September 04, 2008 PHOTO UPDATE! Yes, I'm still alive! I've finished my first real sewing project in quite some time, and have added it to the 'Goth Wear' section. In the meantime, I've been busy with my other crafts, which you can follow on my craft blog- link below. Ellie x February 10, 2008 Belated Happy New Year! Yes, I know it's been ages since I last updated the site, but there's been all sorts going on here, and I've only just gotten around to doing some sewing again. So, check out my little 'Snow White' dress in the Costumes section! Ellie x August 09, 2007 PUBLISHED! I've had one of my knitting projects picked to be a 'Star Letter' in a magazine- check it out on my craft blog! July 08, 2007 I've made a video! That's right, I've made a short and simple instructional video about tatting, and it can be seen on my craft blog site, as linked to below. Hope you like it! July 01, 2007 Hi everyone. As I'm forced to spread my dressmaking projects further apart a little more these days, for a while I'm concentrating more on hand crafts such as my knitting etc that I can sit and do anywhere, and I've started a blog site to keep you all up to date with that. Why not take a look? Diary Of A Craft Addict June 02, 2007 PHOTO UPDATE! Yes, despite illness coming my way again, I've battled on and have actually made something- something new for the site this time, in the shape of a rather large piece of knitwear! You'll find it (for lack of anywhere else to put it!) in the 'Costumes' section. April 23, 2007 PHOTO UPDATE! Literally just a photo update, though! I'm Ebaying the old 'Gothic Guest' dress, so we re-photographed it for that, and as I was so pleased with the new photos we've put them up on here, too! I've just had a lovely day-trip to London as well and had bought myself a lovely designer miniature top hat, so I wore that for the pictures too! There's not much happening here sewing-wise right now, though I'm still working on a huge full-length 'movie star dressing gown' knitting pattern, which should be quite something, if ever I finish the darn thing! February 28, 2007 PHOTO UPDATE! At last, something new to show you- the little ice skating dresses that I've been working on recently have been added to the existing 'Ice Princess' entry in 'Costumes'. Hope you like them! I'll be continuing to make more of these little outfits and accessories for young Cara for a while yet. February 23, 2007 Hi everyone, yes, I'm still here! I'm currently working on some more little ice-skating dresses, and have plans to make some more Goth wear and costume items as the year progresses. January 04, 2007 Happy New Year! After a lovely Christmas I'm determined this year now to get more sewing done, especially to further my wish to add more Goth items on here, though I won't be forgetting the costumes, either! December 17, 2006 PHOTO UPDATE! Today I've added something a little different to the 'Costumes' section, namely a couple of pictures of young Cara in the first little ice skating dress I made her. I'll be making a few more of these, in all manner of colours! I'll also take this opportunity to wish everyone a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS! December 08, 2006 Hi all, As we run up to Christmas, I've still been doing a little sewing; quite literally actually, as I've been making a little teensy-tiny ice-skating dress for the daughter of friend John! So far it's had 75 rhinestones applied, which meant crimping over 300 little metal spikes! Ouch! October 15, 2006 PHOTO UPDATE! Today I've added 'Edwardian Afternoon' into 'Costumes'. I was going nuts recently for want of something to sew, and some rummaging about in my fabric cupboards produced some lovely pale green thin pinstriped cotton, and half a ton of white lace that had been intended for something else years ago, so I was away! Now I'll be carrying on with some toiles for college, and half a hundred other things too! September 17, 2006 Hi everyone, As ever I've got a number of different ailments keeping me from doing much- including a particularly bad shoulder right now, and the after effects of a drugs trial that went wrong- and I am also now back at my little weekly college course, so I need to work for that, too. However, I'm still working of various costume projects, with a number of things in the pipeline, including junior ice skating dresses, another vintage costume, and even a long-term project in the shape of a Doctor Who based outfit! Cheers for now, Ellie July 30, 2006 PHOTO UPDATE! Yet again, two come along at once! At the bottom, older items end of the 'Goth Wear' section you'll now find 'Dark Princess', a dress I made some time ago and which I have just unearthed some photos of. July 12, 2006 PHOTO UPDATE!!! At last, the weather, my health, our time and all sorts of other boring things finally came together and here finally is my latest piece of Goth wear, which is an attempt at doing something a little different from the