Zuru Mini Brands Create Masterpieces

 I am also rapidly developing an addiction to Zuru Mini Brand Masterpieces.

I did a minor in art history in college. I love art history.

I just love these tiny cute doll-sized pieces of art!

(I wrote a 20 page paper on Botticelli as my honors project my senior year of college. I was so proud of that!)

The frames are very pretty too. I have seen people make the frames look even better by using paint markers on them.

These are probably best scaled for AG mini dolls or 1/12 scaled dollhouses.

I feel like they can work for AG too. You could prop them on a mantelpiece or on a desk. 

Or, as you see here, on a bookcase.

I just wanted to share if anyone was looking at these and wondering what the scale is!

Pattern Review: Thimbles And Acorns Minoan Wrap Skirt and Blouse

I was so excited when Thimbles and Acorns came out with the Minoan Wrap Skirt and Blouse pattern.  I wrote, "I did not know that I need this in my life, but I do."
I was not kidding. I am so thrilled to have this pattern.

Rosie the Riveter

I finally finished this project!

I made the QT Pie Painter Pants back in November as part of a larger project, and finally all of the pieces are done!

It's a Rosie the Riveter costume!

Thimbles and Acorns Wrapped Kalasaris Dress: Pattern Review

On the evening of Halloween, I saw a picture of a little girl dressed as an Egyptian for Halloween. I immediately sat down and sewed her the Thimbles and Acorns Wrapped Kalasaris dress, available at Pixie Faire. This is a style of dress that was worn in ancient Egypt.

Here is a statue of an Egyptian woman wearing a kalasaris dress.

More Mondrian Madness

I have been overtaken by Mondrian Madness, which is an illness that happens when you can't stop making different versions of Yves Saint Laurent's Mondrian dresses. Who knew that haute couture was so dangerous?

Piet Mondrian and Yves Saint Laurent

 Piet Mondrian is a painter who is known for geometric paintings in primary colors.
He is a favorite of mine.

Below is his 1930 painting Composition II in Red, Blue and Yellow.

Mondrian's paintings inspired the French couture designer Yves Saint Laurent. He made a collection of dresses based on Mondrian's  work in fall 1965.

One dress in particular from this collection has become a fashion icon and was on the cover of Vogue. One dress like this is owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art,

Thimbles and Acorns' Chemise a la Reine: Pattern Review

Today's blog post is brought to you by Marie Antoinette and Elisabeth Vigee Lebrun.

No, seriously.

I became obsessed with the idea of reproducing one of Marie Antoinette's most famous, or infamous gowns, the Chemise a la Reine. This dress was designed by Marie Antoinette's dressmaker, Rose Bertin. It appealed to Marie Antoinette, who was unhappy with the deep formality of the French court. She was painted wearing the dress by Elisabeth Vigee Lebrun.

This dress caused a huge scandal when it was exhibited in the Salon. People thought that the queen had been painted in her underwear. It broke all off the conventions for portraying a French monarch. Vigee Lebrun withdrew the painting from the Salon and replaced it with a more conventional portrait of the queen.

I was inspired in my project by the Thimbles and Acorns Chemise a la Reine pattern.

However, when I downloaded the pattern, I wasn't entirely satisfied with it for my project.  Vigee Lebrun's portrait of Marie Antoinette does not show a split skirt with a colored petticoat underneath, as the pattern has.

Furthermore, the pattern has the dress tie shut in the front. This is historically accurate for some chemise a la reine gowns, but I wasn't convinced that it was accurate for Marie Antoinette's gown. I wanted the gown to close in the back with velcro so a seven year old could take it on and off easily. I also wanted to sew the sash on so it can't get lost, which would not be possible with a  gown that closed in the front.

So I used the Thimbles and Acorn pattern as a base, and changed the pattern so that it could close in the back.

I also altered the sleeves to look more like the portrait.

For the sash, I actually used two ribbons. I found a gold, see through ribbon, which was similar to what Marie Antoinette wore, but it didn't provide much color at the waist. So I used a solid gold ribbon around the waist of the gown, and sewed the see-through ribbon over it, with extra at the back so it can be tied into a bow.

I am really pleased with the finished dress. It is beautiful.

For anyone interested, some of the sources I consulted in making this dress include Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution by Caroline Weber and Mode Historique.