch and put my work on a large fluffy pillow in my lap so I don't need to hunch over as much and that seems to help with the upper back and neck pain. As per the usual your work is stunning ❤️❤️❤️
My circa 1989 junior year homecoming dress was a green/black taffeta Gunne Sax that is the dress high I've been chasing for all the years following. The color combo is just perfect, it's science.
A most excellent choice you made then! I took one of those 80's (well, a less well known label one!) apart and made a skirt from the taffeta last year in this same black and green too, it really is the best fabric!
Bianca, you are a true artist; I (WE!!) can't get enough of all the detail. So thrilled to see how your creation of Madame Cicada is coming to life! She'll be a real beauty.
Thank you Victoria!
It’s looking so gorgeous. Don’t kill yourself. I highly suggest a side husslin video for next week that way you can have a well deserved break. Also, you give us wonderfully, long videos. I know you’re wanting to get this out for Halloween but in the future, I think all of us would fully support you breaking things down into more videos. The black petticoat could have easily been one with the corset cover and corset another. Just don’t kill yourself for us, ok? I hope you’re body feels better soon.
Thank you Violette! I'm trying to take a bit of a break this week now yes, it's a bit of an odd concept for me though 😅
What wizardry is this??? Holy moly I’m speechless! My jaw just dropped open in awe when I looked at the detail of this. Incredible!
Thank you Thea!!
Oh this is beautiful! I can't wait for the big reveal. Doesn't a massage at a Day Spa sound good right about now? Wonder if you might be able to treat yourself OR coerce a family member into giving your neck and back a rub with good liniment?? Its a thought? Hope you and yours are safe away from those fires. How strange for this time of year? Please look after yourself. Sending good vibes and best wishes from Down Under <3
Thank you Rhoda! Yes we're safe from the fires down here in Denver luckily, as they were mainly up in the mountains themselves, such terrible destruction this season though. The smoke was pretty thick, but we had a big snow storm that knocked a bunch of it out of the sky and helped calm the fires which was good!