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Holidays

Costumer’s Guild West Holiday Tea
Historical Fashion, Holidays, Outings

Costumer’s Guild West Holiday Tea

A couple weeks ago I had an opportunity to wear my new Teens outfit again to the Costumer’s Guild West Holiday Tea. The unofficial theme was 19th Century, but that means it’s a bit of a free-for-all in terms of time period. It’s just a nice excuse to get dressed up and meet up with friends! I carpooled with my friend Laura, and she was very gracious that I made us late for the event. I’m not used to anyone in L.A. being punctual, so I was very surprised to be among the last to arrive!

Beth and Laura, wearing 1910s and 1950s

I don’t have a “proper” hat for this outfit yet, but since the main event was afternoon tea, I decided to throw on a little knit beret. It’s a bit small for the period, but if I have to do it wrong, I figure I might as well err on the side of being more chic! I realize now that I did miss out on the chance to add some nutty pom-poms onto it, though.

A properly-sized Teens Tam!

“Tam-o’-shanters have a new place owing to the popularity of skating and sweaters”
The Delineator for December, 1919, page 125

The tea spread!
Photo by Val LaBore

Happy 2013!

Happy New Year! This New Year’s post is a little late because our cable/internet box partied a little hard and went out for a few days. We’re back safe and sounds from North Carolina, and went straight back to work on January 2nd. I’m already struggling with my New Year’s Resolution (getting at least 6 1/2 hours sleep every worknight), I deep cleaned my sewing room last weekend, and when my DVR can catch a repeat of the first episode of Downton Abby I’ll be engrossed in that. So far this year is on track!

Other plans for the new year include a couple more dance trips and I’m going to join in on the Historical Sew Fortnightly, starting with Challenge #2 at the end of January – all challenges should be pre-1938, so this is a good chance to bulk up on the early 1930’s wardrobe I’ve been dreaming of. And I might give into some Regency daywear that has been calling to me too! I’m usually a sewing monogamist (mostly because I’m too lazy to change the thread color on my machine frequently) but these challenges might be a good time to try multitasking my projects. I multitask everything else, why not sewing?

Gotta sign off now, it’s time for bed!

Christmas Parties

Merry Christmas! I just finished up an insane month at work, and I’m on vacation until NEXT YEAR! 🙂 We’re taking advantage of the time off from work and flying out to North Carolina for Lindy Focus, which is one of the (if not THE) biggest swing events in the US. It’s the first time Chris and I  have been to this event, and will be our first time on the East Coast together. I’m going to *try* to blog while I’m there, but if I don’t you’ll know it’s because I’m running around having fun!
Because we’re going out of town we didn’t decorate at home this year, but we’ve gone to a couple Christmas parties. I wore a new me-made Beignet skirt to a Gingerbread House party last Sunday, but I’m a bad blogger and didn’t take any photos of it. But here’s our sugary creation – every team gets the same basic house kit and creates a different scene. We got 3rd place with our “Broadmoor Abbey”, mostly because Chris invented a ridiculous story about the Stonehenge-esque light bouncing through the stone windows. It sure wasn’t the Gummi Bear statuary that won!

Wednesday night was my office Holiday party – there was an office decorating contest, and I wanted to share some cute creations we made. Not award-winning, but pretty fun for a couple hours with wrapping paper! If you want that giant measuring tape behind me, it’s available as a printable download here.

We did NOT make the Hot Dog cut-out – that came with the sliders food station, but I thought it was pretty exciting. I’m pretty sure I’m the only one at the party who used it.
And the obligatory photo-booth pics!
Happy Holidays – I’ll see you soon!

Happy Halloween!

This image came from a 1939 Band-Aid ad – 
but if that knife slips, she’ll need something a little bigger than a Band-Aid, I think!
How’s your Halloween season going? I’ll admit, I’ve been actively avoiding it this year (though I am looking forward to passing out candy to trick-or-treaters). As much as I like dressing up in weird clothes, I only do Halloween every 3 years or so – most of the Halloween events we go to are dances, and it’s just not fun to dance in a giant foam head. Too hot! 😉