Saving a Bundle

While I'm not a fan of the huge Black Friday rush after Thanksgiving, I did venture out this year because of the JoAnn's sale! I spent $33 and saved $198 -- thanks to incredible sales and an extra 20% off. Not only did I find some fabulous fabric for a winter coat (which I've been wanting to make for some time!), but I also took advantage of the Butterick pattern sale and got enough scrapbook paper to give my cashier carpal tunnel! *grin*

I was expecting to have a long receipt, but I wasn't expecting it to be 46" long. I decided it was worth photographing, since it's by far the longest receipt I've ever had! I hope all of you had a blessed Thanksgiving celebration, and safe travels if you ventured out for some shopping on Friday!

Where did they come up with "mangle?"

This post has been fermenting in my mind for some time now, but a recent comment-leaving expedition finally spurred me on to actually write it! One of the things that always amuses me when I leave comments are the word verifications (incidentally, do they actually increase security? I've always wondered).

I just have to know -- have those quirky word verifications ever caused you to scratch your head? And more importantly, do you think Blogger hires someone to come up with word verifications all day? Imagine the lonely individual, spending long hours in a cubicle trying to find some new way to rearrange the 26 letters of the alphabet... Okay, so it's probably a computer that scrambles the letters, but I think my scenario opens up more opportunities for imagination.

Usually the word verifications are just odd conglomerations of colored letters sprawled across the screen, but I still can't resist the opportunity to sound them out. Something like "zpqwrk" ends up as "zipquirk," while "flffl" clearly can only be pronounced as "fluffle."

But today's word verification surprised me -- "mangle." Now that's actually a word! And having just participated in an "Our Mutual Friend" marathon this past weekend, it brought to mind vivid images of Betty Higden and Sloppy. Was "mangle" an accident, or was it deliberate rebellion on the part of the aforementioned lonely, cubicled individual? I guess I'll never know...

Well, go out there and have a klrdox -- whatever that is!

Mutant Potato

I have to admit, I have never come across a potato quite like this before.

I'm still trying to figure out what it looks like. Maybe a butterfly? At any rate, it tasted like a normal potato!

Keepers of the Bookshelf

I can't bear the idea of letting my book collection go unprotected! So I have left it to the care of four stalwart maidens -- who better to guard a bookshelf than some of literature's dearest sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy?

I am not much of a "figurine" person, but when I saw these delightful Tasha Tudor renditions of the March sisters at a local consignment shop, I thought them delightful! My dear mother and sister gave them to me as a Christmas present several years ago, and they have guarded my bookshelf ever since.

My sister presented me with Meg and Jo -- the two of us have always found ourselves sympathetic to those characters (although I long ago outgrew my tom-boyish tendencies -- though I still share Jo's love of books and writing).

 

As I putter about the sewing room I am listening to "Little Women" on tape, on loan from the library. It has been quite a long time since I last read it, and I always forget between readings how refreshingly wholesome it is. Just like a breath of the crisp, cool air that is my delight during these glorious Autumn days.

Licorice and Bubblegum

In the shop.

Inspired by History

First of all, a disclaimer: I do realize that this is not an accurate Civil War ballgown! I was simply going for general style, not accuracy. All of you Civil War costume historians will surely be able to pick out every historical faux pas, so know ahead of time that I am quite happy with being "farby!"

I used Simplicity 2881 as a base for my ballgown bodice -- but I made significant changes! I redrafted the armscye to make the dress rest on my shoulders, lengthened the sides (my mock-up was about 4 inches above my actual waist!), and shorted the "V" in the front (among other various changes. For the inside, I lined each bodice piece with black cotton flannel and serged the raw edges once I had constructed it -- not period correct, but very efficient! I used salvaged material for the bodice -- a taffeta plaid skirt from an outdated dress and a green taffeta skirt from a dress I bought when I was nine. Amazingly, the sleeves are actually the sleeves from that dress, with an inch or two cut from the top edge (they were enormous 90's sleeves)-- I can't believe the armhole still fits! I modified the bretelles from the Simplicity pattern, used salvaged piping around the sleeve edges, and bound the top and bottom edges in green taffeta. Basically, I used the pattern shapes from Simplicity 2881, changed them considerably, and completely ignored the instructions!

 

 
Front view:

Back view:

Salvaged piping:

The sleeves were delightfully easy!

