There Is Beautiful

NaNoWriMo

2011-11-19T21:56:00.000-06:00

I am currently 41,400 words into writing a story that includes floors like these.

The Bicycle Holiday

2011-08-20T22:54:00.002-05:00

Spinning

2011-08-13T22:29:00.003-05:00

Harry, another day we will feel better about this
And we'll go through yellow yards, to the library lions
closing our eyes, spinning in autumn.

Harry, another day we will feel better about things.
And we'll dance through yellow yards, like a dress on the line,
closing our eyes, losing this:

I know nothing about so many, too many things,
I see I have come to the wall, come to the ending of me again.

I don't know. I...no.
What are you saying? Why don't you just-
Isn't this, isn't this funny Harry? All of this:

I know nothing about so many, too many things;
I see I've come to the wall -

I'm turning around now
I'm spinning around now

- THE INNOCENCE MISSION

Le Petit Prince

2011-06-17T14:22:00.001-05:00

Under a new moon
Suspended in flight
I heard laughter
Clear and bright
Black canvas above
Speckled with starlight
Made me remember
That long ago night

I'm a man with a youngish soul
And the grown-ups never know
That the things you never see
Are more important than
This world they take so seriously

So I lived all alone
With no one to speak
To until the great smash
Where you found me and asked
Please, draw me a sheep

Though you wouldn't hear me
You have tamed me
Made me ever haunted
By the sheep's small muzzle
And the flower's fate

Whether skies are clear
Or flying stormy
There's one star
In the world for me

Move your chair over
Watch another sunset
From here I see you
Clearly with my heart

E.G.K. | 2011

The Fruit of my Labors

2011-05-19T15:46:00.004-05:00

Djaq did the cover.

Mel did the Lovely Illustration. (Not to be confused with the other one.)

I did the middle part. (This is where Aunt Mel shows up. So Mel inspired that, too.)

I'm pleased.

G.K.Chesterton on Libraries

2011-05-13T14:03:00.003-05:00

The room was comfortably lined with books in that rich and human way that makes the walls seem alive; it was a deep and full, but slovenly, bookcase, of the sort that is contsatly ransacked for the purpose of reading in bed.

From Manalive!

A Week

2011-04-04T15:17:00.008-05:00

This is a set of cards I drew recently to post in my Etsy shop. They make me so happy, I wanted to share some more of the pictures I took with anyone who happens to stop by. :)

Family Culture

2011-03-03T16:34:00.000-06:00

The girls at church were talking about siblings. We talked about how growing up in families, we don't know how to interact with people. For one, because whenever we go in public, we shadow our siblings, depend on (and annoy) each other, and never stand out on our own because we never have to. So we don't really know how to be autonomous people.

Then one friend began talking about something that set me thinking. She said how in her family, they tease each other a lot. And she didn't realize that not everyone is like her family. So you end up hurting people. You don't realize that you can't treat other people the way you treat your family. Because they grew up in different homes, and don't know how to deal with what your family understands. Each family has its own culture.

With my family, we don't tease each other that much. With us, we are always in this unknowingly intense pursuit of understanding and knowledge. So when we are having a conversation, as soon as we understand (or think we understand) what a person is saying, we cut them off and begin on the next step of the conversation, in pursuit of the end. This is especially strong in me, because I like to know much more than I like finding out. I like it when things are explained quickly. I don't like to wait. Interruption means nothing rude (well. . . most of the time) in our family. We understand that it means we are understood, and the other person is eager to reply to us.

Well, interrupting isn't an exactly socially acceptable practice. I caught myself doing it a few times, and thought, "oh, people don't understand what this means. I actually have to wait and let them finish their sentence." This past year, as I have been spending more time with other people's families, I have been noticing that families are not like the rest of the world. Each one has a subtly different culture. It's been kind of exciting, trying to figure out what it is that is important here, what can be done and what can't. Though mostly it's frightening. Because I'm going to mess up.

