I have taken a few hours each day to do something other than house keeping. During a visit to the TJ Max discount store, I enjoyed looking at all the plastic and glass pumpkins with beaded and sequined textures, in copper, green silver, iridescent purples and pinks.
It seems it was only a short time ago that critics were making sport of the handmade glittery pumpkin crafts on creative blogs, and now I see there are many cloth and paper pumkin decorations in the market. I saw several fabric plaid ones in autum color combinations. Inspired by the brightness of what I saw, I set about to make some soft pumpkins for the season for my home.
These make soft, decorative cushions for an autumn bed. After gathering the fabric with the stuffing, I tied circles around it in four to six sections to make it like the fairytale pumpkins. I did not see fairytale pumpkins or pink pumpkins at the local market this year, as in the past.
These cloth pumpkins that look like chenille fabric or ball-fringe, are made of the modern fabric called Minky, which comes in many wonderful colors.
The stems are made with a thick glitter ribbon, which is nestled inside the pumpkin before the thread is pulled up.
I used some shimmery fabric to cover over the fabric, for a couple of the pumpkins.
The pumpkin pattern is a large circle of fabric, made by tracing around a big mixing bowl or pizza pan or pizza cardboard. The fabric is then gathered around the outside edge using long stitches, by hand, and then pulled to gather slightly so that you can insert polyester stuffing. Then, pull the thread tightly and fasten. It is best to double your thread before sewing.
They look good displayed in a china cabinet or fireplace mantel, or a shelf, and, if you have no small children, they can be put on the floor in front of the fireplace or underneath an entry table. Check out some of the blogs and follow links to other creative pumpkins this year.
Here is a previous post I did on sewing pumpkins http://homeliving.blogspot.com/2010/10/simple-sewing-pretty-pumpkins.html
These two pink cloth pumpkins have stems made of rolled brown paper.
To tie the pumpkin into sections. Cut a long length string or crochet cotton and tie once, pulling it tightly across half the pumpkin. Then tie again the opposite way, repeating until there are 6 to 8 sections.
I wanted to show, above, the long stitches for gathering.
And here is a post with a pattern for a paper pumpkin which also shows how to make cloth pumpkins and card http://homeliving.blogspot.com/2010/10/autumn-paper-crafts.html
This candelabra came from Home Interiors about 30 years ago and over the years has been painted different colors.
Reading the Letter
I also want to share a few of my favorite pictures from the September 1993 Victoria magazine.
Also, I went to Dollar Tree and bought this woven tapestry placemat because I wanted to try it out at home and see if I liked it well enough to get more. It only cost a dollar, so if I decide that it isn't for me, I will use it as a runner for the top of an end table or something else. There were several other colors and prints to choose from at Dollar Tree.
The last of the summer flowers, still growing in these old boots.
The Morning Room, by Jan Frederick Portielje, Belgium, 1829-1908
These cotton socks for ladies and girls are easy to make. All you need is cotton socks in your size with a fold over cuff, and some flat lace. It takes one yard of flat lace for a pair of socks.
On the sewing machine, with a regular needle and stitch, stretch the cuff of the sock, as you sew the flat lace on it. A small zig-zag stitch works well.
Begin sewing at the back of the sock and sew around . Then stitch the edges of the lace together.
The socks shown above, were tinted with Rit Dye. Some laces will not take dye. Try a cotton eyelet flat lace if you want it to be dyed the same as the socks. Flat lace is best to use, since the lace will ruffle automatically once sewn on a stretch sock. If you use ruffled lace, you might find it two ruffly. The cost of making these is about a dollar apiece, depending on how much your socks and lace cost.
Before I complete this part of the sewing series, I want to show some planning techniques for selecting clothing, even if you buy ready-made. You might sketch a garment or include the picture of the pattern you are going to use, on your scrapbook planning page. I have attached snips of fabrics and made notes about what the dress might be suitable for (travel, homemaking, church, etc).
click on for details
Take some time once a year to make a planning page like this(the spring is an ideal time to begin), and use a dark pencil or pen and your crayons, to illustrate your planning page. I have a deluxe box of crayons containing just about every color that you can get in crayons, and use them a lot.
You can also make a scrapbook page with a collection of clothes from catalogs and magazines, to give you ideas for sewing or selecting to wear. I hope you do not have a problem printing it out.
A collection of clippings for ideas in design and color.
On the planning sheet there is a clip of yellow and sage fabric similar to the dress and shawl worn by Molly on the way to her father's wedding. She also wore it while staying with the Miss Brownings. If you want to get a look at how calicos and cotton prints are used in every day dressing, look through Wives and Daughters films and notice Molly's clothing. There is a good screenshot of the bodice of this yellow dress with the shawl here http://enchantedserenityperiodfilms.blogspot.com/2008/02/wives-and-daughters-screencaps.html
This is a print of the Victorian Crazy Quilt, made into a skirt several years ago. "The Gypsy" clothing is somewhat similar to the colors in this fabric, as well as many beautiful floral paintings like the one above. The blue blouse on the right matched the blue background. The fabric store sold bolts in every single one of the fabrics represented in this print.
This is an example of how to piece your material if you come up short and do not want to go back to the store. You cannot tell in this picture, that the skirt has been pieced. The top of the skirt underneath the waistband has been pieced together, using scraps of fabric, to match the print exactly. With some small prints, you do not have to be precise if you piece it, as it will not show. However, with a larger print, you simply find a scrap that matches the piece you need to add something to, and sew it, right sides facing.
