Regency Curls Tutorial

A turban with some curly fringe is my go to regency era hairstyle. It's pretty easy, and doesn't take much work because all you really do is sleep with curlers, take them out and then bam! ready to go! The first two pictures is what my tutorial would have looked like if I had let the curls dry all the way before I took them out. The photos from the actual tutorial are at the bottom, and because several of the curls were damp, they got tucked up into the turban. :P I typically do a center part, because that seems to be what most fashion plates and paintings depict. I've done a side part before though, because I'm lazy, and partly because my hair just, like does NOT want to center part. :) 

So to start, part the front of my hair, from right behind me ears all the way across. 

Then I dampen it (don't soak! Or you will have damp curls by morning! lol) and add some gel and or mousse. I buy most all of my hair products at Walmart. 

my bathroom has horrible lighting. I'm sorry! 

water

Then I sectioned my hair into somewhat small sections to be rolled.

The foam rollers are from Dollar General, size "medium". They looked like size small to me, which was good. I'm not really sure there's a certain way I roll them...typically any which way, but I try to make them vertical so it will make ringlets. 

 Then I go to bed. When I wake up, I spritz the rolls with hairspray. Then I unwind them all and coat them with hairspray. I have like regular hairspray, and then the arisol kind. I don't favor one over the other and will use which ever one is closest.

 And then I wrap my wool scarf (it's a lovely soft lightweight scarf, I've got a red one, and then mama has an olive coloured one) around my head like a turban, and keep the curls out!

~Theresa

Making Pantalets from the 1820's

I hope you are liking the 1820's right now, because I am. :)  I've just finished up a pair of pantalets from that era, and yup, that's what this blog post is about :).  I love them, even if I did have to restrain from making tucks.  (random facts about me, I love making tucks and flat felled seams.)

I used a CW drawers pattern (Simplicity 2890), but adjusted it so that the legs were not as full, and took out the tucks.  They legs are attached to a waistband, like the ones below, instead of tying on separate.  I am not sure yet, but I think I will wear these as CW drawers as well.

My original plan for these pantalets was to put some Broderie Anglaise around the bottom like the two pairs feature below.  I did a lot of reading but I wasn't feeling very confident about doing the Broderie Anglaise...so I didn't.  I'm still not exactly sure how it's done...but I did learn a little bit.  At first I thought you just punched holes in the fabric and sealed it off with like nail polish or fray-check, or I'm not sure what.  *wince*.  I now know that it's similar to eyelet...but different.  And that's the part where I was getting confused.  And so we move along.

When I saw this picture of some 1820's pantalets that had lace insertion I thought I'd try that.  I do understand how that is done and had been wanting to try it for several months.  

original pantalets

After that I'm not really sure what happened...I think I just wanted a little bit of colour at the waistband.  I had some early 19th century embroidery patterns printed out from a previous project, and so I just did a little embroidery there.  And then I think I wanted the colour at the hem too so I just went ahead and did embroidery there as well.  At first I thought I wouldn't like it, since I prefer a more simplistic look, but it's just enough to add detail without being over the top.  

french knots!! :)

china buttons

yes...the do split.  It's slightly disturbing to me still...

forgive the skinnies and the sweater :P I didn't feel like getting all garbed up for a picture.  :O I'm currently sick. blah.

I would have done more of a tutorial for you, but it was literally just attaching two legs to a waistband.  And my embroidery skills are not even close to being good enough for a tutorial on that.  I will do a lace insertion tutorial one day, but until then, here is a good site to check out. :) 

I'm happy with my new pantalets. A very time consuming project, but rewarding :). 

~Theresa

I Love Half Boots (my first attempt at shoe making! :D)

I know it seems like I've only got small things going on, but they are still a sewing/reenacting necessity.  My last project (just finished today!) was a pair of Regency half boots. They were made of silk, leather, and even linen during the 1800's, but mine are made from faux suede.  I got it for free from a friend of Bascha's, and it seemed pretty durable.  I'll be wearing them in the Latta house and cabins.  

This was one time I didn't make a tutorial of how I made something.....and then last night I had a friend tell me she couldn't wait to see how I made these so she could make them herself.  Bummer.  If you want to know the details just send me an email and I'll do my best to explain :).

I've put green laces for now, though I'm going to put brown ones just as soon as I get out to the store :)

these were my favorite boots, thus my wanting that color brown laces.  They were also the only ones I found that did not lace completely shut, and mine don't lace shut either.

I thought the bows would be a little corny, but they turned out ok :) They are silk.

the inspiration for my silk bows

inside of the boot

toe and tongue of the boot before the bows were attached

for the eyelets I just punched out holes and sealed it off with nail-polish.  I finished off some other fraying parts with nail polish as well....:)

There's my bootsies, and now I'm off to eat a Thanksgiving dinner :) Happy Thanksgiving!!
~Theresa

My 18th Birthday

Hello Everyone,

  What a day I had at Latta last week with some of my favorite people! Latta gang thanks for all the years with you and thanks for allowing me to have a little birthday celebration and for being so gracious in helping my family set up the tent at Latta. <3 I hope you don't mind that this blog post is not about clothing, but about friends and birthdays.  Last Thursday Nov. 14th was my birthday (yeah! :D).  This post is the story of that day.

On our way to a surprise birthday present!

I was so excited to have Theresa, Caroline and Ann-Marie join me at Latta!

I wonder what it could be?

My family gave me a canvas TENT!!

Which side do you think is the front?

or front?

Admiring the delicate, lovely sewing cupcakes my sweet, sweet friend Theresa

made for us all. <3

You are one of the sweetest people I know.

Love you.

I really like the needle and thread design and the one with the flower and the ones 

with the buttons and the one with the quilted look and ...... most all of them. ;)

Theresa, thank you!

We're just missing Ruth and Private Pen :D

My mom made wonderful tasty apple cider to drink on this chilly day.

My mom gave each of us all the materials for a Regency bonnet to make together. :)

I hope the girls liked it as much as I did?

Working on our bonnets like four proper ladies.  

Thanks Abe for all your love and help on this day.

lol Abe is not one of the proper ladies.

Just saying! 

Ann-Marie can talk and sew at the same time.  giggle

Thank you so much for the cute little plaid purse and earrings.

Love you Ann-Marie.

Caroline,  I love this picture of you.
Thanks for coming and celebrating my birth date with me.
Hugs

I had a great day thanks to you all.

Saying our goodbyes 

One more gift from my family!!

Thanks Dad and Mom!

Kisses and huge Hugs! lol

 Latta gang thanks for all the years with you and thanks for allowing me to have a little birthday celebration and for being so gracious in helping my family set up the tent. <3

Oh Theresa, thank you so much for all your hard work and effort you put into the beautiful silk garters you gave me.  I will treasure them always. <3

Hugs,

~Bascha