20th March 2014: Final bits Made the bows for the front of the bodice and the two on the skirt today and sewed on the edging around the neckline and sleeve holes too. FINISHED AT LAST. Going to attempt a full costume test later today, including trying out the false eyelashes as I've never tried wearing them before.

18th March 2014: Last bits Made the decorative bodice panel today - it's deliberately a little too long so it nicely hides the front where the skirt joins now! Also sewed on the ribbon to the sleeves and the arm bows. Last things to do are fabric bows for the skirt and front of bodice, sew on the buttons for the back flap and edging - then complete!

14th March 2014: Progress Finished the sleeves today which was fairy easy and made the neck decoration too - also pretty easy! Just the decoration left now, which I've already started as can be seen in the photo. Been detangling the wig over the past few days - it's not perfect but good enough I think given I'v worn it a few times now already and it's hella long.

11th March 2014: Sleeve Progress Started the sleeves today - managed to finish the puff and middle section under the puff - the flared section is ready just to elasticate and add on too. I accidentally made the puff part way bigger than I'd intended but Alice's puffs are actually about that size too in certain panels (the curse of differing refs!). I think the material I used too, as it's a different type from the rest of my dress is not the sort normally used for puffs, so it gives an impression of drapes fabric rather than an actual circular shape. The photo doesn't really do it justice either as it looks all floppy - it sits a lot better when worn! I've also started the bodice detail which you can see too - handsewn due to being too awkward for the machine to do accurately!

9th March 2014: sleeves start Cut out the fabric parts for the sleeves today - they're in three parts so it was a bit tricky to measure out. They're a bit over large atm I suspect but on purpose so I can adjust as I'm making it. The trial puff I did wasn't quite large enough so I've made these ones a little bigger too. Aiming to sew a lot of it together on Tuesday!

7th March 2014: Base skirt complete With my mom's help pinning the skirt hemline i've finally got that sewn today and took in the front panelling where it opens out to show the petticoat. Next is the sleeves which is a problem for tomorrow I believe! Also I'm considering wearing my red contacts for Alice as they're only just past their sell by date and I currently can't afford to buy the proper purple ones - they will at least give my eyes a darker effect then my natural pale blue would.

6th March 2014: Skirt start Sewed together the panels on the skirt today - my head wasn't really with it and the sheer amount of fabric kept confusing me but got there in the end. Decided to make it seperate from the petticoat so I can still reuse that in the future so made an elasticated waistband for the skirt. Hoping to have some help from my mom tomorrow to pin the hemline at the bottom as I can't manage that while wearing it. Aiming to get the base skirt done by the end of this week so I can start the sleeves.

4th March 2014: Petticoat complete Sewed the rest of the frills to the bottom of the petticoat now - tried on and it thankfully touches the floor all the way round (even if that makes it a pain to walk in as it now drags on the floor!). Just waiting for a small touch of fabric paint to try on one edge where I bled on it and then I can start sewing the over skirt together! Aiming to get that complete this week so next week I can focus on the sleeves!

2nd March 2014: Petticoat progress Been making the frills for the bottom of the petticoat for the last few days - getting there with it! Hoping to have them all sewn on by the end of Tuesday and then can start sewing the blue skirt together.

28th February 2014: Progress This bodice is as complete as I can make it for now - finished hemming today and sewed on the zip with a little flap to conceal it. It's a little messing with the stitching in places thanks to my machine messing up but this should hopefully be covered up when I put the decoration on. Started making the ruffles for the bottom of the petticoat now as well - when that's done I can sew the skirt together.

22nd February 2014: Bodice start Cut out the fabric for the bodice and lining yesterday and started sewing it together today. Spent a good 4 hours on it and the base is pretty much complete now, aside from hemming and adding a zip at the back - decoration shall be done at the end as I haven't bought the materials for that yet. Shall hem it tomorrow and probably cut out the fabric ready to start the sleeves. Fabric has been really easy to sew with which made things easier!

18th February 2014: Bought more fabric Bought more blue velvet today for the sleeves as I ran out - the colour isn't a total match but I figure a slight difference will look okay as it's only on the sleeve puffs and flares so will look decorative instead. Bought some nice lace for the bodice insert detail and white fabric to make petticoat ruffles - hopefully it's enough!

16th February 2014: Skirt start Cut out the fabric panels for Alice's skirt today - it took up practically all my fabric though and I only have enough leftover for the base bodice so need to buy another 2m or so to make the sleeves.

13th February 2014: Petticoat complete mostly I mocked out a puff sleeve today to see if my pattern was right - it pretty much worked how I wanted it to, just going to alter the sizing a little on the final version. Gathered the petticoat skirt and added on the elasticated waistband today - I may add on some ruffles at the bottom for extra length later on as sometimes the hoop skirt pokes through.

11th February 2014: Patterning Mostly worked out the basic design for the whole dress and made a pattern mostly for the bodice and sleeves today - need to check the bodice though and maybe do a mock up to check it's correct. Having never done these kind of puffs before either i'm going to make a test pair with some spare fabric later this week to check before I actually make it for size. Already have a skirt pattern from Elise and just need to remeasure for width and length in the larger skirt for this dress. Hoping to start sewing and sorting this costume properly over the weekend when a friend is over.

7th January 2014: actually a start kinda! Took apart the old bridesmaid dress today so I have the base underskirt ready to sew together with elasticated waist (it's just easier than fiddling with zips with the other layer to go on top). Bought the shoes today too, as they'll be reworn from Haru as the colour is the same as the dress. Already seen the fabric I want for the dress and will be buying at the weekend!

16th October 2013: kinda a start? I was in two minds whether to just get away with using the hoop skirt in the cutout section at the front of the skirt but then realised I actually have the perfect under skirt already from a bridesmaid dress I've never worn so casually gonna commandeer that - will make the dress poof out to the required width now at least as my own hoop skirt isn't quite large enough. Gonna start picking apart the bridesmaid dress soon to turn it into the base under skirt.