Hi everyone,
Thank you all for weighing in on the dilemma I was having with the dress for Felicity. I think my problem was it had been TOO long since I had made anything for Felicity, and I just forgot how to do “Colonialism!” :o)
But thanks to all of you, I think I am back on track…
But first I wanted to mention a few things you were discussing…
Sissy, I really hope Peyton is better now and back to almost normal… and we would LOVE to know your recipes for Peach Pies you make and your jam as well! Yum Yum!
Rosemary… you said your hubby LOVES Cheeze-It’s… well I have my hand raised because I love them too…they are my downfall. I can’t even let myself buy them… I am like a squirrel… I just keep adding and adding more until my cheeks are full… I know that sounds gross, but I just want to keep their taste in my mouth. Also that scarf you were thinking of around the necks of Colonial dresses is called a Fichu. I thought about adding one, but it will depend on how close the ruffle comes up on Felicity’s neck when I get the snaps on the back. I used to just have one when the neckline was a bit low.
Anne… you get eczema from lemons? Oh, you poor thing… I just finished the last of the lemon bars I made for Memorial Day. For me it was so yummy!
Dorothy L… you were hoping for maybe a ruffled part around the neckline? I hope this is what you had in mind.
Debbie… I have to ask… did you used to make costumes? In your comments you sort of referred to something of the sort.
Okay, now let’s see how today goes…
I sat down and was talking with my hubby and used the bright light shining through the windows to help me see to get the rick rack taken off the dress. It only took me maybe 10 minutes. It was worth taking it off because I had already lined the bodice and set in the sleeves perfectly. There were no puckers or gathers so I really didn’t want to start over.
I used some of my very delicate white Batiste and cut a long strip about an inch wide for a ruffle. I folded it over itself long wise and pressed it, so I’d know the middle of the strip. Then I sewed 2 rows of basting down on the outside of the creased line. I pulled my basting threads up and spaced out my gathers and tried my best to get it even on the bodice. It was a bit tricky as the fabric is so delicate, but I think I did okay. Then I basted it in blue on the top and then later, pink on the bottom, so I’d know when I removed the basting stitches they were all out.
Once the ruffle was basted in place, I worked on the under sleeves using the same Batiste.
Here is how the sleeve looks with both layers of the ruffle.
I stitched down the middle of the neck ruffle and then removed the basting stitches. I found the perfect blue embroidery floss in my stash and did a hand stitch around the neckline, trying to make it as even as I could.
Felicity helped me pick out a red and goldish colored embroidery floss. I’m going to make little flowers that mimic the print in the dress… if I can…
This is a Colonial dress I did similar to today’s version.
I hope you’ll stay tuned because the “prettiness” is just getting started! :o)
Thanks everyone,
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, yes, the plain white ruffle looks much more appropriate! I absolutely LOVE that other dress you showed; adding the embroidered flowers adds so much to the Trim!
Sissy, I’d love your pie recipe, too. Blueberries are my favorite fruit, and peaches are right up there in the top 5.
Laura in Ohio, if your phone isn’t wanting to send pictures in an email, would it let you send them via Facebook Messenger? I know Jeanne is on FB, as am I and a few others from this list.
For those keeping track, Nolan’s new t-shirt is almost done. Just the hem and snaps left to do!
Hi Charlotte, no, I tried to send a photo to a friend of mine on FB recently and it didn’t work. I think it needs servicing, but we don’t have a Spectrum store in town and I haven’t found the time to drive the 30+ minutes to the nearest one.
Oh Jeanne, that will be SO pretty once you put some “pretties” on the ruffle! It looks a bit plain now, but you will certainly get that fixed, like you always do! I love the sheer white of the ruffle, and those sleeves are a knockout! Will you be adding a pinner to the set, or a hat of some sort? Maybe both, since we aren’t always “going somewhere” and it would be a nice dress just for home too.
I have to run, since I am working on our subdivision entrance. The weeds are growing and shrubs need trimming. Everybody else seems to be too busy!
Good for you on keeping up the entrance to your subdivision. Wish someone would volunteer to help too.
💐🌹🪻Beautiful❤️💙🧡… Jeanne, I am in awe. The ruffle is so neatly done, and the sleeves! Goodness, you were busy yesterday, super focused! The collar is beautiful, I bet it was careful steady attention. It looks so neat.
