Quietude

Regency Roses

2012-01-28T11:37:00.000-05:00

Before the month slips away from me, I'll share about this Regency gown that I made for a friend this past month. She and her husband were invited to an English Country Dance, so she wanted a pretty Regency gown to wear to the event. Julie chose the fabric and the style, and I did the stitching!

I used the Elegant Ladies' Closet pattern from Sense & Sensibility Patterns, with a few modifications. I raised the neckline 1.5" and added a total of 4" of extra width to the front of the dress for potential maternity/nursing wear. I custom-fitted the length of the bodice on Julie so that she could wear the dress without needing period undergarments. Julie wanted a little extra something to add interest and definition, so she requested that I use a coordinating bias binding on the outside of the dress for the drawstring casing. I also added detachable long sleeves, from the same fabric, which I basted in after this photo was taken. I also made a chemise from cotton muslin for her to wear under the dress (no pictures of that, as it is pretty basic, but the interesting challenges of that pattern are flat-felled seams and inserting gussets under the arms).

Sewing this dress in the middle of winter was like getting a whiff of summertime and roses!

Handmade Christmas

2011-12-26T23:45:00.000-05:00

Here's a review of some of the handmade items I crafted as Christmas gifts. I went a little more homemade than usual this year, and considering I didn't get started on any of them until December was well underway, I'm pleased that I managed anything at all!

Here we have a counted cross-stitch ornament given to my friend, Susan. I lifted the design from a early 1990s library book. Most of the designs looked fairly out of date, but this classic folk pattern caught my eye. All materials came from my stash.

The recipient of this crayon roll was my little one-year-old niece. I used this excellent tutorial from The Pleated Poppy, adjusting the size to fit jumbo crayons. (If you want to do something similar, my fabric pieces were 5-3/4" x 24-1/2" for the outside and inside, and 6-1/2" x 24-1/2" for the pocket. The crayon pockets end up being 1-1/2" wide.)

Finally, this toile makeup bag went to my Mom. She had requested a smaller-sized makeup bag so this one ended up about 6" x 7." I used a tutorial from Flossie Teacakes, adjusting the sizing slightly and adding box corners. I am not totally happy with the way it turned out because the zipper corners look a little wonky (see photo). Perhaps my upholstery-weight cotton was simply too thick. For the lining, I used polyester lining and lightweight fusible interfacing. Other than the shape, I'm very happy with the neat finishing touches and the pretty fabrics.

I'm a little late, but I'll wish you all a happy (second day of) Christmas! :-)

Poor man's holiday room fragrance

2011-12-17T12:31:00.000-05:00

Now that citrus fruits are in season, we've been going through boxes of clementines like there's no tomorrow. Here's a little room freshener idea that makes good use of all those peels sitting around.

orange peels from 2-3 clementines
cinnamon stick
whole cloves (maybe a teaspoonful?)
a sprinkling of grated nutmeg
(optional) a few drops of sweet orange essential oil (I have it on hand, so I add it)

Place everything in a small saucepan and add some water (not necessarily to cover, but enough that it won't boil down right away). Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Your kitchen will begin to smell wonderfully fragrant. Top off the water as needed. You can reuse the same mixture for several days -- just toss it when it starts to look like a nauseous mess. ;-)

A Fond Farewell (sort of!)

2011-11-21T18:37:00.000-05:00

I've been procrastinating writing this post -- I'm sure you've noticed the neglect my blog has suffered of late! Douglas and I decided to get rid of our home Internet connection for a season, which went into effect at the beginning of this month. This is partly to cut out an unnecessary financial expenditure, and partly because we both felt we were too addicted to the Internet. It's been a few weeks now, and I'm truly surprised at how little I miss it -- mostly the convenience of looking up a recipe, checking the weather forecast, or things like that.

I initially thought that if we got rid of our Internet connection, I would give up blogging altogether -- but when push came to shove, I'm having a hard time severing something I've enjoyed so much over the past five years. So, I decided to semi-retire instead. My posts will be much more infrequent, since my Internet time is so limited, but I hope to continue posting from time to time, especially my sewing projects.

I will also be changing the comments so that all comments need to be approved by me before they show up. I've been blessed not to have to deal with much spam or unkindness through the comments feature, but this will just give me an extra measure of peace about the content of my blog when I'm not around to check on it every day.

Thanks for hanging in there with me! It's a blessing to be able to share the small beauties with which God has enriched my life at home. I'm always glad to hear from you, either in the comments or by e-mail (my address is in my blogger profile). God bless you, dear friends!

Pink or blue?

2011-11-21T18:32:00.000-05:00

I haven't been up to much sewing lately, but I did manage to make these two swaddling blankets from lengths of flannel I had in my stash. It's just a single layer of flannel, with the edges folded under 1/2" twice and stitched down. I made mitred corners for neatness. They ended up being about 38" square. I had several like these that I used with Edmund, and I really liked them for their versatility -- swaddling, nursing cover, floor mat, etc.!

Lord willing, one of these blankets will be put to good use in our family next May! ;-)

"Back to School" shirtdress

2011-10-30T21:14:00.000-04:00

As autumn rolled around this year, I realized I have a gap in my wardrobe of casual cool-weather dresses. I'd been wanting to try Simplicity 2246, so I ordered an autumn-hued plaid shirting from Mood Fabrics and got to work.

I used view C, but switched out the sleeves from views A and B. I also used the collar from view B, but added a ruffle of my own. I lengthened the skirt by two inches so that it would hit me below the knee. I also cut the button plackets on the bias to take advantage of the extra interest that the bias plaid would create. Oh, and I cut out the pattern a size smaller than I normally would choose, based on the finished garment measurements (included in the pattern) and other pattern reviews floating around the Internet. The fit turned out fine!

By the way, I've needed corrective lenses since I was 10 years old, but I usually wear contact lenses. The last time I got new glasses was about 13 years ago, so my frames were a little out-of-date. I recently got this new pair for free, courtesy of my ophthalmologist uncle, so I've been wearing my glasses a lot more frequently. I think they fit the academic look of this dress, don't you? ;-)

Another off-topic note. The first time I wore this dress I managed to get French fry grease on two separate spots on the skirt. I have tried rubbing the spots with Dawn dish detergent and then laundering as usual, which I think helped fade them, but they are still there (probably only noticeable to me, but still!). If you have any great methods for removing grease stains, lay them on me!

Banbury Cross cardigan, revisited

2011-10-24T17:43:00.000-04:00

I have a backlog of sewing projects to share, one of which is this new version of the Banbury Cross cardigan I designed last fall. The old one still fits Edmund, but there are a few "issues" that I was able to fix with this new one. The biggest thing I learned was that I needed to stabilize the button plackets, which I did with strips of interfacing.

This one was made from a thrifted, oatmeal-colored men's sweater. I used leftover herringbone wool for the elbow patches, and cute little leather-look buttons. I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out!

Au lac de Wallenstadt

2011-10-05T20:16:00.001-04:00

We've been quite busy around here with preparations for Douglas' weekend piano recital. Douglas has been devoting many hours to practice and I'm doing my bit by preparing for out-of-town guests and baking up dozens of refreshments. He did take the time to record my favorite piece that he'll be playing, "Au lac de Wallenstadt" from the Années de pèlerinage by Franz Liszt. Click here to listen or download. Enjoy!

Wool peddler's shawl

2011-09-26T19:05:00.000-04:00

This is a project that has been five years in the making. Proof that I am not a knitter!

I started this back in 2006, working on it off and on. It reeeeally languished. For two. years. Finally, the summer before my wedding, my friend Keturah and I made a bargain to swap projects. I would sew her a vintage-style dress if she would finish knitting my shawl!

My end of the bargain was fun. I sewed her a dress in blue silk charmeuse, based on EvaDress 7482. I'm not so sure Keturah's part was quite so fun, but she persevered. ;) And this summer when I went to visit her, she presented me with this beautiful shawl!

[The pattern is the English Wool Peddler's Shawl from Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle.
The yarn is Brown Sheep Co. Lambs Pride Superwash in Lichen.]

Leek and Apple Cream Soup

2011-09-20T16:07:00.000-04:00

1 lb. leeks
1/2 c. unsalted butter
1 lb. cooking apples, such as MacIntosh, peeled, cored, and sliced
1/2 lb. red potatoes, peeled and sliced
1 (14-oz.) can chicken broth
1 tsp. salt
2 c. half-and-half
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1/4 tsp. white pepper
Lady apple slices for garnish (optional)

1. Quarter leeks and wash thoroughly. Coarsely chop white portions and reserve green tops for garnish.
2. Melt butter in large heavy saucepan. Add chopped leeks. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes until transparent, stirring often.
3. Add apples, potatoes, chicken broth, and salt. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes until apples and potatoes are tender.
4. Puree vegetables with 1/2 cup cooking liquid in blender until smooth. Stir into remaining cooking liquid in saucepan. Add half-and-half, coriander, and white pepper. Mix well.
5. Cover and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Garnish each serving with lady apple slices, and fashion apple stem and leaves from reserved green leek tops.

Yield: 6 servings.

--from the January 1990 issue of "Victoria" magazine

Blessings of the day

2011-09-14T20:10:00.000-04:00

Edmund sleeping in 'til 8 AM
answered prayers
snuggling with my son under a wool tartan blanket, reading Marguerite de Angeli's A Pocket Full of Posies: A Merry Mother Goose
a full refrigerator
a little extra time to put dishes away, wipe down counterspace, and sweep the floor in the kitchen while Edmund entertained himself nearby
a moment of Joy
a new autumn candle ("Mulled Cider" from Mainstays brand, found at Wal-Mart)
leek and apple cream soup and most delicious spinach salad for supper
a country drive in the rain afterwards

September

2011-09-12T12:20:00.000-04:00

The golden rod is yellow,
The corn is turning brown,
The trees in apple orchards
With fruit are bending down.

The gentian's bluest fringes
Are curing in the sun;
In dusty pods the milkweed
Its hidden silk has spun.

The sedges flaunt their harvest
In every meadow nook;
And asters by the brookside
Make asters in the brook.

From dewy lanes at morning
The grapes' sweet odor rise;
At noon the roads all flutter
With yellow butterflies.

By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer's best of weather,
And Autumn's best of cheer.

--Helen Hunt Jackson

Automobiles

2011-09-04T10:01:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, our little family went to a large car show and auction where we had the opportunity to admire lots of vintage cars, some quite rare. This is our third year attending so I guess it's becoming a family tradition! Now, my husband loves cars and knows a lot about them. According to his mom, at age two he could identify the make of every car by sight. I can't even do that at age 28. He's passing this love on to Edmund, who has entertained friends and family by correctly identifying cars, trucks, Jeeps, SUVs, etc. Now Douglas is working on teaching him the different makes. He has Pontiac and Chevy down pat, but still needs a little help with Ford and others. :)

The afternoon featured exchanges like this one:

She: (looking at a 1940 Packard) Doesn't this remind you of our wedding getaway car [a '39 Packard]?
He: Yes, they're practically identical, the only difference is that there's an extra portion of grill right here. (pointing)
She: How could you even notice that?
He: How could you not?

So my car knowledge is sadly lacking, but I can still appreciate the beauty and elegance of well-made cars from days gone by.

[Love the vintage font!]

