My 1830 Dress!!!

I have already done a post about my dress in a blog that I write on with my sisters (do check it out, it's a fashion-based blog: http://ragtradesisters.blogspot.co.uk/ ), but I thought I should write about it on my own personal blog as well.

So, as you may well know, I began working on this dress. To refresh your memories, I have links to the posts I wrote up about them: http://mairiglasgow.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/mostly-about-dress.html is the first one, and this as well: http://mairiglasgow.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/slow-steady-dress-progress.html

After Sister Hicks left, I admit I was apprehensive. I wasn't sure I could make myself finish the dress, and could imagine it languishing for another several years. But somehow I managed to work on it. The pieces of the skirt had been sewn together already, but I pinned the pleats in place, sewed the skirt to the bodice, and hemmed the skirt (as well as finishing touches like hooks & eyes, and making sleeve-puffs for the full 1830s sleeves).

Here are the last stages of the process and the result!

A sleeve-puff in progress!

Sleeve-puff complete! 

A close-up side view of the pleated skirt (left), the waistband (centre) and the bodice (right).

A closeup of the inside of the hem. 1830s hems were very high up on the skirt (even higher than this) and reinforced with muslin.

The stitches seen on the outside. 

My underclothes: shift, stays (corset), petticoat & sleeve-puffs!

 I wanted to do my hair accurately. Unfortunately my hair didn't want to curl, and it was longer than when I'd tried doing this hairdo last time. But I gave it my best.

An expert example from the BBC "Wives & Daughters" of 1830s hair. 

Though the dress isn't right, this is more what I was hoping my hair would do. Oh well!

I *did* get the crazy hair-loops & ribbons of the 1830s though! 

I got more of an 1840s look. Meh.

I wore my dress to Stake Conference! Here I am posing with Mercy.

A cat outside church! It looked just like the "church cat" that hangs out at the branch building in New York!

Having a nice wander round the Botanic Gardens on the way home. 

An air raid shelter in the back garden.

In my defence, for awhile I didn't have anything to post about. Then I got distracted. So I apologise for the erratic way in which I have (not) been keeping up my blog.

A week ago for our Young Women activity we helped Mitch, a lady in the Glasgow Ward clean her house (there is quite a story behind it, it was in quite a state when they bought it, filthy and mouldy and the like, but they persevered & it is lovely now!). We were probably only there for about an hour, and there wasn't that much cleaning to be done, but we had a wonderful time. And at different points we went out to explore the air raid shelter in her back garden.

The door going in.

Venturing in!

Inside the air raid shelter!

Another interior shot.

The shelter itself in the back corner. 

Gate between houses.

Cat about town

Despite the fact that I did NOT (gasp!) celebrate May Day this year (I'm probably more sorry than you), I have not been immune to the charms of Glasgow in the Spring (however mercurial that might be!). Apologies, too, for an incredibly long sentence!

A carriage (is it a hearse?) be-decked with Sikh flags.

At the uni.

On Hillhead Street, looking down to Great Western Road.

A Scottish Fold!!!!

Close-up!

Youth Temple Trip

At the beginning of April I was able to go on the Youth Temple Trip to Preston. I hadn't been since January, so I was very happy to be going to help out with the Young Women & Young Men. It was chilly while we were there, but quite beautiful.

A view of the temple from the grounds.

Beautiful clear skies!

The Temple Duck.