Update on the Anne Girl Wedding Gown

I have the skirt completed (overskirt that is... still have to make the under one which will be attached with the overskirt at the waist), the bodice completed (except for ruffles around the neck, and cuffs need to be done)

The skirt has over 540 inches of ruffles on it gathered into 180"... I've sewn everything by hand. Needless to say, it was a blast! I watched the Civil War series by Ken Burns while I did it :)

So there you have that. Then, I'm also sewing two Christmas gifts :) One's almost finished. The other will be done extremely quickly because it won't take very long.

Hope you have a great Christmas!

Merry Christmas!
Ruth Torrijos

The Anne Shirley Highwayman/Wedding Dress

"Strange title."

"I know."

"What's up?"

"Well, it's pretty much Anne Shirley's dress she quotes the Highwayman in, but its also a little different."

That pretty much describes my project! :D But I'll go into more detail for the benefit of prettiness and fluffiness minded readers! Here is one little idea which it is going to be hugely based off of!

This is a doll pattern but... I can make my own patterns.

This is basically Anne Shirley's Highwayman dress! Except that Anne's has a round waistline, and is a gathered to fit bodice. I think mine will be as Anne's in regard to the fittedness (I know that is not a word) of the bodice. However, I may end up changing my mind and doing it as this gown is done. It will have the ruffle, it will have the train, it will have the PUFFED SLEEVES! (come on Anne Shirley fans!) and I think I will do the neckline the same as this neckline is :) 

I have the material, 9 and 5/8 yards of white Swiss Dot!!!!!!!! and 9 and 1/2 yards of a tighter weave white cotton to line it (Swiss Dot is extremely sheer!) 

My progress on this project? I've actually made my corset pattern already and it works! I've made the pattern and tried it and it's a winner, folks! It's an 1890's princess seamed corset (no gussets works for me!) 

I'll keep you updated! :D Totally excited!

P.S. the wedding dress part is called... afternoon tea wedding reception anyone? Most defs! This gown would be gorgeous for an afternoon tea wedding!

The Homeschool Historic Ball!

So... the secret the girls and I have been keeping for SOOO many months is finally out! We went 1700's to the annual Charlotte Historic Ball! It was so awesome! This will be mostly a picture post ;)

The Jacques! Beautiful Bascha on the left sewed their clothes! Such talent!

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson! Theresa outfitted them! She is sooo talented!

From left to right is: my brother Ben (I made his jacket, his sash, his stock, and his waistcoat) T's Grandmom, Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Wilson, Care, Ann Marie, Joshua, Theresa!, Joel, Bascha, Stephen, Me, Mrs. Jacques, Abe

Ann Marie, Care, Theresa, Bascha, Me

Theresa was positively gorgeous! I loved the ship in her hair, too!

Caroline and Ann Marie! So gorgeous and cute!

Me and my bro Ben :) I made our costumes :D Sorry I don't have a very good picture of my dress!

What's up, Doc?

So.. I am still alive... I have been semi-busy with my costume for the historic ball next year. But then I have also been busy repairing an old uniform coat of my late granddad's. Navy, if you're interested. Chief Petty Officer, too :) I think gunner. USS Little Rock. :D There ya go.. look the ship up and you'll know a bit about his Mediterranean cruise.

Really, I can't think of anything else except I've been practicing singing a lot lately. Going to start my "Christmas Tour" to retirement homes hopefully next week :) My brother and I are going to be singing some oldies dressed up old school style! :D

That's all, folks!

Love you!
Ruth

Epic Gift/ Stays Completed

Before I begin today's program, I would like for you to join me in a moment of silence for a dearly departed. This good friend of mine left us while I was working on the eyelets of my stays. It was very hard to go on knowing they would not be there, and a little confusing knowing what direction to surge ahead in. I miss my embroidery needle very much.