A memory just popped in my head. I am sure many of you have made dresses for your daughters so many years ago?. This style Felicity dress, I made for Christina. 6th grade? Maybe 7th grade…. 1996? I can’t remember but I remember the dress, and I think Christina has the dress and also the little pinner. I do not know if I have photos of that dress. Lizzie never wore it because she was such a very skinny girl to sew for. 🙂 (I did make her a very beautiful black velvet jumper, with a large fancy bow in the back, for piano recitals – that turned out stunning)
Jeanne, thank you for your own replies on the many questions and discussions this morning. We were chattering and you were sewing like a – sewing machine!
I adore this fabric choice and the embroidery will be exceptional.
I love Felicity’s dress you made in the past too.
Yesterday, avoiding chores, I did a little reading on dresses of the 18th century. I was really excited with so much of this information…. and history of clothing.
Is anyone watching “The Other Bennet Sister” on Britbox? It is new, and we are having to wait every week for a new episode. I love all of the costumes and the photography is quite good too.
With AI…. couldn’t there be a way to watch tv shows that would block out all …?.. never mind. 🙄
Today is a sunny and not so humid day. I am going to venture out and get some tasks accomplished, then come home and do some chores.
Jeanne, I am glad you love Cheese-its. You stuff your mouth with them? I can relate. I do that with COOKIES. This brings up another memory for me. My mother. I miss her.
She lived to 93. I miss her. I remember when she turned 80, she confessed to me (she used to share a lot with me, Gosh I miss her like crazy) “I want to eat cookies all day”
I reminded her, she was not alone.
Oh Anne, lemons! So sorry. For some reason I think I misread and thought you were allergic to butter! huh (my brain….)
I hope all of you have a productive day. I am gonna try.
I seem to be having a tricky time focusing on any project, however I have managed to install the closetmaid shelves in the upstairs closet, which will never contain all of my sewing but it is a start.
Enjoy the day dear ones!
The show I referenced yesterday can be found on Tubi, a free streaming channel. As for Ai, I am on a mission to find out how to block it on my devices. I made some progress on instagram blocking Ai generated reels. I sent my daughter a reel showing a friendship between a Bernese mountain dog and a baby donkey. She replied, Ai. I was embarrassed that I got fooled. Recent studies say that future generations will actually be less intelligent because Ai does all the thinking, synthesizing, and problem solving. I am on a mission… When the robots come for their enemies, they will be on my doorstep. I would like one to cook those 3 meals a day….
I do like some things about Ai, but not when it completely changes a word that I have written. Let us know if you figure out how to block it.
Hi Joy,
I don’t like anything about it.
Stops feeding the data centers even if you don’t use the AI because google sticks it there anyway. Add this extension to chrome.
Bye Bye, Google AI: Turn off Google AI Overviews, Discussions and Ads – Chrome Web Store
Did you ever see the movie “Wall-ee”? I think that is what it was called. It was animated but a fit scary in the fact that it showed a world where everything, including thinking, was done by other than people. David and I find ourselves referring to it often these days. Right now I’m concerned with the fact that they are trying to put several data centers in the rural area we live in. I saw where one was stopped In PA and we’re trying to get them stopped here. They will totally deplete the aquifer in the one area with a lot of people depending on wells for their water. In addition the electricity required to run them is inadequate and will run up the costs tremendously. This is all to allow AI to gain ground.
Ho Barbara,
Stop feeding the data centers even if you don’t use the AI because google sticks it there anyway. Add this extension to chrome.
Bye Bye, Google AI: Turn off Google AI Overviews, Discussions and Ads – Chrome Web Store
That should have been HI Barbara! 🙂
Hi Debbie, my daughter found this a couple of days ago. It works like a charm, even taking off the AI posts on the RRFF FB page which I was sick of seeing.
Stops feeding the data centers even if you don’t use the AI because google sticks it there anyway. Add this extension to chrome.
Paste the link below into Google. It will be the first option.
Bye Bye, Google AI: Turn off Google AI Overviews, Discussions and Ads – Chrome Web Store
Hi Debbie, my daughter found this a couple of days ago. It works like a charm, even taking off the AI posts on the RRFF FB page which I was sick of seeing.
Stops feeding the data centers even if you don’t use the AI because google sticks it there anyway. Add this extension to chrome.
Paste the link below into Google. It will be the first option.
Bye Bye, Google AI: Turn off Google AI Overviews, Discussions and Ads – Chrome Web Store
Thank you Laura! I will do this and improve my experience on this machine. : )
Thank you Debbie. I have it noted now. Hubbs and I keep a spiral notebook now, in front of the tv. We try to keep track of what we are watching, especially if there are episodes not released yet.