But families have cultures of their own. Maybe one thing, like jokes or interruptions, setting them apart from everyone else. Or maybe it is a good thing, like one set of manners held in high importance, that gets ignored by the rest of the world. And we children have to find out what it is that we can only do with our families and where we have to change. Or, where we have to change the world.

A Bit of the Christmas Ball

2011-01-03T15:43:00.003-06:00

I believe a good time was had by all. :)

We had the loveliest building ever, and Christian decorated it magnificently. There was lots of delicious and pretty food. Everyone came in their beautiful clothes and very best manners, and we danced five classic Regency dances.

This dance is called The Progressive Gordon.

The Books of 2010

2011-01-01T15:45:00.004-06:00

Not that anyone particularly needs to know, but I love lists as much as I love books, so why not?

End the Fed
Jeeves and the Tie That Binds
The Theif
The Queen of Attolia
The King of Attolia
Whose Body?
Tuesdays with Morrie
Churched
The Man Who Was Thursday

Alex and Me
Crime & Punishment

Jane of Lantern Hill
Wuthering Heights
Locked Rooms and Open Doors
That Hideous Strength
A Conspiracy of Kings

Castle in the Air
Blink
Among the Shadows
The Doctor's Sweetheart & Other Stories
The Life of Henry the Fifth

The Innocence of Father Brown
The Wisdom of of Father Brown
Gifts Differing
The Incredulity of Father Brown
The Secret of Father Brown
The Wisconsin Story
The Scandal of Father Brown
The Great Divorce

The Princess and The Goblin
Our Mutual Friend
Do Hard Things
Start Here
Persuasion
The Tipping Point
Stepping Heavenward
Instead of Three Wishes
The Secret Adversary
Inferno

Princess Ka'iulani
The Little Prince
The Amazing D. Randall MacRae
House of Many Ways
Villette
How Many Hills to Hillsboro?
As You Like It
The Master of Ballantrae
Beauty

Gathering Blue
Don't Waste Your Life
1066 and All That
Partners in Crime
The Untold Story of the New Testament Church
The Merchant of Venice
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
The Screwtape Letters

And Then There Were None
Prince of Foxes
The Great Gatsby
Much Ado About Nothing
A Severe Mercy
Great Expectations

Quo Vadis?
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Flower and The Nettle
Purgatorio

An English Woman's Love Letters
Pride & Prejudice

Ordeal by Innocence
Hearts & Masks
The Princess Elopes
The Bronze Bow
Daddy Long Legs
Rebecca
Ladycake Farm
The Woman in White
The Wasteland, Prufrock, & Other Poems
The Flying Inn
The Tempest

(Most pictures found at book lovers never go to bed alone.)

Happy Christmas!

2010-12-25T00:28:00.002-06:00

Children of wrath with
A reprobate mind
Service of pleasure
Was all you could find
Without were fighting
And within were fears
Nothing but darkness
Hatred, malice, tears
Envy, spite, and pride
Sin reigned: but we died

The heart of God yearned
With goodwill to man
Offering peace on earth
In His out-stretched hands

Then a child was born
Who's like unto Thee
Dispersing darkness
Yet like unto me
He who knew no sin
Was made sin for us
The Sacrifice that
Rose victorious
Mortality and strife
Are swallowed in Life

The heart of God yearns
With goodwill to man
He gave peace on earth
By His pierced hands

We who were far off
Through Christ are made near
Seeking not our own
We hold Jesus dear
Unsearchable riches
Abundant mercy
Given the Son of God
To praise eternally
For the darkness is past
True Light shines at last

Come, heavy laden
He will give you rest
And learn of Him for
His burden is blessed
He is truth and love
He is meek and lowly
Come, you broken ones
He will make you whole

E.G.K. | 2010

Wisdom

2010-11-22T22:10:00.006-06:00

"Everyone should be able to do one card trick,

tell two jokes,

and recite three poems, in case they are ever trapped in an elevator."

