Let the fun begin!

Last night I arrived safely home from my journey from the southern area where I was at college for 3.5 months.Much to share, but will begin with announcing some sales going on this month in my etsy shops!

15% off over at TallySkirts when if you use the code: 15OFF

15% off over at PeasantCottage when you use the code: 15SALE

Will be back soon...

Confessions of a Seamstress & Musician

Less than four weeks to go to finish this semester, and that's including the 5 day Thanksgiving break that we have (Wed.-Sun.). We are now going over the last segment of material in classes for our final exams, we're practicing for our orchestra concerts that will be next weeks, and feverishly working our fingers and brains to memorize and play our piece in the violin recital at the very end of this month. I also have to memorize a prelude-something-or-another for piano.

My love for music has intensified this semester, and probably because I'm learning and understanding so much. I'm already anticipating next semester.

But to honestly confess, I've been itching to sit in front of the sewing machine and make that needle fly. That's such a good feeling, is it not? :) There are so many new ideas mulling around, thanks to my frequent visits (read: visits, not purchases) at Anthropologie. I go in there most of the time to try on stuff, and capture mental images on how to recreate it. Just the other day I tried on a skirt, and absolutely adored it. I sent the link to my mother as a hint for a Christmas idea, and she writes back, "Couldn't you just make it?" ;)

For the month that I'm home over Christmas, I think I shall devote one hour to sewing everyday. The time will most likely and naturally extend itself, but that's okay, too.

Until then, happy November days to you all of crunching on random leaves, tea drinking, reading for pleasure, shopping, and other things you might enjoy doing. And yes, I've been able to manage to find time to do all of those things, too, plus some. :)

Isaiah 43

"Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth ; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:19

"Time goes by fast when you get older" I remember older people telling me, and with each passimg year I'm noticing it to be true. The semester this fall, though challenging as it has been in multiple ways, it has been swiftly flying by. We are on the downward stretch and it seems almost odd to think that just a couple days into December it will be finished, and that is only eight weeks away. (Our orchestra concert performances of Handel's Messiah is only six weeks away! Any SC or GA readers interested in coming?)

This morning at church, Mac and Beth Lynch were special guests that came to minister in music, and personally blessed me so much. It was another reminder of why I'm here; why I learn music, and what my goals are after college. One of the songs that was played/sung was one based out of Isaiah 43 and the lyrics were a refreshing drink of cool water.

Don't Be Afraid
Lyrics by Mac Lynch
Copyright 2001 by The Wilds

When deep water curls around you and fear replaces faith,
When the floods would seem to overwhelm God's promises of grace,
When the fires seem overtaking, and all seems torn and tossed,
Trust His Word. Oh, truly listen; hear Him say: All is not lost.

I am with you through the water; I'm with you through the flood.
They will never overwhelm you; I have bought with My blood.
Even though you walk through fire, I'll protect you all the way.
I'm your Savior. Truly listen. Hear Me say, these words I say:

When the trials overwhelm you, so you think you've lost your way,
Just remember He has promised: He is never far away.

Chorus:
Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid.
I have redeemed you; You are Mine. Don't be afraid.
Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid.
You are a precious child to Me. Don't be afraid.

The Delights of the Season

This weekend I went to a couple of apple orchards not considerably far from the college. We had a three day weekend, and I chose one day to do something autumnish. While I had visited a working cider mill in the midwest a few years ago with my Grandparents, it has been well over 20 years since I stepped into an apple orchard so you can imagine my delight.


"She had only to stand in the orchard, to put her hand on a little crab tree and look up at the apples, to make you feel the goodness of planting and tending and harvesting at last." - Willa Cather

I never picked any (what would a college person do with a sizeable bag full of apples and no where to put them?) but I was more than delighted that I was given permission to walk through the orchards, and stopped to sit and reflect awhile where most of the trees had already been combed through, and could hear the voices of young laughter down the hill where the Rome Beauty's were found and picked.

"On the motionless branches of some trees, autumn berries hung like clusters of coral beads, as in those fabled orchards where the fruits were jewels..." - Charles Dickens

After a week of mid-terms, I was so thankful for an enjoyable outing, delicious apple cider and donuts.

An Autumn Skirt

Several weeks ago I shared a couple of close pictures of a skirt that I found via thrift store that I wasn't able to give up. A blog reader asked if I could get some full length shots of the skirt to see the design of it, and it is now October (!) and I'm finally able to grant her request. Maybe. ;)

It is quite interesting to get pictures taken of one's self when there is no one around to "push the button." That is where said person depends on the self timer, but then she had to find a solid object on which to place the camera.

