Film Featured Apron: Jane of Lantern Hill

Right along with Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Road to Avonlea (the seven-season TV series), Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Elizabeth Gaskell movies, and all the other wonderful old-fashioned ones I failed to mention, one of our family favorites is another Sullivan produced film: Jane of Lantern Hill.

Not wanting to spoil the story, although the preview at the above website gives it away, it is a sweet story set in the 1930s of 12 year old Jane (Mairon Bennett) living with her ill mother always believing that her father (Sam Waterston) was dead. She learns that her dad is alive and living on the beautiful Prince Edward Island. The much beloved Colleen Dewhurst has a role on this film as well. If you haven't seen it, go watch it!

The fashions in general are so lovely if you like the 1930s era. It's full of darling hairstyles, silk gowns, and the whole works while Jane is living in Toronto. When she visits her dad, she wears a less "dolled-up" wardrobe. The apron, however, was what I was going to talk about. :) How can an apron-fanatic not notice an apron?!

It is obviously a blue cotton fabric with navy bias.

The angles in which it was filmed make it hard to distinguish if the apron has pockets on it.

It has the traditional "H" styled back with fabric ties. In the close up below, it appears that they used some rick rack on it, too. ♥

In a brief film shot outside at dusk, you can see that the back hem is rounded and not squared off like some aprons. Am I crazy for noticing all these things? Please tell me someone else does this! ;)

The style reminded me very much of a vintage pattern that I've seen on ebay dozens of times. The pockets may have been left off of Jane's (?) and the neckline cut into a delicate "v." However if I was going to make one like her's, like I've been wanting to for who-knows-how-long, I was not about to spend $20 on an original pattern; that I did know. :)

I decided that with a little nip in the neckline to my own original 1930s apron pattern, I could pull off a very similar reproduction of it. One of my sisters wanted a "Jane apron" and made the Ginnie style a couple years ago using some blue calico cotton and navy bias, and the result was very pleasing. If one didn't may attention to nit-picky details, one might think it was Jane's.

Earlier last week I came across a lovely piece of blue cotton that caught my eye. On the selvage, like most quality fabrics, the maker of the fabric and the title of it held my gaze. It was called "Art Deco." Couldn't be more fitting, and the fabric looked nearly identical to Jane's!

So without further ado, Peasant Cottage's version of this sweet, late 30s apron is right this way!

If all else fails...

...open up the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.

No, nothing failed except my plans on using a delicious recipe that came from a nearby Christian school when they handed the recipe to us several years ago and asked us to use it, and provide four dozen chocolate cookies for their upcoming graduation ceremonies.

My dilemma? It called for instant vanilla pudding, and we had none. I grabbed the first cookbook my eyes saw in our antique kitchen desk (with an enclosed bookshelf on top) and opened it up to the cookie section. Many chocolate cookie recipes and all of them called for instant vanilla pudding.

I grabbed the stained and tattered red and white plaid book and opened it up to their cookie section. Ahhh. A sigh of relief. Something that resembles an actual cookie recipe. It also was the only cookie recipe that called for less than a cup of sugar! Those old-fashioned cookbooks that your mother or grandmother may have in their kitchens may not be quite so unhealthy after all. ;)

Using the recipe, I made three different kinds. Standard chocolate chip, some walnut chocolate chip, and some with crushed Chocolove's dark chocolate raspberry bars in place of the chocolate chips.

I did make my cookies into tablespoon sizes when putting them in the oven instead of using the recommended teaspoon. I also added some half 'n half to the batter since it seemed like there was to much flour. It could have been the kind of flour I used, too, which was a new-to-us Hungarian white flour.

The result? Well, they are all gone, so that should be proof. ;)

Half a Dozen in the Shop!

Calico's, peonies & roses, circular pockets and so much more will be found in the way of a half a dozen aprons in the shop this afternoon!

Yes, my sewing machine has been flying at full speed over the last several days, and I've been so anxious to share these goodies with you after each one has been completed but I decided to put them up all at once. There are a few stashed fabrics that I need to pull out and make up a few more, but I'm going to let the sewing machines cool down and give my sore hands a break for a couple of days.