Slipcovering: estimating yardage

2011-08-26T09:49:00.001-04:00

Before I went about choosing a fabric to slipcover our two wingback chairs, I needed to take some measurements to make a yardage estimate in order to have a rough idea of how much fabric I'd need. This helps me to know what my maximum price range per yard will be. In order to do this, I measured each individual surface at its longest and widest point. (As you measure, pay attention to which direction the chair fabric is running -- I always made my height measurement correspond to the vertical grain, or the warp, of the fabric.) The photo illustrates what I mean by "individual surfaces" in case you are a little confused already. :) If a measurement ended with a fraction, I rounded up to the nearest whole number.

[I forgot to label the "arm front," but you can probably figure out where that is!]
After measuring all these areas, I ended up with a bunch of rectangular shapes that all needed to be fitted onto a length of yardage. I decided to assume that my fabric would be 54 inches wide, since that is the width of most home decor fabrics. Now here is where things got tricky for me. I'm pretty visual and I really needed something to look at to figure out the most efficient way to utilize the fabric. Sooo, I used some graph paper to simulate my shapes. Each box represented 10 inches, so I drew a rectangle for my fabric that was just under five-and-a-half squares across. Then I cut out corresponding shapes for each of my measurements, remembering that certain ones (like the arms, wings, and seat cushion) would need two of each piece. This made things so much more easy and I was quickly able to push the shapes around to find a space-efficient layout. I found that if I choose a solid or very small print, I could make each slipcover out of 3-2/3 yards of fabric.

The reason the print of the fabric will affect yardage is that larger-scale prints will need to be centered and matched, which obviously reduces the efficiency with which you can lay out your pieces. At least I now have an idea of how much fabric I'll need (I'd say 4-7 yards, depending on the scale of the print) and can search accordingly.

You'd think that the next part, fabric shopping, would be quite fun, but I can be so indecisive. It doesn't help that my tastes far outrun my budget. ;-) In the past I have been drawn to muted, classic, antique-looking fabrics (especially gorgeous florals). Since my marriage, my husband has helped me be less afraid of color and trends. I still like the same things, but am willing to consider brighter colors and different prints. I want to choose something that is not overly feminine (probably no pale pink florals) and that will stand up to a household with children (no whites or creams, and I would prefer something with a print so as to more readily hide dirt and crumbs). It also has to look good with Douglas' (black) grand piano. Lately I have been more drawn to ethnic prints but I'm nervous about going for anything too trendy. I might prefer to save such things for throw pillows, which are less of a commitment.

It's good for me to write this down and get a clearer idea of where I'm going. How do you go about making home decorating decisions? Do you choose a color scheme first, or find a fabric you love, or just start thinking about a general 'look'?

Summer WIFD - day seven

2011-08-05T17:26:00.001-04:00

On the final day of my WIFD, I wore an Anthropologie top with my newly-finished linen Beignet skirt from Colette Patterns.

I made this from stash fabric as a "wearable muslin" and I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out! Colette Patterns are a bit pricey but you will end up with a very well-made garment. If I bought a skirt like this in a store, it would cost me well over $100, and it wouldn't even be tailored to my figure. Choose some quality fabrics like wool and silk habotai lining and you'll up the luxury factor even more. At times, it pays to sew your own clothes!

This week was a good exercise for me as I now see I have plenty of options to make it through a week of dressing femininely, without resorting to the grubby or sloppy (oh, it happens!). I've tried to pay more attention to accessorizing as I think those little touches can add a subtle and beautiful look to an outfit. As to why I even bother trying to dress nicely at all, you can find some of my reasons here. I hope these posts have been an inspiration and encouragement to you!

Other WIFD participants:
A Joyful Handmaiden
Pursuing the Calling

Summer WIFD - day six

2011-08-05T17:07:00.001-04:00

After my great-uncle's funeral, we headed West to join up with Douglas' family and friends in the mountains. We all enjoyed a few days together at the family cabin.

I wore my Simplicity 5914 skirt (again) with an Anthropologie tunic top (on sale) and a belt from Charlotte Russe. My day was mostly spent enjoying family time and relaxing -- not too bad!

Other WIFD participants:
A Joyful Handmaiden
Pursuing the Calling

Summer WIFD - day five

2011-08-05T16:52:00.001-04:00

This day, we were traveling all day in the car so I opted more for comfort than style. I wore a short-sleeved knit wrap cardigan over two J. Crew tanks and an Old Navy knit maxi skirt, plus flip-flops for easily slipping on and off in the car.

In his college days, my husband was accustomed to driving very long cross-country trips to get from school to home and back again, and thinks nothing of filling up the tank and driving until it's empty again. By the time we reached Meramec Caverns in Missouri, I was begging for mercy. ;-) We got out and stretched our legs a little, although we didn't tour the caverns this time. Then back on the road again!

Other WIFD participants:
A Joyful Handmaiden
Pursuing the Calling

We interrupt this regularly scheduled WIFD...

2011-07-29T23:52:00.000-04:00

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

2011-07-27T22:02:00.001-04:00

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

2011-07-26T21:55:00.001-04:00

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

2011-07-25T16:22:00.002-04:00

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

2011-07-24T13:15:00.001-04:00

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

2011-07-22T21:13:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-07-19T08:01:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-07-18T14:03:00.000-04:00

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

2011-07-13T14:44:00.000-04:00

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

2011-07-09T19:24:00.000-04:00

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

2011-07-07T13:46:00.000-04:00

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

2011-07-04T09:45:00.000-04:00

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!

Guess where?

2011-06-30T08:11:00.000-04:00

Can you guess where we were this week?

Books, books, books

2011-06-24T20:36:00.000-04:00

Through my recent birthday and the discovery of two very well-priced used bookstores, I've added quite a few books to my shelves lately. Here are a few highlights:

A Pictorial History of English Architecture by John Betjeman ($1, used bookstore) -- I admit, the name "John Betjeman" caught my eye first, but when I read the title I knew it would be a great addition to my library. The photographs are either black-and-white or the dingy colors of the early '70s, so the pictures alone don't make the book worth seeking out. However, John Betjeman is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide, and the basic information remains the same, 40 years later.

The English House by Sally Griffiths and Simon McBride (birthday present) -- I have loved browsing through this book. It features 11 different homes from various counties of England, ranging from the likes of the Tudor Country House to the Victorian Terrace House. The text introduces you to the history of each home and its present owner(s). It interests me to read how the owners have chosen to renovate and decorate their historic homes. Some of the rooms and furnishings were familiar to me from photographs and stories in my beloved Victoria magazines, so I have enjoyed getting more views and backstories beyond what the magazines provided. This book is filled with beautiful inspiration for those who love English Country style.

Romantic Style by Denny Hemming and Victoria's Secret ($2, used bookstore) -- Yes, this book was published by Victoria's Secret back in the day when it was a classy establishment! There's not a single scantily-clad female in the entire book, imagine that! Although a few touches here and there are a little dated (it was published in 1990), for the most part, the decor featured in this book has aged well after twenty-one years. Much of it is in the "English Country" vein, hence my interest. I've enjoyed flipping through the pictures (the text is less interesting) for decorating inspiration.

Do-It-Yourself Tailored Slipcovers by Sophia Sevo (birthday present) -- I was excited to receive this book because it covers a variety of chair styles and how to slipcover them. I have been talking about slipcovering our couch for a while now, but recently the idea to start a little smaller has appealed to me. :) Now I'm on the lookout for the perfect used wing chair and the perfect upholstery fabric, then away I'll go!

Simple Upholstery and Slipcovers by Carol Parks ($2, used bookstore) -- I was pleased to find this as a supplement to the above book. It goes into making slipcovers for couches and ottomans as well as the actual ins and outs of re-upholstering furniture, with step by step photographs. After looking through this book, I feel I have a pretty good idea of how an upholsterer works!! I think I might have the confidence to try re-upholstering... someday. :)

Potted herbs

2011-06-19T22:11:00.000-04:00

Meet my apartment garden: potted basil, chives, spearmint, and dill. I love having fresh herbs for my kitchen. My future herb garden will include all of the above, plus cilantro, thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage, parsley, and lavender. What are your favorite herbs?

Summer's golden light

2011-06-15T14:06:00.000-04:00

33 years

2011-06-10T11:30:00.000-04:00

["That we may with one mind and one mouth glorify God..." Romans 15:6]

Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Ikat maxi dress

2011-06-06T00:49:00.000-04:00

My mother-in-law recently commissioned me to make a maxi dress for my sister-in-law Emily, using some pretty aqua batik rayon and Simplicity 2579. It was such a quick and easy pattern I decided to make a version for myself, too. Of course, I ended up making some changes to mine so it wasn't so quick and easy anymore.

I added a ruffle to the bottom of the skirt for fun, and some shell buttons to the shoulders for nursing access. This pattern runs quite small in the bust so I also did a full bust adjustment using the instructions from Fit for Real People. It wasn't as hard or complex as it sounds, and the ensuing fit is great (after taking in the sides a lot -- way too much ease, as usual!).

I used a semi-sheer cotton lawn from Fashion Fabrics Club and lined it with plain cotton. The skirt is also lined to the ruffle, which is not in the pattern -- I just cut extra skirt pieces from the lining cotton and treated them as one with the cotton lawn when gathering and attaching the skirt to the midriff.

I love the finished dress -- it is very comfortable and easy to wear, and since it's all cotton it keeps me cool. I'm going to be wearing this aaaall summer long!

Suzy Homemaker

2011-05-27T11:37:00.000-04:00

This vintage toy washer/dryer resides with Douglas' grandmother, where it has delighted children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren. The top lid is missing, but a child can still spin the interior and push buttons to his or her heart's content. (My husband remembers doing so as a boy!)

I've looked for small toy versions of certain domestic tasks so that Edmund and any future children can learn to be helpful around the house. My discovery has been that "homemaking" toys are hard to find these days. My mom found a wooden toy iron at a specialty store in Ohio, and I recently bought a tot-sized push-broom (at Jo-Ann Fabrics, of all places!).

I was intrigued by the brand name "Suzy Homemaker" -- a small glimpse into a time when little girls aspired to be like their mommies and keep house!

Do you recollect any favorite homemaking toys you played with as a child?

Comments, etc.

2011-05-23T09:03:00.000-04:00

A few people have told me lately that they have tried to leave comments on my blog, but their comment wouldn't go through -- so if this has been the case with anyone else, my apologies! Part of the fun of blogging is the interactive nature of commenting, so I put on my thinking cap to see if I could discover the problem. I currently have the comments set up so that you do not need to wait for me to approve your comment (unless you are commenting on a post over two weeks old), so if you comment on a new post and it does not show up right away, then your comment did not go through for one reason or another. (I only delete spammy comments.)

After a bit of investigation, I think the problem may be the "word verification" feature -- if you are unfamiliar with how this works and why it is there, it is easy to miss! If you are trying to leave a comment but do not have a Blogger account, you may choose to comment as "Name/URL" from the drop down menu. (A URL is basically a web address -- if you do not have a personal website, just leave that field blank.) Once you hit "Post Comment," you will be asked to verify that you are not a spambot by re-typing a randomly generated "word" image, like the one below:

In this case, you would type "twartme" into the blank field before hitting the "Post Comment" button for the final time. The verification "word" changes at random, and appears "wavy," to fool spambots -- it is easier for an intelligent human to discern letters, despite any distortions, than an automatic script.

(The "handicapped" symbol next to the blank field is for those who are vision-impaired or cannot discern the verification word. Instead, by clicking on the symbol, you will listen to a series of numbers read aloud against a background of "gibberish" and type the numbers you hear.)

