Slightly personal.

..in the light of my candle, to the sound of my mice and my ticking clock , I write to you from inside the walls of Wheeler street. I can still almost not believe I'm here. I don't know if I'll ever find somewhere that feels like home, but it was love at first sight between me and Maidstone so I think I will stick around for some time. It is already worth it tough, since I have nightmares about having to leave.

Right now I look mostly forward to having a real bed! Yes, still sleeping on the floor, thanks for asking. That's where my creativity goes nowadays, home decoration. I've become quite the little housewife! But also quite the picky housewife, so I do end up making most things my self ( not entirely by my self, I'm not that handy)...I will call it eco-friendly. But so far everything is kind of a work in progress. Aside from the dress (that is more art than dress really) that I totally made out of a white sheet and some buttons (ok, a lot..a lot of buttons..) that is all done! 

But that's a far enough stroll into my personal life! I'll be back soon to revive my blog with some more dressmaking and cool stuff, Until then...

Oh no I did make something! there are so much happening that I remember even less than usually, but yes, for my Lus' 4th birthday I actually made a tiger costume. I asked him some days before what costume he would want if he got to pick and I was not even a little surprised at the choice of tiger. So a tiger costume it is!  

..blowing out the candle falling asleep with my book on Victorian life. Saturday night plan.

The latest from red ridinghood in Maidstone

Now on the other side of my emigration plans and the creativeness has had to sit back for a while..but I must say, hand sewing and embroidering really calms ones soul. I did finish my new 1880's dress before I left the country so more on that when there is some pictures to go with it. 

(when I watch the film, it's 90% because of this scene)

 And speaking of the 80's, there's been lots of time to finish reading Bel Ami..the best thing I have to say is that the film will be really cool to watch! I can definitely understand how it would have been some chocking reading to the middle classes 130 years ago, and that's not because the things in it would be unusual, but I would have liked some purpose and deeper meaning to weigh up all the shallow focus on money and endless, pointless seduction. Clearly Bel Ami is a little bit of an 1880's French Gossip Girl (in lack of better comparison). All in all, Dorian Gray kicks Bel Ami's ass.

 So now I hang out with Tess of the d'Urbervilles instead. I know how it ends..and that if it was me I wouldn't make the same choices..but she is really admirable. Besides, Thomas Hardy apparently wrote really nicely. And if you all remember, I did name a dress after Tess!

Still, I don't really have that much to share yet. Soon there will be some cool dress pictures..hand sewing..apartment decorating (yes, apartment. Conformity is for suckers.) AND also a new blog upcoming! I noticed in my search for it that there is no one out there writing about emigrating to new countries..apparently it is not done any more..Well now it is done! I'm bringing emigration back! 

Until then remember: Bravery is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it.

Dolls on the move, part2... the Georgian manor house.

 As I mentioned earlier we are all moving out in the world right now.. Clearly the most adventurous of my dolls was the residents of my (never quite finished) Georgian manor house. The house was a project of a lifetime..my awesome husband built my childhood dream house, all 3 floors of it, including ballroom, kitchen and servants hall up to the bedrooms and dressing rooms. The dolls were pre-existing creations that I spiced up with new outfits and added some. But when my Lus was born the dollhouse was left in the background..and now the dolls are seeking a new exiting world!

Oddly enough the manor house dolls have been very popular!

 First to go was the Posh family. They never really lived in the house, stayed there regularly. Lord and Lady Posh likes to bring along their little daughter to parade and entertain their friends..a little odd by our standards..but the concept of loving parents does change over time. They're ridiculously rich and likes to flaunt it Georgian-style with their wigs and walkingsticks. No animal or peasant goes safe when Lord Posh goes for his daily hunt! Lady Posh likes to get up late in the morning, eat cake and order shoes of plenty in the afternoon. Little lady Aurora Posh is just wishes for someone to play with..it can be a lonely life as her parents doll..

Isabella

Then of course there's the dolls actually living in the manor house!  The dolls modelled after me and my husband will be the only ones joining us in England..sort of like a memory of it all..but the 2 sisters living there has already found their way out into the world. 