Speaking of "dozen" today, Daddy has a hankering for chocolate chip cookies and I need to go mix up a batch for him. I'll share the recipe soon!

Winter Gathering

It's always a sad time to pull down Christmas decorations (we did so a couple weeks ago lest you think we finally got around to it just now!) but we still like to keep up or display wintery things in our home. A wreath made of pine cones on the front porch, a balsam-ceder candle burning in the evening, thick down blankets to curl under on the couch, and electric candles "burning" in the front windows.

Cool weather is headed this way again (it likes to arrive and then leave quite frequently in our neck of the woods!) and I've been wanting to dress in my woolens again to have a little fun outside.

This afternoon I had fun inside sewing up a Tasha Tudor-inspired apron for gathering such little wintery things like pine branches or petite pine cones.

This evening it found its way into the SHOP with the anticipation of being used by a grateful recipient.

From the Archives

Very much like my paper journals, I like to go back to the archives of my sewing blog to see what I sewed years ago. In some cases my response was "I sewed that?" with a twinge of disgust, and other things brought back a wistful nostalgia when I remembered hand sewed Regency gowns of silk or learning how to create a circular flounce on the hem of a skirt.

All of the entries on aprons that I posted were full of smiles and joys of "I remember using vintage rick rack for the first time on that one" or "I went to three different stores trying to find a color corresponding bias tape for this fabric." Each one was a special creation that contained much thought and concern as to what color of bias should be used, if lace or a vintage button should adorn a pocket, or if whether this fabric would look good in a different apron pattern or not.

Posted nearly three years ago, I asked a few questions about aprons and if I truly have over 70 blog readers like blogger says I do, perhaps you (yes, you!) :) wouldn't mind dropping a note?

What do you look for in an apron?

What kind(s) do you like to see being produced?

What details do you especially like?

Do you prefer buying one ready-made, or making one from a designed pattern?

Do you have a favorite pattern, vintage or modern, to recommend?

Just because aprons are making me smile this week, perhaps you'll smile too to learn that all of the aprons in Peasant Cottage will be shipped for only a dollar through Friday. :)

Vintage Book Collection FOR SALE!

The time has come for me to sell my vintage book collection. Over 30 titles with books ranging from dates of 1840s to 1940s. Authors such as Wetherell, Goudge, and Dickens are in there.

Click here to see the album!

Ps. If you want to share this with your friends, I wouldn't mind one bit. It really is crucial for me to get these into happy hands.

PeasantCottage has been Featured!

What a delightful surprise it was for me to be online to find that my Country English Cottage apron in Peasant Cottage is featured in a treasury on etsy. Being featured has happened once or twice before, but this one I have to say is one of the sweetest collections of pretty tea things.

You still have time to boil some water and fix yourself a cup of tea before times runs out to visit the treasury here!

A Skirt for Cheri

This is a copy of a copy of a skirt. My friend Laura made a skirt early this summer off of a friend's skirt. Since she was a copy-cat, I was hoping she wouldn't mind if I was a copy-cat too. ;) She didn't mind, and I wrote about the story more in detail several months ago if there are any new readers to my blog.

For Christmas my parents kindly bought me some neutral tan linen fabric so I could make a skirt for myself. Another linen skirt of a similar shade was worn until it was literally thread bare, so I was extremely grateful for it and I knew exactly which pattern I'd make it in.

Laura, I had to steal your look by wearing an Anthro blouse and belt with it. :)

Most everyone knows that I've made three other skirts using this pattern, and they are all for sale in my online shop: Tally Skirts.

OOP McCalls 4645 ~ Sweet Dreams Nightgown

Earlier this week I locked myself away in the sewing room to work on a nightgown for Mother-Dear. She was hoping that it would be finished by Christmas, but time got away from all of us last weekend and all I could manage was cut it out. At least that was done. Anyone else dislike cutting out?

My older sister is the nightgown maker around here (sort of how I'm the one who sews aprons...) and so after consulting her, mom chose an out of print pattern (c. 1989) that was in Erin's stash of a dozen or more nightgown patterns. We started out with the main base of the top right corner, but changed it a bit.