norm. I hope you like it! Planned to be next- when college work, money and life allow- will be another Gothic dress, but the costume fans needn't worry, as I have plans in that area, too! My continued thanks to everyone who has been so supportive and appreciative of the new look site of late. June 28, 2006 Apologies for the slight delay in updating- my latest piece of Goth wear is however coming very soon! Cheers for your patience, and I see that I've topped 10,000 visitors now!!! May 17, 2006 Just a brief update to say that I've now finished my next piece of Goth wear, which hopefully we can photograph and put online soon. Also, a big thanks to everyone that has commented both on and off the site about the site's fab new look and feel- I'm glad that everyone seems to like it! I'm now working on a commissioned costume order, after which I plan to make a more traditional piece of Goth clothing. April 14, 2006 Welcome to my new look site- GOTHWARDIAN! While much of my content remains the same, my site has been given a fair dose of visual va-va-voom to bring it better into line with all my interests in costume and clothing; I have now separated my Goth wear into a separate section to allow it to feature more, and hopefully that section will continue to grow over time as I make more items in this style for both myself, and for sale. The costume enthusiasts need not worry though, as my interests there remain unchanged and I will continue to produce those kinds of items too. I hope you like the new look- we absolutely love it and simply cannot thank our dear friends Glen and Anna enough for their work in giving the site it's fresh new look, which is now so much more representative of 'me'. It's been a real pleasure working out our small contributions to it with you guys, and thank you both SO much! Okay...a fresh new look...fresh inspiration...so onwards we go! While I have a possible costume commission on the horizon and I have just sold the most recent Edwardian Day Dress, I am currently working on an item of Goth wear, for myself, which is being made from a simply gorgeous top quality blood red velvet; as ever, watch this space! In the meantime, why not drop me a line and let me know what you think? Until next time, Happy Easter! April 02, 2006 PHOTO UPDATE!!! Yes, shock, horror, here after my draught are not one but TWO new items! Whatever is most current now automatically appears at the front of the 'Dresses' section, to make it easier for you to find each time. Added today are a costume and a modern piece of Goth-wear for myself. I hope you like them! I'm now saving up for my next project- whatever it may be! (As ever I have more ideas than I know what to do with!) Hopefully also the big revamp of the site won't be long in coming either! March 10, 2006 Shock! Horror! I'm sewing again! Yes, despite still suffering quite badly with fatigue, I've actually picked up my scissors and sent the archeologists in to find my sewing room again! I've already rattled off a quick Edwardian costume, and next I'm actually making something for myself, in the shape of a Goth skirt. Further updates to come, hopefully, as I progress. Also, regular visitors will have noticed a slight change in that the site is now going under it's new name, 'Gothwardian'. This is a taster of a future relaunch of the site, so watch this space! February 15, 2006 A Belated Happy New Year! I'm afraid as 2006 starts I've still yet to sew a single thing, as my health has been average at best. So, there's been no new costumes made, and even the hoped-for revamp of this site has been delayed. I DO fully intend to get going again, eventually! I know that my quietness on here has been a matter of concern for some people, so I'm sorry about that. December 03, 2005 Hello again all- apologies once again for the total lack of any picture updates, but my general health has of late been average at best, and what with Christmas rapidly approaching too, I've really not been doing much! However don't fret, as I'm going to try and pick things up again in 2006. In the meantime, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! November 06, 2005 Yes, I'm still alive! Apologies for the lack of updates, but I've not been all that well, and sadly don't have anything new to show you all right now. I've finished the corset and skirt outfit that I was working on, and I hope to get cracking on some more costumeage soon! September 20, 2005 Hi everyone! My apologies for my lack of updates recently, but I've still been slogging on with recovering from my operation, and with settling the new little kitty in, too! Site-wise, there's been a lot of trouble with spam entries on the guestbook lately, so my apologies if anyone has browsed into there and seen anything offensive. Steps have been taken now where any potential spam should be auto-deleted, and so far, that's working well. Sewing-wise I'm about to embark on a commissioned order for a skirt and corset varient