Christian Homemaking Conferences

The other day I came across this link: Christian Homemaking Conference.com Have any of you ladies heard about it? Maybe I am just "not with it" when it comes to internet stuff...

It looks like it will be an online conference (no driving or traffic!) with some tremendous speakers! I know that based through CD's that I have received and wesbites I've visited, these women will will have lots of wisdom and insights to share.

If there is room, I wonder if maybe we could get a group rate (anyone interested?) or if there is already a group forming, can you let me in? =)

The art of wearing an apron

"Do not make the mistake of thinking that an apron is a not-so-very important garment. As a matter of fact, it is really quite as important as a dress—for who can tell when an unexpected guest is going to "drop in" for a chat and find one at the disadvantage of being aproned! But the disadvantage can be changed to an advantage. The apron can be made a very delightful garment. One may actually feel proud to be found wearing a pretty combination of lace and ribbon and soft white dimity—or a rather trig apron-affair of gingham and muslin ruffles.And then, of course, there is the feeling of utter neatness and satisfaction when one is wearing a crisp little apron. Even though it does hide the pretty dress underneath, it can be so very pretty itself that one hardly minds." --From the New-Way Course in Fashionable Clothes-Making.

It seems like I am always wearing an apron around the home, weather it be for cleaning or cooking. In fact, my last count of aprons was 6 I believe. They are great fun to wear as well as make!

The above apron, my favorite style of all, is one that I made recently, and I am wanting to offer it for sale to those who might be interested in it. It was made out of white weavers cloth and comes with a front pocket that is adorned with lace coming from an 1812 lace machine over in England. It would fit a ladies size small to medium I am asking $40 for it, and that includes Priority shipping.

Anyway, before I offer it up on our website, I thought I'd mention it here first and give blog readers a chance to take the opportunity of having free shipping. =) Feel free to write us if you'd like this apron. We only have one of them!

Ready for a shock?

Our website, http://www.ajoyfulhandmaiden.com has been changed! I want to change the header up at the top of each page, but if you come across any broken links, typo's, and the usual stuff, please let me know!

Meet Arabella!

I am excited to introduce you all to a new friend that arrived today! =) For quite a while now I have wanted a dress form, and I prayed about it, looked at ebay listings and so forth. And now I have one! =D

I was also able to list a couple new historical things on ebay with Arabella modeling them. =) A Regency dress (my favorite out of all of the ones I've done) and some Regency Short Stays/Corset. See the link in the post below that will take you to my listings.

Antique books for sale

I have been decluttering again and came across a couple antique books that I no longer need so I listed them on ebay: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZstringsftk

The books, "To Have and To Hold" and "Mother" are books that http://www.visionforum.com sell but the ones that I'm selling are the antique, unedited versions.

Delighted!

In the mail today I received some beautiful antique victorian looking lace collars, and am quite delighted with them! Now I need to sift through some of our patterns for girls and see what I can come up with to make a victorian dress.

The other delightful surprise was when I received my favorite magazine in the mail, I saw that they have a website! Whether the site is new or not, I don't know, but perhaps you'll enjoy browsing around and find it a blessing if you have never heard of Becoming a Woman of God: http://womanofgodmagazine.wordpress.com

Changes coming for A Joyful Handmaiden

As we begin on working on our 2007 catalog, thinking & praying about various things, we thought we'd "warn" your customers that there will be some changes that will be made. But we believe that they will help us to be more efficient with the time the Lord has given us, and customers with happy results (not that we've received complaints, but...). =)

Buttoned Bib Apron

This week I finished the apron (from Hint of History) that I cut out using some left over white weavers cloth. I was hoping to made a larger size, but I only had enough for a size small.

Over all, I am happy with the way it turned out, except the pockets that are supposed to be in the front are more like side pockets, but oh well. =) I had a lace applique that I wasn't using and had no use for up until I made this.

Fun patterns!

Aren't these picture just so sweet?! They are pictures from the patterns designed by Hint of History (see the link on the side bar). Anyway, after coming home from being out of state for a couple of days taking violin lessons, I was thrilled to have found these patterns waiting for me upon arriving home. Can you guess what I'll be working on this week? =)

Sale - 20% to 50% off!

Hurray! =) I just found out this morning that Biblical Womanhood is having a sale on everything they sell on their website! Now I'm having to decide what things I would like. ::wink::

Never been there before? Just visit the link on the side bar that says "Biblical
Womanhood" and it will take you right where you need to go!

