Words of Wisdom From Writers

The best time

for planning a book is while you're

doing the dishes.

~ Agatha Christie ~

Passing On

Thursdays are "violin days" for me. This is the second year now that I've taught private lessons at the small classical Christian school where my dad teaches. I love only teaching one day a week; it keeps my schedule free, and doesn't leave me feeling trapped. This year I have a broader range of ages and levels, which makes it interesting -- the cute little memory techniques that I can use with four-year-olds just won't work for my sixth-grade beginner.

It amuses me to hear myself using the same phrases that my teachers used. Perhaps the old platitude about parenting also applies to teaching a child an instrument -- the faults and downfalls that you have come back to haunt you in the children you teach. I am both nervous and excited to pass on what I've learned over the past thirteen years, hoping desperately that I will spark a lifelong love for music in at least a few of my students. Whether or not I produce any Itzhak Perlmans remains to be seen...

At Peace

I try to keep a steady supply of books-on-tape coming from the library, to keep me company as I sew and craft. I recently stumbled across the name of Sarah Orne Jewett, a 19th century woman who wrote about life in Maine. Lo and behold, the library had a copy of her most famous novella, Country of the Pointed Firs, and also A White Heron and Other Stories. I had read a brief tidbit of Sarah's work in my college American Lit class, but only for class. Little did I know what I missed as I skimmed that section.

Sarah's delicate renderings of a summer on the coast of Maine are like a beautiful watercolor -- she catches the tone, the depth, the color of every character she describes and every incident she records. She paints a scene with her pen, bringing it to life in some mysterious way. I have always been fascinated by Maine, by the craggy and breathtaking landscape of its coastline; now I understand why. I was unwilling for the story to end. As it came to a close, I felt a sense of loss. I had grown to love Mrs. Todd and her sweet mother, the wise old sea captains, and the anonymous narrator herself, as if they were real people. I long -- I think every person longs -- for the peace and simplicity that Sarah describes in daily village life. Simple, it may be called, and yet deeper and more real than any other kind of living. As the narrator looked back with regret on a summer at Dunnett Landing, I longed to be by her side as the ship pulled out of harbor -- if only to catch a glimpse in person of the beauty and simplicity she had painted on paper. I don't often feel such pain -- or such peace -- when I finish a book. It's a good thing I still have A White Heron to listen to.

Vintage Inspired

This doesn't exactly classify as a "recent project," but it's one that I've meant to share for some time! I try not to do too much impulse buying, but this was one time that I decided to give in.

 

Several years ago, I came across a pair of hounds tooth vintage-looking heels on clearance at a local department store. Even on clearance they were $15, and I couldn't justify purchasing them when I had nothing to wear them with! That same day, I found some rayon-ish hounds tooth fabric in the JoAnn's clearance section. That settled it! I purchased enough fabric for a skirt, and commissioned my mother to purchase the shoes next time she was in town.

The pattern I used for the skirt was McCall's 5192 (now out of print). I was very pleased with this pattern, although it is a bit shorter than I typically like. I think it has a bit of 30's influence -- I wish the picture showed the flare at the bottom a bit better!

The fuschia blouse was a project I finished about a year ago, and decided to pair it with the skirt. I used Simplicity 4499 and drafted a "tuxedo" front. The sleeves I designed using instructions in a copy of "Sew Beautiful" magazine -- the sleeve edge is placed on the fold, and is tucked at the bottom instead of gathered.

I love this outfit, even if I'm not used to wearing high heels! These are the only shoes I have that my male friends comment on -- one called them "Broadway dancing shoes," and I think his description is pretty accurate! Let's just say I hope this is the only time I ever base an outfit off a pair of shoes...

Time Travel with Sarah Morgan

While we were on our trip out West, I mentioned that I was reading Sarah Morgan: The Civil War Diary of a Southern Woman. While I didn't manage to finish it on our trip, I did read most of it (let's just say we had a long wait for our flight out of Las Vegas!) and completed it shortly after we returned.