— Lemony Snicket (Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid)

Because in my present state of 1000 words from 50,000, but only 22/30 from the end of my book, I am desperate for brilliant distraction.

Encouragement

2010-10-01T14:17:00.001-05:00

Isaiah 58

Seamstress

2010-09-14T14:25:00.015-05:00

Gwyned

Quinn

Amelia

Aubrey

Jocelyn

Reeve

Christian's Hat

Doris

Darcy

Starboard

This is what I have been working on for the past year. Gwyned and Amelia were made with regular purchased patterns. Quinn was made with Grosgrain's Frock by Friday in May. For everything else, I either tweaked a pattern (Aubrey), designed with the help of patterns (Jocelyn. Jocelyn, Aubrey, & Gwyned are all from the same pattern), or from pictures (Reeve, Christian's Hat and Jocelyn), or designed completely (Starboard, Doris, Darcy).

I like this designing thing. :)

What do you think I should do with it? I would like to create purses to sell on Etsy, and maybe aprons and baby clothes. And of course, if anyone should like to order something... :)

"It is Truly Useful Since It is Beautiful."

2010-07-02T17:26:00.003-05:00

The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint Exupéry

The Book

2010-06-22T15:45:00.009-05:00

Can you believe it?! I'm not sure I can. :)

But yes, I have a real live copy of a(n albeit cheesy) book I wrote!

Those folks who participate in NaNoWriMo and complete the 50,000 word goal are given a free proof copy of their book. That's how I got this.

The book would need major over-hauling if I really wanted to get it published (which I don't), but it's lovely to have a tangible proof of all the work I put into the story last November.

Many thanks to Djaq for the beautiful cover she made for me!!!

(Josiah read the book, and told me about all of the times I accidentally repeated words or skipped them or misspelled them. My mother was horrified.)

Bicycle

2010-06-16T11:09:00.007-05:00

Found on A Cup of Jo

My "new" and beautiful bicycle. I've been riding a couple times a week, and it's such fun!

She's in need of a name. What would you suggest?

My Style of Geography

2010-06-09T10:18:00.003-05:00

A friend and I were thinking about where states were in relationship to each other. So I tried my hand at making a map of the United States.

My apologies to the East, the South, the South West, the plain and mountain lands, Canada, and everybody from Arkansas.

A Lovely Day for a Picnic

2010-06-04T19:19:00.009-05:00

In honor of my dear friends Christian and Sara's birthdays, spring, and friendship, I gave a picnic.

I am quite sure I had more fun planning it than they did at the picnic.

The menu consisted of:

Cold Spinach Quiche with Fresh Tomatoes
Cheese Ball Spread on French Bread with Fresh Cucumbers
Strawberries
Carob Cupcakes with Butter Frosting
Snickerdoodle Croissant Cookies
Iced Sweetened Mint Tea

I made bunting. I think I'm going to hang it up in my room, now. If I can ever untangle it from the snarl it got into as we quickly took it down before the rain. :)

As I was making the food, I kept saying to my brothers, "Oh, this is so cute! Isn't it?"

They didn't really get it.

I was frightened it would rain, but it was beautiful, beautiful. Everything was so perfect and lovely. All of the dishes were real and beautiful, and they made me feel so elegant. And that little picnic hamper makes me feel like I have a yellow bicycle (which I do, now!!!) and live in England.

It was the perfect picnic.

(And that is my Frock by Friday frock. I want to do some alterations yet, though.)

Seamstress

2010-05-27T10:03:00.002-05:00

Making a dress with Grosgrain's lovely Frock by Friday!

Books

2010-03-19T16:17:00.001-05:00

I just finished up Wuthering Heights, and am now debating between Our Mutual Friend and That Hideous Strength. Which to read first? Also, greatly enjoying Happy Days.

Conspiracy of Kings is arriving in a few days!!!

Shabby Apple San Gabriel Giveaway!

2010-03-15T16:41:00.003-05:00

Shabby Apple's San Gabriel Dress

At Grosgrain. From Shabby Apple.

