Jennylafleur

Throwback to my favorite firework experience ever! Normally I'm not a huge fan of fireworks but this fireworks show at an event in Colonial Williamsburg in 2019 was unadulterated delight. Perhaps fireworks are just better in 18th century silks and high hair, or maybe it was the company of good friends and madeira. Regardless, no fireworks display has managed topped this moment for me.

Throwback to another wickedly hot summer day, because if you must be in unbearable heat and humidity it's way more fun to do ds in costume and with friends.

Been taking a bit of an unintended social media break so far this year. Not for any particular reason, beyond simply not feeling it.

Recently my creativity has been poured into things other than costuming, sewing or photography. Rather I've been focusing on spending time with close friends and family and taking time to slow down and just be for a little while. It's been nice.

At last I'm starting to feel the stirring of imagination and that itchy feeling in my fingers to pick up needle and thread though...

9 years.

One of our grief traditions has become having red roses in the house on this weekend of the year. They were the flowers I felt compelled to buy for his memorial service, I didn't question why at the time, I just knew that was the right choice.

Looking back I realized that in fact roses are the flower I most associate with him, probably because roses of all colors were the flowers he brought home for us, his girls, most often over the years. But especially red ones.

He had a habit of bringing home flowers on random days, just because. Mostly for Mom of course, but also for B or I on occasion, especially as we got older. One birthday he gave me 50 red roses, which was very cool. Honestly though, it's the random everyday "I love you" flowers I miss the most. Those beautiful little gifts of thoughtfulness and joy, just to remind me I was loved.

Thank you Daddy. I miss you.

How has it been a month already since I was in Brighton?! Time is weird but also man that was a fun time. Take me back!!

Went back to the Pavilion today for a tour and tea! I’m so sad this beautiful Regency weekend is over already- it went by so fast! But I feel so incredibly lucky I was able to experience it. Magical is the word I keep coming back to, it truly was that. It going to be very hard to go back to normal life after this! 😂

Last night was truly one of the most memorable nights of my life. Spending the evening surrounded by royal splendor, beautiful and kind humans, serenaded by bagpipes and live dance music, wearing a dress I am so proud of making - it doesn’t get better than this. The glow from this night is going to last a long while! Thank you so much and for hosting!

We decided to just embrace the blustery wind and rainy weather today at the Regency promenade, wandering the gardens in our new winter wear and then leaned all the way in to fighting te gale with a photoshoot at the beach. It was fun and ridiculous and wonderful all at the same time. Zero regrets. 😂

I’m so proud of this Spencer coat. I’ve been intimidated by coat making my whole sewing life so just making this was kinda a big deal. Plus I’m super proud of how it came out, made of a cut velvet I’m been hoarding for over 15 years and lined with a reproduction print from .

Old friends might also recognize the dress fabric as the remains of yardage I made a 1790s dress c2011 (that I’ve since passed on to . This is the ultimate stash busting trip wardrobe for sure!

The welcome reception was a great start to the weekend’s activities! I wore my old Starry “Rhys” overrobe with a new cream silk satin underdress - it was really fun to wear it again in a new way!

Seeing out the old year and welcoming in the new with a quiet evening at home, stitching on my ballgown for Brighton.

This project is a revamp of a dress I made in 2019 and it feels really good to be doing some reuse/recycle action on a dress I poured hours of work into all those years ago but was never 💯 happy with.

Its been a good lesson that as a creative I don’t really have failures, only lessons to be learned snd/or projects that aren’t in their final form yet.