A Georgian Gown for the Ball..

Since I am still waiting on boning to finish off my corset, and reading far too many books, I have decided to go ahead and start on a new gown for the Ball. It's next month, and Georgian/Regency costumes are encouraged :D Since I already know what my inspiration is, and have a photo ready to share with you here, I shall... 

Isn't it B-E-A-utiful?!? The floral that you see is actually Brocaded silk, and the gown really is from the 18th Century. I think it the perfect mix of Georgian and Regency and just right for a young woman who would've been around just as the fashions were changing. Even as you sit and watch Pride and Prejudice (2005, sorry dears) you will realize that Mrs. Bennet (and other such women of her caliber or more, for example Lady Catherine deBourgh) were still wearing the Georgian gowns they grew up with; while Jane, Elizabeth, and Georgianna where wearing modest and comely gowns in the new style - which suited their personalities just fine and seemed so sweet amongst their characters. And, even still the younger girls (such as was found in the characters of Kitty and Lydia) were extravagant with their "it's all the rage in London" 's. 

Since I am noticing the lack of hoops in the photo above, I am relieved of another fear... I have neither the time nor the funds sufficient enough to include a set of hoops into my grand ordeal of a costume. * whew *

It sounds so lovely, I can only hope it works! Pray for me friends, and hope I don't mess up my stitching! At least I have some assurance of hope in the fact that I can use a new machine that works and not have to go at it by hand, which  would be sure to be a disaster in the making... Oy vey! 

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

A Tid-bit of Stitchery...

I said in my last blogpost that I would put up a photo of the embroidery I've done on my corset when I had the chance... I finally had time to get around to it yesterday evening. Not only did I get a few of the embroidery, but I decided to take a few of my work so far as well. As you can see, it is just a simple Vine pattern w/ French Knot berries, and a few leaves...

Though the photo's probably aren't the best, here they are :)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

For my first set of stays; My true love gave to me...

2 yards of muslin, and a new, working sewing machine ;)

When I was in Colorado visiting my fathers parents, my parents went to visit my mothers father for Thanksgiving and he sent two of my granny's sewing machines and a Serger home to me! Thank you Papaw!!!

 I really want to try and make a Georgian dress but need stays for that, even more than I do for my Regency dresses. I looked through my stash of patterns and found this one from McCall's. I am making it out of a plain white muslin, and eyelet's instead of grommets for lacing (since I am HORRIBLE at putting in grommets). I am almost done (but for attaching lining to corset once the boning is in). While waiting on the chance to get my boning, I  have decided that I will add a little decorative touch to one or two of the front panels. I started earlier today on the embroidery and will post a pic as soon as I have one. Though I fear my stitches are always very poor I think it will be all the more lovely knowing that I did it with my own hand, and hopefully one of my children can enjoy my toils many years from now when it gets passed down from myself to some dear little girl... 

If you have any tips for corsetry (yes, it's a "new" word :P), please share them if you can spare a moment here. I am very new to this, and though I am using a modern pattern for my stays this time, I hope to learn from it and make a set of 18th Century stays somewhere in the near future. (Hopefully with the help of your tips, and also a little guidance from the quick hands of my dear friend Laura at Tryon Palace...)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Party Dresses for the New Year...

Or at least, my picks for the season :D I hope you are all having a Beautiful week, and enjoy my little ditherings here... 

First, we have a lovely RED dress. It's Vivienne Westwood's "Hybrid". The color is good (for me at least...), and the fabric looks really flattering the way it's gathered and draped. 

You can find it here. 

Next, we have a gown that I think would look absolutely lovely on. 

It's Lanvin's Asymmetrical Washed Silk Gown. 

You can find it here at Net-A-Porter.com. Isn't it a dream?!? I LOVE the color, and the draping... like a Grecian Goddess... and I bet it makes you feel that way too. My only hiccup here is the flower... though I'm sure anyone who wears it is more than capable of pulling it off.

My next choice is a bit more glam, and perhaps more "hip" (and SHORTER) than I'm used to. But, I like it anyways! 

The nipped waist is very figure flattering, and the asymmetrical bottom adds intrigue to the style, and an extra appeal to the legs... now, as I think this would be too short to wear with my "mile long" legs, I would wear opaque tights, and black (or perhaps red or blue) velvet/suede pumps :D Unfortunately I can't remember where I found it, but if you happen to stumble across a link can you please share? 

Here, we have a nice LBD. 

