Victorian Bathing and Bathing Suits

I'm pleased to announce I've released a new eBook.

Victorian Bathing and Bathing Suits:
The Culture of the Two-Piece Bathing Dress from 1837 – 1901

When I decided to create a new bathing suit pattern, I searched for a modern book documenting Victorian bathing suits. To my surprise, I couldn't find one. Yet I had quite a few period magazines with engravings of bathing dresses in my collection. While I was doing more research, I fell in love with the traditions and ethics surrounding American, English, and French bathing.

This book focuses on the culture of swimming and sea bathing across the decades, and on women's bathing suits, noting their styles, variations, and evolution, all quoted from the original writers of that time. For your enjoyment, I've included descriptions and engravings of men's and children's suits when I could find them, but their clothing was not as well documented as the ladies' dresses.

The culture and proper dress of bathing changed radically during Queen Victoria's reign, led, of course, by the French. The accepted ladies' one-piece bathing gown gave way to the two-piece bathing suit, and bathing went from a medical treatment to a social event.

Even the French bathing dress was not admired in its early days. It was plain, usually black, and, at best, boring. But once fashion got hold of the bathing suit, the dress evolved rapidly.  By 1870, many bathing suits were downright gorgeous. Fashion magazines began to include descriptions and engravings on a regular basis, vying to provide the most up-to-date styles. Bathing went from a quick, unpleasant dip in the ocean to true enjoyment, and even swimming became popular.

This eBook is 127 pages long (including the bibliography), and contains over 125 black and white period illustrations. It's in an 8" x 11.5" format. The PDF file is about 6.3 MB in size.

You can download it instantly on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/165939762/victorian-bathing-suits-pdf-ebook-the

or buy it on my website -- I'll email it to you the next time I'm online, usually that evening.
https://mantua-maker.com/Victorian_Bathing_Book.html

Thanks for looking at my new book!

Another Bathing Suit Pattern

Actually, this one is a Swimming Dress, and was intended for serious swimmers.

Based on an engraving in Harper's Bazar, 
July 9, 1887, the "Lady's Swimming Dress" consists of only the waist and drawers, without a skirt. It's simple to make!

It is unlined and bound at the edges. It opens at the shoulders only, and you step in and out of it. The trousers can be made in knee or mid-calf lengths – or in the very short French length, which English ladies complained looked like a circus-rider's outfit. I've also included a pattern for a simple bathing cap.

 This pattern includes 6 pages of instructions with historical tips, and 3 pattern sheets. It is printed on bond paper, and enclosed in a reclosable plastic bag.

All sizes Petite – Full (bust: 26" – 61") are included.



You can find it at:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/156364512/victorian-bathing-suit-pattern-new-easy
and 
https://mantua-maker.com/Victorian_Bathing_Suits.html

Outside my bedroom window

have hatched two little birds. Cardinals, I think. They are bald, with just a bit of fuzz, and so ugly they're cute.

 Mama Bird seems to spend most of her day on shade duty - it's HOT here in Texas, and gruesome in the direct sun, particularly if you've just crawled out of a nice dark egg.

I swear, though, that these chicks' heads are almost as big as their eggs had been.

Mama Bird got bored with parasol duty and invited a girlfriend along to keep her company. It's so wonderful to have devoted friends!

How to read your blogs after Google Reader bites the dust.

Very soon -- July 1st, if I remember correctly -- Google Reader will be shut down. Have you figured out how to follow your favorite blogs?

I've switched over to Bloglovin, and I love it!

For a few ideas on how to move your blog list, Bloglovin suggests these posts:

http://heartifb.com/2013/03/15/how-to-move-your-google-reader-rss-feed-to-bloglovin/

http://nutritionella.com/2012/12/my-new-favorite-reader-a-bloglovin-tutorial/

http://drabtofabdesign.com/2013/03/bye-bye-google-reader-hello-bloglovin/

And from Bloglovin, a FAQ page:
http://www.bloglovin.com/en/support

How are you going to deal with the end of Google Reader?

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Since Google Reader is going away soon, I've joined Bloglovin. I hope to see you there. :-)

Announcing a New Victorian Bathing Suit Pattern

After a long hiatus, I'm back with a new pattern – a Grecian-Style Bathing Suit for 1870 to 1890.

