Lady's Repository Museum & Diamond K Folk Art

2012-02-12T13:39:00.003-07:00

Getting what I asked for.............

aaahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Look at this! What a mess! Yes, I am totally getting what I asked for. More patience. Yes. Need more patience...much more. ::::sigh::::: The above mess is what comes from using too large of beads on too small of knitting. It looked bad...no, not bad, h-i-d-e-u-o-s! I knew when I knit the first bead the beads were going to be too large, but thought, I can make it work. Nope. They are size 15/0, but still way too large for knitting on 6 ought needles. This ball is the only ball of this thread I have, so I unraveled the whole lot, over a weeks worth of knitting, and am going to start over. Have already sorted out those beads and ironed the kinks out of my thread...so ready to try again

This time, I am going to use my antique beads, that range in size from 18/0 to 22/0~ very very small. I didn't use them in the first place because I liked the uniformity of the modern made Miyuki beads, and they came in so many pretty colors! The early tiny antique beads are so hard to come by, and so expensive...but I have picked some pretty colors, and going to try and try again until I do it! Above, you can see the larger Miyuki beads, and the amber color bead center front, is an antique one~ quite a bit smaller

With the smaller outer diameter, comes also the smaller hole in the middle, but I think my thread will pass thru at least once, which is all it has to do the way I knit. The rose color bead is the Miyuki, and you can see how small the antique ones are behind it~ they look like microscopic caviar.

2012-02-03T12:39:00.002-07:00

Beads & More beads!!!
Aren't they beautiful? I love beads~ these are tiny! not as tiny as my 22/0 antique seed beads, but still really REALLY small~ they are size 15/0, about 25 per inch strung. These are modern made Japanese glass beads, and I chose them for my knitting because they have a bit larger hole for my thread to pass thru, and, they are all very uniform in size. Did you catch that, that I said knitting???? Yes, I really am that crazy

I have been working on the other side of my little knit Quaker pin ball, and have chosen a wonderful late 18th c design I will be working in beads for it. When knitting with beads, they are strung on first in order, so that whilst knitting, when you need one, just just slip one up and knit it in as you go~ I think the colors look so pretty, really nothing like what the finished design is going to look like~ what do you think my design is, by looking at the beads all strung ready to be knit???

2012-01-28T10:12:00.005-07:00

A Very Special 18th Century, 1750-70 Everyday Shoe...

I am honored and so excited to share this wonderful mid 18th century shoe with you all. It is a remarkable, rare survivor of everyday shoe, still remaining on its original wooden shoemakers last, or form. I really love early shoes, they are each a work of art....and I wouldn't mind having a pair of these for myself to wear around everyday, to be sure!

Now I have placed a date on these from 1750-70. Most definitely no later than 1770, when even then shoes were taking on a very different shape. The latchet & buckle closure was common for the mid 18th c , the Louis heel shape, and the rounded toe all date this marvelous, quaint example to the late 1750s, early 1760s. Have I taken out the wooden last? No, I have not, and probably will never do so, even tho the leather is still quite supple, soft and not brittle~ but as you can see, nearly all of its glazed surface has eroded away

In this front view, one can clearly see the 'rounded' tongue (later tongues were pointed), and quaint stamped steel buckle. One latchet is carried over the other, so this shoe looks now, exactly as it would have looked on the foot. The little shiny specks you can see, are bits of the glazed surface that remains....and by glazed, I mean, glazed or hardened with a leather tool, with fast hard rubbing to make the surface shiny and more waterproof~ and NOT by any application of paint or solvents.

A wonderful view of the Louis heel, its stitches can clearly be seen, along with the stepped side seam

I like this view for a couple of reasons~ love the stepped back side seam of coarse, but if you look below it, you can see the wooden heel, and how the shoe sits above it, and the leather of the sole transitions from the footbed to the heel, and even the stitches of heavy linen thread connecting them all...

The feint line around the sole is actually the channel the shoe maker cuts in the leather for stitching them together~ in a Louis heel the leather sole is a single, continuous piece from the tip of the toe to the base of the heel throat

The last piece of a shoe like this that is stitched, is the sole of the heel. Nearly all 18th c shoemakers were men, they were members of guilds but also, much strength in the hands was needed for the leather work. I can only dream where the mate to this very special shoe could be~ its not only special because it is a plain leather, every~day working shoe.....but,

as you can see, it is extremely small. Perhaps it is indeed a tradesman's sample....or better yet, one of a pair of shoes to the ever so elusive wooden Pandora fashion dolls of the period. In either case, it is a wonder & absolute work of art~ now I will leave you to go back and revisit the above pictures, realizing how small it actually is!

2012-01-25T20:00:00.002-07:00

New eBay Specials listed this afternoon~

You can see what is currently on special by clicking the link in the right sidebar to my eBay specials~ got some really great dollys with some really GREAT, LOW prices! This week only!

2012-01-19T17:58:00.002-07:00

Update on my lil knit Quaker Pinball...

FINISHED! YES!!
Well ok, this is just the first side, but still! I am most proud of it~ my first intarsa knitting e-v-e-r, and on 6ought knitting pins to boot! WOO HOO! Once I got past the first 5 rows or so, and there was a scrimp of something to actually hold on to, it got aLOT easier, and actually, I quite enjoyed it, very much so. More than I thought I would. I was only able to do a few rows at a time, then needed to take a break to let my eyes rest, I think I will look for a magnifier on a stand for my other half...which, in keeping with my insane tradition of always jumping in before I know how to swim....I think I should knit beads into the other side :) never done that before, but am quite excited to try. Ill let you know how it goes~

I hope you all try something you have never done before this year~ you may just find out that you love it, and wish you had tried it sooner~ I had always thought knitting a pinball would be too difficult~ but not so! You just have to go slow and steady, and eventually, you'll be finished. I am keeping notes of my time, and so far, for the first side, it took me 30 hours, 2 minutes to complete

2012-01-14T10:54:00.003-07:00

A Precious, Very Special One of a Kind Wooden Make Do Queen Anne~

This is Muriel~ and she is indeed a very special dollye. Unlike my other dollys, Muriel is solid Maple wood....but not just any ol piece of wood~ ohh no~ she is the ultimate 'Goode Huswife'.. Muriel started her life around 1900, as a turned maple wooden pestle~ you know, the necessary kitchen tool for reaming fruits into jams....mashing and grinding down all sorts of nuts, herbs and spices. I have had this olde pestle for as long as I can remember....but one day when I went to move it, something happened, and a little spirit inside of it spoke to me, and asked me to let her out to play~

So I carved her eye sockets, and inset them with a wondrous, very special pair of antique blue glass eyes~ they are just haunting to look into. I have been saving them for the perfect dollye, and Muriel was it. Her nose is a wedge of dark walnut, the same I carved her hands from.

I dressed her in pretty skye blue silks, her skirt and separate petticoat are from this same silk~ and her stomacher laced with little brown ombre silk ribbon. Muriel's necklace is antique tiny turquoise heishe beads, with a really old brass bead in the center.

Pretty antique lace trims her sleeves, and she wears a gorgeous antique pin tucked bonnet over her floor length human hair wig

paint is worn and sparse for precious Muriel~ always such a help in the kitchen, she more than earned a second life as a make-do dollye for a special little girl. I have no doubt in my mind, that old utensils such as these, were 're~purposed' as dollys for a child in need

Here you can see the bottom of the pestle~ she has no legs. So charming, I will include the little glass measuring cup I use to stand her up in~ which adds even more to her humble appeal.

Muriel stands 11" tall, and is a most definite, special, Diamond K Folk Art one of a Kind Queen Anne dollye~ She will be available for purchase this evening at 7pm CST on the TDIPT Mercantile ~ hope you can stop by and say hello to her, Mollye & me~

2012-01-09T11:14:00.003-07:00

I am SO in L*o*v*e!

Isn't he the most handsome precious ever??? Please meet Master Flick. I have had him a while now, since Thanksgiving actually. My husband got him for me for Christmas on our trip to Pueblo for the Christmas tree. I adore woozles :) Too many years ago to count, I was given a little girl ferret for Christmas, Chani~ she was my best friend ever, and I still miss her. They are the most wonderful, comical creatures. Anyway, I always talk about Chani, and even tho I said..."NO!!! We are NOT getting anything that eats or poos!" , Jayson got him for me anyway, and he is soooo darling

Unlike Chani, Flick was born on a weasel farm in upstate NY, and as a domestic type, he is about twice/three times larger than Chani was, but I don't mind his largeness...that means theres just more to snuggle on! He is never still~ either sleeping or getting into absolutely EVERYTHING! He hasn't found his voice yet~ doesn't talk like my Chani did~ she would make the cutest little 'eh eh eh' sounds when she was playing or happy~ nothing like the 'bark' they describe them making these days..... perhaps one day he will remember how to talk.

He loves playing with the big dogs and Dixie, and swimming in the water dishes~ and the children adore him too. How could you NOT love this face?

2012-01-08T14:21:00.004-07:00

Intricate Challenges.....

I am not the kind of person that makes 'New Year's Resolutions'....but I do like to identify my goals for the coming year at its start...and usually, I like to start some interesting something I have been meaning to get to, in January. I guess, with starting at the head of the year, in my mind's eye, I will have the next 12 months time to figure out my new whatever-it-is. One of my projects for this year, is knitting more period correct, 18th century fancy pinballs. Now the ones I did last year, were FABULOUS and I absolutely adore them~ and so do my children~ they have all asked me to make them one.....but being....well,me...... I want to make dollye size ones, with precious sayings and mottoes and beads knit into them. yaaaaaaa....right. sounds endearing enough? doesn't it? Above is my start, I am using size 12 DMC coton perle, on 6-ought (000000) lace needles. Evidentally, I have gone absolutely looney, and have a subliminal need to make myself go blind in the process.

I mean...good grief! WHAT THE HECK AM I THINKING????? These blasted needles are smaller in diameter than the straight pins I use for my sewing are!!! And this thread...size 12? My dental floss is bigger. Ohh well, I have started already, so will have to finish :) At least I will have one side done eventually~ how difficult it ends up being, will decide if I actually come out with a finished pinball, or a little framed what-not for dollys wall. The above picture shows 4 completed knit rows, and...gasp, as I am tracking my time, a bit over 5 HOURS of work so far.

post script~ if you read the commetns, you will see one of the little doilies my Mom crochet me so many years ago for the dollye house~ of coarse I still have it! Love You Mom! xoxoxoxox

2012-01-05T19:11:00.002-07:00

Question of the day.....

What do wood shavings and olde kitchen utensils have in common????

I would love to show you on Jan the 14th, 7pm CST on the TDIPT Mercantile!

2011-12-31T21:14:00.001-07:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-12-20T14:49:00.003-07:00

A Christmas Gift for Dollye...

So now you know how I spend my idle time whilst its blizzarding outside..... I love this little girl, she is so precious to me. I found her a while ago, quite a while ago actually, and she has been more than patient, content to reside in her unmentionables, until I had time to make a quaint little gown that agreed with her

This is how she was when I got her~ poor girl clad in c1890 dress and bonnet~ not at all anything like her original 1820-30 wardrobe would have resembled. She was extremely happy to be free of them! Her replaced skin wig, tho cunning on the 'right' doll, looked, well, unbecoming on her, to put it nicely. Besides being to small it washed out her pretty features...and ghads, whats up with the widow's peak in the front! AKKKK! She spoke to me tho, I could see her for what she is, and once was, a wonderful first quarter 19th c wax over mache precious~ dollys like these are English, she is on her original body~ the feet pointing inward are a distinct feature of these dolls, as are the red kid leather lower arms with individually stitched fingers. Later 1830s you see the slit heads where wigs were rooted, and some with wire sleep eyes~ this one tho, she is an early early girl with very well done painting and those wonderful blue glass eyes

What a change , a change of wardrobe can make, don't you think? She looks absolutely content in her new duds. I hand stitched her an empire waist gown from a coveted bit of antique late 1820 printed cotton I had here~ been saving it forever for just the right something! This style of dress was very common on these little dolls~ it is simple, yet can be made to be quite elegant just by changing the materials of it. This same pattern, but made up say, out of a silk satin, with perhaps an overlay of netting, would be most acceptable, even for dolly's mistress, to attend an evening dinner or soiree. I made her a little poke bonnet from antique crinoline and lace, and yes, cut a little lock of my own hair for her to wear. Tho she does have a painted pate, she really didn't want to be bald.......

Just a whisp of hair~ I love this picture~ you can appreciate the skilled tinting of her cheeks, precious rosebud lips and those wild eyebrows!

Her shoulder plate is actually quite deep, it goes nearly to the red silk ribbon on her dress. She is a rare survivor to remain in such good condition~ her wax is clean and bright, just nearly as it once was when new. These dollys were commonly sold in places like the famed 'SoHo Bazaar' in London, and by peddlers called 'Bagmen'~ which is where the term 'Bagmen Babies' also comes from.

Her red kid leather arms are original, but do show their age. Perfect individually stitched fingers grace her hands~ and from the worm holes, we can see that scraps of other leather gloves were used to stuff hers.

I left her her most likely original pantaloon and stockings, but made her a little pair of shoes out of two fingers from a pair of antique green kid leather gloves~ actually one of a pair tha thad lost its mate long ago~ I have seen shoes made like this of the period, and actually, was quite surprised how easy it was, and how good they look. They are the tips of the ring and middle fingers, just snipped off in their entirety, you will cut a slit in the top that becomes the vamp, and then stitch the 2 sides up center heel in the back and voi~la~ a little shoe that fits dollye perfect.

2011-12-14T16:43:00.002-07:00

New Dollys on TDIPT Mercantile tonight~

Merry Christmas! I will be off doing a bit of my own Merry~making at the childrens Christmas program, so will be updating my page on the mercantile about an hour later than normal tonight~ hope you all will join me and say hello!

2011-12-09T14:48:00.001-07:00

Charity is on eBay special this week!

You can click on my eBay special tab to see her at a special LOW Holiday price, and FREE Shipping to boot!

2011-12-09T12:35:00.003-07:00

Wishing you all a Very, Merry, Christmas~

I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday season, whatever you celebrate! Keep kindness and love in your heart, give a smile to someone you have never met before....realize that every second of every day, is a precious gift. One of the things I really love about Christmas time, is the tree as most know! We have a tree up in the house, and another I keep in the gallery, with my most special, prized ornaments on it. No, they're not solid gold or diamonds....but they are priceless none the less, each keeping a special memory of my life within it. I have made alot of them, at school when I was young, with my Mother, with my own children now~ some have pictures, some dear Dear friends have made for me. I love this tree, and one of my favorite things to do is sit at night beside it, and just stare at them~ they're so magical on the tree.

Some I have had since my earliest memories~ like the Raggedy Ann in the center my Mother painted for me nearly 40 years ago~ she has been with me EVERY Christmas! Tressa crochet me the little wee red stocking hanging beside her, and look, you can see one of my little Wedgwood tile angels near the bottom :)

I have a glass bee on a skep to celebrate our own honey bees, I found it the first year we harvested Honey~ such a special memory with the children all taking turns to spin the combs. My Son made the green Popsicle stick reindeer at school in the first grade, and put his picture in there~ I LOVE those ornaments~ they are sooooo special! Down low, next to a Queen Anne dolly I made, is a glass lobster & trap~ my husbands personal favorite, remembrance of when he once worked on a Lobster boat when we lived in Maine.

Santas and popsicle frames of toothless grins~ so much fun to hunt them on the tree. And center, MY real egg my Mother made for me with Raggedy Ann & Andy within~ I can remember her making them, so careful to blow out the eggs, we simmered the paraffin on the stove to coat the insides with, and glitter....I can also remember having to fenaggle this one from her for my tree. I guess with 4 children, I need to make more ornaments...if they're all going to want them for their own trees when they grow up~ AKKK!!! And finally, my Christmas would not be complete without one of my most favorite paintings from a Dear artist friend, Jane DesRosier. I am lucky enough to own 5 of her gorgeous paintings, but this one is my most favorite of all~

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

Sweet Dreams My Jack Boy, Ill miss you so~

2011-11-22T13:42:00.003-07:00

I always get choked up if I have to say the Blessing, its hard for me, because I really mean what I say, and love my family more than life itself. So ... I make my husband say it :) But I certainly can type what I would say, and what I am thinking every moment, of each and every day~

Dear Father, thankyou for this life you have given me. Thankyou for my family, and for letting me be a Mother. Thankyou for my husband and for his company, Pioneer Natural Gas, and for giving me the oppertunity to share what I love, thru art & history, with all who will listen. Help me to be a better person, more loving and giving, more compassionate and more patient with others. Amen

I hope each & every one of you has a Happy & Safe Thanksgiving, with Loved ones and their Memory to keep you company. Thankyou for stopping in to say hello~ know that the dollys & I are thinking of you!
xoxoxo rachael

2011-11-19T11:52:00.003-07:00

Rare 18th c Sleeve Links

Such a rare what~not. Just think of things that you take for granted, and use every day, but never actually keep. I can think of several things that get worn, clothing wise, until they are worn OUT, and then tossed out. I shudder to think of how much of early everyday life has been lost this way. Every now and again, we get to peek into the past thru treasures in an untouched box, or perhaps an original diary when it comes to our attentions. I am so thankful for the big attics in the North East, and the fact that 'things' could just get stuck in a box, crammed up there, and left...not for years or decades even...but generations!

