Week Three

Ugh!!!! Most of the week I didn't do what I had planned, but I figure it was productive enough :P hehe! Last Wednesday I went to the library with Mom, got some real interesting books! my favorite is a interlibrary loaned book "Who Wore What?" by Juanita Leisch. :P I posted a review on The lady's guide. Late that night there was a humungus storm! it kept me up till 4AM :P . Thursday I posted four post on a couple blogs and worked on my bonnet. Today I've been working on my bonnet. I plan on finishing it tomorrow and hopefully will get pictures to show everyone :D

2nd week

Well I am pleased to announce that this week has been quite productive!! :D On Sunday I went through the little girls winter clothes, making a list of the things they'll need. I love going through winter clothes, even in 90 degree weather :P hehe! can't complain about that though! it's been cooler this week :D maybe Fall's coming!! (that's being optimistic :P) On Monday I don't remember what I did? but I think I was lazy that day. Tuesday I worked on my grey jumper, all that's left is the zipper. Mom will have to help me with that. I had some really funny problems sewing that dress! the worst/funniest was probably sewing the top part inside out to the bottom skirt. Also that day I finished my carpet bag!! It was so easy to do I wonder why I didn't do months ago!. I am happy to have it finished. Wednesday I made two drawstring bags and a pincushion for my workbasket that I'm putting together re-enacting. The bags are for holding sewing things and buttons. Thursday was laundry day, We went to the Laundromat dropped off the laundry, Blu, Kaja and Maddi. Then Mom took Abi and I to our Piano teacher's to houseclean. She had family coming over so we cleaned from top to bottom. Eventually Mom picked us up and we canned salsa till 9:45 or so! Friday, Mom and I went Garage saleing. We bought lots of winter clothes for the girls. Paying even $3.00's is so much more economical then buying anything brand-new! I really can't see how that makes sense? but I'm a penny-pincher so I don't think it ever would :P hehe. Other then clothes, I bought a pretty watch for 50c, some small wood boxes for 10c and various toys and books for around 50 to 10c.

If you ever wondered what beneath you thumbnail looked like.... :D After having my thumb squished between a cupboard and a hard place the nail eventually fell off. It is looking beautiful now (compared to before). The nail really has an important job! prying things, untying knots etc.

August Challenges!

Laziness was becoming quite a habit lately!! unfinished projects sitting all over the place and my blogs! especially this one! being completely ignored. So I dedicate this month to being productive!! I've kept up with my challenge so far, but I can't say what the outcome might look like! still to early, hehe. Here is what I'm challenging myself with; Post on all my blogs every week, finish my sewing projects (Carpet bag, grey jumper and day gown) Cover my bonnet, Spangle my bobbins and do a little bobbin lace :D

So far I've posted on a few of the blogs, finished my day gown and spangled most of my bobbins (need more beads :P) Here's a picture of a few the bobbins :D

Good Ol' Days

Today Mom, Rebecca, Kaja, Libby, Jubi and I went to the Fort :D It was lots of fun. First there was a Fashion Show and after that was a dance and talk about Ettiquette.
I wore this beautiful Purple Ball Gown!

Me with my wee little sister!! I love her so much!

Vintage inspired hairstyle!

My sister Rebecca cut and curled my hair last night :D She tried styling it like a 50's hairstyle. I think it turned out beautifully!! I probably cut about seven inches of hair off! :P I was a little shocked when I peeked into the mirror! I didn't think it would be so short! (It's a little longer then the pictures because of the curls) Rebecca suggested I have a prop so I'm reading one of my all time favorite books "Modern Clothing" It's a high school text book from the 1930's :D

Grocery Shopping

A time machines is what I want! It'd be neat to see what things were like.

I love Kitchens! :D

Laundry room from the 1950's
1937 Kitchen

1937 Kitchen
1940 Kitchen
Kitchen from the 1950's

Low Cost Allowance

This is what the wardrobe lists look like. Just click the picture for a larger image.

At the bottom of this picture it says "Neck lines that are to low to be becoming may be built up by the use of yokes and carefully cut collars"

This is from my "Modern Clothing" book (1938)

19th Century, 20th Century, 21st Century

What kind of Traveling Clothes do you prefer? 1860's
1938
or 2000's
(I borrowed this From my Sister's site usedcouture.blogspot.com )
The two other pictures are from my "Modern Clothing" 1938 book :D

Moderate Allowance Wardrobe

Moderate Allowance for the High School Girl

Outerwear
Winter Coat............$16.75
Wool Dress............(Made Over) $.10
Brown Silk Dress.........$9.75
Brown Wool Dress.........$5.00
Blue Jersey Dress..........$11.75
Tweed Suit......................(Made Over) $.50
Pink Voile Dress...........$1.20
Pink Voile Dress...........$.80
Yellow Voile Dress........$2.80
Brown Jumper................$1.00
3 Blouses.........................$1.77
Green Sweater................$1.00
White Sweater.................$ (Gift)
White Honor Sweater.........$10.00