Around 1850, the Bathing Dress for ladies came into existence – before that time women wore a long shirt-like garment.  The earliest reference to a suit with drawers I've found was in 1852. But once fashion got hold of the bathing suit, the dress evolved rapidly.  Some bathing suits were downright gorgeous. Like, in my opinion, this one!

The August 1870 issue of Peterson's Magazine shows a lovely outfit: "Fig. X. – Bathing-Costume of White Flannel. – Trousers fastened at the knee by a cross strip braided with a Grecian pattern in black wool.  Peplum blouse, with short sleeves, with a braided Grecian pattern, buttoned on each side and on the shoulders."  This is the outfit featured in my pattern.

The bathing dress opens at the shoulders and both sides.  The blouse can be made with or without sleeves.  The drawers can be made in calf or ankle lengths, and can be gathered into cuffs. You can make it with or without the separate skirt.

Victoria's skirt came out a couple of inches too short – I forgot she's a good six inches taller than I am. LOL!

Can't you see yourself lounging beside the pool in this outfit?

You can purchase it now at Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/153370811/victorian-bathing-suit-pattern-new

Happy sewing.

Deb Salisbury, the Mantua-Maker

Dragon Musician Miles the Trumpeter

 Miles doesn’t mind tooting his own horn – he’s a trumpet player, so that’s his job. He’s marching down the street playing jazz just as loud as he can.  He can hardly wait for Mardi Gras.  And for New Year’s Eve.  Or for any party where he can play his music!

 Miles is about 7 3/4” tall, and 13 1/2” by 10” wide. His body was created around a devil’s claw seed pod.  His arms and legs are wire, his wings are made of glimmer gauze, and he has faceted glass eyes.  He’s playing a 3 1/2” gold-tone trumpet.

You can see other photos on my Etsy shop:
www.MagicSeeker.com 

or on his own page:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/105759639/dragon-musician-art-doll-miles-turquoise

Taliesin, the Dragon Musician

Taliesin is the best dragon musician in all the SCA – in fact, he’s the best in all the world! His friends think he’s better than his human namesake from the original middle ages. But Taliesin honestly doesn’t care. He just wants to sing and play his music.

Taliesin is about 4 1/2” tall, and 10 1/2” by 5 1/2” wide. His body was created around a devil’s claw seed pod. He’s playing what we’re calling a lute, but it’s really an Oriental string instrument.






You can visit Taliesin in my Etsy store at www.magicseeker.com,
or at his own page on Etsy

https://www.etsy.com/listing/102352025/dragon-musician-art-doll-taliesin-silver

Taliesin will be glad to see you!

Daffodil, a Fairy Dragon

Daffodil is a one-of-a-kind dragon art doll by Deb Salisbury, of MagicSeeker Dragons.

Daffodil came down to walk along the beach with her best friend, but when he disappeared, she got nervous.  What’s that sound behind her?  Is it a monster, or her friend playing a trick? It’s time to run, run, RUN! Is Daffodil fleeing as fast as she can run, or is she flirting with her friend?

Really, she’s so pleased with herself she’s glowing. Literally!  She glows for a few minutes after you turn out the lights.

Daffodil is about 8 1/2” tall at the wing tip, and 6” by 11” wide. Her body was created around a devil’s claw seed pod, which means she has two tails.  Her arms and legs are wire, her wings are made of glimmer gauze, and she has faceted glass eyes.  Her shape and coloring were created with fabric paint.  One foot is standing on a seashell.

You can visit Daffodil at www.MagicSeeker.com,
or go directly to her page at:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/101772185/fairy-dragon-art-doll-daffodil-dragon

I'd love to hear what you think of her.  Do you like the idea of Fairy Dragons?

Iris the Fairy Dragon

The sun is barely rising, but Iris the Fairy Dragon is up and playing in the dawn-lit dew.  She’s found a lovely pink flower that complements her coloring, and she’ll dance until dusk if she wants to.

 

A one-of-a-kind dragon art doll by Deb Salisbury, of Magic Seeker Dragons.

Iris is approximately 9 1/2” tall at the wing tip, and 8” by 9” wide. Her body was created around a devil’s claw seed pod, which means she has two tails.  Her arms and legs are wire, her wings are made of glimmer gauze, and she has faceted glass eyes.  Her shape and coloring were created with fabric paint.  She’s standing on a pink ceramic flower.

You can visit Iris on Etsy, at 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/100525385/fairy-dragon-art-doll-iris-delicate

Or visit my MagicSeeker site on Etsy at

www. MagicSeeker.com