Cissy in HOliday Cocktails

Here we are entering the third week of November already!  I must admit that time has evened itself out nicely since not only the beginning of the month, but since the time change.  I like the time change.  I know a lot of people don't, but I like getting up early and going to bed equally early.  I read at night before I fall asleep.  When there's very little sunlight in the late autumn and winter days, I use it wisely.  

Some seamstresses and artisans enjoy working at night, but I don't.  It feels like I'm working "overtime".  I think it goes back to my days as a working girl.  When night would come, its time to rest the mind, and body.  Silly.  I know.  But, that's me.

October was fabulous, and enjoying Halloween all month long by sewing doll costumes, made it super fun.  I never know where my inspiration is going to take me.  Even though I'll plan - and its good to have a plan - I often get an idea that must be followed

through on the spot.  

I was looking at my doll shelf in my bedroom (doesn't everyone have one?  hahaha), and noticed that poor Cissy was still in her aqua spring coat and dress.  Pretty as it might be, she really needed a bit of a change up.  When I started sewing for her, I made four complete outfits for her, one after another.  Then that was it.  I was watching the series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel at the time, and went nuts thinking I would make some of Midge's outfits, too.  Bought fabric, straw for hats, you name it.  Then "bloop".  Dropped  the whole idea, and started on something else that inspired me.

It should also be noted, that just before finishing Peggy Sue's Mechanical Man costume, I was already tinkering with Christmas ideas.  So, one thing lead to another, and Cissy had to have a red silk dress to wear to the holiday cocktail parties.

I think you already know how much I've been enjoying 50s Mid Century retro images since dressing Peggy Sue.  Well, Miss Cissy was Mid Century, too.  Just a grown up version.   And boy, oh boy, does dressing her take a lot of fabric.  I just happened to have a nice length of this gorgeous red silk taffeta, and have used most of it on this cocktail dress.

The dress is a mix and match of some reproduction patterns I bought a couple of years ago, and the jacket, or bolero, was designed from one of those patterns.  It was shortened and the neckline was redrawn.

I had the red shoes, and added a rhinestone to the center.  Do I need to admit that the rhinestone was glued on?  Yes.  Because I did try to back it with the prong setting the rhinestones came with, but the prongs were not long enough for the thickness of the elastic.  I made the little evening purse and it does work - lined and closes with a snap.

Cissy's bandeau is a Richard Originals.  He does such a beautiful job on these.  I couldn't do better.  And, it matched this cocktail dress beautifully.  I don't always have to jump into a huge, prolonged project to get some satisfaction out of it.  Creating costuming needs to be fun and simplified at times.

What I like about this dress is that it can be worn without the bolero.  I may make a belt for it as an option.  I was a little skeptical that the dress wouldn't be fancy enough on its own.  I spent a couple of days trying a big, fold over bow in front, but her arms got in the way of showing it off.  It was too much.  The old "less is better" had to win this time.  But, who can argue with RED?  Cissy has a holiday cocktail dress, and I'm planning a New Year's Eve gown for her.  And, a spring cropped pants outfit, too!  Here we go again.  

I have not forgot the two Red Riding Hood outfits I want to make.  They will come.  I just had to make this for Cissy.

In the meantime, and before hand, I was experimenting with tiny honeycomb decorations.  The idea was to make a few Halloween ones in addition to the ones I have, and that didn't happen.  Halloween was over, so I tried the Christmas ones.  The snowman, Santa by the Tree and Santa with a Bell, are from a Jean Nordquist mini honeycombs kit.  The tree came first, and I felt that was a minor success, so I tried the Santa.  Now hers didn't have the little bell made on it, but being a once-upon-a-time miniaturist, I had to try it.  Cutting tiny shapes through those thick pads of honeycomb paper is not easy.  The tiny bell came out cute.

Emboldened by my experiments, and the success of the snowman, I decided to try my own.  First of all, you need images where the arms are generally free of the body.  And, a good study of how the bases of these honeycombs work.  

The candle is a mini reproduction of a decoration from the 80s.  The rest are from retro cards and images I found on Pinterest.  Would the little choir boy look better with a white tunic?  Of course.  But that would require cutting both black and white.  These honeycombs are about 2" to 2.5" tall.  The little pink angel on top of the dark green tress in the back is kind of weird.  She's obviously too big for the tree, but that is how the card was drawn.  All of this is just experimentation, and its FUN.  The caroling girl in red and white came out cute.  Her skirt was red and white plaid or check, and the honeycomb paper was red and white.  The effect was perfect!

As far as playing dolls and decorating early, I'd bought Ginger and Cinnamon, the Poppy Parker gift set way back last year.  I think it arrived in late summer and I couldn't wait to set up that cute little record player.  

The white tree was an Integrity purchase during their London year of Mod.  The backdrop is a vintage Barbie reproduction.  I like it.  Its how little girls played in the 60s.  We didn't have computers to generate super backdrops.  Mattel, by the way, has always been great at cardboard dioramas.  Just love this one.

And, at that, I'll say adieu until next time.  Here's some details of Cissy's Holiday Cocktails, and some great retro images.  Just for fun, pop into The Retro Christmas Card Company Home - Retro Christmas Card Company  They have the most amazing things and its been one of my sources of inspiration since last holiday season.

Wishing everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving, a great one.  And, to all of you, Christmas is coming!!!

Love, Melissa