Year In Review: Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020!

"Another fresh New Year is here...

Another year to live! 

To banish worry, doubt and fear, 

To love, and laugh and give!"

- William Arthur Ward 

Happy New Year!
T. Corbella Postcard from the 1920s.
(Image via: Tumblr: Anything Goes - Celebrating the 20s)

Enter the roaring 20-20s - and another, new decade begins!  But before we say goodbye to the 20-teens, I'd like to reflect upon the past year's accomplishments, and forward to another twelve months of sewing, weaving, living history, and (hopefully a little more) blogging.

This past year, I struggled to keep up on all of the social platforms - our Facebook page, Instagram, and here on Blogger - and sometimes it's hard to remember that I am learning, making, and mostly succeeding, especially when the day-to-day progress seems slow.  With full-time college and work at the museum, weaving and sewing every day in #artschool or for the occasional personal project, traveling, and other life adventures - 2019 was as busy a year as ever!  So, for this year in review post, here is a list of my favorite happenings:

Year in Review: 2019 Highlights

Sewing Projects:

Mid-19th Century, Blue Print Day Dress

College: 

• Period Draping (2 semesters) 
• In a years time, I learned to drape from pictures and research images of both extant garments and designer renderings from the 18th through 20th centuries.  I gained so much confidence in my flat patterning and cutting skills, and my sewing accuracy and ability to envision (and execute) the step-by-step construction process improved as well. 
• Gaining speed and reigning in the perfectionism are my two areas to work on, as well as continued draping/flat patterning practice.
• Favorite drapes: (1) my first 18th century dress! (draped over me-made stays); (2) my first Bustle Era ensemble, which included a jacket, vest, skirt, and bustle drapery

Historical sewing: 

Mid-19th Century, Pink Striped Sheer Dress

• 18th Century 
• linen bedgown 
• linen cap

• Early-19th Century 
• Striped half-robe 
• Double-ruffle Regency cap

• Mid-19th Century 
• C's sacque coat (Blog post: A New Coat for Little C)
• Chemise & drawers 
• Pink sateen corset (Blog post: A Pink Sateen Corset with Pearl Flossing)
• Plain hoop petticoat 

• Blue day dress
• Pink striped sheer 
• Various accessories (hairpieces, bows, silk belts, etc.) 

• Modern 
• Spooky novelty skirt
• Spooky hat 

Weaving Projects:

Project 1 in Advanced Studio

I completed four more textile courses to round out my dual concentrations in both costume construction and textile arts.  

• Color & Weave (Spring 2019)
• Blossom Art Intensive (Summer 2019)
• Dimensional Textiles (Fall 2019)
• Advanced Studio (Fall 2019) - an independent study of overshot pattern design and weaving techniques + graduate seminar

Living History Events

Cheyney of Not Your Momma's History & me
at the Citizen's Forum of the 1860s

Travels:  I'd love to attend all three of these events again!

• Ohio Regimental Military Ball in Canton, OH (February) 
• Citizen's Forum of the 1860s in Maumee, OH (March)
• Remembrance Weekend at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI (May)

Season #6 at the Genesee Country Village & Museum:

• Inventions Week - I set up shop as the dressmaker! (July)
• Civil War Weekend (July)
• Summer Gathering Series: Getting Dressed in the 1830s (August)
• This was my second collaboration with Brandon (@L_Aspect_Ancien) at the John L. Wehle Gallery!
• Watch our afternoon performance here, courtesy of Facebook live: 

• Domestic Symposium (November)
• Roc Holiday Village: a day of ice skating & caroling with friends! (December) 

Social Media Milestones

• I think I finally doubled the posts over on Instagram @youngsewphisticate, where we have an amazing 1300+ following!  Check out our 2019 Top Nine post collage above!
• We made it to 400 "likes" on our Facebook page - here at: The Young Sewphisticate! 

And that concludes this year-in-review post!  I'd like to thank everyone - most dearly, sincerely, and across all of the social platforms - for your overwhelming support of my studies and adventures in sewing, weaving, and living history.  Look forward to new content (and hopefully some filling in of the gaps in sewing projects listed above) coming your way in 2020...May your needle always be sharp, your shuttle fast, and your fabric stash overflowing! 

Ice Skating at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park

Cheers 2020, and may we make every minute count!