Happy fall! Autumn calls for warm colors and layers and maybe a little bit of whimsy. I got this checked woven fabric at a yard sale last year and had to find a pattern that suited it. The colors were perfect for fall, so I decided a versatile garment for fall weather would be best. [...]
Author: harpandsong2
I am an elementary school teacher who enjoys history, needle-craft, literature, and spending time with friends and family. I am working through the process of buying and renovating a house while also learning how to make it a home as a single.
Playful Freehand Embroidery
As I've mentioned, this summer was probably the busiest summer season I've ever had. Because of this, I was not able to work on as many creative projects as I usually would. However, there was one little project I had been thinking about for a while. A year or so ago, my brother gave me [...]
My Heart’s in the Highlands: Scotland!
And then it was on, further north! We had one day for sightseeing in Edinburgh. Our Air B&B was in an old Georgian row house on Scotland Street (of Alexander McCall Smith fame). The three flights of steps up to the flat were steep and worn! Air B&B stairs! The Writer's Museum Sir Walter Scott [...]
The Lake District: Possibly My Favorite Part of England?
It rained today and is still a bit overcast here. Time to get a cup of tea and enjoy a bit of England! Last year, on my dream trip to England, I had initially tried to get to the Lake District. After calculating the travel time, I realized it made more sense to stay in [...]
Backyard Beauty: Flower Arranging
LVby Emily DickinsonI send two sunsets-Day and I in competition ran,I finished two, and several stars,While He was making one.His own is ampler-But, as I was saying to a friend,Mine is the more convenientTo carry in the hand.(sent with brilliant flowers) I'm taking a little break from sharing pictures and stories of my travels to [...]
3 Stops in England: Hertfordshire, York, and Kendal
The location of the conference/retreat we were helping with was an old country manor house in Hertfordshire which had been expanded to become a large Christian conference center. I enjoyed some morning walks in the countryside before responsibilities began each day! We had unusually hot weather for the area, in the 80s mid-day. The mornings [...]
Return to England! Bath and Lacock Abbey
I was telling people that this had been my busiest summer in seven years, but then I realized that seven years ago, I was still in a teaching job (not working during the summer). Since I now work full time year-round, this summer has probably been the busiest summer I've ever had! I'm back from [...]
Continuing Back in Time: 3 Dresses from the 1910s
We're going even further back in history today! In the Greatest Haul of All, these three dresses, which I estimate to be made between 1910 and 1920, all fit me and I'm excited to show you all of their beautiful craftmanship and details! From the silhouette, I believe this yellow dress was made in the [...]
More than 100 Years Old: a 1920s Evening Gown
At least twice, you've heard me complain about how unflattering 1920s clothes are. They completely ignore the female figure. It's like they try to start with a blank slate to embellish. Well, there are exceptions, especially in evening wear. Remember several months ago, when I modelled a 1920s silk day dress from the estate sale [...]
The Civilian Conservation Corps: Saving the Young Men and the Land
Last September, I went to a Virginia state park with my family. While stepping into their tiny gift shop/welcome center to look for a trail map, I noticed a display (about 4' by 3') with a brief explanation about how the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped build the park in the 1930s. My curiosity was [...]
Welcome To The Carriage House 