Only the Best of Etsy Sample Package Giveaway!

2010-02-09T18:57:00.001-06:00

A box of surprises being given away at Grosgrain!

It sounds delightful, so go over and read the post and enter!

Cherry Pop Refashion Frock Grosgrain Giveaway!

2010-02-09T18:52:00.004-06:00

An oh-so-pretty dress, refashioned from a really ugly one! This is just the sort of thing I would like to do, but my machine is broken... *tears of anguish*

So Pretty

2010-01-27T18:48:00.000-06:00

If You Kind of Squint a Little

2010-01-08T00:23:00.003-06:00

This painting looks like me. A little bit? More than anything else I have ever seen, at least.

Wojciech Korneli Stattler by Wojciech Korneli Stattler, I guess.

Lovely Package II

2010-01-05T13:21:00.018-06:00

Here are the pictures of the second lovely package that I got way back in August, and never posted. :)

Clever and beautiful packaging...

Yummy candy from all over the world! The Belgian Earl Grey Dark Chocolate is seriously the best I have had in my entire life.

Adorable paper things! Printed with gocco.

Little notecards. Almost too cute to use, don't you think? And the envelopes are lined with graph paper! *melts*

A little print of "Little Oso." I'm presently very interested in the constellations, so this makes me happy!

A train pencil. Isn't that perfect?!

Beautiful and happy! Thank you, Nicole and Jason!

The Books of 2009

2010-01-04T14:57:00.010-06:00

The Thief
Anna and the King of Siam
Blessed Child
Manalive
The Silent Boy
Electric Dreams
The Silver Chalice
This One Mad Act
When A Man's A Man
Jane of Lantern Hill
Fairest
Pat of Silver Bush
Anthem
Mistress Pat
Born Again

A Week in Killarny
The Prisoner of Zenda
The Amazing D. Randall MacRae
Reimagining Church
The Blue Castle
The Valley of Fear
On Friendship
A Tangled Web
The Queen of Attolia
The King of Attolia
Oliver Twist
Hard Times
Kipling's Poems
No Compromise
The Penultimate Peril
The Giver
The End
Out of the Silent Planet
Emma
Outliers

Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal
David Copperfield
Bring Me A Unicorn
Hour of Gold, Hour of Lead
Perelandra
Three Men in a Boat
The Great War
The Story of My Life
Daddy Long Legs
Boy
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Dear Enemy
Manalive
The Lilies of the Field
Anne of Avonlea
Thirty Years With the South Sea Cannibals
Mrs. Miniver
Personality Type
The Persecutor
N or M?
Ella Enchanted

Northanger Abbey
Gratefully Yours
Murder on the Orient Express
Howl's Moving Castle
Pagan Christianity
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoners Dilemma
Jane Eyre
Jingo Django
The Lightning Conductor
Mustang Wild Spirit of the West

Somewhere in England

2009-12-09T21:41:00.000-06:00

Read It!

2009-12-08T18:06:00.000-06:00

Just Ignore Me, 'Kay?

2009-12-07T18:01:00.003-06:00

An Excerpt from My Novel

2009-11-28T09:49:00.000-06:00

"Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night," Theo said dreamily, going about putting things in cupboards, as Jane and I washed the dinner dishes;
Sailed off in a wooden shoe, —
Sailed on a river of crystal light
Into a sea of dew."
"We should use this jug more often," Jane said, submerging it in the suds. It was fat and cream colored, with little pink rosebuds painted all along the inside rim, and one deep red one right on the spout. "It's so pretty."
"Did Mrs. P. give that to you?" I asked.
Theo said:
"'Where are you going, and what do you wish?'
The old moon asked the three."
"No. It was mother's," Jane said, "and Mrs. P. kept it for me. I don't think either of us remembered it until we moved to Wythe."
"It's sweet."
Theo said:
"'We have come to fish for the herring-fish
That live in this beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we,'"
"If I was a burglar," I said, "I wouldn't break into banks or people's houses to steal money or valuables. I would break into people's houses to steal little jugs like that one, and photographs of people's grandparents, and baby prams."
Theo said:
"Said Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod."

