Adventures in Henna, or Goldilocks

I have been hennaing my hair with a 4-to-1 marigold blonde and red mix since I began doing so again, about a year ago; this gives a nice approximation of my natural colour with 'sunstreaks' (the white bits). However, I have always wanted 'marigold hair' - about the colour of my son Gawain's hair. Everyone calls him a strawberry blond, which he hates, and which isn't true as he is more a strong golden blond with a reddish tinge. We all think strawberry blond is the other way round. We are also very pernickety about whom we consider redheads, in my family; a tinge will not do; a golden colour will not do. It must be red, gold-red or auburn to count. Such is the privilege of we 11% of the world's popularion, though my boys have it, as my uncles do, only in their beards.

But I digress.

What I am looking for is the shade of marigold that is just the colour of a faerie my daughter Brigid painted years ago, which means more gold and less red, please. Eventually I mean to fade to blonde but I should like to go through the golden stage first and not that sorbet colour of women of a certain age who tint their hair in the manner of poodles. Oh we are snarkey today, aren't we?

So, first I made a mix of lemon juice and honey water, to remove any demarcation, and sprayed it on, letting it sit for about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, I mixed up a 5-to-1 ratio of marigold blonde and red henna, with about a teaspoon of sea salt, two tablespoons of lemonjuice and a strong cup of black tea and chammomile. The latter give yellow and gold highlights.This, having sat and infused for three quarters of an hour, was a lovely golden brown colour. Promising, Glopped stuff on hair per usual, covering with plastic and a towel. Set timer for two hours, rather than one, which is the point at which your humble servant finds herself now.
We shall see.

I have ever had any luck whatsoever with merely marigold blonde on its own, hence the smidge of red and other ingredients. The salt is a new addition (so is lemonjuice) courtesy of Anthony Morrocco's Method. Be it well-noted that henna of any kind will not lighten hair; but some of us have light enough hair to begin with. If you wish to lighten you can try the lemonjuice and honey water routine - 2 tbs lemon juice. Ditto honey. And 3/4 cup cold water. Only don't heat any of it as this will kill the fomenting of natural peroxide in the honey.

More anon, when the two hours are up. Time now for a small something.... Ah, another analogy - WInnie the Pooh coloured!

Update:
amazing gilded glowing Pre-Raphaelite hair!

Princess

I am making a red taffeta sacque backed jacket for a dear girl for her prom, to go over a smashing red gown. It's nothing my own daughter would wear, worse luck, so I like being able to make something with frills and furbelows. It occurred to me yesterday that this jacket - with a hood, where it was called a Cardinal - was what Little Red Riding Hood was based on.

I drafted the pattern yesterday, and did all the cutting and sewing of the toile today, which took six hours. It was all just machine basted, as I have to send it to the recipient for a fitting. But yesterday I got some silk gauze for the sleeve ruffles, to which I will add some French gilt lace from my stash (I love saying that!) It needs a fastening, as it has no stomacher, so will have a little rhinestone chain under the bust. The bodice of the dress is encrusted in beautiful crystal and bead work.



I was a little apprehensive, as I haven't made a sacque in a long time - and actually looked at my yellow sacque polonaise to make sure I remembered how I pleated it. The latter I stitched largely by hand. I will not do with this, as there is a time constraint.

The selfish part of this for me is that this is my entre to my long awaited first mourning gown, which is a sacque. Finding the bombazine is going to be a chalenge, but I'm up to it. The taffeta of this jacket doesn't scare me; I've done a lot of taffeta gowns and dresses. And it pleases me to make something smashing to go with that gown

Update 24 March:
I still have not received the toile back from my little client, though I am informed 'it fit perfectly!' - what a testament to the modiste's art! I have her measuarements, made a sloper, et voila!