If I stood in the light or the shadow, the pleated hem didn't want to show up well. Or, I'm walking and the way the skirt moves with my step, you can't tell there is anything special about it... ;)
In a couple cases, such as below, I tried zooming in (hence, the blurriness) and was not in any snapshot on my camera, but one. Yay! though not the greatest angle to see the pleats.

After many failed attempts I resorted to the porch and gingerly sat on the swing. I've never seen anyone sit in it yet, and I wasn't so sure it would hold me. ;)

Dear reader, I hope this gives you an idea of what the skirt looks like. All of the pictures are clickable, so they should enlarge for you at least once if not twice.

Blessings!

Cheri

A September Evening Stroll

"September days have the warmth of summer in their briefer hours, but in their lengthening evenings a prophetic breath of autumn. The cricket chirps in the noontide, making the most of what remains of his brief life. The bumblebee is busy among the clover blossoms of the aftermath, and their shrill and dreamy hum hold the outdoor world above the voices of the song birds, now silent or departed." - September Days, by Rowland E. Robinson, Vermont.

"Happy we who can bask in this warm September sun, which illumines all creatures, as well when they rest as when they toil, not without a feeling of gratitude; whose life is as blameless, how blameworthy soever it may be, on the Lord’s Mona-day as on his Suna-day." - Henry David Thoreau, 1817-1862

Anthropologie

Having a three-day weekend is indeed very nice. I decided to take Saturday off and then do homework today. So I went shopping and my excursions brought me to a store that I always thought was an online business until a few months ago: Anthropologie.

The prices are way beyond my range online, and their sales aren't exactly "sales" to this thrift-store shopper, but the real-life store had more reasonable sales, or so I thought. Or maybe I was to excited and spell-bound to notice?

In either case, I bought something.

A maxi dress. It comes with a name of "Valence Chemise" but I think paired with the right blouse and slip underneath, it will make for a perfect summer dress.

It is described as a lightweight ruffled cotton imbued with a mint (hmph! it's honestly more blue than green and I'm not color blind!) paisley print from spaghetti straps to toe-brushing tiers.

I like it.

I love it.

Thanks, Anthropologie! I shall be back when my pocket book allows for it!

If I could knit...

...I would make this sweater. Isn't it beautiful?

The summer days are dwindling down, and some leaves are already floating in the air here in the south. Not that it is cold enough yet for them to turn, but apparently there is a type of tree here that looses its leaves around the last few days of August.

My sister said that back home that the nights have turned chilly, and that Pumpkin Spice Lattes will be available a day after Labor Day, which means the Pumpkin Spice Frappacinos will be available too. That makes me smile. :)

Mentioning "home," today while in conversation with a girl in a class of mine, she interrupts me in mid sentence and states rather than asks, "Wait. You're from the north, aren't you?" That made me smile too, and I like it. :)

Greetings from the South!

While I've only been here for one week, it seems more like a month; it has been that crazy and busy! :) School started on Wednesday, and I'm in seven classes this semester, not counting the one in which I'm auditing. It feels like eight classes, since I am technically in eight, but just will not receive the credit hours for it. Even if I WAS registered for it, the 3 credit class does not count toward any degree.

My current living situation is with a family who lives not to far from the campus, but out in the country enough to step outside and hear nothing but nature and nearby cattle. Perfect for evening walks. A more permanent lodging is being looked into, and I'd be able to move in about 2-3 weeks. I'm praying that it will work out, Lord willing, of course.

Over the weekend I was able to visit some health food stores to pick up some things, and afterwards stopped at a Goodwill that I would go to when I lived in the area last semester. My visit was not wasted either. I came out with a soft and oh-so-comfy dressy black turtleneck sweater by Ann Taylor Loft, and then a green cotton Banana Republic skirt.
But this isn't an ordinary skirt! It has the c.u.t.e.s.t pleated hemline you ever did see. It goes around the entire hem of the skirt. It's (very) roughly 8" in length (just my wild guess) with even sections of 6 pleats sewn down about 2 1/2" or thereabouts. It is very retro looking. Think "Jane of Lantern Hill," "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken," "The Magic of Ordinary Days," or any other 30ish era movie.

Sorry ladies. This one is not going up in the shop. Eventually a pattern will be made off of it, and reproductions made. It just might be awhile. Hopefully once I can get established in a room, I can pull out my sewing machines, and provided I have enough time to sew. :)

Until next time...

Going in Circles!

