I just spent two whole days making a tiny tiara to go with Monica's gown. I wanted a red base similar to the one SartoriaJ offered. But it would be much more difficult on a much smaller scale.
I had gone down to the basement to look for some wine velveteen, fused on the iron-on interfacing pattern, and sewed it with matching colour lining. It was a bear to turn right side out, but I managed. It wasn't bad, but when I compared it to the actual gown, the velveteen tiara was way too red. I had not bothered to compare the colours, and just assumed that 'wine red' was 'wine red'. Apparently not. What to do?
So I made another tiara base from the last scrap of fabric from the bodice. Surprisingly enough it was even harder to turn right side out. But I didn't like the dull colour. Jan suggested trying to dye the first velveteen one, so I mixed up some 'Black Cherry' folk art paint with a drop of black, and some fabric medium, and 'dyed' it. The colour dried very close to the velour of her gown.
And then it took two days of deciding how to embellish it, and actually doing it....
I had gone down to the basement to look for some wine velveteen, fused on the iron-on interfacing pattern, and sewed it with matching colour lining. It was a bear to turn right side out, but I managed. It wasn't bad, but when I compared it to the actual gown, the velveteen tiara was way too red. I had not bothered to compare the colours, and just assumed that 'wine red' was 'wine red'. Apparently not. What to do?
So I made another tiara base from the last scrap of fabric from the bodice. Surprisingly enough it was even harder to turn right side out. But I didn't like the dull colour. Jan suggested trying to dye the first velveteen one, so I mixed up some 'Black Cherry' folk art paint with a drop of black, and some fabric medium, and 'dyed' it. The colour dried very close to the velour of her gown.
And then it took two days of deciding how to embellish it, and actually doing it....
In the meantime, I've pulled three fabric combinations for more Medieval gowns. The first gown will be a dark turquoise green, made using the same pattern as the Mirror Queen. I was surprised to find that I had a green version of the gold-spotted brocade I'd used for the Mirror Queen, and I even had some of the same velvet trim, but in green. There's just enough of a similar gold trim for the bodice edging. The neckline and sleeves with be different this time round, and I'm thinking I may make cream sheer hanging sleeves, so it won't just be a green version of that first gown....
The other two fabric combinations I pulled are intended to be FID size versions of my bigger lady's Renaissance gowns, but before I can start cutting anything out, I first need to make a test bodice to check the pattern. These gowns will also be modelled on Bianca, so they will fit both Slim Iplehouse FIDs and the Slim Raccoon ladies.
I'm also working on some new 'Medieval' banners. I used one from the castle downstairs for the knighting photos, and loved how it looked. There's plenty more banners on the castle in the basement, but they are all in way too bright colours. That was fine for Disney Princess stories 30 years ago, but I want something more muted that won't fight for attention in the background....
I'm also working on some new 'Medieval' banners. I used one from the castle downstairs for the knighting photos, and loved how it looked. There's plenty more banners on the castle in the basement, but they are all in way too bright colours. That was fine for Disney Princess stories 30 years ago, but I want something more muted that won't fight for attention in the background....
And then there's the foam core walls the banners have to hang on. So lots to do.....
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