I love polka-dots and why not a house ?
And stripes are good, too.
See more about the weekend at my OTHER blog.
Click HERE
Retirement has brought out the need for creative moments which I will share on this blog.
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
November 13, 2013
June 30, 2013
When Thimbles Ruled
After having acquired an old Singer sewing machine (see previous post) I decided to continue in this historical vein and tell you about a book I acquired from my bookseller friend (Garrison House Books or her blog).
The cover is a bit bland but it has real charm inside.
The book was published in 1913 by the Butterick Publishing Co. which was housed in the Butterick Building in New York. Wonder if the building still exists.
The book is written for the teacher and not a step-by-step for the student. 
Thimbles are my thing and they are used but not pictured. There is NO machine sewing anywhere in all the projects right up to a middy blouse at the end. I am throwing a picture in here just for interest. Beneath it is the detailed 11 step and repeat thimble exercise! 
In the supplies for your sewing outfit it suggests an aluminum thimble because they are light and inexpensive. "Colored thimbles are pretty, and children like them. Silver thimbles are nice, of course, but children outgrow them, so that there is very little point in getting them." So these little ladies were expected to start quite early.
Click HERE if you missed out on my earlier post about my first thimble.
She's not in the book but isn't this ad image from THE GRAPHICS FAIRY sweet? I don't think they started THIS young!
Methods (for the teacher)
"Always remember the never-ending patience which it is
necessary to use with the dull-witted, awkward child. Some time this patience
may be rewarded with a result showing some degree of success." Is this PC?
Miniature clothes
"These small garments are an excellent preparation for the
making of full size clothes in the upper grades. "
There are instuction for making a baby cap from paper and then using the folded paper as a pattern for a one made of "fine lawn". Great for the unwed mother! We go right from dolls to real babies.
The book continues with gussets, bias edges, tucks and mending.
The best feature of this book are the beautiful line drawings of the sweetest young ladies of the early 20th century. I used one of them to create THIS.
I shared these with Karen at THE GRAPHICS FAIRY and she has posted two of them for you to use. Click HERE and HERE.
The book ends with the middy blouse that you see when you click on the first HERE in the previous sentence.
Helpfully the text suggests:
"For the Summer for play dresses or for gymnasium
suits the middy blouse is frequently made with a short sleeve. For colder weather
and for school, the long sleeve blouse is more practical and comfortable than
the one with the short sleeve.”
Duh!
So who has ever sewn any more than a hem by hand? Could you complete a whole garment that wouldn't fall apart the first time it was washed?
December 9, 2012
Inspiration from the Next Generation
I started this blog with the inspiration from my grandmothers and mother who had all been needlewomen in various ways. Now I am inspired by my daughter who is NOT so handy with needle and thread but is equally creative. A couple of years ago she made us all charming little paintings on teeny little canvasses and strung them together to make these.
Unfortunately, I only have this one to show you and I should have straightened it up before the photo. With limited supplies on hand she strung it together with black yarn which I should trade out for ribbon...someday.
What appears to be printed fabrics on these is done with a transfer technique so they look as if they are painted on. She then painted on top of that.
I really like the format and the little canvasses are cheap and easy to find. But, being more skilled at working with fabric I made my own versions with fabrics and the help of THE GRAPHICS FAIRY.
The canvasses in this one measure 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches each. I love the little seamstress on the top. I added a real vintage button for more texture.
Unfortunately, I only have this one to show you and I should have straightened it up before the photo. With limited supplies on hand she strung it together with black yarn which I should trade out for ribbon...someday.
What appears to be printed fabrics on these is done with a transfer technique so they look as if they are painted on. She then painted on top of that.
I really like the format and the little canvasses are cheap and easy to find. But, being more skilled at working with fabric I made my own versions with fabrics and the help of THE GRAPHICS FAIRY.
Now something for the nursery or little girl's room:
These both use a nice unbleached muslin as a background and only the
teddy bear and the baby shoes are not from THE GRAPHICS FAIRY. They are from GRAPHIQUE on Etsy.
Speaking of Etsy, you can see more on my shop at
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