Colonial Gown and good news!

The annual Father and Daughter dance is this weekend... This will be Alan and Pamela's 5th dance. Last year they won third place. For the first time, I'm making Pamela's dress. Years past, we would shop for a pretty new outfit. THIS YEAR, Pamela requested a soft pink rose 1700 Colonial Gown.

Yesterday, I managed to get the pattern cut, and parts of the bodice and sleeves designed.

The bodice is fully lined with handsewn lace and pearls. I'll be adding several yards of lace trim to the seams, which will trail the entire shoulder, bodice, and length of the gown -- this too will be handsewn.
Today, I'm adding the sleeves, and sewing 7 yards of skirt. After a quick dash to Hobby Lobby for embellishments, I'll post an update.

GOOD NEWS FOR THE SEAMSTRESSES....

Here's the latest development:

Federal Regulators Delay Testing of Children’s Products

February 3, 2009

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has voted to delay enforcing a portion of new safety requirements regarding certain products for children 12 and under. Specifically, the agency decided to wait a year before requiring manufacturers and importers to test and certify any children’s products that would have been mandated for testing on February 10. Overall safety standards remain in place and still apply even to small retailers and vendors of second-hand items.

Manufacturers of children’s products will still need to be sure that they are conforming to the safety standards on leads and phthalates in products. However, they will be given an extra year of limited relief from the requirement for testing and certification (lasting till February 10, 2010). Family businesses can move forward without testing for another year, therefore, as long as they are confident that their products meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements.

Retailers, thrift shops, consignment shops, and individual sellers of new or used products are not affected by the stay. They were never required to test or certify that what they were selling met the standards, but they violate the law if what they sell does not meet the standards.