Merlot/Lace: all but the hem and buttons

I closed up the bodice yesterday and got the hem turned, stitched, pressed and pinned. I'll see about hemming it tonight or tomorrow. The back panel where the buttons/button holes will go has been stretching...I interfaced the facing to try and stabilize it a bit. The facing is stable...and puckery. Any future suggestions for stabilizing a facing in a flowy fabric without making it look stiff/interfacing the fashion fabric? I feel like short of fusing something to the fashion fabric this was inevitable.

I'm very happy with the sleeves. some of my best. The real magic is in the back though...so we'll see how that all works out as I haven't gotten a chance to look at it yet... For all I know it's all wrong.

Downton Abbey 3:6

:::I haven't been able to watch the opening without imagining a Swiffer since the BBC's very first spoof of Upstairs Downton Abbey.
:::If my husband had just gotten out of jail we'd make out HARD CORE in the backseat. No doubt. If I had a husband we'd just make out all the time, never mind jail time.
:::I feel like Robert never gets to finish his breakfast. He's always outraged enough to leave in a huff, caring his letters.
:::Way to tell Alfred, Daisy! I also love that tallness is such an asset to footmen.
:::Whenever I put lotion on my hands I always try to ring them like the fine ladies do on Downton. It's always a good filler action for the end of a conversation with Anna or the beginning of one with Matthew.
:::There was definitely a sexy saxophone going into the Thomas/James scene.
:::What was Thomas' thought process with the peace offering toast the next morning at breakfast?
:::I recognize the newspaper man...
:::Tom's brother looks like a mix of Tom and Toby Jones.
:::Pffft...Matthew, you can make me as untidy as it pleases you.
:::Also, Matthew does not look like a good kisser.
:::I was confused by the mourning dress in this one. Is there a different code for evening dress? They went into half mourning quite nicely, but I feel like in general things got a little muddled.
:::Violet to Isobel "I know how you hate facing facts". THANK YOU! This sums up my beef with Cousin Isobel. She lives in her own little self righteous world. And however much Violet wanted Ethel away for the sake of the neighborhood, it really was a good move for her, sparked by Violet's seeing Ethel's misery.
:::Cora's black embroidered day dress was to die for.
:::Family outing to the dodgey nightclub! Shotgun!
:::Get it done, Matthew! You sort out Rose.
:::Also, I zoned out during Violet's explanation of who the heck Rose is, so I'm still a little fuzzy.
:::Rose's wig=not great.
:::Edith's emerald and ivory ensemble is pretty fabulous. She looked down right pretty in that scene.
:::And by "that scene" I mean the Mr. Rochester/Bertha defense. Old hat, Mr. Fellowes.
:::The village team had rather the handsome ginger bowler.
:::Only the British would play their national sport in sweater vests and white shoes.

Gregson is Yates in Mansfield Park!

Sexy Sunday: double the pleasure, double the fun

totally unplanned, but totally sexy.

Alicia and I are two stylin' babes that share the same mind about 87% of the time. The other 13% is because her brain is full of art history stuff and mine is full of costumey stuff..which actually now that I think of it might close the gap to a difference of like 7%.

Alicia also tipped me off to this entry of My Daguerreotype Boyfriend, which if you don't check up on every nowandagain you should.

And yes, that link is a picture of old-timey Benedict Cumberbatch.

Benedict Cumberbatch on The Simpsons

Here you go. An article ab my boy Ben (did I tell you about the time I dreamt he was my boyfriend and it was awesome?) voicing two characters on The Simpsons this Sunday. Really if you watch the included clip you've seen his bit.

http://tellyspotting.org/2013/02/09/benedict-cumberbatch-as-both-alan-rickman-and-the-prime-minister-tomorrow-on-the-simpsons/

Send me music!

Hey! Spotify is great! I want new music. Here's what I'm into now-ish. I'm open to lots, but you should know:

I'm picky about country. Cash is ok, and old country is good, but not a fan of most of anything else country.
I'm super picky about jazz, mostly I don't like it. There are exceptions. Try to change my mind!
Radio edits are appreciated.
I love to dance! Send me some pump up music!
Rap and hip-hop are hit and miss for me.
I'm a sucker for pop music.

Put music you think I should listen to in this playlist and I will!

Right now it's just full of random stuff I remembered I want to look into, and stuff Spotify told me I might like. 

Merlot/Lace: it's the inside that counts

Sort of...I mean the outside needs to look nice, but I'm really doing a bang up job on this lining. I so rarely have the time or the necessity for a nice lining. Not cutting any corners with this job. The only exposed seams are French, and the kind of exposed facing seams are going to be pinked. Everything else is completely enclosed. Here are pics of the lining and a shot of the back bc I realize I haven't posted a picture of it yet. It's hard to get the back to look good on the form bc the dress is so crooked and the form is so short. This is what you get. And it's the inside. Bet you couldn't tell but for the favored collar.

So yeah, basically did the sleeves today. Haven't finished slipping the second closed. Tomorrow I'll slip the bodice shut then either a break or straight on to the buttonholes!

FYI: I've worked up to the end of Season 5 of Doctor Who since Christmas. Into the Matt Smith seasons I realize my mood during the day is completely different because of his influence. It's a completely different show. If not for the Ponds I'd really be out of it. And Van Gogh. Such. A. GREAT. Episode!

Confession: I kind of skipped the Pandorica episodes...so this is the first time I'll watch them....I bet a lot more about season 6 will make sense.

slipping the sleeve lining in, no serging for me!

this is the inside. Check out those sharp seams!

insides

Downton Abbey 3:5

Is it me or did NOTHING happen this week?

:::Robert is being kind of obnoxious, which is nothing new since the maid last season.
:::Cora is just wanting someone to blame and so Dr. Clarkson's chat at the end was good.
:::I feel like Robert would be much more open to Matthew's help if all of the things weren't happening at once. Remember he was very keen on getting Matthew involved at one point. I think he's too used to his own way and is upset that the end of the War hasn't restored it to him.
:::Violet talking about hearts was amazing.
:::Mr. Carson telling Mrs. Hughes he knows she'll never desert him was nice.
:::Yay Ethel, you can cook.
:::Ivy, oh Ivy...
:::Alfred, oh Alfred...
:::Daisy needs to work the farm and get a better life. Mr. Mason was really right about everything he said, as long as he realizes farming will change as well.
:::Mary and Matthew say they need to work on their relationship, but I doubt their actions will agree.
:::Was it just my TV, or did the lighting during Mary and Matthew's pillow talk make them look dead? Like straight up Sybil post seizures blue? Oh! Too soon?
:::My mom doesn't know the whole Thomas and O'Brien story and was very upset O'Brien told Thomas that Jimmy has a crush on him. The evil never ends.
:::Can you really employ Thomas for however long Bates has been in jail and then just kick him out? I don't know what to do about it, but I feel like it's a really bum deal.
:::Yeah...there was a lot of talking this episode. Next week should have some ACTION!