Pink Roses & Lace

...and you'll just have to visit the shop to see what it is!

The Gardener

As I have alluded to previously, this seamstress doesn't stay indoors all the time plugging away in her sewing room. =) I love to garden. Mom does too, but with seven of us children (half of which are in their teens and twenties) still at home, she doesn't have time to garden, so I get to take on the blessing of doing about 75% of the yard work and tending the gardens.

Yesterday in my vegetable garden I planted peas, a couple rows of two varieties of peppers (anyone have any special tips on growing them? I haven't had any good success, but I keep trying!), green onions, a couple rows of two kinds of lettuces, and then this weekend when the last frost date is past, I'll be planting tomatoes.

Since all you see in my garden is dirt mounds, I thought I'd take a couple pictures near our cottage abode. This picture is actually of our neighbors lilac bushes in full bloom. Their scent is heavenly.

Among many other things we are growing, we have this interesting little "wooded area" and it has been growing moss, tree shoots, and other little green things. It makes me wish I was little so I could spend some time imagining little stories back in there.

Much to much...

I've been sort of redecorating the sewing room by finally putting my oak quilt hanger up (was given to me for free many years ago!), a quilt that someone was going to throw out, my antique books to decorate the top, and a few shop items to decorate the door.

Okay, forget that last post, if you saw it, of my saying that I was taking a break. I need to, I don't have tons of time for blogging right now, but I do have to many sewing projects going on right now and inspirations from vintage/real clothing that I'll just have to continue my sewing blog. =) No promises as to how many posts per week however!

In other news, I finally have made some white peasant shirts after many requests for them. I found some stashed white fabric that I forgot I had (!) and it dawned on me this morning, "Hey! I could use this for peasant shirts!" Right now there are only 2 in the shop, but I probably have enough fabric to make 3 more if people really like them.

Up next...

Amist gardening, music practice & lessons, and "normal life" I am working on a few projects although not quite as quickly as my usual pace. Maybe that's a good thing. =) But as of right now, in the next couple of weeks, I'll be showcasing:

• a Regency Peach Robe

• a "Little House on the Prairie" dress and pinafore

• a couple of white peasant shirts

• a Gracie apron

• a couple vintage toddler smocks now in the shop!

Of course I could go on and on about what I feel like making these days -- lots of summer Regency gowns to sell, a few Narinan gowns (never thought I'd ever hear myself say that!) to explore the hills and woods in, and lots of fun & funky hobo totes, but I must shelve those away for awhile until I finish the above projects.

Hmm, what should I work on first?

Contemplations in Regency

Today I grabbed one of my sisters and they politely consented to taking pictures of yours truly in Regency fashion. My hair was curled for church, so it was a perfect opportunity to attempt to do an updo of somesort.

I am having a very difficult time deciding as to whether I should sell my ensemble or keep it. I like it, but the gathers in the front of the skirt make me feel "poofy" and the bodice petticoat wasn't fitting as snugly like a glove as before (which is what I want for support). But when I think of the many hours and late night hand sewing each, I'm not so sure that I can give it up!

At any rate, I'm inspired to work on my Peach Robe so stay tuned later this week for either pictures or listings of the three on ebay.

"Peter, who was very naughty..."

Has found his way into my shop this evening!

Oh I do so love your buttons, Peter...

Would you like help him find his way home?

Hello Miss Strawberry Shortcake!

Miss Strawberry Shortcake and I met in the sewing room again and she begged to be made into a toddler's smock if I would only wrap her in red bias with pink buttons.

She is in the shop this afternoon.

My "Anne" Skirt

Only one picture to share with you that my younger sister quickly took before heading to church yesterday morning.
As I mentioned in this post, I have long wanted to make a skirt like Anne's, and I think I got as close as I could with what I had. Yes, the 1909 “Beatrix” Skirt Pattern could have been used, but for practicality reasons and wanting to not sport a look of 100 years ago, I decided to use my basic a-line skirt pattern by lengthening it, making the hem fuller, adding a bias flounce, and 3 teensy-tiny pin tucks.

So paired with a top that was given to me, my vintage-looking heels, and a blue sweater in case the weather turned chilly (in which it did!), I had a fabulous day yesterday wearing both modern and old-fashioned.

Tote Bag Craze

I was definitely in the sewing mood today (and now don't want to see my machine for the rest of the week!) and spent my time making more hobo sacks. And who said that they had to be made out of weird funky fabrics?

They can be made out of sailor stripes...
...colors of the sea...

...rose gardens...

