Year in Review: Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017!

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." 

~ Albert Einstein

Wishing all of you the happiest of Happy New Years!  It's out with the old, and in with the new; so, may you be happy the whole year through!

Time for one of the most rewarding posts of the year for any blogger...Looking back and reflecting upon the past year’s accomplishments and forward to another twelve months of sewing and blogging.  There were high points, and low points.  Times where I felt like I was moving forward, and times where I questioned why sew or blog anymore.  So, before the needles fly in this new year, it’s time to highlight the skills learned and challenges overcome in the past year through the 2016 sewing year in review:

January -  To start off the year, I finished my 1820s-esque Mad for Plaid Ensemble, featuring this dress and matching bonnet.  This was the last photo shoot Maria and I did before I left for Pittsburgh: 

Also, I made several Christmas gifts, including this patchwork pocket:

February -  February saw the completion of my 19th century sewing box and accessories:

March -  Most of my sewing this month was either for my production assignment in The Bluest Eye or as part of my costume shop apprenticeship at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.  Though I did manage to complete one personal project - a new, linen round-eared cap:

I was also talked into making a Facebook page for The Young Sewphisticate!


April -  April was a busy month in the shop as we built dozens of pieces for Drowsy Chaperone.  I think I worked around 60 hours in the two weeks before the opening - tacking trim, beading, and stitching wherever asked.  In all, I helped bring 11 pieces to the stage, including:

Macrame trim!

Art Deco Robe.

And more, which I still need to blog about sometime...


May - With classes, work at the costume shop (where I had the privilege of studying dozens of their extant garments up close and personally) and exploring the great city with friends, there wasn't much time to sew.  In any down time, I'd put a few more stitches into my semester-long Berlin work project, completed thanks to a care package containing DMC floss from the loving partner-in-crime:

June -  Home again, Maria and I resumed our photo shooting partnership with Short Gown Study IV, a golden short gown featuring hand-rolled trim:

July -  This was the summer of rolled hemming!  In addition to rolling half a dozen neckerchiefs at the museum (sorry no pictures), I made a new lawn cap and double ruffle chemisette!

Hosted my first "giveaway" with a housewife or sewing kit:

And taught my first summer camp that was all about 19th century fashion and FUN!  (Post pending to be published sometime before Fashion Fun take two...)  I will never forget my very sweet, first class of fashion enthusiasts:

August -  I completed my late-1820s project this month including a shift, sleeve puffs, dress with pelerine and other accessories:

I also made a beribboned cap, which won a blue ribbon at this year's agricultural fair!

September - I may have missed the Tall Ships to work on a special tourism project at the museum, but I finished the 1810s dotted dress anyways!

I also made a dotted chemisette based on an original extant garment to match: 

October - October brought three very special projects, including a little sacque coat:

...The great pleasure and privilege of being a part of one of my nearest and dearest friend's wedding celebration.  Two years ago we were talking about making her wedding dress someday, the running costume-designer-gone-bridal joke, but I never imagined the honor of being asked to make her wedding veil and rosettes for the bridal party:  

The tiniest rolled hem so the pearls would float!

...And finally, the chance to pull costumes for Sense & Sensibility all thanks to my director friend!  Not only did many of my personal Regency creations get their debuts onstage, but returning to YOHP and STAGES for the first times since senior year of high school brought back so, so many fond memories: 

The Dashwood Sisters - Elinor, Marianne and Margaret (left to right) -
First Act costumes on fitting day.

November -  I was Cinderella for Halloween:

And introduced Ginny as our traveling doll with a first foray into doll clothing, inspired after taking Anna Worden Bauersmith's straw doll millinery class.

December -  Last but not least, December brought several small, yet satisfying projects.  Including a new housewife or sewing kit:

Ginny resumed her adventures with a doll dress for Yuletide:

And the last projects of 2016 were two Regency reticules, which will be featured next, in the second blog post of 2017:

What to expect more of in the coming year:

• Continued restoration efforts to most of the past blog posts
• Much more sewing and photo shoots! 
• Expansion of content to include more living history posts 
• Eventual publishing of queued projects and posts
• Updates to all of my social media platforms 

What a year to review!  A most sincere thank you to all who read and encourage my sewing adventures.  Each and every “like,” comment and subscription here (and on Facebook) was greatly appreciated – your continued support keeps me sewing!  May your needles always be sharp, and your fabric stashes always overflowing!

Cheers 2017, and may we make every minute count!