Okay, now that the solemnities are over with... let us all let out a huge scream because... I AM DONE MY STAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hehehe so now on to the pictures shall we? :D

here we have it folded in half :) ALL that extra lacing is extremely necessary for slipping it over my head and shoulders :O

The lacing in the back :)

lacing hanging over the front

Then we went for some artsy pictures :D ;) I have never done these before so don't kill me if you're like... whaaaaaaaaaaaaa?!?!

Bottom edge binding

Top edge  binding

Lacing :)

Laces along with the lining

seam in the lining

And one more artsy one of the laces

What do you think? :) Let me know! :D

Love,
Ruth

Epic Gift/ Good Start?

So... the first part of my Epic Gift series which shall run until I have all my 1700's underthings made up :D I have completely sewn my fashion fabric and interfacing together. Now I am working on the boning :D

Inside of the channels :D

Another shot of the inside :D

Here is the outside of the stays... you can see the deep channels (I love it!)

Here is before I had gotten so far :) 

One half smooth and the other channeled

One half smooth and the other channeled! :D

I love these stays already! I can feel how comfy they're going to be! (and they're already giving me a 1700's shape! I'm soooo excited!)  This was such an awesome gift! ALL the materials! YAY haha

So there's an update ;)

Love,
Ruth

New Project

For sure this time!!! WOOPEEEE!!!!!!!! HURRAY (that's an English phrase btw so call me tory if you want :D) I have just received in the mail... for my sixteenth birthday, supplies from Theresa and Bascha and Caroline and Ann Marie, for making all the rev war undergarments I will need for the Homeschool Historical Ball in Charlotte next April! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!

stuffing for bum rolls.. THE PATTERN FOR THE STAYS

Linen for bum rolls and look at that beautiful blue for my stays! :D

And two sweet cards they sent! They brought tears into my mom's eyes... literally! You girls are so wonderful! I LOVE YOU!

This is so awesome because... I got everything I need for the underthings for free! :D You girls are soooo sweet! I am soo blessed to know you!  I love all four of you! (HUGS)

So, readers, you will be having some posts soon (hopefully haha) I shall watch epic movies (Anne of Green Gables probably) and sew away :D

Love,

Ruth

New Blog

Hey, folks, I've started a new blog to contain my ramblings.... Ruth's Random Ramblings

I will be copying the random posts I did on hear and putting them on my new blog (but I will leave them up on here, too) I hope you have fun over at the new site and continue checking this one too! Because I should have some projects coming along soon... just got a gift card for Hancock's Fabric for my Birthday (yeah yeah, a week early :P )

Love!
Ruth

Music

If you will recall, sometime ago, I made a post entitled Books wherein I recommended a few books that I love. Well, this is sort of in the same series thingy! :) It's Music. (but you already knew that right?)

So, all I listen to right now is folkish and vintage (read 40's type) and Christian music. Mostly the latter. So here are my absolute favourite Christian bands! (Pretty much any Scottish or Irish songs I like.. and lots of '40's... I don't really have favourites of those)

There is:

Tenth Avenue North
Tobymac
Matt Redman
For King and Country
Hillsong (all their bands)
Sanctus Real
Newsboys (some of their songs)
Kutless
LeCrae (don't say it!)
Colton Dixon (love his different voice!)
Francesca Batistelli
David Dunn
Matt Hammitt
Steven Curtis Chapman
The Afters
Young and Free (which I think is part of Hillsong)
Mandisa

Alright, I know you are all thinking.. "Did she just list every Christian singer out there?" (By the way, those were not listed in favourite, but if they were, Tenth Avenue North would still be at the top) Now for a list of my favourite songs from these folks :D

Tenth Avenue North: By Your Side (if I'm forced to chose, but I love them all about the same)
Tobymac: Favourite Song
Matt Redman: Mercy
For King and Country: Fix My Eyes:
Hillsong: I don't know cause I listed all their bands :P
Sanctus Real: Forgiven
Newsboys: We Believe
Kutless: What Faith Can Do
LeCrae: ummmmm don't know! lol
Colton Dixon: More of You
Francesca Batistelli: He Knows My Name
David Dunn: Today Is Beautiful
Matt Hammitt: All My Love
Steven Curtis Chapman: I think it's a tie between "Cinderella" and "Glorious Unfolding"
The Afters: Broken Hallelujah
Young and Free: Alive
Mandisa: Overcomer

There we go! (whew) those were hard! haha Yeah, just a random post because I felt like I hadn't posted in a while (I know I just posted, but I hadn't posted a real ton recently sooo)

Hope you guys look these people up and their songs (which I love!) and have a great Labor Day!

Love,
Ruth

Hi Again

Wow has it been a while since I last posted! I have grand news for all of my sewing pals... I have contrived to make myself a corset and it works! (no pattern.. cut my own (wooden!) boning, which I know is not period correct..) and this corset works for 1860-1880 :D I am so pleased... So right now.. I have pictures of myself in my Civil War clothing that I hadn't been able to have fun with because of my lack of a corset!

Do forgive the overly thick waist.. I had to double my coat's belt over due to it having been made for a much heavier lady!

Yes, I realize the skirt is rather short for my age now :(

A bird's nest!

I thought this was a pretty pose :)

The wind was very cooperative :D

I like how I did my hair (it looked very Civil War)

I feel like I've seen this pose in a painting before (chuckle)

And I'm picking up pecans.

So there you have it! I hope you are happy to hear from me again! :) Thanks for stopping in!

Ruth

Liebster Blog Award

Well, isn't this fun?! (Yup, Baroness Schraeder from The Sound of Music) I'm absolutely terrified now that I got awarded the Liebster Award! I had always been slightly envious of people that got it, but now I am reeeaally like.. .Ummm what do I do?! lol So first off: Thank you Bascha and Theresa over at Two Teen Seamstresses for nominating me! I am honoured! lol

To get things going now, I was asked to state ten facts about myself... Okay... Be ready for some weird ones! haha

1. I'm a Christian (I know... you REALLY didn't expect that :P)
2. I love old western movies and songs
3. I play guitar (I don't know if anyone knew this)
4. I like swimming :)
5. I love talking and chilling with friends!
6. I like to read
7. I can be really strict (some of my friends tell me I'm on mom mode! hehe)
8. My favourite people are a lot older than me...
9. I often am someone's friend, but they're not really mine, if you know what I mean! lol It's funny how I can consider myself someone's friend and they tell their friends, "no I know her but we're not friends" hehehe
10. Well.. ummm I'll make this a random fact about myself... I used a pacifier until I was six... I know, don't say it! lol

Now that I've made those very random statements.... I shall go on to the direct questions asked :)

1. At what time of day do you usually find yourself wanting to sew? Or what time of day do you like to sew?

Well, this is really lazy, but usually in the afternoon (when it's my math class!) However, I got the sewing bug briefly during the summer this year :P

2. What is your next sewing project?

Ummm.. probably finishing a quilt my dad had started years ago (I know, very random) or altering something I get at the thrift store .. Unfortunately, I haven't the time or resources to get back into sewing as I had hoped to :( But, I am doing a lot of cool stuff this year so I'm still happy!

3.What is your biggest frustration when you sew clothing?

Probably hems... I hate curved hems like I don't know what! lol

4. What has been the biggest sewing lesson you learned?

Hmmm... Probably to baste things together before you go all in with a sturdy seam. Also make sure you try it on LOTS while you're in the making process :)

5. What is your favorite resource or method for researching period costuming?

This is really two questions girls! lol Ummm my favorite resource is originals (CDVs and actual garments). My favorite method is probably the internet as I don't have any nearby displays or anything soo...

6. Who do you look up to the most in the costuming world? (aka favorite blogger, seamstress you know, Elizabeth Clark, etc.)

Probably Samantha Bullat (I'm ashamed to admit, I don't know her new last name! haha) And Atlanta Shannon. They are two VERY talented girls!

