Summer Reading and Other Things

When I picked these books up from the thrift store for literally pennies, I knew they would be on my summer reading list. It turns out "New Chronicles of Rebecca" is supposed to come after "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" so I have refrained from reading that one until I can get my hands on the one written first. If you're unfamiliar with the other two, I jotted some thoughts down on each, and can recommend both!

Half-A-Dozen Housekeepers, by Kate Douglas Wiggin, is a hilarious tale of school girls enjoying a two-week break from school and coming up with the grand idea of being housekeepers at Bell's home (Bell having strong skills in leadership). From kitchen attempts to putting on drama productions in the upstairs ballroom, you'll be laughing right along with them in their endeavors. If you have read any of Kate's other books, you'll be sure to enjoy this one!

Merry Girls of England, by Mrs. L.T. Meade, will make anyone with a sister or two or three be entertained by the dynamics of Underhill sisters as they go from city life to country life. Their country friend, Hero, becomes like another sister and joins Barbara Underhill as they secretly runaway to make life in London. Without spoiling the book to much, they end up realizing that hearth, home, and family are the dearest of all in life.

The close of summer break is officially next week, so I've been trying to get things together or wrap up things here at my parents house before I make my way down to the south east. 

The thunderstorms and sunsets here have been great the last several months: 

This is the view coming out of the evening church service a week ago

So was the county fair a few weeks ago. To be completely honest, this time I only went for the dole whip pineapple ice-cream. It's a guilty pleasure I don't mind indulging in once a year. ;)

And before I head back to college, here is a little coupon code for my etsy shop if you wish to indulge in having 15% off your order; just use the code 15SALE when checking out. 

Happy Monday!

Joy & Peace

"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." Isaiah 10-13

Often quoted are the two verses just before these ones. The ones that speak of God's thoughts and ways that are higher than our own, but the above verses are just as full of promise and hope if you really think about it. God's Word is true and not some source of floating bubbles to try to catch and hold onto in hopes of it not breaking, but something that goes far beyond the visible to the invisible … and works in wondrous ways.

One of those wondrous ways is that it's looking more and more probable that I'll be back in school this fall. Most of you know that I've been home working this past school year (hence, my irregular blog posts!) and have been working towards my tuition for the college I'm transferring to. I can't tell you how exciting it is to see details starting to fall into place.

If you could help me out with the fruition of a small, but important detail, I'd like to ask if you might help spread the word about my etsy shop. All of the proceeds (obviously) go to my college fund and it would honestly be nice to have it emptied by the time I leave, Lord willing, next month. I'd rather not lug around shop items with me to the east coast! :) I'll be going through some personal historical clothing that have been lying around, and hope to get those up in the next couple of weeks.

If you're needing some "bait" to throw out to your FB friends, blog readers, or whoever, I'm offering free shipping to all US customers on any order, any size.

300 = Something Special!

Happy news! We just reached the 300 bench mark in sales in my etsy shop! God is so good and all my sweet customers are wonderful.

The original "Ethel" apron, my apron that is worn the most if I'm in the kitchen!

Running the risk of being ridiculous and not making any money off of such a sale as this, I've decided to put out a coupon code of 30% that is good for 3 days (get it? 300 sales, 30 percent off, 3 days) towards anything in Peasant Cottage!

Use promo code: 30SALE until 12noon on Saturday PST

Nearly 600

Working on starting a new post, I realized that I'm nearing 600 posts here on the blog. That is alot posts. This winter I will have been blogging here for 7 years. That is alot of years. Anyone still here from the very beginning?

Now before you all start thinking this is a "goodbye post," let me tell you that it isn't! :) The upcoming months are shaping out to be some super busy ones that I may not be able to write as often as I have this summer. I mean, there ins't much gardening going on (my apologies if you've gotten tired about my excitement over beans and berries!) in October or September for that matter if we get an early snow fall, nor do I have  alot of sewing projects to do. I think I unknowingly did a sewing marathon of some kind this summer! ;) But I have some great posts lined up that I'm excited to share with you.

In the mean time, I've having a little celebration party for this blog and all of my favorite readers (sure, it includes you!) so anything in my two shops will be 25% off if you punch in 25SALE when checking out. How long you wonder? The entire week including Saturday!

Patterns GALORE for sale!

