All good things come to an end

We will offer free Priority shipping tomorrow (limit 2 items) to conclude our last day, as A Joyful Handmaiden offering modest apparel.

Our prices are now at rock-bottom price*, unless Erin says to keep marking down.

*Meaning, the price is at or below what we paid for just the fabric and notions to make the garment.

Frugality - LOOK for what you just might have!

After stewing over a reply I received from an ebayer wanting close to $30 for less than a yard of beautiful vintage dotted swiss, I decided I was going to look in my collection of vintage lace collars that I have here at home.

And, wala!
A lovely vintage collar would fit perfect inside my shirtwaist, and it would even resemble the larger picture on the actual pattern!

I was quite pleased with how it looked, so I slipped my Folkwear Prairie Skirt on Arabella, and snapped a picture. Next time I will have a 1909 black linen skirt with a train, made for a period correct look.

For now that will have to wait, as I leave this weekend for some violin lessons down south and can't spend anymore time in the sewing room. =)

Vintage 1910 Shirtwaist: Peerless Pattern 5736

When I first saw this shirtwaist this past spring, I immediately fell in love with it. And while I try to not buy in impulse, I did with this one.



I have discovered that with vintage patterns, I usually have to buy a pattern a size or two larger than what I wear, and so when I saw the size of this one, I knew it was meant for me. =)

And so, here is a brief picture for you all of how it is coming along:

It is all complete (and it turned out well, if I do say so myself) except for the chemisette and high collar which I haven't made yet, and I am wanting to make out of lace. My only predicament is: where do I find lace fabric?

Thankyou, but no, I'm not interested in the cheap polyester kind that walmart offers. =) Do any of you ladies who do historical sewing know where I might find some high-quality lace fabric, but not to expensive that it would empty my bank account?

I read on my fabric sewing forum, that often times the women would sew strips of lace together to make fabric, so I may have to resort to that option.

In other patter news, besides my 1909 Beatrix Shirtwaist that is coming in the mail, I have a 1911 shirtwaist pattern coming in the mail too that resembles Anne's Cow-chasing outfit in the film "Anne of Avonlea."

::sigh:: Sometimes I think I should have been born in that era. Either that, or those styles need to come back into fashion! =)

I love it, I love it not ....

Ebay is such a great place to find out-of-print, vintage patterns. I have my eye on a couple right now, but there is one in particular that I'm not sure if I want it or not.

It's this one, and while I don't care much the short-sleeve version of it, the long sleeve version is ok (I could even put in my own) and I really like the flowy graceful "air" about it. The only drawback would be the neckline, but I could add an inset.

Hmm, do I get it or let is pass? =) Maybe I'll stick to watching a vintage nightgown pattern...

Our last week!

Wow, it's hard to believe that it's our last week as a business! Everything is 50% off right now, and then sometime Wednesday we'll do another cut on prices, and then through Saturday, slowly lower them more until we can sell them. If some items remain, they will be given to thrift stores.

A new pattern!

For those of you who love historical patterns as much as I do, Sense & Sensibility has a new one! It is a 1909 "Beatrix" Shirtwaist! I LOVE it, and can hardly wait to make one! =) I am in the midst of working on another shirwaist from around the same time period that looks very much of the"Anne of Green Gables" type.

Oh and to let the curious know, I have decided to keep this just a sewing blog.

Another intermission...

I thought I'd do a little advertising on here for my sister Erin, and my friend Crystal. =) Crystal's giveaway this week is one of Erin's harp CD's, and to enter the contest for a chance to win, all you have to do is e-mail Crystal!

Erin also lowered the price of her CD's down to $13 for the time being, so if you are interested you may want to purchase yours now before she puts it back up to the original price!

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And just out of curiosity, would my readers prefer it if I were to keep this a sewing blog, or would you like to see everyday-life thoughts, and pictures here too? I could make a separate blog here on blogger, but I already have a LiveJournal (it's friends only for people I know well) and don't really wish to have another one.