Another Giveaway!

2009-11-28T09:41:00.004-06:00

at Grosgrain.

This time, for an adorable Etsy jewelry shop.

(At first, the perfection of this model's skin really creeped me out. Then I realized, it only was a model.)

A Giveaway!

2009-11-26T10:49:00.001-06:00

At Grosgrain for a gift certificate

To a sweet Etsy shop!

How I Met C. S. Lewis

2009-11-18T21:40:00.001-06:00

I was learning to read. I had learned my alphabet. I had gotten past the part of the book where I recognized and named sequences of letters. hhh aaa ttt hat ath tha tah. Stuff like that. And now I was putting the sounds together. A-X. Ax! And! Ab! Learning to read was fun! I was excited. I had yet to reach the point where, when my parents would tell me it was time for a reading lesson, I would complain and desire to be somewhere else, out of my parents' grasp. Therefore, I also had yet to reach the point where I was curled up on the couch reading Laura Ingalls Wilder. And yet to reach the point where I'll be in my room, reading L.M.Montgomery. Or Dickens. Or Austen. (Reading is fun.) I had passed the first few lessons, and had begun to understand the concept of how to read the English language.

My wiser, older, understanding brother, two years my elder, saw and understood. It was time. He took me to the bookshelf at the end of the hall.

"It's time for you to read "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe!" he said, or something to that effect. Excitedly, too, and zealously, I'd imagine, though I can't remember exactly. He then handed me our paperback copy, with Pauline Baynes' illustrations, and left me alone. I sat down there at the end of the hall, and began. I liked the picture. I read and I read.

A half hour later, and I turned the first page. Then, I gave up.

"It's too hard! It's really boring! I don't know what these words mean! I will not read this, Mark!"

And I didn't pick it up again. Until much later. Much, much later. And then I enjoyed it immeasurably.

So that's my introduction to C.S.Lewis.

Another Kilmeny

2009-11-05T19:31:00.001-06:00

Kilmeny, Kilmeny, where have you been?

2009-10-13T22:35:00.002-05:00

On my bookshelf. And looking up with a most lovely grace.

Enter my favorite name.

In Case You Wanted to Know

2009-10-06T16:55:00.002-05:00

This is where I want to live. Because it's perfect, and if I live there, I can throw out/sell on ebay/therefore replace the weirdo chair on the left, the lamp, the shoe, the wall art, and the rug that the dog chewed on. Because I love this place.

Bright and Happy Aprons!

2009-09-24T18:29:00.001-05:00

Another giveaway at Grosgrain for a gift certificate for Cocoa Dreams!

Beautiful Silver Jewelry

2009-09-24T18:25:00.001-05:00

A giveaway for a gift certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs at Grosgrain!

Bibliophile

2009-09-22T22:10:00.002-05:00

I'm one, anyway. But not a Bibliomaniac. Yet.

(As proved by the great fun I get out of choosing the books to buy with my Amazon gift card. ;) Manalive! came today, and there's about 7 or 8 more soon to come. Yay!

Baby Boat

2009-09-19T14:12:00.003-05:00

My very favorite, very dear, and rather rare children's book, is now mine! :D

Lovely Package I

2009-09-17T16:06:00.013-05:00

A few weeks ago, I came home one afternoon, and found this:

Having signed up for a lovely package exchange a few weeks before, I wasn't surprised, but very excited and delighted!

I was very much put to shame by the cleverness of the decorating on the box! Mine was not pretty. :)

Inside...

Isn't it sweet?

First, some elegant and vintage and fun (exactly to my taste!) little pockets.

Can you see the faces?

Underneath the flowers was an adorable cigar box! I love little boxes.

It was full of origami balloons and swans (I love origami, too!), and a vintage spool of thread, heart shaped box of bling, and a beautifully decorated clothespin.

