Amazing Libraries

I love historic buildings, especially libraries. So you can imagine how excited I was to see, whilst perusing the Two Nerdy History Girl's weekly Sunday breakfast links, a blog who's author has complied photos of some of the most amazing libraries around the world. 

Not all are historical but even the modern ones are amazing in a wacky/crazy way. Here is the blog enjoy. :)

Jane Austen and MasterChef

When I was at the Jane Austen Festival last September there were a couple of camera crews doing some filming during the costume promenade and the masked ball. I thought they were both filming for Amanda Vickery's programme 'The Many Lovers of Jane Austen' (a BBC programme which aired over Christmas). So I avidly watched her programme, because I was interested in it, and to see if I might be on it :). Alas I wasn't *sheds a tear* :). Anyway, the wednesday before last, I got a text from a cousin asking if I was in the episode of MasterChef that was airing that night, as the contestants made food for attendees of the Festival.   I knew about the food tasting as a couple of friends had been asked to go up to the Royal Crescent in their Regency finery and try the food. So when my cousin mentioned the programme, I thought I would watch it to see if I could see any of my friends being interviewed. So I was beyond shocked when I saw myself pop up on the tv screen! It was only for about a second, but I have to admit that it was so exciting!! :) So it turns out that the other camera crew at the promenade and the ball were filming for MasterChef!

Here I am :):

The image is not that good as I have no idea how to upload an image that I saved in word from a print screen. So the only way I could upload it was by taking a photo of the programme on BBC iplayer whilst it was playing on my laptop!! Anyway, here I am, during my millisecond of stardom, at the masked ball reception in the Roman Baths, wearing my gold and silver mask with a blue ribbon in my hair :)

If you want to watch the programme to see if you were in it here is the link  :) (it's on BBC iplayer so sadly can only be watched in the UK)

Pink and White Sleeveless Spencer

When I was 12 my mother bought me a summer nightie. I thought it was absolutely beautiful and I just loved the material -white with pink roses. I loved it so much that I still had it, squirreled away in the back of a draw, over 10 years later! Recently I came across it and decided that it was a waste to leave it languishing in a drawer, and that I should try and make something out of it. Buoyed up with the recent partial success of my blue and yellow regency gown, I thought that I could attempt to make another article of Regency clothing. I chose to make a sleeveless spencer, and used the Sense and Sensibility Spencer pattern and lined it with the same material that my white gown is made out of. 

After I finished my blue and yellow gown, Sabine (who has a fabulous blog) recommend completely hand sewing a garment. I decided to take her advice and made the spencer by hand (except for a little cheating when sewing the lining and fashion material together!! :) ) It took quite a while but it was a much less stressful experience then using a machine  - no shouting and hitting the machine!!!  Here is how it turned out. I am quite pleased with it :) (well most of it).

The pink trim was on the nightie so I just removed it and restitched it onto the fabric. 

I am not crazy about the fact that the armholes are quite a bit wider than the actual dress. It looks a bit strange but I think the S&S spencer jacket pattern has wider armholes than the gown pattern. I am not sure if it is historically accurate. If it isn't than I might just add some sleeves.

I am wearing my white gown and petticoat underneath.

Goofy photo of me . :) I seem to be a trifle lopsided!! 

Blue and Yellow Regency Gown

As I have protested before, I am pretty useless at sewing. I can do basic straight lines but otherwise any item of clothing I try to make, comes out all weird and twisted and pretty unwearable. Every time I finish making one of my unwearable masterpieces I usually declare to my family that never again will I attempt to sew any item of clothing. However, for some mind-boggling and unknown reason I always seem to try again and again, and so put both me and my sewing machine through more torture!! 

At the Jane Austen Festival in September, I bought 5 metres of beautiful cotton from Charlotte Raine, who is a fabulous seamstress and who also runs courses at the Festival. I had initially intended to have it made up into a gown by a professional, but I decided that I was spending way too much money on historical clothing. So in a moment of madness, I made the decision to attempt once again to make a wearable item of clothing. It took quite a few months and a few sewing tips from a very talented family friend, but I have done it!! :) I have actually made a gown that I wouldn't mind being seen in outside the house! Admittedly it isn't perfect but it is wearable!! I am so happy!!! :) 

Here it is: 

My eyes were closed in this photo, and I looked rather strange, so I cropped it. I am wearing a petticoat and chemisette underneath the gown. 

I used the the Drawstring Gown pattern from Sense and Sensibilities Elegant Ladies Closet pattern.

The back. The pattern has the sash as optional, and then I added the trim at the bottom of the gown. I can't wait for re-enactment season to start again so I can wear it to an event!! :) Now all I need is a spencer and bonnet to wear with it. Hmm.... :)

Happy New Year

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!

Christmas at the 1940s House

In 2001 Channel 4 aired a programme entitled 'The 1940s House'. It was a reality tv show where a family lived in a 1940s style house and tried to live a 1940s life, for 3 months, to see if they could really find out what life was like during WW2.  It was a very interesting programme and I definitely recommend it (you can buy the dvd on Amazon). When the "experiment" ended, all the contents was taken to the Imperial War Museum. As part of the 'Children at War' exhibition, a replica of the 1940s house was built inside the museum and the contents of the original house was placed in the new replica. The exhibition was only meant to be up for a few months, but it was so popular that 10 years have past and it is still there. But sadly the museum have decided to take it down early in the new year. About 3 weeks ago I suddenly realised that I had never been to see the exhibit, so I promptly decided to go.

Well it was fabulous and if you haven't been and are in London during the next 2 days (it is closing on 2nd January) then you should definitely go.  As an added excitement it has been decorated with 1940s style Christmas decorations as a last hurrah.

Well here are a few photos. Sadly my camera was acting up again (it seems to happen more often then not at the moment :( ) so most of the photos are a bit blurry.

The Sitting Room

another view of the Sitting Room

the ceiling decoration in the Sitting Room

Food out for Father Christmas and his reindeer. :) 

There were ropes across the doorways to each room to prevent you from entering them and touching anything. When I was walking round, taking countless photos, a security guard came up to me and mentioned that it was unusual to find someone who was obviously really interested in the exhibit (Really sad if that is true!). After chatting for a while, about the 1940s, he said that, if I wanted to, I could quickly go under the rope across the Sitting Room doorway and that he could take my photo in the room!!!

Here is the photo - a pretty hideous photo of me, but I was so excited to be able to sit on the actual sofa that appeared in the programme. :) Pitty I wasn't wearing 1940s clothes!

The kitchen

Another view of the kitchen.

Ceiling decorations in the Dining Room

The Dining Room

The exterior of the house, all covered in snow :) It was rather hard to take a photo of the outside of the house as it was in a rather tight space. Hence the angle of the photo, making it look like I took it whilst lying on the floor!!

The front of the house

I didn't take any photos of the upstairs rooms as there were quite a few people walking around so I couldn't get any photos of the rooms without anyone in them. 

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

I am crazy about Christmas. I just LOVE it from the decorations and carol services, to the music and the gathering of family and friends.

I was going to post some photos of my decorations but, as usual, the run up to Christmas has zoomed by and now I am in the countryside staying with my aunt until after Christmas. But I might post a few when I get home :).

Anyway I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays. :)