Let’s see if you get this…
If you don’t get it… Nora is on “the back burner.” Want to know why? Because I’m heading out of town to visit my sister Deb and help her celebrate her birthday. My mom and I are leaving Friday morning and we’ll probably be gone until Tuesday or maybe even Wednesday. I guess it depends if we wear out our welcome.
I didn’t have anything new to show you on Nora’s dress as my day was full from morning till now…it’s 10:25 and I’m still not finished packing… My hubby woke up this morning and decided he wanted to go visit this showroom with all different flooring samples. Well, since we’ve been walking on crummy plywood floors for 13 years, how could I say, “Today? You picked today?” So I fit it into my schedule…somewhere between boiling eggs for my hubby and picking up my mom’s car so George can look it over before we go. There were the usual interruptions in my day… a friend needing advice on how to get her money out of paypal, since this was her first transaction, and she didn’t have a clue what to do, Rebecca needing a headband stitched up, a trip to the grocery store to get a few “snacks for the road” and of course, playing with my new haircut… 4″ shorter makes a big difference!
Somehow I managed to fit in burritos for dinner and get all my comments answered… and I even ran by the thrift shop to see if they had anything I “needed” for the trip…clothes wise! Well, nothing to wear, but just as I was about to leave, a tiny baggie caught my eye… Guess what was in it? LACE… but of course. It wasn’t your typical polyester or nylon lace, but a few pieces caught my eye. The baggie was taped shut but it was $4.00 and I decided to take a chance and see what surprises might be inside… I was actually pretty pleased with all the pieces except maybe 2 of them…
Okay, now this is for all you seamstresses out there… if you had seen the front and the back of this baggie, would have given it a second glance?
I opened it up and this is what was inside…
This big white rick rack is my least favorite… it does nothing for me…and will probably end up in a bag or box going back to the Thrift Shop.
I do like these 3 dainty little laces…
Here they are unrolled a bit…
I think this pink and white tatted piece is interesting…
These 2 white pieces aren’t quite my cup of tea, but I might use them on something sometime…
So that was my day… I better sign off so I can finish packing. Again, sorry about nothing to show on Nora, but she’ll be like Molly was a few weeks ago…happy to have extra time on the cutting table. My girls say it’s “the most important place in my sewing room!” :o)
See you tomorrow, I hope…
Blessings, Jeanne
I probably would have bought that bag, too, Jeanne! I noticed the tatting right away. Some of those other trims are nice, too–that red with the white dots looks like something Molly would love! And that second from the bottom trim, even though not one of your favorites….I kind of like that one myself.
Did you choose a flooring yet from all the samples? Maybe he’ll have it all installed by the time you get back!
Have fun celebrating Deb’s birthday; safe travels for everyone!
Safe travels! I hope you have lots of fun celebrating Deb’s birthday!
Just like Nora, we’ll all be here waiting for your return.
Good luck with the flooring decision. I hope you find something that you love.
Great find at the thrift store! I was thinking Molly too when I saw the red and white polka dots.
Have a great day!
Take care.
Happy Birthday to Deb! I hope all of you have a wonderful time — you always do when you get together.
There’s so much interesting flooring now — choosing might be difficult but having new floors would be so nice. Another adventure for you. We’ll all look forward to the pictures.
I agree with Charlotte T. on the trim — I like that one too.
I looked up tatting — it apparently started in the early 19th century and was especially popular from 1860-80. Addy’s white nightgown has tatting around the collar. I think you’ll find a nice use for that.
Rickrack is usually not my favorite, but the crochet makes it interesting. It looks quite large. I’m wondering about putting it under the edge of an overskirt. The Wikipedia article was not their best, so I tried Google and found an article that said it was developed in about 1882 and was popular because it could stand up to the washing methods of the time — boiling water, grated lye soap, big laundry paddles. The articles didn’t mention ironing, but that would have been challenging as well. Articles I found said rickrack was first popular from the late 1800s through the early 1900s and is also associated with the Little House TV show, which re-popularized it in the 70s. That’s interesting, because I associate it with squaw dresses in the 50s and with square dance dresses. It was used as a base for lace designs at the turn of the last century, and I’d be surprised if you didn’t show us some rickrack based lace at one point.
I’m willing to bet that your readers know quite a bit about when it was popular and will add some useful details. You used it very effectively on a recent Molly dress.
Marilyn, you took the words right out of my mouth about the rick rack!! Your comment wasn’t here when I wrote, so I apologize for mentioning it again right after you!
Honestly, Jeanne, the things you accomplish in one day is unbelievable!!! Are you sure you are just one person, and not a twin? Well, good about the flooring situation, keep us posted!
I probably would have bought the lace if I sewed more than I do. It’s always nice to have something to pick from right there at home versus going out and hunting up something. You don’t like the big rick rack you say, but does that rick rack have lace on it? I have never seen anything like that before. While I really can’t see it in person and don’t know how big it is, you could turn it upside down from the way you are showing it, and sew it underneath the bottom of a skirt, with only half of it showing. I think it would be pretty that way, but of course, I don’t know how much you have for it to go around a skirt or how full the skirt might be.
