I am sick. Which is both horrible and great at the same time. Horrible because I feel just awful: sore throat and glands, headache, cough, but no fever, and some sore legs from running yesterday. But at least it means I won't be sick next weekend for El Dorado. And tomorrow is Memorial Day, so I can continue resting.

I've just thrown another wrench into the Infanta project, with the discovery of Chandra's really beautiful red taffeta. Red is my absolute favorite color in the world! But I need to see how it will look with the cream trim, because I don't want it to come off like a Christmas dress. So we'll see. :] However, if I could find an affordable gold metallic lace like Weinglasarien's 17th century dress, it would be amazingly perfect!

ETA: I found the trim! :]

 Here's a quick sketch, without a head or hands hehe.


The trim is a very simplified version of Infanta Margarita's famous teal dress. I don't feel bad about the simplification because another portrait of her has her in a very simply trimmed beige gown.

The lace on the collar and cuffs will be my antique reticella lace, if I can find it. I still have it, it's just... in the stash somewhere...

The teal and silver/white combination has me totally won over. But the silver/white might be hard to find. So we'll see... but I definitely want it to be teal/turquoise!

Skirt Issues:

So I thoroughly read koshka_the_cat 's court skirt tutorial, and it's going to be quite helpful (even if it is 100 years later than my dress)! However, the Spanish dress skirts tend to have about zero extra fullness to them. That is, they go almost straight across and around. From what I can see in portraits, there isn't any pleating on the edges either. This will be fun to drape... :]

I hate snarky comments.

Maybe I'm just extremely sensitive, or maybe I have more than an average person's recommended dose of TACT, but really! Some people! I always believe there's a nice way to say something. And you never know what the receiver of the comment went through, either. This calls for extra niceness.

Oh well, I never have to meet these people, and the personal knowledge that I am no way at fault is enough for me.

I picked up my print anglaise for lack of anything exciting to do. The bodice is almost done, then the skirt. Maybe a skirt ruffle. We'll see how much I want to devote to this.  I also played dress up with my pink silk polonaise. I really should get some good pictures of that dress... Tomorrow? :]

I just want to be working on the Infanta dress NOW, and all other projects seem so dull in comparison. Although earlier I realized there's nothing stopping me from making a muslin for the bodice. In fact... that's an extremely good idea!! I can get the bodice patterend, but the basque and skirt will have to wait until I get that crazy farthingale/pannier made. Oh boy...  I hope it's simple to make, and it certainly seems so. I think I'm going to give in and sew it on my grandmother's sewing machine. *gasp*

I also need to think of a project to take to New York with me. I have both natural form dresses to make, but that would require bringing the undergarments with me to fit them. However, those are the only projects I have in my stash to work on, and I'm trying to keep myself to the stash for now.

And another thing. I am SO upset that I trimmed my bangs too short. I just want to wear a scarf on my head all the time. My hair tends to grow fast though, so I just need to be patient.

I want my Spanish dress, and I want it now!

I just have no money, thus no fabric.

However... I have an evil thought:

The gold Elizabethan and gold 1860s dress can both be used to make this dress. I probably won't wear the Elizabethan again, and I'm bored with the 1860s (it would also be a good excuse to make a new silk 1860s gown in the future!).

The downsides? I REALLY want this dress to be turquoise, like that one Infanta portrait. Not to mention, I would be out two dresses.

But if they're dresses I don't wear, wouldn't it be better to put them to good use and save myself a lot of money??

Oh, what a hard decision! :-/

Niamh, do not attempt to talk me out of this. If you speak a word, I swear to you I shall not listen!

Despite my increasing desire for the Spanish 17th century gown, this summer I am confining myself to completing only the projects that I have at least half of the fabric for already in my possession. Which in all honesty is plenty of dresses!

*printed anglaise
*white sheer natural form
*plaid natural form
*steampunk

Yes, plenty!

Although last night I found the fabric I want for what will now be known as the Infanta gown. I already have it! I want to turn my gold Elizabethan into this dress, but I don't think there's enough fabric... Probably only enough for the top, since it has a basque,

I guess it's okay for the skirt and top to be different colours. But... no, I really want it all one colour. Guess I'm saving up for this project! Luckily I already have the pattern for the farthingale. Yay!