Not the parcel wrapping I expected.

Who'd expect this in the post - it's how my copy of Barbara Johnson's Album arrived, and clearly it wouldn't fit in my mailbox. How could I fault it's secure packing.  I wondered what was in it, and was hoping it was a mystery present. Still exciting though! Inside the sack addressed to me was the book in a corrugated cardboard book box, also labelled with my name.



The book is a big slab of a thing and as it's a fascimile reproduction of her album the household accounts are interesting too. From memory they're about 60 years older than the fabric swatches she glued over the top.Not on every page either.  Nice to see fabrics that I'd wear, even if not all of them are my choice.

getting ready for my summer, sewing, holiday

I've got both new dress patterns in my grabby hands, and a brooch I'd won on ebay, so the only things left in the mail is an art nouveau ariel Tshirt, and the reprinted book Fitting and Proper, bought from Burnley & Trowbridge alongwith some fabric swatches. I knew that even with the exchange rate going not so well for overseas shopping , that I might as well bags it now cos it could get worse.  If it improves, well I don't mind cos I've hankered for that book since before it was reprinted.



As well as my summer dress sewing, I've got 3 domestic tasks and a spring clean to do. The 3 aren't that exciting so I'll either do them all on a roll, powered by the thrill of achievement with the first, or I'll drag myself along kicking & screaming.
- replace my toilet seat (have it al; ready) for one with a soft close
- put together the Molger shelves that are going into the cupboard I use as a pantry.
- add the Hemnes drawer base supports to my Aneboda drawers


I've also had a flare up of an auto-immune problem so I'm also aiming for some soaks in the ocean over my hols as that seems to help (and I don't question why). 3 big sleeps to go if you include Friday night. Hormones & stress & hot days are probably the trigger. I had the blue sparkle dress, that really stressed me cos I didn't want her to be disappointed. 

Plus I've had to apply for my own job. This time as a permanent position - after 4.5 years contracting with them.  As it's state gov't, it has to be publicly advertised.  Applications closed yesterday and mentally I was prepared to come in for an interview early next week - there's minimum notification days involved for interviews.  But I think that's not going to pan out - guessing based on who I'm assuming is on the interview panel and their leave plans. I know it'll be a couple of senior staff in my unit plus someone else outside it (or 1 snr and 2 outside my unit) and what their leave is.

I'm getting help from another colleague with interview coaching cos I know I don't sell myself well.  They need to follow correct procedures so If I don't sell myself well then I can't get offered the job. This is why I've got most of my permanent jobs after temping. They go 'oooh socialised + nerd skills, lets keep her'.  Interviews, not so much.

So my 2 weeks as well as sewing includes eye check & new specs (broke my sewing distance)  with possibly a new script; haircut & recolour; visit friends up in the mountains; 2 x painful massage therapy appointments - deep tissue + trigger point. This isn't relaxing. Well, I should qualify that with afterwards I'm incredibly relaxed but not at the time. Possibly all the endorphins produced in reaction to pain. I've had 3 treatments and know how bad it'll be. But so worth it.

only 46 hours left to pre-order: 18th Century Hair & Wig Styling

Kendra of Demode is one of the costume bloggers who introduced me to the idea that what I wanted to do - make historical [and other] costumes - was possible.

Before the internet I didn't know where to find the information I needed. Yes, I'd pored over Janet Arnold's earlier volumes in Patterns of Fashion but I always knew that the right underwear was needed. I'm also a visual/doing learner. I can learn abstractly for some things, but when it comes to fabric I need to 'see'.

I started out making things and learned where and how to find more information, and how to simply try it and see.

Hair is tricky for me. Even if I grew my hair long I can't control it. That's the reason I cut it short in the first place. Unless I use rock-set gel to concrete my hair in place pins, perms, they all fall out. So wigs are an essential for me. Despite my broad noggin! A 23cm hat size means hats and wigs rarely fit. I'm hoping with visual learning that I'll learn more of how to alter & style a wig to fit both me and be suitable for the georgian era.

So, what I forgot to post before now is that Kenda is funding through indiegogo a book: 18th Century Hair & Wig Styling.

in the mail: a book on everyday clothing in the 18th century

I can't resist a costume related book. Well, technically not quite true. There are some I can cos they are so spendy that I just can't justify it to myself. (Barbara Johnson's swatch book. Wants so badly but I won't pay crazymoney)

So today I was reading a blogpost about the Foundling Hospital exhibition Threads of Feeling (it has a FB page), and it mentioned that one of the pages is reproduced in the book "The Dress of the People: Everyday Fashion in 18th Century Europe" by John Styles.  So I went to bookdepository and realised they needed my money right there and then.

Especially as my re-enactment group are working class english (or english navy).  So an easy self justification, and can't wait for it to arrive.  I did wince at the price, but it includes airmail so that's OK.