We interrupt this regularly scheduled WIFD...

My apologies for the lack of WIFD posts -- we ended up traveling for a family funeral on Thursday so the blog has taken a back burner. I'll try to get caught up when I'm able -- thanks for your understanding!

Summer WIFD - day four

This is my "soaking up Vitamin D" pose. The grass is getting a little too much sun as you can tell from its bristly, dry appearance. Anyway...

I didn't intend to go entirely homesewn again today but this is what I picked out of my closet! My first Sorbetto top and a white linen-look skirt made several years ago from Simplicity 5914. Today was a busy day so I wore my hair pulled back in a low ponytail most of the day. Not much else to say about this -- it's a very easy and comfortable outfit!

Other WIFD participants:
A Joyful Handmaiden
Pursuing the Calling

Summer WIFD - day three

So far this week, I've worn all handmade items! I'm impressed with myself. ;-) Actually, it's more of a reflection on the fact that it's cheaper for me to make things myself than buy styles I like to wear in stores. With all the weight fluctuation of pregnancy and nursing, my wardrobe has been kind of a mish-mash the past two+ years!


Today I wore version #2 of the Sorbetto top. I made it from Lisette cotton lawn (available at Jo-Ann Fabrics). I omitted the center pleat (as in the cream rayon version) and added bias ruffles at the neckline. I left the edges of the ruffles unfinished so that they would fray slightly in the wash.


The skirt is also one I have showed you before. It's a nice, versatile neutral color. I like that the fabric is heavy enough that I don't need to wear a slip -- a real bonus during these hot summer days!

To add a little extra color I wore some turquoise drop earrings Douglas gave me.


Other WIFD participants:
A Joyful Handmaiden
Pursuing the Calling

Summer WIFD - day two

If you read my blog regularly, the dress I'm wearing today isn't new to you! To shake things up a bit, I wore a vintage gold chain necklace that I haven't paired with this dress before. It belonged to my Great-Grandma Irene -- I miss her a lot and it's special to me to have some of her jewelry. I haven't worn it in a while and as I put it on today, it struck me that it looks very much like a modern bib necklace.

I spent a chunk of the morning helping my neighbor sew a skirt for herself, and the rest of the day has been spent doing laundry, ironing, folding and hanging clean clothes, preparing food, and other sundry household chores. It's hard to be motivated to put on something cute when I'm not going anywhere "special" -- but I need to get it into my head that being around my husband and son is special enough!

Plus, if Douglas gets in the mood to surprise me with a fun date tonight (hint, hint), I'll already be ready to go! ;-)

Other WIFD participants:
A Joyful Handmaiden
A High Calling
Pursuing the Calling

Summer WIFD - day one

Since I'm in my Sunday best today, I'm afraid the rest of the week is going to be all downhill from here! ;-)


The sleeveless blouse I'm wearing today is my third version of the Sorbetto top. I eked it out of some cream-colored, twill-woven rayon remnants I found at a garage sale (yes, I have been doing a lot of garage saling lately -- a lot for me, anyway). I hemmed the ruffles with my rolled hem foot and the perfectionist in me loves how beautifully neat the stitches look! The rayon was slightly sheer, and since I didn't want to have to wear a camisole underneath, I self-lined it. This cut out the need to bind the armholes, but I did bind the neckline because of the ruffle.

I made my skirt several years ago from Simplicity 3841. I have always loved this fabric -- it reminds me of Paris in the 1950s. :)

And now to end, a prudent reminder to myself as I strive to dress in a feminine way: "Do not let your adornment be merely outward -- arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel -- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." -- I Peter 3:3-4 (emphasis mine)

Other WIFD participants:
A Joyful Handmaiden
A High Calling
Pursuing the Calling

Warning: WIFD ahead

What, you may ask, is a WIFD?

It is a phenomena peculiar to the Sense & Sensibility message forums and stands for Week in Feminine Dress, though the original idea came from LAF/Beautiful Womanhood. Every so often, the S&S ladies will commit to a challenge of dressing femininely and documenting it for the encouragement/inspiration of other board members. I haven't participated in a WIFD since before my marriage, and it's high time to do another one! Starting Sunday, July 24, I'll be posting photos on my blog as well as at the forums.

I'll post links to other participants' blogs at the end of each day's post, so if you'd like to join in, leave a comment and I'll add your link too!

Let the slipcovering begin!

