sewing projects

Countdown to France! It’s SO CLOSE!

I leave in just TWO DAYS! Two freaking days, and I still can’t believe it. So while getting things prepared, you may or may not have seen that we had two pipes burst in our back room /my husband’s office…AGAIN. The first time was 12/23, and we started the restoration process; in which they came and packed everything up and put it in a storage pod, and did a dry-out. Just to have another pipe crack in the ceiling on 1/10. Since then, we have been in a hotel the second time around, the plumber/HVAC company could not get the furnace to kick back in gear, along with a random pipe that’s not even connected along the floorboard (I seriously have no clue what that is about!). Thankfully, we are just down the road from our house, and I am so thankful that our homeowners’ insurance is covering everything.

This means that I have of course brought my sewing machine and such with me, and have been working on two ensembles, and a couple of accessories. I will be finishing the wearable mock-up for the Amalia Jacket here and cutting the pieces so that I can finish the full silk version while I am in France. Along with a petticoat, a mantle, two fur muffs, a pair of mitts, and a shift. At least, for now. Tomorrow, I swing by my house to gather the rest of the clothing and accessories that I plan to wear while away. Now this is kind of a big deal because I am doing my personal project: 28 Days of Historical Dress during February, which I have been doing for 3 years now (I think? it may be 2). So while it is easy to pick out what to wear each day while I am at home, I now have to deliberately plan my outfits ahead and pack them without going overboard with my packing (which I am prone to do, but since I am limited on bag space, I *need* to plan what I am packing thoroughly). I’m thinking of keeping things relatively simple, and just going with some classic vintage from the 1920’s through the 1950’s. So a couple of different dresses, wide leg trousers, kimono sleeved cardigans, and the like. And of course, my historical stuff. 18th century, a regency gown or two, and an Edwardian ensemble. The Edwardian ensemble is for this years #BGGL (Black Gibson Girl Legacy), created by the amazing Jasmine Le Fleur, the creative genius behind Black Fae Day.

So with two more days left, I am still raising extra funds to help offset the cost of this trip (since I am on disability, and am not doing photography as much as I used to), and have extra for things like admission to two exhibits that I am looking forward to seeing, travel (since I won’t have a rental car), and supplies while there.

Now with all of that said, if you do have extra to help support this art residency, it will be greatly appreciated. After all, if it wasn’t for all of your support from the beginning, the first GoFundMe goal to get me to the residency wouldn’t have ever happened! So a big thank you to all of you! Here are the ways that you can help!

You can donate directly to my cashapp/venmo/paypal:

I also have my Print site, in which you can purchase prints and wall art of my photography. Even while in France, I will be able to place orders within 24 hours of receiving them.
https://www.marisataylorphotography.com/art-prints-for-sale/

And the original GoFundMe campaign, with the goal amount increased: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lets-get-marisa-to-france-for-art

And my Patreon, in which there are different tiers that you can subscribe to monthly, or just one time. I will be sending out the wax-sealed letters & packages for my current Patrons either tomorrow or Tuesday 1/28, which is when I leave: https://patreon.com/TheMarisaZimmerman1

I also have some digital portrait illustrations that I plan to offer while I am gone, and because they are digital-once purchased you will receive a link to download them immediately! So stay stuned for that!

Lastly, I know that there are so many different platforms for social media. I recently created a new public FB page that will basically mirror my TikTok account. So if you could give me a follow there, it would be so very much appreciated! Follow me at: The Marisa Zimmerman

And with that, I think that is a pretty good update if I do say so myself! Now back to sewing and packing!!!

Summer is almost over Pt. 1

I am so sorry that I have been horrible with updating. This summer has been…interesting, but still amazing. I think I took my doctor’s orders to slow down and relax a little bit too seriously (they’ve actually been telling me this for like 10 years, but I am stubborn). However, my body definitely needed it. Because, YAY CHRONIC ILLNESS! I am desperately trying to get back into somewhat of a routine for myself BEFORE my kids start school right after Labor Day.

So a lot of things are happening, and I am super excited for all of it. As you know, at the end of January, I will be going to France for my art residency. My husband had set up a GoFundMe, and the goal for the residency was met super fast. I was honestly shocked, but of course so thankful. I will be updating the goal in hopes that whatever extra funds come in, they will go straight toward travel costs and such.

But for now, I wanted to share MORE amazing images from my 1790’s portrait series shoot with my friend and fellow historical costumer/photographer, Michele Quigley!

So about two months ago I posted about my friend, Michele Quigley’s 1790s portrait series and shared the first two images that she edited and the fashion plate that I recreated, now there are more!

So for one, I was gifted this session, and even though I am a photographer myself, I am absolutely horrible at setting up scenery and photographing myself, even though I can make magic happen in almost any space I am in! Anywho! When I found out, I started scouring through Pinterest and Google for fashion plates of that era. I didn’t necessarily have a particular look I was going for, but I wanted something that screamed out to me. And then, I found it!

“La Belle Espangole” (‘La belle Espagnole, – ou – la doublure de Madame Tallien’) – this drawing is of Maria Garcia, a dancer and tightrope walker. It was drawn by James Killray, a caricaturist in 1796. This was the first time that I came across an actual fashion plate from that era that featured a model of color. So of course I wanted to recreate this look!

To begin with, the gown itself was very simple to make. It’s basically a rectangle (one piece in the front, and one piece for the back), with a channel sewn along the top of the back to gather it, and then the trim went from the gathering in the back, over the shoulders, and to attached to the front. Very similar to a bog dress that is commonly worn at an event I go to called The Pennsic War in the SCA. I really need to write a blog post about the construction.

