Random craftiness

This week I made portrait miniatures to accessorise my costumes. I had been meaning to make them for ages and when the glass cabochons and the little frames I had ordered finally arrived I jumped right in. I took some pointers from the miniature making instructions American Duchess posted some time ago and I must say I like the result. Maybe the glue wasn't the most perfect one to use, but I kind of like the "aged" look it gives to the pictures.

Dashing white sergeant. He's actually a captain, one W.S. Dawe of the Indian Infantry. I've had a crush on him ever since I saw the original portrait miniature in the V&A last year :)

I couldn't resist this :)

Major Samuel Ringgold

I've also been working on the pelisse, the beading is coming along nicely. I think I might have to look for some ready made trimming for all those leaves that go on the front of the coat because I don't have enough fabric to make enough rouleaux piping. I decided to use my trusty tissue paper trick for the beading as well, to make the pattern as even as possible. I'm sewing the beads on individually and I like the result, it's much more stable and less fiddly to sew than if I had sewn on lenghts of threaded beads.

The cuff, still need to add another pattern row just below the piping

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