Boy's plaid shirt

The first item on the crazy long Spring historical sewing list has been completed! This is a plaid cotton work/play shirt for Noah, complete with underarm gussets just like Dad's.

Shirts should be a fairly simple project, but to make them authentic, there is actually quite a bit of hand sewing. The final result is worth it, but it can be time consuming to flat fell all those seams. He'll wear this with some wool trousers & braces and a collarless wool vest.

We are headed out to the first Tea and Ball event of the season this weekend, so I should have some lovely (hopefully) pictures of actual reenacting soon! It has been a long, gray winter, and I am ready for some gaiety and fun!!

All I need to know I learned from Jane Austen...

My Mom found this gem and picked it up for me. It contains such witticisms as:

"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid."
- Henry Tilney in Northanger Abbey

And:

"If things are going untowardly one month, they are sure to mend the next."
- Mr. Weston in Emma

There's just nothing like Jane.

Projects from Christmas

Alright, I know it is way past Christmas, but I don't think my brain has fully caught up to 2011 yet. So, here are a couple of projects I completed for Christmas, but never got to post.

The first is an imitation Anthropologie scarf made from a peachy cotton voile as gift for my very hip sister-in-law from L.A. I loved this project from Presser Foot because it seriously went together in 20 minutes and taught me the value of elastic thread. Elastic thread can gather fabric beautifully?!? Who knew?

The second is that I finally finished my second attempt at the 1930s Past Patterns skirt! Ok, it really only needed a zipper, but I find myself zipper challenged since I never use them for period clothing projects. Fortunately, this zipper tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew came to my rescue, and I am no longer so scared of zippers (although using a glue stick on fabric does seem a bit weird).

As you can see, the skirt became my Christmas wear this year. The design is surprising modern, and I guess the classics never go out of style!

I'm thinking I need a new project now - it is the doldrums of February and I need something to brighten my mood. Unfortunately, I have a pile of menswear that needs making up for Spring reenacting season and I'm stuck with a vest on the top which fails to motivate me. (I realize I'm always saying that I'm making a vest, and that is because it really is true - I've made at least 5 now!) At least this one is silk, but I think a good dose of men in waistcoats is in order to invigorate me - something gothic like Jane Eyre. Yup, that'll do.

I'm off to enjoy the vivid, stark deliciousness. Have a lovely, gray day!

Not so wordless Wednesday

I'm slowly slogging through the backlog of pictures I have to post and I realized I never posted the child's version of the Mother/daughter apron set I made for our auction basket this last fall. Although Nate was not the most willing participant, you can get the general idea :).

I'm a very guilty feeling blogger, and I really miss my preschool schedule with the kids. It was so peaceful somehow. This year's crazy schedule that I'm currently maintaining of working at home, supplemental schooling and driving kids everywhere is not conducive to a lot of blogging, although as we get back into reenacting season I'm hoping to get some updates (oh and sewing) in, even if infrequently.

All the busyness is motivating me to think about unconventional lifestyles though, and what might be the best pace and choices for our family. If I can ever collect my thoughts on the issue, I might post on it, but the basic jist is that I'm starting to realize that some really creative things can come from unusual choices, and I think that is what I'm wanting for our family for the future.

I'm about to head into my binge sewing season, so I'll be updating the projects list, and then reenacting season will begin! Oh, and if anyone wants to hit the Sew Expo with me, I'd be delighted!

Merry Christmas Snowshoe style!

Merry Christmas from the beautiful Northwest! May the light and love of Christ fill this special day!

Hip skirts

This year is ending somewhat disappointingly, with lots of illnesses and obligations. But I'm trusting that life is lived in seasons, and that this too shall pass. Because of all the sickness and responsibilities of a business, we haven't been able to make it to many events this year. So, for the time being I have turned my focus toward some modern sewing.

I really enjoy sewing now, and I don't want to set it aside simply because we have to take a hiatus from reenacting due to life circumstances. In fact, if anything, I need more creativity and beauty in my life right now! I've been busy attacking the unfinished and wish project list and I sewed up this "Hip skirt" in the last few weeks.

This is a cotton corduroy from JoAnns that went on an awesome Black Friday sale. The fabric was printed on the bias, which was how I would have cut it anyway. And did I mention that I love all the accessories that are in style now? Such a great way for a recessionista to change it up with out going broke.

Pattern is Hip Skirts by Favorite Things. Very nice, simple pattern and I think I will try it again soon in a button up wool version.

Wordless Wednesday - Ancient African painted hands project