My mind is going in a million different circular directions with officially packing for the trip southward this weekend. Its seems like all of the little things are popping up that I completely forgot, and now have a few hours to do it all before I turn out the light.
In other circular fashion, I added one more skirt to the shop tonight as it will probably be several weeks before I can add any more gently used skirts or reproductions.

( and yes, if you didn't pick up on that hint, I've decided to make room in my car for my sewing machine and serger.)

Ruffled Silk

Dainty and elegant pintucks, two ruffles with "modern" smocking ...sigh... I'm really wishing I were a size six right here right now.
But at least the vintage style aprons I sew can accommodate several sizes! I added a Shabby Chic Stripe yesterday afternoon. If you like pink and green, you'll love it!

Prairie Linen

Skirts are a staple in my closet. I have a maxi dress in my closet, and then a "going away" dress that I'm saving for when I'll be able to wear it. :) The rest are skirts. Well, and of course, shirts/blouses, and sweaters. When one wears skirts 99.99% of the time, it is easy to get into a rut of wearing the same skirt, or style of skirt.

When I saw my friend's "Emily Rose" skirt, I simply fell in love with the tiered style. Instead of the usual abundance of gathers, this was without and still retained graceful and winsome appearance of a tiered skirt. My friend was gracious to lend me information as to how she made it off of a friends skirt.

Just a few days later, a friend from church handed me a bag with a skirt parallel to the one I was wanting to recreate. This was the original source of these duplicates. I happily took measurements off of the original, grabbed my sister who modeled the skirt for me (I'm not quite down to her size, but I'm trying!) and was more excited about wearing my heels for the photo shoot than anything else. ;)

Just yesterday I was able to obtain fabric and sewed like a crazy lady to finish it. It went together so nicely, and must say that I am very happy with the way it turned out. My only reason for not keeping it myself would be that I think I'd like a brown like the original rather than a blue - I already own four denim skirts!

Take a look at it, and perhaps you'd like it for yourself?

Selling used skirts!

Somone mentioned to me a while back that I should consider selling some of my thrift store finds, and at the time it wasn't so appealing (why would I want to sell them if I liked them so much?). :) I got to thinking how I wouldn't just have to sell my clothing, but offer other cute skirts that may not be my style or size. Of course they must be modest, modern, (no "old ladyish" pleated skirts from the 70s and 80s!) feminine, high quality name brands, and only in like-new, gently worn condition.

Just today I added two skirts and will be putting more up in the near future. Yes, the free shipping code can be used on them until mid-night tonight!

Summer's Bounty

One thing for certain: I've been enjoying summer's bounty these last few days at home. There is a huge patch of sweet peas nearby that are in several delicious shades of pinks and purples.

Some kind of flowering bush that makes its flora known only in August.Shasta daisies blooming in the front flower bed.

Johnny-Jump-Ups are growing in places that I never sowed seed.

Garden Peas are in abundance!

My basil has turned into a bush, and this is after I made pesto enough for a family of nine!

Tomatoes are ripening in the garden. This is from the Black Krim heirloom plant.

My raspberries are finally growing, but sadly will be ripe when I'm off in college.

For one last plug: today is the last day to receive free shipping in my shops! If you missed the announcement, go here for details!

The Lessons from a Failed Attempt at Pie Baking

Church picnics are fun. Believe it or not, I've only been to three or four of them in my lifetime. Over the weekend I had picked up some fresh organic blackberries for 50 cents a pint. "A blackberry pie!" was what I was going to contribute for it, since there was little else I could fix or bring.

Saturday was a very busy day of errands, work, and a lovely outdoor wedding and reception of a friend of mine. The only time to bake the pie was shortly before midnight. It smelled heavenly and looked divine as I pulled it out of the oven. I went to bed content and happy that it seemed to have turn out just fine after baking some not-so-fine pies in the recent past.

Sunday afternoon came around, and as I quickly returned home to change, grabbed an old quilt, and the pie, there was gasp of displeasure and disappointment as I opened the Tupperware container. A knife was timidly inserted into the pie and my nightmare had come true.

The inside resembled some kind of an attempt of soup.

Several years ago I could make pies not to far from Grandma's perfect quality, (this side of heaven, that is) and then about three years ago there was one evening of a ruined cherry pie (same soupy results) which has repeated itself nearly a half a dozen times. Yesterday I was struck with the doom of coming to face the fact: Cheri cannot make good pies.

Leaving the disaster at home, I arrived at the park where the church picnic was held empty handed. My discouraged mind was somewhat relieved when the dessert table was covered with all sorts of good things, and the pie would not have been needed after all.