In my mom's case, she was using Internet Explorer and the word verification feature was not even loading. My husband fixed this by going to Tools --> Internet Options --> Content --> Clear SSL State. Why that worked is beyond my Internet knowledge. ;-) So if your problem is like my mom's and you're not even seeing the word verification option, consult your nearest computer nerd. :-)

That wraps up my little tutorial! I hope it helps anyone who's been having troubles leaving comments.

"The real way to travel..."

2011-05-21T22:37:00.000-04:00

[Toad, disguised as a washerwoman and hitching a ride after his prison-break, feels his old cravings for reckless driving rising once again...]

"Please, Sir," he said, "I wish you would kindly let me try and drive the car for a little. I've been watching you carefully, and it looks so easy and so interesting, and I should like to be able to tell my friends that once I had driven a motor-car!"

The driver laughed at the proposal, so heartily that the gentleman inquired what the matter was. When he heard, he said, to Toad's delight, "Bravo, ma'am! I like your spirit. Let her have a try, and look after her. She won't do any harm."

Toad eagerly scrambled into the seat vacated by the driver, took the steering-wheel in his hands, listened with affected humility to the instructions given him, and set the car in motion, but very slowly and carefully at first, for he was determined to be prudent.

The gentlemen behind clapped their hands and applauded, and Toad heard them saying, "How well she does it! Fancy a washerwoman driving a car as well as that, the first time!"

Toad went a little faster; then faster still, and faster.

He heard the gentlemen call out warningly, "Be careful, washerwoman!" And this annoyed him, and he began to lose his head.

The driver tried to interfere, but he pinned him down in his seat with one elbow, and put on full speed. The rush of air in his face, the hum of the engines, and the light jump of the car beneath him intoxicated his weak brain. "Washerwoman, indeed!" he shouted recklessly. "Ho! ho! I am the Toad, the motor-car snatcher, the prison-breaker, the Toad who always escapes! Sit still, and you shall know what driving really is, for you are in the hands of the famous, the skilful, the entirely fearless Toad!"

--The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, first published 1908

Thankfully, Edmund's new toy pedal-car at Grandma and Grandpa's house will never reach break-neck speeds. In fact, at just under 18 months, he'd rather push the car than "drive" it.

My dad can pull Edmund down the sidewalk with the help of a bungee cord attached to the hood ornament. (I told Dad he really looked the part of a Grandpa with his slippers and argyle socks.) ;-)

I'm not sure who's more thrilled with Edmund's new toy, him or his vintage-loving mommy and car-loving daddy!

the "Emily Rose" skirt

2011-05-14T20:37:00.000-04:00

So named because it is a copycat version of a skirt owned by my sweet young friend, Emily Rose. She kindly let me borrow the original for a few days so I could see how it was constructed and take some measurements. I tailored it to my own size and height (being 5'10" means that most maxi skirts and dresses sold in stores are not really maxi). I also added a 2-inch elastic waistband covered with jersey knit -- not because I have any baby news to share, but because I am all about those "transitional" pieces that work for multiple seasons of a mom's life! I figure I can at least wear this through the first half of pregnancy when God sends us another little one.

This is one of the quickest projects I've done in a while -- from drafting the pattern to finishing the skirt was just 24 hours. (My sweet husband even got in on the act and drafted the third tier for me. It's the best-looking one, isn't it?) ;-) The skirt is constructed of circular flounces cut on the bias that gradually increase in size. The "tucks" are a result of lapping the edges of each flounce, rather than sewing "right sides together" as one would normally sew a seam. I was very blessed by my good friend Leah, who let me come over to her house and use her serger to make rolled hems on the tiers. It was so quick and easy!

The fabric is a linen blend I got for a great price at Hancock Fabrics last fall when shopping for fabrics for our medieval costumes. I ended up not using this particular length for our costumes, but it was perfect for this skirt.

So thanks again to Emily Rose, Douglas, and Leah for your help! I couldn't have done it without you. ;-)

Her Children Arise and Call Her Blessed

2011-05-07T23:20:00.000-04:00

[Photo by Melenbacker Photography]
Now that I am a mom myself, my own mother has become that much more dear to me. When I envision the type of mother I want to be, my mom's example comes to mind again and again. Above all else, I want to emulate her selflessness. I cannot stress enough how much my mom uses her life to serve others (Matthew 23:11). As I've grown older and met more and more people, I've come to realize how unusual this is. More times than I can count, I have been the recipient of her thoughtfulness, creativity, and generosity, and I have often witnessed her giving in the same way to others.

My mom practices hospitality (Romans 12:13), often inviting those who are unmarried or have no nearby family to her home. I have known other women who practice hospitality, but what sets my mom apart is her faithfulness in doing so. It is easy to invite someone over, then think to yourself, "OK, I've done my duty," and proceed to neglect the friendship you've just initiated, or wait for them to make the next move (been there, done that). Mom frequently invites the same unmarried or widowed friends over for Sunday meals and has done so for the past five or six years. Her recurring invitations show her genuine love for her guests. And beyond meals, she has also offered her spare beds to countless overnight visitors, whose stays have ranged from one night to a year or more.

My mom is creative. When my brother and I were young, we lived in a neighborhood with lots of kids, but not as much parental involvement from other families. Mom was often the one guiding our collective energy into wholesome and entertaining activities. One time, we hosted a miniature bake sale, baking lots of diminutive treats to sell at bargain prices to our friends. Another time, all the kids got involved in putting on an elaborate circus in our backyard. My brother and I always had wonderfully fun and creative "theme" birthday parties (we got to choose each year's theme, and my mom would do the planning and hard work!). You can imagine how this creativity extended into our homeschool time, too.

Mom "does not eat the bread of idleness" (Proverbs 31:27). I never see her sit down to aimlessly surf the web, watch a movie (unless she is joining others for a social activity), or read frivolously for excessive amounts of time (I have been guilty of all three). Although she does find opportunities to rest and relax, she is wise with her time and does not waste it in idle pursuits. She is also generous and energetic with her time and resources. Whenever she comes to visit me, she is always willing to pitch in and help me with whatever tasks need doing. During her latest visit, she did some hand-stitching for me, washed my kitchen floor (even moving the fridge and stove!), helped me cook, played with Edmund, went shopping with me for groceries, vacuumed my carpet, and many other helpful things, too.

My mom loves God and His Word. When I was living at home before my marriage, I would often come down in the morning to find my mom sitting on the couch or her favorite armchair, patiently tolerating my cat on her lap and poring over her Bible. She takes opportunities to memorize scripture and hymns, and often has an apt verse on her lips for whatever life situation arises. Her love of God is evident in the fruit of the Spirit that marks her life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Mom, I love and admire you, and I'm so grateful for your godly example. May the Lord bless you as you have blessed others!

Edmund's reading nook

2011-05-05T13:13:00.000-04:00

[Edmund catches a rare shaft of sunlight in his reading nook this morning --
we have been having the most dreadfully dreary spring!]
Edmund has developed a real love of books already, for which I am thankful. Almost anytime he sees Douglas or me sitting down, he'll bring us a book from his shelf to read to him. Some of our favorites right now are the "Little Golden Book Classics" vintage reprints, especially the titles that are illustrated by Tibor Gergely. His artwork has that late '40s/early '50s charm and there is always a lot to discover within each picture. Edmund's personal collection includes The Little Red Caboose, The Fire Engine Book, The Happy Man and His Dump Truck, and Scuffy the Tugboat.

Plain scones

2011-04-29T19:32:00.000-04:00

My Anglophilia kicked into high gear today, for obvious reasons,* and I felt I must make some scones to have with my tea. After my walk with Edmund, we stopped by the store and picked up some strawberry preserves, lemon curd, and heavy cream, then I whipped up these plain scones in no time.

2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 pinch salt
1/8 c. sugar
1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. milk, + 2 tbsp.

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix dry ingredients, then cut in butter. Add milk and mix to form dough. [EDITED TO ADD: you may find you will need more milk than just 1/2 cup -- the dough should be sticky enough to adhere together in a ball, but not so sticky that it sticks to the bowl.] Divide in half and shape each into a flat round (about 1/2 - 3/4 inch thick). Cut each round into six triangles. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush the top of each scone with extra milk. Bake for 10 minutes, or until tops are golden.

I am not sure where I got this recipe; I think I found one online and then modified it. It is my favorite plain scone recipe, though. On their own, the scones aren't much, but they make a perfect stage for delicious jams and spreads.

*I don't normally follow the doings of the royal family, but when I remembered that today was Prince William's wedding, I looked up the highlights on YouTube, and Edmund and I enjoyed watching a few selections. His favorite part was when the planes buzzed Buckingham Palace to congratulate the newlyweds. :) I loved the ceremony as it reminded me of my own wedding (same format, though the Royal wedding used a slightly modernized version). The Brits sure know how to pull off a gorgeous wedding with pomp and elegance!

Vintage hangers

2011-04-27T16:13:00.000-04:00

While I was in Arizona, my sneaky but sweet husband got on my Etsy favorites list and ordered a few surprises to welcome me home. I didn't even know he knew I had an Etsy favorites list, tee hee.

I completely love these whimsical vintage baby hangers! Thanks, darling!

(From Etsy seller theenchantedfigtree.)

He is Risen!

2011-04-24T13:27:00.000-04:00

Hot cross buns

2011-04-22T11:31:00.000-04:00

When I was a girl, I abhorred dried fruits in baked goods, especially raisins or currants. When I visited England for the first time at age 11, I was dismayed to find that every tea room we visited only offered fruit scones. At last, on our final day in London, I found civilization -- a.k.a. The Ritz -- where one was given a choice of currant or plain scones!

(Since those days I've gotten over my pickiness and I even like the extra sweetness raisins provide in Irish soda bread and hot cross buns.)

A posy of violets

2011-04-19T10:10:00.000-04:00

I love the simplicity of a little bouquet of violets in a pretty glass vase. Placing it on a windowsill allows the light to filter through the petals in a most becoming way.

Despite the wonderful sunshine in Arizona, I wouldn't miss the beautiful Midwestern spring for anything. It's my favorite time of year!

Arizona!

2011-04-18T20:35:00.000-04:00

Please pardon my lack of posting lately! I was quite under the weather in early April. God graciously healed me just in time for Edmund and me to fly to Arizona to spend some time here:

My longtime friend, Jessica, and her daughter M. (three weeks younger than Edmund) joined us there, as well as Jessica's older sister. This trip was courtesy of said sister as a birthday gift to Jessica. It wasn't my birthday but I sure felt like it was! We stayed in a beautiful rental home, decorated in a luxurious "Old European" style.

Not exactly kid-friendly, but with a few strategic rearrangements we managed. Edmund and M. are so close in age and they were often interested in getting into the same things, but we could definitely see differences in their personalities already. So fun!

One of my favorite experiences of the trip was making homemade lemonade from lemons we picked ourselves, right off the tree! That was such a novel experience for a Midwesterner. :) Not to mention the result was delicious.

I really enjoyed having a "feminine" vacation -- a.k.a. a lot of relaxing, resting, a little shopping, enjoying the good company and good food, etc. My husband was chiding me for not getting out and seeing the scenery but I told him we could do that next time when he's with me. ;) Edmund saw so many new things and we did some fun activities for the toddlers, like going to the park and a children's museum.

Flying is not my favorite thing to do and I was nervous about traveling by myself, with a toddler, but God gave me so many traveling mercies, not to mention the wonderful opportunity in the first place. Thank you, Lord!