The pin is made with real feathers, painted to look like little butterflies!

Labeled "For your little things." The pouch is about three inches wide, and has my initial on it. :)

And inside the little pouch was this:

Last, but most certainly not least:

Self explanatory and adorable. :)

Didn't Sara and Ben send me a splendid package?!

These United Steaks

2009-09-11T19:13:00.002-05:00

Found at a website linked from a website linked from wide open spaces. :)

Darcy

2009-08-15T20:28:00.003-05:00

I love it when people name things, so I have decided to name the things I sew.

This is Darcy, made from some lovely fabric I got at a garage sail for pretty much nothing. (I won't tell you how little, so as not to make you jealous.) I designed the pattern myself, taking my inspiration from the trend in purses, and more specifically from purses on Etsy.

She's fully lined, with lots of messy topstitching. And I love her. ;)

Vote!

2009-07-30T15:28:00.001-05:00

On the dress contest at Christa Taylor!

For Lunch

2009-07-24T10:54:00.002-05:00

I made Pita Bread. I was surprised at how easy it was. And everyone liked it. :)
But mine didn't quite look like these. We use whole wheat flour. Some were darker and some were much darker.

Edited.

2009-07-20T15:18:00.001-05:00

This is Jane.

This is Betsie. I just decided.

By Jane Austen

2009-07-18T22:36:00.001-05:00

Oh, my. I love Emma.

Musette Bracelet Giveaway at Grosgrain

2009-07-10T21:27:00.002-05:00

Musette Bracelet GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

In Appreciation

2009-07-06T19:19:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Simply Vintage Girl for the lovely current header!

Creative

2009-06-25T21:03:00.003-05:00

I got this skirt at a thrift store (during a bag sale: I wasn't allowed to leave until my bag was full, and there wasn't much there!), and it was a little too long. I knew I'd never be happy with it. So I trimmed the waistband off, and put in elastic (like they did here). Now I'm excited to wear it!

I just finished another skirt today. I'll post pictures once I've taken them. :)

Excited

2009-06-24T12:44:00.003-05:00

I really enjoyed Hard Times. I am really excited that I read it during the busiest week and a half of the year, and only took a week and a half. Me, who took nearly a year to read another book by Dickens. I'm excited, because if it only took a week and a half for this, might it not take less time to read each of the others on my list?

Summer Reading

2009-06-13T12:57:00.007-05:00

A couple of girls have posted a list of their intended summer reading on their blogs, and are encouraging others to do the same. Since I love books and lists, the idea highly appeals to me. I kind of doubt that I'll even get through half of them, and I know it's not as an aspiring list as some, but I think it's a list of all the books that I've been wanting to read for a long time, and haven't gotten up the nerve to read, or just have been putting off.

Fiction
*Emma, by Jane Austen
Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen
Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy
Crime and Punishment, by Feodor Dostoevsky
*Hard Times, by Charles Dickens
*David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens
The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien
Quo Vadis? by Henryk Sienkiewicz
Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan
Paradise Lost & Paradise Found, by John Milton
The Divine Comedy, by Dante Alighieri
Prince of Foxes, by Samuel Shellabarger
The Master of Ballantrae, by Robert Louis Stevenson
The House of Seven Gables, by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, by Victor Hugo
*The Giver, by Lois Lowry

Nonfiction
So Much More, Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin
Surprised by Joy, by C.S. Lewis
Pagan Christianity, by Frank Viola and George Barna
Always Ready, by Greg Bahnsen

Life is Wonderful!

2009-06-10T16:45:00.010-05:00

Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

I have found a song that I think is my favorite. Life is Wonderful by Jason Mraz. I don't think I ever really had a favorite song before, and I'm not sure if I do now. But I listened to it four times in a row as soon as my friend told me about it. Then I listened to it four times in a row yesterday. And I listened to it three times in a row today, and I want to go listen to it again.