But I was not satisfied with just accepting the title of a disastrous pie baker - I want to know why they aren't turning out. Grandma will be consulted this very day, and hopefully then she can point out the error in which I can learn from. A spiritual lesson can be learned from this, too, as God brought to my attention last night.

Just like my pie, my life can look "perfect" on the outside: I can do all the the right things, say all of the right things, go to all of the right places. It can be so easily to "look the part" of a good Christian woman. I can even follow or obey the Word of God, just as I followed the pie recipe, to the tee - but if I'm doing everything in my own strength or my own wisdom, or follow man's ideas or wisdom, my life will be a complete failure. We need Christ. We need to be Holy Spirit filled and controlled. The verse in John 15:5 comes to mind: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (emphasis mine)

May this spiritual lesson continue to ring in my heart, and may Grandma have some insight into the failures of my pie baking!

Fried Eggplant

It's funny to think of the first time I was introduced to eggplant. I always considered it one of those "odd" vegetables like artichokes or kohlrabi. My sister and I were visiting a newly-married friend of ours many years ago, and along with her dinner one evening, she was fixing fried eggplant. It did not sound appealing, but as our mother always taught us from a young age - always take a little bit from what it being served - even if you're certain that it will be gross.

Both of us couldn't believe how delicious it was and we were anxious to introduce it to our family. Now every summer, it is requested by all of our family members (minus one) that we fix it when it's available fresh from the farmers market. Tonight with our fettuccine noodles, homemade pesto using fresh basil from the garden, and homegrown green beans via farmers market, we fixed:

♥ Fried Eggplant ♥

Eggplant (the smaller/skinnier the better)
Water
Egg
Flour
Butter

Peel and slice eggplant to about 1/4" thick. Place in water to help avoid oxidation while cutting up the rest of your eggplants. Dip in whisked egg (you may need more than one if you have more than one eggplant) and then in flour, making sure both sides are adequately covered.

Place in well buttered skillet (tonight I used SmartBalance and coconut oil) and cook until soft and lightly brown on both sides.

One week SALE!

I had great hopes in sewing up some more things for my shops before I started my trek down south for another semester of college, but I can see now that it just won't happen. Much cleaning, sorting, packing, buying for school still needs to take place (sure wish they had a health food stores and thrift stores like what we have here!), reading to do, separate my thriving aloe vera plants into pots of their own, work at the store, attending a friends wedding this weekend (and buy a wedding gift for the couple!), be calm for playing in a violin trio at church, and ... oh wait. You probably aren't wishing what is on my to-do-list, but rather are wondering what all this has to do with the blog title. Am I right? :)

It has remained undecided to this day as to whether I'll be taking any sewing stuff along with me this semester, and in the event that everything gets left behind to collect dust for 4 months, I decided to offer free shipping for the next 7 days. It applies for all of my shops:

Peasant Cottage
Tally Skirts
Threads of Colors

The checkout code: SHIPFREE

Week in Feminine Dress - Day Seven

The only picture that look half way decent was the one with my eyes closed. Our budding photographer is getting tired of taking pictures of the same person for the past seven days! ;)
White tank - Walmart
Top - Ann Taylor Loft (thrifted)
Knee length skirt - Banana Republic (thrifted)
Earrings - Kohls
Bracelet (thrifted)

Week in Feminine Dress - Day Six

This summer, while jobs and sewing income has been scarce, I've been grateful for the one day of work that was offered to me by a local Christian family who owns a store in town. There was no time to take a picture of me this morning, and you certainly don't wish to see me now after being gone for 9+ hours!

But today I'm wearing a white shirt (same style as this one) with a sage green sleeveless tunic over it, and then a well-used and thrifted denim skirt. Oh yes, and tennis shoes. Nothing cutesty, but I have to be practical for where I work. Tomorrow I'm filling in for a co-worker for a few hours, so I should manage to be able to take a picture before I head off to the closing shift.

Week in Feminine Dress - Day Five

Today shall be one of those fun days of thrifting, as I have a friend's wedding coming up (her bridal shower was blogged about last month) and I need something creative to find for a wedding gift - something with owls is what I'm hoping to find no less! You've never seen a collection until you've seen hers!

I'm hoping to also work on some new skirt patterns for TallySkirts.

Top - The Limited (thrifted)

Linen skirt - Old Navy (thrifted)

Shoes (which my brother forgot to get in the viewfinder) - Lands End

Earrings - Kohls