Here are some pictures of the accessories I made for my Orange and Cream 1840's dress. I had completely forgotten to post them! I hope you like!
I added new trimmings to my plain, linen bonnet.
The bonnet, belt (and outfit) were partly inspired by this costume from Cranford worn by the hilarious Miss Pole.
The feathers are real Peacock feathers and Goose feathers that I cut down to size.
The ties are organza ribbon and a loose-woven blue cotton seam tape.
(I love mixing blue and orange! Have you noticed?)
The medallion I made with organza ribbon, flat seam lace, and seed beads. I loved adding the beads! I hope to do more of this in the future!
I added a gathered organza ribbon around the inside of the brim and at the back of the neck. Everything is tacked in place with large stitches so that when I wish to change the trim, I can simply snip the thread and pull it off.
The belt is made of darker organza ribbon and the same blue cotton seam tape. The 'buckle' in the front is brown embroidery floss covering a plastic ring off of an old camisole. That back is secured with a snap.
(I love snaps for doll clothes! And here's a little tid bit... Snaps for clothing were invented by Heribert Bauer in 1885. Unfortunately, they would not have been around in the 1840's... However.. I am not too worried about ALL my accoutrements being so very accurate! And besides, snaps are so much easier to use AND easier to hide than hooks and eyes!)
Hello Friends...
It has been a long time, has it not? I do believe life has been happening! Ballet, flooding, irrigation, friends, weddings, trips, barbeques, family! And in between times I have been flitting about the garden weeding here, cutting there, planting and watering here, here and here... The time has been just soaring by! But, it is still June! Which means the summer is ahead of us, and we shall do our best to make the most of it!
And now... I have been wanting to post these pictures of all of the lovely projects our friends and us made during the March 2013 Winter Accessory Craft-Along. So many beautiful things! I wanted to make sure everyone got a chance to see them before I begin some Summer posting! You may click on the pictures to see the original posts if you like.
Olive's Opera Hood
Ophelia's Fur Muff
Mabel's Buttercup Aimee Hat
Alice's Panda Hat
Emaline's Bosom Friend
We had such fun making these for the craft along! I SO enjoyed seeing what everyone came up with to make! Thank you to all participants who made it a success!
So... Now, what shall we do next, hmm? Any suggestions?
I hope to be posting some summer activity pictures soon! Thank you, all you dear readers, for sticking with me even through my LONG absences! My love and best Summer wishes to each and every blessed one of you!
ANNE: "My greatest wish, apart from staying at Green Gables, would be to have a bosom friend."
MARILLA: "A what kind of friend?"
ANNE: "A bosom friend; a really kindred spirit. I've dreamt of meeting her all my life."
I love this quote from Anne of Green Gables. And Marilla's face when she says it! Oh, it's too precious!
I have finished my Winter Accessory Craft-Along Project! Hooray! Hooray!
I am quite tickled and pleased with how it turned out!
I did block it, but I only used 3 pins because it knitted so well into the right shape already.
Since I used a shawl pattern, I added braided ties and tassels (yay!), and then poked them through the holes in the middle, at the point and tied them in a bow to make it into a Heart Warmer. (Oh! I just can't decide what name I like the best! They're all so charming!)
I love this yarn so much! And now I have a "bosom friend" to be with me all the time! he he!
And speaking of bosom friends... I have been reading the Anne of Green Gables series and I am absolutely in love with them!
Especially the first book. It is out of a dream!
And...
look what I found! My favorite part in Anne of Avonlea. Well, the whole movie is practically my favorite part, but you know how that goes... :)
Here it is... (watch from 2:58) Where Anne and Marilla are reunited. So wonderful! Makes me cry every time.
Well, I hope everyone has enjoyed this little craft along as much as I have. It certainly gave me a boost on some projects I've wanted to make for a long time!
We are certainly not done yet! There are still quite a few good days left in March, so if you haven't added your accessory yet, please do! We'd love to see them!
And now.... since March is departing and Winter is dwindling... I am thinking of what we should do next!
Does anyone have any ideas for our next blog party?
My goodness! I have been having such fun knitting this "Bosom Friend"! he he!
But I have to tell you... I made the most unfortunate blunder! Somewhere along the line, I increased or yarned over or who knows exactly what.. and the center of my shawl got... uncentered.
AH! Luckily, Olive was there to rescue me and show me, step by step, how to UNRAVEL a few rows, pick up my stitches and find the middle again. It was incredibly NERVOUSING! (As we like to say in our house.) But, we made it through and are back on track knitting away and hopefully, paying closer attention. :)
It's starting to look like a shawl!! Eeeeeee!!
Look! Here is a bosom friend that Amy wears in Little Women. Bless me! I think it's crocheted! Cute.
And here's some music that inspires me to knit what I'm knitting! It is 10 minutes long. I think I'll just turn it on and fall into the loveliness of it while I knit. :)
Click the picture for more information.
There's still plenty of time to join in the fun if you'd like!
Happy March to you all!!
We are having a splendid one so far. Thursday and Friday it was freezing cold and snowing and then melting. Yesterday and today, it's sunny, blue sky and about 50something degrees. What a life it is!
So... the Winter accessory I'm making is called a "Bosom Friend" or "Heart Warmer" or "Sontag".
Here are two versions of the Bosom Friend pattern taken from a January 1860 Godey's Ladies Magazine. Here and here
This isn't the pattern I'm doing, but it looks very neat and I definitely want to try it sometime.
The yarn is from the Shetland Isles first and then the small, delightful seaside town of Mendocino, California, which is where I bought it.
My Mama took me there for my post-Graduation trip in May 2010. It is one of my favorite places in the world!
This is the first house that was built there in the 1860's.
And here is the yarn shop where I got the yarn for my project!
The design...
The Pattern... I'm actually using a shawl pattern, but I think it'll double as a "Bosom Friend" (Isn't that the greatest name?) Here's the free download. I'm using the "Heart Shaped" shawl pattern.
The yarn... (The color is named Bramble. Isn't that cute!) Ooh! I love wool so much!
The progress so far... I know, it doesn't look like much yet.. But we're getting there!
I can't wait for the coziness!
Want to join in the fun? click here for more information!
More updates are on the way!
Thanks for reading, all you lovely cozy friends!
♥Emaline