on the 'Waisted Efforts' outfit. August 02, 2005 PHOTO UPDATE! At last! One of the Chicago costumes has made it onto the site- on Dresses Page 9. Next up there is a different colour and style of Chicago costume to be done. July 27, 2005 Our beloved cat Scully was put down today following a sudden stomach cancer; we will miss her terribly. Ellie July 15, 2005 I'm back! I'm one rib lighter and quite sore, so I won't be doing much for a little while. July 09, 2005 There will now be a slight delay...I'm heading into hospital for a few days from this weekend, but I hope to be back and showing you all my latest creations real soon! June 28, 2005 Hello everyone, I'm just about done with the first 'Chicago' costume, though I've got to finish accessorising it and work out some form of background before we actually photograph it yet. It's turned out to be a right pain to do- such flimsy fabric! Hence, lots of swearing, and not as many 'in progress' photos as I'd have liked. I have a bone-removal operation pending anytime now, so I could suddenly vanish for a little while at almost no notice at all! June 13, 2005 PHOTO UPDATE! On Dresses page 9 you will now find photos of the Victorian Governess costume that I finished recently, photographed this very morning at the Museum of Welsh Life. Hope you like them! This costume is currently available on Ebay. In the meantime, work on the 'Chicago' outfits is progressing. June 10, 2005 PROGRESS PHOTO UPDATE! Second 'Chicago' progress piccie added. June 08, 2005 PROGRESS PHOTO UPDATE! Hi again everyone, on Dresses Page 9 you will find the first picture of my new 'progress' feature, where every now and then, I will will post a different picture of the stages of making a costume, until eventually, the full finished costume pictures appear. So, we start with 'Chicago' and a pile of fabric! I also now have confirmed permission to shoot my Governess costume in the Victorian schoolroom at the Museum Of Welsh Life next week- so definitely watch this space! June 02, 2005 Hi everyone, here's some news while we wait for the next photo update to trundle along! The 'Governess' costume is all but finished and awaiting photographing, and the good news is, we've finally moved up into the world of digital photography, so from now on, there will be no more waiting to get films completed and developed before finished items can appear on here! Also, the increased ability to post photos instantly means that as I work on projects, I may add 'in progress' type shots along with blog entries, to keep things more interesting as I plod along with my work. Lastly, I'm hopeful of being able to photograph the 'Governess' costume in the Victorian schoolroom of the Museum Of Welsh Welsh Life, so watch this space! May 24, 2005 Hi all, first of all, thanks to Lara for buying the 1870's bustle costume from Ebay recently. Currently now I'm working on what I'm calling a 'Governess' costume, a kind of Victorian working outfit. It's going well so far! May 07, 2005 EBAY SALE! I've decided to sell the old 1870s dress- it can be found here! Thanks for looking! (Ammended- now sold!) May 05, 2005 Just another one of those quick updates to confirm my still-aliveness! I'm a little busy with some fashion course work right now, but will be cracking on with projects of my own again soon. April 05, 2005 PHOTO UPDATE!!! At last, another picture update! On Dresses Page 8 you will find 'Summer Belle'. I'm not sure quite what I'm making next yet, though I've been busy posing for photos in my own clothes for the eventual new-look to this website! March 20, 2005 Hi there...despite my having a nasty cold, the peach dress is at last finished and photographed, so there should finally be a picture update before too much longer. The whole site is due a makeover this year, and will be 're-branded' as it were, under the new name 'Gothwardian'; this is so that I can include and better reflect my own tastes in daily wear, and the darker side of things a little more! However don't fret, as all my current costume content and interests will remain! March 10, 2005 I'm hopeful of giving the site a visual make-over sometime this year, and a slight re-branding too, so watch this space! In the meantime, the peach dress continues, slowly! February 14, 2005 Very brief update, just to confirm my still-aliveness! I'm working on a peach vintage gown for now; proper updates in due course. January 18, 2005 DOUBLE PHOTO UPDATE! Again, you wait for ages, and then two come along at once! On Dresses Page 8 you will find my latest efforts, the 'Tudor Lady' and a corset outfit that I made for myself. I'm not sure what I will be making next just yet! Also, back on Page 7, the 'Shiny Goth' dress has been updated to show a great picture that was kindly sent to me by it's new owner! January 05, 2005 HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas- sadly, ours was blighted by Mike being very ill throughout. Sewing-wise, in a week or so I