Gotta love the Sparkle factor... it's enough to make any woman fall in love, whether she'd actually wear it or not. I'm not one to normally go after sparkles and sequins... but I am starting to realize how much I like them, and trying to make sure I at least try them every now and again :) The velvet belt is lovely in contrast, and helps to break up all the splashy sequins... 

Unfortunately this is another one I can't remember the link for :( Be sure to leave a comment though if you find it, please!

What styles have you fallen in love with over the start of the New Year? 

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Monkey/Gorilla Bread with a twist

Okay, so Gorilla Bread is BASICALLY the same as Monkey Bread ... but with an extra ingredient. I made it extra special simply by adding 3 extra's. Those ingredients would be ... Raisins, Philadelphia Creme-cheese, and chopped/crushed Walnuts.

Now, for regular monkey bread you quarter the Pillsbury flake-y bisctuits, and toss them in the Bundt pan. But, with Gorilla Bread, you 1/2 them and roll a little cream-cheese in the slices... THEN toss them into the Bundt pan. Same for the special kind I made, but with * lots * more layers :D 

I know my mom has the recipe for Monkey Bread on her blog already, so I'm gonna "steal" it and post here for you guys... then use a little ** sign and help you along with the extra's. LOL... I know, I know... But today I'm being lazy :P

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

6 cans biscuits

1 cup butter or margarine, melted

2 cups packed brown sugar

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

By the way, go ahead and preheat your oven to 375 BEFORE you get started with construction...

First, quarter all the biscuits and put to the side

next, get your butter, heavy whipping cream, and brown sugar melting together in a saucepan. 

** I just whip them all together in a bowl, and don't bother heating them in a sauce pan... they turn into a nice sauce well enough by just being put in the pan with all the trimmings and biscuits, and left to bake like everything else...

Then, mix your granulated white sugar and your cinnamon together and start tossing the biscuit quarters into the mix

** Here is where you will want to start with your layers. One layers of sugared biscuits (about 1/2 of what you're using) then toss the raisins and walnuts in, spreading evenly throughout the section. Add about 1/2 of your sauce, and repeat the layers with what you have left... 

Finally, layer the sugar and cinnamon coated biscuits with the sauce in your bundt pan... I like to do a few layers so that the oooey, gooey sauce gets into every little nook and cranny of the biscuits; [** see... ;) ] I dump whatever sugar-cinnamon mixture is left over on to the top of the pan -- waste not, want not ;-) 

Make SURE you let your monkey bread cool down really well before you dump it out of the bundt pan onto a plate!!! Our daughter (that'd be me :P) nearly scalded her legs several years ago because she was in a hurry to get it turned out and didn't wait for me to come help... It was the grace of God reminding me of every first aid lesson I'd ever learned regarding burns that kept her from getting even a single blister!

I hope you enjoy this recipe, and my oddly worded post ;)

Have anything you like to bake or make in particular? 

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Old Meets New

I tried on this dress and immediately fell in love with it!! It is the Brooklyn Dress from the Merona line at Target. I love the detail of the sailor buttons at the shoulder and the rope twist belt. It's so light and airy it would be perfect for a humid summer day :)

I didn't buy it because I'm hoping it will go on sale in a few weeks but if it doesn't then I will pay full price because beauty like this is worth it...

The dress is very vintage inspired and reminded me so much of this photo in my book: Catwalking: A History of the Fashion Model

The photo was taken by Erwin Blumenfeld, and is of Lisa Fonssagrives wearing a Lucien Lelong dress on the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The photo was taken for French Vogue in 1939. 

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Going to Tea

I am back home from Colorado to a much warmer (and muggier) North Carolina! I am thrilled to be back home with my parents and three little monkeys once again :)

One thing I love to do when visiting my Oma is to go to tea with her at Glen Eyrie Castle in Colorado Springs near Garden of the Gods, another favorite hangout...

Who wouldn't want to go to tea when you get to be dressed up in your Sunday best like this?

My Oma and I went to a Victorian Tea (how perfect?!? lol) on this visit. They had sweet little treats and I especially loved the raspberry swirl cookies, as well as the Brie cheese. Brie is one of my favorite cheeses to put on anything from crackers to Granny Smith apple slices. If you buy the Brie that still has the wax on it then you can slice off the top layer and pop it in the microwave for a few minutes to get it all ooey-gooey. It's just so lovely :D

We recently discovered the yumminess of Brie en Croute (similar to this one) over the holidays and my mother recreated it for our own New Years Eve snack table. Hers was a little different than the Christmas one we tasted because she used her very own fig jam and pecans. It was scrumdiddlyumptious!!

Did you discover any new treats this holiday season?

-- A Victorian Cowgirl