Earlier this year, I had the absolute honor and pleasure, of being able to acquire such a trunk for the Museum. It was literally like the drawer of a dresser had been taken out and put in a trunk, and forgotten. Everything dated from the mid 18th c up to the 1820s for the menswear. Everyday things ready to serve their master, just waiting to be used again!

These are mid 18th c "sleeve links". They are just one of several pair that still reside in their original undersleeves. I guess to compare to something current, they are the ancestor to the common cuff links we know of today. They are very simple, and very utilitarian. 2 mother of pearl shirt size buttons, joined together by a linen thread.

There is a bit of frugality to them as well~ you will notice that the more expensive carved mother of pearl button is to the OUTSIDE, the inner link that wouldn't be seen, is totally plain. The linen thread is passed thru 4 times each, and not knotted, but wound round itself several times to the outside of the inner button, as seen here

Linen thread has been wound around the connecting threads, to reinforce the link between the two buttons, and to regulate the width to allow for the thickness of the materials they are to hold together. The bulk of the threads have shifted to one side over time and use.

I thought this very interesting, that the original buttonholes in the sleeves have been 'narrowed' by overstitching, to accommodate the smaller size of the sleeve links.

Done on both sides, as you can see. I know my living history readers will very much enjoy this post~ an easily made period correct detail that should be incorporated into your wardrobe. Just think how much money one could save, having a single pair of sleeve links, instead of a pair of buttons sewn to each and every sleeve, collar and breeches.

2011-11-12T12:49:00.004-07:00

All I could see from where I stood
Was three long mountains and a wood;

I turned and looked another way,
And saw three islands in a bay.

So with my eyes I traced the line
Of the horizon, thin and fine,

Straight around till I was come
Back to where I'd started from;

And all I saw from where I stood
Was three long mountains and a wood."

~ Edna St. Vincent Millay

I had this poem, and thoughts of my beloved Maine home and the rocky beaches in my mind as Shannon was created~ she has kept a very special seashell from a cherrished beach combing to fasten her kerchief~ she would love to meet you Monday next, at 7pm on the TDIPT Mercantile~

2011-10-29T15:20:00.010-06:00

Very Rare Eighteenth Century Paste Wristletts...

I wish there would have been photography in the 18th century~ don't you? If there was, just think of the wealth of knowledge that could be gleaned from looking beyond the focus of the image....like everyday things sitting beyond on a table or in a windowsill. It is sometimes hard to remember that early paintings were almost as accurate as a photograph, but they were.
If we see a ladye, such as Maria Christina, above~ painted by Johann Zoffany in 1776, wearing these jewels, we can most definitely count on the fact that they did exist and she was wearing them...weather or not she actually owned them or not is another story, but we need not get into that here and now. Wouldn't it be grand, to see what , say, her bracelets could have actually looked like...in the flesh?

Well, Dear readers, you are in for a special treat today~ and early Hallowe'en T*R*E*A*T!

Look at this beautiful shagreen case. It in itself is worthy of a post of its own~ Shagreen is a type of treatment of leather made from a type of shark skin or ray skin, that is covered with weensie tiny bumps~ little calcifications~ and it is colored from the underneath, usually a very dark green

Just a peek of what is within... Imagine yourself now, a Ladye of much means, with a beaux of even more, wanting to show his romantic intentions with a trifle of affection....

I don't know about you, but I would be sucking in a big gasp about now.....

For within the beautifully fitted, silk lined double case, is a gorgeous, all original set of paste buckles. But yet, these are no ordinary buckles. Not...no....not intended for shoes, these were for the wrists. They test sterling, with 18k gold tooled middle banding, and each is set with 72 huge, luscious heavy paste stones. Even the elite wore past jewels in the 18th c~ there were more paste jewelers and more paste jewels sold in London than Diamonds and precious gems. If the paste was of high quality, such as these, with high lead content, they really did sparkle just as much as diamonds.

On the back, looking on the chape, you can see "1380" stamped into the silver~ this is the patent number

On the reverse of the chape is stamped "Stedman Patent". Most exciting! Both buckles are marked, and made by John Stedman in London, 1783. We know that John Stedman took out Patent number 1350 on 13 Jan 1783 for a certain type shoe buckle....and on 19 Dec 1783 for patent number 1410....so this pair most definitely dates to 1783.

John Stedman was a jeweler and patent buckle maker who worked and lived in London~ he has documented residence at No 2 Prince Street, Leicester Fields, Middle Temple Lane and 36 New Bond Street among others. What is so very interesting, and most likely the patent feature of this set, is the placement of the prongs~ see above here~ where my fingers are, the prongs are actually attached to the back side of the buckle itself, and not the center of the chape

They are absolutely gorgeous in person, the amount of paste stones is mesmerizing~ imagine how these looked in candlelight~ nothing less than spectacular to be sure.

Buckles such as these would have been worn on a ribbon around the wrists. The ribbon could easily be interchanged to suit M'Lady's wardrobe or even time of day. Simply put, a length of ribbon would have a slit at one end, and a set of 2 little holes at the other for the prongs to catch in. The chape is slipped thru the slit in the ribbon, and turned to make the catch as you see above~ this is actually very secure

The ribbon is then brought around the wrist, thru the hole in the chape, and the prongs on the back side of the buckle catch the ribbon, as above

Here is one of them as would have been worn.

**I must thank Mr Clive Taylor for his most generous help in assisting me with information on John Stedman**

I wish you all could see these in person~ the sparkle is just devine~ I couldn't help but make a little video for you~ I hope you enjoy~

2011-10-24T16:02:00.006-06:00

Dolly's help with 18th c undersleeves.......

The Museum was really blessed earlier this year with the opportunity to acquire an entire trunk of early clothing, all from a single, Pennsylvania family. I was both amazed and elated that when it arrived, it was a virtual time capsule of mid to late 18th every day common working folks wear~ both ladies & gentlemans, and I am super excited to share it with you all, little by little over the coming winter months :)

Included in the trunk were several, 5 if I remember correctly, pair of undersleeves. I love undersleeves~ and have several pair, but they all date from the 1820s to 50s, so was a bit puzzled, just at a glance, as to why they were included when everything else was in the 1740-60 era dating. There was so much to go thru, I set them aside and came back to them...and whoa what gems they are indeed!

The above is just one of several pair, but the only ones still connected at their tops. They have been tacked together with linen threads, most likely for washing, as they most definitely have been worn.

This is yet another pair. All are constructed basically the same, a tube of cloth, gathered both top and bottom~ the top bands wider with tabs for pinning to the bodice sleeves, these of which always numbered in weensie cross stitch numbers. The cuff edge is narrower, with 2 button holes for sleeve links, and these are shaped~ the same shape that bodice sleeves of the period are cut with. The sleeve on the left is showing the back facing up, and the sleeve on the right shows the inner arm up, note the curve to allow for the bent position of the elbow

All measure the same, apx 10" from top to bottom of the elbow cuff

All are stitched by hand in fine cotton, which, actually was a sign of wealth this early in the 18th c~ linen was more readily available. The cotton gin had not yet been invented, and cotton was very expensive to produce and procure. This picture shows nicely the cuff shape

Very finely gathered into the cuff end, with 2 button holes for sleeve links

The top bands are wider, and all are marked in cross stitch with matching numbers~ the ones in this collection are numbered up to 12, so we know Mary Wistar had at least 12 different pair of undersleeves in her wardrobe at one time

I was elated to find on a couple pair, that they still retained their original "sleeve links". Sleeve links were common on mens shirts to fasten the sleeve cuffs, which are two buttons stitched together ~ like the cuff links we think of today that are metal and decorative. These are 2 mother of pearl buttons sewn together with linen thread.

So now you ask, how did dollye help me? Well, you all know I love early wooden dolls, and just so happened to have a photo of a c1750 Queen Anne in the Strong Museum's collection~ and look what she wears there, peeking out under her bodice sleeve....

click on the picture to enlarge it if you need to~ but yes, as part of her original wardrobe, she too wears a set of these undersleeves. This is a perfect example of why original period dress should always be kept with our early dolls, and also illustrates the fact that these dolls not only taught little ones the correct way and order of dressing, they have indeed helped us today in doing the very same thing

2011-10-12T12:32:00.003-06:00

I am a Bedstead..... Humble, yet strong.

~~~~~~

to rest your weary head,

I wait the day long.

from babies to children to young adults they grow~

my pofsts stand worn & weary with every jump & throw~

