Wednesday, February 27, 2008

A Humorous Look at Housekeeping


Last August I picked up a thrifted copy of Keeping Up With Keeping House: A Practical Guide for the Harried Housewife by the Former White House Housekeeper by Mary Kaltman. Published in 1971, I have found it to be a delightful trove of helpful information and humorous anecdotes. I had to include one of my favorite passages:


“My mother used the same brand of powdered detergent for years, and she used it for everything: dishes, fine fabrics, cleaning woodwork, mopping the floor, and doing the washing. It was a household fixture, satisfactory in every way. She was frightfully upset when the manufacturer upt enzymes in it, and I understand her reaction. Hers is a small rebellion against a surfeit of exaggerated claims and a plethora of products – more every day, and not all designed for use instead of an old product, but in addition to it. There’s a product for every specific purpose and almost every specific person. At the present rate of proliferation I can easily see what may happen to my favorite old scouring powder:

BOFO – A scouring powder. For everybody. For use anywhere scouring powder is needed.

could change to:
BOFO – With ABC added. For cleaning kitchen sinks or bathroom fixtures in either city or country houses.

to:
BOFO – With ABC and Sonjz added. For cleaning kitchen sinks in city apartments.

to:
BOFO – With ABC, Sonjz, and purple crystals added. To use in the feminine bathrooms of country houses. For cleaning bottom of bathtub only.

to:
BOFO – With ABC, POF, Sonjz, Jazzl, and purple crystals added. For use by male apartment dwellers under five feet. To clean outer rim of sink when kitchen faces west.

and finally to:
BOFO – A scouring powder with ABC, POF, XYZ, Sonjz, Jazzl, Zanky, purple crystals with green centers, and plain shocking pink crystals added. For use by women over thirty who have brown hair, blue eyes, live east of the Mississippi in houses with brass owl door knockers."


Her prophecy has proved true, as the word "scouring powder" is now practically obsolete. I shall now check all of our household cleaners to see if they contain "Jazzl" or "Sonjz." I find myself envying the housekeeper who could wash the clothing and the floors with the same cleaner!

At any rate, I hope you had as good a laugh from this as I did!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Spring in the Sewing Room


Now that the thermometer on the porch read over 70 degrees this morning (a few minutes before it started to rain), I think it's officially time to start sewing for Spring. My Spring wardrobe is in dire need of help.

This blouse accomplished three objectives: Spring sewing, stash busting, and Extreme Makeover: Clothes Edition. Yes, the fabric for this project was pilfered from a dress that just looked dreadful on me (I think I wore it all of one time). So I salvaged the dress (including yards and yards of slender pink bias trim) and recycled it into a blouse. Even the skirt has been altered -- it has eight lovely gores, but it had an elastic waistband. This made it rather unnatractive to wear with most shirts. So in a burst of courage, I took out the elastic, added a zipper, reduced the gores, and made a new waistband with bias tape. Now it's perfect, and has a lovely flare at the bottom.


I'm so glad I was able to save the fabric, as it originally cost a little more than I like to pay. It's a charmming little Tracy Porter print from JoAnn's:




I only used two patterns this time, unbelievably. Faithful old Simplicity 4499 for the bodice and a McCalls 4922 for the collar and sleeves. I love the little ruffle at the bottom!




Some "rescued" Mother-of-pearl buttons in creamy pastel shades:



Now I'm ready for Spring!

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Daffodils and Sunshine



After a few days of steady, unremitting rain, the sun broke through the clouds this morning. It doesn't seem like Spring should be here yet, but the beautiful weather outside is irresistable. Just warm enough to venture outside barefoot, and just cold enough to make you glad for the warmth when you return inside.

The dwarf daffodils by the front walk bloomed a few days ago, but fortunately the rain didn't harm them. Glorious yellow trumpets and slender green stems -- Daffodils are one of the best things about spring.











Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Just Because



I decided to make a green corduroy vest. Just because I wanted one. Just because I had the fabric in my stash. Just because I think it's my duty to clear out that stash instead of leaving it lying about in the sewing room. It's the principle of the thing, you know.