Birthday bowties

2011-04-01T12:31:00.000-04:00

My husband's birthday was a few weeks ago, and one item on his birthday wish-list was "spring-colored bowties." Well, I can do that! I found some masculine, yet spring-ish cotton at Jo-Ann Fabrics and whipped these up, once again using BurdaStyle's David pattern.

I altered this one to be more of a bat-wing shape, with pointed ends. I love the way it turned out.

I have plenty of fabric left over so I think Edmund needs a matching bowtie for Easter!

Lanier mansion

2011-03-28T11:12:00.000-04:00

This past week while my parents were visiting, we all hopped in the car and headed south, hoping to find some spring. The farther we drove, the more green flora we came upon. Madison, Indiana (right on the Ohio River, and thus in a valley) was the most verdant place we visited. Green grass, budding branches, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, violets, magnolia blossoms -- all were a sight for winter-burdened eyes!

We toured the Lanier mansion while we were there. The house was built in 1844, in the Greek Revival style, and has been filled with all manner of period-appropriate antiques.

This beautiful tea set was in the dining room on the main floor. Anyone want to pause for a cup of Darjeeling and a few cucumber sandwiches?

A wash basin in one of the ladies' bedrooms. I love the wallpaper in this room.

This antique quilt was probably my favorite item in the entire house. I can just imagine all the work that went into it. My favorite types of quilts are the ones that obviously take a lot of skillful handwork (such as hexagonal piecing or appliqué, as seen here). The hand-quilting itself is also a work of art.

My dad (the astronomer of the family) was captivated by this celestial globe. It looks like just the thing for a study or library!

Happy birthday, J. S. Bach!

2011-03-21T11:28:00.000-04:00

As a genre within art music, Baroque is my favorite. It is always beautiful and elegant, and it elevates the mind.

My husband, who has a great memory for birthdays and other dates, reminded me this morning that today is Johann Sebastian Bach's birthday. So in honor of this auspicious anniversary, please enjoy the first movement from the first Brandenburg Concerto. The rest of the concertos may easily be found on YouTube if you want more.

Tulips

2011-03-19T21:06:00.001-04:00

"Swingtime" dress

2011-03-17T12:30:00.000-04:00

I recently put the finishing touches on my Sense & Sensibility swing dress! It's nice to have this dress done. I actually made two mock-ups of the bodice to try to get the best fit, but the extra work was worth it. The first time, I just cut straight from the pattern, no changes. The second time, I shortened the bodice by about an inch and moved the bust gathers 5/8" inward. I also adjusted the sleeve caps as per Casey's instructions, and shortened the length of the 3/4 sleeves by about 3 inches (they're still longer than the short sleeved version, though). I did make some shoulder pads but I'm not wearing them in these photos -- I need to make them a tad smaller. And don't forget, this dress is nursing-friendly!

[I have yet to find the right vintage brooch to place at the neckline.
I'm thinking something with pearls would be perfect!]
I tried to curl my hair in a vintage '40s style, but my wimpy curlers and mostly-straight hair betrayed me. (I say mostly straight because pregnancy has given me some curl for the first time in my life, but my hair is long enough that the ends are still pre-pregnancy growth and therefore stick-straight. It's like growing out a perm, in reverse. Crazy!) I loosely followed a "Marlene Dietrich" look for my '40s makeup, even trying out the "smear" lip shape (think Joan Crawford). If you ever want to try it for yourself, I highly recommend using a lip brush with your lipstick for greatest accuracy. Oh, and CHECK YOUR TEETH FOR LIPSTICK before you smile for the camera. :)

[Douglas took some shots in black and white... thanks for being the photographer, dear!]
I also have to tell you about my hat. My husband has encouraged me to find some cute vintage hats to wear to church, and who can say no to that? ;) I'm not an expert on hat styles, but I would place this hat in the 1940s (chime in if you have a learned opinion). I found it for a great price at a local vintage store. It's not in pristine condition but it's very wearable. I have to admit, I prefer '20s and '30s hat styles, but I don't like to mix up decades if I can help it. At least this is a more muted style; some of the '40s hats I've seen in books are a little too attention-grabbing for my taste (so says the woman wearing clothing styles 70+ years out of date).

So thanks, Casey, for hosting the sew-along -- I learned some new things to help improve the fit of my garments, and having a deadline helped me stay on track. And I'm thrilled to have a new springtime dress!

Excerpt from my current reading

2011-03-13T23:22:00.000-04:00

[I could not stop laughing at this bit... I love Dickens for sentences like this one!]

"His surname was Cruncher, and on the youthful occasion of his renouncing by proxy the works of darkness, in the easterly parish church of Hounsditch, he had received the added appellation of Jerry."

--A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, first published 1859

How to make the S&S swing dress nursing-friendly

2011-03-09T16:58:00.000-05:00

Here's a link to the Sense & Sensibility 1940s swing dress pattern, in case you're new to this!

Extra yardage + notions: You will need enough material to cut an extra midriff piece and two 2" wide bias strips. The length of these will vary based on your size -- you'll need enough to cover the bottom edge of the bodice. Fifteen inches gave me plenty. You will also need some sew-on snaps.

Notes on the pattern: The pattern layout suggested by the instructions has pattern pieces facing both directions, but my suggestion to you is to lay out all your pieces facing one way. Even if there is no obvious direction to your fabric, any differences in the way the fabric looks may not be obvious to you until you see the pattern pieces sewn up together side-by-side. I was able to cut all my pieces facing one direction without using much extra fabric at all. In fact, I found 2-2/3 yards of 55" wide fabric to be just enough for this dress, even with my nursing changes and using the 3/4 sleeve option. (I cut out a size 16, for reference. I did not lengthen the skirts although I did shorten the bodice and back pieces by about one inch.) If you'd like to see a sketch of my layout, click here.

I also recommend perusing the posts under Casey's Swing Dress Sew-Along for extra helpful tips. She will walk you through the notoriously tricky facings on the bodice. (Although even doing it her way, I still ended up with some problems -- the biggest being that the front facing crease no longer lays on the grain, thus causing it to be prone to stretch. I added some iron-on interacing to help stabilize it; you may want to do likewise if you run into that problem!)

So without further ado, let's begin the nursing changes!

Follow the instructions as given until you get to step 6. Omit the directions to "lap right front over left, matching centers. Baste lower edges together." Continue on until you get to step 9.

1. Measure the distance between the notches on the upper midriff.

2. Gather the lower bust on the bodice to match your first measurement, securing the gathering stitches in place. Staystitch over the gathered section (this means stitch with a normal stitch length at just under 1/2" away from the edge).

3. Take your two 2" wide bias strips and press them in half, lengthwise. Fold in the edges to the center crease and press again, being careful not to obliterate the center crease. You should have three creases, 1/2" apart, down the length of your bias strip.

4. Pin the bias strip to the bottom of the bodice piece, with the right side of the bias facing the wrong side of the bodice. Be sure to leave some extra bias tape at the center edge of the bodice. Stitch, 1/2" from the edge. Before you cover the raw edges with the bias binding, mark where the notches are on the bodice bottom with pins, chalk, or tailor's tacks.

5. Trim the raw edges of the bodice and bias tape (although not the extra bias tape at the center front -- we'll get to that part in a minute). Fold the bias strip over and, with the free edge tucked under, pin in place on the right side of the bodice fabric. Fold the extra bias tape hanging off the center edge of the bodice inward to create a nice finish. On the right side of the bodice, stitch the bias tape down, 1/16" from the upper edge.

6. If you want to interface your midriff piece, do so now. Mark where the notches are on the upper midriff with pins, chalk, or tailor's tacks. Then pin your two midriff pieces, wrong sides together, along the upper edge. Stitch, 1/2" from the edge.

7. Press open the seam you just sewed (a tailor's ham will make this easier, but even if you don't have one, don't skip this step!). Clip and trim the seam allowances, then turn the midriff pieces wrong sides together and press the stitched edge flat.

8. Topstitch the upper edge of the midriff, 1/16" away from the edge.

[Sorry about the funky lighting -- there was no daylight left by the time I got to this step!]
9. Pin the bodice pieces to the midriff, matching notches. You will want to pin in such a way that the edge of the midriff just covers the bias tape of the bodice pieces. You may want to hold this up to your bust to experiment with how far over you can stitch and still have the bodice open up far enough to nurse. I was able to stitch to the inner notch on the midriff piece.

10. Carefully sew over the topstitching on the midriff, stopping at the inner notch (or wherever you stopped pinning). A tip on re-stitching your topstitching: it is a temptation to watch the needle while sewing, but if you watch the guide line on your presser foot, your stitching will be much more accurate.

[How the dress will look from the inside.]
11. Mark positions for the sew-on snaps on the rest of the bodice edges. First, sew snaps onto whichever side of the surplice bodice you want to be in front. The corresponding snaps will be on the inside of the midriff. Then, sew snaps onto the side of the bodice that will be behind the first. The corresponding snaps to this side of the bodice will be on the back of the front bodice.

12. Press the inner midriff piece (the lining) under 1/2 inch. After attaching the front skirt pieces to the outer midriff piece, slipstitch the inner midriff in place, neatly covering all raw edges.

That's all! Finish the rest of the dress as directed in the original instructions. Let me know if anything in my tutorial is confusing or unclear, and I'll try to address it. Happy sewing!

Farm fresh eggs

2011-02-28T14:49:00.000-05:00

[Contrary to popular advice, I did put all my eggs
in one basket -- but only for the purpose of this photo.]
It's one of my goals as a homemaker to make positive diet choices for my family. However, spending a lot of time in the kitchen is not one of my favorite things so I tend to procrastinate certain steps to better dietary health that strike me as being really labor-intensive. In short, I'm prone to laziness. There are some steps that are so simple, however, that I really have no excuse. One is to buy farm-fresh eggs from pasture-fed chickens instead of supermarket eggs -- especially since my husband already passes the farm on his way to and from work. I got motivated in this area because Edmund really likes eggs (hard-boiled, scrambled, in a frittata -- you name it). Also, Douglas and I have been consuming more eggs lately in an effort to balance our breakfasts with more protein. So if we're going to be eating eggs anyway, we might as well be eating the most nutritious kind!

'Printemps' tunic

2011-02-20T19:00:00.000-05:00

The background for these photos belies the name, but I was inspired to finish this knit tunic top by a particularly spring-like day last week. Alas, the burst of sunshine is gone and we are back to dreary skies and colder temperatures. But at least I have a new top to show for it!

I had a lot of fun with this one. I didn't start out with a clear design idea, but things evolved as I went along. First I thought I'd try out a handkerchief hemline like various striped tops I've seen at Anthropologie. It took a little trial and error to get the look I wanted, but when it's hanging nicely (and not blown out by the wind, like in the photo) it looks pretty nifty.

You've probably all seen variations on the striped-top-with-ruched-sleeves look that is trendy right now. I thought of a sleeve design on a 1936 dress in Janet Arnold's book Patterns of Fashion 2 that I've always liked, and decided to try it out. I didn't scale up the pattern or anything, I just drew it out freehand and it worked! It looks complex but the sleeve is actually all one piece.

The final touch was some lace from my stash for the neckline, zig-zagged on with invisible thread, and the result is a romantic and feminine top for spring. The best part is that the fabric was 97 cents a yard at Denver Fabrics, and since everything else came from my stash, this thing cost me less than two bucks!