She had enough yardage of a cozy blue flannel with white polka dots to make it all come together just the way she wanted. Mom likes full-length gathered sleeves that had cuffs instead of an elastic drawn ruffle. I added some white piping for visual interest.

She also wanted a high peter-pan collar that would close if needed, and again, I added the white piping to coordinate with the sleeves.

Length was added (4" I think) to the skirt hem, and then I cut out a ruffle to put on the hem to make this a floor length nightgown. I cut out three 45" width panels by 10" so it's quite a full ruffle, but it added a nice touch of femininity.

She has already worn it several times, and so therefore the "crumpled" look. I suppose I could have ironed it after taking it out of her closet for pictures, but the thought didn't occur to me at the time. :)

Bells Across the Snow

Photo Credit

O Christmas, merry Christmas!
Is it really come again,
With its memories and greetings,
With its joy and with its pain?
There's a minor in the carol,
And a shadow in the light,
And a spray of cypress twining
With the holly wreath to-night.
And the hush is never broken
By laughter light and low,
As we listen in the starlight
To the "bells across the snow."

O Christmas, merry Christmas!
'Tis not so very long
Since other voices blended
With the carol and the song!
If we could but hear them singing
As they are singing now,
If we could but see the radiance
Of the crown on each dear brow;
There would be no sigh to smother,
No hidden tear to flow,
As we listen in the starlight
To the "bells across the snow."

O Christmas, merry Christmas!
This never more can be;
We cannot bring again the days
Of our unshadowed glee.
But Christmas, happy Christmas,
Sweet herald of good-will,
With holy songs of glory
Brings holy gladness still.
For peace and hope may brighten,
And patient love may glow,
As we listen in the starlight
To the "bells across the snow."

-Frances Ridley Havergal

A Time for Traditions

It has been 11 years since the tradition started for our family.

It is a time of dressing in our new woolens, corduroys, plaids, and then bundling up in multiple layers (plus some) and grabbing the winter boots out of the hall closet. It's a time of taking a flashlight in one hand and music in the other.

It's a time of Christmas caroling. With four or five families represented, we all gather on one evening just days away from Christmas at the home of our gracious friends to carol to their neighbors. Between singing, the young girls giggle, the older girls talk while shielding their faces from the blinding snow, the boys of all ages throw snowballs and skid along slippery gravel.

It's a time of filling our hostess' home with coats, mittens, gloves and scarves (and dripping-wet boots) after laying them down to sip their delicious mulled cider topped with caramel sauce and whipped cream and taste the special holiday delicacies laid out, while visiting with new as well as long-standing friends.

Such is the account of the Christmas caroling evenings we anticipate annually, and it was one we happily partook of earlier this week. My sister took a few pictures which she posted here, for all to enjoy.

 

 

Thankyou dear Morgan's!

Just What You [might] Have Been Waiting For

The Prairie Linen in brown. Finally!

Just for the record, brown serger thread is very hard to find.

A Time for Photos

Earlier this week, there was a beautiful morning fog that filled the air, and I asked my sister if I could take pictures of her. Out we went and raced the fog that seemed to have a mind of its own of where it wanted to be, and we finally found an area where it stayed long enough for several shots.

Our dad kindly let us use an old camera of his for a prop. It's in pristine condition, and still takes excellent photos.

The winter candies and old books were my ideas as props. ;)

Just yesterday our family picture was taken in front of an old grocery store. We were driving around the nearby town and spotted it for the first time, and all hopped out for a few (literally four shots!) to be taken. This picture and the two above were taken by my sister. Visit her fantastic blog, and if you ever need portraits done, you'll know who contact! :)

The following two photos come with a little story. Before I left for school in August, my eye caught a beautiful blue wool coat in a little hole-in-the-wall consignment shop on the outskirts of town. It was marked $35. Saving all my pennies (literally!) for college, I decided to wait on it. Even if coats such as this one ran over $200 in high-fashion department stores. My green coat of 14 years could serve me another winter.

