Midsummer Fun!

One of my favorite blogs is hosting a ModCloth giveaway. For all my historical fashion-inclined friends, I hope you will take a look at some of Kellie's stylish creations and be inspired! Also from  Accordion to Kellie, a little midsummer fun:

What is your favorite cold summer treat?

I ADORE raspberry chocolate-chip ice cream. Perfect combination of cold, tart, and sweet.

Ideal summer vacation?

If I had the opportunity, I would spend the entire summer on an island in Maine. But the ultimate vacation would be a trip to Prince Edward Island. One of my life ambitions is to live by the sea.

 

Favorite summertime sport?

To be honest, I love wading in rivers and ponds. It seems very childish, but I always find the most interesting treasures.

 

Name your favorite book for the perfect summer afternoon read

 Anything involving historical fiction, romance, or farm adventures.

Current #1 summer goal:

Enjoy my last year as a summer camp counselor and try to stay positive!

 

A favorite summertime memory

A few years ago, I was invited to spend a week with some family friends on their favorite island in Maine. I have to admit that it was one of the most wonderful, relaxing, and thrilling weeks of my life.

Vintage Find of the Month

Found this lovely 1950's oriental-style dress at a yard sale for $5! Not a great photo of me, but contrary to what the photo shows, the dress is very flattering in both style and color.

A Quick Check-in

Wow. Life seems to be going a mile a minute this year, and I've hardly had time to finish assignments, sleep, or keep up with friends and family let alone have time for my projects and blogging!

Thankfully my life has been well-documented in the past two months, so I'll show the pictures and you can guess what I've actually been up to!

Fashions of Summer

Go-Go Girl!

Just had to share my new project-- a polka dot shirt made from a 1960's Simplicity pattern. Of course, once it was finished, I had to model it with my pedal pushers, big earrings, and lipstick!

New Dresses!

Last week I experienced the wonderful holiday known to most college students as Spring Break. But instead of spending the days lounging on the sunny beaches of Cancun, I stayed put in New Hampshire and went home to 3 feet of snow still on the ground.

As much as I would have enjoyed the sun and sands, I spent my time engaged in classic New England winter activities such as sewing, baking, snowshoeing, and starting seeds for the garden. My latest sewing projects were a Regency-style dress for an event at school, a new swing dancing dress, and crinolines. With so much to do, it gave me a great excuse to get acquainted with my new sewing machine!

My Regency dress was a bit of a challenge (it took about 2 days to finish) because I created the dress design from a 1795 fashion plate and used the dimensions of a circa 1800 shift as the basic pattern from which to work. I wish I had been able to make a kerchief and cap to go with it, but I realized that not everyone cared about historical accuracy as much as me, and anyway, I didn't have any more white linen.

As for the new swing dancing dress, I am exceedingly proud of it. Two of my dear school friends (who are also history majors and swing dancers) recently bought vintage patterns from the 1940's to make new dresses. When they showed me the patterns, I couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be if we all had 40's dresses. Alas, I didn't have enough money to buy a vintage pattern or enough time to create my own from scratch, so I compromised and bought a reproduction pattern made by Simplicity. The pattern was originally from 1950, and I used forest-green brushed silk with a silver nylon lining. Not a complicated pattern, but lots of steps!

I'm so excited to wear my new dresses!

A Young Princess Di

These photos were taken by my dear Daddie at my sister's 18th birthday party. The theme of the party was "The Roaring Twenties" so I did my research on early 1920's hairstyles and dresses. This was the resulting ensemble.

Because my hair is naturally curly, I tamed the curls in the front with rag curls a few hours before the party, and the rest was pinned back in a loose updo. The purse that is barely visible in my lap was my great-grandmother, Evelyne Marie O'Callaghan Betzig's, during the twenties.

My aunt recently told me that I remind her of a young Princess Diana in these photos. I don't know if that is true, but I feel flattered nonetheless!