Green

As some of you may have noticed, from fabrics we offer and pictures we post, our favorite color around here is blue. Much of our decor is blue (along with some rose) and a good majority of what's in our closet is blue too. ::wink::

But surprise, surprise! =) I finished up a new jumper this afternoon using some Tropical Breeze that I bought from http://www.worksoftheheart.com I used our normal button-front jumper pattern, but made the neckline squared. This jumper pattern is my all-time favorite!

And we have added a new fabric (green!) that has been one of my favorites for several years. My favorite style to make this in is a "Betsy" dress with a lace collar. =) See the new all-green floral here: http://www.ajoyfulhandmaiden.com/Fabrics.html

Another Regency dress

For Christmas I received several fun Regency patterns from http://www.sensibility.com, The Elegant Ladies Closet pattern was one of them. I decided to make the drawstring dress using a straight front skirt (I loved the look from the pictures on the website!) and absolutely love the way it turned out.

The only "bad" thing is that I haven't made my stays yet and the fabric that I made it in would look dreadful on me (I have blonde/red hair, freckles and blue eyes) and so I reluctantly put it up on ebay. If you'd like to see more pictures, feel free to click here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=018&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=280070319792&rd=1&rd=1

Perfect weather

That is, I should say, perfect weather for being inside working on my afgan or sewing up an order. Curious what the degrees is? =) It is 0 degrees actually. ::wink:: The wind chill is around -4 so yes, I think I'll retreat to the sewing room to work on some sewing today. Would anyone like to join me?

Yay!!!

Hurray!!! =) We finally have our new photo gallery up after ::gulps:: almost a year of having our new domain site up and running. If any of you who have ordered from us would like to send up photos to put up on our site, we'd love `em! =)

Also on the page you'll find comments from satisfied customers. It is always encouraging to receive them! =)

Decluttering and reorganizing is fun!

Before (on top of my table)

After

Before (underneath the table)

After

Ah, such a great feeling! =D

Another reason for Modesty

"True, all our lives long we shall be bound to restrain our soul and keep it low; and what then? For the books we read shall one day be endowed with wisdom and knowledge. For the music we will not listen to, we shall join in the song of the redeemed. For the pictures from which we turn, we shall gaze unabashed on the beatific vision. For the companionship we shun, we shall be welcomed with angelic society and the communion of the triumphant saints. For the amusements we avoid, we shall keep the supreme jubilee. For the pleasures we miss, we shall abide in the rapture of heaven. It cannot be much of a hardship to dress modestly at a small cost, rather than richly and fashionably if with conviction we are awaiting the white robes of the redeemed."
~Christina Rosetti

Christmas greetings from our home to yours!

I hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas! We have lots of snow here from a recent blizzard; the first white Christmas we have had here at our home after living here for 8 years.

Along with some other gifts this morning, I was surpirsed to find three new historical patterns from http://sensibility.com They are three patterns from the Regency collection, so as a seamstress, tackling a new historical pattern is great fun! =) Watch for some items to go up on ebay within the next few weeks.

For God -- the greatest giver
so loved -- the greatest motive
the world -- the greatest need
that He gave -- the greatest act
His only begotten Son -- the greatest gift
that whosoever -- the greatest invitation
believes in Him -- the greatest opportunity
should not perish -- the greatest deliverance
but have everlasting life -- the greatest joy.

Ready-mades revamped!

Well, we decided to go ahead and keep the sale up for some of our older ready-mades, and then we added a couple new ones.

We also finally got our nearly-new section up. For those of you who are not familiar with it, we usually sell dresses for a discounted price. The apparel has usually been worn once or twice, or we have prewashed the fabric and/or garment without it being worn. But what we list is in good condition and they are not flawed in any way.

The CD's are here!

Today Erin's CD's came! =D They came right before two of my students (brother and sister) arrived for their lessons, and so I wasn't able to join in for all the excitement, but the boxes are sitting in the dining room, just waiting to be opened and for the CD's to be sent out!

AND if they get shipped out tomorrow (she'll be shipping first class I think) there could be a possibility of you receiving your CD(s) before Christmas if you live here in the US.

Speaking of Christmas, as a early gift for Erin, I bought her a domain site, and wouldn't you know, the lady who gives me hosting was able to get me added this morning and now Erin's very own site is up and running! =D Visit her website at: http://www.erincross.org/

EDIT: There has been a change in shipping and handling rates. Please visit the website to see actual shipping charges per CD and for orders of larger quantities. If you have previously ordered, don't worry if the figures don't add up to what you paid for.

50% off this weekend ONLY!

Every year around Christmas time, we offer a 50% off sale for our Ready-made items to move some "old-timers" out and bring in some new ones. So this Friday and Saturday ONLY, we are offering to you this special sale!