I am looking forward to this program.
I think AI is so annoying. I have not stepped into that pool of crazy very much, but I do not like much of what I experience.
You were right Rosemary, it is dairy I am intolerant to, not lemons. Not just butter but ice cream, cream, milk, but funnily enough not cheese so much or yoghurt. I use oat milk for my morning porridge and we buy lactose free milk for cooking and for Kai. I drink tea and coffee black.
Oh, Anne. Okay. Yes, dairy.
That can be a challenge on a daily basis.
As an olden nurse, I always think “everyone gets something”
We should be grateful for what we do not suffer from 🙄. Fortunately, there are alternatives available… sometimes.
Jeanne you are such an accomplished seamstress. You lost me at “delicate white batiste”. The ruffles look like the right touch for the colonial era. My only experience sewing costumes was for my daughter’s grade school performances. Once she advanced to the bigger stage all those were left to the professionals. When she performed in the Sound of Music there were at least two seamstresses backstage for every performance. I am sure they were wishing the backstage mom’s would just go home. Our theater director was such a perfectionist many audience members thought the production was better than New York.
My interest in Felicity’s dress details comes from my career as a history teacher. I confess to having a greater interest in the fashions of each era than in the politics or the wars. Also, my ancestors were colonists in Pennsylvania, one fought in the American Revolution. Hopefully as a patriot as they were farmers from Switzerland, not planters from Britain.
Off to the grocery store. It is a hot, humid day here. Looking forward each day to the progress on Felicity’s gown.
How interesting about your background. A history teacher eh? I am retired from elementary school, mostly third grade. 🙂 And I too have relatives that settled in PA. My group were from Germany, also in the Revolutionary War and farmers as well. Interesting. 🙂
There were Germans too. My grandmother’s ancestors were escaping German persecution of the Amish and Mennonites. When they arrived in America they married the Germans. 🤦♀️ My dad said there just weren’t many settlers in the 1700’s. You just married guy/gal on the next farm. Maybe we are related. 😁
My group were Moravian. At least part of them. I know that they were in PA pre revolutionary war. Even my grandfather is buried in the Moravian cemetery in Lititz. There is some valley in that area where a lot of my group lived. Can’t remember the name off hand. I haven’t looked at that group for awhile. Probably should. 🙂
Our daughter was in theater in high school. With David’s experience in building and mine in sewing we decided to volunteer to help out with the productions. It didn’t take long before we stopped. It became apparent very soon that parental egos would run wild. One reason was to gain attention for their child as interested parents and the other was because most of them hadn’t a clue about things like building scenery or costume making and didn’t want to be advised by someone who did. It took all the fun out of it but our daughter still managed to accomplish a lot in the theater program. For awhile our whole family was involved in a local theater group where David did all the scenery. He was amazing but he built it to last. It always seemed he was out of town on a job when they had to strike the set. I’m sure there were a lot of bad words said while they were taking things apart.
You could have started a set building business!
I always thought that would be a good thing for David to do since he did love doing it and Houston and the surrounding area have all kinds of theater stuff going on. But he didn’t see it as a full time job so it was just a hobby for him when he had the chance. Harrison Ford was discovered while doing carpentry work on movie sets.
Interesting.
My experiences with volunteering in public schools was mostly good.
I have to admit, once they have your name and they know you, they will call you. Those days, many parents did not want to volunteer.
Things are looking up, here. Peyton is much better and we do plan to go to the Y tomorrow. He fixed a great breakfast today and insisted to clean the dishes. I hope he isn’t doing too much!
Jeanne, the dress is on it’s way to beauty. I love the sleeves and the neck ruffle. I know we are all looking forward to more lovely additions!
Jeanne has asked for me to put into the blog two of my peach recipes so I am putting them in here, just skip it if you aren’t interested.
FRESH PEACH PIE
1 unbaked 9″ pie shell
3 to 4 ripe peaches (or other fruit)
1/4 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter melted
1 egg slightly beaten
Slice peaches and arrange in pie shell around the edges at least 3 rows.
fill pie with peaches, or instead add blueberries in the center.
Stir flour and sugar together in a bowl, add melted butter, then add egg.
Stir all together.
Pour over fruit and bake at 350 to 375 degrees F. until light brown on top.
Or you can freeze the pie and then cover it tightly and leave in the freezer.
When you want to cook it you can cook the frozen pie until done.
