Here's a Pretty Thing

Plique a jour-Translucent enamel work, it can be seen on Faberge eggs, gentleman's cuff links, every kind of jewelry, delicate trinket boxes and buttons.
"But how can I, a mere sewist of reproductions afford such a luxury?", I hear you ask.
You paint them, dear Reader. 
I know you haunt the hobby shops, I know you have friends who play war games with painted armies. The phrase, "Would you like to see my Zulu warrior?" means just that. I know you know a Janissary when you see one. Why be coy, you know your Testor model paints.

Iridescent model paint. The metallic finish gives the lovely finish.

I  love those luscious buttons, colored enamel and metal work. Very expensive if you can find them in sets, but I will show you a creditable substitute and it's easy. I have painted glass and metal buttons, they give slightly different effects but work equally well, I haven't tried it on plastic, but have a go, the paints are made for plastic models.

The top 2 are silver over black glass, painted with purple iridescent paint. The bottom 2 are metal painted with the green.

I sewed the buttons onto a cardboard scrap and painted them with a random brush. No special equipment required. The paint will settle into the low spots, you can dry brush some of the paint off if you want the metal/glass to show through the paint. This paint takes a good 24 hours to cure. I wouldn't risk sewing them on to a garment until they are completely dry.

Cheap metal buttons look fine, when you know the secret.

 I have only used the metallic finish paint. I think the gloss would work well but would look more opaque. Go forth and paint all the buttons!

Ever Your Thimble Servant,
Miss Brilliantine

Practically Perfect Pleater

Tuck! Press! Sew!
So easy a monkey could do it.
Sure, most everyone who pleats has a love/hate relationship with the 'Perfect Pleater'. Do we yearn for crisp pleated edges, yes we do. Do we struggle with keeping the fabric tucked in the channel of the pleat above while we wrestle the pleat below. Yes. Some use plastic rulers, others slide a credit card into the channel to keep it neat. I have used a library card and kept faith with put upon heroines from literature.
Reader, I have found a better way! Bones. Two white metal bones, leap frogging over and under as you work your way down the board. It needs a dexterous hand as you have to keep them both tucked in or the fabric will slip.
Why use the talking, when there can be showing.

It works, just be warned the metal gets hot. But I will risk red fingers. The pleating is going along the bottom of the underskirt for my Sis-in-law's ball gown.

Pleat, press, leapfrog the top bone down. The perfect repeating pleater.
The HA way to finish the edges it to 'book' them before you start pleating, that's basically backing the strip of fabric with muslin. No stitching shows and it's nice and stiff. I'll describe my cheat, I don't want to risk censure from the Internet Marms. I press in a 1/4 inch hem on both edges and use the 1/4 inch Stitch Witchery in the hem, done. No stitching shows and it keeps the pleats super crisp.
Tell no one.

I love tools. My father was an engineer so maybe it's genetic, he was a precise person. I have a few tools from his office I still use, rulers, T-squares, pencils. And the best thing ever-

a 48" metal construction ruler. Get one for your birthday, no kidding its the best, use it to cut on the straight or make perfect bias strips. It will also keep fabric from slipping as you cut large pieces.

Measure twice, cut once, construction ruler, you are so wise.

Also found in his office, it has charts.....in case anyone wants to borrow it.

This is my 90th post! Well, well.

Ever Your Thimble Servant,
Miss Brilliantine