~~~~~~

To the attic I am sent,

now to wait the days, tired & spent.

~~~~~~

Until the most noble of sacrifice is asked.....

for it, a pofst is granted a most honorable task~

2011-10-07T15:43:00.003-06:00

A New Lalaloopsy Dollye for Hallowe'en....

Ok~ I will be first to admit, this is out of my 'normal'...well kind of! But I just HAD to share what I have been obsessing over lately~ You all know how much I love my dead punkin dollys...and Halloween....and I adore MGA's line of Lalaloopsy dolls~ so she is entirely me! Emma & Pip are obsessed with them, and honestly, I think I am too. I wasn't so much, until I actually held one of the big ones~ they're so floppy and wonderful~ I love playing dollys, and I don't care know knows it!!!

This is "Little LaLa Monster"~ and she is of coarse one of a kind, and NFS. She is my embodiment of my perfect LaLaLoopsy dolly, for me! I had great fun making her~ she started out as a Blossom Flowerpot (My favorite of them all). I gave her a little dead kitty as her pet

She has spiderweb stockings, spiders on her little mary jane shoes and on her dress, and as you can see, I had as much fun redoing the box, as I did dollye :)

She is complete with her own tags, stitched on October 7th, Sewn from a Dead Man's Pocket, and her personality is 'hauntingly cute'. Which she IS~ just cute as a button!

I sculpted her some skulls for her hair, and even painted the handle of the box to match

Ohhhh I adore my little Lala Monster!

2011-10-03T08:03:00.001-06:00

For tread the Circle thrice about~
.........to keep unwelcome spirits out.

To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be......

2011-09-27T13:55:00.004-06:00

A Pretty first Quarter 19th c Child's Everyday Smock

Isn't this precious? Absolutely! Antique everyday children's wear is so very rare to find. It is my pleasure to share this very special piece with you all~ especially my living history Moms~ this one is easy to make!

Not a dress, but a 'smock'~ this one with long sleeves~ these were made to fit and be worn over the child's clothing, to keep it clean. As you can tell, this one did its job proudly!

Early textiles were so hard for us Americans to come by, anything we made from them was precious, and like alot of early childrens wear, this one has its share of darns. Many of these utilitarian pieces were used to rags, and then made their way to be linings for other things, necessary items, quilts & patchwork, until literally, there was nothing left

The workmanship on this, tho the construction is very simple, is exquisite. The stitches are nearly microscopic. In this close view of the hem stitching, you can also see the fabric, a beautiful pink woven stripe, up close~ be sure to click on the pictures to enlarge them!

There are but 5 pieces you need to cut for this smock. A large rectangle for the body, 2 rectangles for the sleeves, and another 2 small strips for the sleeve cuffs. Thats it. Made from a single width of cotton(25"), you can note the salvage edges to each side that make up the back opening. The rectangle is simply cut straight down from the shoulders, where the sleeves are set in~ NOTE that both the underarm of the body and the sleeve, are left open. This is for easing over the child's clothing so no bunching up under the arms~ think of it like an invisible gusset

Here is a closer view. There is a triangle of differing striped cotton reinforcing the point at the armpit there.

Here is better view.

The back is simple and open, with 2 tie closures. Length from shoulder to hem is 30".

The sleeves have a small gather at the top shoulders

back tape ties are tacked onto the salvage edge of the fabric. Cuffs are simple and close with a single button & button hole. This smock could easily be made up in a period correct reproduction cotton, over a simple plain color dress, and would look simply stunning. Less certainly is more, when talking early 19th c childrens clothing.

2011-09-22T14:04:00.001-06:00

Are You Ready????

Drumroll.............................d.d.d.d.d.d.d.d.d.d..d.d.d.d.d..............dddddd........

dddddddddddddddddddddddd...................................

And the Winner of the 2011 Fundraiser Drawing, a custom made Queen Anne dollye~ is.......

Congratulations Gail!

Thank You EVERYONE so very much for entering this year, and for your most kind & gracious support. This year has been stressful financially for so many folks, that it humbles me and makes me even more honored, that you all chose my dollyes to share your lives with. I appreciate it, and the Museum appreciates it, greatly!

2011-09-21T13:57:00.003-06:00

Introducing NEW!
"Diamond Patch Pins"

I am so excited to share what I have been designing with you all! Now you can wear Diamond K Folk Art designs on your person :) I have designed a new line of pins that will support the Museum acquisition fund directly~ so give a little, get an awesome pin, and greatly help to support the Lady's Repository Museum! Each one is hand sculpted, and one of a kind, and will come on their own collectible presentation cards~ they're really so awesomely cute, if you see them in person you just fall in love with them! I have some now currently listed in my ETSY store, so go take a peek~ they're just 10.00 each~ and would make wonderful gifts too.

Boo!

2011-09-18T18:52:00.005-06:00

The Witchy~Poo Sifsters out for a night of Trickery & Fun.....

Will you answer your door this Hallow's Eve, when you hear the rat-a-tat-tapping? Who doeth know what one will find to t'other side of it? Little angelic creatures drefsed to scare away the evil spirits they say.....but who is to know if t'is the actual spirit itself to come calling on you, or worse yet, an actual witche?

Would you know one if you laid your eyes on their stark white flesh?

Would their eyes stare into your soul and steal out its light, like a candle snuffing a flame?

Do you dare to wonder......what keeps behind the merry~making mask???

A spirit born to be dark, but over centuries, a mellow kindness and innocence it has become.....

A shy, delicate creature which prefers to not tarry from its dwelling, but on one evening, when it doeth like to partake in the accumulation of sweet treats, and popcorn balls....

And t'is a goode thing too, to only be burdened with having to take ones little Sifster with them, but one evening a year....

A little sisfter that doeth like the mortal folk very much, and all their glamour and festivity & Merry~Making!

One can n'er be seen in public without the head covered....a poke bonnet is very private , yes....but not so good for bobbing for apples.....

Pointe' a La Punch, a perfect resolve to keep the elders, and young ones happy~ Varden cannot be beat when it comes to bobbing for apples......she loves apples

Crisp, Green, Granny Smithe apples, that match her pretty green swirl glass eyes

Pretty punkin bows on pretty little feet

Frocks stitched from all antique bits, from the Tattersol's basket, in the latest fashionable style of coarse....

Queenie is pleased to make your acquaintance...might you have a sweety for her, or perhaps, one of those wonderful, goey, round popcorn balls?

Queenie & her little sisfter Varden have been spoken for ~ THANKYOU SO VERY MUCH

2011-09-17T07:23:00.002-06:00

eBay Specials~

As alot of you know I have been s-l-o-w-l-y narrowing the focus of the Museum's collection, and have some pretties currently on eBay, along with some dollys~ there are several antique original Hand Colored French Fashion engravings from Magsin des Demoiselles for 1874~ simply gorgeous bustle era fashions, and each includes a child. If you love this era, these are wonderful period documented fashions, as each has address below of where cetain articles of clothing can be bought. Go check it out~ just click on the link to my eBay specials in the sidebar!

2011-09-13T19:32:00.003-06:00

Tonight is the LAST night of my make me an offer sale~ so if you have had your eye on anything, tell me quick! If you dont see your favorite on eBay or the ETSY store, they have flown away to new homes~ thankyou so much! Otherwise~ hope you will stop by tomorrow evening on the TDIPT Mercantile, and join us for a party!

2011-09-10T13:11:00.002-06:00

WHAT A Wonderful Surprise & Honor!

Ohh my goodness~ I am so thrilled~ my door for the Trinidad Door Project won Artist Choice! This has been so much fun this year~ and again, THANKYOU SO MUCH to all my fellow artists who voted me the winner, that means so much to me~ words cannot adequately express my humble gratitude!

For those who are not local, our area had a project earlier this year where we got to go rummaging below the Title Co in their wonderfully old and magical basement beneath Commercial Street here in Trinidad, and pick out an old door to turn into a piece of art. To learn more about the project, and see if you would be interested in purchasing a finished door~ go check out the website~ www.trinidaddoortocolorado.com Above is my really neat old pantry door, isn't it great?!

I pondered over a month, looking at it in the studio, waiting for it to tell me what it wanted....I had all sorts of neat thoughts, but one night a little spirit appeared from it, and whispered something I couldn't understand....and it was born. The title scribed on the side is "If Doors Could Talk" .I tried to sculpt the little spirit, and hid him within one of the panels, so one must look closely to see him,

He is olde and very wise....with many secrets from others before him who have closed the door and whispered behind....

I left the hinge plates on, and it is finished on both sides, to indeed be used as a door~ if you are interested in purchasing it, please visit the website or write and ask me any questions you may have. It will need to be picked up locally, there is no shipping offered for any of the doors~ Half the proceeds go directly to benefit the local area arts programs!!

WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XOXOXOXOXOXXO me

2011-09-02T07:06:00.002-06:00

My 40th Birthday SALE!

Hmmm.....doesn't feel any different this morning than yesterday. Don't know what all the hub-bub is about turning 40. 4's are good numbers for me~ I am feeling absolutely wonderful, really blessed, and honestly, couldn't be happier! I have lost 67 pounds, do my walks nearly every day, go to the gym, have tons of energy now~ my son timed my mile run last night on the way home from the gym with his stopwatch, and I ran a mile in 5 min 21 seconds~ which I think is awesome. Just to run is awesome...heck, this time last year, I was thinking, its just nice to walk! I have heard so many folks say the phrase, "Life begins at 40", that I'm pretty excited at what the next 40 years will have for me.

To celebrate my birthday, I am having a SALE!!!! Really I don't need an excuse, but this is no ordinary mark down sale, this is a MAKE ME AN OFFER SALE. I want anyone who wants a dollye to have one at what they can afford, and I KNOW times now are tough and many of us put ourselves last on our gift list~ so if you have had your eye on something, please do, email me and make me an offer! This goes for ANYTHING I have for sale~ on eBay or ETSY or the TDIPT Mercantile. This will run from today to the 14th of Sept~ My email is rlkinnison@yahoo.com . Just put making an offer in the title and Ill get right back to you~ enjoy your Holiday weekend, and CHEERS to another 40 years making dollys for me! WOO HOO

2011-08-27T21:21:00.003-06:00

Dollye's Diary~

Thurfsday~ Pet opened my bed early this am. Went riding in the sedan and lost my dear slipper to the back of the seat. I know not what I shall do, so very improper to be without such. Pet is heartbroken over it, but will not listen when I tell her where last it slipped from my foot~

Friday~ napped entirely in my bed today. Was quiet and raining, so no walk or play in the garden.

Saturday~ Bright and sunny today. Wash Day. Spent the day on the bleaching green with Pet.... I hate the smell of
lye soap. At least there are no other ladies to notice my slipper still mifsing.

Sundaye~ !!! Pet has a new kitten...what sorrow! I fear my lost slipper may be the least of my worry. The wretched beast has absconded with my hair. I dare not venture close to the looking glass, for the hideous reflection to see looking back at me.

Wednesday's past~ it has been well over a fortnight since my last entry. After what has seemed like an absolute eternity, Pet has called on me earlie this Am. We have had a wonderful tea on her bed, and I spent the entirety on the heated soapstone. Kitty no where to be seen, thank Goodnefs. The days have become chilly, it will snow soon Pet tells me

Thurfsday~ How could I have forgotten to note, Pet hath fashioned me new wig from a bit of rabbit hide, at least I think it rabbit~ it suits me well, I like it very much. It is not at all tall like my old hair, and is very soft and white as the snow she says is coming....

Christmas Day~ What Joy, the most perfect of gifts, Pet has found and made me gift of my lost slipper. 'tis wonderful to be completely drefsed once more~ but the most precious gift ever, she hath given to me a silver key, and as she fastened it at my hip,

~whispered to my ear, that 'I' will forever be the keeper of the Key to Her Hearte

2011-08-25T15:30:00.005-06:00

Knit Pin Balls on eBay~

Aren't these just wonderful? I have listed some on eBay today just, you can find them by clicking on the link to my eBay specials on the sidebar over there~

I love early 18th century pin balls~ they are so wonderful, and so hard to find! Most are collected as art today, but they really are a handy tool if you sew, and are even more important to adding to your period representation of you are a reenactor. No 18th c ladye would have been without one hanging from her belt or in her hidden pocket~ in a time when ones clothing was pinned together to fasten, instead of hooks or buttons, a pin ball provided the perfect little space needed to keep your extras all tidy. I have knit these from cotton, and stuffed them hard with Cotswold wool so they will keep your pins conditioned too. I have also listed a larger pin drum or ball, with a center hanging cord, and the 6" long narrow one . There are dollye specials too, so hope you'll go take a peek!

2011-08-21T14:25:00.002-06:00

The Last Day of Summer Vacation.....

Its hard to believe the children go back to school tomorrow. Our summer has been jam packed and C-R-A-Z-Y! I am looking foreword to my favorite fall days ahead, and sharing some really great early everyday clothing and such with you all, perhaps a smathering of dollys in there too :) I just went out and snapped a picture of proud Mamma Hen and her TEN babies scratching around~ she has them out in the junk heap picking little wee beasties to eat... the perfect end to a busy summer!

On my way in, I caught my GG kitty peeking at me~ he has always liked to hide in the bush. It was just over 10 years ago this time of year, when school had just started, that I found his wee little self hiding in a bush down by the river. Haven't a clue where he could have ever came from, but we have loved him so ever since~

2011-08-17T11:39:00.004-06:00

Simple Times....

One of the things I love and respect so much about times before the Industrial Revolution is the sheer simplicity of things. Well, simple I suppose, compared to today's standards and practices. As ones learns more about history, and the level of work involved and efforts put into everything, you can appreciate simple things, for their complexity. Take for example, a purchase wrapped in plain brown paper, and tied neatly with string. Simple right? Dare Ye say...primitive? Not at all! Just having paper was a privilege and extravagance in Early America. Newsprint and the like, was hand printed on hand made paper, that was made from ground rags and flax linen~ paper was recycled then, like glass and metals are today. A person never threw paper away or into the fire...it was just too expensive to make...so a purchase wrapped in paper, was a precious purchase indeed.

So much early work and craftsmanship is unattributed...it is hard to think of a time when such fine handwork was most often anonymous...because it was common. Everything was handmade. There were no machines to do ones work on. So why bother to affix a label or sign ones name....alot of time, especially on shoes, we see names written in the linings~ these are not the names of the maker, but of the purchaser for whom the shoe is being hand made....so I am always thrilled to find early hand printed labels in things~ the labels themselves are works of art to me...I think of and appreciate the hand made paper they are made from, the ink and printing press they were printed on....the animal glue or starches they were affixed with, and the lives of the people behind the words that we read on them. Here are a few of my favorites~ above, pictured "Smith & Leech" London shoe label from dated 1786 pair of women's wedding shoes This delicate survivor , same decade 1780s lady's shoe, but with a rare American label "Eben & Bree" in Philadelphia. Many labels became supper for little weevils and such, as the wee beasties are attracted to the starch glues they were affixed with.

This label is on the top center of a c1820 mache box containing a beautiful early tortoise haircomb~ from Malaga Spain.

A second decade 19th century poke bonnet "Lydia B Hayhurst" Ohio

One of my all time favorites~block printed~ "J Walker" Philadelphia~ this one in a child's c1830 plush winter poke bonnet

a c1840 Hazletons Millinery label, printed on silk, not paper

And not only do I love this little button box for its wonderful diamond shape and ornately engraved label,

But the little treasured wooden Tuck Comb doll inside is precious too!

2011-08-14T09:53:00.000-06:00

2011-08-05T10:46:00.003-06:00

One of my evening enjoyments....

I took this picture yesterday of one of my dollye cabinets, I can see it from my computer here, and I really do totally enjoy peeking in on the dollys, especially in the dim light. They look sort of dreamy and mysterious to me :) You can see olde Abby sitting in the foreground holding her little mache, also a M & S Superior. I love dollys!

Speaking of loving dollys~ if you liked Emma Porter, she is on eBay at a special reduced price right now~ I also have been weeding out and have a pre Civil War era pair of boys boots~ really great, with the brass toe caps and wooden pegged soles....and a girls drawn silk bonnet of same era drawn over whalebone canes up for sale~ just click on the link to my eBay specials on the sidebar to go see them~ hope you all are having a WONDERFUL SUMMER!!!

2011-08-03T13:53:00.002-06:00

18th c Dollye Delight~

Who ever said bigger is better obviously has never taken the time to realize what absolute delights can be hiding in the smallest of places. Sometimes the smallest things have the biggest burdens...carrying on their shoulders the titles of 'most important' and 'rarest of objects'. I love early clothing, and I love early dolls, so just imagine my utter delight, to have found a little treasure that blends the two most happily!

Tho just a single, this little wonder is an early 18th century wooden patten, perfect in shape and form, and made entirely for Mifses best friend, her dollye. I have pictured it next to two pair of children's pattens, which in turn, are pictures by 2 18th c adult size shoes, so its diminutive size of just 2&3/4" can be fully appreciated

If you would like to learn more about the children's pattens shown, may I refer you to look up my February 2009 post about them in the Museum section. Pattens were an absolute essential part of the early wardrobe~ for both ladies and gentleman from the 15th centuries up to the early 19th. These are made of alder wood, which resists rotting quite nicely, and are hand carved to the fashionable shoe shape of the period. The childs size toe is very pointy, to mimic the very pointy toes of the late 1780s to 1790s. The wooden sole is raised up off the ground by a hand forged iron stand, usually in the shape of an oval ring, but I have other shapes, such as the lantern shape of the c1720 patten in the first photo, and have seen a wonderful heart shape 'ring' on an adult patten. They were worn over the normal shoes, by means of fastening a simple leather strap over the instep of the foot...and kept ones very nice shoes up out of the mud and waste of city streets and country roads

The iron ring is nailed to the wooden sole at the back heel, with a tab that runs to the toe, and wraps up over the top of it~ I assume to protect the tip from chipping off or wearing down, a very fine and labor intensive feature~ in this respect, both the childs size and dollye size are exactly the same.

You can see the hand made nails that attach the remains of the original leather straps at the sides, and how the iron is wrapped up around the toe....this would have been done at the forge while the iron was indeed hot

Another wonderful detail of this piece is the heel. Like its full size cousins, the sole has been carved to fit a Louis Heel'd shoe~ by the shape, c1740-50

There is always a possibility this could be a salesman's sample, but I highly doubt it. This is such a utilitarian thing, peddlers and markets everywhere would be flooded with them. In the 18th c, not knowing what a patten was, would be like, not knowing what a pair of sneakers are today~ you wouldn't order a sample, you would simply order 100 pair all at once. I am thinking these were made for a very special, and privileged 18th c doll.

The beautifully formed iron ring keeps dollys foot up off the ground when walking...she would take them off the second she returned indoors, as to not mark the floor, or track in the yuk trapped within on the bottom of it

The little spike protruding from the center of the sole is the tip of one of the nails in the side, affixing the leather strap

beautiful! Of coarse I wish I had the mate, but I am 150% thrilled just to have the one. What fabulous shoes they could have held

2011-07-13T21:54:00.002-06:00

Gryhm~ Holde: a vessle either this worldy or not, to which holds evil doers an devilish creatures

2011-07-10T13:56:00.003-06:00

Hallowe'en in July is nearly here!

Ohh wonderful spookies and ghofsties to tromp 'round in the night will be coming for your pleasure on the 14th of July at my TDIPT Mercantile page~ hope to see you there!

2011-07-08T18:07:00.003-06:00

Bits on Lacing a corset......

Trevette asked a wonderful question today that I have been asked before several times, so thought I would share my answer to her with you all~

Rachael, dear, I hope this finds you having a lovely day.

I'm writing to ask a big favor. Would you mind writing me about what happens to the two ends of the ribbon when you lace up stays? I mean I know only one ribbon shows on the front but it looks like you do end up at bottom with the two ends of the ribbon, so I'm wondering, what happens in the back?

In my head I can imagine a possible way , but not sure it would hold together or hold stays straight.

I went back and read your marvelous post and exquisite photos about making Marguarite's beautiful corset and want to say a huge thank you again for all the wonderful and generous information and photos you give about doll clothing construction.

Please forgive me if this is asking too much. All my very best to you, Trevette

This is a good question Trevette~ there are numerous ways to lace up a corset, and these vary even more, on the period, type of corset or stays being laced, and if the wearer is dressing themselves, or having someone else help them. I have shown a picture of Grete in her stays, and how they are laced up the back, this is the most common, very simple way using a SINGLE stay lace, very long. It is laced up one side, ever OTHER hole, turned at the top, and laced down the other side. Care is taken to leave a long tail on the front end of the lace, so when you come back down, with your leftover end now, you have and end hanging to tie a pretty bow. Then both ends and the bow knot will be at the bottom back of the corset, and these are simply tucked up under the back. If there is alot hanging, I wrap this in a little coil before I tuck it up under to keep all nice and tidy.

Now if you will also notice, I have drawn two loops at center back~ if you were a person dressing yourself, this is how you would lace your stays~ you will have a single LONG lace, with a knot directly at one end. You will lace up one side, every other hole like before, turn at the top and come back down the other side, only this time, you will tie your lace in a knot at its end, after all is laced thru. Now at the center back, you will pull out two loops of lacing, like I have drawn, of equal amounts, with both knots and ends of your lace at the very bottom of the stays. You will leave a few inches of a gap, so you can easily step into your stays/corset, and slide it on. Once in the proper position around your waist, you will grab these loops, the one on the right with your right hand, one on left with your left hand, and PULL them forward directly out in front of you, this will tighten the corset on both sides, top to bottom all at the same time. But there is a trick to it! (You will take the right loop in the picture above, across the BACK of the corset's LEFT side, and around to the front where you will grab it with your right hand, and same with the other side)There is usually enough lace length to wrap around the waist once or even twice, and tie in the front in a little bow. Once the petticoat is on, the knot is tucked beneath the waistband to conceal. I hope this makes sense :)

This is a great working illustration of why the invention of the front metal busk was so important and innovative in its day~ a woman could have someone lace the corset in the back and knot it off~ permanently. She was then free to get in and out of it by simply opening and closing the front busk~ no more strings everywhere!

2011-07-02T21:08:00.002-06:00

Anything BUT!! the Lazy Days of Summer~

See? This is what I get! I must apologize for not posting more often, I'm trying to catch up~ but shoosh~ what can I do when my loving children bring me such wonderful 'gifts' all the time? I cant stand frogs.....to say I freaked out when Tressa showed me these, is a gross understatement. Just look at the evil look on her face~ what do I do to deserve such treatment?

We have been so busy this summer~ my to do list is a million miles long, and it is so horribly hot and dry. I think every day this week has been over 100, and we have not had any rain in eons. I took this picture up behind the house week before last~ something I did not need to see so close. There are some spots still smoldering, huge stumps mainly, they can burn for weeks underground, but for the most part, the Track fire has been put out, God Bless the jumpers and all those forestry firefighters!

