Isabella Project

After a couple of hours fitting the doublet bodice (on, off, refit and repin, try it on again...) I have a pattern that I think will work. I am using a featherweight buckram for the interlining and am currently pad stitching wool to the collar to add stiffness and help shape the curve. Almost half way around the first side and appears to be giving the effect I am after.

Just because I can - Isobella gown

http://renaissanceitaly.net/TempFiles/ItalRenCostumingChallenge.htm

To celebrate 10 years of the Realm of Venus,  Donna Bella Lucia da Verona has created a fantastic costume competition....which I just had to enter. I will be making a dress inspired by the painting of Isabella de Medici and am tempted to also redo the blue Maria de Medici gown with the correct embroidery.....time may become a factor.

And I still need to finish Eleanor.

Another couple of hours completed. The skirt is getting so stiff and heavy that it is really time consuming to finish the applique. However I think the black applique is nearly finished. There are a couple of sections that will be quite time consuming, but the rest of the blak is tiny sections filling in 'loops'. I find its easier to look from the back of the skirt now to see where I have missed bits. Next, I need to finish the gold applique on the skirt and then finish the bodice and sleeves. I will be onto making up the dress in no time (relatively speaking).

Earlier work

Here are a couple of pictures of a dress I made for the Bal d Aneala a couple of years ago. Its based on a portrait of Maria de Medici.

Another couple of hours completed. This is what the underside of the applique looks like after the hand couching has been applied. I still need to go and trim off all of the threads but that can wait until later.

I have also made a plain black dress with a similar bodice and neckline which seems to fit quite well, so I will use the pattern again when it comes to making the bodice up.

still working....

I am still working on the dress. It's taking a while and I have to make a tabbard and outfit for a friend, a black Spanish number and an 8th C Monks outfit for a book launch.

Back to work

Ok. I have been really slack and not made much progress lately, but am now working on the dress again. No deadlines, just plodding along around other projects till it gets finished.