Stays and Other Musings.

Hello Friends and Readers, I hope you are having a good week. I don't know about you, but I'm really anticipating the upcoming three day weekend. I need it :-D Anyway, I have been practicing like crazy for our ball this weekend. I met with the pianist last Thursday and I finally feel ready to perform. It's so strange, I haven't been performing regularly for such a long time, I'm really looking forward to it again. I've really loved practicing on my lunch breaks, in the mornings, and evenings. It's been fun. It's also such a blast watching Birdie Boy's reaction to the high notes. It's hilarious he screeches and fluffs up his feathers and chatters.

I also finished my Pierrot jacket and petticoat. It's so pretty and I'm super excited to wear it. However, I intend to torture you all until Saturday. I don't want the other ball attendees to see it until the ball. Tee Hee, I'm a nerd.

I have also been doing some research on stays. I have never been completely happy with the pair I made last year. The armseyes are just a little high and when I sit, they dig into my armpits. The most severe being when I'm in the car, although I don't know if a new pair will remedy the uncomfortableness of a car ride in stays. Anyway, I was thrilled when JP Ryan came out with their strapped half-boned stays pattern. I was hemming and hawing over making another strapped pair or making a strapless pair. I decided on the former, mainly because my impression is upper class, and as a Lady I would have worn a strapped pair. And, as their site says, shape is more important than comfort. So, I ordered it, and I'm now "patiently" awaiting their arrival so I can start. I'm thinking I will do a canvas pair with a silk outerlayer and a muslin lining. I will probably use the leftover blue silk from my robe a la turque and bind the edges in a white muslin. I will probably end up hand sewing them. I have thought about machine stitching the boning chanels, but I like the look of hand stitching so much better, and it's more relaxing and accurate. So, that is the plan for the next few weeks. Here's a picture of the stays pattern. God Bless! Love Lauren.