Hmmm.....perhaps Tressa tortured me with frogs because I have been making her knit with me? could be! This is my first pair of knee high stockings knit from wonderful Noro yarn my Mother sent me, I have found I really am in love with knitting. I will try and refrain from saying obsessed....but, that could be true too. I have found visions of sweaters, and early pinballs entering my mind....along with dollys.....hmmm, perhaps I should knit dollye some stockings? Sounds like a plan!

Life is great, and I am so enjoying being so busy. Theres never a dull moment around here.. Josh is eating Pip's mud cookies(really, made out of dirt!), the goats have gotten out.....I am continually on the hunt for the lone blasted cricket that is living in my windowsill driving me crazy ....its fishing and camping, more fishing and somewhere in there dollys to work on, patiently waiting always, bless their little heartes. My brother & Pa stole away and were here from Washington for a very short day last week~ miss them so much allready. Summer is always filled with road trips! But in all the hustle and bustle, I absolutely l-o-v-e hearing what you all are up to, and take pleasure in the smallest, simplest little details~ I thought you may enjoy some of my favorites~

Early c1840 embossed leather children's shoes~ embossed morocco leather just like what was so commonly used to bind books~ common for books, but not so for shoes!

I love the to look at this 18th c lace and know that someone toiled hours and hours to make it

Love this early 1820 pink and blue roller print girls gown....and of coarse the wearer too ;)

Oh! What a treat! What a feast for the eyes and imagination~ a wee hand carved antique 19th c tortoise shell hair comb, but sized for dollye

I am planing on an entire post about this wonderful 18th c Dresden work kerchief~ discarded because of 'damage' (it has a wonderful darn), and lookie what I discovered in one corner~ (this photo greatly magnified), the embroiderers initials and date, '65~ that's short for 1765!

I hope you all are having a wonderful summer, and have a Happy & Safe 4th of July Holiday. Take a moment to remember where you came from, and where you want to go, and enjoy the ride!

2011-06-14T18:17:00.002-06:00

Dollye Update tonight, 7pm CMT

Mifs Emma Porter would love to meet your acquaintance this evening at the TDIPT Mercantile~ hope to see you there!

2011-06-10T13:35:00.002-06:00

2011 Early American Life Directory of Traditional American Craftsmen

I am SO Honored to be chosen for the EAL Directory of Top 200 Traditional American Craftsmen again this year, and even more so, because my dollys were chosen to be photographed for the Magazine this year. The August Directory issue is out now, and here is my Antoinette gracing page 66 (((Enter HUGE Smiley face here))). And yes, I am a bit jealous Antoinette got to visit the Kentucky Shaker Village before I did~ she is pictured above in the Centre Family Meeting Room....does she look a bit dreamy~eyed to you? She has told me that her mind was wandering the whole time she was there, and that it was very hard to concentrate and be still for the cameras.

It really is a magical place, and they do so much to get the community involved~ you can go and stay at the Inn, they are having an antique show and sale on the 19th of June I think, and there are garden side suppers and all sorts of wonderful things going on now~ I hope you will click on the link on my sidebar to go and check them out. If I was within a days drive, I'd sure be there!

Nina was requested to go first for the photo shoot, but being such a big girl at 27" tall, Antoinette offered to go in her stead, and was delightfully welcomed by the EAL staff. Besides the honor of having my dolls chosen for the Directory again this year, I simply must thank the staff at EAL for keeping watch over my sweeties and handling them with such love and care. What a perfect start to the summer!

I have been working on dollys and knitting knitting knitting~ Ohhh I am hopelessly absolutely addicted~ my peonies are blooming....the baby kids are not so much babies any more~ a wonderful loud musical choir greets me whenever I step outside and they hear me talking....and speaking of talking~ here is a picture of one of my kittys~ Mr PappaGeorgio (Georgie to me)...he is the loviest cat we have ever had~ and he is constantly talking :)

2011-05-29T13:16:00.002-06:00

Freezin my Brain on Memorial Day Weekend!

I hope you all had, or I guess I should say, are having, a great holiday weekend! I don't prefer all the holiday rush rush and crowds, so we did our camping trip during the week last week at Lathrop State Park here in southern Colorado. Above you can see one of our Spanish Peaks to the south...I am normally looking a the other side of them from the porch here at the house. It was a really fun trip~ the children are already out of school for the summer, and the weather was fairly warm, in the 80s I guess, but a bit windy

Josh and I walked the Hogaback trail several times, and each time we saw different things. I thought this tree particularly stately looking...like a picture postcard

Up at the top of the rock dike, they have done core samples on the cedars, and some are over 400 years old! Here is my Josh in front of one of them, all twisted and gnarly....fitting for being that old Id say. He is really loving his 'cut' Dad gave him.....before we left, they locked themselves in our bathroom, and WHAT a ruccus! I knew they were up to something with all the giggling....and out Josh popped with all his hair gone for the summer. He really likes not having to comb it :)

We saw some huge white pelicans, a couple of bunnies, 2 white tail deer does....a bull snake, lots of birds~ here are some of the new fuzzy little geese babies~ so much fun to watch. I took this picture on a walk with Pip to go to the Ranger station for an ice cream... which brings me to the whole 'Brain Freeze' comment before.............nope~ I didn't have any ice cream!

There is a wonderful yarn store in Walsenburg, on the way to the park, and my oldest crochets, so we stopped in and both decided we wanted to knit stockings.....(yes~ can you believe it Ma?) I have never E*V*E*R done a thing with yarn, and let me tell you, I would have to seriously second guess anyone who ever says knitting is 'ohhh so relaxing'!!!! This weekend I have taught myself to knit, and above is my very first ever knitting, and seriously people, I have to concentrate so hard it really makes my brain hurt! Heck I probably have my tongue out and everything~ purling is so difficult for me....but I am getting it. I bought two skeins of this fabulously soft striped wool~ I think I will try and make a dolly blanket out of this...no stockings yet!

Welcome Summer!

2011-05-17T15:50:00.002-06:00

And the Winner of the little Marie Pincushion IS.............

dadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadada........(can you hear the drums?).............

Congratulations Janice! post me a comment with your mailing address, and Marie will be on her way! (Your comment will be emailed to me and I wont publish it online) T*H*A*N*K*Y*O*U* to all who commented and sent me emails to share your own stories~ we are all inspiration for each other! Many of you asked me how I lost my weight~ alot of WORK! That's how! Truthfully, YOU are the ONLY person who can motivate YOURSELF to loose weight. There is no trick. There is no pill that you can take and the next day you wake up fit and trim....that's all a bunch of malarkey~ POOEY! I have had two back surgeries, and have degenerative disk disease....and the blasted doctors would always say, YOU WOULD FEEL ALOT BETTER if you will loose weight......and I would always say, How exactly am I sposed to loose weight if I cant move to begin with? Well they never would answer me....and I found the answer for myself. """I"""" decided I was going to loose weight, and everyone knows there is only one way to loose weight naturally~ which is to burn more calories than we take in. So simply put, I got my big tuccas moving. very slow at first. We bought me a treadmill, and my goal at first was do walk a single lap (1/4 mile) a day. I was very slow, 1 mph I think...and you know, sometimes I couldn't even walk a single lap. But I kept at it, and did as much as my body would let me. As time went on, and I have got more fit, I am now walking my 2 miles a day, which is 8 laps on the treadmill...takes around 30 minutes, and I walk first thing in the morning~ and YES, I have sweat dripping off my nose by the time I get done, and am too winded to talk....but that lasts just a little, in a few minutes Ive caught my breath back, and guess what, I am energized and really feeling good the rest of the day! So my simple advise to anyone wanting to loose weight is this: GET MOVING!! Its O.k. to be a little selfish, and take 30 minutes for yourself each morning....and don't say you don't have time.........make it!

2011-05-10T08:46:00.002-06:00

OMG OMG OMG !!! & A Give-away to Celebrate!

I am so absolutely thrilled, over something so silly, BUT.... its my silliness, and I am just exploding at the seams about it! Most of my readers know that last year was a turning point for me in my life.... I was told that I could have ovarian cancer, and that all needed to be removed el mui pronto.....I was on my way down to Houston to see my quilt at the big International Quilt Festival, so as soon as I got back, I had my surgery. I was in so much pain, I had really large 'cysts' that had been bothering me, and it wasn't until after the surgery that I learned that the largest, an actual tumor, had attached itself to my bowel and was blocking it (now you know Mom why I never wanted to eat on our trip!)...I was extremely worried, scared to my wits end actually, that I would go to sleep for the surgery and just never wake up. But as you can tell, I DID, and all is well. There have always been things in my life I have wanted to accomplish, and last year, I said pooey to waiting for them to just happen, and started working towards making them happen myself.....and one of the silliest I guess, is being able to do a pull up. I was in weights in high school, and could never ever do one, I couldn't even ever do the 'hang' that us girls were taxed with doing, instead of the actual pull ups the boys had to do....then I went into the Navy, was one of the first female aircrewman....was the fittest of my life, but nope, I still could never do a pull up. I told myself last Nov, that I WILL do one this year, and guess what???? Not only did I do one yesterday, or two...but HELLO! I DID THREE PULL-UPS at the gym! And if that wasn't sweet enough, while talking to my Mom on the tele this morning, I realized, that I have lost an even 60 pounds. WOO HOO! I am so happy I just cant even describe it, and so I'm giving away a little pincushion dollye to celebrate my Triumph! Just leave me a comment here this week, I will hold a drawing on the 17th and Mifs Marie could come to your house for a bit of good energy for YOU to fulfill one of your own goals this year :)

2011-04-28T09:05:00.002-06:00

Museum 2011 Fundraiser & Drawing~

Not only is it that time of year, its past that time of year, I'm just slow at getting the new thermometer up! You will see it in the sidebar on the right, and has been tallied retro-actively. When we reach the top, I will hold the drawing, and this year, the premium will be a 12" Queen Anne type dollye of the winners choice~ as in, YES, a custom sculpted dollye just for them :)

Keeping my things here in tip top shape and stored properly is a difficult, and expensive task. Proper storage is just as important, if not more so, than display, in order to keep our precious bits of history around for future generations to study and learn from. Isn't the photo above captivating? This is the eye of one of my most coveted early wooden dolls here at the Museum~ she is a very early 18th century, possibly late 17th century, wooden fashion mannequin, sometimes referred to as the all elusive "Pandora Doll". Wooden dolls are extremely environmentally sensitive, as the wood, tho very old, still will expand and contract with changes in temperature & humidity. This year I am aiming high for a new climate control unit from Micro Climate Technologies in Toronto, the MCG4. I will be able to install this unit in my large glass display case, which will be the new permanent home for the early wooden above, as well as several others.

You can help bring a new MCG4 unit to the gallery by making any Diamond K Folk Art purchase, or by clicking the donate button in the sidebar~ please, please, do consider it. Every 25.00 in donation or purchase will earn one entry into the giveaway drawing. Words cannot express my gratitude to my readers, patrons and visitors. I am blessed, humbled and honored to care and share whatever I can, of our heritage with anyone who wishes to learn & be inspired.

2011-04-14T17:43:00.002-06:00

5 New Dollies Tonight on the TDIPT Mercantile

If you have a moment, I hope you will stop by and say hello, 7 pm CST :)

2011-04-09T08:06:00.002-06:00

And then there were.....SEVEN! Spring is here, officially at our little farm. Mamma Meisie popped out twins last evening at 7.30...I had been out sitting with the girls alot yesterday, and we talked about this.....and of coarse, the second I come in to get supper on, a neighbor driving up the canyon stops to say "uh.....do you know you have twins?". typical. They are big and healthy

2 boys. hopping and jumping around like popcorn this morning.

Mamma Kate, my sweetie, has been so uncomfortable as of late, could hardly get up or down, stumping around so stiff....reminded me of right before I had Pip...she started at 10pm, and around 1am we had triplets. Of coarse, this time, things didn't go so smooth, and I had to help, but the end result was all for good~ and Tressa was so excited

First we had just a hoof, just one, not two, and as much as I could feel, I felt no head, no other leg...just SO much parts and pieces all in there tied in a big knot. We had one hoof for just about 2 hours, when Kate was in much distress, as was I, I felt the baby had to have been dead, and so out she pushed & I pulled, SIDEWAYS, bent in a U...and that little bugger got straight up and is just as healthy as her brother & sister~ GOD BLESS!

Directly after, out came 2 hoofs and a head, except when it too became stuck and wouldn't budge, I realized that it was a front leg, and a back leg, so back in they went, and as soon as I straightened them out, out they came, well...not exactly as quick as a rocket, but pretty close. And in just a few minutes, we had 3 screaming little kids, small, but all happy and really mobile... they were up and about alot quicker than Meisie's were.

Here she is, the 'Sidewinder' I have named her....as all of Kate's family are named after movie stars, and all that kept coming to mind was Gene Wilder in the Frisco Kid, with his 'Sidewinder'.....

And here are our anxious onlookers~ been sitting here plastered to the fence all night, wanting to know whats going on! Lumpy, little Dixie, Yetti and his boy 'Jack'....who is almost as big as his Mamma Blanket who is out of the picture.

~ ~Welcome Welcome little Strangers~

2011-04-05T09:20:00.003-06:00

La Petit Courier Des Dames, 1 April, 1836~

"There is, perhaps, nothing more difficult of attainment than the art of dressing well. The graceful adjustment of drapery, the perfect harmony of colors, the correct adaptation of the coiffure to the countenance; even the choice of the slipper and neatly-fitting glove, require a degree of taste and judgement that would surprise the un-initiated......

An eye as accurate as that which guides the painter in his task, a fancy as brilliant as that which inspires the delicate visions of the poet, are required to perfect that most fascinating of all earthly objects-- an elegant and well dressed woman. "

*Little Merrit Alsop would be pleased to meet your acquaintance at the TDIPT Mercantile, along with Mirwana, Bagg, Livy & Holley, at 7pm CST , April 14, 2011.

2011-03-29T18:10:00.002-06:00

Constructing Marguarite's 17th century Embroidered Smock......

For those of you who are constructing a smock along with me, we are on to construction. Some are embroidering all their pieces first, depending on the blackwork pattern....I am staying true to the original c1575-1600 smock held in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, so my next step is to construct the body, so I can have a zillion seams to cover with my powder blue filament silk....YAY! NOT~ I have found embroidering these weensie motifs really challenging, they are so small, and all being the same, sorry to have to admit, but extremely boring to work. So much so, I was elated to stitch seams!

The original smock is made of a fine linen...I am using ramie for this one~ still a 100% natural fiber, and it is so thin and soft....just perfect for this scale I am working. Its basic construction is a rectangle for the front, one for the back, 2 small rectangle pieces that cover over the shoulders, 2 sleeves, and 2 sleeve underarm gussets. That's it~ very simple. I am making mine a little different, because I want it to look like it was pieced from scraps, AND, doing this will give me the lines I want in the front for my embroidery to go over, so I wont have to mark it. The original was indeed embroidered all the way around, but my Marguarite's will only have the vertical embroidery on the front seams.

So first, I am making up my front panel, which consists of 6 narrow widths, once this is finished, I will trim my back piece to the exact same width, and we will be on to the next step. I am using an awesome white Londenderry linen thread weight 100/3, just doing a back stitch, then will trim off one side seam allowance and turn to flat fell them, so there will be no raw edges. If you like, staying true to period, you can also turn and hem the edges of your pieces, then whip them together.

2011-03-27T17:30:00.002-06:00

Queen Anne Dollye on eBay this evening & my latest Obsession.........

I listed a special girl on eBay this evening~ you can see her on eBay by following the link in the sidebar to my eBay Specials ;) I also wanted to share my latest obsession with you all~ cause if you know me, you will know I adore bunnies!

Ohhhhh just look at them all! Aren't they just the sweetest lil things? I am so proud of my daughter Tressa www.from-my-hands.blogspot.com ~ she made up the pattern herself and is crocheting like wildfire. She is always making little things to sell at school and such, and I think these are the best things she has made yet. If I had enough money, Id buy them all (yes, she makes me buy them) She is most defiantly taking advantage of me, but honestly, I don't mind Little twins she made me, one with a carrot, the other with a radish. These are much easier to take care of than real bunnies....tho they seem to be multiplying just as quickly...............

2011-03-18T18:39:00.004-06:00

Mirwana~

A waye up to the attic little dollye lived, always hidden, always alone, longing for a new pet to steal her away... to drefs her and smother her with kifses. Years would pass, she still sat at the sill snug up against and gazing out the wavy panes of glass beyond the cobblestone streets and gardens below. Bound to the olde darke manor houfe, she had weaseled through and carefully repacked each and every box more times than she could remember. She loved the way the wide planke floors creaked softly when her feet patter'd across them. The smell of scent....and soot. She knew every nook and cranny, every crack in the daubed walls....every stick of straw. Her once cunning and fashionable drefs, now long worn through, had been unpick'd and resewn, unpick'd again and cut down and restitched again and again, until only precious bits of the cotton print remains. Her hair is quite long now, and a bit tussled....but why comb it~ there is no one to care if there is a spiders nest within.....and perhaps a spider would make nice company after all?

Waiting........

still and silent she waits,

dreaming to be stolen away and smother'd with kisfes

2011-03-14T17:53:00.002-06:00

TDIPT Mercantile update tonight, 7pm CST

Did you all here in the USA, well minus Arizona...remember to set your clocks ahead yesterday? I hope so :) I am so ready for spring! Just a wee little update this evening, one dollye and the very first of my new tiles~ do you see it in the picture above????
Ohh I am certainly addicted to making these~ if I had a kiln, I would be making them in porcelain, (I want some for my bathroom!) but since I don't, I have done them up in mache~ these really are special, and I am so excited to share them with you all. I hand press them from antique springerle cookie molds and presses~ I have been collecting the modern reproductions for quite a few years and they really are special~ all reproductions of early hand carved cookie molds dating back to the 1600's. I hand paint each, and glaze them to make them each unmistakeably 'Diamond K Folk Art'! This one I am offering this evening is a c1820 Beidermeier Garden Ladye, and she is quite large~ almost 4"x6", not including her hanger. These look wonderful hanging on a cupboard door~ I have painted this one to resemble my favorite powder blue Wedgwood.

2011-03-02T10:59:00.002-07:00

Lets Start~ a c1600 embroidered smock for Marguarite

I have done alot of research into what sort of smock I want Marguarite to wear under her bodies....must be period correct of coarse, and be able to be worn under a gown or jacket with a low neckline. I love Janet Arnold's books~ she was such a gift to us, and did more for research of early 16th-17th c clothing than anyone else. I am utilizing her Patterns of Fashion, Volume 4 for the smock I am making. Pattern number 71, which is an embroidered smock c1575-1600. I would have liked to use a later period smock, say, 1630's ideally, but couldn't find one in the cut I was looking for~ as in, LOW neckline. This smock is quite full, but I am using a really sheer natural fiber ramie, so I am not worried about any bulk under the bodies. IF you are going to use a linen, I would definitely cut out a few panels in the body, to make it more fitted. Above is a view of the smock as Janet sketched it out~ I will be following the pattern fairly closely, and yes, using this same embroidery motif.

Here you can see that mainly, these early smocks are just comprised of rectangles~ very simple in construction. I cut my pattern from paper, and fitted it on Marguarite, making adjustments for her unique body type~ basically, there is a front and back, 2 sleeves, 2 small bits that go over the shoulders, and 2 square underarm gussets.

Typically the fabric would be embroidered first, then stitched together...but alot of the embroidery is over the seams on this one, so I am embroidering the underarm gussets first, then am going to stitch it all together, and embroidering it last. The most embroidery on this is on the sleeves, and I want to be sure the fit is correct and perfect, before I go spending a ton of time on embroidery that may get put into the trash. I am drawing the motifs on with a lead pencil, which works quite well~ my fingers rub it off, and by the time I am finished with the motif, the lead marks are all gone.

The original smock was embroidered in a salmon color filament silk~ I am color coordinating Marguarites outfit, so picked a nice shade of blue that will look nice with her bodies. I am using soie ovale~ a flat untwisted filament silk, but as you can see, it is quite heavy off the spool~ if you ask most folks they will say that it cant be divided, but I have found that if I fray the end a little with my thumbnail, it separates quite easily into 6 strands...sometimes I get a 7th.

Here is one underarm gusset complete~ each motif takes me about 2.5-3 hours to stitch...ridiculous isn't it?! They are so small, and I am doing a back stitch~ now the original would have been done in a running stitch, as in, if stitching a straight line, worked one direction, then turned, and worked again the the opposite direction to make a perfectly smooth line....but I find my scale and thread just too weensie to do the proper technique. I still get a quite pleasing effect, very delicate with just a hint of color~ am liking it so far!

2011-02-14T14:01:00.001-07:00

A Valentine's Day Update~ I hope you all are having a wonderful day~ Tilly would certainly love to meet you, hope you will take a moment this evening, at 7pm CST, and stop in to the TDIPT Mercantile and say hello!

2011-02-10T20:43:00.003-07:00

One Little Two Little Three Little Piggies.............

I apologize for not posting on the blog sooner! I am swamped already this year~ a great thing! We are finally getting the blizzards that we should have had last November....and look at my little sweeties!!! Yes, Yetti & Blanket(our Great Pyrenees) are proud parents of 3 wee little pigs... which actually, aren't little at all~ they're HUGE! Just 13 days old, eyes open yesterday, two boys and a girl. Weighed the biggest one, the girl, FIVE POUNDS yesterday! I call her Gloria, she is the one on the right. Her brother Gary is on the far left, and my Jack is in the middle. We are going to keep Jack, the two brindles will be watching over someone else's flock.

They are so rolly polly....if they aren't eating, the children each are always holding a little pig....and see, Auntie Dixie is always hovering over them when Blanket gets a break and goes outside. We have kept them inside since they were born, as we have had in the 30 and 40 BELOW zero temps. I have also, drum roll.....got the taxes DONE, so will be getting all the info for this years fundraiser drawing up SOON! Not to worry, if you have bought anything this year, you will be entered! This years goal is very focused~ extremely focused actually. All the proceeds of my Folk Art sales will be going towards purchasing a climate control unit for the large counter display case~ I have been stripping the layers of paint off since last October!

Its looking pretty good, have the back to do yet, the sliding doors are giving me fits, as they don't come off....but its getting there. So much elbow grease...whew! I am using a non evaporating bio friendly stripper~ it works really good actually, just takes a while longer than the more potent ones.

For those of you who are making up a smock with me, Ill be posting on that soon too~ I'm so far behind! Nearly everyone has their fabric already so we should be all set to start :) It's ramping up to be a really GREAT year, and I'm seriously really looking forward to sharing it with you all~

2011-01-13T18:42:00.003-07:00

Heartes Desires.................

It is the heart and not the brain
That to the highest doth attain,
And he who followeth Love’s behest
Far excelleth all the rest.

