Completed Mantelet

 As posted previously, the mantelet (or bed gown) is completed and as it just won't stop raining long enough this summer for me to go outside for a photoshoot in my 18th century finery, I settled for some indoor shots.

For information on the quilted petticoat you can visit its own post here. The mantelet was based heavily on research images and diagrams such as these ones.

Kannik's Korner has a pattern very similar to the second image, for anyone who prefers to work by pattern, but this is an extremely simple garment in terms of its shapes and construction.

Of course, having said that, it did give me fits in places, like at the side gores, and getting the pleats/folds at the sleeve ends to be just right. The fabric is an embroidered taffeta, lined in moire taffeta, with linen cuffs, a satin ribbon closure, and fabric covered buttons at the sleeve ends.

Of course, no project is truly complete until the dog approves it...

Now it's onto painting fans and making an outfit to go over that petticoat. For information on the Italian Renaissance project which I also just finished (and which has kept me away from my 18th century projects since completing this one) you can visit my other blog, Amphorae.

Cosmo...18th century style

July 10th, 1783

Only a few days more until the rest of our party arrives for the wedding, which is becoming less and less the quiet affair we had planned, and which has been increasingly usurped by Maman. One word from her about my broken wedding plans of a few years ago and I am forced to concede to her wishes so that she may be recompensed for all of her disappointments. I am pleased to find her civil- nay, cordial, towards Thierry. I suppose now that he is a Marquis it is of little consequence from whence he came.

Christine has been laid low with a summer cold almost since we arrived in Riom, and if she is not better soon there will be a chorus of sniffling to accompany the droning of the priest. I should also hate to think that her last few weeks of freedom before her own wedding will be spent as an invalid.

Andre and Mattieu are both eager to be of service for the event, and I cannot remember when I last spent so much time in the company of both of my brothers. My stepfather, on the other hand, is as cold and distant as I expected, and we have exchanged few words.

Thierry, dear as ever, is my solace against every aggravation, and as the King has given his consent, at long last we have every hope of enjoying singular happiness.

Olympe, Comtesse

Blog-anniversaire Giveaway Winner!

Drum roll, please...

the winner of the vintage painted fan is Margaret! Please e-mail me (LeslieKdesigns@gmail.com) with your full name and mailing address, Margaret, and I will send the fan on it's merry way to you. Thank you for reading and commenting!

Blog-anniversaire Giveaway!

It's that time of year again! Can it really have been four years since I first started this little blog? Apparently it can, and to celebrate I am holding a giveaway of a lovely vintage painted fan.

Isn't it sweet?! In order to be entered for the drawing all you need to do is leave a comment by July 3rd telling me what your favorite blog entry has been; I'm curious to know what you've enjoyed the most. I will choose the winner at random; and, yes, I will ship the fan overseas.

Good luck, and I hope to hear from you!

New mantelet sneak peek

Here's a quick shot of my new mantelet, about which details will be shortly forthcoming. After this I'm going to be taking a hiatus from the 18th century (briefly) to complete a costume from another time period. You can follow along with that project on my other blog here.

Favorite

Jens Juels and his wife. 1791.