Send me on my email if you have questions:
marshrat@darientel.net
I like to make two pies at once and yesterday when I was taking them out to the freezer I learned a lesson. Never try to carry two at once! I was trying to open the door and one pie fell face down on the floor. I said a very loud bad word!
Jeanne wanted this recipe too, so here it is:
PEACH FREEZER JAM
INGREDIENTS
2 lbs peaches enough to make 3 cups of mashed peaches.
4 and 1/2 cups sugar
1 box Sure-Jell
2 tbsp lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Peel and slice 2 lbs peaches, then mash them up with potato masher or fork. They will be lumpy but that is ok.
2. Measure out the sugar in a large bowl. Measure 3 cups of mashed peaches and add to the sugar. Add lemon juice. Stir well and set aside so sugar can dissolve, stirring fairly often and be SURE the sugar is dissolved.
3. In a small pot, place 3/4 cup of water. Add Sure-Jell and bring to a boil while stirring constantly. Boil for one minute, then pour it into the fruit mixture. Continue to stir until all sugar is dissolved.
4. Pour into clean 8 ounce jars (or plastic containers) and leave
1 inch of headspace. Using a damp paper towel, wipe around the rim and sides of the jar to remove any residue. Place lids on jars and let sit at room temperature for 24 hours.
After that time, place in the freezer until ready to use. Store opened jars you are using in the fridge.
Finally found peaches at the grocery store today. Thank you for the yummy recipes.
Glad to here you will try. Let me know how it goes!
Yum, Skssy! I am going to try making the pie when I find some peaches. I think they are at my grocery store now. I always buy the ready made crust too.
Let me know how it goes! Glad will try it.
thank you thank you thank you.
Interesting about Jeanne’s love of Cheez-It’s. I don’t think that we’ve had them in the house since the kids were little. I love cheese, but have never been that fond of Cheez-It’s. I immediately wondered about the calorie composition. I found this: A standard serving of original Cheez-Its (27 crackers, or 30g) contains 150 calories. This serving size also provides 8g of fat, 17g of carbs, and 3g of protein. However, I do indulge in Potato chips when accompanied by a sandwich. 🙂
I am loving the dress for Felicity, now that the rick rack has disappeared. The embroidery will add a lovely flourish I’m sure. I can see that Felicity is smiling already.
Here, other person cleaned out the roof gutters yesterday so that I could perform magic with my electric leaf blower. What a mess from that last storm. Mostly all what I call Sycamore snow, but is really the seeds from the pods coming down everywhere. I did the porch, accidentally scaring Charlotte the cat next door, the brick patio in front, the walk on the side of the house, the thirteen steps, and then had the mess mostly into the driveway. I was heading everything towards the street when other person came out and said that he had contacted the person from PGE that had left a flyer on the door at the other house. We were to meet him at four to see from which tree that they wanted to remove a branch. We had searched for the supposed dot of paint that was left on the tree but couldn’t find it. So, other person moved the truck and I did a quick finish of the driveway leaving the mess in the street until we returned. I was covered with snow and dirt and sneezing up a storm. Did a quick brush off and we jumped into the Honda and headed to the other house.
A great tree guy that PGE had come around and do the tree inspections. There is one branch that is estimated to grow and possibly reach the lines. A very remote possibility, but after the fires, they don’t want anything to even come close the lines. I was hoping that they wanted to remove the whole tree as I so hate liquid amber trees because of their invasive nature and horrible seed pods that they drop. Some areas call them sweet gum trees, which is not the botanical name. And they aren’t nice at all in my opinion. Anyway, no problem with the one branch for me. Other person thought that they wanted to top the tree and he didn’t want one topped and not the others as well. In my opinion, top them all right at the base. I really do not like those messy trees that shed leaves all year around here as well as get into the sewer line and drop sharp balls too. So, one measly branch was it. And if the branch is only so big, they leave it for the homeowner to remove. Sounds like we’ll be doing more sawing up there. I have such an aversion to those trees.
After we got back, we cleaned up the street mess, and I was admiring my work of clean areas when I reached the brick patio. Oh no, the short weeds were coming up in the bricks. Now I could see them after the cleaning. So, I started in pulling more patio weeds. Finished that and was done for the day. Hope everyone else did something more fun.
Joy, we call those trees Sweet Gums here and I hate them too. When we bought our land to built the house on, it was so full of pine trees that we had them all taken out. That left the Sweet Gums, and they were not very large and looked so pretty, HAH!! Little did we know! They grew so fast when the pines were gone! We have since had as many taken out as we could afford but still have 4 that are back from the drive way. Before the house was built we put in some good trees and many lovely camellias and azaleas. Other flowers the deer ate except our hydrangeas which I managed to save with “Deer Out” spray.
