Babes from the Woods

Hello my darlings!

I thought I would just post this link while we're on the subject of 18th century dolls....

It is a blog called Babes from the Woods.

(I have also put a link to it on the left hand side bar in case we need instant inspiration.♥)

She makes the most lovely antiqued Queen Anne dolls as well as some beautiful replicas of other eras. Here is just one of her many exquisite dolls. If I could EVER choose a favorite (which I couldn't) it might be this one.

Have you fallen on the floor yet from sheer delight and amazement? If you have, please pick yourself back up and prepare to do it again because you must also look at this doll called Margie. So beautiful! I pray you, go look upon them. They are desserts for thine eyes! My pen cannot even describe what loveliness awaits you!

Lovingly, Emaline

p.s. Just so you know.. I have been trying to change the blog header to a more appropriate theme for winter but have not had any success. It is giving me grief. But nevertheless, I shall conquer!

January

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

I thought you might like these pictures from Edith Holden's 'Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady'. They are so lovely!

Happy January to you all!

-Emaline

18th Century Milliner's Shop

 I just stumbled upon this charming set of pictures when I was looking for 18th century dress inspiration. It is from this lady's lovely photography site  Fashionable Frolick's Photostream. She makes very pretty 18th century clothing and also has some wonderful pictures from Colonial Williamsburg which is where these pictures were taken I believe.

 These are pictures of a doll size milliner's shop which is a display inside a life size Milliner and Dressmaker's shop. Are they not delightful?

(If you click on the pictures they will take you to Fashionable Frolick's flicker account so you can see them a lot bigger.)

Isn't this dress gorgeous?

I am currently working on a mid 18th century dress for myself (Emaline), and I'm doing my best to actually finish a whole outfit including underpinnings, dress, hat, shoes, and accessories. I have completed the underpinnings and the skirt and I'm almost finished with the bodice. I've just started the shoes, and am dreaming up ideas for a hat! It is a dress for springtime so I'm hoping to have it finished before then. *smile* 

So, for right now, my fingers are sewing busily and my head is thinking dreamily while my heart is sighing contentedly. I'm having such fun! I hope everyone is having a lovely January. Our January, or Winter weather, is just getting here. So I'm looking forward to some nice long snowy afternoons of reading, sewing, playing my violin and drinking tea. 

*******

Please tell me of your past, current or future projects! I'm aching to know what you all are doing!

So, Happy days and pleasant evenings to you all!

Love, Miss Emaline

and a very Merry Christmas to you!

Merry Christmas everyone!! 

I hope you all have a blessed and joyful day celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

My very best wishes to all of you on this fine Christmas day!

Love, Emaline

It's Christmas Eve!

Hello everyone!

Merry Christmas! I hope you are all having a very joyful Holiday! Today is my favorite day of the year! We're all done making Christmas presents and baking cookies and now we can just relax and drink some hot cocoa! And tomorrow we will celebrate Jesus' birth! 

And the angels said "Hallelujah! Glory to God in the highest! and on earth peace, good will toward men."

It feels like autumn outside as the temperature is 48 degrees and it's partly sunny. We are enjoying not being freezing in our somewhat drafty old house but I must confess we are wishing for this... 

These are pictures of our home in February. We had a colossal snow storm! Well, colossal for here anyway. =] 

Never the less... it's still nice and cozy inside and it makes me just want to snuggle up under a warm blanket and drink some Christmas tea.

 

 Tonight we will go to have dinner with family. Homemade clam chowder! Mmmm...

I hope you all have a lovely Christmas Eve! 

Merry Christmas!

Love, Miss Emaline

a rainy day

There's nothing quite like staying at home on a rainy day. The world outside is chill and wet and the rain seems to drizzle endlessly.


Inside it is still and cozy and the light which comes from the windows is bright and cold.



The only thing to do on this sort of day is to muse calmly, while nestled under many blankets, drinking steaming hot tea and knitting just for the pleasure of it.

The attic, which usually makes you think of cobwebs, old boxes of baby clothes and the need of organization, now looks quite inviting...


























and with the large windows overlooking the pond it is the perfect spot for watching the rain drops fall while eating fudge and doing absolutely nothing.





Every once in while a carriage might drive by and for a moment you wonder, "What can they be thinking of, being out and about in such weather?"


And then dismiss the thought and calmly resume your handwork thinking, "Such a lovely day...".

I hope you have a lovely day too. =]
Love, Miss Emaline

French

I just wanted to share this picture. Isn't it neat? When I saw it I thought, "How very french..." ha ha!

I hope everyone is well and good. 

Love, Miss Emaline

Doll Bonnet TutoriaL: Part II ~ decorated bonnet

 

Here are some pictures of my bonnet after I decorated it.

I decided I didn't like the green ribbon and exchanged it for a lovely blue one. I almost didn't  because I thought it might not match very many of my dresses. But then I remembered this bonnet!

And she wears it with orange gloves! And I figure that if Elizabeth Bennet can do it than so can I.

And so part of my inspiration for this choice was this bonnet that I love! 

The linen I used was a gift from my darling friend Cora and the ribbon is what she used to tie it up. Thank you Cora dear!

 And here it is on Alice. Doesn't she look charming?

 For the decoration I gathered the ribbon in the same way I did with the green (see Doll Bonnet Tutorial Part I), but this time I pinned it on with applique pins! You can find them at any fabric store I dare say. They're about 1/2" long so they work perfect for doll things. (And doll size pin cushions I might add!)

For the flowers I took these silk flowers off of the stems and pinned them all on separately.

Some time I'd like to add flowers on the inside of the brim and maybe add a ruffle (or what I believe is called a "curtain") at the back.

Here I am in my Sunday bonnet and shawl. (The shawl is in fact a lovely doily I found at a thrift store. It had a couple stains on one side so I just folded it in half! I am going to try to wash it though.)

I hope you enjoyed this bonnet tutorial! I had lots of fun with it. Please let me know what you think and if you try it, let me know if you have any questions! And now that it's finally done I can get to posting some other stuff that I've been wanting to do. Including some really fun photo shoots with me and some with Alice!

I hope you all have a fabulous day! 

Love, Emaline