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 [...]
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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 [...]
The Pattern is More Than 100 Years Old! A 1920s Pattern and Yearbook
I was thrilled (and very surprised) when I found this pattern for $6 at an antique expo. It was even my size! See the price for the same pattern (Pictorial Review Pattern 9430) currently for sale! This pattern was patented 1907, but I think the copyright might have referred to the company, not the specific [...]
I Made a Dress from a 1940s Pattern!
I've been wanting to make this one (Simplicity 4230) for a while! I made the blouse almost two years ago. I had also planned to make the jumper out of royal blue fabric. The pattern included an embroidery transfer, and I thought white flowers on royal blue would be gorgeous. However, I realized that I [...]
Making a Weskit from 1950s Vintage Patterns
The blog has been more focused on writing recently, but I've kept up my sewing projects too! I just got behind in photographing the completed projects. This is a project I finished last winter! Three years ago, I made a weskit from a vintage pattern, pictures and details here. It is one of the items [...]
Writing is Hard Work, but I Had Another Poem Published!
This week, I had another poem published through an online journal, Solid Food Press. Please read Hummingbird Sabbath here! There is a temptation to think that poetry (or any other kind of writing) is a gift some people have, the words just come to them in a storm of inspiration, and then they get published. [...]
Welcome To The Carriage House 