Sarah Morgan's life sometimes reads more like a novel than like real life. I felt like I knew Sarah by the end of the diary, as if I would recognize her if I saw her on the street. Sometimes I felt a twinge of guilt as I realized that I was reading a girl's innermost thoughts!

Sarah's diary is also an invaluable resource for understanding the customs and costumes of the South during the Civil War. She makes frequent allusions to her dresses (just as any young woman today might!), and describes their delicate frills with an enthusiasm that warms the cockles of any historic costumer's heart!

I particularly enjoyed this lament:


"I was so mortified this evening! in going there, just as I got to Dr. Enders' corner, a gust of wind exposed my feet fully to the gaze of a party of officers who were contemplating me from Heroman's balcony. I hardly know which I hated most; the men for seeing, or myself for exposing my feet." ~ July 21st, 1862 (pg. 169)


How many young women today, I wonder, would be horrified that their feet were exposed to view!

I also appreciated Sarah's strong faith, which permeates her diary. Throughout the struggles she encountered during those horrible years -- losing her dearest brother in a duel and losing her father to illness shortly after; fleeing from her home; being thrown from a carriage and in danger of losing her life; spending a year as an invalid in constant pain; and worst of all, losing two other brothers within a week of each other, just before the end of the war -- Sarah relies on her heavenly Father and trust in Him no matter what the circumstances. I found her story inspiring, as she faced difficulty after difficulty without losing her faith in her Savior.

Sarah's diary is a mixture of pain and pleasure; horrific fears for her home, family, and country are mingled with parties and excursions that seem out of place in the war-torn South. After reading the introduction, I was horribly afraid that I would find the diary simply a string of feminist rants -- I don't think I have ever read such a misleading introduction!

I highly recommend Sarah's diary -- it is fascinating on many levels, and is a valuable resource for any interested in the Civil War. Sarah herself sums up the feelings of many in her era, as she begins a new volume in the middle of the war years:

"A fresh volume! Where shall I be at the end of it? Will I be once more seated at my old desk in my dear little room, comfortably settled at home? Or will I have no home then, and be what to me is worse than death--a wanderer who has no spot that may be called "home"? Will the blank pages record the burning of Baton Rouge, and the loss of our all? Will the close of it find me still running, or at last settled in what is to be our future dwelling in New Orleans? Will they leave us at Peace, or in war? Who knows? Leave it to Destiny. Write page after page, day after day, and mark the final event. It takes many days to bring about such a result; make them fly past, and thank Heaven that is one day nearer the end. Wait patiently, I say. This war cannot last for ever; and then comes blessed Peace! Will I be able to appreciate it?" ~ August 4th, 1862 (pg. 189)

Sewing Tip -- Refolding Pattern Pieces

I've decided to post sewing tips periodically, since there are some things I wish I had discovered long ago! I'm also hoping that some of you will add your own tips... To start off, here's a tip about getting tissue paper pattern piece back into the package (now that's some alliteration!). I'm sure I'm not the only one who has tried stuffing pieces back into the envelope, often trying to refold them on the original lines to make them lie flat. Well, stuff no more!

 

If you iron your pattern pieces (without steam, of course!), they will become unbelievably smooth. You can fold them to any size you want, and the heat makes beautiful creases. I would actually recommend ironing your pieces before you even use them, as they will be much easier to arrange on your fabric! As a note, don't try ironing Sense and Sensibility patterns -- the ink is heat sensitive, and will transfer onto your ironing board or iron!

In the Shop Tonight

Recently I was in the mood to create something, so I decided to come up with an apron pattern! Which, of course, had to be immediately made up in several fabrics, just to see the effect... 

  Chocolate Truffle

Blue Country Roses

The design for the ties was inspired by one of my sister's ideas -- I don't like tying aprons around my neck, but it can be hard to get shoulder straps to stay on. But if the shoulder strap feeds through a loop to become the waist tie, voila! The apron automatically adjust itself! Both of them are in the shop tonight -- but my mother is begging for one, so she gets the next one!