Claudia with the lord and lady of the house.

Isabella and Claudia are the Lady of the house's sisters. They haven't yet managed to get married so they hang around for the next season when the parties will be starting again. Isabella likes fashion and flirting but is a bit too romantic for this world. She trusts she will find true love out there and hopefully see some adventure on the way. Claudia on the other hand is the youngest of them all and has a dramatic side to her. A bit of a lost soul she tries to make a difference by stomping her feet. Her dream is really to find someone who accepts her..and maybe learn horseback riding properly!

But there are also many more dolls living in the house..also known as the servant dolls.These, to me, are far more interesting! They live at the ground floor and some of them never even see the splendour up stairs. Their space consists of the hall, the kitchen, the serving room and a shared bedroom for the female servants..and one for the male servants.

In charge of it all is the butler, mr.Brown, and his wife the housekeeper, mrs.Brown. He is a serious man who believes in structure and rules. When you need a crafty mind to bend those rules the servants turn to mrs.Brown who has become like a mother to them all. 

Then there is the footman Charles. He's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he has a kind heart. Him and the coachman Henry sometimes has a drink in the back ally by the kitchen at the end of the day and dream of a better life. Though Henry is a troublemaker and has a way of getting in his own way so Charles has decided to tag along to clear up his mess..you know..some one has to. 

The maids, Jenny, Millicent and Vera are probably the most exited by the prospect of a new world. 

Millie, Jenny, Vera, Hanna. Henry, Charles, mr. and mrs. Brown

Jenny is tired of washing dishes all day everyday and tired of always sleeping in the top bunk and, as the youngest maid, being bossed around by everyone. She longs for the big city and all the people she might meet. 

Millicent grew up on a farm near the manor house and has never been anywhere else so she's a little worried..she's gong to miss her lower bunk bed and her knitting in the early morning..but maybe she'll mostly miss Henry..they were getting married you know!

Vera's not too worried. She travelled from France as a child and has moved around a lot over the years. Se sees it as her duty to look after the other girls out there. It's a tough world and she intends to use all she has to get by. Besides..the Family was really getting on her nerves lately.

And lastly, no Georgian home is complete without a slave. Hanna. Truth be told the servants adore her and she sleeps in the best place, behind the fireplace all worm and cosy, but she is technically still a slave..

 

Aside from them there's also the street seller, Annabell and her children, Frank..who sadly died earlier this year..and the oh so cute daughter Julie, most commonly known as Honeybee. She sold flowers on the street by the manor house and became almost like one of the servants. The ladies really do like their flowers!

Hopefully they will all find new homes and lots of adventures out there in the world. Good luck to them!

My dolls finding their new homes - the French Theatre family.

Since I will be moving away very soon my dolls from previous obsessions has decided to try their luck at moving out in the world as well. By the world I in this case mean my disappointingly small home town, but hey! if I was 3 inches tall I'd probably think that was enough world for everyone.

First to go was the star of my French Theatre from 2008, Lux Landry ( yes, that is what I named her). She hopes to make it to the big stage and do serious drama. Nothing but fame and fortune is what she's set her mind to! Taking farewell of the little musichall (that quite frankly smelled a bit too much like booze, lice and syphilis for her taste!) and the other dolls who have become like a close family, she packed her bags and jumped.

The rest of the French Theatre-family is still waiting to get their chance.

There is Jasmine, the warm hearted can-can dancer..she was in a bit of a hurry, as most of the time, and forgot her dress! but at least she has shoes on her feet and a smile on her face. The rest will fall into place eventually..she thinks. 

With her she has the theatres handyman and everyone's big brother (metaphorically of course). He had no real interest in leaving at first..the musichall life suited him just fine (apart from the night there was a show going on.) But there comes a time for change for everyone and when Jasmine asked him to join her he felt that time had come! 

But surely such inexperienced and reckless dolls need some one who knows what they're doing? so Charlotte decided to jump along! Actually she tired of the place long ago, but family is family after all.. Truth is there isn't anything she'd not like to see in her life so whatever comes she's exited to see the world outside!

..let's just hope they don't en up MURDERED like can-can girl nr.2! The road (or in this case fleemarket) is a dangerous place for a young defenceless doll..she expected to get her heart broken when she decided to go on her own..but never did she expect decapitation. It's a good thing she's a doll..a hot night with the glue gun will soon heal that up.

 

Left on the rooftop with a guitar and the last bottle of absinthe is the 3rd and last can-can girl (not yet changed from the last show) and her lover, the play-writer. As the sun sets on an era they soak up the last parts of a truly magical time. Their little son is a sleep in his bunkbed for the last night. Tomorrow morning starts a new life. Together they will concur the world.

And as the French Theatre closes down, the audience will be on the hunt for the next new thing, the next star on the stage, the new entertainment. Strolling along they too hope to be picked up for new adventures! 

Just one last look couldn't hurt though, could it..?

¤

In need of a good cheer-up?

http://www.marriedtothesea.com/

Bel ami..like Dorian Gray but less gay..?

"Now listen carefully: Marriage, to me, is not a chain but an association. I must be free, entirely unfettered, in all my actions -my coming and my going; I can tolerate neither control, jealousy, nor criticism as to my conduct. I pledge my word, however, never to compromise the name of the man I marry, nor to render him ridiculous in the eyes of the world. But that man must promise to look upon me as an equal, an ally, and not as an inferior, or as an obedient, submissive wife. My ideas, I know, are not like those of other people, but I shall never change them."

                                                                                                   -  Bel Ami, 1885

There is no way I will know if I like my new book until I've actually read it, but when I read this quote I knew I had to have it!  I do love it when I come across words that could have been my own.. 

As I've probably mentioned before, there was only one fictional book I have actually liked and that did not bore me to tears and that was "the Picture of Dorian Gray". It's still my favourite book and I have it by my bed always. The other one more recently found is "the Crimson Petal and the White". 

 So it seems like I (just like all of you) only like things I can relate to..and in that case this bods well! 

There's just nothing like feeling like there used to be people out there thinking like me..

Ps.

the dream..

First of all I can't help but wonder if it's a good or a bad thing that my most read post is named "housewife on speed"..in my defends, it was a long time ago during my studies into how the woman's role developed..but it sure sound like something totally different!

 Secondly, I thought I'd do some blog-whoring! Since my date of emigration creeps closer every day and things are looking less bright than hoped for, I'm now asking my dear blogreaders for help. Is there anyone out there living in England..maybe Rochester? or Birmingham? who would know of anyone looking for a super talented and hard working seamstress/costume designer who is moving to the UK very soon? I can do just about anything (except actual whoring) but I do love to work in theatre so that would be a preference. 

..One can always ask!

"3 tickets on the Titanic, please!"

..the Dream.

As probably many of you know (all, if  "you" are female ages 25-30, because Titanic was seriously the awesomest film ever made, omg!)  it is now 100 years ago since the Titanic. On the day actually, this was the first night, the 10th to 11th of April. This has a particular significance to me, not only because the Titanic film has had a defining effect on my perception of love from a way too early age, but also because this year (most likely even this month) will be the year of my own emigration from this frozen wasteland of my emotionally crippled childhood dreams.

This is how I wish It will be.

Without going into too much detail, THIS is my dream, the dream, the "I have a dream" kind of dream! Ever since I was little I've had a restless longing for something indescribable..something like home. Since then I've travelled around and always felt less home when getting back. Now it finally seems like I might get out..finally. It's been a long...long time.

And this is how my mother sees me.

So this April I will be emigrating to the United Kingdom with my husband and son! And I must say, nothing has ever been so insanely complicated! It seems a little like when you first move on your own..you can't get a job without an apartment..and you can't get an apartment without a job. How does people figure that I wonder? Surely they can't all have loving parents? 

Hopefully our strong wills and low expectations will take us far..and then our talent the rest..? and if I could only live in England I'd happily be an underpaid foreigner..one thing is for sure: there's no way I'd ever encounter more language problems there than right outside my front door..and everyday I'd feel free as a bird who is, ironically, looking for a nest. And it would be worth it.