I used Simplicity 4079 for my vest, without any major problems or alterations. Even after cutting it down a size, I had to take up an inch in the shoulders and over an inch at the bottom armhole.

I love the little open tabs in the back:



I already had the perfect buttons in my stash, making this project absolutely free:




And, of course, a new vest calls for a new blouse. I've been sorely in need of some practical white blouses for everyday use, and this one did the trick. I used my absolute favorite blouse pattern, Simplicity 4499 (out of print, sadly). I think I need to transfer it to interfacing, as the tissue paper is beginning to fall apart! I drafted a Peter Pan collar, which was a nice departure from the stand-up collar I typically use with this pattern.



More stash buttons for the blouse, this time taken from a garment that was destined for donation before I vandalized it:



I'm starting to take this stash-busting idea seriously! In fact, I don't think I paid a single penny for either of the projects -- except for patterns and interfacing. The only problem is that I seem to be adding to my stash faster than I am using it up!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Bygone Days of Glamor



If there is one thing I love, it is a vintage car! From the earliest Model T's to the sleek rocket lines of the 50's, antique cars were not just a means of transportation -- they were works of art. Perhaps seventy years from now my great-grandchildren will be raving over the Mazda Miata or the Toyota Corolla, but somehow I doubt it. For one thing, none of the cars on the road today are likely to even exist seventy years from now!

Our tiny little town had a vintage car show this summer. There were several nice antique vehicles on display, including a lovely burgundy Buick from the 30's. Just one look at the grille of this vehicle says it all: detail, beauty, and glamor all rolled into one sleek shell of metal, glass, and chrome.



I'm finding that my grandmother was right, after all. They just don't make things like they used to!

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Words of Wisdom from Writers





Your manuscript is both good and original;
but the part that is good is not original,
and the part that is original is not good.

~Author Unknown

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

A Change in Scene



Having severe allergies and bedroom furniture with practically un-dustable grooves is not a particularly good combination. My wicker served me well for over a decade (after having done service for my parents and my sister before me). It fit in well with the garden theme that I had for several years, but I had been thinking recently that it didn't reflect my passion for all things antique and old-fashioned. My mom found three pieces of antique bedroom furniture (an Eastlake-style dresser, a washstand, and a highboy) through www.craigslist.com for an excellent price. Once we had seen the furniture, the decision was simple. My parents very kindly purchased it for me as an addition to my "Hope Chest." Ironically, I now need a new Hope Chest, since my wicker trunk was sold along with the other wicker furniture!

Without further ado, here are some "Before" pictures:








One of my tasks was to remove all of my books from the old bookshelf -- a task which left my bed covered a foot deep with books! Did I mention that I'm a bibliomaniac... Actually, this was a wonderful opportunity to reorganize my books. I'm finding that reorganizing books is one of those things that has to be done periodcially. Below you can see one of my favorites: a "pocket-sized" Confession of Faith from 1895.





As soon as we had cleared my room of the old furniture, we were ready to replace it with even older furniture!

My "new" dresser and bookshelf are in the same places as their predecessors:



A British lady at our church who shares my love of England and my love of poetry gave me a framed copy of "If," my favorite poem by Rudyard Kipling. The burgundy in the frame complements the lovely scene on the toile coffee pot that my mom found at a yard sale:




I love my little washstand -- handy drawers (check out the deep drawers on the left side!) and absolutely charming tear-drop drawer pulls. They're not "original," but I think they suit it very well.





My writing desk is almost identical in color to the washstand. A quill pen from Colonial Williamsburg and some sealing wax add the right touch, in my opinion.




Oh, the luxury of drawers! My highboy boasts five, bringing the grand total to eleven. I love the solid look of this piece of furniture. And the keyholes are too charming.





I found a delightful print of a grandfather and his grandaughter for $5 at a thrift store, but the frame and plexiglass were in terrible condition. Using a frame from another print that we have, I reframed it -- a process which unexpectedly resulted in two scraped fingers, a large slit just above the fingernail of my fourth finger, and approximately thirteen Band-Aids. You can see the full version in the picture of the highboy above, but here's a detail of it:




I love using a large stand metronome, even though it's not as accurate as my electronic one.