The Basics

I always need white shirts. Always. No matter how many I have in my closet, I invariably find that the blouses I have aren't *quite* what I need for a certain outfit, or that my favorites have worn out. I decided to make a less detailed blouse this time, a blouse that I could wear with sweaters, under jackets, etc.

 

Using Simplicity 4499 as my base pattern, I used a puffed sleeve from a McCall's pattern. I omitted the collar and instead drafted a "facing" that I applied to the outside. As an afterthought, I added several rows of topstitching:

An after-after thought was a topstitched belt, carrying over the collar detail:

It seems strange to still be sewing for Summer, but Fall hasn't made even the slightest appearance in this area of the country!

And Finally...

Rather than prolong my account of our journey out West, I will close the story with one final post (beware of many pictures!). Since life is resuming some of its normality (if it can be called that), I think it is high time for my blog to resume "normality," as well. Leaving Cody, Wyoming, we traveled east to Mount Rushmore. We not only had the pleasure of visiting with dear friends, but also of receiving a personal tour from one of our friends (who is quite an authority on Rushmore and its politically incorrect history).

 I was always rather unimpressed by pictures of Rushmore, but seeing it in person heightened my respect for its purpose and for the amazing feat of its creation.

Finally heading south, we stayed with some relatives in Northern Colorado. We had a rather winding ride up to their home, but this was the view we saw in the morning:

Denver was our next stop, and proved to be quite a delightful city (what we saw of it, anyway!). We visited a bookshop, which held a few treasures for Tiffany and me, and then proceeded to the Capitol building. The Capitol is absolutely breathtaking inside, and boasts a beautiful dome:

 Denver Fabrics was also on our list of "must-sees," and proved quite wonderful, indeed! Never before have I visited a fabric store that encourages you to cut your own material. I have always had a secret longing to do this, and I finally got to indulge my fancy! While no longer affiliated with the internet website of the same name, Denver Fabrics was wonderful and I look forward to fashioning garments and such from the bargains I found there. Near Colorado Springs is the breathtaking Glen Eyrie Castle and Conference Center, owned by The Navigators.

 We stayed in the Castle for a night, and greatly enjoyed using the grand staircase and exploring poky little halls in search of our rooms. The Castle is actually available to view on tour during the day, so we had to disengage protective ropes from our doorways! My parents got to stay in General Palmer's room -- as the "fortune" behind the Castle, it was quite splendid and fitted with his original bedroom suite. The Castle also has wonderful hiking opportunities, which we took advantage of by visiting this canyon:

Some of the natural formations bore strong resemblance to very familiar things!

Traveling south and west, we visited the wondrous land of Monument Valley:

 

If we had only been riding on horses or in a covered wagon, we could have fancied ourselves settlers on the new frontier. But, alas, our wheels were rubber and our path was paved with asphalt!

Saving (one of) the best for last, the Grand Canyon rounded out our Western journey. We chose the North Rim, and I am quite glad that we did! I wasn't expecting forests and meadows so close to the Grand Canyon, but was delighted by the surprise. Here is the view from the Grand Canyon lodge:

 From our perch on the lodge patio, we watched a storm approach from the South Rim. Watching the rain advance on that landscape was unforgettable. What to do to while away the time until we could venture out again?

After the rain passed, we returned to the patio in time to see a cloud drift through the "viewing" room! We visited another canyon, which we had quite to ourselves. My father and sister used their vocal power to create amazing echoes.

I have never seen such beautiful birches! Here I am in the uncharacteristic position of being called a "tree-hugger:"

Tree-hugging (in its literal sense) is actually quite enjoyable...

We left the Grand Canyon near sunset, but had to stop along the road to capture the beauty of the evening sky. I think it rather sums up our trip: