SPRING TIME PICNICS AND PRETTY DRESSES

Yesterday was the second picnic I’ve attended in as many weeks. This one was the one I set up, A Picnic in Tissot’s Garden, that was rescheduled from last November when it was rained out.  My theme was to be Summer whites or pastels, with a wide time period of 1800-1920 and inspired by the artist James Tissot. I created an album of his paintings plus many photos to give everyone ideas of what they could make. https://www.pinterest.com/timetravels/a-picnic-in-tissots-garden/

The dresses this day were predominately bustle-era, as was Tissot’s paintings, and there were so many frilly, frothy ones, I came away inspired to make more sheer fabric dresses like these. Everyone looked beautiful sitting around on the bright green grassy area next to the Botanical Gardens, and stopped many people dead in their tracks when they saw us. 

I managed to get in a couple photos myself wearing my 1870s Tissot white cotton voile dress with green Swiss dots that I made from Ageless Patterns #1462 jacket pattern. It was so easy and comfortable. It's just a loose jacket that you belt around you. 

I remembered this time to attach my stay-belt inside the bodice, which I’d forgotten last time, and have forgotten on other bodices in the past. It’s an inside belt made of ribbon or twill that’s attached at the inside back seams and comes around to the front to hook closed. It holds the bodice tighter to your body and also helps prevent your front closures from being pulled or coming undone. Unless you’re digging inside your bodice looking for something you just tucked inside it to get it quickly out of the way for a photo. *guilty*.

So here’s a trick I figured out to remind me from now on not to forget to hook it: I'm keeping the front ends safety-pinned to the front while storing it to remind me next time, and also helps find them when I put it on. 

I took this photo of the lovely Helen’s 1910 pastel dress, and immediately thought of my recent blog of how to make these bodices using modern pattern jackets. http://timetravelingincostume.blogspot.com/2016/04/using-modern-patterns-to-create.html

And now I want to run home and make one. Again. 

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                                               HCA "BUSTLE PICNIC"

The previous weekend, May 7, was the annual Bustle Picnic in Craig Regional Park, Fullerton, CA, with the HCA (Historical Citizen’s Association). Since I hadn’t been able to wear my Tissot dress for our earlier cancelled Tissot’s Picnic last November due to rain, I decided I would wear it for this too. And guess what? One hour into the picnic it started raining. But it was still a beautiful day, with green grass next to a lake. Because of our continuing drought, anytime I see green grass I get all excited. But it also makes for gorgeous contrasts to our dresses. 

Everyone brings their china and glassware to this one, and we set up fine dining. It all adds to the atmosphere. We don’t draw as big a crowd as in the larger parks but as you can see, we still draw a lot of on-lookers. 

Our guests of honor, Jennifer & Jeff, showed up and we later had a baby shower for them.

It started to sprinkle so we rushed to start taking photos of each other, and when we finally did our full group shot, it REALLY began to rain, and we had to rush away to continue the party nearby at a friend’s home. But still a wonderful day.

I had to get a couple shots of Tracey’s beautiful hat, with all its ribbons & flowers in back, and feathers.

Thank you to Karin for this lovely photo of us.

~~Val~~