Grace's dress

Two more days 'till the Vintage Ball!  I'm so excited!  Last week, I finally finished Grace's dress.  I had worn this dress before, but the sleeves were too tight and I couldn't raise my arms over my head (which is very necessary for English country dancing), so I only wore it once to a formal banquet.  Grace bought the dress from me a few months ago on the condition that I fix it up in time for the Vintage Ball.

I fixed the sleeves by making a slit on the side and inserting a triangular piece of lace.  It was a PAIN to get it to look right, but I think I finally got it right.  Because I had to take the sleeve off the bodice to work with it, and the satin stretched out while I was working with it, I had to make a little inverted box pleat at the top of the sleeve to make it look right....

The lace insert.

I also added lace to the front and back necklines.  

Doesn't it look lovely on her?  

I've also been working on my 1780's ballgown and my 18th C. stays.  I finally finished the stays... hurrah!  My dear friend Sarah (check out her blog over at because modern clothes are stupid!) has helped me so much with my dress, and it's looking lovely!  Oh, let me tell you a little secret....*her dress, which is modeled after Lizzy's white ball dress in the newer version of "Pride and Prejudice" is absolutely amazing!* But I'll let her tell you all about it!  

I promise that I will post lots of photos from the Ball!

Lucy Locket lost her pocket....

I have finally finished my 18th century pocket!  I would have finished it much, much sooner if I had just been more consistent on working on it.  I have that horrid habit of getting a project mostly done, then not finishing it for a couple months.  But I finally made myself do the last few inches of embroidery, and then bind the pieces together.  Here's the finished pocket!

Photo with needle-case and pin ball.  Sarah made the pin ball - it reads on one side "SW to AT" and on the other "Faithful Friends Forever Be."  Isn't it sweet?

My two favorite embroidered flowers.  They turned out especially well in my opinion.

Now I can carry my chapstick with me to the Ball in style!  Not that anyone else is going to see my pocket under my petticoats, but at least *I* will know how awesome it is.  LOL.

Cold Hands Warm Hearts

This year, I participated in the Cold Hands Warm Hearts mitten swap hosted by much love, illy and Sandy a la Mode.  I had never been part of a gift swap before, so I had no clue what to expect, but it was a lot of fun!  My swap partner was Polly over at this enchanted Pixie.  I was so excited when I got her package!  It was wrapped up in brown paper and I immediately started singing "...brown paper packages tied up with strings..." ("My Favorite Things" from "The Sound of Music") except it wasn't tied with string, just packaging tape.  LOL  Anyways, Polly sent me...

 cappuccino...

 

and mittens....

aren't they just darling?  I just LOVE them!  Just what I was hoping for, and they have the cutest little velvet ribbon bows ever!

Yes, I'm wearing 3/4 sleeves....it was 66 degrees Fahrenheit when I took the photos yesterday.  66?  On December 15?  Seriously???  And we haven't had any snow yet...  :(

Happiness is...comfy mittens, a warm cup of cappuccino, and a beautiful day.  Perfect.

Just HAD to include a goofy photo.  :D

There was also a card....and some British chocolate in the package, but I couldn't take a picture of it.  Why?  Let me tell you a secret....*I ate it already.*  Hey!  Don't look at me like that!  I really did share...one piece....but that's still sharing, right?  And I gave my sister the really cool stamp from the UK that was on the package!  I'm not a pig, really!

Thanks so much, Polly!  It was wonderful!  And thanks to Sandy and Ilene for hosting the CWHW swap!  I look forward to doing it again next year. 

In case anyone's feeling generous...

They would go so well with my 1780's gown for the Vintage Ball this year... 

Would you like to dance?

I just fell in love.  With the most wonderful music ever.  I'm very partial to Irish, Scottish, and early American folk music, and I was recently introduced to an Irish band - Altan.  I had never heard of them before, but the first time I heard their music, I just fell head over heels.  I need some of their CD's now so I can listen to their music while I'm doing homework!  Whenever I listen to their songs on Youtube, I just want to dance, but I don't have anyone to dance with me.  :(  But anyways, here are some of my favorite songs.  Enjoy!

Thanksgiving

Yesterday was wonderful!  Because my grandparents were out of town for Thanksgiving, and no other relatives live nearby, my family had several people over who don't have family around here.  While some people went out hunting, that was too boring for me.  That, and I was too lazy to go find where my camo and blaze orange has been stored away, as well as the fact that my gun wasn't sighted in.  So, out came the targets and my .22 and my muzzleloader. Well, I shot my .22 and had a lot of fun filling a old Dr. Pepper bottle with lead.  

And then, while checking the target, we heard a squirrel in the woods behind the target.  So what else did I do, but go stalking it.

Sadly, it got away.  I saw it, but I didn't have a good shot.  It was hard for me to admit defeat, that the squirrel escaped, but I finally swallowed my pride and went back to target practice.  I then got out my .50 caliber muzzleloader to sight it in. Have I ever mentioned that I love my muzzleloader?

Ain't it a beauty?  I just L.O.V.E. this picture of it - looks so old-fashioned doesn't it?   But this next one is really, just plain awesome!

Sorry for the poor quality of the photo; my brother couldn't get a decent picture so I had to cut a frame from the video he got.  Well, my cheekbone is a bit sore this morning.  That gun has a bit of recoil to it!  I'm going to finish sighting it in later this afternoon, so hopefully I'll have some better pics to post later!

Ever have one of those days....

...where you feel like you just really, really, need a hug?  Like so bad where you want to stand on the rooftop or in the public square and just scream at the top of your lungs "I NEED A HUG! WILL SOMEONE PLEASE VOLUNTEER??!!"  Yeah, I'm having one of those days.  :(  I'm gonna be okay, but I sure don't feel like it right now.  It's a combination of lack of sleep, a cold and dreary day, loneliness, discouragement, and stressing out about school and finances.  And on top of that, I'm have a serious case of "I miss Jamaica" and "I need a good talk with my little bro."  (In case y'all didn't know before, I have an "adopted" little brother in Jamaica.  He's soooo awesome.  And protective of me.  And as hilarious a 16-year-old I've ever met. Meet Zebe....

....but anyways, that was a slightly random tangent.  And now I can't remember what I WAS going to say.)  Ummmmm....so yeah.  I need a hug.  And my little bro is too far away to give me one.  And no one else will volunteer.  Somehow, I think this is slightly related to my singleness.  Will the loneliness ever go away?  I can honestly say that I'm learning to trust God to bring the right man at the right time, but it doesn't make the waiting easier per say.  Ok, so time to end my ranting and raving.  

And now, to completely change the subject.....

I went Christmas shopping this past week, and I ended up buying matching hats for Mommy and myself.  Here's a few random pics.  I love my hat, but excuse the photos.  Self-take pics aren't the best.  

100% wool felt.  I know it's hard to see, but isn't the bow on the side just darling?  Mom really liked it, so I'm happy.  :)

Now, thanks y'all for putting up with my ramblings.

Dresses for Sale!

It's getting close to time for the Vintage Ball, people!  We sent in the order for our tickets yesterday, and I hope we can get them!  December 30th isn't that far off, and I have some sewing to do.  I need to finish fixing the sleeves on Grace's dress, and my friend Ashley is going to be joining us and I need to put straps on her dress.  I need to get sewing on my own dress too!  I can't make up my mind whether I want to make a colonial ball gown (I bought some chocolate satin and ivory brocade for one) or to wear the white and black dress I redid the sleeves on.  

But anyways....I have some dresses that I would like to sell.  I don't wear them anymore, partly because of a lack of events to wear them too, partly because my tastes have changed as I've grown older.  I'll be sad to see these dresses go as I really like them (who doesn't like to dress up and pretend to be a princess or a Spanish señorita?  I do at least.) but I know that I probably won't have any events to wear them to and so they are just taking up closet space.  And I need the money to pay for college.  :(

The first is a navy blue and silver medieval dress that I wore last year.  It has a stretch velvet skirt and back bodice, satin skirt gore and sleeves, net upper sleeves and trim, and satin with velvet detailing on the front bodice.  Waist measurement is approximately 28 inches, bust is approx. 34 inches.  Dress is long enough to just touch the floor on me and I stand at 5'4" barefoot.  You can't see it in the photo, but the hem rises just a little bit in the front to show off your shoes (and so you don't step on the skirt!).  

Dad says I look like Anne Boleyn in this dress.

Back view. 

There's a matching headband.

Close up of the bodice.  The sunlight sort of washed out the color in this picture, but you can see the velvet pattern clearly.

I'm asking $30 for it, plus $5 for shipping.  

SOLD!!!

The next dress is what I call my "flamenco dress" because it looks sooo Spanish.  It's pink with lots and lots of ruffles.  If you like pink and ruffles, this dress is for you!  Originally an off-the-shoulder dress, I made it more modest with sleeves and white eyelet modesty panels in the front and back.  Add the white satin sash and the lace shawl, and it's perfect!  The measurements are the same as the dress above.  The dress fastens with a back zipper and the modesty panel buttons in.  I wore this to three different dances.

Back view.

My sister didn't tie that sash very neatly.

Front view.  

I'm wearing a crinoline underneath to give the skirt fullness. 

Crinoline does not come with the dress. 

Pouffy skirts are awesome!

Close up of the rosettes on the back when worn without sash.

Closeup of the bodice.  I love the sweetheart neckline.

More ruffles!

I'm asking the same for this dress - $30 + $5 shipping.  The sash and shawl are included.  Crinoline does not come with the dress as already stated above.  For both these dresses, if you live in the Roanoke, VA, area I can arrange to meet you somewhere to deliver the dress and I'll waive the shipping fee.  Please email me at abigail{dot}thomas93{at}gmail{dot}com if you are interested!

Reminder for young ladies...

Girls, remember this (I'm including myself)!  Don't ever get discouraged and think you have to change who you are!  Someday, the right young man will come along who truly loves you for who you are and is willing to work hard to win your heart!

I love fall!

The recent weather has been just lovely, and the trees are quickly changing color.  It makes it so much easier to wake up in the morning when I wake up to a day like this!

I just love living in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia!

Photoshoot

You know those days when you just feel pretty?  For me, it seems the days that I don't feel that way are the days someone is taking pictures of me, and the days I do feel pretty are the days there isn't a camera in sight!  *sigh*  Yes, maybe I am a bit vain....but anyways, Sunday was those days where the weather was almost perfect, and I was in a pretty mood (denim jackets and long brown skirts will do that to me!), so I persuaded my sister, Grace, to grab the camera and capture a few photos before evening church, which she did.  Here are the results:

Sitting on an old church pew on our porch. 

I love the cedar siding on our house!

A pocket full of posies? More like ragweed.  LOL

Thank you, Grace!  

Someone special

This made me smile, and I wanted to share it with y'all.  It's so true!

Fellow costumers, please help!

Ok.  I've got a problem.  I've got a $40 gift card and a 20% coupon (including sale items! you gotta love it!) to Joann Fabrics, and I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BUY!!!  The coupon expires tomorrow.  I need ideas, please, please, please.  So, here's some possibilities.  On my to-sew list in slight order of importance....1) white 18th C. petticoat(s); 2) a quilted petticoat (is it wrong to buy pre-quilted fabric?  or is it just tacky?  or practical? LOL);  3) light grey-blue petticoat (to match both a white jacket and a blue one); 4) 18th c. ballgown (I don't even have any ideas on a color or fabric for that.).  5) Civil War ballgown;  6) one (ONE) Regency embroidered sheer ballgown (those are like the most amazing dresses ever, but when am I ever going to have a time to sew and embroider it? and where on earth would I wear it!  that does present a problem....).  My biggest problem is that I still don't have much experience when it comes to the feel of fabrics, their names, and what is historically accurate!  I need suggestions please!!!

Sorry y'all....

I've been so busy lately.  I don't know when on earth I'll get around to doing more sewing or blogging anything of interest.  I'm beginning to think that it might be better to rename this blog "Life of a College Student", as I'd have much more to write about, and complain about.  But I don't think it would be very interesting, so forget about that.  I'm pretty sure you'd rather hear about one of my silly dress-up parties than my Philosophy class.  I know I would!  But anyways, I am slowly working on writing a more interesting blog post, so bear with me!

Giveaways!

Thanks to my friend Savories of Life, I heard about some great giveaways!  And now I'm following some great blogs!  The first giveaway is by Royal Daughters of the King.  They have stationary (isn't it lovely?):

                           

Rings (I just love the first one!):

                            
                            

plus earrings, purses, a magazine subscription, a book, and a cute tea cup candle!

                             

To enter the giveaway, head over to their site at Royal Daughters of the King Giveaway, blog about their giveaway, and leave a comment on their post with a link to your post!  Giveaway ends September 29.



The next giveaways are by Blessings Every Minute of My Life.  She's having a giveaway week, and just a couple of the giveaways so far are these earrings (which look like they could pass for historically accurate coral earrings of the Civil War and Victorian period!  I'm going to have to buy a pair if I don't win them!):

                             

This ring (which looks Victorian as well.)

                                 
To enter her giveaways, follow her blog at http://blessingseveryminuteofmylife.blogspot.com  and let her know you're following!  She also has other options to get more entries into each giveaway!


I hope y'all head over, enter the giveaways, and then visit the wonderful Etsy stores that are sponsoring them!

Broken sewing machine

Just when a rainy day came along, with no homework to be done, my sewing machine decided to break.  It's an ancient machine, at least 20 years old, and about every other time I sew on it something goes wrong.  The tension is always getting messed up, or it's timing is off so it's breaking needles left and right, or it chews up the fabric.  Now the feed dog broke, so in order to sew, I have to pull, actually pull not guide, the fabric through.  Not good, especially since I have to work with some stretchy knit fabric.  So now, I either need to fix the machine, or go buy a new one.  And even if I do fix it, a new one is going to be needed soon.  So here's three cheers for sewing machine shopping!

80's Sleeve Makeover

Sorry everybody.  I know I don't post very often, I've been so busy lately.  But I am finally getting around to posting today.  I have a confession to make: I made an impulse buy last month.  I'm not normally that way; when confronted with college expenses, and no job (until last month. Thank you, Lord for providing!), it really makes me think twice before buying anything.  But I saw this dress.  It was white and black.  Normally I don't like white and black, but I liked this dress for some reason.  It had a slight empire waist, princess seaming on the skirt and gathers on the bodice, was floor length and fit perfectly.  Like no-alterations-needed-on-the-fit perfectly.

(Ignore the flower pot above my head!)

The only problem was that this dress had horrid 80's elbow length puffed sleeves (sorry, I don't have any "before" photos).  I fixed the problem by cutting off about 3 inches of fabric and pleating the pouffy-ness into a binding of satin ribbon.  It was so easy, and took maybe a half-hour, even with hand sewing the binding.  Here's the finished product:

Aren't those sleeve cute?

Front view:  I really like the lace at the waistline.

I think I know what I'm wearing to the Vintage Ball this December!