Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Fog Fashion and Tea



Fog at Haceta Head, picture from Allposters.com








Hello, and welcome once again to fog days. My little home sure looks fogged in, from the outside, doesn't it?  One good thing about the fog is that it hides from sight all the yard work  and the house painting that needs to be done. The house looks kind of elegant, through the fog.  

I have sewn another fleece cape,  from an old pattern (1995)

however there are versions of it still available in the current pattern catalogs.

Capes seem to go well with fog; case-in-point: Cape Shank, Cape Byron, Smoaky Cape, Sandy Cape, Cape Townshend (Australian Capes) and, Cape Cod, Cape Disappointment, (rated the foggiest), Cape Cheerful (that's an Alaskan cape), Cape Augustine (American Capes). If I had the time and money I would make a cape for each cape that I liked. I was rather insulted that Cape Disappointment was rated one of the most miserable places to live, especially since I have spent several posts undoing that misery-theory about fog. 

I did not want to buy buttons this time, and so I found out how to make those fabric flowers that you coil, twist and glue, and made four large buttons for the loops on the cape. There are many tutorials online for fabric roses, if you want to see how these are made.

I do not know if you have ever seen the flower called "snowdrop," that grows in cold climates. I have made 6 snowdrops from the same fabric as the cape, and fastened them with pins in various places in this messy up-do, great for fog, which wreaks havoc with some hair.  

This is what the snowdrop flowers look like up close. I first made a center and then hot-glued them into a 3-petal base, gluing down some of the petals to open the flowers a bit.


The sun came out for a whole minute today, and my young photographer got a picture of the cape and the new hat I made, which is similar to the one in the previous post. 

Here is the pattern. I chose view C and made 4 loops and buttons instead of 3.

The Erin Bridal Cloak-handcrafted in Ireland by Siobhan Wear
 I originally wanted something like this, from Cloaks of Ireland.




This is the fascinator-hat made from the same fleece fabric, following instructions for making fabric roses. I made various sizes of roses and several rose buds. 

I hot-glued them on to a wide head band I bought at the Dollar Tree. Sometimes there are two for a dollar, so that makes a very inexpensive base for a hat, and it makes it exciting to make them.  I am already planning  what the next one will be.


You might be able to see where I dabbed bits of hot glue to make dew on the roses. The cost of the fleece for the cape was a total of $11.00, and the head band was a dollar. It was such an easy pattern that  I cut out the cape one day and sewed it the next, and still got my dishes and laundry done.


After the cape-walk in the cold fog, there was hot tea in the dining room,

...made from frozen strawberries and hot water, poured through a strainer.

I am using the Prairie Rose tea set from Alberta, Canada.




I bought this cookie from a bakery because it looked like it would match the tea cups.

Some of the bakery products are works of art. 


A ceramic spoon

and a beautiful heart-shaped tea strainer  makes the 
experience so delightful, and there was someone standing by, after
the photographs were finished, waiting to eat the blog food.

For a collection of heart (Valentine) crafts and things, go here and be sure to follow the older posts after that page, as there are quite a few of them with the heart theme.

17 comments:

Gayle said...

The cape is so pretty,I love the rose buttons and the matching fascinator.I am in awe of your sewing skills,that you can make such wonderful things in such a small amount of time, and still put together a lovely tea.You are amazing!

Mrs. Crane said...

I love the cape! I've made a couple shawls lately and was thinking about making one into a cape.. I have a half circle pattern I think I could lengthen into a nice cape... You inspire me!

Anonymous said...


Lovely, lovely, lovely!!!! Thank you for all your inspirations you have made and shared with us!

Brenda said...

There were so many pretty things to see on this post,I liked the cape, the pretty cup, ceramic spoon and the heart shaped tea strainer.
I need to learn to sew; I have difficulty in even threading my sewing machine!

Julian said...

You did a wonderful job! I love the hair fascinator. The tablecloth and tea set are beautiful. How could you get depressed with a foggy day with all that prettiness:).
Christina

Mrs.C said...

You are so creative! Love the pretty fleece and hair accessories. You have made the fog seem like a friend! Mrs.Clark

Deanna said...

Hello! Lovely cape and lovely Pink Tea.

God bless,
d

Lydia said...

You say I did it "so fast" but they are very easy patterns with no button holes, zippers and not a lot of pieces; no facings or linings. Also fleece does not require much sewing, since it won't ravel. I will be doing some other types of clothing in this fog series, and if the fog does not last, I will find more fog in other places for a fog-photo shoot ;-)

living from glory to glory said...

Hello, My I would love to have a tea party with you! I enjoy tea time, it really does refresh me.
The cape was such a perfect idea with the fog and the elegance and flow of it.
May you and your Valentine have a wonderful and special day.
Blessings, Roxy

Anonymous said...

Hi Lydia,
this cape is really elegant and the white rose buttons go so well with the rose fascinator.

I'm "fascinated" with those snowdrop hair pins. Would love to learn to make them. I have some blooming in my flowerbed right now.

Someone told me that lighthouse has a bed and breakfast that you can stay at. I can only imagine how exciting that would be to stay there in the fog and see the light beaming out over the ocean.

Love that bit of pink with the fog fashion and tea especially so close to Valentine's Day. Great post, thank you for sharing.

Mrs. J.

Mama Said No said...

You are far too creative, Dear Lady--I find myself actually yearning for a foggy day on the moors, perhaps in a tale about Sherlock Holmes?

I have been playing with the tea ideas you have given, and I am having so much fun--I have been sharing them with friends, and now they all think I am clever!

Have you tried mking a tea from pomegranite seeds yet? I suggest crushing the seeds briefly before pouring the water over them.

Lydia said...

I had not thought of those seeds! They would make a pretty color. I've got another tea coming up, as I've got company and have prepared something special. I will post the pictures and join that homemaking link, too.

Lydia said...

not just Sherlock but Poirot and Miss Marple, as well as all the other writers from the foggy British isles.

Anonymous said...

I love this! So creative and pretty.

Barbara said...

Everything you post is so pretty! Thank you!

Lydia said...

Barbara, I hope I can get my next project finished and posted tomorrow.

Lydia said...

I will post the snow drop tutorial soon and also my next cape and fog post. Are we done with fog yet?