Sewing with knits

2011-02-18T21:19:00.000-05:00

When I posted about my 'Roses are Green' tunic, I was asked about any tips I could share on sewing with knits. I was going to include this with my next knit project post (coming soon!), but I realized I've got more to say on the subject than I initially thought, so this will be a separate post. :)

First of all, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with different types of knit fabrics. Oliver + S had a good blog post about this, "some knit fabric basics." I would recommend visiting your local fabric store and checking out some knits in person. Look at the fiber content; examine the stretchiness, drapiness, and feel of the different fabrics. Take a look at some of the knit garments in your own closet and see what kind of fibers they are made from, examine the seam finishes, etc.

To be honest, I have never made a knit garment from a commercial pattern. The first time I ever sewed with a knit, I took apart an old knit shirt and used it as a pattern. I think this is a good way to start out because you already know that it will fit you well -- just choose a fabric that is similar in weight and stretch to the shirt you are using as a pattern. If you have a "master pattern" like this that fits you well, you can really leap off from there and design anything you want!

As far as the actual sewing goes, I've learned by trial and error. Be sure to sew with a ball point needle in your machine. Some machines have a "stretch" stitch and I have heard recommendations that you sew all seams with a zig-zag stitch -- personally, I have sewn most of my projects with a straight stitch and I haven't found the stretch of the knit to be compromised. Experiment on some scraps if you are unsure what kind of stitch to use. I do have a serger so I finish my seams with that. If you don't have one, you can zig-zag the seams together and then trim close to the stitching, or even just leave them unfinished if you are feeling lazy. :) Knits don't unravel the way woven fabrics do.

Sometimes it can be tricky to feed the knit fabric through the sewing machine without stretching it. I think some machines have the option of lessening the pressure of the presser foot, which may help, but my machine doesn't (or at least I haven't figured out how to change it!). If I find that the fabric is becoming distorted as I feed it through, I will stop with the needle lowered and raise the presser foot to release the fabric. You may have to do this often.

A trick I learned relatively recently is to reinforce shoulder seams (and any other seams that are likely to receive a great deal of tension) with clear elastic. You can read more about that here.

Another feature you'll often see on store-bought knit garments is a double row of topstitching. I used to think I had to just sew around a hem twice to get this look, but I learned that it actually comes from using a twin needle. This has the added benefit of creating a nice finish on the wrong side of the fabric. You can just trim away any excess fabric near the line of stitching.

(I began to type out instructions on how I typically bind the necklines of my knit garments, but then I realized that without pictures, you're likely to just feel very muddled. :-P So if you are interested, let me know and I can do a photo tutorial.)

Whew! That's all I can think of for now. If you have any additional tips of your own, please share with us in the comments. And if I didn't address a question you have, feel free to ask! I have had my share of flops, so I know it can be discouraging when things don't turn out the way you envision. But honestly, knits are forgiving! I encourage you to give them a try! :)

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T12:35:00.000-05:00

[White hyacinths Douglas gave me for St. Valentine's Day]
Are you doing anything to celebrate St. Valentine's Day? Douglas and I had a special dinner last night, since he is working tonight. I chose to fix dishes that don't take too much preparation, but are still something fun and special. Our menu was as follows:

organic roasted red pepper and tomato soup with sour cream and dill
Welsh rarebit
brussels sprouts
burgundy mushrooms
Peter Rabbit chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream (so called because the recipe comes from one of my brother's childhood cookbooks)

After dinner, we watched The Young Victoria, which I had been wanting to see for a while. I'm always up for a good costume drama. :)

Swing dress fabric

2011-02-07T18:50:00.000-05:00

The rayon crepe I ordered for my swing dress finally arrived over the weekend. It's from Denver Fabrics (not affiliated with the real Denver Fabrics store -- just riding on their shirttails, I guess).

Fabric-shopping for this dress made me realize how hard it is to find pretty rayon prints that look remotely vintage. I literally scoured the Internet and three or four different Jo-Ann Fabric stores, and this was the best I could find (aside from paying through the nose for real vintage fabric on eBay or Etsy). Please, can't some company produce some repro rayon fabrics??

I've made this dress once before, right before I got pregnant with Edmund, so I tried it on to see how it fit. I had shortened the bodice by three inches(!) so of course that needed a change, but other than that, it fit pretty well. I'm making a mock-up of the nursing changes to the bodice, just to make sure it will work, and I anticipate some time to sew it up this evening after Edmund's in bed. I'll keep you posted!

Excerpt from my current reading

2011-02-05T14:32:00.000-05:00

[Three friends take a camping/boating trip up the River Thames...]

"Harris proposed that we should have scrambled eggs for breakfast. He said he would cook them. It seemed, from his account, that he was very good at doing scrambled eggs. He often did them at picnics and when out on yachts. He was quite famous for them. People who had once tasted his scrambled eggs, so we gathered from his conversation, never cared for any other food afterwards, but pined away and died when they could not get them.

It made our mouths water to hear him talk about the things, and we handed him out the stove and the frying-pan and all the eggs that had not smashed and gone over everything in the hamper, and begged him to begin.

He had some trouble in breaking the eggs -- or rather not so much trouble in breaking them exactly as in getting them into the frying-pan when broken, and keeping them off his trousers, and preventing them from running up his sleeve; but he fixed some half-a-dozen into the pan at last, and then squatted down by the side of the stove and chivied them about with a fork.

It seemed harassing work, so far as George and I could judge. Whenever he went near the pan he burned himself, and then he would drop everything and dance round the stove, flicking his fingers about and cursing the things. Indeed, every time George and I looked round at him he was sure to be performing this feat. We thought at first that it was a necessary part of the culinary arrangements.

We did not know what scrambled eggs were, and we fancied that it must be some Red Indian or Sandwich Islands sort of dish that required dances and incantations for its proper cooking. Montmorency went and put his nose over it once, and the fat spluttered up and scalded him, and then he began dancing and cursing. Altogether it was one of the most interesting and exciting operations I have ever witnessed. George and I were both quite sorry when it was over.

The result was not altogether the success that Harris had anticipated. There seemed so little to show for the business. Six eggs had gone into the frying-pan, and all that came out was a teaspoonful of burnt and unappetizing looking mess.

Harris said it was the fault of the frying-pan, and thought it would have gone better if we had had a fish-kettle and a gas-stove; and we decided not to attempt the dish again until we had those aids to housekeeping by us."

--from Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome, first published 1889

Snowbound!

2011-02-03T10:09:00.000-05:00

[February 2, 2011 - our "backyard" field and neighboring
farmhouse look quite picturesque under a blanket of snow.]
We, like many others across the Midwest, spent the past few days weathering a large ice/snow storm, although "snowbound" is a bit of an exaggeration. My dear Grandma was visiting us at the time and her flight home was postponed 24 hours, so we got to spend some extra time with her. :) We mostly spent the time cozily indoors working, reading, eating, playing with Edmund, etc., and managed to get through with our electricity still on (though there was a heart-wrenching moment when the lights flickered a few times...).

When fierce weather surges outside our walls, I think of the hymn by Isaac Watts:

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Praise God for being our shelter and shade!

Earring storage solution

2011-01-25T16:36:00.000-05:00

Well, here's one way to keep track of a growing collection of earrings. This works best for the dangly type, which is the kind I wear most often.

The frame was a plain wooden one I found at Goodwill, housing a rather ugly print of ducks. :) I took the print out, lightly sanded the frame, and painted it with a champagne gold acrylic paint. Next I took an old toothbrush and dipped it in a darker gold paint and rubbed that along the length of the frame to give it a little dimension. When that was dry, I diluted some dark brown paint with water, then dipped the toothbrush in, flicking it onto the frame by running my thumb over the bristles in the opposite direction of where I wanted the paint to go. This was all to give it an aged look, and I loved how it turned out.

The wire screen was salvaged from some windows that someone had put out on the curb for the taking. It's the fiberglass(?) type -- not aluminum -- I'm not really sure what I'm talking about here but it is pliable and strong. :) I used a staple gun to attach it to the frame. It ended up not being quite as taut as I'd hoped but it works.

Now my earrings are a little easier to see, instead of being thrown together in a jewelry box. Next I need to figure out a way to organize my necklaces!

White bean and winter squash stew

2011-01-21T14:15:00.000-05:00

This is a stew I have made over and over since I've been married. It's quite different than any of the other run-of-the-mill stew recipes I've come across, and the cumin, cinnamon, and cilantro give it a little taste of India. I like how it uses only vegetables and beans. I've adapted my version from the Fix It and Forget It Cookbook so that it's no longer a crockpot recipe -- I find I need to pre-cook the squash to dice it easily, so at that point I might as well just make it on the stove.

1 winter squash
1 large onion, diced
1-2 T. butter or olive oil
3-4 c. chicken broth
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb. bag of dried Great Northern beans (or other white beans such as Navy or Cannellini), soaked and cooked according to directions on bag
14-1/2 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
chopped fresh cilantro

Pre-heat the oven to 350. Split the winter squash in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and stringy flesh, and place each half face down on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour 1-2 cups of water into the baking sheet and place in oven for 30-45 minutes, until the squash is fork-tender. Remove squash from sheet and place face-up to cool.

While the squash is cooling, dice up a large onion and saute over medium heat in a little butter or olive oil in the bottom of a large stock pot. Once the onion is translucent, add the minced garlic and continue cooking for another minute or so, until the garlic is fragrant. Add the chicken broth, spices, cooked beans, and diced tomatoes. Chop up the cooled squash into bite-sized chunks (being sure to cut off the skin) and add to the stew, then simmer 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve garnished with fresh chopped cilantro.

Thrifted treasures

2011-01-19T13:46:00.000-05:00

I've had a little success in the thrifting/vintage shopping department lately. Most of the thrift stores around where I live are Goodwills, and their prices are generally ridiculous. (Really? $4.50 for a used top, when I could find a new one on clearance for a cheaper price?) I'm not willing to pay above what I would consider a good "garage sale" price.

I did find this wooden hat stand and vintage floral hatbox at Goodwill, and the prices were actually reasonable. I may repaint the hat stand ivory or a more muted color, but for now I like how it matches the pink roses on the hatbox. I will use the hatbox for storage for now, but in the future I can foresee it decorating a daughter's bedroom. I am a complete sucker for vintage floral patterns, especially when they're pink. I hope my daughters like them, too.

This sweater clip actually comes from an antique store, but it was such a great price it may as well have been thrifted. ;-) Sweater clips, if you have never heard of them, are meant to hold a cardigan in place when wearing it over the shoulders, like a cape. Very librarian-ish, right? If you have never seen these for sale anywhere, Jen has a great tutorial on how to make your own here.

I'm working on an earring storage project, mostly from thrifted materials, so I'll share that soon, too!

Swing dress sew-along

2011-01-13T23:47:00.000-05:00

Have you all heard about Casey's swing dress sew-along? I am planning on participating, so this will be my first sew-along! I already have the e-pattern, and if I don't find some great rayon fabric this weekend, I'll be ordering some online. (The Anglophile in me is halfway tempted by this novelty fabric on eBay -- someone reiterate how ridiculous a dress made out of fox hunting fabric would look, and I'll get over it.) ;-)

I am planning on making my version nursing friendly, and if my modifications are successful, I will post detailed instructions on how to change the pattern for nursing. I've contacted Mrs. Chancey (who designed the pattern) and she had a good suggestion on how to make the nursing modifications, so I am pretty confident it will work.

