Sunshine, Rain Droplets, and Travel

This week my grandparents flew in to visit us, but mainly to be here for my brother's graduation this weekend. That's means there will be four down and three to go (yes, there are seven children in our family, and we love it!). Much of our time has been outside doing yard work, dodging spring showers and thunderstorms.

These are bleeding hearts from one of my plants that didn't get hit by frost earlier this month.


For the next two weeks I'll be in the state of hot weather and southern accents, also referred to as Texas. Never been to it, let alone been down south (unless you count southern California, where we lived for a number of years, as "down south"), so I think it will be interesting!

OH! And I forgot to menton earlier this week that there is a 10% sale going on in my etsy shop this week ending on Saturday, as I already mentioned that I'll be gone for the following 14 days or so, and the shop will be closed during that time. Just thought I should say something. =)

Regency Dress in Blue Toile

Up late finishing and posting another Regency dress on ebay. This one is in a lovely blue toile-looking cotton. ::sigh:: I do wish I could keep it!

Click right here to see more pictures!

A Dress like Jane Bennett

Perhaps not an identical match, but I do say that if you add a light blue sash to the waistline, you just might be mistaken for Jane Bennett!

Finished late last night and put up on ebay this morning, you can see more pictures and details here!

Anthropologie Inspired

Okay, so never mind about what I mentioned last week about taking a break from sewing. This week I am forcing myself to find time to sew.

It's been fun too. =)
Just before my chicken noodle soup for lunch, I finished this Anthropologie inspired peasant blouse. By no means to I care for some of their items, but they usually have some aMAZing blouses that are unfortunately way beyond my buget!

I did some free-hand embroidery on the sleeves, there is vintage rick rack in the front and back, and remember those vintage mother of pearl buttons? I sewed them on in front. You know, just for that finishing touch.

The blouse is in my SHOP, as is a more simpler one with lace peeking out at the hem.

Tip of the Day

You may all laugh with me as I make a post this evening. Especially in reference to my previous post. But I rediscovered how much time one has when a body gets hit with three different aliments in one day. One blessing? Lots of resting, tea, and reading.

Tonight as I was washing my black dressy shirt from being worn when I played in a wedding last weekend, (it has taken me this long to hand wash it ... yes, I've been THAT busy) I remembered a tip that came from one of my sisters sewing friends (thankyou Elizabeth S.!). Have you ever washed items, especially polyesters, to only find that the underarms still have a "left over" smell? The friend gave us the tip of spraying vinegar directly onto the area(s) and then washing as normal.

Tonight I happily found that it works!

A Notice of Neglect

Once again, a super-busy season of life has descended upon me, and as you all have noticed no doubt, my sewing projects have dwindled quite a bit lately. I'm beginning to find that I have little time for blogging and it will probably be like that for sometime, so until next time, have a delightful spring!

(Will I still update my etsy shop? Oh yes! You may depend upon it! It be not be a steady supply, but I do have some things like aprons and peasant shirts waiting to be sewn, so keep your eye on it.)

Vintage Pretties

Yesterday Mom and I went antique looking/shopping, and these are a few pretties I pick up for a grand total of just a few dollars. Who can resist mother of pearl buttons, anyway?

And isn't this the sweetest little coat?! I'm guessing 50s or 60s, maybe?

Take a look at the fabric, and ribbon detail on the collar! Did I mention that it is lined, too?

The greatest purchase of the day, of which my dear mother got before I could make claims on it, is this lovely oak bookcase. She and I are the readers in our family, and though my collection is swiftly growing, she has books on her closet shelf, on her walk-in closet floor, on the floor in her bedroom, and on half of the bed! Yes. She needed it more than I did.

It may not be real old-old, but when you can't get oak wood for as cheap as the glass enclosed bookcase was (and did I mention that it was on sale too?), why who could say no? And yes, this picture was taken as we were putting books in. She still has a vast majority of books that we couldn't squeeze in.

She'll just have to get another bookcase.

Ranunculus & Dark Chocolate

My dear sister surprised me this morning with these lovely flowers,

and delicious dark chocolate!

Both now have taken residence on my writing desk.

Have a delightful Monday!

A thought-provoking article on Modesty

"You should not judge a book by its cover. That is true. And if you have time in the library to browse and read the back flap or half a chapter, you will often come home with an amazing book even though the cover didn’t really promise much. But how often do you have time for all that? Between children, household, work, family, hobbies… quite often we run in and out of the library in fifteen minutes and we have to content ourselves with first impressions. After a while you even become very good at this. You know what styles of illustrations probably promise a great read, or what kind of font is often used just to draw attention to a cheap sensationalist piece of non fiction. Now and again we have pleasant or unpleasant surprises, but, in general, we know what we get. After all, a scientific work will not often have a full-colour shot of playing children against the background of a wheat field on it, a family novel will rarely have a shiny black dust jacket with blood drops over the title.