...vintage florals ...

...and they are all in the shop tonight!

A Funky Striped Tote

I'm having way to much fun with this pattern I made up. I like it even better with some new alterations to the design.

Like it too?

Sweet Pea's and Spring Gardening

It has been a glorious spring season these days, surrounding our little cottage. Refreshing spring showers, beautiful skies overhead with floating "marshmellows" across it, a curtain being teased in the bedroom window from the fresh light breeze outside, and the melodies of the birds drifting in that serenades yours truly and drives my little persian to hysterics. Poor thing; she'd love to eat one for lunch!

Last weekend I started working on our vegetable garden area. It isn't very large, but large enough to grow several plants of tomatoes, lettuce, onions, peas, and so forth. Today I'll be adding a third layer (after the manure and compost) of coffee grounds, and maybe plant my peas and lettuce.

By no means have I neglected my sewing room over the last several days however. It was turned upside down and rearranged, added a few things, and when I can get on the main computer, I'll share some picture for you. In the mean time, if you don't have any gardens of your own to work on, take a look in the cottage as I added a "Sweet Pea" Gracie apron last evening. I do so love the color combinations.

What are your favorite colors to put together?

Fun from the 70s

Today was fun thrift shopping. I came home with these three patterns. I have such a weakness for patterns. =P But I usually have ideas for them all. For instance, that first one would make a perfect summer morning housecoat, I fell in love with the style of the jacket in the 2nd, and take a look at the 3rd (!) what a unique and fun pattern for ... well, I'm not sure what, but I love it!

Anne's Blue Linen Skirt

For years I have dreamed of making a skirt like Anne's that she wears to Fred's Clam Bake and when Gil proposes to her...





Delighted to see that linen is 50% off at JoAnn's this week, I picked up a lovely shade of sky blue linen to make one. I'll probably make it along the lines of this one, only floor length (like Anne's of course!). Now if I could only find some gorgeous lace fabric and make myself a shirtwaist too...

Afternoon delights from the antique store

My first antique copy of Dickens, a small yellow mixing bowl, and a baby spoon from the 20's -- all for under $10.

"Marilla, look at the Puffs!"

Perhaps it was inspired by an "Anne of Green Gables" and "Road to Avonlea" kick, or maybe it was just from the love for old-fashioned dresses, but I decided to make up a girls size 14 dress using the fabric, buttons, and collar.

I'll be listing it on etsy this afternoon, but if any of you must have it, you can contact me privately first: ajoyfulhandmaiden AT yahoo DOT com.

In other news, I relisted my 1914 White Lawn Dress on ebay since the buyer who purchased it never paid me for it and after several polite e-mails, didn't contact me either.

Stay tuned for a bunch of hardly worn clothes of mine that I hope to sell, all from Christopher & Banks.

Old Fashioned Coziness

Darkness has fallen and with it we are getting a sweet gentle rain. It is a bit chilly, and so I grabbed a sweater and headed down to the sewing room. I've decided that my next project (not sure what it will be yet! Any suggestions?) will include this fabric, that creamy collar, and those six vintage buttons.

Well dear ladies, it is to late to start on it now so I'm off to fix a cup of tea and find a good book to read, or watch a bit of my favorite movies; Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea.

A Bit of Sunshine

Due to some unfixable circumstances, I have been a bit detained here in town and so to make up for this misfortune, I have happlily kept myself busy in my little sewing room...

I love the little bits of warm rays of sunshine yellow rick rack on the pockets and at the dropped shoulder seams on this apron.

I wish I could keep it...

Leaving Town

Well, I'll be off shortly to spend a few days with my Grandparents over Easter weekend which I am very much looking forward to.

Of course I put off making Grandpa Fred a chef apron to wear for the Easter brunch until now, and so I'll be doing some speed sewing. I'm doing this pattern which I've never used before. And actually, I've never made a "butcher style" apron before, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be easy.

Spring is in the Shop!

I was going to wait until Monday, but I couldn't help myself...

Both of these are in the cottage this evening.

And the winner is...

...Andrea Herrlinger! Congrats to Andrea, whose apron will be shipped off this afternoon!

And I'm convinced that I need to have giveaways more often. It's so much fun "meeting" new or "silent" blog readers! =) I feel honored that you'd stop by my blog.

And since you all were so kind an gracious, I will offer to all of you a $5 discount off of anything in my etsy shop, through tomorrow. Just contact me through a conversation on etsy and let me know which item(s) you'd like and also mention this special offer to blog readers!