What no posts lately, better fix that!

Hi everyone, I suddenly realized it has been a while before I posted something here so I really have to fix that.
It has been an "interesting" few weeks here. After having my machines cleaned and serviced this summer, I was hoping for a "worry" free time. Hope springs eternal but it was not to be.
My main machine developed all sorts of issues from sucking fabric into the throat plate, jamming and breaking needles. My "new to me" Bernina-530-1 (it had been my mother's, I used it for years until I replaced it with my current Lily) came back from my brother's and the first time I used it, caught fire and had stinky black smoke pouring out of it.

A Bernina 530-1 record machine

 This meant that within the space of a few days I had no sewing machine. About a week after they went in for repairs, I got an order for two tutu bags. Thinking that I would not be without a machine for as long as I have been, I took the order. Well the fabric + notions arrived but still no machines. I cut everything out, cut miles of bias for cording and still no machines.
Finally, I sent out an appeal to friends and was able to borrow a machine and I "requested" that the store lend me a machine, so I could make the cording for the bags. Finally today I received a call that the Bernina is ready, the Husqvarna not sure when it will come back.

Being with out a machine for a while allowed me to finally finish the Nutcracker coat I had started to make. I added trim, buttons and loops of navy and gold cording to the front of the jacket. I had seen some photographs of dress uniforms, which I used as inspiration for "my" coat.

Dress uniform originally worn by Prince  Albert Victor

Not everything could be used on a dance coat as dangeling loops, and big medals can be dangerous and just too heavy. I think that I came up with a good compromise that worked well on the coat.

Another (German) dress coat. see the detailing on the cuffs

I took some of the detailing from the cuffs and made appliques on netting. This allows the cuff decorations to be removed before laundering (the sleeves are detachable).

cuff applique detail

I am not sure what the back of a dress uniform looks like but with Jeremy Bardoni's(the designer of the pattern and instructor at tutu school NY) help we came up with this design.

All the loops on the front of the coat are firmly sewn down onto the coat so that a dancer cannot catch on it. I made black dance-boot toppers at tutu school and also have two sets of tight pattern so once I find a suitable dancer I can complete this costume with matching navy blue "pants" and boots as in the photograph. I am very happy with how everything has turned out so far.

Completed front of the Nutcracker coat