Upon returning home 10 days ago, I visited that little store and to my great delight, the coat was still there. Perhaps God saved it for me? "He does that, you know," I told myself. Coming home from college with less money than when I started out, I gave a sigh as I returned it to the rack. A day or so later, Mom asked if I could do some sewing for her, and she would pay me X-amount of dollars for it. What she asked for was a Christmas plaid homespun fabric to be made into a jumper. Instead of being paid for it, I asked if she would consider putting that money towards the blue wool coat, and I could somehow (???) make up the difference. She agreed, and I made that jumper up in record time. :)

We went to the shop that afternoon, and to my great ecstasy, the coat was on sale for the amount she was going to originally pay me. The tax came to $1.37 over, but she said not to worry about it. Did God save it for me? I believe with all my heart that He did, and I believe it was on sale for Him to show me that He will provide for our needs. That yes, He cares about the "little" details we concern ourselves with.

So here is a picture of Mother-dear in her Christmas plaid (she is wearing it in our family picture), and I in my blue wool coat.

["When it comes to serving God, we must never focus our attention on the size of the task, for it will squash our vision and enthusiasm. We should always place our eyes on the size of our Lord. What He says will happen always takes place in His perfect timing." -Brother Yun]

Recollections

This time of year is indeed a hectic and busy season that brings out a the worst in people, as my dad would say. For the Christian it should be one full of grateful joy as we reflect the reason why God sent, in the form of a babe, His Son.

This time of year is also one for decorating in the interiors and exterior of our dwelling places. For our family, we try to keep things simple, but tastefully decorated for the season. Our home does not undergo an "extreme makeover" but we do bring out the wreaths, greenery, a red bows for the outside. The inside contains similar goods, but with a few intimate details. Our Christmas tree holds all the little things we made as small children, a few recent ornaments, and then the special antique ones that our mother has saved. We place homemade decorations on doorknobs, light candles in the evening, we girls fix a pot of tea or mugs of hot chocolate to sip while watching favorite classics such as White Christmas or The Nativity Story, or we might be working on secret gifts for each other in the sewing room while we pop in a Christmas CD (a personal favorite: The Music of a Victoria Christmas). All of these things help create an atmosphere that fosters memories.

Every year there are so many memories made at our house, as I'm sure there are many recollections to be said of yours. Tonight my mind went back to when I was living with my grandparents. It was shortly before an evening service at church during the Christmas season. The sanctuary was beautifully decorated that imparted a surrounding not of distracting or noisy clutter, but rather gave a feeling of quiet aesthetic beauty. My mentor and friend asked if I'd like to join her at the piano with my violin and we would prepare something on the fly for the offertory that night. Choosing one of the simpler ones to play, God seemed to bless us with His presence as we practiced once and then played during the service. The tune was achingly beautiful and the words ministered to our own hearts as we played.

This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True Man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.

A smile spreads across my face as I recall the memory that took place only two years ago, but my heart sings when I pause to ponder the words of that 15th century carol.

Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to men a Savior,
When half spent was the night.

The shepherds heard the story proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of glory was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger found Him,
As angel heralds said.

This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True Man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.

O Savior, Child of Mary, who felt our human woe,
O Savior, King of glory, who dost our weakness know;
Bring us at length we pray, to the bright courts of Heaven,
And to the endless day!

Words: 15th Cen­tu­ry car­ol (Es ist ein Ros ent­sprung­en); vers­es 1-2 trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by The­o­dore Bak­er, 1894. Verses 3-4, Fried­rich Lay­ritz, trans­lat­ed by Har­ri­et Rey­nolds Krauth, 1875. Verse 5, trans­lat­ed or writ­ten by John C. Mat­tes, 1914.

Music: Es Ist Ein Ros’, Al­te Ca­thol­ische Geist­liche Kirch­en­ge­säng (Köln, Ger­ma­ny: 1599); har­mo­ny by Mi­chael Prae­tor­i­us, 1609.

New Additions!

New skirts are in the shop this afternoon! Including an original Anthropologie skirt. ::sigh:: I wish I were a size 0.

::warmth::

Sunlight coming through the south-facing windows...
Hazelnut Creme coffee...
Corduroy skirts...
Psalm 4...

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.