a couple things

Although most of my time has been spent working on house projects, I have worked on a couple things.

A scarf I started this time last year, but it got lost amongst the moving boxes for months, and another one that will hopefully be a Christmas gift;


an Alice in Wonderland costume, that I didn't get photos of; this one was for a pony club Halloween costume contest. Very little sewing, but a lot of imagination with two wonderful little girls;Most recently I've been working on my homemaking skills. They definitely need work. I'm trying to come to grips with not contributing 50% of the income. This is something that both my husband and I had talked about, and I thought I was going to like being a stay at home wife, at least part time. I'm having trouble feeling like I contribute enough. Mainly because when I go to work a couple hours at the farm in the morning, my husband cleans. He cleans much better than I do, and I feel quite guilty about not holding my own. I do the majority of the household shopping, and all the cooking and mending. I just really need to get on top of the cleaning aspect of it.
Baking isn't quite my thing yet. I can make cookies like no one's business, did a halfway decent cake for Peter's birthday back in may, and have okay pies...but bread scares me. I've never made an edible pizza crust, and my first pumpkin bread just plain didn't turn out. This is a crafty project I dreamed up, eventually it will be an advent calendar. I'll try to do a separate post on how to make the pieces. It's really turning out to be easy as pie

Best Wishes,
Jenny

updates to come

Hey all, working on the house and just being outside in this beautiful fall weather has kept me from blogging. Now that the weather is turning chilly I'm going to try to keep my blogs updated, starting tonight! After chores that is...anyway, keep your eyes peeled for some new topics!

when ponies attack

this morning, soon after I had arrived at the farm I work at I went out into one of the pastures to spread hay out. This pasture is full of broodmares, and a couple horses that don't fit into any other pasture arrangement. One of those is a little Shetland pony named Dillon.
Dillon is on a bit of a diet because he has chunked out over the summer. He gets tied up to a fence post and eats his special diet feed there, so he can't steal the mares special mommy food. Lately I've been the one tying Dillon up in the morning, and I'm guessing he was starting to resent me foiling his master plan.
Today they had all finished their grain and were milling around when we went out to spread the hay into a few different piles. I saw Dillon come trotting over and shooed him away with my hand. That is when things turned ugly! This sweet adorable looking pony lunged at me with his mouth open. I tried to jump back, but was too slow. The next thing I knew Dillon was 10 feet away with a piece of my new orange shirt hanging from his evil little mouth. My shoulder was throbbing, and we were all standing there saying, "holy cow! Did that just happen?"
Being that I was now indecently dressed, and my boss has 3 sons between the ages of 8 and 15 roaming the farm she quickly got me Tylenol, a first aid kit, and a new shirt. Here is the evidence that everything that looks cute and cuddly might not be, although the picture doesn't show anywhere close to the range of blues and purples I'm sporting right now.

I swear we didn't feed him after midnight!

shirting weight fabrics

Here is the first bunch of photos. These are all shirting weight cottons. If any of them scream "wrong century" please let me know!






Love,
Jenny

visit my new blog!

I've decided to make a separate blog for our restoration projects on our home. Visit it at: The house that Apollos Williams built I'm going to be posting some fabric later to get opinions on what is okay to use for 1860's clothing. I'd love input!
Love,
Jenny

we made it home

last night, and now all the washing, starching, and ironing is going on. I'm not in a mood for any of it! Just wanted to let you all know that the sew along challenge is still sort of happening. We all have lives that keep interfering, dang it! Two of us did finish work petticoats...and Katie even made an extra chemise and pair of drawers! Just wanted to mention that we didn't forget.
Love,
Jenny

I'm going to Boscobel!!!

The town of Boscobel, WI hosts the biggest event in midwest mainstream reenacting, and I'm leaving in just over an hour to go! We're flying in tonight to see family, and Peter works the state fair on Sunday. So I've been hurriedly sewing up a storm, I've lost weight, and didn't realize it until just a few days ago. None of my stuff fits anymore! I've altered my silk skirt and sheer waist. My sheer dress bodice is in my lap...it needs to be regathered and repiped. I also have a white sheer bodice to repipe and reattach to it's skirt. Oh and if I can remember, and have time, I really need to cut out a new chemise. I have to finish hand stitching eyelets into my swiss waist, hem a neckerchief, attach a waistband to my work petti and hem it, and finish up one little secret project. Then figure out how to pack it all into a carry on! I've used one space saver bag already. Well I have to run if I'm going to finish.
Toodles!