~~~~HENRY W. LONGFELLOW

I hope you will stop in at the TDIPT Mercantile tomorrow, 7pm MST~ BB, Pyotr and I would love to hear from you, and I will also have 4 sets of my glass glittered candy heartes available for your special Valentine~

2011-01-10T08:22:00.002-07:00

Just Dance

'Please send me your last pair of shoes, worn out with dancing as you mentioned in your letter, so that I might have something to press against my heart.'

~ Goethe

2011-01-02T13:17:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year!

2010-12-27T18:57:00.004-07:00

An ETSY SALE to Ring in the New Year!

Ahhh the end of the year festivities! I wish you all happy & safe soirees and festivities, if you should partake. I would also like to thank each and every one of you who stop by my blog to read my little bits and bobs....and all of my kindred spirits who email me and keep up with the goings on here, and of coarse, all the Angels who have given my dollys a home. I wish you all a Blessed New Year...and offer you a challenge, to do something you have never done before, but always wanted to. Stop waiting, just do it already!

To celebrate the end of this 2010, I offer a 25% off discount on anything and everything in my ETSY store~ just enter coupon code YND2010 at your checkout. This offer is good from now until the first of January, 2011.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!

2010-12-19T17:25:00.003-07:00

My most Sincere Wishes for You a Blessed & Magical Holiday~

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and if you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a Blessed Holiday~ whatever it is! The dollys and I are settling in for our long Winter hibernation.....we love to just sit and gaze at the tree with all the pretty lights, all the while remembering Christmases past and all our favorite memories. A sip of our favorite Constant Comment tea, and a softly crackling fireplace~ what a gift in itself to enjoy this time with each other! With all the hustle and bustle now, I hope you all make time for a quite evening with family and all your favorite memories~ and perhaps make a new one! Merry Christmas! xoxoxo rachael

2010-12-16T13:14:00.002-07:00

Marguarite's 17th c Corset / Bodies Complete

I couldn't be more please with how these came out! As soon as I am finished with Marguarite's Smock, I will post a picture of her wearing them. Until then, I think you will enjoy these. Finished, her bodies measure 6.5" across the shoulder, and 12" at center front from bust to busk point

I used the last of my matching hand dyed silk ribbon for the points, and since I don't have miniature metal aglets, I made my own

Each ribbon point is wrapped in copper wire, and then dipped several times in beeswax....and yes... bees wax from our own bees :)

I used a precious scrap of handspun tow to tie the shoulder straps together in a permanent knot

The tabbed skirts flare out quite gracefully

back view

Back is laced with a single ribbon in the proper 17th c fashion. All in all, I had an absolutely fun and wonderful time stitching these, and of coarse, I kept track of every minute, writing down the time I started stitching in my journal, and again when I finished to get up for anything.... for a total stitching time of 64 hours, 1 minute.

2010-12-13T16:37:00.004-07:00

Binding the Bottom of Marguarite's 17th Century Corset

Here you can see that I have finished back stitching the silk binding, right sides together, to the bottom of Marguarite's pair of bodies. This was extremely slow to stitch, about 6 hours for this one step if I remember right. You can see the 'skirts', or tabs, pointing up and away there. I actually used a double thickness of silk on my binding here, as I didnt want the ends of the bamboo working their way thru it, and its so thin, I just felt the bottom needed more. After the binding was on, I again trimmed the linings. NOTE: The center busk pocket. I wanted to leave an open pocket so it could be removed, so the binding only goes thru the upper layer of lining, not thru all layers here.

After the linings are trimmed, I brought the silk to the back and whipped it down, just like on the top edge. It looks right spiffy now!

Here is my busk pocket opening....cause, well, one never knows when they will fall in love, and need to give their busk to their departing beau to carve while he is out Whaling...... If you want to have a pocket like this so your busk is removable, here is a tip~ make sure to cut all your pieces so this opening is the salvage edge! There is no bulk, and its nice and tidy.

Nearly done now. This is the front view after binding. I still need to press the tabbed skirts down.....

And finish the last of the brass grommets~ there are two at the bottom back opening, and then four more each side for the ribbon points (ties used for attaching a farthingale).

2010-12-11T17:14:00.003-07:00

Binding a 17th Century Pair of Dollye Bodies

Here are some progress pictures of Marguarite's pair of bodies. I used 1" hand dyed bias cut silk ribbon for the binding, doubled over as shown both for strength and a more opaque coverage, since its such a light color, and such a thin tissue silk ribbon.

I waited until I was at the strap to trim it to shape (really cuts down on the edges raveling cause the straps are always flopping around while I'm sewing). In the picture above, I have the binding on, and you can see the edges of the linen lining sticking out around it....the next step is to trim all this off~ very important for a nice uniform and equal binding!

After the excess lining is cut away, the ribbon is brought around to the back with my thumb there, stretched as far as it will go and whipped down. To answer your question why am I wearing gloves.....for two , well three reasons actually. The first, the linen I used for the lining is antique and really thick and densely woven, really hard to get the needle thru~ the gloves are excellent at helping me grip the needle and pull it thru nearly effortlessly...2, on my left hand, the rubber helped to grip the slippery silk and pull it taught, and 3, they also keep any oils I have on my hands and fingers off my work. I love sewing in rubber gloves..........

Here is the binding as seen on the front, and the whipped edge to the inside. I really love these two colors together, and in the 17th century...everything was colorful!

Next step was to finish the brass eyelet holes that were up next to the binding at the back opening, and on the front and straps. Top is finished!!! And, I must admit, it looks awesome :)

Starting on the bottom edge now, saved the hardest for last I guess. First, I pin'd the 3 tabs to the bottom edge in their rightful places~ largest next to the back opening, inbetween in the middle, and smallest to the front most area next to the center boning.

I then carefully stitch the binding silk over all the layers. This is very slow going on the bottom edge, as the bodies are extremely stiff, and I cant bend them to make my normal running back stitch, so I am left to stab each stitch one at a time, straight up and down thru all layers, including thru the bamboo, which I am using my pliers to help with. If anyone ever x-rays this in the future, they will find the tip end of my last needle buried in the bamboo 7th from the left...too many broken needles today, and I cant get this one out, so in it will stay!

2010-12-10T19:54:00.002-07:00

Good Grief!

Where the heck has the time gone? I think my life remote is stuck on fast fwd.... I have been working on Marguarite's bodies...and good grief. These things are a pain....well...theyre definitely giving me a pain...in my hands, my fingers...my back....my eyes even hurt. blaaaaahhhhhh......... All the while I am sitting with my wonderful wondrous Heavenly Ott light directly in front of me....I try and imagine my ancestors working in mainly sunlight....and wonder, what the heck did they do in the winter??? I mean, a candle can only put out so much light, even with a magnifying water globe in front of it......its pitch black dark here by 4.30 pm...... what did they do all winter long... Sitting in the dark...in front of the fire....trying to keep warm? As much as I would really love to go back in time and just see what all was going on, and what they were EATING....and what they were wearing.......and what the stores looked like inside....I am so very thankful for living in today! But I'm getting off my point for today~ which is binding these bodies. Y*U*K*. As you can see above, I snapped a pic after I bound the first tab in silk....isn't it a pretty contrasting color? I am very happy with this blue.....but actually binding the bodies is a pain in the tuccas. I have bound and picked out twice already today before finally getting the top edge halfway done. These are so stiff, it is really hard to hold them right, cause the fabric doesn't bend so its hard to make a good back stitch...they are small too so also hard to hold. So far, this binding is my least favorite part. I really wanted to use kid, but couldn't find any of the right color, so chose a hand dyed silk. Ill snap a pic tomorrow when the light is good~ until then...... sore fingers going to bed!

2010-11-28T18:46:00.003-07:00

CYBER MONDAY MAKE ME AN OFFER SALE!!!!

Spent the day today watching over the children making their little gingerbread houses...didn't they come out cute? I tried my best not to interfere....just a little help to stick the houses together, and they did the rest. All this Holiday cheer, I'm in a Great Festive Mood.....so! I have decided to make Cyber Monday, TOMORROW , a SPECIAL MAKE ME AN OFFER SALE!! No kidding, I'm serious! Feel free to make me an offer on ANYTHING in my ETSY store, or TDIPT Page, and Ill get right back to you~ while I feel the effort and love that I put into each one of my dollys is well worth their listed prices, I also love to share them, and really want anyone who wants one, to be able to give one a home~

If any of you will be in or near the Trinidad area next weekend, I will be selling with my eldest daughter Tressa on Saturday and Sunday December 4 & 5th at the Holy Trinity Academy Craft Faire~ this year it will be at the HTA Soup Kitchen~ if you need directions, just email me~ would love to see you there :)

2010-11-24T18:08:00.002-07:00

My "Thanks Be~ To Thee" Thanksgiving Weekend Sale

I cannot express in words everything that I am Thankful for on this Earth. The thought brings me to tears, to which no words can possibly follow. I love my life, I love my Family, and love the path that God has chosen for me. I want to do my best, to add to the Good in the world, and never detract from it. I hope all my readers, friends and customers have a most Blessed Thanksgiving Day tomorrow~ and as a little Thank you, I am offering FREE SHIPPING ON ANY ORDER PLACED FROM 25 NOVEMBER~ 1 DECEMBER 2010. This is good on my TDIPT Page, and in my ETSY store. IF you pay automatically, I will refund the shipping cost to you. Thankyou so much for sharing this year with me, and may next year be even better!

xoxoxoxo Rachael

2010-11-21T07:57:00.002-07:00

Back Home & Resting....

I am back home from surgery now and resting. WHAT a year/summer this has been. I don't like to talk about me or my body (BLEK) BUT..... I have entirely too many emails to answer, and not near enough energy, and hopefully, my little 'experience' will inspire one of you, to seek answers elsewhere, if your not getting them.....I'm probably not making a lick of sense...so here goes, my condensed version~ In the spring of 2009, I went for my wonderfully fun annual medical exam....and told my dr( female, who has been a dr for eons and eons) that I was having pain in the nether~regions....and some other things, to which she replied, its the FUN of getting OLD. She sent me for an ultrasound, and when the results came back, she sent me a photocopy, with " Don't think anything to worry about" written on the bottom. That was it. done. finito. except I was still having pain....I tried to call her several times, and could never get her on the tele, left messages with her nurse, that were never returned. I felt like poo, but in the means now we have gotten a huge bill for the ultrasound, and so I figured whatever must be in my head, and it will go away. Except, it didn't. This spring came around, time for my annual again, except I was still paying on the ultrasound from last year, so I put off going to see the dr until I had paid off that bill~ which was this past Aug. Went to see her again, told her the pain and other things were getting worse, to which she kindly replied how tired she was of 'everything' and she COULDN'T WAIT to retire this Nov. she sent me for another ultrasound. This is where I want to slap myself..... went to the ultrasound, the results came back, worse than before, but this time, the radiologist recommended that I GET ANOTHER ULTRASOUND IN 6 MONTHS...my dr called and READ verbatim the results, to which I said, HEY~ I have NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?!!! And she said, it recommends I get another in 6 months~ to which I replied, well the cysts are still there from last year, didn't they compare the two???? So my Dr says, that's what they recommend, don't worry about it. And phone call was done. I sat there feeling like an absolute IDIOT. I was feeling worse and worse, and starting to loose weight now, so I went to see my husbands Dr. It was not easy. I really HATE talking about myself to a Dr....to anyone....and I didn't even know him. But I gathered my test results, and went to see him, and he was very concerned and got me answers IMMEDIATELY. When my problems were no longer within his area of expertise, he sent me to my surgical Dr and well, here I am now, all fixed and ready for another year...I think :) My test for ovarian cancer came back good, and Dr didnt call me on Friday with pathology on the bits they took out, so that means all is well. I had 2 cysts on an ovary that had attached and were obstructing my bowel, so Dr fixed that too. Geee, go figure, someone going out of their way to fix something that wasn't stated in writing before hand......I guess what I mean to say is, that if you feel in ANY way that you don't like the answer your Dr is trying to give you, or not, GO TO A DIFFERENT ONE.

Do you like the pic? Its a little sneek peek of the real solid silver spangles I have started making for the lace on Marguarite's jacket. The squares on the mat are 1", to give you a size reference...I have about 200 finished, ohhh...800 or so more and Ill be done :) It's good to be home

2010-11-14T13:33:00.002-07:00

TDIPT Update this evening and other news...........

