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| Lettie Lane's Golf Outfit |
How very long ago it seems that I
began this small journey in the realm of designing and costuming dolls.
And, yet, it has truly only been two years almost to the date.
Designing for Lettie and Polly (and a few other little ladies), has brought me
great joy. Being able to bring beautiful images to life has been an
ultimate reward that continues to inspire me.
When I learned that I was going
to attend this year's UFDC convention, I knew I wanted to share something with
the attendees, but what? My intent was to display a blonde, blue-eyed
Polly Pratt dressed in something from Lettie Lane Comes Home for Christmas.
However, when I began to work on the last in the series of sports costumes, the
golf outfit from Betty Bonnet's College Sister struck me as something so
unique and joyful, that I decided to bring this along instead. The unique
construction of the skirt was something I had not seen before, and perhaps this
alone was the base piece that motivated me.
My mind is like a museum of
galleries and for each piece, whether it be an accessory, a storybook trunk
set, or costuming, resides a bank vault with an intricate locking
mechanism that only I have the combination to. Some galleries belong to
the world and are open to the public, while others may inaudibly close with a
small whoosh, and will remain closed. Lettie's Golf Outfit is one
of them.
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| With proper hair styling. |
While I will continue to state that
mine is not a competitive spirit, when you share your innermost heart and soul
with the world, no matter how naïve or innocent your intention, you take the
risk of being overstepped like a rainbow puddle after the rain...and, sometimes
a little door closes. For many artists and designers, their world
revolves around the acknowledgement and recognition that comes only with a
ribbon. And, they seek this time and again until it loses its
meaning. That brief moment in time when their work receives the laurel
wreath. I have found these moments temporary and fleeting (and often
embarrassing), for they truly only mean something to the person that receives
them. I can humbly say that there are countless designers far above
my qualities and talents, and there always will
be. However, what I attempt to bring to the world is
innovation and inspiration combined with a sense of joy and whimsy. If I
succeed only in this, I die a happy mouse.
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| Betty Bonnet's College Sister |
It was strange that there
were people who felt the need to give unsolicited feedback into why sweet
Lettie was overlooked, and this baffles me. For every person in this
category, each comment was uniquely different, but no one felt
the necessity to acknowledge my achievement, or even let me know if they
enjoyed what I did. However, and there must always be one, feedback from
the people who matter most to me (those seamstresses I hold in high esteem), I
came away with a sense of warmth and purpose. I had to chuckle a bit at the question
of would I, should I do this again. The answer is no. Not for the
reasons they may think, but because it isn't necessary. That world
belongs to others, not me.
Intellectually, after compiling the
various critiques and statements of "perhaps it was this", only
two comments stick with me in their opposing forms. One was that it could
have been the golf clubs - and I'm giggling as I write this. The
other had to do with modern sewing techniques vs. those the Edwardian's would
have used, making this outfit a "true Edwardian" outfit. As you
know, I am self taught in my costuming and know zip about French Fashion sewing
or any other era. It is the design of creating the impression of what I
see to be my goal.
What interests me more is that I am planning on
commissioning a 16" French Fashion doll. In viewing a little outfit
one of the writers of The French Fashion Review had made, her construction was
modern, simple, and the jacket lined. I asked her about this (in
context), and she said that their aim was to have fun with sewing for these dolls.
Let's never forget that sewing and designing should be fun! The advice from my mentor suggested I had no business entering Lettie's costume into competition if I wasn't willing to spend a few years learning "Edwardian sewing techniques and construction". What I wanted to do was share the costuming, and there was no other way to do it.
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| Sweet Little Gloves |
As mentioned earlier, Lettie's Golf
Outfit is the last (I believe) in the sporting costumes. We
have done canoeing, gym, tennis and golf outfits. While there are
scouting, camping and bathing costumes, should I create these, they
will hold a category all their own.
Lettie's black and white houndstooth
suiting is made from 100% wool, and her blouse and undergarments are of
cotton laces and heirloom batistes. Her jacket, its belt and pockets
are lined in a white 100% silk taffeta. Her hat is Swiss
straw, and her bow tie is double-faced silk
ribbon. Lettie's golf bag (like Polly's) was made from
goatskin leather, the same hide I used to decorate Daisy's raffia suitcase
with. The little clubs were, of course, purchased.
The skirt is a circle of, if I
recall, thirty-four inches, with hip length kick pleats. Her blouse has a
high neckband with the collar attached to this. Figuring this out
earlier would have been most helpful with the Halloween costume I made for
Daisy last year. Her little golf gloves are made from 100% t-shirt
cotton, and to me are the sweetest part of the entire costume.
Finally, in the last stages
of dressing Lettie for her travels to D.C., I kept feeling one
important thing was missing. One look I was still trying to
achieve. And so I did her hair up in an Edwardian style roll.
Please enjoy the photos of Lettie
getting dressed to play golf with Polly!
Love,
Miss E. Mouse |
| Chemise, Knickers, Stockings |
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| Delicate Details |
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| The stand up collar blouse |
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| Hip length kick-pleats |
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| The back |
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| Golf anyone? Ball in hand. |
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| The girls together with real golf balls. |
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| Next: Katy Curls by Frances Tipton Hunter |
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| Polly's Costume for 2013 |
