An Afternoon Dress

Hello My Dears! I have been too long absent! I am missing everyone DREADFULLY! I hope, now that summer is just around the bend, we will be able to do some picnics or outings of some sort! Croquet anyone?

Now, I would like to tell you a little story. It is about a little dress that was very long in the making. My seamstress Marguerite, made this dress for herself and when I saw it I thought I simply MUST have one! --but, with a few differences of course.
-One being that it is entirely hand sewn.
I know you've already seen bits and pieces of it since I did wear it a couple times before it was quite ready! (shh!) However... Now it is, and has been, complete for some time and I would like to share all the little details with you! Here are our two dresses together. It is made of a light cotton calico and a deep purple fabric that I'm not quite sure what it is. It's almost a canvas but much softer and not quite as thick. There is a deep purple ruffle at the bottom of hers that is hardly visible in the photograph-- please excuse me!

With the same fabric I put a ruffled hint of a bustle on the back of mine. It is still a full skirt that goes over a hoop, but I hear that bustles are coming in!To cover the seams and to add some extra charm, I put this lace on top of the ruffles which are only visible when the wind might flutter through...

The skirt I attached to a waistband and sewed it to the inside of the bodice in case I change my mind and want to make an extra bodice for it. And since I am in a constant state of that, it is the only way to do it!Here is the bodice.
I did a simple fitted bodice with a 'v' waist and boat neckline and trimmed it with contrasting purple piping (shocking I know!), and the same lace that is on the skirt.

The back I tried to gather in. However, it could have used a bit more gathering I think. Then I sewed little eyelets and laced it for a more elegant look.

The sleeves are a double puff--of sorts. =] I was making up the pattern and I didn't make it quite full enough and when I put it around my arm it just went flat. So, To make it more pouffy, I sewed little gathering stitches in vertical lines on different places of the sleeve. It worked quite well, and I was very pleased with how they turned out. Though it is hard to tell they're double puff. I guess it'll be my own little secret. =]
So just remember: When making puffed sleeves, cut out more than you think you need!

These pictures were taken at Fort Stevens which was the first reenactment that I got to wear my finished dress. *smiles blissfully*

The 'Train' ride home.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my dress! Please leave comments if you are so inclined, and tell me what you think. I would LOVE to see your own creations or hear about your dress making experiences! Until we meet again my fair companions...
Miss Emaline

Miss Liberty Joy

I would like to introduce my new doll, Miss Liberty Joy.

She lives in Portsmouth, England with her nine brothers and sisters during the time of the Napoleonic Wars. She is 17 and has a twin brother, Matthew, who joined the Royal Navy. Besides Matthew, Liberty has one older and three younger brothers, two older and two younger sisters.

Liberty LOVES writing letters to Matthew when he is at sea. She also loves playing with her younger siblings, talking with the older ones, and adventure where ever she kind find it. She enjoys spending time with her family and the few friends she has.

Liberty has oil cloth boots and a beautiful, old, red polka dot dress that is one of her favorites. She has long blond hair, that, when down, looks like the golden wheat of summer. She has bright blue eyes that are so soft and gentle you would think that she could never get upset at anyone.

Liberty's mother died a year ago after giving birth. Liberty's oldest sister, Julianna, has been married for three years. Liberty has been left to do the house work, with a little help here and there from siblings. Liberty always loved helping her mother and Julianna in the kitchen, so when the burden was laid on her she did not mind much. She would rather be working in the kitchen than out looking for something to do.

There are times when she gets the house work done early and she will head over to her father and uncle's silversmith shop. She spent many hours there as a girl watching, sometimes helping, her father and uncle. Once her mother died and her sister moved out, she could no longer spend the time she did when she was a girl.

Liberty is always ready to make new friends. She is very excited to be part of this circle of friends.

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope you all have a most lovely Valentines Day!
All my Love, Emaline

The Young Victoria

For Inspiration...

Here's a portrait of the real Victoria.

This is one of my favorite dresses! It's so charming! It has embroidered strawberries!

Here is the link to The Young Victoria page on The Costumer's Guide to Movie Costumes.
They are all so beautiful! We got to see the movie in the theater! It was such a delight!
You all must watch it if you haven't already!
Love, Em

Down the Rabbit Hole

Hello my Sweets! I wanted to show you all this post >> Fairy Abode That I found on this blog >>Down the Rabbit Hole. It was actually Farm Girl who sent the link to me. Thank you ever so much my dear lady!
Is not it so very adorable? You must go to the blog and look at the other pictures too. It is simply magical! This is something I would so much like to make! I keep telling myself I will and then I don't. *sigh*..... one day.
Anyway... you must go and look at it! It is so charming!
All my love, Em

Just because...