 "To strong wills and low expectations!" chin chin

In a moment of weakness..

Now after recovering from the massive mental-slap-in-the-face-so-hard-it-made-me-throw-up I got from this series half a year ago it is now definitely my favourite series. It's relevant because it's my biggest inspiration for what will be my last non-profit sewing project for possibly a very long time.. After that I can be my own version of Sugar. Sadly..the clothes are just the shell of a very disturbingly close resemblance.

 

I'm not going to offer any explanation to my choice of  video clip. My experience is usually that of "either you get it..or you wont". The clothing inspiration is still awesome though.

It's been established, it's definitly Victorian again!

the original..a bit poofier.

Because my Victorian studies never seem to end, here's now my latest contribution! And to be clear now, it's not Edwardian as I first thought, it's still very much Victorian. It's 1890's, somewhere before the turn of the century, so since I'm going for a bit of middleclass Scandinavia here I'm estabishing that it's 1900. The A-line skirt, the poofy sleeves and the gathered bodice with standing collar, all typical of the late 1890's is what I've learned during my research for this outfit! The crowning glory would be the bead-embroidered belt that ties it together..totally proud of my first bead-embroidery there.  

a bit of 1900 in my home

The difficult parts of the outfit was as always the sleeves, but also the fitted lining and how to put together the outer fabric with it. Because, just like the originals (or the ones that I've seen), the bodice isn't as "airy" on the inside as it is on the outside..things only look lose fitting. But it turned out really well in the end! The most fun was definitely my favourite piece, that wasn't in the original plan: the flounced petticoat! It just completed the look, and it's just the prettiest ever!

I actually knew very little about this times fashion before I started on this. What I knew was the general silhouette, but I did have it confused with about 5-10 years later (hence the Edwardian-thing), but I liked how this is the next face after the bustle-era which I know very well, and it was like seeing how time has passed thorough clothing.

 The interesting thing though for me is the very different silhouette this is compared to the one I usually wear. All the weight has sort of shifted from back and low to high and front in the 20 years or so that's in between, and even though I could never pull off a late 1890's look it's been really fun doing it for some one who can! 

So here it is, all finished, my mother-in-law's Turn of the Century Outfit!

March morning.

..Just because THIS is the kind of world I'd like to find.

..and whatever happened to my highwayplans?

Pictures, pictures!

(a sneek preview)

"Everything turns to Art in an Artists hands" 

                                               - Sugar

 Since it is now half past 3 at night I think I'll keep this fairly short. Still working on the 1890's-1900's outfit for my mother in law..and I might be changing the date there a bit as you might have noticed. The thing is that it's sort of difficult to set any kind of date really. Style wise it is all very mid 1890's, but considering location and social standing I'm not sure where to place it. So for now I'm sticking to turn of the century! 

I am now almost done with it all, but now I'll show off the things that are completely finished: the underwear and petticoat (as in I've just made one of them..because it's 1900..not 1845). And as pictures is what was promised..I'm telling it with pictures..!

There is the chemise first of course...

..and the corset.

And here is my favourite piece, the ruffled petticoat! It's just so light and flowy and just adorable..!

 Next up is finishing the outer layer. The skirt is almost done and the jacket needs some buttons and some trying on to finish it up, and then it's good to go! I've even found a hat that goes really well with the outfit that I'm sneeking in with it..! But more on that next time. 

..I'm imagining this is what it looked like backstage in the musichall putting on these exact pieces of clothing! and omg they're quick to put on those hats...

Something like this.

Another sleepless night..I don't have much to blogg about. I have done a lot and some of it's even finished! but sadly there's no pictures. And we all know the saying : pics or it didn't happen'. So I'm going to leave my showing of until I have some thing to show for it. But I do have one thing I want to share! And that is some pictures I found on one of my absolute favourite inspirational blogs ("Fuck Yeah, Victorians!" ..I read it every day) .

The first one is just awsome, not just because I like the style of painting..but because that is so me mid dressing. I always feel like a white sack, but sort of in an eccentric and sexy kind of way. Aside for the brown hair and awful flower patterns, that is just spot on!