I love this picture :) Earlier this fall on my birthday, I received a little pair of doll shoes and the wrapping paper had little paper dolly clothes printed on it. Pippy asked if she could have the paper, it was just a smidgey, maybe 9x11 piece of paper....so I said she could have it, and off she zoomed down to her little 'work table', which she has beside mine. She wouldnt let me see what she was up to, but in about an hour, she showed me her paper dollies she made, and I was SO proud of her, I think I even shed a tear! She cut out the clothes, and made the girls new heads and legs~ I didnt help her at all~ not one teensie weensie bit!

I didnt even get upset that she used nearly an entire roll of clear tape...I just love them. She certainly does have an active imagination, and since our birthdays are just 5 days apart, perhaps she is my little mini me. See how she used dollys bonnet on the left there, for an apron instead? I just had to share!

I will have a little update on the TDIPT Mercantile this evening at 7 pm. Havent been feeling myself for some time, and am leaving tomorrow to have surgery to get my offending parts removed~ so if you would like something off the update, it will probably be wednesday at least before I check my email again. I have never ever not posted an update in all my years on the internet, and am not planing on missing one now~ I have some wee little pretties for your parusal....little 18th c swaddeled baby Christmas ornaments, and a few very special Christmas pins. Hope youll stop by and take a peek, cause its beginning to look alot like Christmas on the Mercantile

xoxoxoxo rachael

2010-11-11T17:34:00.003-07:00

A New Winter Project.....

I have always had my eye on this early 1900 display case since we have been here in Colorado~ so when the Mercantile in town called me to say they were sadly going out of business, I jumped at the opportunity to get it. Its HUGE, a bit over 8' wide! And so heavy.....I don't exactly have the perfect place for it anymore, as I am kind of a furniture hoard....but I managed to squeeze it into the gallery, and have all sorts of great things planned for it.....first thing being, a nice stripping of the horrid paint!

It is solid oak, and under the hastily applied black paint, is a layer of tan, under that, a layer of white, and under that, a hideous school bus yellow! YUK! I wonder what store could have possibly painted over the beautiful oak, in favor of that color????? In any case, this will certainly be an all winter project, as I am using a non toxic stripper, and lots of elbow grease. :)
My mind is racing with all sorts of pretties that I can fill it with~and when I look at it, I find myself dreaming of all the things it has held over the years....... I wonder how many children stood wishing for something that was inside?

2010-11-10T09:06:00.002-07:00

International Quilt Festival, Houston 2010

Got home yesterday from the festival, it was entirely too much for my mind to comprehend. My Mother flew down from Wa state to go with me, and from my house we drove drown. Spent Sat and Sunday at the show

This is a picture of a smidgey of the vendor booths, before they opened on Sat. I took this picture from a little bubble window above the floor~ Saturday there were so many people, I saw all sorts of new things on Sunday, that I didn't see the day before cause if a booth had a hoard of folks in it, I kept going! All day Mom and I felt like a fish swimming upstream, always seemed like we were going against the flow of people. It was definitely an experience I will always remember. Sunday was perfect~ Id say a quarter of the amount of people than Sat. The isles were numbered up to 1600 I think....with everything under the sun available. I was disappointed a little, for me... as I am a traditionalist, and was looking for 100% natural silk and linen threads and fabrics, and there just weren't too many, matter of fact, of all the vendors there, I could count on my ONE hand, ones that had yardage, never did find anyone with linen thread. If I had to sum of the show in one word, it would be "Technology" ... ok, maybe two words, the other being. ..." bling" I have never seen so many rhinestones and sparklies on a quilt before in my life! I had no idea that was the 'in' thing now a days....and I saw only one booth with hand quilting frames....everything I saw was computer aided quilting and sewing....technology technology!

I have also never seen such tall buildings this close ever in my life! I am behind the times, I know, and it doesn't bother me a bit :)

It was a pleasure viewing the quilts, so many wonderful ones, and getting to meet friends and fellow quilt makers. I bought a wonderful early block print fabric as a souvenir, and brought home my quilt, now hanging once again up on the wall behind me. I have missed it.

2010-11-04T11:56:00.002-06:00

Off to Houston....

I am off to Houston early tomorrow morning to pick up my Baltimore Album quilt, 'History's Humble Servant' from the International Quilt Festival show. It was a finalist, but didn't win anything~ that's OK with me, I am happy with it, and I have been missing it these months it has been gone and my wall has been standing empty. Am looking foreword to seeing the Baltimore exhibit too, but wont be able to take any pics of it for you, as it is one of the listed exhibits not allowing pictures to be taken. Mom is here from Washington and going down with me, just the two of us...so we can wander and wander till our legs give out, without anyone saying....'can we go yet, can we go yet???'

2010-11-02T14:37:00.003-06:00

If U want somthin' done, do it yourself.......

That's what my parents always told me growing up, and what I tell my own children still. I guess if I had a saying I live by, it would be that. I find it much easier to do or make for myself, instead of trying to find from others, or depend on others for~ and especially so when it comes to dolly things! When I started making reproduction doll size corsets and stays, I grew so tired of trying to find supplies at the right scale, that I just eventually gave in and made my own. Little brass rings are very hard to find in the right scale for stitching over to make lacing eyelets up the back of a set of stays....who on earth would use hunky klunky metal grommets....iiiiiick! Above the the back closing of Marguarite's bodies, boning channels are stitched, and I have lightly marked with a pen where I want the eyelets to go~ just one side tho. After I get the first side done, I use it as a guide for the other side, so no need for marking.

Making the metal rings are very simple~ all you need is a pair of flush cut wire cutters and flat pliers (can find in jewelry supply), a mandrel to wrap your wire around (size of the mandrel or rod, will be the finished size of your eyelet holes), and wire. I used brass wire, cause it doesn't rust, and is nice and stiff. Use a heavier gauge for larger rings~ Marguarite's are small size, so I am using 24g.

Just take a length of wire, and wrap it around your mandrel~ you can use a pencil, wooden dowel, knitting needles...those are great cause they come in a variety of sizes....
Keep the wire as tight to the rod as possible, and try not to twist it.

When you get a length of wire wrapped around the rod, slip it off, and then take your flush cutters and just snip a line up from one end to the other, and the rings will fall off as you continue on to the next. You'll end up with a pile of open ended rings like this

The next step is to 'finish' the rings off with your flat pliers. Mine also have round tips, as you can see above. If you look closely at the picture, the two rings on the left are the before ones, the two on the right are finished. I take and pinch them the rest of the way closed and then take and lay them on the flat surface of the pliers, and give them a good squish so they lay nice and flat and are not twisted at all. Once you have your rings, just lay them on the surface where you want them, and stitch over them all the way around to cover the brass, and they make a very nice reinforced and even eyelet hole.

After I got the eyelet holes done, I filled the boning channels on each side of the back opening, and am now ready for binding. I will stitch the final lacing eyelets after the binding is on, as they are just directly above it.

2010-10-30T21:52:00.001-06:00

Wishing you all a Happy & Safe Hallowe'en~ May you be visited by many an enchanted spirit & take joy in each and every one!

2010-10-26T08:11:00.003-06:00

17th c Pair of Bodies Progress!!

I have been progressing nicely on this pair of bodies. I am making every effort to be as period correct as possible, and in nearly every minute of stitching, I keep thinking to myself, its really no wonder why men were the staymakers! One really does need a lot of strength in their hands~ I have overly strong hands, and mine are really feeling this every step of the way. Got the back boning channels stitched, and decided to only make 3 on each side of the back opening~ Dorthea's had 4, but this is a scaled down version, and I just didn't like the bulky look of 4 channels. The wide one next to the opening is for the lacing holes.

So next step, once all the channels are stitched, is to fill with your boning material. Whalebone, splints and bents(type of stiff grass) were all used in the 17th c as boning/ stiffening materials. I have plenty of whalebone, and I really would have liked to have used it, but its so darn brittle, it just cannot be cut. Perhaps it wasn't like that 200 years ago when it was harvested, but it sure is now, so I will save that for something with 1/4" channels, something I wont have to cut it down for. A person could also use hemp or jute twine to bone their channels as well, I have used both in later period corsets and it works wonderfully....but I wanted a really rigid, period correct look, so I am using bamboo for Marguarite's bodies. Above I have already cut a hardwood center busk, and bones the 3 channels each side of it. I used the pliers to nip the ends off right at the edge of the material. I was going to work from the center out, like I normally do, but since I had to still stitch the lower edges of the boning channels going up the side of the front panel, and I needed to actually be able to get my hand around the material to stitch it, I switched and did the side sections next.

This really worked out well, and I stitched the channels as I filled them, so the little pieces wouldn't slip out. I used bamboo BBQ skewers, and split them with my x~acto knife to the right thickness, then whittled the edges until they were the perfect fit for the channels. On the side pieces, I cut them to the exact angles top and bottom, then slipped them in, and stitched the baseline below them. Here is a hint when using any type wood material for your boning. Trust me, this will save you much time and effort! Before you fill the channel, first pre-fit or stretch it with something smooth~ I used a metal rod that was the exact size of my channels. Insert the metal rod all the way up to the tip of the channel...and it wont be easy! You will have to wiggle and jiggle it to separate the 2 layers of lining from each other....twisting is actually best, I found. This acts like a glove stretcher, and once you pull it out and insert your boning material, it will slip right in like butter.

This is the main reason why, if you are using a fragile fabric like silk or velvet for the outer layer, you want to have a backing fabric for it, so your boning doesn't pierce it, or grab a thread and make a run or hole. The boning is placed between the 2 linings, not up against the outer fabric. See my rubber gloves~ I am forever changed and love sewing with them on~ they help my sewing hand grasp the needle easily, and I wore one on my other hand while doing the boning, to help grab the bodies better, and they also kept any dirt and oil on my hand from getting ground into the fabric. One really has to get physical when boning a corset like this. I wont lie, there was some swearing involved......

Here is the above bamboo stitched into its channel. If you have angled channels, it really does make a huge difference to take the time and cut the angles in the boning material as well, so the entire channel is filled. If you leave the top and bottom of the boning straight across, it will look "hokey"....this is why I don't like to use steel boning, because it is so hard to cut.

Front panel fully boned~ woo hoo!

Trim the boning right to the edge, the binding will cover this, and keep them from popping out.

Inside. Next step is to stitch the lacing holes at the back opening~ don't fill the back boning channels yet~ it is easier to needle the eyelet holes first, then add the stiffness last.

2010-10-24T11:17:00.003-06:00

A MUST see!!!!

If you are anywhere in the vicinity of Oxfordshire, UK...you simply must make the trek to Witney Antiques to see their current exhibit, "Wrought with the Needle" ~ an exhibit of outstanding English embroideries from 1590~1750 (and get this, many are for sale if you have a few hundred grand in the bottom of your purse) You can see and read more about it here on their website~ www.witneyantiques.com . I ordered a catalogue thru the mail and it got across the pond to me here in the US in a woppin 3 days! Ohhhhh my goodness, it is an absolute treat for the eyes to behold, with wonderful closeup views of embroidered jackets and coifs, mirror surrounds, bead work....if you have at all the slightest interest in early Jacobean, Elizabethan, or Stuart embroidery, you simply must must must have this book

2010-10-23T12:37:00.003-06:00

Front Channels completed!

Here is a picture of the front of Marguarite's 17th c pair of bodies. I have finished stitching the front section of boning channels~ woo hoo! It was not the most exciting thing to stitch, rather boring actually.

Her is a view of the inside. I buried all my ends within the 2 lining layers, so nothing is up against the outer silk. Left the tails long on the bottom edge, as these will be covered over by the binding. I would really like to find a nice kid leather, but may use silk, haven't decided on that yet. Next comes stitching the channels at either side of the back opening, there are 4 each side, after a larger channel for the eyelet holes.

I will leave you with this awesome picture I took yesterday evening~ just LOOK at how huge the moon looks! (above the stack of hay in the center) I just love this time of the year.

2010-10-19T19:21:00.001-06:00

Christine Crocker Dolly on eBay

I listed some wonderful childrens clothing on eBay this week, along with the above cute as a button Christine Crocker Dolly~

2010-10-17T19:33:00.004-06:00

THANKYOU Trevette For the AWESOME TIP!!!!

Today I got an email from Trevette~ she writes

"Rachael, dear, I think you'll find it a lot easier to pull the needle through all those fabric layers if you grip the needle with a (deflated) balloon. Mine is gold, a DMC giveaway years ago, which I keep in my sewing basket, always handy for frequent use. I also keep one in my purse, car, kitchen junk drawer, etc, good for grabbing and opening all kinds of things "

What a fabulous idea~ THANKYOU SO MUCH Trevette! I didn't have any balloons, but I do have a box of latex gloves I keep for doctoring the animals and such, and it worked so well, I just cant hardly believe such a simple thing can make such a difference. My fingers don't hurt at all, and I no longer had to really grip my needle hard to pull it thru. I really like this idea of wearing the glove, as I don't have to pause my stitching to pick up the balloon if I needed it. I can feel the needle thru the latex just like I didn't even have a glove on. We dug the last of the potatoes and such today, and I was going to share pictures of that, but this was TOO GOOD to wait to tell you about! Stitched around 5 hours today, and could do another 5!

2010-10-16T19:04:00.002-06:00

Now I REALLY know why stay~makers were mostly men.....

Uggg. My hands are so tired. I stitched 10 channels on Marguarite's pair of bodies today, and the 3 layers are just so thick....terrifically hard to needle thru and still get the tiny stitches I want. I wear a leather on my middle finger to push my needle(broke two today), but what are really sore, are my right thumb and forefinger, from having to grab the needle so tightly to pull it thru the layers. It actually feels quite good to pound the heck out of these keys. I first stitched the center busk pocket. I am using a masking tape of mark my place, instead of using a pen, or chalk. too messy. I stitched thru all layers, burying my knots in between the inner cotton and fustian lining.

You can see my stitches are not at all even as they should be, but I am managing to keep them small enough, and I actually like them uneven a little, it adds much character when looking at them up close, you can easily tell they are made by hand!

Next I drew out my line with a temporary pen....well, it is actually a water solulable quilt marking pen, thats really dry, and around 5+ years old...so you can barely see the lines it makes, and they don't last long! he

I stitched this top line that defines the bust and the front area of the boning next. These two sets of stitching, are my baselines that everything else will flow off of. When stitching channels for any corset or stays or bodies....in any era, always start in the middle and work outwards. You will avoid any wrinkles in doing so, and all will be nice and even and flat. One could be tempted to stitch the diagonal line going up the sides at this point too, but DONT!! This line of stitching will be last, and the most difficult, as it is stitched after the boning is fed into the channels. So for now, I'm going to relax and not stitch any more this evening....I think Ill go oogle over that staircase some more...I see the V&A has chairs right in front of the display, I am sure I'm not the only one who could sit and stare and daydream about them all day. Don't know what I'm talking about??? Well scroll down and follow the link in my last post!!

2010-10-16T10:39:00.003-06:00

'maisons à pondalez'

I want to live in a Maison a Pondalez in Morlaix.....and gaze down upon my happy children from a staircase like this.....what a dream that would be

You can read about the one at the V&A here
www.vam.ac.uk/collections/periods_styles/medieval/object_stories/staircase_morlaix/index.html

2010-10-15T08:49:00.002-06:00

HELP!!

Have you seen this jacket?? The above jacket is an old black and white of a c16teens embroidered jacket in the Burrell Collection in Glasgow, Scotland. It is unique to me, for the pattern of the bluebells in its embroidery.... I have been researching colors for Marguarite's embroidered jacket, and would like to study them closer....now I know this jacket is included in the Burrell Collection book I have on order, so the Burrell jacket is not the one I am looking for.....this next one is!

See how absolutely similar they are???? Not in construction, but in embroidery pattern? This one is labeled as "The Suffolk Jacket"....and later, I found a far view color photo of it, but is now referred to as the "Bath Jacket". Must have been sold in the 1960s....anyway, I have gone to the Museum of Costume in Bath's website www.museumofcostume.co.uk and cannot find it listed. I would very much like to compare the two embroidery patterns. So I am asking any of my readers if they know its accession number, and whereabouts? Leave me a comment or email me please if you have any clues!

2010-10-13T08:14:00.002-06:00

17th c Bodies....

