A Challenge for February, 2011

Ashley, of Live for Today invited me to do this challenge with her.  Put quite simply, the One Comment at a Time Challenge. (OCT)

So, what do you think?  In her own words...

"But I got to thinking how important a single, simple, little comment could be.

It could improve a persons mood.

It could make a person laugh for the first time that day.

It could change a persons mind.

It could totally change a persons day.

And most importantly, it could show the person the love of God."

 Doesn't everybody love comments?  I never met a blogger who didn't, and I think Ashley has really hit on something here.  I mean really, if you are going to waste time on the computer, you might as well encourage somebody while you're at it. :D

So, here is the challenge.  On EVERY POST you read during the month of FEBRUARY, you will COMMENT.  It doesn't have to be a well written thought out epistle that takes 10 minutes to read, just a simple, "Wow, what a great idea!", or "That was so encouraging", or "Haha!  That reminds me of..."

Make 'em, laugh.  Make 'em think.  Make 'em pray.  Make 'em feel like dancing.  

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Innocence

Innocence

1822 - 1896 ~ Oil on Canvas 

Rehs Galleries Inc. New York, New York, U.S.A.

Fritz Zuber-Buhler

Fabric for Leisl Dress

"Dusty Rose" Chiffon Georgette

97¢ a yard.   Oh yeah.

Guinevere's Blue Gown

      I'm in love with this gown from King Arthur!  I haven't seen the movie, but I was browsing the Costumer's Guide and found it.  I love the drapey open sleeved grecian look, the color, the empire waist, the hair...jk.  So here I am posting a bunch of pictures and some thoughts on what I would like to do in the future.  Some great research can be found on Maggie's Costume Site.

 The fabric appears to be a slubby linen look fabric.  Definitely not real linen.  There would be many more wrinkles.

 Click on the pictures to make them larger.  When you do you can see that there is also some beige stitching that looks like basting stitches all along the sleeves, however, I think it is just decoration.

 I love the buttons on the sleeves and the beaded trim all along the edge of the sleeves.

Pay It Forward!

The neat online party where 5 people win!  Here is how it works.

The first five people to comment (with an email address or some other way I can contact you) on this post get put here:

1.Christiana

2.Jenny

3.

4.

5.

They then get sent some lovely-ovely thing in the mail by me, (I pay it forward) but it is a surprise, so I can't tell you what it is. :-)

These five people are then obliged to put one of these things on their blog and spread the fun to 5 other people.  See how it works?

I can't wait do put together some gifts for you all!

Sincerely,

Joanna

Liesl Dress Pattern Giveaway!

I'm not the only one who knows about  this great new pattern!  Mrs. Chancey is giving a pattern away over at sensibility.com

Check it out!

http://sensibility.com/blog/a-new-pattern-company-and-a-giveaway/

B&W Houndstooth Skirt

Simplicity 5914 - view F - Size 12

I wanted to be able to wear this everywhere and sit down without it scrunching up, so I made a bigger size.  It is fully lined (typical black lining fabric), has a black side zipper, and hook and eye.

 It is very tiny Black and White Houndstooth.  It is kinda scratchy, but with the lining it is just beautiful.

Very business-like, I'm very pleased with it.

 Cool new 50mm lens!  Post to follow.

 I'm so proud of myself!  Fully lined and it is just beautiful inside.  I hand sewed (sp?) the zipper before I machine stitched it so it was perfect.

We tried to get some pictures out in the fog...

So so.

Piano Steps!

Thank you Zoe for this video!

The Boys' Renaissance Doublets

Nathanael's - XS

Hudson's - M

     Here are the doublets and ...blouses?  What do you call a blouse for a guy?  Anyway, here they are.  I started them 2 years ago.  The shirts were done in time for the Reformation Day Faire 2008, but the doublets were not.  Now I've finally completed them.

I used Simplicity 4059.  Both the shirts are made with an oatmeal looking muslin.  The first doublet, Nathanael's, is a brown corduroy, lined in the same muslin and the trim is a brown braid.

The second one is a dark navy corduroy and gold "trim."  I actually didn't use trim on Hudson's.  I used a fancy stitch on my Mom's computer...2 years ago. :-)  And you can tell.

Amazingly, they still fit rather well.  Hudson's fits perfectly, but Nathanael's is a tiny bit snug.

Anybody have brothers that want to inherit a doublet and shirt soon? :-)

Here is the stitching around the peplum...

(click to enlarge)

As you can tell on the flanges and stripes on the front, the stitching is very uneven and sloppy in areas.  Oh well, there was no way I was going to rip that out.

The back of Hudson's.

The only part I hadn't done really was the grommets (still not done on the navy) and the construction.  I also hadn't cut out any lining, so I used black lining fabric.

Here is what the shirt looks like.

I haven't done any cool photo shoots with these yet because I have to convince the guys to put them on and I am working/drafting a renaissance costume for my little sister Emily.  The vest turned out SO well. I can't wait to finish the out fit and show it to you!

Happy 2011!

Time passes so quickly.  Sort of like bubbles.  You have it for one second, then it pops.

James 4: 14

Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Last year, by God's grace, I learned so much.  However, I look back on it and I see a big blur. Things seem sporadic in my memory and we were SO busy.  I was not as productive as I have been, I did not redeem every moment.  So, my new year's resolution is one simple word.

Focus.

Like so many others, I am doing the O n e W o r d resolution. 

I can't help being busy, but I can stay focused through it and use the business to further God's kingdom. Like James Elliot said, "Wherever you are, be all there."  Sometimes I over multitask and everything gets mushed together without much progress.  Like trying to memorize 3 different chapters of the Bible at the same time.  :-)  So this year, I'm going to focus.