And this I just like because I wish I was a Victorian showgirl. Seriously. Who wouldn't. And I might have been! or so the book about past lives that I found at the library told me.

But next time there will be pictures! and I can almost promise to include something other than the creations of my Victorian imaginations!

Back to Victorian..or Edwardian..?

"I don't sketch, I collage"

Before I try to sleep I'm going to tell the story of "almost Edwardian". 

I'm making a costume for my mother-in-law and in that stretching out towards the Edwardian era. For my self I'm not a big fan of the Edwardian-era look, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't love to make it for some one else! Like many other things, I might not want to wear it but it's interesting never the less, and after discussing back and forth (my original idea was more Dickens inspired) we came to the conclusion that this is the era that would fit the purpose and her body type best.

So, as I do, I started with figuring out what kind of person she would have been and what would be the logical result of that in her clothes:

..the outfit so far.

It's 1905 and she's a lower middle-class woman in a marketplace. Since she's out a lot the fabric of the clothes need to be worm and quite sturdy (brown & dark green). She's not very fashionable and there's signs of the 1890's in the cut of her clothes, but she did buy a new corset recently in the city. Underbust with a straight busk, the latest thing! 

The outer clothes is the practical side..the corset shows an indulging and daring nature.. and the underdress has a bit of an unexpected rural charm (for me that is..I've never been this far out the country in my dressmaking). There's more details to come, aside from the jacket which is still in the making. So hopefully the story continues.

Procrastination...or Rounding up my Works.

As this is hopefully the last months I'll be spending in my cursed birth country, I'm trying to focus on the important things like figuring out the practicalities of moving and job searching...So naturally this weekend ended up looking like this in my mind:

This is one of the most fun things I've ever mind-created! It's been there for some time and I've now decided it will be one of the two things I want to finish before moving. (Actually..the two are kind of connected..but more on that later) 

This is a very free creation..I had trouble deciding if I was going to lean it more towards the 17th or the 18th century, but since I'm sort of slumming it now again it's probably going to be quite hard to determine a precise era. The skirt so far is very 18th century with the pale stripyness and side fastenings, and the stays are early rococo (see how I managed to squeeze that word in too), but over all the colours will point it more towards the 17th century. I'm not a big fan of the pastelly lameness of the rococo..I just want some freakin' dramatic colours and gold! throw in a birds wing for all I care! you know..is that too much to ask?

Anyway.. last but not least, there will most defensibly be a hood attached! I think I will call this my Highway-woman outfit.

Now I'm off to cut out fabric on a badly lit floorspace (slumming it appeals to me in that way). Leaving you with an appropriate Horrible Histories song:

January sucks when you're knee deep in snow.

..just wanted everyone to know.

I have clearly not been blogging..you know..at all, this year. That last one was more of a dream. What I have been doing is lots and lots of sewing! As it does when getting obsessed it's kind of piled up, so instead of going trough it all, here's my wall of accomplishments!

The musketeer-suit was almost all fun to make. Aside for changing it from closed sides to open when realising I'd made it mere millimetres too small, it was very quick and easy..no accuracy here!

The striped shirt is a little changed, I decided to switch to white cuffs and collar (detachable and starched) but it's all finished now. Works so nice with the red waistcoat!

And that's me there only a minute ago showing of my corset cover and drawers that I frequently abuse for sleeping in. 

The bustledress underwear is on a break..I just can't seem to get things right and will probably end up with skirt only now that I've over-decorated the shit out of the top!

And my little Lus has gotten some warm Victorian styled trousers (to-days unfamiliar word), complete with flannel lining and suspenders! Parts of it is leather so I'm really happy I have a thimble.

Them last of all.. Happy Groundhog-day! not that we really celebrate it here, but it's been a rough week and we needed a reason to celebrate, so here's a fingerpuppet-groundhog.

Happy Groundhog-day to all!

Somewhere else entierly

Being in the middle of a lot of things I've decided to finish them all before I put them up for blogging. And as my loath for my birth country is extra strong these winter mornings..here's somewhere I'd rather be..

..happy hunting. (for adventure that is)