I am finding 17th c bodies to be deceptively simple in construction. The pattern on Drea Leed's Online Corset generator is a single piece...how cool is that? The original ones were made of 3 pieces tho, each made separate and then whip stitched together to assemble. This was so that if a person's weight or proportion changed, they could simply unpick the sides, and add a different back piece, as alot of them were front closing. This front closing type leaves NO ROOM for adjustment, they must fit perfectly, and come tightly together in the front, with no space. I wonder if they laced them over a busk???? hmmmmmm.....that is an interesting thought isn't it?? In any case, Marguarite is a dollye, and hers need not be 100% accurate, which, on her smaller scale, is why I am not cutting this pattern into three pieces, I am leaving it one. Another interesting thing about 17th c corsets you all may not know, or realize, is that they are meant to give a rigid FRONT to the body, and so they are normally only boned in the front. They are supposed to be extremely comfortable to wear, if they are not, then you are not wearing the bodies correctly. They do not 'suck in' anything, no matter how tight you lace them, the small waste you see in paintings and the like, is merely an illusion created by the long extended front point.

I cut each of my 3 fabrics with no seam allowance, as they will be bound around all edges. If you are going to make one along with me, cut your pieces out on the straight of grain!

At first, I was going to use the stitching channels recommended on Drea's pattern generator, but after I got this far, decided I really didn't like the look of it. It has channels on the sides, that I have not observed at all on the Effigy or Dorthea bodies. Those both are boned in the front and very back only, so I decided to pattern my channels after the Dorthea bodies. I also realized, that 1/4 inch channels are just too large for the scale I am working at, they take up too much space, and just don't look right.

My daughter's school ruler is just the right size for my busk, so used it for reference, and as you can see, the 1/4 whalebones on the left in the picture are just way too large. No matter WHO tells you they can be easily cut, has no idea what so ever what they are talking about. You can cut them with scissors, but baleen is a brittle substance, and they crack along their 'own' grain....no matter how sharp your knife or scissors are. Trust me, I thought I would be able to cut them in half lengthwise, to use in 1/8 channels, but nope~ no can do Kimo~ Sabe! So now picture me ransacking the house, trying to think of something I could use....all my reed I have in various shapes, is all 1/4" and larger. Then I found a drawer of bamboo skewers.......mmmmmmm. I think they will work perfectly! They are tough as nails, absolutely rigid, and most importantly, small enough to give me the correct period look I am after~ note the pic of the Dorthea bodies I am modeling them after. If you enlarge it, you can see that using the larger whalebone, while being exactly period correct in substance, will not give me the correct form or ratio of boning channels per inch. And who knows, since there are only 2 surviving corsets of this era, I suppose someone could have used bamboo in one....perhaps!

This is my first draft of the placement of the boning channels, modeled after the Dorthea above. There will be 4 channels on each side of the back opening, just like the original, and 26 channels each side of the center busk. They will be shaped down below the bust cup, just like the original. Marguarite has a very flat chest, but likes very much the idea these will give, of her indeed having a little something there :)

2010-10-11T16:27:00.002-06:00

Ink Tests & Final Fabrics for Bodies....

I will be inking my design for Marguarite's jacket by hand, with a metal nib. I'm not going to use an actual quill, cause honestly, I cant cut them at a consistent angle to get the same width of a line. They work well on a smooth paper, and in an up to down motion, but nothing else! HA! I have drawn on fabrics for years, so it doesn't bother me or make me nervous about messing up...but my normal India ink I always use, has recently been """"improved""", and is total crap as a result of said improvements. No more shellac used, and they have gone to a .....(gag) plastic base. blek I ordered a couple of bottles to try, actually the only two India inks that I could find that were being sold as WATERPROOF & PERMANENT. Well, as is normal these days, things are not what they are advertised as.....

I did both samples at the same time, on the same day, with the same pen, on the same fabric, a cotton muslin. Used the same nib. Everything was the same, except what I drew on the doodle, and the ink of coarse. After I finished and let both dry for 5 minutes, I ironed the heck out of them with a dry iron on highest setting to 'set' the ink. Let them cool and sit for half hour, then dunked them in the water. While they were below the surface, I massaged the piece in between my thumb and fingers, to see if any ink would run......well, as you can see~ it did! The one above is "Calli Jet Black India 010" by Daler Rowney. It is supposed to be both permanent and waterproof. This stuff smeared instantly , NO rubbing needed. As soon as it hit the water the ink lifted~ absolutely unacceptable. Cost for this 1 oz bottle, 5.00

Next was an ink from just up the way from me here in Golden Colorado~ Dr. Ph Martin's Black Star Waterproof India HICARB. Now when I dunked this one in the water, nothing happened....so I scrubbed the heck out of the sample, and still, nothing lifted, as you can see. So this is the ink I will be using, and its got a higher carbon content than most India inks, so is a bit blacker, much to my liking. 17th c inks had a very high carbon content as well. Cost of this 1 oz bottle, 9.00 ....and worth every penny

I have also made my final decisions on the fabrics I am going to use for Marguarite's bodies...and I am SO excited about them! Ya I'm a bit nerdy about it, I even made a little 3 min video for you to see. This is them below~ a goldenrod yellow silk shot with lavender for the outside, late 19th c 100% cotton sheeting for the backing of the silk on the front, and a FABULOUS mid-late 19th c handwoven fustian for the inner lining~ this stuff is so thick and heavy, its really awesome. I am going to stitch in the blue 100% cotton thread, and am pondering using the antique whalebone stays I have amassed over the years as a stiffener....I may use bents or reeds, haven't decided on those yet. Ill will be stitching up a sample soon.

2010-10-10T19:30:00.003-06:00

Progress on my embroidery draft, and 17th c Bodies (corset)

Normally, I wait until I am done making something before I post it here, but when I do that, I leave out alot of details, and forget a lot too, so easiest for me is to just post a little, all the time :) I finished drafting my embroidery pattern for Marguarites inked jacket this past week....well, the reproduction of the coif pattern anyways. It was more difficult in parts, where the embroidery distorted the pattern I was working from. I ended up using the V& A Coif for the overall pattern, but filled in the details on many parts from the photo Wendy sent me, and actually, the Cowton & Tout has half a floral repeat that is beyond the edge on the coif, so I will fill that in as needed when I ink the design onto the jacket. I am keeping good track of actual time I spend 'doing' things (research NOT included), and I have 8 hr 15 min actual drawing time in drafting the coif pattern for my jacket. woo hoo!

I am waiting on more linen to come in the mail, and until that gets here, have been working on Marguarites Bodies. There are only a whopping two known extant 16-17th c bodies, Queen Elizabeth's Effigy at Westminster Abby wears a pair, dated by Janet Arnold to 1603, and then the pair worn by the Pfalzgrafin Dorthea Sabina Von Neuburg when she was buried in 1598 and is held at the National Museum in Munich. They are pictured below, and drafted in Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion.

I really like the look of the Effigy bodies, but they are front closing, and for Marguarite, I want her to wear a back lacing style, so have gone with a hybrid of sorts~ I used Drea Leed's 'Custom Corset Pattern Generator'~ you can find it online at http://www.elizabethancostume.net/ . It really is a handy tool~

(Ha~ dont comment on my recycled Dora wrapping paper~ I NEVER throw anything out!!! ) This is my altered draft using her pattern generator~ you plug in measurements, and it spits you out directions to draft your pattern~ REALLY slick. Of coarse dolly isn't totally 'proportionate like a human, so I altered it to fit her better. I wanted Marguarite's to have shoulder straps, so I added some using the Pfalzgrafin's as a guide

I also want unboned tabs, and so altered the curve up over the hip to a straighter line to accommodate them

I cut a larger trapezoid for the two on either side of the back opening, and then a smaller one for the middle, and a rectangular one that will be front most on each side~ I'm not bothering to bone them, as I don't think Marguarite will mind them digging into her hips a little...

2010-10-07T18:32:00.002-06:00

Our Growing Boy, & eBay Specials!

Isn't Blokey getting big? Ohh he is such and absolute b*a*B*y!! His back reaches up above my chest now. (see Kate behind him in the bucket?...shes one of my goats, and this is her normal position....) He is a full Simmental bull, and has no idea he is a cow creature...I think he thinks he's a dog. He really gets your attention when he comes a running at you, legs going everywhere, cause he wants to 'play'.....my only defense, is my trusty brush and curry I keep at arms reach~ if hes in a mood or feeling a bit too frisky, I just whip out the brush and touch him anywhere with it, and he goes instantly into la-la land! I mean it, instantly!

Put some Halloweenies on eBay at my lowest prices e-v-e-r~ if you have ever wanted one, now is the time! After this week, they go back to full price in the ETSY store. Hope you all are enjoying Autumn's Splendor and the leaves changing....this is my favoritest time of year!

2010-10-07T08:06:00.003-06:00

Margaret Layton & my inked c1630 jacket

I have of late been absolutely engrossed with research for my 17th c wardrobe I am making for Marguarite. I intend to make her an embroidered jacket, like the one above, worn by Margaret Layton c1620. This is a painting of her currently on display at the v&A, along with the extant jacket. You can see it here ... http://www.vam.ac.uk/ and then search by its accession number T.228-1994 . I am taking the Tudor & Stuart Gold Master Class to perfect my stitches, and help me decide which one I want to do for the scrolls...but while I am gathering my threads, and making up Marguerite's smock and bodies, I also decided that I would make her a mock up jacket, to be sure to get her fit perfect before spending a year on the embroidery....

I started out with something simple, but then thought if I am going to make up something, I am going to totally make it up right, period correct, well, as close as I can come to period correct. In my research, I came across a c1630 coif, also at the V& A, and the second I saw it, that was what I wanted my jacket to look like. What makes it so absolutely fabulous, is that it is printed...yes~ printed!!! Just the outlines have been embroidered in a gold wrapped silk. I have been totally transfixed by this little bit of cloth...I can barely think of nothing else. Here is a closeup

I had planed on taking what pattern was on the coif (a small cap that covers the back of the head), and then tiling the pattern and repeating it to fill in my jacket pieces....I didn't like the idea at all...cause I want to know what lies beyond the cut edges. I want to see the entire pattern! Being from the 17th century, and knowing that so terrifically little extant textiles from this era still exist, I figured I would never know the entire pattern (If there is anyone out there who knows of ANOTHER example of it, let me know!!)

Early last week, I was talking to Wendy Lewis, and ended up sending her the picture above, and come to find out, she knew that fabric too, but from a different piece! She sent me the photo below she took of it~ This one is also at the V&A, and is labeled as a cushion cover....but if you look close, that is a neckline center top, I KNOW it~ this is a cutting from what should have been a jacket made from this awesome bit of H*e*a*v*e*n on Earth. It is clearly the exact....exact same fabric~ WOO HOO! (click on pic to enlarge)

Now is this providence or what???? I was born to make this jacket, and there isn't a person around that could ever tell me otherwise. But the plot thickens... Wendy also told me she had a modern copy of this, called 'Animal Toile' printed by Cowton & Tout about 10 years ago or so. So she sent it to me to look at. I couldn't wait for it to get here...I thought, perfect, I can just trace it off and be on my way.....but of coarse, nothing is ever that easy.

This is the Cowton & Tout~ marvelous isn't it? At first glance, it looks to be pretty darn close...besides the scale greatly enlarged. I sat and began to try and count the repeat...but the more I looked at it, the more wicked confused I got. The design is 4 blocks of florals, each with an animal in them, and these are stacked on top of each other, and shifted over two. The first thing I looked for were the bunch of grapes, and the monkey...but hey, where are they? Nope~ no grapes, no monkey....and as I kept looking, no leopard...no death and destruction that is in the original coif. Of the 4 floral designs, only 2 of them are in the coif as printed, the other two are a smathering of this and that, of things taken from different areas of the design, and just stuck there. Interesting. What I want to know, is where did Cowton & Tout copy their fabric from??? Is there another piece of this somewhere??? There must be, as the elements are nearly exact in copy, but just all messed up in design. and NO grapes!!! grrrrrr

Here is some of what I m talking about~ in this close view of the coif, see the hawk there has killed that bird, and is chomping on its lifeless neck and holding it up with one of its talons.....but in the reproduction...

as I was tracing it off, there is no lifeless bird here. It has been extracted from the view, and replaced with a pathetic little bug. As I kept looking, all sorts of neat details like this, that makes this design so 'going~on', have been removed, and replaced with a bunch of grass, or a bug.

All of that aside, it is still an interesting design, and I traced it off anyways, just to keep for reference. It totally reminds me of the game we used to play in Girl Scouts, where you whisper into ones ear, then she whispers into another's, and when the message gets back around, its no where near the same? I think that is what happened with this fabric.

2010-09-30T17:39:00.002-06:00

Responsibilities of Collecting Part 2 of 2

So what CAN you do to help protect and preserve your textiles?

A person need not make a million dollars or have a Masters degree in textile conservation to do these few really simple things, to help keep our cherished textile collections lasting way past our own lifetimes.

Keeping our areas clean is a start. Vacuum and inspect both display and storage areas ON A REGULAR BASIS. UV light can be filtered quite easily actually~ and you don't have to out and buy those horrible light blocking sunshades and live in a dark cave. I have all of my windows covered with a clear UV blocking film~ it can be bought by the roll, and easily applied. I got mine from University Archival Products, and it is relatively inexpensive, and blocks 80% of the UV. You can't even tell its on the windows. You can also buy UV free light bulbs that fit in both regular sockets, and those for spot & flood lamps. University carries a line of UV filters that actually fit over long fluorescent light bulbs that block all the UV emitted from them...you can get a pack of 6 for less than a single UV filtered fluorescent bulb, and they last indefinitely, and can be taken off and switched to a new bulb when that one burns out.

So where should you store your textiles if not in Grandmas old cedar chest???

I always recommend flat storage for any textile, over being hung. Quilts should always be ROLLED, and never folded. Acid free storage boxes are readily available, but they are quite expensive, and will still need to be changed out when they are no longer inert. Same thing with tissue~ you want to pad your garments and flat folds to avoid creasing, and acid free tissue is easy to find~ but good grief! EXPENSIVE! The reason we want to store things in an acid free environment is that acids leach out of products, and can alter the fibers, they can stain and burn fabrics, leaving holes and marks that are irremovable. Have you ever seen an old illustrated book, that the page opposite the illustration has a shadow of the image? That is from the acids in the paper and ink~ the same things will happen to clothing and quilts and blankets~ any textile. Acid free products are not acid free forever~ they all will eventually absorb the acids from the environment and need to be changed~normally at least once a year~ sometimes more often. Of coarse the acid free cardboard boxes are ideal, but if you cannot afford them, the next best thing is to use a cardboard box, and line this with an old cotton sheet, or unbleached muslin that has been washed several times. You can spend around 30 dollars for a tiny roll of acid free tissue, or trek down to your grocery store and spend around 4.00 for the same equivalent, but in paper towel form~ its true!!!! Trust me, I have acid testers, and BOUNTY MICROWAVE PAPER TOWELS are ACID FREE. You have to get the microwave kind, as their other types and printed ones are acidic. I don't use the one at the very first, or end of the roll, that have the glue on them from being attached to the roll. Pad the your hearts content with them, your pocket book and textiles will love you for it :) You should inspect your storage containers at least once a year for any sign of insects, moisture, and at that time, repack with new acid free papers.

When handling your garments and such, do wash your hands with plain soap and water beforehand. Do not use lotions or powders on your hands, or perfumed soaps to wash with, as these will all leave residues behind that can show up as a stain on the fabric over time. Some use white gloves, myself included, when handling their textiles, but one must be very careful to change them out at the first sight of grubbiness~ they pick up a lot of dirt over a day of use, and also will deposit that dirt between the textiles they are meant to be protecting. If you have textiles with metal lace or trims, be particularly careful to not touch these with naked hands, as you could leave finger acid stains on them. Every ones skin chemistry is different, so it is easiest to avoid touching these areas all together.

I feel that if we have chosen to be the keepers of these special artifacts, it is our responsibility to keep them in a safe environment~ its not hard, and once you know what to look for, and how to handle them properly, as fragile as they are, your treasures should enjoy a safe lifetime with you, and be just as nice and in as good of condition when you pass them on.

2010-09-27T17:46:00.005-06:00

Collecting....Responsibly (part 1 of 2)

Not all people are gatherers....but for those of us who are, and who feel a strong connection to, and are driven to collect bits and pieces of our Historical past, I would like to share my thoughts on the "Responsibilities" that should go hand in hand with doing so. I have been rather surprised lately on just how many collectors have never given any real thought to the proper care and storage of their collected artifacts....not really out of any malice or disrespect, but just that it had never really crossed their mind, or they don't know who to ask about it.

There are different rules and guidelines for different objects, but I am focusing on textiles. Most everyone has some family heirloom in a textile form that they would like to know how to properly take care of, so that whatever it is, will last for future generations.

I am not going to get into 'Professional' grade storage and conservation, as it is ridiculously expensive, and I'm sure most everyday folks will not want to turn their house into a sterile Industrial environment. The key to responsible collecting is to be able to enjoy our treasures, but at the same time keep them safe from certain environmental factors that we do have easy control over.