The challenge for me was making that neckline SUPER low, and to sew it so that it forms the natural swoop following the curve of the breasts, but also, NOT to have my girls fall out because I am wellllll endowed in that department. 😅

Even though I already had a pair of Regency era short stays, they didn’t create the silhouette that I wanted for a 1790s gown; and since I will be doing more 1790s projects, I bit the bullet and purchased a set of 1790s mid-length transitional stays (from The Paupers Modiste on Etsy, I HIGHLY recommend! ) – and they were perfect. The straps were also removable, which was ideal because the gold strap was thinner in width than the straps for the stays.

The gown itself is made out of a brown cotton Swiss dot fabric that I scored on Etsy. I made a simple yellow satin petticoat to wear under it. The waistband, arm bands, wristband, and the trim along the neckline and the straps were made out of various gold trims, some layered on a solid piece of gold trim. The necklace was a bib/collared neck piece that I got off of Etsy, but I do want to try to recreate the neck piece that she is wearing in the drawing. The shawl was too pashmina shawls sewn together (and I still need to add the gold trim along the edge as well). I found the PERFECT red shoes for this on Amazon (actually, if you search women’s mules on Amazon, there are A LOT that are passable for historic footwear for quite a few fashion eras). And while I did not have gold hoops (forgot to pack them), I wore my pearl drop earrings by Dames a la Mode.

So for the pictures, the first one is my absolute favorite, and this is the one that’s going to be printed and framed for the gallery exhibition that Michele is hosting.

If you’ve stuck around to read all of this, thank you!!!

2024 Sewing Projects

So 2023 was…let’s just say, a very interesting but taxing year for me. I had so many projects I wanted to do, but health issues and other things pretty much kept me in survival mode. But I am hoping for 2024 to be better! Especially in regards to my historical sewing and crafting! So here is what I want to do!

Do a better job at documenting and recording my sewing process for my projects.
Take high quality photos of my finished projects (as a professional photographer who can pull magic no matter what space I am in, I am embarrassed that I can’t photograph myself well! 😅)
Complete at least two full 18th century outfits for my husband (one for daytime wear, and a fancier one for balls and dinners.)
Complete at least two regency era outfits for my husband (again, for daytime/nightime).
Make proper underpinnings for my daughter (who literally won’t stop growing! 😂)
Make my daughter her pink regency gown to match mine.
Make an 18th century gown for my daughter.
Make an 18th century outfit and a regency outfit for my son (he keeps getting taller, but he still can fit into a size 4-6 kids at the waist, even thought he is 9)
Make two wigs. 1 is inspired by Queen Charlotte’s In Bridgerton, and and another 18th century updo wig.
Sew the Amalia jacket and a petticoat for a Galentines Day tea with my friends in February.
Sew a zone front robe a la anglaise
Sew a Robe à la française
Make all the hats I want! Edwardian, Victorian, 18th century- I want it all!
At least 1-2 daytime regency gowns
Redo my purple velvet open robe
Sew a Victorian evening/ball gown to wear to a fancy dress dinner that my friend is hosting
Get over my fear of my serger and learn how to use it 😅
Possibly take on some commissions

I find that making an inspiration board for a project helps immensely, I’ve done two so far:

This was the finished open robe. I plan on detaching the skirt and reworking the pleating.

This is my upcoming project for an event in February.

Making a Regency Era Open Robe

Yall know i love all things Bridgerton, So watch me make a velvet open robe to wesr over my satin gown. The fabric is from the silk baron, and its an absolute dream to sew with. Although it wasnt finished completely, im glad how it turned out, so i will be finishing it once i complete other projects.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hey everyone! I hope that you had an amazing new year! Ours was pretty low-key. We dressed up in some spiffy 1950’s clothing and hung out with our friends and sang musicals and had yummy beverages. So to update you all, January letters for the the monthly letter tier should be mailed out by next week. I need to buy more envelopes (which is cool, because I really love stationery). My first costumed outing of the year is coming up this Saturday. I am doing an Edwardian themed stroll at a gorgeous garden/historic location in Delware-Winterthur Gardens. I still need to finish the fur capelet (which I am converting from a faux fur jacket that was slightly too small), and convert a gorgeous white skirt I found on Amazon into pantaloons. I have A LOT of projects for 2023, and many of them include updating & adding to some of my current gowns. I started to write out a list of the projects I want to do, but I know how my brain works, and new projects will be added all the time. But in the meantime, here are some of the projects that I want to tackle:

-Finish my husbands 18th century waistcoat -Make a SECOND waistcoat out of the really pretty fabric that I purchased from SIlk Baron

-Add ruffled trim to my two 18th century hats -Make ruffled trim and sew on to my purple Angelica gown -Make the 18th century Amalia jacket and a new petticoat

-A new spring Edwardian era ensemble

-18th Century, Regency, and Edwardian pieces for my children (they grow so dang fast!)

After January, we have an event in February, that will double up as our anniversary trip. We are going to the Milford Regency ball, which helps fund activities at the Milford Senior Center. We are making a whole weekend of it by staying at the Mansion Farm Inn, only a few minutes away! I absolutely cannot wait! I already have a gown that I plan on wearing, my pink regency gown that I made to go see Mr. Malcoms List (by the time we were scheduled to meetup in our regency outfits, the movie was already out of theaters). I don’t know if I am going to add on to the current gown, or make an overdress to go with it. But we shall see!