Adventures Part 2

Here are some photos of Cambridge and Oxford. I'm a historian in high school and have high ambitions, I'll leave it at that.

Queen's College Oxford

Oxford, they were having an open day when I visited so I crammed in visits to 4 colleges but wish that I had been able to fit in more.

Trinity College, Oxford

Trinity College, Oxford

Trinity gardens

At Oxford they draw symbols for every rowing race won by one of the teams from the college. I'm a rower so I loved how important an aspect of the society it was!

Oxford

Pembroke college, Oxford

my favorite antiques store across from Peterhouse college, Cambridge

Peterhouse college, Cambridge

Last year I did a summer program at Peterhouse so it was fun to go back and visit

!

Fitzbillies, the classic Cambridge stop for breakfast, lunch, tea, or their famous chelsea buns

Clare college, Cambridge

I'm pretty sure this is Trinity college but I'm not sure....  this is embarrassing

Clare gardens, Cambridge

Clare Bridge

The Fitzwilliam Museum of Art, Cambridge ~ one of my favorite haunts from last year

Cows by the river and punters on the Cam

King's College, Cambridge

Adventures in London and Prague

I'm on vacation after a hectic year and before a hectic summer! Here are some pictures of what I've been up too recently in London and Prague. I'll also post some photos of Hampton Court and Blenheim Palaces, Cambridge and Oxford, and the Cotswolds.

Annie's Vintage shop in Camden Passage Islington

1890s ballgown bodice

racks of gorgeous dresses, lace, and accessories not to mention many stunning beaded 1920s dresses

one of the more simple '20s evening gowns

 I found the perfect 1910s tea dress there, it looked to be in my size and price range, but it was reserved for someone else. )-: Just my luck!

Camden Passage flea market, Islington

Liberty of London

What can I say, I can't resist a Liberty print

Or the beautiful lace that they carry at their Haberdashery!

beautiful flowers for sale out front

We visited Selfridges basically because of the miniseries, unfortunately there were no antique fripperies, just modern products! (-;

 We took a long weekend in Prague which I had heard amazing things about, everybody raves about it! Not me I'm afraid, in fact I rather didn't like it much. From there we left for France, but I'll backtrack to all the things that happened in between.

Prague

View from Prague Castle

Estate Opera Theatre

Old Town Square

 I have to admit that I am a big Opera fan. I have often been caught humming my favorite songs from my favorite opera, Rigoletto. I was lucky enough to be able to see Verdi's Nabucco at the gorgeous Prague State theatre while we were there. It was the highlight of my visit. The performance was wonderful, the opera house was wonderful, and our seats were wonderful!

State Opera House

the decadent ceiling

I was pretty excited

And in awe!

Historical Sew Fortnightly: Pretty Pretty Princess

I made an 1891 shell pink ball gown inspired by some of Worth's early 1890s dresses, some portraits, and an antique Parisien pair of opera glasses in the same color scheme. I didn't base it on a single person though I was inspired by Consuelo Vanderbilt ex Duchess of Marlborough after reading her autobiography. I decided to enter this inter the challenge because when I was at the photo shoot two little girls asked me if I was a princess and took photos with me!

The Challenge: Pretty Pretty Princess

Fabric: pink polyester heavy satin, I'm not exactly sure if that's the best way to describe it or how much I used because I just had it in my stash and got it last year from Jomar. Cotton and duck for the bodice lining. Ivory linen for the skirt lining. Pink silk chiffon for the neckline trim.

Pattern: Truly Victorian TV490 and TV298

Year: 1891-2

Notions: Gutermann and Coats & Clark thread, silk flowers, hooks and eyes, and 6 inches of ribbon to make a train loop for my skirt

How historically accurate is it? The patterns are accurate and the design is based off of extent garments and portraits. The fabric, thread, and flowers were all synthetic unfortunately.

Hours to complete: The first day I spent 11 hours and finished all the main construction. Then I paused and did little bits on weekends until it was finished. So upwards of 15 hours I'm guessing, I'm not very fast.

First worn: June 8th for the photo shoot at Longwood Gardens

Total cost: $28.50 for the patterns, everything else came from my stash.

 

I promise I had no idea that I was mimicking this portrait!

 

 

 

 

 

A Few Photos from my Photoshoot

On the 8th three friends of mine, my fantastic photographer/mother and I drove out to Longwood Gardens for a photo shoot. I don't have to many photos ready to show, but they are gorgeous. We got some bizarre looks as we walked in with our hair and makeup all done but in modern day clothes. And I apologise to the few confused people who walked into a bathroom to find some crazy girls lacing corsets and pinning flowers into their hair! It was absolutely wonderful fun, the place was practically empty, and the weather was perfect. I'll show more pictures later, but here are two of me and the best group shot.

Here is my favorite group shot. I made all of the dresses in the last 6 months and they all suited their model perfectly! I love my friends; they are the best. I think this photo looks like the cover of a BBC drama that spans three eras!

"Gap" Regency shoes

I got a pair of Gap leather ballet flats at the beginning of this school year since I have a soft spot for yellow shoes. Unfortunately they always slipped off my feet when I wore them since my feet fall in between two sizes. So although I liked them quite a bit, the obvious thing to do was turn them into regency slippers! 

First I snipped off the purple bows (they weren't particularly attractive).

 Even though the style predates the time I mean my shoe to be from, I had to trim them with a little ruffle.

 I sewed two loops onto each side so to add some ribbons. That solves the shoes coming of my foot!

 They came out a bit crazier than I'd expected, but I still really like them!

Hopefully soon I'll finish my blue silk ball gown circa 1813-1817! I love blue and yellow/gold together, possibly because that is my school uniform and therefor has been ingrained in me for 10 years!