Antique textiles are the most difficult of all objects to store and conserve, as they are organic, living, breathing things. Most people have heard the common "myth" that their family heirloom clothing and linens should be carefully packed in a cedar chest.....when in fact, this is about the worst thing you could do. Any wood storage container will create a micro environment(as will plastic), and since wood gives off tannic acid, not to mention attracting bugs, storing your textiles in a wooden chest of any type will age and discolor and weaken them faster than if you left them out on a shelf. Cedar does repel insects, but it still gives off acids, and should not be used to store early textiles. Textiles are very fragile in the way that too much humidity and they can mold, if they get wet they can water stain...metal fasteners and buttons can rust, celluloid based trims will dissolve. Too dry, too hot, and they can become brittle and can turn to dust. The thing to remember, is to keep whatever space they are in clean, dry, and at a constant temperature. Do NOT store things in the attic, or basement, or where the temp fluctuates from hot to cold extremes.

Things to avoid around your textiles, both in storage, and on display are....

****FOOD! Crumbs, little dropped bits, oils and smells are just a hint of what is left behind from foodstuffs. Besides the horror of actually spilling food or a beverage on an antique textile that cannot be cleaned, it attracts bugs, and little verminous creatures like mice. It is best to not allow ANY food or drinks in your storage area or displays.

Along the food line, you don't want to display your textiles near a kitchen, or place where food is prepared. Even if you use a hood over your cook top, there will still be particles of grease in the air, that can penetrate your textiles and absolutely ruin them.

*****BUGS!! Ohhh these critters are the worst! Flies don't munch on textiles, but they do leave their droppings, known as 'fly spec', that look like little brown dots. Carpet beetles and silverfish will eat textiles, and their shed skins as they are growing also attract other bugs, and before you know it, you will have an all out infestation....not to mention microscopic eggs from the little buggers multiplying faster than rabbits.....
You don't need to go rushing out to buy a bunch of chemicals, and unless you do have an infestation problem, I don't recommend buying insect traps either~ the pheromones the traps are baited with can actually attract insects. The easiest things to do, is to be clean. Clean Clean Clean, and clutter free. Inspect your storage area and displays often. Vacuum often. A clean area, is a safe area for your textiles.

******SMOKE! I clump nearly all airborne particles into the smoke category. Grease and food particles can be in the air from cooking dinner, carcinogens from a fireplace or an actual person smoking....if you can smell it, it can penetrate the natural fibers of a textile, and cause irreversible damage. Keep your air clean...and that goes for aerosol cans of bug killers, hairsprays, room scents~ all these are chemicals that can alter/stain/destroy fabrics! Keep your air clean.

****LIGHT! Most people know by now, direct sunlight can reduce a textile to dust....and if you didn't know~ it can! ultra Violet (UV) radiation breaks down natural fibers~ we see it first as fading of colors...but it also causes the fibers to become brittle and break. So keep your storage area DARK, and make sure your displays are not in front of a window. Do not use the daytime or UV bulbs in your lamps, and keep spotlights to a minimum~ you can get JUST AS MUCH UV light from sources inside the house, as you can from the sun

*****WATER! Water has NO place around antique textiles. none none none! Do not store, or display things, next to say, a sink, or a water pipe, or next to the water heater...be aware of the sources of water in your home, and keep your textiles away from it, then you wont have to worry about a pipe breaking and soaking everything. Dyes and colors of early textiles are not always colorfast, and you could really be in for heartbreak if things get wet. Water can cause irreversible damage

****PETS. Now I love animals~ we live on a farm~ but they have no place around my textiles, and are not allowed anywhere near the gallery. Disaster is easily avoided but keeping pets away from your displays and storage areas.

In part 2, I will touch on some easy things you can do to protect and prolong the life of your collections

2010-09-19T12:46:00.014-06:00

More Early Basket purses~ part 3 of 3~ Shapes, sizes, ect.......

(photo of painting by Joseph Whiting Stock, 1840)

Sizes~
The majority of the baskets I have come across in person, or in images, have most undoubtedly been child size. The very first one I ever bought, is sized tiny for a doll, just 3" in width. Of coarse adult women also had these, tho tending to be on the younger side of life, than the latter, as you can see by the forth coming pictures as we touch on some of the unique shapes of these gorgeous baskets.

Shapes~
Its hard for me to know where to start on this subject, as there are so many~ I want to talk about them all at once! I guess starting with the most common would be easiest, and that is what I call, the pear shape. Of this pear shape, there are two basic varieties~ the solid woven,

and the ones woven with an openwork band around the middle.

This post has a lot of pictures attached to it, so I hope you will indeed wait for them to load~ they are all worth it, and I have used period images to illustrate the shapes as well~ it is really a gift to see them in picture, when they were new and in use, and to have some actual baskets to see how they weathered the years...there are definite weak points, which I will touch on in a bit.

Here is an ambrotype of a pretty little girl holding a solid woven pear shape purse

Double swing handles are most common on all baskets, where singles are used, they are placed directly in the center~ as is the case with this chubby cheeks holding her pear shape purse, of the style with the openwork band around the center

This next ambrotype is my most favorite I think, I had to include it here
The next most common, is what I call the oval shape. Most all of these were made to have either a snap in or hinged lid. Often times the lids are missing, but one can still see the loops where they were attached to. For this variety, there is a type with rounded ends, being truly oval in shape,

and then there are some slightly angular, having eight straight sides

Looking from the side, it is hard to see, but easy from the top, as the next picture of the two baskets are together

The one on the left is clearly octagonal in shape. The following image is an early cdv copy of an earlier yet daguerreotype, the clip to hold it steady for the cdv photo can been seen center bottom. This very well to do little girl has her oval shape purse stuffed to overflowing!

Another daguerreotype of a girl holding an oval shape purse

I love this next daguerreotype, as not only is she holding an octagonal shape purse, the sitter is an older woman.

Fancy weaves are common in this shape as well~ this next one is one of my favorites

This next shape is unique for the outer rib that runs horizontally across the center of the basket.

The body is very full, still kind of an oval shape tho.... and an ambrotype of a girl holding a bit larger of one, you can clearly see the horizontal rib whipped onto the outside of the basket

The above are by far the most common shapes, the rest I sort into the fancy basket department. Just when I think I have a grasp on all the shapes, I will come across something a little different, its always exciting!

Such was the case when I found this ambrotype of a very rectangular basket. It looks to have a yellow daisy painted in the center. This girl had been sitting for a long time with me, keeping her basket's details a secret, until I found this one in the flesh

One of its lids has gone missing, but otherwise, this basket is in near pristine condition, and besides its angular shape, it also has a unique 2 part lid~

Instead of having a one piece lid that snaps into place within an inner ring woven into the basket, or the same on woven hinges, this one's are two separately woven smaller lids, that are hinged to the outside. They open upwards from the center~ the remaining one still has half of the little locking latch attached, you can see it at the top of the center rib on the open lid above

Do you remember my 'chopped' basket that I spoke of in my first segment on these baskets? Here is is, sitting in front of one nearly identical to it. It is easy to see how the delicate openwork was damaged, and then that section taken out all together. The lid's rim has been hand stitched onto the base. These two baskets are nearly identical in weave to the basket in this next daguerreotype, tho if you look closely, it has the 2 part center opening set of hinged lids as that of the rectangle basket above.

This next basket is unique for the foot on its bottom

It is attached at each point where it meets the bottom of the basket. If it were to break off, there would be telltale signs easily seen of where it was attached~ of these I have looked for in my other baskets, and besides one other that still retains its foot, this is the only other example I have

This young teens basket's foot is clearly visible.

I have 6 different daguerreotypes of girls holding wonderful round purses, tho I have only ever seen one painted version in person. I think they were extremely delicate, and easily broken. The handles on all of these are a round loop that was to go over the wrist. Some of the handle loops were attached thru a hole in the top of the basket,

others suspended on a stem of sorts...the one above looks sort of like a an apple

I have but one of this type, the wrist right has been stitched to the hinge end of the middle opening, I think I would have originally been thru the hole you can see at the right side there

I am still searching for shapes~ like this round one above, with the wide openwork section above it

This woman's basket has a great domed lid, and tight solid weave.

This basket is woven entirely in the hex weave, I call it the 'boat basket', because how the lid has a raised section, reminds me of a boat

This adult purse is kind of a combination of the above two~ open weave like the boat basket, with a great domed lid like the one before that

This basket is unique for a couple of reasons~ it has a stationery handle, and the weave is made primarily without the horizontal splints. It is nearly identical to Martha Washington's 1789 sewing basket kept At Mt Vernon in Virginia (her extant basket has no lids)

Adult Baskets......

These are 2 of 3 large adult size baskets I have. The one on the right has has the original paint 'brightened' sometime in its long history, at least it was by a sensitive hand, that did not change the original design, but just paint over it in brighter colors. From base to top of the stationery handle, they measure 14" tall, and length horizontal is the same 14". These adult size baskets differ from the others we have touched on in just one element, and that is that they have the broad center fixed handle. It is not attached in swing fashion like the others, but instead has its ends tapered to a point and woven tightly into the sides of the basket itself. This was obviously a strength point, so the basket could hold articles of some weight and not have the handle break off.

The tapering end can been seen reaching down to over the half way point of the body of the basket.

The loop around the handle slips over the diagonal loop on the lid, to latch it closed
Here is a comparison of the adult basket, to the more common child/youth size. The big basket on the left had been handed down in its original family before it came ot me~ the written provenance states : " Lunch was carried to Church in this basket by Frances Whitman Tillotson, b. 1794" .

Dating.......

Positively dating early objects is difficult, as there is no known and documented 'scource'...as in, some proof to say that a certain person wove these baskets from this time to this time....and so we must do our best to sleuth out clues. Precious few come with written provenance, but we are fortunate that these were so highly regarded to be included in photos, and before that, paintings and engravings. I date the large lunch baskets to first quarter 19th c, with the smaller ones coming in after. The ones with the triangluar designed foot are only seen in early 1840 daguerreotypes and not after. The fancy weaves I date earlier than the pear & oval shapes~most popular in the late 1850s and early 1860s~ from the clothing of their owners. Daguerreotypes were the first photographic process invented in 1837. These were made up to the mid 1850s, Ambrotypes came on the scene 1855, with tin types following in 1856. cdv's became very popular just before and during the American Civil War.

A Few Parting thoughts.....

These are wonderful pieces of both basketry and folk art, and if you want to collect them, by all means~ do! If I have any advise for would be buyers or sellers, it would be one, to keep them out of direct & incandescent lights to keep the paints from fading, and two, to have extra care for the handles. Below, is how they are originally made and attached~ with the rim splint punctured, and another splint circled around and up thru the handles 3 times. These are the most delicate & failing parts of the baskets

In this picture, you can see 3 arrows~ the center points to where the original single swing handle was attached, and the thinner arrows to each side, where the hinges that attach the lid are.

As seen in the picture below, and in images of the period, it seems these parts have always been an easy breaking point. Some have been wired in place, alot have been re-attached with pretty ribbons, such as these apple green silk ties below

I hope you have enjoyed learning more about these awsome little baskets~ and if you ever see one or have one for sale, by all means, let me know!

2010-09-11T17:26:00.006-06:00

Early Fancy Baskets....Decorations

This week, I will touch on some examples of how these early baskets were decorated. I wish you all could come and see them in person, it is hard to convey how delicate they are in pictures! I have here at the Museum baskets that are both painted and unpainted, beaded and embroidered, but as decoration goes, I also include the weave in this area as well.

Starting plainly, with the unpainted versions, I have found them to be actually in the minority. Most unpainted types are the fancy open weaves, to which there really is no place on the basket 'to' paint, but some can be found of a solid tight weave, that have been left unpainted

Don't forget to click on the pictures to enlarge them! The really intricately woven types are by far the most delicate, as you can see in this close up I have one example, my beloved 'chopped' basket, that is nearly identical to the oblong basket in the 9 o'clock position in the group photo above, that was broken long ago. All that remains is the bottom, and top ring with the lid and 2 handles. So highly prized it was, that instead of throwing it into the fire, the lid was stitched onto the base, making for a rather peculiar looking flat basket! The fact that these baskets were highly prized in their day, is a definite contributing factor to their existence to modern times, having been put up carefully out of harms way

Several of the unpainted types also utilize two different shades of natural splint in the weave, to make a pattern within a pattern.

I have a scant precious few that still retain their once bright wool embroidery.... these have a distinct open work grid area that is perfect for counted embroidery

The daguerreotype below shows a wonderful embroidered sewing basket. It is easy to tell it is embroidered and not painted, as the wool back side of the embroidery can be seen inside the basket

This charming sweetness is holding an embroidered flower basket nearly identical to my round one above (mine missing the single swing handle it had originally)

This rare rectangular shape, in really rough condition, but still has its awesome bead work band around the center, and tho the rim has breakage in areas, still retains both its swing handles

The majority of these I have found to be painted

Of the painted types, the design differs along with the different shapes~ certain similarities I have found are very interesting~ as in, the pear shape purses most have their rims & lids decorated in a dot pattern, as seen below

Of the color palette, there are two distinct groups~ those mainly designed with an orangey red and indigo blue flower scheme.....

and then those with a brighter color palette of red, pink, baby blue and bright grass greens.....

The orange/blue color grouping have also a different flower shape in the painting, whereas the second category ones tend to be decorated with the very folky and Germanesque Rosemalled buds~ the body of the flowers being shaped by c strokes in pink or red, then a couple in white, with simple black dot for the stamens.

The daguerreotype below shows a little girl proudly holding her basket purse front and center, with this same style floral paint

And of coarse, the lids are just as prettily painted as the sides

This next wonderful basket is very stylistic, and quite unique. ...

Not only is the basket woven with solid sides and no open work band, but the leaves of the single rosebud are very stylish and folky. The same design is on both sides.

I would think that a person would be able to go to the basket maker and order a particular design, as I think is the case with this fabulous basket with a Pineapple. Perhaps it was a welcoming gift?

I will leave you with a favorite of mine, already shared on the blog here,

http://ladysrepositorymuseum.blogspot.com/2008/12/wanted.html ,which is painted with a gorgeous house

Next week I will touch on the different sizes and shapes, as well as the periods in time to which these were produced

2010-09-04T20:42:00.003-06:00

A Bountiful Harvest of Honey

This Labor Day weekend at the Kinnison Farm brought our first harvest of Honey~ ohh the bees have done so well this year! Everyone told us we wouldn't get honey the first year, but we have had so much rain, and the bees are really thriving. They even raised a new queen about a month ago, and swarmed (been too busy to blog about that~ WHAT a sight!) Above you can see the 3 sections of our hive, the bottom two for pollen and brood, and the shallow one on the top is the honey super. (Emma painted flowers on it) Between it and the hive, you can see the bare wood queen extruder, that keeps her down in the hive and only allows the workers up in the honey super~ we don't want any wee babies in the honey!

The bees are smoked to let them know we are visiting, and then each frame is pried out (they glue it in with their 'honey glue'), and the bees shook off. Now we just put the honey super on the hive the first week of Aug~ so the frames aren't totally capped, as you can see, only about half are capped with wax, but the rest is pretty near full. The bees are amazing workers

The first step to harvesting the honey is to uncap the frames. We did this with a hot knife. The caps are scraped off both sides of the frame and then the frames are set into the honey spinner, as you can see below.

By turning the crank handle, the center basket spins, and draws the honey from the frames. One side is done, then you stop, and turn the frames, and spin them again.

The kids had fund each cranking away~ it takes a while!

I kept asking Josh if sticking his tongue out helped, and he said yep~ it did!

This is what the frame looks like after it comes out of the spinner, all empty~ isn't it beautiful?

Next all the remaining wax & honey is scraped off into the collecting pan. Nothing is wasted! I mashed this, and heated it on the stove and strained all the remaining honey from the wax, and am going to make wee little cakes for waxing thread form the little bit of wax we got, Id say a ball about the size of an orange...not much!

Once all the frames are spun, then the honey is strained thru a sieve into a bowl or bucket. This first sieve is rather large holed, but gets lot of the bigger wax chunks out.

We were really surprised at how much honey we got this year.

The taste and color of honey depends on what flowers are around that the bees collect from~ I can honestly say, that our honey doesn't taste like anything I have ever tasted from the store. Its quite unique, and so delicious.

The honey is then strained thru another finer sieve and finally strained again before going into the jars

It looks opaque here because of all the little air bubbles. As it sits, its getting clearer....our is very pale, but isn't totally clear, is still has some color. I LOVE these wee little jars~ filled they weight about a pound, minus the jar weight, they hold around 10 ounces of honey ea

After weighing everything and subtracting the jar weights, we have a smidgen over 21 POUNDS of honey from this one awesome little hive! My husband couldn't be any prouder of his bees~What a blessing!