Catch-Up

Okay, so I said I had managed to make some summer clothes for myself — but I haven’t posted any of them. Hmmm, you may be asking yourself, why is that? Or I suppose it’s also possible you aren’t wondering any such thing. Too bad — I’m going to tell you anyway. The main reason is, I HATE taking pictures of myself! I kept thinking that I really OUGHT to post something. Really. I should. I started this blog. Blogs need content. It seems unlikely Her Fine Hand is going to self-generate content. Ergo, I really OUGHT to post something. Oh, but my hair looks awful today! Getting the tripod set up is such a hassle! And I always make such stupid faces! I HATE taking pictures of myself!!! And so it went. I was just on the verge of calling the whole blog off, when Arabella and Spike volunteered to help out. I was so grateful — I just love those girls. Always so patient and helpful. They’ll just stand there ALL DAY without complaining if I need them to.

Wait — I HAVE introduced you to the girls, haven’t I? No? Really, no??? Oh heavens, where are my manners?

Please meet my assistants, Mimi, Spike, and Arabella. (They like to take the air in the garden when the weather is fine. They do it naked.). Spike, in the middle, has been with me the longest. She arrived with various pads that could be inserted under her stretchy cover, and at one time she and I were near-perfect twins, shape-wise speaking. Sadly, I have um, shall we say matured a bit since then, while she has retained her youthful figure (which doesn’t seem at all fair since she NEVER goes to the gym). Arabella came next. I acquired her when I was studying fashion design at VCU and was required to purchase a standard size 10 dress form.  Mimi was a gift from Dearly Beloved when I was trying to make a go of a dressmaking business and needed a greater range of sizes for fitting. For the most part, one of the three of them is reasonably close to the size and proportions of whomever I am trying to fit. (I fit right in between Spike and Arabella.)

Anyway, Spike and Arabella volunteered to model my latest makes so I could actually post them. (Arabella has asked me to mention that a dress form size 10 is not the same size as a RTW size 10. I have no idea why she thought that was important to mention . . . . )

So, here are some of the latest additions to my summer wardrobe:

You know how every list of things that “Every Woman Should Have In Her Closet” always includes a “classic white shirt”? Well, I’ve never been a “classic white shirt” kind of girl. But it occurred to me that perhaps that was because most classic white shirts just never fit me very well. So I decided to try making my own. Having learned my lesson from my Little White Dress in January, I went with a princess line pattern (B5526), and after some fiddling I am reasonably pleased with the fit. So now I have a classic white shirt. Well, except for the buttons. I love them — like little hazard warnings or something!

Here is the skirt I made to wear with it — it has turned out to be a real star, because all the colors mean I can wear lots of different tops with it:

(I know — it’s wrinkled. I had to fish it out of the laundry hamper to photograph it! Hah!)

Also:

Clearly I was in the mood for lots of color when I was making these things!

The green shirt is from the same pattern as the white one.The flowered straight skirts are from B5466, and the blue cowl top is from M6078 (which is now out of print). The yellow flowered dress is from M6887 — the same as my watermelon dress from March, only without the cutout in the back. And the white knit dress is from a pattern I drafted myself years ago. I considered posting more information about the patterns, fitting, etc., except that I am not sure if anyone who reads this blog is actually a sewer. It may just be family and friends. So if you read this and you are interested in sewing details, would you please let me know? My original reason for starting this blog was to make contact with other creative types, but I’m not sure I’ve actually accomplished that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, Where Was I?

Hello Everyone! I’ve been away for sooooo long. Last time I posted spring was just springing. Now it’s high summer and HOT! The mercury hit 95 today in Richmond. My garden is in full bloom. Don’t you love the addition of TJ’s blue toy on the edge of the walkway? I just think the contrast with the pink flowers is so striking. Quite the artistic eye my TJ has.

My Monarda is tall and fat and healthy this year. It’s easy to see why it’s called Bee Balm. There were at least 6 big bumblebees buzzing around in it when I was out taking pictures today. I always address them as Babbity Bumble (but they never answer).

And here we have some very happy mint threatening to overcome the poor defenseless Mandevilla. It’s clear I must get out there and discipline the bully. And I know the best way to do that!

MINT JULEPS!!!!!!

Anyway, the reason I’ve been absent from the blogosphere for such a long time is most emphatically NOT because I haven’t been busy! I costumed Richmond Shakespeare/Henley Street Theatre‘s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream last month. It was part of the annual Richmond Shakespeare Festival at Agecroft Hall. For those of my readers who are not from Richmond, I should explain that Agecroft Hall was built in Lancashire, England in the late 15th century, and dismantled, crated, shipped to Richmond, and rebuilt in the 1920s. It’s a truly magical place to perform Shakespeare’s plays — and this was especially true for this production, because it was firefly season, and they came right up onto the outdoor stage while the play was being performed! Anyway, it was a BIG show and I was brought onto the production team only about a month before it opened, so it took up all my time and energy. But it’s a show I’ve always wanted to do, and the results were pretty good. My favorite part was the fairies’ wings:

These were some very active, athletic fairies whose movements included climbing in and out of a big tree which was part of the set. Pretty, dainty little traditional wings attached to their backs were out of the question! Instead, the wings were attached to their arms and sides. The actors could spread or fold the wings as the situation dictated. Perhaps I’ll do a post about how I built them some day. I really was pleased with them! (And if you are in Richmond, this weekend is your last chance to see it — which I highly recommend.)

Oh, and after I finished Midsummer, I built some costumes for another Richmond Shakespeare production: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), which was performed at Dogwood Dell last weekend. (What is it with these outdoor performances in the sweltering heat?)

And now I’ve agreed to build some for the NEXT production, Richard III!

So yeah, I’ve been busy.

I actually HAVE managed to sew some summer clothes for myself too (out of necessity — I had nothing to wear!) but since this post is already pretty long, I’ll save them for another day.

Ta-ta darlings! I’ll try to be more regular for a while!