The vintage music magazines that I acquired recently at a library booksale are now sitting proudly by my closet.



And now a few pictures just for fun...

A hatpin given to me for graduation by a church friend:




A favorite tome (both for binding and content!) demanded to be displayed on the shelf above my bed:




My love for "Old Country Roses" has found its outlet in a single thrifted teacup that I found for $10 at a consignment shop. A friend gave me two dessert plates without knowing that I had the matching teacup -- perfect!




I am thoroughly enjoying my "new look." My old room was fine, but it felt cluttered -- besides giving the impression of having a split personality! Or perhaps it's just that I am impossibly biased in favor of antiques.


Thrifted Buttons



Five dollars of thrifted clothing equals 55 mother-of-pearl buttons:



My favorites are three metal buttons that I pilfered from an ugly orange linen shirt -- they appear to be the ends of old spoons with shanks attached to the back:



Button-gleaning is my new favorite hobby, helped in large part to some much-needed closet clearing in our household. In fact, I think I have so many buttons now that I need a new way to store them! Any suggestions for button storage?

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Daniel


One day my mother and I passed a mother with several children on the sidewalk. As we walked by, one of the boys stopped and spoke to me.

"Hi, my name is Daniel," he said.

He was an average looking teenage boy: tall and lanky, with a thatch of blond hair. But from his speech I could tell that he wasn't what most people would call "normal." It didn’t take me long to figure out that he had autism.

"I'm Shannon," I replied, quite taken aback by the friendliness of his greeting.

He shook my hand cordially, a huge grin covering his face. Apparently not satisfied with shaking my hand, he gave me a hug. I had no idea what to do. I had expected to feel threatened by this violation of my “personal space,” but I realized that I didn't mind it at all.

By now both of our mothers had stopped.

"Do you know her?" Daniel's mom asked him.

"Yes," he said. "She's my friend."

"She's your friend?"

"Yes, she told me her name," he said, still grinning.

We talked a little with Daniel and his mom, and after several more hugs Daniel parted from us reluctantly.

I couldn't help thinking about my rather unusual encounter with Daniel -- it was certainly unlike anything I had ever experienced before. I came to see that although Daniel may not be "normal" (whatever that means), he is completely unaware of the fact and perfectly happy the way he is. Meeting Daniel made me grateful that I don't have to deal with the challenges of autism. But it also made me grateful for people like Daniel who brighten my life by their sweetness and innocence. I was his friend just because I told him my name.

I don’t pity Daniel. He is special -- not only because he was created by God, but also because he brings happiness to other without even knowing it. Perhaps he will never be at the top of his class or even graduate from high school, but in my eyes he is a success. I'm grateful to God for allowing our paths to cross.

Monday, February 04, 2008

Announcing...

A new Etsy shop! Yes, I have finally decided to try turning my passion for crafting to account. Check out my new Esty Mini in the sidebar, or visit my shop:

Oh Sew Delightful


Polka-dotted Visitor





Friday, February 01, 2008

The Scary Dog


As I was adding some stray objects to my memory box, I came across a book of poems I had written when I was about nine. Most of them are absurd attempts at philosophical or sentimental genius, neither of which I possessed at that time (or have acquired in the ten intervening years!). Hence, what was meant to be taken seriously is now comic. However, my only intentional attempt at comic poetry was amusing enough to include here -- keeping in mind, of course, the age of the author!

Note: for the full effect, the poem should be read aloud in the most dramatic tone possible.


The Scary Dog

There’s a scary dog that lives next door,
He’s just an oversized egg-na-ma-roose.
That great big sniffling maniac,
He looks just like a great big moose.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not scared,
I just want to warn you about the dog.
That great big sniffling maniac,
He looks just like a great big hog.

He’s just a dog, but a little bit big,
There’s nothing really scary about that.
But that great big sniffling maniac,
Looks just like a jungle cat.

He’s the scary dog that lives next door,
And his barking really is quite poor.