Footwear
Brown Pumps...................$6.00
Black Oxfords...................$6.00
6 pairs Panty Hose..........$6.00

Underwear
2 Print Pajamas...............$1.95
Beach Pajamas...............(Gift)
3 Print Dance Sets..........$1.17
2 Pink Dance Sets..........$.98
3 Slips...............................$3.00

Accessories
White Beret......................$1.00
White Hat........................$1.00
Brown Beret....................$1.00
Winter Hat.......................$3.00
Tan scarf..........................(Gift)
Florentine Bag................$3.00
Brown Leather Bag........$1.00
Tan Kid Gloves...............$3.98
Brown Gloves.................(Gift)
5 Bracelets......................$1.00
Black Beads...................(Gift)
Pearl Beads...................(Gift)
Chain.............................(Gift)
12 Handkerchiefs.........$2.00

Total.................................$104.50

Old Recipes

I found these two recipes in an old Watkins Recipe Book. I haven't made them, but they sound so yummy!

Maple Charlotte

(Will Serve 10)
1 1/2 T Gelatin
1/4 cup Cold Water
3/4 cup Boiling Water
2 cups Heavy Cream
6 T maple Syrup
1/2 cup Blanched Sliced Almonds
Sponge Cake or Lady Fingers
Few Drops Watkins Vanilla Extract

Soak Gelatin in cold water and dissolve in boiling water. Chill until it falls in heavy sheets from spoons. whip cream until stiff and beat in maple syrup and almonds. Blend well. Line bowl with pieces of sponge cake or Lady Fingers. Pour in gelatin mixture and chill until firm. Serve with sweetened whipped cream adding a few drops of Watkins vanilla.

Charlotte Russe

1 cup Powdered Sugar
1 cup Whipping Cream
1 T Gelatin
1/2 cup Macaroon Crumbs
1 cup Milk
1 cup Blanched Chopped Almonds
1/2 t Watkins Vanilla
1 T cooking Sherry
Sponge Cake.

Soak Gelatin in 3 tablespoons cold milk. later add to scalded milk. taken from fire. Let cool. Whip cream add sugar. mix well then add macaroon crumbs, flavoring. Pour into buttered pudding mold lined with thin layer of sponge cake. Place in refrigerator. Add whipped cream.

Pictures of 1937 and 1938 fashion

I love this outfit! and the vanity. Someday I want to have a vanity :D and I'll wear dresses like that and admire my beautiful powder puff....... lol.

I think this is an evening robe.

Sewing.

Wouldn't you like breakfast served to you that way? (lol, I hate eating in bed :P but then if I had that darling tea set maybe not ;D)

I really like the "Beach Pyjama/Working" clothes from the 1930's

Kind of sad about the smoking! but isn't the gown beautiful?




These pictures are from 2 magazines (1937) both "House Beautiful" and a book (1938) "Modern Clothing" by Baxter and Latzke (a high school textbook) Sometime I would like to make a collection of Bedrooms and Kitchens from my vintage books and magazines. Those are my two favorite rooms.

High School Girls Clothing Wardrobe 1938 (Liberal Allowance $210.00)

Outerwear
Brown Polo Jacket....$20.00
Black Coat..................$40.00
Tan Jacket..................$4.98
Green Silk Jacket......$2.98
Brown Dress..............$8.00
Brown & wine Dress ...$5.00
Brown and Yellow print dress...$1.00
Green Jersey Dress....................$2.00
Green Wool skirt, Jacket and white sweater...$7.00
Black and White Satin-back Crepe Dress.......$7.00
Blue skirt, Jacket , Red Waist............................$9.00
Blue and red wool and silk Dress....................$5.00
Spanish tile Dress..............................................$7.00
Yellow Challie Dress.........................................$ 6.00
Pink Silk dress....................................................$8.00
Organdy Dress...................................................$3.50
Linen Dress.......................................................$3.00
Silk Shirt and Blouse.......................................$4.00
White Silk Dress................................................$5.00
Green Print Dress.............................................$1.00

Footwear
Brown Dress shoes.........................................$4.75
Brown Oxfords.................................................$2.98
3 Pairs Brown Hose........................................$2.98
Black Shoes...................................................$6.00
2 pairs Black Hose.........................................$1.98
White Slippers................................................$5.00

Underwear
Quilted Robe...................................................
2 Silk Slips.....................................................$3..00
3 Rayon Slips...............................................$3.50
6 Step-Ins......................................................$3.98
4 Brassieres.................................................$2.00
1 Print Pajamas...........................................$1.00
Lounging Pajamas.....................................$2.95
Rayon Pajamas..........................................$1.95