It RAINED last night—-yippee! Everything has been so dry and the grass is turning brown, but at least I don’t have to get out this morning and water like I have been every day.
I hope you and your mother have a good time with Deb. She lives in Cape, doesn’t she? Why don’t you just move to Missouri??? We’d love to have you!!! 🙂
Oh, now I remember that Deb lives in Springfield! Still in Missouri! Happy Birthday to her!!
Sorry — I forgot. If you get the Freebie Friday email from Pixie Faire, it’s easy to find Nora’s new pattern. Scroll down to just over halfway, and you’ll see a pretty heading that includes a Maryellen doll in an orange dress. It says “Historical Fashions — shop the collection.” Click on that and scroll past the 2 rows of sections for various eras. The first pattern in row 3 is the one for Nora’s dress. Or try this link:
https://www.pixiefaire.com/collections/ Nora’s pattern is 6 rows down.
If you want to participate in the Freebie Fridays program, use the link and at the top, click on “Freebies” — Freebie Fridays is the third selection down.
Funny but I like the last two best, the last one with ribbon through it. You are the champion Thrift Shop scourer. I can’t believe the things you find. I think I’ll go by one today to see what’s there. Good luck with the flooring. I would think they would surely have a product with some give in it by now that would work for uneven floor. If not, how about George inventing and patenting it.
Have fun on your trip. I can never believe how much you accomplish in one day and still write this blog. It’s quite amazing. So glad you do it for us. We’re very lucky.
Oh sounds like a fun trip. Know your mom will enjoy it too.
I recently was able to see the new home of a friend. We’re talking over a million dollar home. Lucky her, she inherited quite a wad and bought the home of her dreams. It had the 60’s blond narrow hardwood in a lot of the rooms and white carpeting in others. I saw the photos. It looked very nice. But, she decided rather than add more of the blond she would just go for her very favorite. The whole spacious home is done in the latest and most beautiful wide plank hardwood I’ve seen. It is slightly on the gray tones and just dark enough to be rich looking. She chose it because it doesn’t show the least little spec like the dark hardwoods do. She has a sweet doodle dog. If I were to do a house, I would probably choose the same. Perhaps in a less costly version. It is stunning. Hope you had fun looking at samples. I know the flooring has to acclimate and sit in the new site for a couple of weeks before installing so there would be piles/boxes sitting around. But it will be so worth it if you decide to do.
I’m a big fan of your least favorite trim. I can picture the rick rack across the front of a chabby chic apron. Or even around the bottom if there is enough. I’ve never seen anything like it. Love how you showed us each lace. I do wish it was still available. Lovely.
Hope you can take a few pictures while you’re gone to share. Would love to see them.
Driving? Train? Be safe.
I meant shabby!
Hope you and your mom have a great time with Deb. Happy Birthday to Deb!!
Wishing you safe travels.
I love looking at all your laces. When I see your pictures of laces and trim, I know you are going to work miracles with them and they end up being the perfect accent to compliment your beautiful creations.
Everyone, have a nice and enjoyable weekend !
Road trip! With snacks! How fun! Buckle up, be safe, and enjoy the journey. Hope you’ll have interesting stops along the way, too. Best wishes to Deb for her birthday! May the joy she gives all of you be returned to her on her special day, and may her year ahead be blessed with happiness and dreams come true.
Congratulations on your latest thrift store buy, Jeanne. Your “eagle eye” always scouts out the best bargains. We will be looking to see how you use all the different laces and trims. I must add my name as a lover of the large white tatted ricrac and think it would look lovely at the bottom of a petticoat or dress, too. Your creative mind will know just how to surprise us with it.
Wishing you wonderful adventures and a great celebration, Jeanne. Send us a “postcard” or two along the way!
P.S. Hope you received my “very-late-to-the-party” post last night!
I hope you enjoy visiting your sister for her birthday and it sounds just what your mom might need as well. Birthday Blessings to Deb!!
No, I doubt Nora will mind waiting for you to return to her dress.
The laces are lovely. I would have taken a chance on them if I sewed as much as you do. The rose pattern filet crochet would have been intriguing enough. That is the kind of crochet I do. My grandmother taught me to crochet one summer when I was staying. I was probably eight or nine. She did beautiful dresser scarves and doilies. Years later when she dies she left a dresser scarf unfinished. It’s a pattern of forget-me-nots and squares. I was orignally going to leave in incomplete, but then decided I would finish it. I apparently crochet at the exact same tension because it is impossible to tell where it the unfinished row she left off and I began. It graces my vintage dressing table and the matching piece which she had finished is on my night stand.
It must be the week for lace ! Some of those are like some I was gifted this week too!
Have a good visit with your Sister on her Birthday and hope your Mom has a good time too.
(We know you will!) Take pics so we feel like we were invited too.?