This is a closer view of the seam where the skirt was pieced. This skirt had two main pieces and was very easy to make. After adding pieces to lengthen your fabric, lay the pattern on top and cut as you would a whole piece of fabric. Some of the previous dresses I showed on this blog, were pieced on sleeves and hem areas when I wanted them longer, but you cannot tell it is there.
You can buy the matching fabrics and make a variety of dresses and little jackets or skirts and blouses that all co-ordinate. All cotton, this fabric is a joy to sew, because it is soft and the colors are so sweet and so reminiscent of the beauty of nature all around...
...like this profusion of color growing here, with the aqua sky in the background.
The fashion show has been moved ahead a few more months, but I will try to include photos of the garments then. Inbetween time, I will show some children's clothing. Someone asked me to do a sewing tutorial. That is being thought out also, as well as some pictures for the blog of how to sew a hair scrunchy or hair bow with a clip.
Even if women do not sew, there is a lot to be learned by looking around you and feeling the mood of the season or the time of day and choosing clothing that looks like nature or the beautiful things around us: a pretty house, a lovely object, or even a teacup, can be an idea for choosing clothing or sewing.
For an example of what I mean by getting ideas from beauty all around you, this Royal Albert tea set, called "Blossom Time"....
...looks like this fabric from Joanns.com. It is called Allover Floral by Leslie Beck for Springs Creative Products.
The "Corelle"(Corningwear) brand of glass, unbreakable dishes, has this pattern, called "Meadow", which also matches this fabric print, perfectly.
The dish set has been on sale for $19.00 for a set of four dinner plates, for dessert plates, four bowls and four large cups.
If you use your 40 percent coupon at Joanns, you can get an expensive fabric like this for three to four dollars a yard. I bought a fourth of a yard of it just to use as a napkin for that tea cup. So look around and see what you have in your home, or look outside at the sky and see the trees in bloom, and you will have a lot of ideas about finding clothes.
Here is another delightful piece from Joanns.com, which I have also seen in the store (and touched ;-) It is thicker than the previous piece, but it looks like a flowering tree in the spring, or a meadow that has just come alive with the color of wildflowers.
Psalm 90:17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
Check out other paintings by this 19th century artist, at allposters and other art sites online.
This red rose cotton print has the lovely light green or "sage" background that reflects the colors of the vegetable garden. The color bar on the edge of the fabric is great to use on a card in your purse, whether you are using it for home decor or clothing. Take it with you whe you want to match up your colors to other things. ( This is a "garden dress" which will be photographed later.) The print comes in other combinations, including a peach colored back ground with co-ordinating roses, a pink back ground and a beige back ground. Check it out at Joannes. It might be in the "Quilters Showcase" collection. The colors in this garment look a lot like the salad ingredients from the garden, so I call it "Salad Dressing."
A bountiful basket with a late crop of salad vegetables.
Even the red and green peppers (capsicum) are works of art.
From the lower end: parsley, green pepper, cucumber and tomato.
In regard to my previous article on overcoming discouragement, someone requested that I post a reminder about good nutrition and proper rest. I am glad to be reminded of this, because indeed, things usually seem bleaker as evening progresses, and problems loom larger. In the morning, people's burdens are lighter and the weight of the day is not upon them. If they do not get enough sleep throughout the week, life seems more discouraging. There is a saying that life is better after a good nap!
Food without additives, particularly sodiums, just make the mind clearer, and good pure water without additives, can make people think better. If you grow just one vegetable in a pot, you will notice the taste is different and it is loaded with the nutrients it is supposed to have. If you begin growing vegetables one at a time, you will not be overwhelmed with work, and it will help teach your children to grow food and be able to look after themselves. If you have no children, and grow something, even a potato or string beans, you can share it with others.
To make your own salad dressing, mash an avocado with a fresh tomato and add a crushed or shredded cucumber, and any seasonings you like, from your herb garden.
This is a new painting by Susan Rios and can be purchased online, called "The Ocean as Lace." There are a lot of other people who think in terms of fabric, when they look at the world around them. The foam on top of blue water, does look like lace.
"A Familiar Walk" is an older painting by Susan Rios. This blue dress is a perfect compliment to the surroundings, with the lace collar looking just like the ocean's white lacy foam on the blue water. The paintings can be viewed at Susan Rios Editions.
This is one of my winter dresses, made from a cotton that looks like linen. When a lace scarf or collar is added, it has a similar look to "The ocean as Lace". This soft cotton dress is one of the most comfortable things I have to wear when the weather is too cool for short sleeves. There are two shades of teal : one has a blue tone, and the other, a green tone. This one is blue.
These are the five dollar flats at WalMart that I will be buying for my modest fashion show. They look a lot like the shoes in the 18th century paintings of women, including one of the paintings included in this "Painting Inspired Clothing" series: Eugene De Blass paintings show similar shoes. If you want these shoes, you need to buy a half or whole size larger than your regular size.
Just buy 1/4 yard of lace fabric, to make a scarf. This really looks like the foam against the ocean, as in the Susan Rios painting I showed, above. Scarves provide a little more modesty, and I will try to also include a post on scarves as jewelry. I don't wear them at home, but they are a nice touch in the public, when you want a little more barrier between you and other people. Scarves are great if you do not have the time or money to invest in making new clothes, or buying new, modest clothes. Just use scarves over your other clothes, and make them more modest. That is one of the advantages of the Indian saree, which can wrap around the body and provide a little more coverage, without adding to heavy a layer of fabric. Scarves are also very, very feminine.
This picture just shows the added seashell buttons, making it a garment with a seaside theme.
This is the little triangle scarf I made that is sheer cotton, for a removeable collar. Similar ones can be seen on some of the paintings of the 18th and 19th centuries.
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