Oh, and would I have any lurkers here at all? When there is an average of over 40 people who visit my blog, there must be a few people that I wouldn't know! I know I've heard from some ladies from the Sense & Sensibility sewing forum, who have "de-lurked" but are there any others out there that would like to introduce themselves, or at least say hi with a name? =) I promise I won't bite you! =)

Intermission from the writings of sewing...

This evening we all had the delightful surprise to find that Old Christian Radio is now playing songs from Erin's harp CD, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.

She was so excited, and is hoping that he'll buy some CD's now to sell at his online store of Old Christian Music. I guess they've have some issues to deal with with copyrighted songs, or something so the guy hasn't updated his store for awhile.

Happy results!

A favorite blouse given to me by a friend was reluctantly torn apart and I made a pattern off of it, and made the above blouse from it. And guess what, it fits! =D

It is always sad to tear apart things (this summer Erin took apart a long time favorite nightgown that we had for ::cough:: 10 years) but then we can make patterns off them, and make many more just like it.

Does anyone else do that or are we just odd? =)

I can't think of a good title...

Well, I haven't posted much lately just because my time in the sewing room has been slim....

I have however been rummaging through our "attic" (ie, our storage room in the basement) and came across a few historical things that I threw into a plastic bag for good riddence, but Arabella seems like them! =) I didn't take the time to iron prior to taking pictures, so please pardon the wrinkles!

This is my Gibson Girl Blouse along with an altered prairie skirt that is very flared (I could probable wear a hoop skirt with it!). Two different eras, but they seem to suit each other:
And look what I found at an antique/flea market yesterday! For $5, I couldn't pass it up when I usually see them for over $20. I have always admired the the cameo brooches on the Anne movies, Road to Avonlea, and other such films.:

Then I pulled out my unfinished blouse from the Romantic era. The fabric is slippery, silky and ... shall I say ... not fun to work with! But I like the style and collar, so that is on my table now to finish up.

And now for the project that I'm currently working on: a swimsuit! I bought the pattern online, and it looks like it would go together very easy, but I'm having problems with the elastic around the neckline sticking out:
The pattern is from Fashionably Modest Patterns, so would any of you ladies know what I'm doing wrong here, providing that is, you've also made a swimsuit from the pattern? Advice anyone? I keep re-reading the directions and I am 95% sure that I've done it right. You never know with me though ... I learn better by being taught more than I would by reading a pattern or manual. =)

Crystal's giveaway!

Wow, if you'd like to enter into a giveaway of a $25 gift certificate for
Vision Forum, head on over to Crystal's blog! She's also throwing in a bunch of great CD's too, for free!

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In other news, I have decided to list my Regency dress on ebay. As much as I love it and want it, I don't need it. If I had special events to wear it to, I'd keep it, but unfortunately I don't.

A new dress for Arabella

This week I am working on a new Regency dress for Arabella to model, and I think one that I will decide to keep. =) I bought the period-correct fabric off of e-bay (wasn't exactly cheap) to make up into a dress to sell, but I love it so much that I am 99% sure that I'll keep it.

It will have a rounded scooped neckline, long taperd sleeves with fabric ties (I've seen on both P&P films that they would use fabric ties on the sleeves, down at the wrist) and a usual buttoned-back bodice. I'm still trying to decide if I want the back skirts to be gathered or pleated.

The other feature that I'll make to go with this, for extra modesty sake if I wear it in public/around men) is a chemisette pronounced: shugh-meez-zett that will look like this.

I'll post pictures once it is completed.

Stepping back into 1914...

...for just a few moments of time...

Per request, I donned my 1914 dress this morning completed with a vintage straw hat, boots (they are more of the Victorian era and not Edwardian, but oh well), my sister's vintage gloves, and a book from the 1910-1920's called "Daisy." All pictures are clickable.