We called them Sweet Gums in Louisiana too. Not anyone’s favorite because of the prickly balls they drop everywhere.
I had no idea what the tree was so I looked it up. Apparently it does have a lot of uses. The prickly ‘gum balls’ make great mulch, especially in pots, they aerate the soil. They also burn really well and are great for starting a fire if you have a real fire or a fire pit. The wood is prized in carpentry and the sap is used in medicine. However I can see that the balls are very unsightly and very uncomfortable on a lawn if you are in the habit of walking barefoot. Does everyone hate their native flora? I don’t like our cabbage trees (Cordyline) or hebes. I have a cabbage tree at the front of my house which was not much more than a bush when we moved in in 2011, now it is taller than the house. There were two others in front of the bedroom windows but I got rid of those., thank goodness. The leaves can’t be composted and it sheds them all year round. Maori used to use them for making rope. These days about the only thing they are good for is starting a fire but there aren’t many of those in Christchurch.
Oh we LOVE Cheez-it’s here too! In fact it’s our #1 snack around here and we always get the big, gigantic box they sell at Sam’s, maybe twice a week! My hubby is really slim and eats Cheez-it’s all the time!
Sweet Gum trees! We cannot plant them here in St. Louis now, they are banned, because those balls are terrible and cause problems with lawnmowers, and feet! However, there are enough of them here already, and a mess to clean up those spikey balls when they fall into the street.
I missed commenting yesterday so I first want to say how much I enjoyed the wonderful pictures of the royal yacht Britannia. It was a fun adventure. Thanks to Marilyn and to her sister as well as Jeanne for allowing us the privilege since it’s doubtful I’ll ever see it in person.
I have no clue about what components make a period outfit since all my girls are modern. Modern trends are easier to keep up with – for me at least. I really like what you have done with the dress and so sorry the rick rack didn’t work because I really liked that on that fabric. I read and re-read your instructions for how you did the neckline ruffle but I must admit I’m kind of braindead on how you did it. How do you finish the edges of the ruffle? It looked like they weren’t finished on the new dress but on the older dress they were. Just curious.
I finished the dress to go with the pretty white sweater I won. Bella loves it but is asking me fervently to hurry and let her pick out the fabric for the jumpsuit. She says she doesn’t want to wear the dress all the time but wants to wear the sweater as much as possible. She suggested I might want to make a skirt and top to go with it too the sweater is so versatile.
I had my first PT visit yesterday. Everyone told me the first visit would be low intensity. Not!!! It appears the first visit is pretty much to define what I can and can’t do or need and don’t need for the benefit of the insurance company. I can’t make another appointment until the approval comes in which might be tomorrow or it might be next week. So much for getting on with this. My PT guy did manage to loosen the muscle I was having trouble with so moving after standing is easier now, but that left me with a really sore muscle. I’m doing well today but I definitely feel like I exercised yesterday. I have a goal at the moment of being able to walk to the stage without my cane and to be able to stand for the Chorale concert the end of June. At the rate this is going I might make the goal by the time of the Christmas concert.
Go Barbara! Sounds like a great plan, and I’m sure that you will fulfill your goals. 🙂
Felicity’s dress will be so pretty! I loved that blue and white one!!!
Okay, maybe the last comment of the day, it is getting late here.
This recipe: https://lovepastatoolbelt.com/2013/11/mixed-vegetable-casserole/
This is something my daughter makes… since she married into a family from NorthCarolina and Texas. She makes it every Thanksgiving.
I can not stand the taste or the smell. There are different variations of this, I found on line.
First, mixed vegetables (frozen but mostly any canned vegs) are an instant turn off to me.
Then the crackers on top. I just can not….
It is pretty cool that some of you were teachers.
I can tell that I’m with you on that vegie casserole. I’m sure that I would not touch it with a ten foot pole. Picky picky here. 🙂
Jeanne, I love what you have done with the dress so far. I was wondering, as well if you had finished the edges of the batiste ruffle. Can’t wait to see the rest of the ‘pretty’.
Have a good day
The extra toasty Cheez Its, and if I’m being really bad, I have them with a Dr Pepper. That has been my favorite “bad for me” food for years. 🙂
Jeanne,
I ADORE that blue and white colonial dress! So Pretty!