I am hoping this sew-along will encourage me to really take the time to make the dress well. Lately I have been desiring to increase the quality of my sewing projects to ensure a beautiful end result that I will really enjoy wearing -- not just zooming through as quickly as possible so as to have another item in my wardrobe. This means taking the time to make a muslin and check for fitting, lining skirts, considering nicer seam finishes, etc. I'm looking forward to getting started!

'Wisteria and Sunshine' dress

2011-01-06T14:39:00.000-05:00

It was this time of year, in 2007, when I first read Elizabeth Von Arnim's book, "The Enchanted April." January is a good time of year to read books set in idyllic climes.

My grandmother's friend purchased this vintage 1920s dress to use as a prop in a flower arranging vignette. Knowing my love of vintage fashions, she generously passed it on to me when she no longer needed it.

The dress reminds me of the beautiful costumes in the film version of Enchanted April, thus putting me even more in the mood for "wisteria and sunshine."

This dress is the simplest thing, but so pretty and dainty. Even a beginner seamstress could copy this without a pattern. The beauty and femininity of vintage dresses like this one is what got me addicted to sewing in the first place.

Now excuse me while I go find something warm and beautiful to read... (it's snowing outside my window as I type this.)

This and that

2011-01-02T23:57:00.000-05:00

Just a little "admin" notice to let you all know I added a feature in the sidebar to allow you to subscribe to my blog via e-mail (that means, in simplest terms, you will receive an e-mail every time I publish a new post). This comes at the request of my sweet mother, but I thought it might be useful to other friends-and-relations who don't use feed readers but would still like to keep up with the "goings on" here at Quietude. So check it out over to the right under the "Subscribe" header, and sign up if you'd like.

I also changed the settings to allow anyone to comment, so if you have tried to leave comments in the past but were unable to because you weren't a registered user, you're now at liberty to start chiming in!

Any other ways in which I can improve my blog? Leave a comment and let me know!

Glen Plaid bowtie

2010-12-30T17:18:00.000-05:00

Douglas got his first bowtie earlier in the year, and has been wanting to add more to his collection. I sewed this one to give to him for Christmas, using BurdaStyle's David pattern. The fabric is a glen plaid suiting left over from a vest I made when I was first learning to sew.

I didn't make this bowtie adjustable, mainly because I couldn't find the right sort of sliders at Jo-Ann Fabrics. The pattern instructions are fairly confusing, so I basically ignored them and just customized the length of the bowtie to Douglas' neck size and handstitched the two pieces together. It was very easy and I'm pleased with the shape. I would like to find a way to make future bowties adjustable, so I think with a little tweaking I could make this over and over again.

Now the only difficulty is finding classy silk twill fabric... any suggestions? (I am personally averse to geometric or abstract prints -- very classic stripes, polka dots, crests, or other such "Old School" patterns would be acceptable.)

'Roses are green' tunic

2010-12-27T13:59:00.000-05:00

I'm a fan of tunic-length tops these days -- long enough to keep everything covered when bending over to pick up my son. I sewed this one before we left for vacation out of some cotton knit in my stash (originally bought at a great price at Denver Fabrics last spring). I was going for an Anthropologie look, hence the mix of prints and funky yoke line.

It looks cute with a cropped cardigan and skinny jeans. Bonus: it's roomy enough that it will work for early pregnancy and post-partum. Transitional pieces are a Good Thing to have in a mother's wardrobe, I have discovered.

Nine Lessons and Carols

2010-12-23T22:39:00.000-05:00

If you live in the States and are within range of a public radio station, chances are you can tune in to a live broadcast of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge, on Christmas Eve morning. You can check your local NPR station's website to find out when to tune in.

If you can't listen in, you can still enjoy last year's service on YouTube. I love watching and listening because you can enjoy the beauty of the chapel and the cuteness of the choirboys (my husband makes fun of me for melting into a puddle of maternal goopiness whenever they're onscreen, haha). I've started with the first selection, "Once in Royal David's City," below, and the rest of the clips are labeled sequentially so you can watch them in order (or skip around to your favorites like I do).

Have a very merry Christmas, and may the light of Christ shine in your heart!

Pears in a row

2010-12-19T19:14:00.000-05:00

Photo by Douglas, taken at my in-laws' house. We're "home for the holidays"!

Greensleeves

2010-12-10T15:15:00.000-05:00

I was introduced to this version of "Greensleeves" in Christmas 2008, when we were attending a church with a choir (of which I was a part, since Douglas was accompanist... otherwise I don't think they would've let me join, my singing skills being pretty non-existant. Perks of having a talented husband!). ;) It was one of my favorite songs we performed at Christmas that year. Have you ever heard such a hauntingly beautiful descant as in verse two?

A Nutcracker tea

2010-12-06T00:44:00.000-05:00

The Nutcracker ballet has been a major December tradition for me ever since I was a little girl. I first saw Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland on PBS when I was 18 months old and as my parents tell it, I was transfixed. My mom took me to my first live performance two years later and since then it's been a yearly tradition to attend the ballet. We would often invite another mother-daughter duo to come along with us and make a day of it.

If we were traveling in December, we'd try to see a production wherever we happened to be, so I've seen Nutcracker performances in places as far reaching as Sarasota Springs, Florida; Kansas City, Missouri; Phoenix, Arizona; Edinburgh, Scotland, and many others besides. After seeing so much variety, I know what I like when it comes to choreography, costumes, staging, etc. Like, the Arabian dance should showcase feats of flexibility and strength, and Mother Ginger's children should be little acrobatic whizzes.

I haven't been to any performances since I've been married, and now with a little one taking in a show uninterrupted would be difficult. But this year I was determined that we should have our own little Nutcracker viewing. So, I ordered a DVD of the New York City Ballet's The Nutcracker and Douglas and I set a date on the calendar.

To add to the fun we had a little Nutcracker-themed tea beforehand. The treats were a motley assortment culled from the various nationalities and sweets in Act II of the ballet. To wit: Chinese egg rolls, Russian blinis, marzipan and cream puffs, gingerbread scones (for Mother Ginger), Spanish chocolate, and (Arabian) Turkish Delight. Oh, and Simpson & Vail's Nutcracker tea, a "delectable tea blend comprised of black tea, almond pieces, orange peel, cranberries and cinnamon & chocolate mint flavors."

Unfortunately, my choice of DVD was a bit of a flop. I think kids would enjoy it because the two main roles of Marie and the Nutcracker are played by young children, but that meant that dancing was scarce in the first act. When we got to Act II, I found the choreography frankly boring. Afterward I looked up the Baryshnikov/Kirkland production on YouTube and realized I should have stuck with that version for spectacular dancing. I'm thinking next December...

Patterns on eBay

2010-12-03T08:36:00.000-05:00

As part of the Great Purge I mentioned earlier I am trying to get some stuff listed on eBay. First off I managed to go through some of my sewing patterns and choose some to get rid of that I'm not likely to use. They are all priced at a starting bid of $0.99 so now's the time to buy yourself a cute vintage pattern. :) Here's a link to my listings.

Happy December 1st!

2010-12-01T10:14:00.000-05:00

We woke up to a gentle snowfall this morning...

"The Advent wind begins to stir
With sea-like sounds in our Scotch fir,
It's dark at breakfast, dark at tea,
And in between we only see
Clouds hurrying across the sky
And rain-wet roads the wind blows dry
And branches bending to the gale
Against great skies all silver-pale.
The world seems travelling into space,
And travelling at a faster pace
Than in the leisured summer weather
When we and it sit out together,
For now we feel the world spin round
On some momentous journey bound --
Journey to what? to whom? to where?
The Advent bells call out 'Prepare,
Your world is journeying to the birth
Of God made Man for us on earth.'"

--excerpt from "Advent 1955" by Sir John Betjeman

Who wants a mostly-finished housefrock?

2010-11-28T14:38:00.000-05:00

Douglas and I are doing a Great Purge of our belongings. Our apartment is fairly small and we don't have much storage space, and things were getting too cluttered for me to keep clean (thus causing great anguish of the soul to Douglas, who is a neater freak than me). So, while going through one of our storage tubs I came across this unfinished dress. It was a little tight even before I started nursing and there's no way it will fit me now. However, it is mostly finished and I hate to throw it away! So that means if any of you dear readers are interested, I will send it to you for the cost of shipping via PayPal (the cost will depend on where you live, but I will keep it as cheap as I possibly can). First person to e-mail me at kcimedl (at) hotmail (dot) com (subject line: housefrock) gets dibs! Let me know your zip code or country so I can get back to you with the shipping costs ASAP.

Here are the specs:

Fabric/Pattern: Light blue cotton with a small floral jacquard weave. The cuffs and collar are off-white cotton and the cuffs are trimmed with vintage lace. The pattern is Easy Stitch 'n' Save M5024 by McCall's, which appears to be out of print but is basically the exact same as McCalls 4769. I will include the pattern and instructions.

Size: I think I cut this out in a pattern size 12 (bust 34, waist 26.5, hip 36). Measurements while lying flat are bust 37 inches, waist 29.5 inches, and hips 44 inches. The length from the back of the neck to the unfinished hem is approximately 45 inches.

Left to do: The dress has been assembled most of the way. The collar still needs to be attached, the facing needs to be sewn on, buttonholes need to be made, the skirt needs to be hemmed, etc. The collar and upper facings, both made of the same off-white cotton as the sleeve cuffs, are already cut and will be included. There do not seem to be any pieces for a lower facing (below the waistline) but I will include scraps of the blue fabric if you want to piece your own. There is not a belt. Buttons are not included.

Perfectionist's disclaimer: I started this dress soon after I learned to sew so it's not up to my current standards. :) The seams are unfinished. If I was going to finish this dress for myself I would rip out the sleeves and re-insert them; I am not sure whether the sleeve cap is supposed to be gathered or eased in but I didn't do a great job either way. It might not bother a less perfectionistic seamstress, though. ;) Up to you!

Please give this classy lady a second chance at life!

EDIT: Thanks for your interest... the dress has been shipped off to her new home! :)

Banbury Cross cardigan

2010-11-18T19:23:00.000-05:00

A design for a vintage-style cardigan for my son has been swimming around in my brain for the past few weeks. At first I thought I might try to design a knitting pattern. Then I woke up from that fantasy and realized I am not a knitter and Edmund would likely be grown and married before I finished such a project. Playing on my strengths as a seamstress, I thought I might try to sew a cardigan, but I was not willing to pay big bucks to order a sweaterknit fabric (and frankly, all the ones I've ever seen for sale are kinda ugly anyway). I had an "a-ha!" moment when I found this old J. Crew turtleneck sweater of mine stashed away in a bag of things to give away. On closer inspection, I discovered it had some moth holes so it wasn't really fit to sell or donate to a thrift store. But it is a beautiful, slate blue color and the fiber is fine quality 100% merino wool. So here is the obligatory "before" shot:

(This is not the actual sweater I repurposed, but the exact same style in a different colorway. I forgot to get a photo before I started cutting it up!)

And here is the "after":

This is basically a tot-sized grandpa cardigan... shawl collar, elbow patches, horn buttons (well, they're plastic but let's pretend). I love the way it turned out and it's roomy enough I think he'll be able to wear it even when he's in 2T clothes (he's about 18 mos. size right now). Sewing the sweater was basically like sewing any other knit. Tricky at times, but the stretch is forgiving.

Just so I could feel thrifty I went on the crewcuts website to see how much they're charging for their vintage-style sweaters for boys. Here's a similar one that's going for a hefty $72. I paid $1.61 for the buttons on Edmund's cardigan. Let the smugness ensue.