hope to have pictures of the big Tudor dress up, and I've been making a pinstripe corset/matching fishtail skirt for myself, too. November 13, 2004 Despite feeling terrible for various reasons, I'm now starting work on a large dress that I'm calling 'The Tudor Rose'. (Kinda like a Mrs Henry VIII look) I'm working with some very heavy fabrics again, which should give it that lovely weighty feel of age, if my sewing machine can take it that is! October 26, 2004 PHOTO UPDATE!!! At last! So sorry for the lack of an update recently. Various reasons, not the least of which was my health and a recent momentary heart scare, prevented me from getting much finished lately, but finally on Dresses Page 8 you will find my recently completed 'Colonial Lady'. In a while I will be starting a large, hefty Medieval-styled dress, to be made from some pretty darn heavy fabrics! September 07, 2004 Just a quickie to say that yes, I am still alive, and I'm slowly getting on with things, but I've just had a rotten cold that laid me low for a while! Update- I'm still getting on, albeit slowly, and hope to have the Civil War dress that seems to have taken forever, finished, photographed and up on here sometime soon. August 05, 2004 PHOTO UPDATE! Yes, I've quickly finished off something that's been on the go for a while, a full-length PVC dress. Very Goth! So that can be found being dark and evil looking on Dresses Page 7! July 29, 2004 PHOTO UPDATE! On Dresses Page 7 you will find my latest finished costume, 'Princess Victoria'. Just a bit different from the last, more shiny addition! After fiddling about with a few things of my own, the next project I shall be doing, once more for friend John's photo business, will be another large 'Civil War' type dress, though not so astoundingly large and complicated as the previous one! July 10, 2004 Just a very quick message to say that I'm still here, and still sewing- I'm still working on the 'Princess Victoria' dress, which is coming on well- but that we're currently dealing with a sudden bereavement, which has put everything back a bit. June 22, 2004 PHOTO UPDATE! At last, another update; crinkling, shining and generally being pervy on Dresses Page 7, you will find my finished PVC 'Matrix' style costume. I'm now working on what I've been calling the 'Princess Victoria' dress, and it's going well so far; I'm using a lovely deep gold satin for that one. More soon! May 30, 2004 Another quick update; things don't seem so bad now, and luckily, though my wrist is still sore, I'm back sewing at last! I've finally finished the black PVC 'Matrix' costume that I was doing, so we'll get that photographed and put online soon. May 26, 2004 Disaster! Guess who's fallen flat on their face on a supermarket spillage and damaged their wrist! So that's me out of action for a while...don't have much luck, do I? May 05, 2004 PHOTO UPDATE!!! Once again, two come along at once! On Dresses Page 6, you will find pictures of the two simple Vicwardian outfits I made recently, and also, a dress that for once, was made for me! April 20, 2004 Phew, everything has gone crazy! I've finished that second 'Star Wars', but haven't yet had time to photograph the two 'Vicwardians', and now I'm heavily into making the 'Matrix' outfit- so there's bits of black PVC everywhere! Looks like there will be a mass picture update where everything appears at once, now! April 08, 2004 Well, it's been all go recently! I've not only finished that 'Star Wars' costume, and sold it on Ebay, but I've also now finished the pair of 'Vicwardian' outfits I was making, too! Photos will appear here soon. Next project for friend John will be a 'Matrix' style back PVC outfit-should be fun!- but before that, I'm rattling out most of another 'Star Wars' for a lovely girl who asked very nicely! March 16, 2004 PHOTO UPDATE!!! "May the Force be with you"! My finished 'Star Wars Episode 2' costume is now online, and you'll find it on Dresses Page 6. Hope you like it! March 09, 2004 I've got a new sewing room! That's right, we decided that I needed more room to work, so over the last week or so, hubby Mike has moved me into our bigger, spare back bedroom, and moved himself and the PC into my old, smaller room. Everything's fresh pink, and all my dolls and pretty things are around me, and now I've got elbow room! I'm now continuing to work on that 'Star Wars' costume, which should be finished anytime now, before I get on with work for dear friend John, the next project for whom will be a pair of Edwardian skirts/blouses. February 25, 2004 ANOTHER PICTURE UPDATE!!! Yes, like busses, you wait months for one, then two come along at once... Not eveything I have ever made is currently up on the site, far from it in fact; so I thought I would add a couple of old favourites to the site, so check out Dresses Page 5 for the 'Wizard Of Oz Double Feature'! Also today I've added a link to my excellent corset components supplier's website on the 'Bound To