Having fun and getting things done.

The boss is not known as the tidiest of workers. In fact, colleagues can identify her work table in the Wardrobe just by the big jumble of stuff it supports. There always comes a time though, when she can't get anything done in the last foot of bare table.

So yesterday was clean up and sort out day in the shop. Hence the pic showing a line up on the ironing board of projects that need finishing. Can't get away with pins any longer. It's just that the hooks and snaps are so tiny . . . Most of the garments need those fasteners and some just want a bit of hand stitching. There is a group at one end that are cut out and waiting to be stitched. And clients are getting testy.

But we all do love going through the repurposed fabrics and putting together the next set of outfits. It is still tidying up, really it is! There is enough light cotton or linen off cuts to do some promised petticoats and caps. Many of the thrift hankies and napkins are too small for Charlotte. Into Arabella's box they go. The most difficulty the designer faces is deciding what trims go with what. So she usually waits until the costume piece is at a stage where decoration can be fussed with. So most of the lace, buttons and tassels went into neat bags. Sadly, we are in dire need of more lace. It IS an important feature in 18th century ensembles, however small.

Turns out there wasn't a big enough, or satisfying enough, piece of fabric to make a bed gown (short gown) for Charlotte as hoped. Lots of skirt stuff in various colours, but hmmmmm. What a great excuse to put off more cleaning and head to the thrift store!

It didn't take much time to find something that will do for the bed gown and so a safari then commenced around the store. Remember a mention of making band boxes? Well darned if there wasn't a set waiting for us. Not exactly doll sized but great for storing their bits in. The longest is nine and a half inches. They will need repainting or might end up covered with period style wall paper, as 18th Century ladies chose to do. 

Then to everyone's surprise and delight we found what will serve as Charlotte's trunk. Hat trick!  You gotta love thrifting. It might have been a jewelry box but it is big enough and so no reason now to save similar items in the Amazon wish list. 

The craft specialist might still make some doll sized band boxes. Her brother had chatted this morning with her about how art projects can make us look differently at objects around us. Didn't she just walk past some empty packing tape rolls her husband had saved (for some reason)? And they look just like the cardboard sides of band boxes! Don't tell him where they went please.

So it's back to tidy up and assembly lines. Not too horrible really. As a reward the pattern maker/cutter will make some cap patterns for Charlotte to wear with her Bergere. Look for a debut soon. And maybe some band boxes.