At long last, a Regency dress!

A springish Regency gown that buttons with vintage glass buttons is now for SALE.

Winner of the Marci Apron!

Using the free and handy random number website, I am here to announce that the winner is:

R u t h A n n!

Many congrats to you, and if you could please send me your address, I'll ship it off to you today when I make a run to the PO.

And to the rest of the poor unfortunate souls out there, I generally have giveaways a couple times a year, so add the blog to your favorites, or check back every now and then. But until then, may I direct your attention to a whole hoard of stuff in my online shop? These things are starting to collect dust due to the lack of use, and before I announce it to a whole sewing forum of ladies, I wanted to share the goodies with my blog readers first!

So check it out to your heart's content!

Daffodils on the Counter

My latest collection is vintage milk glass vases from the local thrift stores. Especially when finding them for 25 cents up to a 75 cents per a vase.



Who cares if they don't match?




Everybody at our house loves them!

Apron Giveaway!

As promised, I am hosting an apron giveaway this weekend! That's right, an adorable child's version of the Margaret apron. It is made in the sweetest rose calico on a lovely shade of spring green.
Lots of vintage rick rack; even on the pocket too. For girls approx. ages 9-12.

All you have to do to enter, is leave a comment with your name (first name and last initial, please).

You can be entered twice, by posting a link over to this post from your blog/LJ/wordpress, etc, and then leave a second comment (please be sure to leave your blog address too)!

A winner will be randomly selected by Tuesday (the 30th) noon, and will post the winner shortly thereafter.

Frippery or not!

Frippery: something trivial or nonessential

Sorry to have burst someones bubble out there, but aprons are not frippery! They are indeed very useful. While most would wear aprons in the kitchen or out in the gardens, they are ever so useful while cleaning, or painting.

(My sister wearing a Ginnie apron when painting the sewing room last month)

What a delight it was to find out that Shannon was putting together her own lovely apron design into an e-pattern for apron-savy peope like me who can download a file, print, tape, and wala! a pattern! Imagine my thrill when she was hosting a giveaway for one of these patterns, and I won it. My version of it is in my etsy shop; now that I have the real macoy. =)

While I'm in the mode of sharing links this afternoon, I was blog hopping the other day and found this clever idea of repurposing T-shirts.

Butterick 3262 - a Linen Embroidered Skirt

A pattern that is now out of print, this is now my second skirt using this pattern. I used view B of Butterick 3262. It is a simple and easily put together a-line skirt (two side seams!), a side zipper with a hook & eye closure at a turned over waistband. I fell in love with the fabric when I saw it back in MI a couple of months ago. When it was on sale, although still a little pricey for what I like to pay for, just enough was purchased for a skirt.

Spring, Fabric, Chemisette, & Pretties

On my morning walk, I spotted my first robin this season. Spring must have arrived! It shows in other areas too; crocus' are blooming along the front path, hyacinths aren't to far behind, and the tulips are slowly inching their way up too.

While I was away, without any consent or mentioning the idea, our sewing room was painted. Perhaps you've noticed in some of my pictures? (My poor sister picked out a lovely name on a card; "Morning Sunlight," and indeed on the card it was lovely, but some in our household dubbed the room "the baby nursery" while others say the color reminds them of lemonade.) Either way I'm learning that it is rather cheery, although I may have to find another spot in the cottage to take pictures of my sewing things -bright yellow just doesn't go with some things!

But around us there are other touches too that remind us that spring is on the way. Going through drawers or closet shelves are areas that I like to tackle. While mine hold "hope chest items," it's fun to freshen them up a bit. Somehow I'd like to create a little library in a certain area of our abode. The room would suit perfectly, but I just need to convince other people that it is a great idea too. Speaking of books, this afternoon I pulled out my Patterns of Fashion book and my eyes fell once again on this lovely chemisette.
Somehow I'd like to combine it with these lovely items, and come up with something pretty. I've had the vintage laces and buttons for awhile, but the fabric was recently taken up when it was $1.50 a yard.

Perhaps a Regency gown, another Romantic or a late Romantic dress, or just something that is simply historically inspired? What does it seem like it would look best in?

Bits of Time and Lace

I've been able to sneak in a few moments to sit down at my sewing table to finish this 1830's inspired summer dress. Made out of a crisp pink and purple plaid shirting, and is adorned with a bit of antique lace at the sleeves. Find more pictures here.

Parmesan Herb Rolls

The chicken is in the oven, (thanks, ladies for your helpful ideas!) there is a spinach salad to be made, and corn from the freezer to be pulled out and cooked. We're also having my herb rolls tonight with dinner.



• Cheri's Parmesan Herb Rolls •

1/2 c. wheat bran
1/2 c. sugar
2 t. salt
1/2 c. shortening
2 c. milk

1 T. yeast
1-2 eggs (opt)
5 c. flour (approx.)
2 T. mixed dried herbs

Cook first column until heated. When cooled to slightly warmer than room temp, add yeast. Beat in eggs (opt.). Add flour (you can use a mixture of white and whole wheat like I did) and herbs to make a soft dough.

Knead. Let rise until doubled. Punch down. Make rolls and place inside greased muffin tins. Brush with melted butter and dust with parmesan cheese. Let rise until doubled. Bake at 350* for 18-20 minutes.

Home, Laundry, and Chicken

Last week upon sudden situations out of my control, I left my grandparents home to come back to my parents home to help out. My days have been full of chauffeuring here and there, at least three loads of laundry a day (compared to laundry being done once a week at Grandma's!), fixing meals, cleaning house, and all that comes with keeping a home. It's been a fun though, really. =) As you've noticed, I really haven't had much time for sewing other than finishing a patchwork tote.

Tonight for supper I am fixing a free organic chicken, but am rather clueless as to how to fix it. The majority of us are vegetarian unless we can get organic meats every now and then. We've fixed turkey's around the holiday's, but a whole chicken? Never. I would imagine it would be sort of the same, but I'm calling up Grandma to see how she would fix it. She's so creative, and makes the best meals in the whole wide world. =) How would you ladies fix a whole chicken? or leftover chicken? or can one boil the carcass and make chicken noodle soup with the broth?

The Marci Apron

Here she is! Yesterday between errands and laundry, I got busy and pulled out my tracing paper, pencil, and scissors. With a vintage child's apron and the Margaret apron as my guides, "Marci" was born.

I named her Marci for a two-fold reason: one to hopefully help keep it in connection with the adult sized (Margaret & Marci, Gracie & Molly Grace ... yes, someday I'll need to make up a smaller version of the 1930's Ginnie) and secondly after a friend of mine whose name is Marci. She is an avid seamstress who sews just about everything under the sun, I would imagine!

Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks for a giveaway of this child's sized apron, but if you find that you or your daughter/sister/granddaughter can't wait for that, the very first is up in the SHOP!