I'm reading Oliver Twist. I've been reading Oliver Twist for about the past year. But now I really am. I'm into it. I'm loving it. Dickens is really fascinating if you remember you are reading Dickens. I love that the movie was different from the book. Usually I hate that, and usually I read the book first. But this time, I watched the movie before I got half way through, and I love that I don't know what is going to happen next, because they cut this part of the book out of Oliver!

We leave this weekend for a long trip to Tennessee to see relatives and South Carolina for the NCFCA National Tournament, which my brothers qualified for. I'm really excited. I'll also be gone for a while. When I come back, I'll be done reading Oliver Twist. When I come back, I'll have listened to "Life is Wonderful" 13, 487, 904 times.

I am newly in love with yellow.

Excepting the first two pictures, which were found on the internet and my windowsill, respectively, these pictures were taken from my Oliver Twist which I purchased at an antique shop a few years ago. Title pages aren't what they used to be. Is a four-leafed clover still lucky if you find it an hundred years after it was picked? Who is the Thorke Thimble Club? And what costs $3.00?

Life is wonderful! Wheeeeeeee!

Geography

2009-06-05T15:41:00.001-05:00

Is a wonderful thing.

Dickens

2009-06-05T15:39:00.001-05:00

Living Sunshine

2009-06-05T15:32:00.004-05:00

Shabby Apple Giveaway!

2009-06-05T15:25:00.002-05:00

Marseilles Dress SHABBY APPLE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!
At Grosgrain.

Amazing Giveaway at an Amazing Blog!

2009-06-05T15:19:00.001-05:00

Here at ohhellofriend.

Climb Every Mountain

2009-06-04T10:54:00.001-05:00

Something Old

2009-06-02T17:59:00.002-05:00

The handkerchief of my Great-Great-Aunt Grace, who happens to have unwittingly lent me her name. She was a girl in the 1920s. I am delighted to have this little bit of her's for my hoped for "Something Old" when it comes to old, new, borrowed and blue.

Inspired

2009-06-02T17:57:00.001-05:00

Impatient

2009-05-18T21:03:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow is Cast into the Oven

2009-05-16T12:16:00.002-05:00

See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 6:28-30

Vintage Inspired Sundress GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-05-14T22:12:00.000-05:00

Over at Grosgrain there is a giveaway for this pretty retro dress!

Loose Teeth Vintage Inspired Sundress with Petticoat GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

I think it would be really sweet with a little shrug or sweater. :)

Ellen

2009-05-14T22:10:00.000-05:00

Up a Tree. Don't Ask How Far.

2009-05-14T21:56:00.000-05:00

Sketches of a Home

2009-05-12T19:40:00.000-05:00

The Fairies

2009-05-12T11:01:00.000-05:00

On the Bird Board Walk

2009-05-11T20:24:00.001-05:00

Banish the Bronze, Burn the Blue, and Bury the Beige!

2009-03-21T12:19:00.003-05:00

I haven't actually seen Funny Face, but I love Audrey Hepburn, and I love this rhyme!

The Sabrina Dress

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-10T21:06:00.002-06:00

Here's a bit of St. Valentine lore (from Amanda Beth's blog), and I found it fascinating and sweet. :)

One popular legend is that Valentine was a priest who lived in Rome during the 3rd century. The emperor of the time, Claudius II, theorized that single men, who were not attached to a wife or family would serve better in war, because they would not be concerned about living simply to return to their families...so, he outlawed marriage for young men. But it is said that Valentine still performed marriage ceremonies for the young men in secret, and when Claudius discovered this, he ordered that Valentine be killed.

Another legend says that Valentine was a Christian and was persecuted; being interrogated by Claudius II himself. Claudius formed a liking for Valentine, and attempted to convert him to Roman paganism so that he would be allowed to live. Valentine would not convert and, instead, tried to convert the emperor to Christianity. This did not go over well, and he was sent away to be executed.

