None of my 1840s pattern drafts fit me anymore. I had to take in two inches from the side seams on the Laughing Moon Round dress pattern, but the armscyes are SOOO small. My chest, shoulders, and arm muscles have responded really well to all the weight lifting, but now I can't lift my arms in my dresses since my chest muscles have gotten stronger and bigger. I'll be working on fiddling with the pattern some more and have Ian help me with the fitting.

On the plus side, I do look pretty darn good in a sleeveless blouse or tank top, so it's not all bad!

I also finally made a bumpad for my 1840s skirts and I LOVE IT. The skirt thrust in the back is awesome and was one aspect of my silhouette that I always wanted to improve.

The bolt of grey wool fabric I wanted to make a Jane Eyre inspired 1840s dress out of had only 3 1/2 yards left. Boo for me, but Ian bought it to make an Edwardian suit to wear to my sister's wedding, since he thinks he can get by if he's smart with the layout. The suit will go quite well with the handlebar mustache he has been growing out for 6 months.

I ran in a 10-mile running event this morning with a pace of 9:39/mile and a finishing time of 1 hour 36 minutes and 28 seconds. I didn't do any training for running this event and only ran three times last week for 30 minutes each session. I wanted to have a 10 minute/mile pace and I'm still in shock about my finish time.



I can't walk now, but I did go to the gym and lift weights this afternoon (upper body only).

You can do anything you put your mind to. I certainly couldn't have done this 80 pounds ago!

Here is a chantilly lace shawl I picked up a few weeks ago. Since you pay by the pound, this probably cost me about 25 cents. It measures 105 x 50 inches and has a few holes, but I'm not complaining!





I also found this paisley shawl. It's small, but pretty, and the kitties like it.

X-posted at blogger: http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5245596887948546178#editor/target=post;postID=1909896197473754333

I am starting a 12 week heavy weight lifting program to complete my transformation from formerly fat teenager to totally ripped adult. I even joined a gym. It's that serious. This means I am putting all of my sewing projects on hold until then. Ideally I want to tone up my legs more than anything and the only changes I foresee in my upper body might be a slightly smaller waist, smaller lower abdominal area, and my upper arms might increase in size. Because I have no idea what my body measurements will be at the end of this program, I really don't want to start a dress that will fit me perfectly now, and then fit poorly later (lesson learned on my red squiggly 1840s dress). I might even have to make a new corset since I have already taken in the one I made a little more than a year ago. I will have to have a new dress in June a week before my sisters wedding when I will be doing presentations on womens clothing at a museum event and want to have everything fit perfectly. I want to make something like this, if I have the money to buy the wool:


I have a few 1840s prints to make cotton dresses and a yellow and cream stripe silk as well. I really like this dress, since I've never made a short sleeve dress, and I won't look young enough to wear something like that forever!


Decisions, decisions!

I'm using this 1830s print I bought at Mill Ends in Reno with this pattern:



Ian and I had planned on going on a five mile run this morning. I got up at 7AM on a SUNDAY to eat some oatmeal and then wait an hour for our run. Guess who has a stomach ache from eating crap food at a party yesterday. Not I. But now I have time to work on sewing with a nice cup of coffee and cuddly kitties to keep me company!

I am attending a vintage themed dinner party in the next few weeks wanted to start on a sewing project this weekend. I bought this fabric at Joanns:


I have two patterns in my stash that could work:



or this dress with contrast color, pocket flaps, and belt:


Right now I am leaning toward the second dress. . . Off to mock-ups.

See our decorated house at blogger! http://dressingthe1840s.blogspot.com/2011/12/victorian-christmas.html

Cross posted at blogger: http://dressingthe1840s.blogspot.com/2011/12/dickens-fair-2011.html