Papillote Curls Video

Here is a really interesting video about curling hair with paper and heat.

 

The Ancona Tiara

The Ancona Tiara

"The Ancona Tiara is a pearl and diamond tiara with Italian heritage. The body of the tiara includes groups of three round pearls in diamond trefoil surrounds on a pearl and gold base. The tiara is topped with pearls in two rows, a lower row of round pearls and a top row of upright drop pearls which are slightly irregular in shape - clearly old, baroque pearls. And old this tiara is indeed: it was made for Princess Maria Anna Carolina of Saxony (1799-1832) sometime around her 1817 marriage to Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany."

 

 

From one of my favorite royal jewelry blogs: http://orderofsplendor.blogspot.com/

Jewelry Posts

In February 2012 I started a new blog to follow my research in jewelry. Looking back, I realize that I don't really want another blog, so I will be adding the jewelry information to this one, and deleting the other. It will probably take a while, so I hope you all don't mind.

Rolled Linen Dolls

Here is another Christmas update. Sorry that it's so late, my camera broke in the middle of Christmas and my new one just came in the mail. (long, boring story)

For my younger daughter I made some cute rolled linen dolls. The directions are found in The American Girl's Book 1831. Technically they are called Common Linen Dolls, but I think that Rolled Linen Dolls is a more accurate description. Here is the illustration from the book:

Here are my daughter's dolls:

(from left to right)

The peach and teal dress is a piece from the fat quarter that I picked up at Needle and Thread to make another gift, and the blue shawl is from my older son's winter coat.

The red dress is a red on pink print cotton that I had in my stash and the red wool shawl is from my younger daughter's mantle fabric. 

Lastly, the green fabric is a remnant of my older daughter's cotton homespun dress and the tan wool shawl is from my son's winter pants.

(all of these outfits are on the My Work page)

I took the liberty of adding thin wire in the arms. They are not really posable but the wire does give them a little more of a downward curve, instead of just sticking straight out at the sides. As you can see, I also added shawls. I think the shawls really add a nice touch.

I had a blast making these cute little dolls, except for the part about hiding them and making them after my children went to bed at night. When I make more, and I will be making more, it will be while the children are around. It's really fun to see these little gals come together!

The First Nowell

Published in William Sandys, Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (London: Richard Beckley, 1833), p. 74

Also found in William Sandys, Christmas-tide, It's History, Festivities and Carols, With Their Music (London: John Russell Smith, 1852), pp. 261-2.

1. The first Nowell the Angel did say
Was to three poor Shepherds in fields as they lay.
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
In a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Chorus

          Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell.
          Born is the King of Israel.

2. They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East, beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued, both day and night. Chorus

3. And by the light of that same Star
Three Wise Men came from country far,
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the Star wherever it went. Chorus

4. This Star drew nigh to the North West;
O'er Bethlehem it took it's rest.
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right⁴ over the place where Jesus lay. Chorus

5. Then did they know assuredly
Within that house, the King did lie
One entered in then for to see
And found the babe in poverty. Chorus

6. Then enter'd in those Wise Men three,
Full reverently upon their knee,
And offer'd there, in his presence,
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. Chorus

7. Between an ox stall and an ass,
This Child truly there born he was;
For want of clothing they did him lay
All in a manger, among the hay. Chorus

8. Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made heaven and earth of nought,
And with his blood mankind hath bought. Chorus

9. If we in our time shall do well
We shall be free from death and Hell
For God hath prepared for us all
A resting place in general. Chorus

A BRICK PINCUSHION

 "These pincushions are extremely useful when it is necessary to pin down your work to keep it steady; for instance, in quilling ruffles, covering cord, sewing long seams, hemming or tucking. Being so heavy that they can only be lifted with both hands, they sit firmly on the table, and cannot be overset by accident. Screw pincushions, it is true, answer the same purpose; but it is difficult to fasten them to a circular table, or any table that has not a very projecting edge; and the screws frequently wear so smooth as to become useless. A brick pincushion, when once made, will last to an indefinite period (occasionally renewing the cover), and can be used on any table, in a window ledge, or even on a chair or stool. In a chamber, they can be employed on the toilet like any other pincushion.

Get a clean new brick of a perfect shape, and cut out a piece of coarse linen or strong domestic cotton, of sufficient size to cover it; allowing enough to turn in. Lay the brick in the middle of the linen, which must then be folded in at the corners and sewed tightly with coarse thread all over the brick; making the covering as smooth and even as possible. Then cut out a bag of coarse linen, and fit it to the top of the brick, allowing it, however, about two inches larger each way; or more, if you intend it to rise very high in the middle. Stuff the bag with bran, till you get it as firm and hard as possible. It will require at least two quarts of bran, perhaps more. While doing this, you had better have the whole apparatus on a large waiter to catch what falls. Put in the bran with a spoon, and press it down hard with your fingers. When the bag is completely stuffed, and cannot possibly hold any more, sew up the open end. Fit the bag evenly all round to the top of the brick, and sew it fast to the linen cover; taking care to have it of a good shape, sloping down gradually on all sides from the middle.

Sew a piece of thick baize cloth to the linen on the bottom of the brick, and then put on the last cover of the whole pincushion. This outside cover may be of velvet, silk, or cloth. Fold it under at the corners very neatly, and sew it all round to meet the baize at the bottom. Then cover the seam with a binding of narrow ribbon or galloon. If you choose, you can make the cover for the top (or stuffed part of the pincushion) of a separate piece of silk, always taking care to cover the seam with a binding.

A small pincushion may be made in the same manner, only using for the foundation a little flat block of wood, instead of a brick."

From  The American Girl's Book 1831

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The first step is to find a nice brick and cover it with fabric. I used common utility muslin and wrapped it like a gift. Then stitched it firmly closed.

Then make a pillow and stitch it firmly down. The above directions say to fill it with bran but I used cotton.

The next step is to attach a piece of "thick baize cloth", which is the felt material used on modern pool tables, to the bottom. I don't have any on had so I skipped this step.

 I then used wool to cover the sides and silk to cover the top. I figured that a two piece cover would be easier to attach and the silk can more easily be replaced.

The final step is to cover the raw edges with silk ribbon and we have ourselves a pretty little sewing brick. :)

I left in some pins around the blue silk, thinking that it made a cute decoration.

I would love to see your finished sewing brick. Comment with a link!

My Dream Kitchen

This is my dream kitchen.....

and here is the very first piece to get me started, a copper coffee pot

        

I also picked up a cute little copper colander, perhaps it will live under the table with the copper fry pans. 

I'll repost these pics once I polish the copper and make it all shiny.