Well! I did not expect to find a wingback chair so soon, let alone two, but God graciously blessed us with these chairs over the weekend! We found them at a garage sale we happened to be driving by (looking for a different garage sale, incidentally). They are made by Broyhill, in very good shape, with no odors or stains or traces of bugs (shiver), and we paid less for the pair than ONE ratty old chair would cost at Goodwill! AND, even though I plan on slipcovering them, in the meantime they match our couch's upholstery really well. :) What a blessing.

So, the next steps are to take some thorough measurements in order to estimate yardage, and pick an upholstery fabric for the slipcovers. This latter task is not as easy as it sounds, as I am a pretty indecisive person. Douglas and I have discussed what colors and prints we like and hopefully we can find some kind of middle ground there, especially within our price range. I will keep you up-to-date as this project progresses!

Edwardian-style heels, pt. deux!

So maybe I should start a side business sourcing and selling early 1990s vintage shoes? I found these this weekend at a garage sale -- SAME SIZE as the other pair I'm selling (i.e. just too small for me to keep!). Sorry to keep tantalizing those of you who are not 7.5, but the eBay listing is here.

Edwardian-style heels

I thrifted these champagne gold shoes a few weeks ago -- they date from the early 1990s, I think, but look oh-so-very early 20th century! Unfortunately, they are just a shade too small for me. (Wearing them for a modeling session, yes; standing and walking in them for hours on end, no.) If you have a love for historical clothing and are fortunate enough to be a size 7.5, check them out on eBay.

Sorbetto top

Yesterday I whipped up a new summer top from Colette Patterns' free Sorbetto top pattern. I made this as a wearable muslin using leftover cotton lawn from my maxi dress. I did lengthen the top by two inches, but other than that -- no changes!

I'm really pleased with the fit and the way it turned out. This is such a simple, easy pattern (two pieces!), but it has the potential for many variations. I'm planning on sewing up another version in the next few days, using some Lisette cotton lawn. I'm still deciding how to "fancy up" the next one. I'll share photos when it's done!

Archie vest

I recently won a giveaway at The Baby Gardner and was delighted to receive this sweet little Archie vest in the mail! It's perfect for a well-dressed gentleman of diminutive size. Too small for Edmund at this point, but I'm hoping for more boys in the future... ;-)

Grand Hotel

Thanks for playing along with my little guessing game! Each of the photos I shared held a clue, which I'll now explain to you. The first photo shows that we were near water, and the subjects -- red geraniums -- are the "trademark flowers" of the hotel where we stayed. Photo #2 depicts a horse-drawn carriage, one of the main modes of transportation on the island (the other options are bicycling and walking). The third photograph shows lilacs blooming in late June, indicating a northern location. And the final photo shows a long porch, which is the façade of Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan!


We were very blessed by the wonderful opportunity to stay at this hotel for one night in the midst of a week-long reunion of my dad's family. Mackinac Island is situated just between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, in Lake Huron, and is a historic summer destination. The hotel was built in 1887 and is beautifully kept, both inside and out.

My dad treated some of the ladies of the family to afternoon tea after we arrived at the hotel. How luxurious to sit in the beautiful parlor after a day of traveling by land and sea! We were each given a plate of savory sandwiches and a plate of sweets, plus our own pot of English Breakfast tea.


Each of the 385 guest rooms at the hotel has its own unique décor, so here's a peek at ours! I loved the striped wallpaper, floral chintz fabric, and mint green ceiling. :)


Part of the fun of staying here is that guests are required to dress for dinner. If you know me, you know I love an excuse to dress up. I seized the opportunity to wear a 1920s-style beaded dress Douglas gave me for my birthday two years ago. I did my best to approximate an "Eton crop" by slicking my hair down and pulling the length up into a bun at the nape of the neck.

Dinner was a delicious five-course affair. My favorite dish was the Salad Caprese -- I am going to try to replicate it in my own kitchen! We even did a little dancing after dinner. Douglas has taught me some basic Lindy Hop steps so I can act like I know what I'm doing.

The following day was gloriously sunny, so after a wonderful breakfast we enjoyed some family time playing croquet and lawn bowling on the lawn in front of the hotel. Douglas went on a garden tour and showed me some of the highlights afterwards. It was amazing to see lilacs and peonies still in bloom in late June! We also took advantage of the swimming pool and Edmund had his first successful pool time (he has rather hated being in the water until recently).


[pink poppies in the gardens -- lovely!]
After a late lunch, we boarded the ferry to return to the mainland. For me, it was surely the most unforgettable experience of our vacation!