Major sewing room cleaning and this week it's my pattern bins being sorted through.

There are newborn to ladies sizes. Dresses, jumpers, blouses, shirts, skirts, aprons, accessories, historical reproductions, and vintage.

10 patterns listed. 70 more to go. Yes, I'm serious. They are being sold here.

EDITED to ADD: Ooops! Ebay only allows 50 free listings per month, so I'll have to list the 30 more on the first of April. Take a look what I do have though before they all go!

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...

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

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very wonderful and merry Christmas!

Save 25% in the shop by entering in 25SALE in the coupon section while checking out! This will be my last week to be open, as I head off for college next week!

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!

Closing up Shop

Yup. You did read that correctly. I'm moving in with my Grandma once again for a season, and I really don't want to take my shop items with me. Grandma said that I'd be more than welcome to bring my sewing machine and serger (as my stay will be extended further than last year), but if I did that, I'd have to take the rest of my sewing room with me which I am NOT going to do! Really now, what is a seamstress to do without fabric and patterns and all the other kit and kaboodle of supplies, and Arabella of course?

Therefore I am greatly reducing prices in hopes of getting everything o.u.t. this weekend. If they don't sell, I'm taking them to my local thrift store. So, take one last peek for awhile.

Patterns for Sale

I've recently gone through my pattern containers (yes, I have so many that I have containers!) finding some that I know I won't use and some that I more than likely won't use. Anyhow, I have them in lots, so if you're curious...

Take a peek!

I Have Bit the Bullet

Listed on ebay thus far are the following items:

1914 Edwardian White Dress

1860 Civil War Skirt and Vest, with extra fabric

Victorian Granny Boots

Happy Valentines Day!

To all you dear ladies and friends who read my blog, Happy Valentines Day! And just as a "special" for today everything in my etsy shop can be ordered with FREE shipping!

We don't go "all out" but we do enjoy making cut-out cookies decorated with Valentine colors and shapes, and this afternoon I'm going to go through my scrap bin or stashed fabric to make something up in pink.

:::

On a random note, I was thrilled to find this tea (which all I've heard is postive remarks!) at a local discount grocery store. $3.29 isn't to bad for 240 bags of tea all the way from England! My poor mother was shocked that I bought yet another box of tea. I have such a huge collection that I know longer can store mine in the kitchen cupboard. Yes, I have that many. =)

Fabric for sale!

To start my de-stashing month, I'm starting with my fabric bins. I've thrown out some (believe me, ladies, you wouldn't want it!) given away some, and I've now added a couple pieces in my etsy shop:

A beautiful lacey white piece from the late 1800's to early 1900's

5 yards of this lovely fabric that would make a perfect Colonial gown

One week left!

That's right, in about a week, I'll be back in MI to spend a few more weeks with my Grandparents. And did I mention at all that Grandma and I will be having a table at a local church craft fair? She's making some Christmas pillows, and I'm taking my shop items with me to sell.

So yes, if there is anything you're wanting to purchase for yourself or as a gift, you just may want to get it now seeing that you may not see it back in the shop when I return a few days before Christmas.

And too, if you order anything this week, you get free shipping!

70's Wrap Apron

I think I'm addicted to making and wearing aprons...

I'm probably addicted to rick rack too...

I'll help you get addicted to aprons, by adding it to the shop...

Now aren't I nice? =P =)

The new design in an old-fashioned rose

This apron will be available later this afternoon.

You can still submit a name for this new design here at this post! I'll be accepting names for awhile. There are some great ones already suggested!

Just a quick reminder...

Ok, I won't say anything more of etsy for a long time, but thought that I'd make a quick reminder that I will be closing it up just while I'm away since I really don't want to take all those items with me.

And if I can do it, I'll be sewing up a couple aprons tomorrow to add; one 30's and one 50's. Keep your eye open for them. They are very cute fabrics with vintage rick rack and buttons.

Happy Sewing

Ahhh .... it always feels so good to get something done! And yes, I have stayed up late again to finish the above Regency Robe. I like it better than my green ones I sold. Of course, it probably has nothing to do with blue being my favorite color.

See more pictures here.

More in the shop...

a 1930s apron in a cheery daisy print

a summer-y peasant shirt made out of vintage calico

These will be the last that I'll add to my shop until July sometime do to a busy schedule, travel, and a family vacation next month.