Brett's birthday was a few weeks ago, and since the wallet he really wanted was back ordered, I wanted to make him a little something unexpected to open in the meantime. But what? I decided to make a later-19th-century style ascot tie and matching packaging suite. Perhaps I've been watching too many costume dramas lately? In any case, Brett will be well equipped if time travel is ever invented.
{Click photo to see it larger}
(1) I sewed the tie itself from brown dupioni silk (found in the remnant bin last fall) and some interfacing. It's presented with a cream colored paper band with "Livy's of Regent St., Haberdashers" printed on it.
(2) I made a label for the front of the envelope (a large image is at the top of this post), using the frame from this vintage sheet music page. I referenced images of old 19th century broadsides to get a sense of what the type should look like, and hunted for Victorian looking fonts here.
(3) The envelope is made from dark brown textured card stock, and lined with a beautiful William Morris wallpaper print, in keeping with the 19th century theme.
(4) A mini accordion book provides instructions on how to tie an ascot tie. Each illustrated step is presented within a golden daguerreotype frame.Before tossing the book in the envelope I sewed it in between squares of vellum so that it would lie flat.
(5) I cut a circular gift tag out of the William Morris print, and printed a branded rectangular tag. I added antiqued metal eyelets to both and tied them around the finished package.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Very Victorian
Labels: Graphic Design, History + Art History, Needlecraft, Styling
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48 comments:
Oh how lovely, the past had way more class
Awesome! I enjoy reading all your posts but this project of yours I like most! :)
That looks like some work! I hope he was delighted by the sentiment & that you & he had an enjoyable day!
Cheers : )
wooow.. im seriously blown away by how amazing this all looks.. and so true to the 19th century style!!!
i looove it! Two thumbs up to you :)
that is the sweetest thing :D
What a lucky guy!
Did you design and print the daguerreotype frames or did you find them somewhere? I LOVE them. I
It looks SO good. Your type skills amaze me every time. And the whole package is just awesome!
what a fun project!
It is very victorian! I almost thought it was vintage for real!
This is such a beautiful post, your eye for detail is totally amazing! What did your husband think?
Love this present, so much thought and creativity in it! Thanks for sharing.
A-W-E-S-O-M-E! What a fantastic gift! :)
Beautiful work ;)
That is so cool! What a beautiful, thoughtful gift. :D
How creative and lovely. You are so talented :)
Drooling! Sooooo cool; I absolutely love the whole thing. You are a very talented woman! (BTW, I watch entirely too many costume dramas as well.)
I am so impressed with this! It's lovely how much thought and care (and talent) went into this gift! Good job!
This is such a mind blowing / amazing / thoughtful gift! I hope someday I can meet the gal behind all this.
this is seriously amazing. to the point of depression! everything is awesome. yay for you for being a genius-pants!
this is all SO amazing!!! so lovely. very inspiring :)
Wow. I am blown away. This is so beautifully done. Bravo!
very sharp. i love it. reading this post has me wanting to get all dressed up to go out for an nice, stiff, old school cocktail.
OMG! You've just raised the bar soooo high for all of us. You are soooooo creative! Eeek! Just LoVe all of it. He must have LoVed it also.
Yes, it was a thoughtful gift, and yes, he's a very lucky guy - for many reasons. But he's a boyfriend, not husband ;)
this is ridiculously cool...amazing design, flawless craftsmanship... WOW!
you. are. amazing.
This is a serious question - has Martha Stewart offered you a job yet?
I can't think of anyone else who would have thought of this gift. I love it! (And your craftsmanship is impeccable, as always.)
What an incredible gift! The amount of time and attention you gave to the details, they are a real present in themselves. Your man should be really honored to get this. Happy Birthday to him!
Thanks for all the lovely comments. I just wanted to pop in to answer a few questions.
Kelly - The gold frames are from an image of an old daguerreotype frame I found online and saved in my inspiration folder several years ago - I wish I could remember where it was from, I would certainly give credit.
And Lynne - it would be a dream to work for Martha Stewart; maybe one day I'll land a job there!
I love this! Very Vogue on the Range :)
What an amazing gift! Your attention to detail is incredible. It all looks so lovely, in a manly kind of way of course!
Thanks so much for the link to my sheet music graphic, I'm so honored that you used one of my images in your beautiful creation!
Wow...how did you come up with this??
It is just perfect! Even though it's really masculine the flower wallpaper works so well with everything to add a dash of class.
I have a question:
Where did you get the instructions for how to knot the ascot tie?
Hi Abigail,
I originally was thinking of making a bow tie. I figured it would be a simple project and when I first started dating Brett he was in an orchestra and always had to wear a bow tie and tux for performance. But since he doesn't do that anymore I figured he really wouldn't ever a wear a bow tie, so I just ran with the idea and figured that if it wasn't going to be worn anyway, I might as well do something historical and over the top. I thought about making a cravat but those require more yardage and are usually white, and I didn't have any suitable fabric. So an ascot it was. I would have liked to try this concept with a white bow tie and twenties style art deco packaging though!
I found the hot to tie instructions as well as a helpful tutorial for making the tie here:
http://www.cutterandtailor.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=268
You have inspired me! My boyfriend's birthday is in August, and while I have come up with something personal and meaningful, I want him to have something fun and cool at the same time.
Also, this is my first comment... I have been a fan from afar, and now thought I should express my enjoyment in reading your blog!
Ciao!
-Kate
http://tarheellassie.blogspot.com/
Fabulous and so very sweet.
gorgeous. so much inspiration here.
thanks for sharing.
xoxo,
raru
LOVE the design!!! a little feast for my eyes....
Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Emily
Paitning365.blogspot.com
I love it. Great job!
Wow! This is so beautifully, considerately done! Could you please share the names of the typefaces used? Thank you as always for the inspiration Livy!
This is AWESOME. Nicely done! Lucky boyfriend.
This is so beautiful! Thanks for sharing
This is a collection of impressive designs. they would look good when printed. for good quality printing, i would recommend http://www.psprint.com/postcards
This is so, so very original + creative! An ascot? What a wonderfully charming sense of humor you have and of course it's all top notch!
I just want to say how beautifully designed is the whole package. Amazing work.
Speaking of Ascots...have you seen the new Toy Story where Barbie says to Ken in a very sly innuendo, "Nice ASScot." I thought that was for kids!
the squares of vellum that you sewed to house the instructions was my inspiration for my sister's wedding favors. my sister was very impressed with the final product. thank you!
SO LOVELY! i am going to put a post on my blog!!! I have to share it with EVERYONE!!!
http://albeitdotdotdot.blogspot.com/
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