"In the same way, people who do not have the time to truly get to know us and be surprised by our personality must judge us by what they see–the woman we pass in the grocery store, the librarian, the people we meet on the street. While it is true that beauty starts on the inside, the way we present ourselves shows that we care about the feelings of others who meet us. We should not explicitly dress to get attention to ourselves, but it is a thoughtful gesture to present ourselves with the beauty with which the Lord has endowed us undimmed by sloppiness or carelessness... Click here to read the rest!

A Romantic Nightgown for Summer

If you know my sister Erin, she *loves* to sew nightgowns just as much as I love to sew aprons. Just to put it into perspective. =) I dread having to sew nightgowns, while she thinks they're the greatest thing on the block!

A couple of months ago she got a pattern from another nightgown-enthusiast that is based off of an out of print 80s pattern, Butterick 3778. It came from the eldest of 4 girls, all whom are married now, and each had a nightgown made using this pattern for a wedding nightgown. My sister and I were fortunate to have seen one of them shortly after it was sewn, and before use!

Just a couple of weeks ago, Erin pulled out the pattern, stashed cotton fabric, some lavender lace from my stash, and put together this lovely nightgown. As you can see, some alterations made by our friends were a higher neckline, sleeves, and a tiered skirt.

My favorite details though are the pintucks.

Is anyone else inspired to go make a romantic-looking (not to be confused with the Romantic Era) nightgown, like I am right now?

How I Spent My Afternoon

I do so love a good cup of English tea and a captivating book.

::sigh::

Pesto

I can't take the credit for making this recipe up, as I found it on a blog a couple years ago. It is delicious, but I'll warn you that the house and your breath with smell like garlic for several hours after eating. ;)
3 c. fresh basil leaves
3 large cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 t. salt
pepper to taste
1/2 c. olive oil
1/4 c. lightly toasted pinenuts
1/2 c. freshly grated cheese (Parmesan or Romano)

Put basil, garlic, salt, pepper, oil, and nuts in blender and chop. Add cheese and combine gently. This makes enough for about 1 lb pasta of your choice. Can also be served with pasta and sauteed chicken.

Morning Light

The sun was just peeking out over the clouds in the east this morning as I watched its rays clothe the Grape Hyacinths.

The Old-Fashioned Way

Yesterday I was lamenting to a friend of mine at church how I've gotten some pain and soreness in my wrists and forearms from all the sewing I've done lately (I know, because I took a day off, and as soon as I went back to it, the pain came back).

But stop sewing for awhile, and especially after being inspired by gowns worn by Elizabeth Bennett of Pride & Prejudice, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility, Emma Woodhouse of Emma, Anne Elliot of Persuasion, Catherine Moreland of Northanger Abbey, and Fanny Price of Mansfield Park?

And then this fabric?

I think it would look delicious made up into a Regency dress, don't you? I suppose I could go the old fashioned way and hand sew it up. T'would be more so authentic too, I think! Perhaps I'll give it a try.

If you don't hear from me for the rest of the week, it probably means that I'm lost in stitching, tea drinking, and watching Jane Austen films. =)

At long last, a Regency dress!

A springish Regency gown that buttons with vintage glass buttons is now for SALE.

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!

Daffodils on the Counter

My latest collection is vintage milk glass vases from the local thrift stores. Especially when finding them for 25 cents up to a 75 cents per a vase.



Who cares if they don't match?




Everybody at our house loves them!

Apron Giveaway!

As promised, I am hosting an apron giveaway this weekend! That's right, an adorable child's version of the Margaret apron. It is made in the sweetest rose calico on a lovely shade of spring green.
Lots of vintage rick rack; even on the pocket too. For girls approx. ages 9-12.

All you have to do to enter, is leave a comment with your name (first name and last initial, please).

You can be entered twice, by posting a link over to this post from your blog/LJ/wordpress, etc, and then leave a second comment (please be sure to leave your blog address too)!

A winner will be randomly selected by Tuesday (the 30th) noon, and will post the winner shortly thereafter.

Frippery or not!

Frippery: something trivial or nonessential

Sorry to have burst someones bubble out there, but aprons are not frippery! They are indeed very useful. While most would wear aprons in the kitchen or out in the gardens, they are ever so useful while cleaning, or painting.

(My sister wearing a Ginnie apron when painting the sewing room last month)

What a delight it was to find out that Shannon was putting together her own lovely apron design into an e-pattern for apron-savy peope like me who can download a file, print, tape, and wala! a pattern! Imagine my thrill when she was hosting a giveaway for one of these patterns, and I won it. My version of it is in my etsy shop; now that I have the real macoy. =)

While I'm in the mode of sharing links this afternoon, I was blog hopping the other day and found this clever idea of repurposing T-shirts.

Butterick 3262 - a Linen Embroidered Skirt

A pattern that is now out of print, this is now my second skirt using this pattern. I used view B of Butterick 3262. It is a simple and easily put together a-line skirt (two side seams!), a side zipper with a hook & eye closure at a turned over waistband. I fell in love with the fabric when I saw it back in MI a couple of months ago. When it was on sale, although still a little pricey for what I like to pay for, just enough was purchased for a skirt.