And now let me gush a little about my son. He'll be one year old a week from tomorrow and he's grown so BIG! He's been walking for about a month... the "drunken sailor" walk but walking nonetheless. His favorite activity is putting things in his mouth. Once he gets going gnawing/sucking/chewing on something his eyes glaze over and he goes to his happy baby place. I won't regale you with all the things I've found him sucking on that he shouldn't be.

He is so, so precious though, and full of energy and curiosity! I love being his mother. :)

[Edmund gallops off into the sunset!]

Most delicious spinach salad #2

2010-11-12T13:09:00.000-05:00

2-3 cups spinach
one ripe pear (Bartlett or Anjou are good varieties)
a handful of sweetened dried cranberries
a handful of unsalted cashew nuts
poppy seed dressing (Brianna's is our favorite brand)

Fill two salad bowls with spinach. Slice up a pear into bite-sized chunks and divide evenly between the two bowls. Top each with a sprinkling of dried cranberries and cashews. Top with poppy seed dressing.

Laura's Notes: I am unable to find unsalted cashews at the grocery store where I shop, so I just rinse the salted cashews in water before putting them on the salad. This makes a very pretty Christmas salad because of the red, green, and ivory colors of the salad. You could also substitute pomegranate seeds for the dried cranberries.

(I've previously shared two other favorite salad recipes, most delicious spinach salad and favorite summer salad).

My latest frock

2010-11-06T18:36:00.000-04:00

The 1940s have never been my favorite decade for vintage fashion, but my husband likes me in '40s styles. So I took a look around at online pattern sites and found a cute one from Lanetz Living that was in my size, nursing friendly, and from the 1940s (or at least it was advertised as such -- now that I look at it closer, I think it may be early '50s, but it's close enough!).

I was dismayed to find that one of the pattern pieces was torn and thus incomplete. Of course, it was one of the more complex pieces -- the front yoke. I redrew it based on the illustrations in the instructions, but I ended up taking in the shoulders and sleeves a little. I also took in the bodice by a good four inches as it was initially very blouse-y.

I made self-fabric ruffles for the yoke and pockets as suggested in one of the dress illustrations. The very large and practical pockets are lined in muslin.

The instructions on this pattern are pretty sparse and there is no pattern piece for the neckline facing. You're already supposed to know how to make a facing on your own. I guess 1940s seamstresses probably did.

I really pushed myself to finish all the details on this dress -- no skimping or getting lazy. I even learned how to make thread chains for belt loops, which turned out to be SUPER easy. I couldn't find good instructions on the Internet so I consulted my copy of Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing, and all was made clear.

The buttons down the front give me a chance to tie on this little-worn vintage apron of mine. It may be hard to see in the photo, but there is a buttonhole just under the peak at the top of the apron, which you're supposed to attach onto a button on your frock. The sides are a little apt to flap down but I think a good ironing with starch might help.

I am very happy with this dress. It's super-comfy and the waist is not too tight to make household chores difficult. The cotton floral is kind of a "working muslin" as I had in mind a more autumnal color scheme, but I couldn't find any vintage-like fabric in dark, warm colors. Happily the blue floral cotton was on sale so the whole dress was pretty cheap.

And my husband's reaction? Well, he made a rather hilarious comment that I can't share here. ;) But I think he likes it.

Dear Golden Vintage

2010-11-01T20:12:00.000-04:00

I just came across the most gorgeous Etsy shop, Dear Golden Vintage. Such a lovely selection and the cohesive presentation makes it a joy to browse through her offerings! It gets me inspired for future sewing projects. I am soooo tempted by this 1950s dress which is even in my current size, but the $138 price tag and the lack of nursing-friendliness (ha) are keeping me sane. I am also drooling over the fabric on this 1930s cotton voile dress. Some other favorites: 1920s lace dress, 1960s celadon plaid suit, and 1940s chocolate peep-toe heels. Of course I'd taken anything from the shop, especially if it was given to me. ;)

What are your favorite pieces from Dear Golden Vintage? Are there any other shops you like to browse for sewing/fashion inspiration?

Reformation Faire costumes

2010-10-25T21:05:00.000-04:00

Here are our outfits from the Reformation Faire! They turned out pretty "costume-y" but it was fun to be dressed up.

Douglas was supposed to be a 14th century Oxford scholar (although he says everyone thought he was a monk). I had asked my mother-in-law to dig out his graduation gown, which she was unable to find -- but she did find his grandfather's robe. It was a little too short and didn't fasten all the way down the front, so I made him a long, sleeveless gown of cheap black suiting to wear under it. The hood is of black linen/rayon blend and I based it off a drawing in The Medieval Tailor's Assistant by Sarah Thursfield. When he wears it over his head, he looks like Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars. Soooo funny.

I made my sleeveless surcote by following instructions on The Medieval Tailor. I ended up using a pale blueish-grey pique knit in my stash for the faux kirtle. The fabric was given to me (free!!) and I wasn't going to use it for anything else. In the end, the knit ended up being a boon since I didn't have a pattern (the stretch is forgiving). Oh, and did I mention this outfit is nursing friendly? I cut two slits slightly off center in the underdress, which were hidden by the surcote unless I pulled it aside to nurse. I realized after I made the costume that the colors are kind of reminiscent of an outfit worn by Eowyn in The Two Towers. I honestly wasn't trying to copy movie costumes; it just happened! ;)

[Douglas helping Edmund to clap along to the lively music of Charlie Zahm.]
Edmund's baby dress is made out of the same linen as my surcote. I dyed it indigo, hoping for a dark blue, but I got more of a greyish blue that blends in with his surcote. His surcote is made out of an old skirt I made in high school that no longer fits me. I just based his outfit off of a drawing in The Medieval Tailor's Assistant. I wanted to make him a hood or coif but I ran out of time. He was probably happier without, anyway.

[This is the best full-length photo we took! How remiss!]
My parents also came and got into the spirit by dressing up. Dad wore his Tudor-style costume from madrigals group in college. Mom made herself a dress from a pattern she's had since the '80s. If I remember correctly, it is supposed to be a 15th century European noblewoman's dress. Mom sacrificed her eyesight for authenticity and went without her glasses for most of the day. If her eyesight is as bad as mine, I have no idea how she did this without running into a wall.

We really enjoyed the weekend -- great lectures, great music, great dancing, great worship, great fellowship... you get the idea. I also had great fun meeting and chatting with Karen and Lily, two friends from the Sense & Sensibility historical sewing board. Their entire family had the best costumes, which perhaps they will post photos of on their family blog? We shall see. :)

Fauré, Pavane Op. 50

2010-10-22T00:25:00.000-04:00

(Edmund and I have been listening to Douglas' Fauré CDs lately.)

October morning

2010-10-19T12:40:00.000-04:00

For my (sporadic) daily constitutional, I like to walk along the country road that heads north from our apartment. I carry Edmund with me in a front-pack or more recently, a backpack (front or back, he is still a heavy load). The traffic is reasonably sparse and there is a lot of beauty to be admired along the way.

Melting frost on the grass.

Vibrant, colorful trees.

Long shadows from an early-morning sun.

Reflections in the creek.

I love seeing what wildflowers are blooming at different times of the year. Right now we have purple and white asters, goldenrod, and once in a while, the last of the Queen Anne's lace.

(As an aside, I am always reading about Michaelmas daisies in my books, and I finally looked them up. Turns out it's the British name for asters.)

Edmund's favorite part of the walk is when we pass the dogs. You can see one waiting for us in the background. I don't know what kind of tree this is, but it looks gorgeous right now. It has no leaves, but retains vibrant red-orange fruit of some kind (about the size of crabapples). Any clues?

"He hath made every thing beautiful in His time: also He hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end." --Ecclesiastes 3:11

Rosette

2010-10-17T20:06:00.000-04:00

I made this rosette pin from a leftover scrap of fabric from my sister-in-law's 1910s tea gown. Unlike the rosette on the gown, I left the raw edges facing out for a bit of texture. This crushed velvet ribbon that I've been hoarding in my stash was just right for a leaf. I could easily see a cluster of these decorating the neckline of a thrifted sweater or top... I'll be keeping my eye out for just the right specimen.

Medieval sewing

2010-10-08T13:00:00.000-04:00

Our little family will be attending a Reformation Faire later in the month, and I'm going to try to sew some costumes to get us in the spirit of the event. One of the men being highlighted this year is John Wycliffe, so we are going with 14th century costumes in his honor (and, truth be told, I figured it would be easier and cheaper than something from the Tudor era or later).

Figuring out what to make on a really tight budget has been a challenge. Although these are definitely costumes, I hated to go to all the time and effort to make a costume out of a cheap synthetic fabric, but period appropriate fabrics (linen, wool, silk) tend to be expensive. However, last Tuesday I accompanied Douglas up to the Big City so I could look for fabric while he had a choir rehearsal. At my last stop, Hancock Fabrics, lo and behold I found some light brown linen blend on "blowout sale" for just $2.95 a yard! The bolt didn't actually specify what the blend was, but I think it may be cotton -- at any rate, it really looks like real linen and the price can't be beat. I plan to use it to make myself a sleeveless surcote. Then I am going to make a faux kirtle to wear under it (saving myself the yardage of the skirt and just hand stitching it together at the hips -- that's the plan anyway; we'll see how it works!). I think I may have enough dark red wool left over from my swing dress to do this -- I have to find it first. :-P The end result should be something akin to this.

Edmund's costume should be easy; just a baby dress out of whatever period appropriate fabric scraps I can find. I am still figuring out exactly what I'll do for Douglas; plan A is to go for the look of a 14th century Oxford scholar (as Wycliffe was both fellow and master at Balliol College) and plan B is a tunic and hose. I'm rooting for plan A as it involves less sewing on my part. :-) Lord willing, I will share photos in a few weeks!

Two years

2010-10-06T09:25:00.000-04:00

Douglas and I celebrated our second anniversary on October 4th. The weather was much like our wedding day -- sunny but not hot, beautiful cloudy skies, trees just beginning to turn. Even though October was not our first choice, I am so glad now that we did get married then. This time of year will be forever special to me now. In honor of the day, here are a few of my favorite wedding shots I haven't shared before:

The church was beautiful that day.

"13th century stone from All Saints Church at Sutton Benger, Wiltshire, England" - in the courtyard of the church. Douglas' aunt was delighted to find this as she has traced a line of their ancestry back to Wiltshire.

My bouquet was made up of pale pink roses, white ranunculus, Queen Anne's lace, and English ivy in a silver tussie-mussie holder.

We said our vows and were married...

...And God has given us two wonderful years together since.

(All photos by Melenbacker Photography.)

Bread-baking saga, part deux

2010-10-01T17:58:00.000-04:00

Since I last posted about bread-baking, my dear friend Robin gave me some freshly ground wheat flour from her hand mill. First I tried a 100% whole wheat dough, with blackstrap molasses, so it was quite dark and hearty. Next I tried half white bread flour, half whole wheat flour (pictured here, with homemade grape jelly, also from Robin!). They cut thickly so a slice of bread is a delicious accompaniment to a bowl of warm soup -- perfect for these beautiful autumn days.

(Ironically, Robin and her daughters have been eating gluten-free for the past several months, and are feeling much the better for it. If you are in the gluten-free boat, her blog has some tempting recipes for you!)