Accessories
Brown hat..................................................$2.89
Black Hat..................................................$2.00
Black Beret.............................................$1.50
Yellow Tam............................................$.50
White Hat...............................................$3.98
10 Handkerchiefs................................$4.00
Black Gloves........................................$1.75
Fabric Gloves.......................................$.75
Black Hand Bag.................................$2.00

Total......................................................$210.90


According to "http://www.westegg.com/inflation/"
What cost $1.00 in 1938 would cost $14.58 in 2007.
That means the wardrobe runs up to $3074.18 (Yikes!)
Here is another inflation calculator http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl

(This is from my 1938 "Modern Clothing" high school textbook. I've got a moderate wardrobe list and Low cost wardrobe list :) I want to post those too.)

Candlelight tours!!

Last Friday and Saturday Kaja, Blu, Rebecca and I (Abi was wanting to come but came down with a bug :( ) spent two days and two nights at the fort. It was a lovely weekend. I was playing the Bride, Jemima Roach and the others were tour followers. It was a very strange experience, being a "bride" and I had lots of teasing! but wasn't to bad and I like doing challenging things, lol. On the first day we arrived at the Fort around 3:30, We hurried to the dressing rooms. With our piles of blankets and reenacting things. Dad had dropped us off and went straight to Kansas City to pick Grandma Jenny up from Marianne's (A relative). So we spent the weekend without a vehicle Not a problem! most everything is in walking distances and We stopped at Wal-Mart just before getting dropped off. In the dressing room I got in my dress. Which is easier said then done! :P lol. One of the people in charge of my scene said I had to wear a bonnet since it would be held in a public place, So My lovely hair had to be hidden :( Rebecca did a lovely job! Someday she should take pictures on how to do them! that would be really neat. Having a few more minutes before me scene meeting I sat outside the "hospital" with Rebecca and some friends. It can be so nerve wrecking waiting for things! anyways I eventually hopped over to the Mess hall. At my scene we had a short meeting. Since I didn't have to say anything, I didn't need much practice. The scene was like this.... First Mrs Smith her young daughter and Mrs Mcdouglas would be talking about the lovely taffeta from St Louis that Miss Roaches Dress was made from and exclaiming how lucky the Sergeant was etc etc. (Miss Roach was belle of the ball I guess, hehe) then when the tour was all in (usually about 25+ people) Mr Smith and a couple other men would come in and Mr Smith would say something like "How can you be talking of fashion at theses hard times?" Mrs Smith would start answering back but would gasp and say "Mr Smith your pistol! your hats! gentlemen.... you're armed!!" (They are supposed to be heavily armed) The men explain that they didn't want any chance of there families being harmed and that this place (judicial office) was a Proslavery institution. And then they would start talking of politics till Mrs Smith said "Oh I see the judge! he must be ready to start the wedding" the tour was supposed to leave when the judge, Miss Roach and Sergeant Sheridan were entering the room but that didn't happen very often!! So the ceremony would go on with the Judge saying some things about who he was and and about everyone gathering together on this happy occasion etc, etc. Then!!... Dearly Beloved, We have gathered here today in the sight of God to see this Man....... blah blah blah blah!! (The first time that happened I was thinking "What have I gotten myself into!") but after 24 times... lol. The farthest it ever went was when he would say something about holding hands. I would get so fidgety. Finally one of the armed men would shut the door and almost everyone in the room would start laughing!!! At me, I think?! : ( lol. Most of the time I was in an off room with the Sergeant and Judge. In between scenes I sat by the doorway and chatted with "Mrs Smiths" daughter who was twelve. She was really nice. There were a few times I had to suddenly stop talking and slip in the other room! because the next tour was coming in! that was pretty funny. Saturday Morning we were kindly invited for breakfast, by some friends who had brought there RV. They told us about a new store in town that sold "Civil War" things! antiques and new. It was really, really cool! The day went by so quickly! I was soon back at the Mess hall being teased about..... :P Saturday had more tours but there was a break in the middle. At the end of the day everyone helps clean up. There are probably hundreds of lanterns all over the Fort that need to be put away, I hurried over to the dressing room and got back in my day clothes. Its amazing how much energy is spent in those scenes. So we are usually pretty exhausted. This year I helped some ladies in the magic room, putting away clothing. I think they appreciated my help. I hope so! : D and afterwards there's a small party for everyone involved in the program. It's always funny seeing people in there normal clothing! they look so much different! So we spent the night there again. We were down a mattress :( We all spent the night on hard cement : P lol. it wasn't cold though, I'm really thankful about that! The next morning after packing up We headed to the Fort library and spent the rest of the time reading books till Grandma came. Oh yes!! I was in the Saturday Fort Scott newspaper! I didn't get one though, it was too late at night. :P lol.