:: head + brick wall = ? ::

I am blushing at all the sweet comments you left about my drawings! Thank you! I haven’t “seriously” drawn in so long nor shown my work online much, so its a bit weird to put it out there. But thank you; your kindness has made me a little bit less self-conscious about sharing my artwork. And I’m so delighted that so many other readers love 19th century fashion plates too!! I have just been so inspired lately by all the artists whose blogs I read that I knew I had to get back into drawing, if nothing else just to amuse myself. *giggle*

Thank you also everyone who has continued to support my Shoppe! Wow; I’m just amazed and blessed by how positive the response has been lately! Must be something about the fall air...

No outfit photograph for today. I woke up bright and early this morning (at, um 6:30; after going to bed at around 1am!!), chipper and ready to start the day. Then it suddenly hit me: a huge wave of creativity and ideas. So I decided to “art” today rather than worry about how I looked too much. hehe. I’ve been doing lots of sketchy-sketches all morning of ideas and thoughts that are floating around inside my head. If only they’ll come out the way I’m seeing them!! rofl.


Yesterday I did embark on drafting the sloper, although it was very uncomfortable in my room where I was working because it was so warm! But I persevered! Every time I make an attempt at drafting a sloper (and there have been many!), I am reminded:

1.) I hate drafting patterns from scratch;
2.) having a sloper would make the whole drafting thing loads easier.
3.) How much I would prefer to just drape the sloper, but...
4.) ...my dress form needs to be upgraded to a professional one to make that feasible.
5.) Which makes #2 all that more urgent.


My background in drafting is all over the map. I taught myself to draft doll clothing patterns by the time I was 6 (my Barbies and American Girl dolls were very well clothes in the latest bustle-inspired fashions). But 10 I had discovered a dusty 1970’s d.i.y. book called Slapdash Sewing and drafted my first piece of “people clothing”. When I was 13, I discovered Jennie Chancey’s lovely Regency gown pattern, but rather than just buy the pattern (like any normal, sane person would), I drafted my own (and then did buy her pattern about three years later...). Right before I turned 18 and graduated from “high school” (I was a life-long homeschooler, so grades really don’t apply!), I interned with Jennie for a month. She taught me some basic principles, which over time (unfortunately) have faded a bit in my memory. So, although I mentally can draft a sloper, sometimes the imagined and reality aren’t as seamlessly easy as I’d like.

This isn’t to say how wonderful I am, or “look at me--I was a pattern-drafting child prodigy!”, but rather how there is a innate need and understanding within me to do this. Its like all aspects of creativity: some people are just born with a fundamental ”have-to” desire to practice their craft. Sometimes it just takes awhile to perfect the basic techniques so you can move on. Its a well documented fact that I’m a late-bloomer anyway. Once it clicks, I get it; but until then it takes a lot of head-against-wall moments. lol.


This has actually been the most successful attempt yet, and I still haven’t given up; it really just needs a few tweaks (as evidenced in the photos). Times like this, though, I wish I could go to design school and just take a few courses in drafting and pattern development. It fascinates me, how patterns are manipulated into different forms, creating an architectural sheath for the body. Art and beauty are created from a flat set of patterns (or fabric, in the case of draping, which comes much easier to me than drafting!). Its amazing, and yet frustrating. But anything worth doing or having is always a bit bumpy at the beginning of the ride, isn’t it?

And as Mother always said: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again...”

I need to frame that on my wall.

cheers & creativity,
    ♥ casey [ email me ]