Churn Dash, revisited

2010-09-30T14:16:00.000-04:00

[A smattering of finished quilt blocks.]
When I was pregnant last year, I publicly expressed my intentions of making a baby quilt on this very blog. Fast forward a year (or more) and the quilt is not done, but I have an excuse! The fact is Edmund received a lot of baby blankets as gifts, all of them very beautiful and useful, but I figured I really don't need to go to all that work when he's got plenty of blankets already. So, I decided to turn my blanket into a toddler-sized quilt instead. I recently pulled out the fabrics again and starting piecing some more blocks. I need to do the math to figure out how many I will need for the larger quilt, but so far I have twenty done. Things are chugging along!

Classic Christie

2010-09-26T23:19:00.000-04:00

While at a garage sale this weekend, I snapped up this wonderful 1936 edition of Agatha Christie's Murder in Mesopotamia. It's a little musty but entirely readable, and I could not resist the Art Deco font on the cover. Plus, it's a title we didn't have in our library!

I've been collecting Agatha Christie books since my teens. My husband also owns quite a few, so when we combined our libraries, we ended up with over two shelves full. Just the thing when one needs a quick Christie fix!

1938 bib

2010-09-23T20:02:00.000-04:00

Since Edmund is now having some supplementary food other than milk, we finally get to put to use his cute baby bibs. My mom made this one before Edmund was born, from a reprint of a 1938 pattern available from Pattern Bee. It goes especially well with mashed carrots.

Excerpt from my current reading

2010-09-14T12:12:00.000-04:00

[From chapter six, "Various Conquests," on post-war flying...]

"The most remarkable flight of all, but one that strangely enough was almost uncelebrated in the Press, was that of M'Intosh and Parer from England to Melbourne. These were two Australian lieutenants who determined, when the war ended, to go home by air in a condemned D.H.9, bought for a few pounds. Almost every part of the machine was defective, including the petrol-pump and magneto, bolts kept working loose from the engine and propeller, the struts were unsound, the instruments faulty. They started on the 8th January 1920, had vexatious delays in France, climbed up to 14,000 feet to avoid a storm over the Apennines and then as they were about to cross the Adriatic went on fire at 3,000 feet, but extinguished the flames with a steep dive. They reached Cairo, by way of Athens and Crete, after forty-four days; the usual flying time for this distance was forty hours. Everyone there thought the two men crazy to persist in their journey, but they patched up the machine and few on east. They had to come down in the central Arabian desert because of engine trouble, M'Intosh keeping Arab marauders off with Mills bombs and a revolver, while Parer tinkered with the plane. He got her off just in time. They reached Baghdad -- the first time that the flight from Egypt had been made -- changed a broken propeller, and flew on over Baluchistan to India. Parer remarked, 'We'll fly this b----- crate till it falls to bits at our feet.' He did so, and more. When the engine failed over the Irrawaddy jungle they made a lucky forced landing; but soon afterwards a crash at Moulmein wrecked the undercarriage, smashed the radiator, and damaged the compass. For six weeks they worked in the jungle at fitting together the bits and pieces and then took off again. They crashed twice more, but somehow managed to cross the most dangerous obstacle of all, the Timor Sea, where they lost their bearings and flew blind, reaching Australia with only a single pint of petrol left in the tank. Their last crash was at Culcairn, close to their goal: there was practically nothing left unbroken of the D.H.9, but the two airmen escaped unharmed. The fragments of the machine were reassembled for exhibition in the Sydney Museum; Parer and M'Intosh were decorated by the Australian Prime Minister and given a purse of £1,000 to defray their expenses. They had already paid part of these by trick-flying and scattering hand-bills over the cities passed in their flight. M'Intosh died soon afterwards in a plane accident; Parer later operated a self-supporting unsubsidized air-line in New Guinea between the coast and the goldfields in the interior."

--from The Long Weekend: A Social History of Great Britain 1918-1939 by Robert Graves and Alan Hodge, first published 1940

McCall's 5721: 3-in-1 shopping cart cover

2010-09-06T19:58:00.000-04:00

My baby has a propensity for gnawing on any germ-covered surface within reach, so I made this shopping cart/high chair cover so he can chew on fabric instead of the latest virus to be going around. ;-) (You can't see the fabric very well in this photo, but it's covered with old-fashioned toys of all kinds.)

What looks like an easy project actually took me some time. There are two pockets with loops for toys on the inside of the cover, plus a larger bag on the backside which the entire cover can be folded into when not in use. I have found that the two pockets are probably overkill and you could get away with one or none at all, although the loops to attach toys are handy. The pattern calls for self-made bias tape, but I skipped that step and used pre-packaged. The instructions aren't always the greatest, but if you use your common sense you'll come out on top!

Bread-baking

2010-09-03T20:11:00.000-04:00

Earlier in the week, I decided to try my hand at bread-baking. I've made hand-kneaded yeast breads only once or twice before in my life, so I pulled up The Bread by Hand eBook by Kimberly Eddy (available at her website, Adventures in Mothering). It's a very readable instructional booklet on making homemade, hand-made breads. She recommends starting out basic, so I halved her white bread recipe and set to work. I started the sponge as soon as I got up on Monday and then tended to the bread throughout the morning in between a two-mile walk, an errand to the city, and lunchtime. The timer on the oven dinged just as we were finishing up lunch.

Kimberly explains why breadmaking is not an exact science and warns against following any recipe to the letter without accounting for variables (such as the humidity of your kitchen). When you're baking on your own, a little trial and error is in order. I added a little less flour than called for and yet my dough seemed quite substantial. Douglas punched down the dough for me after the first rising, and his comment was that it didn't completely collapse like his mom's bread doughs did. What that means I'm not quite sure -- too much flour? Not enough yeast? The baked bread's taste and texture seem fine to me -- actually, more than fine. When slathered with butter and drizzled with honey, it's an absolute treat.

So, chalk up the first attempt as a success. Next time I'll try adding some nutrition to the bread. ;-)

Life-giving brew

2010-08-29T20:24:00.000-04:00

[Some boxes of English Breakfast tea that my father-in-law recently brought back from India.]
If you know me well at all, you'll know I'm addicted to black teas. This habit started when I lived in Scotland six years ago and my best friend there was constantly inviting me to her room for "a nice cup of tea." Twinings' English Breakfast is what she always favored, the water prepared in an electric hot pot and then poured into little tea mugs, given a brief steeping and served, piping hot, with a dash of milk. English Breakfast is still my favorite, but I'll occasionally branch out into other flavored black teas for a little something different. A few recent discoveries have been:

Lipton Vanilla Caramel Truffle tea -- a friend of my husband's said this is the most coffee-like tea he's ever tasted. To me, it's almost sweet. I like it as a treat and it's quite unlike any tea I've tasted before.

Simpson & Vail Decaffeinated Almond Black tea -- my husband picked this out when I placed an order recently, and I secretly thought it sounded ho-hum. But out of everything we ordered, it was the first to be finished off! It has a delicious almond flavor that is not "fake" as almond flavorings can often be. It reminds me of a homemade almond kiss cookie.

Simpson & Vail Victorian Earl Grey tea -- I believe this is my favorite Earl Gray. The bergamot and other flavorings are not too overpowering; only just right. Delicious!

What teas are your favorites?

Vintage sewing tool: skirt marker

2010-08-19T14:45:00.000-04:00

When we're at home in Indiana, I have no one to mark hems for me, save Douglas (who's not the most experienced). So I was quite chuffed when my mom brought this home for me from a garage sale.

Based on the woman's dress, I would guess it to be from the late 1930s or early 1940s. The marker works by puffing chalk dust onto you skirt at a uniform height from the floor. This one is missing its base but I think it will work fine without it (or I can scavenge up a makeshift one). I can't wait to try it out!

Silhouettes

2010-08-13T20:03:00.000-04:00

[Mom on the left, Dad on the right]
I made these silhouettes of my parents several years ago, just for an old-fashioned touch for my bedroom. Here's how I made them, step by step:

1. Take a digital photograph of your subject, in profile, against a blank white background. Open the photo in a graphics editing program and set the contrast to be as high as possible. Print the image.
2. Trace the silhouette and add any artistic or historical details you may fancy (I got some inspiration for the Regency-style touches from a book on silhouettes from our local library). Fill in the silhouette with black ink.
3. Xerox the silhouettes onto white paper. This is also a good time to adjust the size, if you need to.
4. Soak the paper in a brew of black tea to get an "aged" look. Quick dry the paper by placing it on a cookie sheet and sticking it in the oven on its lowest temperature. Repeat as often as needed.
5. Fit the silhouettes into matching vintage junk-store frames and hang them on the wall!

Folkwear #233

2010-08-05T20:46:00.000-04:00

I just finished up this retro 1940s dress for my mother-in-law! She chose the fabric (a pink rayon print with hats and flowers) and pattern (Folkwear #233) and I did the sewing. I love sewing 1940s patterns because of all the fun construction details like gathering and topstitching. A neat topstitching job brings a great deal of satisfaction. :)

This dress included some "firsts" for me -- most notably, I've never inserted a side zipper before or made a hidden zipper placket. The directions are excellent, though, and I had no problems. I recommend the pattern for intermediate to advanced sewers.

I'll pop it in the mail to you tomorrow, Mom S.!

Pink flora

2010-08-03T17:07:00.000-04:00

Before we left Colorado, we spent a delightful morning wandering through the Denver Botanic Gardens. I realized that I must have a penchant for pink flowers because when I got home and looked through our photos, I realized that's pretty much all I photographed.

We've been on the road again the past few weeks, but we're back to one spot now (for the present, at least!). I hope to use the next few weeks to do some sewing and pattern drafting. I have just a little handsewing to finish up on a 1940s rayon dress for my mother-in-law, which I will share photos of soon. And... it's pink. :)

Antiquing with Cheri

2010-07-22T01:41:00.000-04:00

Uncle Tom's cabin happens to be just a hop, skip, and a jump from where Cheri lives, so one afternoon while the guys recuperated from their mountain hiking, Edmund and I drove down to meet up with her! Cheri kindly gave me a tour of her sewing room so now I can envision where she sews all of her beautiful projects, including the aprons she sells through her Etsy store, Peasant Cottage. Then she introduced me to a few of her favorite antique stores. (The antique shopping near where I live isn't much to write home about, so this was a lot of fun for me.)

I found an inexpensive copy of "St. Elmo" by Augusta J. Evans -- not a book I know much about, but I remembered that Lanier had given it a nod on her lovely website, Lanier's Books. Since I tend to share her tastes, I figured I'd enjoy reading it. And the cover cracks me up -- rather tame compared to today's romance covers, eh? ;)

I also found two silver candlestick holders so it was a fruitful shopping excursion for me. It was delightful to spend a few hours in the company of a kindred spirit -- thanks again, Cheri! (I forgot to bring my camera along, but Cheri posted a few photos from our visit.)

Uncle Tom's cabin

2010-07-20T17:58:00.000-04:00

Our little family spent a long weekend in the mountains at Uncle Tom's cabin. Edmund and I had small pursuits: I did a great deal of reading, while Edmund spent time playing with toys and learning to crawl. Douglas and his friend, Josh, hiked to the summit of Long's Peak (seen on the right in the photo, which was taken on the cabin balcony).

Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
[Psalm 113:5-6]
Edmund was fascinated by the aspen trees. Whenever the wind stirred their leaves, they became a vision of shimmering greenery. Any form of playful lighting is totally riveting to this almost eight-month-old baby. :)

It's a beautiful spot and very special to Douglas and his family. I'm glad to have had the chance to see it all!