7. What was the first thing you sewed? Do you have a photo you could share?

Well, I remember what I sewed, but I'm afraid I don't have any pictures. It was a rag doll I had. When I was five, my mom let me sew her arms and legs on when they came off! If you're referring to clothing, then it was this TERRIBLE skirt I made.. (I wish I had a picture of it with the matching jacket...)

Yeah, my hair was pretty short and I had bangs..... This was an attempt at 1860's I'm not sure how many years ago! I think three? hehehe

8. Do you ever plan on taking sewing or patterning classes?

No idea. Perhaps, but I really don't think so! I think my sewing is pretty much turning into, "sewing on buttons that came off, fixing a neckline, repairing a ripped crotch" that sort of stuff :)

9. Would you ever sew modern clothing?

A whole outfit? A whole shirt? Maybe! hehe But I get stuff so cheap at the thrift store anyhow, I really don't know. Now if you mean altering something then yes! I already have (messed with a swimsuit but alas it didn't work anyhow).

10. Where do you see yourself, five years in the future, in regards to costuming?

 Probably doing it here and there to attend stuff with friends. (Yes, Bascha and Theresa, I am soo planning on next year's historic ball already! hehe) And perhaps next year for Westville in GA. But I really couldn't say. Right now I have no clue what the next five years holds!

Whew! I got through it okay! haha!

I would nominate Samantha Bullat... Over at The Couture Courtesan But I'm not sure if I can since she's live journal... go ahead and check her out anyhow! :)

So I'm going to nominate Brooke Whitaker from Stitches Of The Past
Along with Tara from A Lass of Yesteryear Wow is some of her stuff cool!


So, please state ten things about yourself, and answer the following ten questions!

1. How did you get into sewing?
2. A random fact
3. Where do you sew?
4. Would you consider sewing for a career?
5. Do you play an instrument?
6. What is your favourite costume you have ever made (Please share a picture if you have one!)
7. What was your first costume? (Please share a picture if you have one!)
8. How do I tell you you have been nominated?! just kidding!
8. Do you see yourself continuing to sew for many moons to come? :)
9. Who is your favourite author?
10. What is your favourite book?

There we go! I guess that wraps it up!

I hope to be posting something a bit more interesting in the near future!

Love you guys and thanks for having a look!

Ruth

Happy Independence Day!

Hey everybody! Happy Independence Day! Yup, that's all! hehehe Except to announce that I am trying to get back into sewing, so I hope to have updates soon! :) Enjoy our awesome freedom today, and don't forget how you got it, and how it's defended!

Love,
Ruth

Goats...Goats...Goats...GOATS!

Well, I promised a post on the goats and doggie, right???? I'm not doing this when I don't have to am I?!

So this will be mostly a picture post with a few little details about the babies  :D

Here is baby Tucson (or however that's spelt) He is actually pretty big...

This guy has been my buddy for a while! LOL though he has now graduated from "little-baby-goat-that-likes-to-jump-in-my-lap-while-I'm-writing" into "big-greedy-buckling-that-wants-his-milk-NOW"

So in the back drinking is Valentine Sonnet.. I didn't get a very good picture of her... Her and her sister Serenade are Tucson's best pals :)

Here is Serenade.. She and Valentine look nothing alike! 

Tucson hamming it up LOL

He thinks he's just too cool! :D

Fi-Fi (the big one), Galaxy (the black one I named!) and Heavenly Hash (named her too!)

Here's a pretty good picture of Valentine... see her little white heart with the grey shine?? and that's Polly behind her

Trixie and her two babies :)

So there are the goats... now for some pictures of the doggie :D

Here is Pasha.. he's tied up right now, but he loves to run around! He can actually run around the two trees, while he's tied up, too!

He had just jumped onto me! lol He likes to do that when he can....

So that's the animals! Most of them anyhow, some of the goats I didn't get pictures of... We have sixteen in all! :O

That's all (probably for a while!)

Until I see you again,

My babies and I bid you "adieu"

Serenade

Valentine Sonnet

The Tucson Kid

Me and Pasha