Tiny projects = Huge satisfaction

Hey y’all!  I just finished a wee little project this morning….a lovely rosette made from novelty Halloween ribbon!

All hand-sewn, btw....

 

Peek-A-Boo!!

Over the last couple of years, I have made dozens and dozens of these flowers in various colors, trims and sizes.  Here’s a lil’ montage of a few styles that recently went up for sale at the Pin-up Parlor in Berkeley, CA:

Kathleen -In Oakand

Break it Down Now: The Layers of my Summer Outfit / Inspiration

Hello Everyone!

Philip thought it would be fun to show all the layers of the Victorian outfit I wore to the Handcar Regatta a few weeks ago.

  

The ensemble falls somewhere between “costume” and “historical clothing” because it consists of many pieces worn from the skin out.   For me, all the layers provide the look, fit and feel of wearing clothes from another time.  The biggest surprise was just how comfortable I was in the hot sun with all these clothes…Honestly, it was not bad at all.....cotton RULES!


This particular outfit took me a little over a year to put together.…and I still need a freakin’ purse! 

The coordination (color, look, feel) of this outfit was inspired by some of my favorite things.....the opening scenes in the movie “Tombstone” and a painting by James Jacques Joseph Tissot. 

(more to come on those subjects later!)

Inspiration: The Earp brothers and their wives, from “Tombstone”

Inspiration: A close-up from “The Garden Bench” by James Jacques Joseph Tissot

Historically, this fashion is known as “Natural Form” and was a transitional look between the post –hoop/early bustle and the late Victorian “shelf” bustle.  Approx 1878-1883….give or take a few years to compensate for Europe-to-America communication speed.

Layer 1:  The Underwear ~ This boned corset and petticoat with ruffles & pintucks provide the correct silhouette for this circa 1880 outfit.  Under the corset and petti is a cotton camisole, drawers, and yet another petticoat that is thinner/shorter.  The extra petticoat underneath is essential, as it keeps all the ruffles from swimming between my legs when I walk, lol!

Layer 2:  The Underdress ~A.K.A. “The Dirtcatchers”  ~ Cotton muslin vest functions as a “corset cover” and protects both the overdress and corset from sweat / dirt / God knows what.  The underskirt has a small train which is held into “poufs” down the back with a series of ties.  Both items are easy to wash (and washed often, lol!)  My apologies for looking a little worse for wear in these pics....it was a long, hot sweaty day, and I had serious hat hair!

Layer 3:  The Overdress ~ An open-front dress known as a “Polonaise”.  Striped calico cotton with eyelet ruffle trim, brass buttons, and petersham ribbons.  This overdress is un-boned and fitted, but not tight.  All the layers underneath make the dress sit & drape perfectly.  This is a “no bustle” style.... however, all the fullness is still distributed toward the back for a bustle-y / tied back look.

Kathleen -In Oakland

Clink-Clank, Bitches!

Greetings from Sunny California!

Last Sunday, my friend Tracey and I attended The Great Handcar Regatta in historical downtown Santa Rosa,  about an hour north of San Francisco.

http://handcar-regatta.com/

“The Handcar Regatta represents a public celebration of Mechanical Railcar Races, Visual, Culinary, and Costumed Performing Arts combined with an inclusive concept of Community Participation and Human Ingenuity embracing sustainability, alternative transportation, and good old fashioned fun…….

………The railcar races at the center of the Regatta highlights Innovation and Human-Powered Ingenuity to devise cheaper, viable, and hitherto undreamed of methods for bizarre transport beyond the standard notions of to-day. Together with an emphasis on biking, the Regatta provides a platform for playfulness and sustainable concerns within the realm of human-powered alternative transportation.”

In other words, a Steampunk, hippie-hipster nerdfest with lots of local-yocals mixed in.  Stir in tons of sunshine and alcohol for good times J

As a creepy "Steampunk" band plays on, a sweeper cleans the track and watches the madness.

One of the many regattas ready and waiting to race, complete with clink-clanky wings!



A shiny gold airship ready for take-off!

One of the teams prepare their contraption on the track.  Love the matching outfits...so professional!

And awayyyyy we go!!!

AMERICA! FUCK YEAH!

Most of the booths were whimsical looking tents like this.

Random performance art:  "IM MOVING LIKE A ROBOT...IM TALKING LIKE A ROBOT...TIC-TOC...!"



More Clink-Clankery:  A Victorian Camel-Bak?  A portable latte machine?? ...not sure yet.



What bay area event is complete without some trippy, hippy art?!



The kids loved this, btw.

It was fun, but hot as hell.  Most folks were not dressed up at all, but that didn’t stop us from attempting to look our best:

Me, in front of a big-ass bike...trying not to go blind from the sun.

Tracey and Me, feeling refreshed in the shade, after a couple of Margaritas. 

-Kathleen in Oakland