The skirt I drafted myself (although "draft" is a bit too ambitious a word). I sewed the fabric into a tube and double box pleated it. The waistband is extra-long to make sure nothing shows when I lift my arms. I used a fabric rose for my hair, using instructions from Denver Fabrics. Many thanks to my sister, Tiffany, for styling my hair! I'm hopeless with hair, so I was thrilled to have her assistance!

I also made a small reticule from Mrs. Chancey's Elegant Lady's Closet Pattern, modified slightly (because I just can't stand not making changes! *grin*).

Since I was changing the bretelles (the green "straps") drastically anyway, I decided to add lacing to the front. Combined with the back lacing, I put in a total of 34 metal grommets, each hand-bound with a buttonhole stitch. I couldn't believe how many hours that took!

In all, this dress cost about $10 or under in new materials. My skirt fabric was $1 per yard fabric from Wal-Mart, the flannel for the lining was $3, and the rest of the fabric was "re-purposed." One day I'd love to make a historically accurate gown, but for now -- well, for now, this will do just fine!

I Could Have Danced All Night...

At least, I certainly felt like I could have danced all night! Saturday's ball might well be deemed a success (at least in my opinion).

 

Note: I've moved a description of my dress to its own post 

  A waltz:

Getting ready for the Virginia Reel with my father:

"Lead couple sachet!"

It was so wonderful returning to the ball -- and this year we had several friends from our area attend, as well! There are many families, and you never can predict the height of your dancing partners (the ones under three feet tall are just adorable!).

Jane Austen was right about the felicities of rapid motion...

Final Preparations

A basket of accessories, patiently waiting to be used for tomorrow night's ball. The final preparations have begun!

Words of Wisdom From Writers

"The very cheapness of literature is making

even wise people forget that if a book is worth reading,

it is worth buying.

No book is worth anything which is not worth much;

nor is it serviceable,

until it has been read,

and re-read,

and loved,

and loved again;

and marked,

so that you can refer to the passages you want in it."

~ John Ruskin, Sesame and Lilies ~

"Oh, I long for a ball!"

This Saturday brings the annual Civil War ball hosted by a church in our area. We have attended for several years, and it is always a delight! Typically we decide to go only a few days before the ball (last year we postponed a decision until that very afternoon! That was semi-disastrous...), but this year we had plenty of notice. The result? A new gown, of course! Could there be a better excuse for dusting off my hoop skirt? Anyway, pictures and description will certainly follow next week, but for now I shall simply post Jane Austen's tongue-in-cheek comment on balls:

“It may be possible to do without dancing entirely.

Instances have been known of young people passing

many, many months

successively without being at any ball of any description,

and no material injury accrue either to body or mind;

but when a beginning is made -- when the felicities of

rapid motion have once been, though slightly, felt --

it must be a very heavy set that

does not ask for more.”

~ Jane Austen, Emma ~

Festive Fall Dinner

My sister, Tiffany, and I decided to make a "fancy" dinner tonight, inspired by the butternut squash sitting on our counter at home and the reduced sourdough loaves we found at the grocery store -- the perfect size to use as bread bowls.

 

Butternut Squash and Carrot Soup ~ 3 c. peeled, diced butternut squash (about 1 small squash) ~ 2 c. thinly sliced carrot (4 medium) ~ 3/4 c. thinly sliced leek or chopped onion ~ 1 T. butter or margarine ~ 28 oz. chicken broth ~ 1/4 t. ground white pepper ~ 1/4 t. ground nutmeg ~ 1/4 c. light cream Garnish options: ~ Dairy sour cream ~ Toasted pumpkin seeds ~ Fresh tarragon sprigs Instructions: 1. In a large covered saucepan cook squash, carrot, and leek in hot butter over medium heat about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broth. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer covered for 25 to 35 minutes, or until vegetables are very tender. Cool slightly. 2. Place one-third of the squash mixture in a food processor or blender. Cover and blend until almost smooth. Repeat with remaining squash mixture. Return all of mxiture to saucepan. Add white pepper and nutmeg; bring just to boiling. Add light cream; heat through. If desired, garnish each serving with sour cream, pumpkin seeds, and/or fresh tarragon.

This creamy orange soup is absolutely delicious, and a perfect Autumn dish. Just the thing to take the edge off these crisp Autumn days!