...it is lovely. =]
~Miss Em

A Merry Christmas Party

If you walk down the sidewalk in Manassas, Virginia on December 11th 1862, you will hear a small, merry party in the house of Miss Olive Wright. Four young ladies, decorating a Christmas tree, drinking tea, and enjoying each others company. How could you not have such a merry party?

“Mabel, why don't you put that one up a little higher?” asked Sara with a little chuckle as she too put an ornament up on the tree. Mable turned up her nose and said “ I will do as I wish” as prideful as she could before laughing, for Mabel could not make it through what she was saying without laughing. “Sara, Mabel, please come and drink your tea before it gets to cold. And do please leave some ornaments for Olive and me. This is what you do every year.” Said Emaline as she sat down on a chair and took a sip of her tea. Sara and Mabel did as their friend suggested. “I always love this time of year with all of the snow and friends.” stated Olive as she sat down with a cup of tea in hand. “Oh! That reminds me.” said Sara with such a start that Emaline almost dropped her tea. “I have something for all of you.” And with that she got up and walked over to her little sewing basket she had brought. She opened the basket and pulled out three nicely wrapped gifts. “I know it's not much,” she said as she gave her friends their presents. “but it is at least something.” “Oh Sara, you did not have to do this.” said Olive as she opened her gift “It is beautiful! I have never owned such a beautiful scarf! Thank you.” The others also opened their gifts. Mabel got a pair of mittens and Emaline got a hat to match the scarf, mittens and coat she already had. “Thank you Sara!” said Emaline as she walked over to the mirror and put on the hat. “You have done something for us every year and we.......nothing........I..........” “Please Emaline, don't feel bad. I love giving, but not receiving. I feel like we have received too much over the last year or so. With my Father being away and us being poor people keep giving to us when there are families on the street starving. So please don't feel bad.” said Sara to her friends. “You are too kind Sara.” Olive said as she walked over to the grand piano. “Shall we?” asked she and sat down and played The First Noel. The others set down what they were doing, got up, started decorating the tree and singing.

“The First Noel, the Angels did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay. In fields where they lay keeping their sheep on a cold winter's night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel! ”

After playing one more verse, Olive got up and helped the others with the tree, while still singing. When The First Noel was over they started We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

“We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Good tidings we bring to you and your kin; Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year. “

By the time they were done singing, the tree was finished. “Oh!” cried Olive “We forgot the star.” and with that she left the room to go find the star. “Here it is. Emaline, would you please do the honor?” “Yes I will” said Emaline with a small curtsy. Everyone held their breath as Emaline climbed up on a chair, star in hand. Then the whole room broke into clapping as she placed it on the tree. “Now” said Sara with a joyful sigh “the tree is complete.” “Olive,” said Mabel “may we read the Christmas story now?” she asked “That is my favorite part. When we get together at this time of year and read the Christmas story.” said Emaline as she sat on the chair she had been before with a dreamy look in her eyes. “Yes, it is. Alright Mabel! Would you please get the Bible off the kitchen table?” asked Olive as she too sat down. When Mabel came back, Olive opened the big, old book and started to read. “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed................”

~The End~

Story written by Miss Kiehl ~ Photos taken by Miss Genevieve

Just for fun!

I made this on Wordle using words from this blog! They are so much fun to make (once you figure out how to do it.) =]
Hope you all are having a lovely summer!
~Miss Emaline

Faerie Dolls

Here's a fun thing to do in Summer!
My sisters and I made these whilst sitting on the lawn as Marmee read to us on a peaceful Sunday afternoon. We started with dried up poppy seed pods (from 'Shirley Temple' poppies - That's the pink ones.) for the head and body. Then we tied on leaves and flowers from around the yard with grass and Voila! There you have a little faerie friend to play with.

*+*+*+*+*

I made this one below.

She has freckles! And notice the puffed sleeves!

*+* Aimee (aka Mabel) made this one. *+*
She used a green seed pod that hadn't dried up yet. And her skirt is So pretty! Isn't her hat just SO fabulous! I would love to have a Hollyhock hat like that!
*+* Genevieve (aka Olive) made this one. Isn't she cute? She looks like a "Flapper" from the 1920's don't you think? *+*+*

I also LOVE to make little tiny faerie houses out of things I find on forest floors and river beds. I'll post some pictures of my most recent one soon.
Have a fabulously Summery week!

*+*+* Fare Thee Well, Miss Emaline *+*+*