Please...' corset pictures page; check them out! February 24, 2004 PICTURE UPDATE! That's right, at last, on Dresses Page 5 you will find pictures of the oft-mentioned BIG American Civil War dress. I'm now completing an older part-done project of my own that's been lying dormant for a while, a costume from 'Star Wars Episode 2'. Hopefully that will be completed a lot sooner than the Civil War one was! February 18, 2004 BIG news, literally! The long-running HUGE American Civil War dress is finished at last, hurrah! Photos to follow next week. I've also recently visited the Museum Of Costume, Bath, for the first time, (it was a birthday treat from my hubby, actually!) and that was fantastic-I saw some beautiful original Victorian dresses on show, as well as the current special exhibition; 'Jane Austen, Film & Fashion' which had on show dresses worn by people such as Kate Winslett, as worn in many various TV and feature film versions of Jane Austen's work. So, I was in heaven for that day! Watch out for the new dress photos next week! January 26, 2004 In a staggering development, I've finished half of that BIG Civil war costume that I'm working on! Yes, despite frequent afternoon naps, splitting scars and general poorlyness, the top half of the outfit is finished. Now, for the skirt that swamped the world... January 05, 2004 HAPPY NEW YEAR! PHOTO UPDATE! To start the new year, there's finally another photo update! On Dresses page 5, you'll find pictures of my latest finished item, completed a little while before Christmas. I'm currently still working on that BIG Civil War gown, which has a long way to go yet, but we'll see how it goes now Christmas is over with and I can knuckle down to it a bit more! December 13, 2003 Hi there-just a quickie to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2004! A photo update will be appearing here in the early New Year, and until then, have a good one! December 01, 2003 Hi everyone, I'm currently plodding on with a HUGE American Civil War dress, of which there seems to be at least a hundred different sections!!! But it should be an absolute cracker when it's finished. Hopefully with Christmas just around the corner, we'll soon get this camera film finished, and I can show you the 'Southern Belle' dress I mentioned last time. Oh, for a digital camera! November 18, 2003 I'm cooking on gas now! After endless delays with my last project, I've not only started my next one, but finished it, too! I've created another 'Southern Belle' style dress, and the photos will be up soon! November 11, 2003 New photos added! Finally, something new to show you-'Queen Of Hearts'. Go to dresses Page 4 to see it! November 08, 2003 A miracle! It's finished! Yup, I've finally finished the 'Queen Of Hearts' dress that has taken me so long to do, due to illness, there being lots of it, more illness...and so on. Photos will appear here very soon! October 29, 2003 'Queen Of Hearts' is still progressing, slowly-there's an awful lot of trimming to be applied, mostly by hand! And of course, my health keeps conspiring to knock me out of action now and then. October 17, 2003 These last couple of days, I've been painstakingly handsewing little pearl beads and hearts onto bits of lace, which will all eventually become the collar and cuffs of this 'Queen Of Hearts' dress. I'm going screwy-eyed, but I'm getting there! October 12, 2003 Hi everyone, welcome to my fabulous new website! This has been designed and developed by our good friend Glen, and will not only be far easier for me (Well, Mike!) to use, but more importantly, nicer for you to look at! We'll slowly be adding the older dress pictures into the new page, and watch out for a few new pictures of old favourites to appear. News updates will still appear here, hopefully monthly, assuming I don't break any more bones! As news often overtakes how often I've got a finished item to actually show you, photos of new creations will now appear in the 'Dresses' section, which I'll direct you to whenever there is something new to see. Enjoy! October 10, 2003 Huge apologies for the lack of an update for a month-following on from the broken leg detailed in my last entry below, I've obviously been doing a lot of healing, but my general health has since taken a bad turn as well, leaving me pretty unable to do much for a few weeks. I'm now sewing again however, working on the now well-advanced 'Queen Of Hearts' masquerade dress that I've been mentioning here before, so hopefully that will continue to go well, and then I'll finally be able to show you something new! Thanks for your patience in the meantime... September 07, 2003 DISASTER!!! There's a reason my updates have slowed...I've broken my leg! Yes, one minute I was standing on my sewing desk to reach for something...and then I wasn't! So I'm currently clomping around in a bright purple plaster cast, which is obviously slowing all sorts of things down, including the sewing. So please bear with me!