Taking a break from the office work & getting back to working on the beading on my Stiletto Stocking.  It is coming along.  I am using iridescent white sequin, crystal bi-cone beads but the majority of the beads are silver bugle & seed beads.  In taking these photos, it is apparent that the picture colour is just off & not showing the silver well.  I will have to investigate some new software that will allow me to get a true likeness of the actual.  In the mean time, the photos do show that progress is being made...    

The lace on this stocking is quite sentimental...I used it to make the skirt accent on my daughter's Grad dress.  It is really a beautiful fabric.

Tomorrow it is back to working on a couple of more commissions...I know, I had thought they were complete but I find it very difficult to say no, especially to long time clients.

I have ordered wigs/shoes & am eagerly awaiting for them to arrive.  I sure hope that they fit!  This will be the beginning of a whole new adventure in creating for ABJD's, in general, but especially for Yur.  She really needs a few outfits & basics to be able to come out of the box.

Research into wig making has produced varied results.  I picked a few packages of inexpensive artificial hair to try out some of the techniques.  The Tibetan lambskin sounds like the quickest way to make wigs & will need to find out where to purchase that.  

Making shoes, now that is really interesting.  Creating the upper portion in a variety of styles is very exciting.  Making the soles will be a learning experience but well worth it to have such great flexibility in design.

It has been a full day in the office with paper & computer work, so not much has been accomplished in the sewing department.

"What is the best way to turn a stocking loop?" or "What  is the best tool for turning a tube" are questions that have been posed to me on numerous occasions.   There are many different sewing devices available & I think that that I have purchased just about every one of them.  Each has it's benefits...  

I use a very simple technique with the most basic of tools & thought I would share it with you.  It has worked well for me, is easy to do, inexpensive & you likely have everything at home already to give it a try.  In my studio, there are several these "string/safety pin" combinations hanging & readily accessing when I need them - from a very small pin for narrow projects ranging all the way up to a Kilt pin for wider items.  
 
Select Turning a Stocking Loop or click on the photo below to go directly to Tips/Techniques section of the Tutorials page.

I am pleased to introduce Lord Vertholomew - a Victorian Stocking pattern just for HIM.  It is designed to compliment the women's Victorian stocking pattern "Lady Widaelia".   The use of similar contrast balance makes it a perfect mate.  

Stepping back in time, one can imagine what might have been discussed at high tea:

You can access the pattern page by clicking on the photo below...

A new section to my website is in development to showcase customer creations made with my patterns.  I invite all my customers to share their beautiful work & submit photos.  Please send them back via the original PDF delivery email.   Feel free to contact me via Comments to this blog or via the Contact Page with any questions or inquiries, I look forward to hearing from you.  Thank you to everyone who has shared their incredible work with me, be assured that I will only post those which clearly grant permission to do so.

Just a quick update...it's been another busy day in the studio.  I am in the finishing stages of the men's Victorian stocking pattern & expect to release it tomorrow.  The beadwork on the white stiletto stocking is coming along nicely - it takes a bit of time when applying each bead individually but well worth the effort.  Also working on some more material for the Tutorials page...if only there were more hours in the day!

The Rococo Christmas stocking is complete...Mademoiselle Marie now has her own page in the "Handmade & Available" section

The beading on the court slipper is done with a mix of iridescent blue beads.... 

I am hoping to be able to take some final pictures of this stocking in the morning - weather permitting.  It rains quite a lot here & unfortunately there is very little light as a result.  For the most part the winter months are grey, dark & gloomy, so natural light is hard to come by.   

On another note, I managed to work out a temporary fix for my sewing machine...will be tackling my next pattern tomorrow as well.

The ribbon garden is complete!  The spray of ivory works quite well with the different pinks & sage green.

The eye is drawn to the floral motif & it captures the soft curves of the main design...overall effect is rather pleasing.

Next a bit of bling on the slipper as befits a court slipper... 

After numerous mechanical malfunctions this week, sewing by machine has come to a stand still.  Consequently the planned next stocking pattern has been delayed as well.  So to back to exclusively needlework by hand, at least temporarily...

Just thought I would share the progress with the Rococo stocking.  In keeping with the period, I am adding ribbon embroidery.  It is such a beautifully elegant embellishment.  I have chosen shades of pinks & roses for the main flowers with a soft green for the leaves.  Perhaps some ivory sprays, throughout just to highlight the undulating curves of the trims.