Pirate Costume and Spring Dress

Okay dear readers, so I have been *sew* busy! (Get it ;)
I will start with my spring dress first. I needed a new dress for the season, and it didn't hurt that two dear friends invited me to tea at their house across town, so I had to make a dress. I am actually getting better about practical sewing, although you don't see much of it, because it is, well, practical. But I am posting this sweet frock because it looks so "oldfashion"!
And... because I am a penny pincher, I made this dress out of the PRETTIEST sheet from a thrift store. So, I spent $4 on it plus 75 cents on the shawl I found that matched it! The sheet was SO HUGE, I got enough fabric to line the bodice and the skirt!
God is so Good, I love lined skirts- for modesty!!
The skirt!
It is quite full for an everyday dress.

The shawl is so neat, I think it is knitted. Not sure.
Quite springy!
I LOVE this thing, and the REAL achievment lay in that the zipper took three (yes THREE) tries to get sewn on. Uh-Hu! Yeah I was annoyed. Then it SPLIT in the middle! We did not make friends until it kindly rezipped itself to working order. I had the whole household pulling on it, to make sure it wouldn't split again. I am pretty sure it is good to go now!

Now for my not so practical project, but after, and in-between sewing my sis a jacket, a pair of pj's for my mom and matching regency nightgown for myself, I caved in for some clearance fabric at Joannes.

This dress was never meant to be a pirate ensemble, indeed it was SUPPOSED TO CONFIRM to my idea of an elegant English 1770-80 dress. But fabric sometimes has a way of bringing its own idea out while one sews-that is the best type of fabric, all you need to do is listen. This fabric was WAY to dramatic for something, well, plainer.
It even laces in back:

The funny thing is, a week earlier, I had sent my dear friend a sketch of my "fantasy" pirate costume-and this is actually what ended up happening, except that I need breeches underneath instead of the gold under skirt. I hope to find brown cloth to make a pair of men's breeches to wear instead of the underskirt. I may need a dagger too, or a sword! But...I need to calm down. I am not a real pirate, but I might make the career change from stay-at-home seamstress to buckeneer, if there was really a Cap. Jack Sparrow instead of a Johnny Deep.

But oh well, I am better off way from the high seas and at the tea house in my creation.

Tootle Loo for now!
xoxox
Lexi

Coranation Medieval Gown for Dolls

Thank you Elaine of Shalott for modeling this gown. I am terribly sorry you probably won't get to keep it. But cheer up, these photos are lovely and will console you when the dress goes and you are stuck in your old medieval dress.

I have been on a sewing binge, and this doll dress was one of the highlights on my latest sewing road trip. A lot of this gown was pieced and drafted, while some of it followed a pattern. The mantle, tassel belt and slippers were all added for a more pleasing and extravagant look. I hope you enjoy-God is Good!

Side views showing "fish tail" sweep.

Details on bodice front and upper sleeves.

Dress, alone with out mantle.

With mantle made of synthetic fur!

Skirt brocade detail and tassel belt.

Slippers! (Oh MY!)

ENJOY!
xoxox Lexi

A Girl By The Sea- A poem

For lack of anything better to post (okay, this is a bit of a lie because I have a BIG doll project underway) I am going to post a poem I wrote about three years back. I am not sure when I wrote it, but now I know I need to date things, especially as poetry only comes upon me occasionally and at random moments. I never like to force myself to write poetry, it always comes out better when it spills forth, unsummoned.
So here it is,


A Girl by the Sea
By Lexi of OldFashionDolls

There's a girl who lives by the sea,
who often cares to sail with me,
She laughs and chatters through the day,
But once at dock goes her way,
I sit and ponder where she's gone,
Don't sea her till the morning's dawn,
I muse and miss her pretty smile,
For hours and hours I'm not but idle,
I dearly want to kiss that cheek,
But daren't even my feelings speak,
Those fair blue eyes will flutter wide,
When I try to be by her side,
A spark ignites and her smile fades,
My face reds and flushes shades,
And after I have let her go,
She runs through port and doesn't slow,
I wish I knew where she does dwell,
For how she makes my spirit swell!
I feel like I'm in such a dream,
When she flashes that smiling beam,
But I can never make her stay,
For once on land she floats away,
I stare after her flowing long dress,
And ask dear God to follow and Bless,
And then I row and sail away,
Until the dawn of very next day.

God Bless everyone! I hope to have a doll post soon!
xoxox
Lexi

My Civil War Dress Video