There is an ending to these legends that seems pretty much the same for both. That is, when Valentine was imprisoned, he befriended the blind daughter of the jailer. It is said that, by a miracle of God through Valentine, the girl was healed, and her sight was restored to her...and on the evening before Valentine was executed, he wrote her a letter (that she was now able to read) which he signed, "From your Valentine".

Which leads me to the reason for this post, which is that Christa Taylo r is having free shipping for the rest of this week!

Jean Skirts Can Be Cute

2009-01-20T12:50:00.002-06:00

Two adorable new skirts at Christa Taylor!

Long, modest, and adorable! My mom wants me to get another one like my Ever-Present. I really like these!

Thank You Benefactors

2009-01-16T19:48:00.003-06:00

I feel a little 1940ish in this skirt. I remind myself of Elvis when I turn up the collar. Don't ask why. My shoes take me back to the 1920s. And my necklace reminds me of my bestest friend. All this added together equals a outfit (okay, I really don't like that word. Substitutes, anyone?) that I can't help liking.

Jacket: Hand-Me-Down
Blouse: Thrifted
Locket: Gift
Skirt: Hand-Me-Down
Shoes: Payless Shoes
Tights: Walmart
Sunglasses: equivalent of a dollar store

Cheap I am.

Trying to be cool.

Fail.

I've been thinking... This skirt is really washed out, and I don't look good in blue. Should I dye it? I was thinking something like brown. Anyone had any experience with dyeing faded clothes? I love the skirt's make, but it's starting to not look presentable.

I Like.

2009-01-14T22:49:00.002-06:00

Brown corduroy jacket, white with blue striped blouse, jean skirt, boots, and a leather purse. I got the jacket and blouse at thrift stores, the skirt from Catos, the boots were hand-me-down, and the purse from... Pamida, I think. :) Cute, modest, affordable, and so much fun to wear!

Sorry for the poor photo quality!

School Girl

2009-01-13T23:51:00.013-06:00

There are a lot of things I love about this outfit, and a few things I don't really like.

Negative first, of course!

a. The sweater's polyester. I do not like polyester. It's also a little thin...

b. The skirt is a little too short to look good with the top. It goes past the knee, but the cream and the beige are of pretty equal parts, and the skirt is A-line, so it creates an illusion (I hope!) of width, instead of height. I think my ideal skirt for this outfit, would be a pencil skirt of the same color, and about four inches longer.

Positive:

a. My complexion is Autumn, and some of my best colors are brown and cream.

b. I love the retro style of the sweater-blouse-skirt combination and the shoes!

c. I got the whole outfit for only a few dollars!

Cream Sweater: Walmart (clearance!)
Brown Blouse: Catos (clearance!)
Beige Skirt: Goodwill, brand-new from Target,
with the original price tag still on. 1/9th of the price!
Brown Tights: Walmart
Shoes: Payless Shoes
Book: Their Yesterdays, by Harold Bell Wright

Overalls

2009-01-13T12:54:00.004-06:00

Cute, huh?

I love old pictures, people, and history, so Shorpy is one of my favorite websites. The comments are always funny, interesting, and informational. The pictures are always of incredible quality, as big as the computer screen. It's really easy to spend a lot of time just browsing, looking at the pictures, noticing the details, wondering about how a why... My favorite part is the clothing. To see how fashions change, how some people had their own sense of style, how some did what was popular at the time, but really didn't know how to dress. Some things don't change. :) I love the styles of the past two centuries. My favorite part is how much more professionally the men dressed. Suits, come back! I love these overalls. Wouldn't seeing these just make your day a little brighter? :)

For Lydia

2009-01-12T20:52:00.000-06:00

So I enter the blogging world. For my friend. Whom I befriended and was befriended by because a NCFCA qualifier can be a big, lonely place. We hit it right off, and walked about ten miles and talked straight for about four (right?) hours.

Lydia has a blog. I know all about her because she has one. (And her sisters have them.) Lydia doesn't know all about me, because I don't have a blog. I don't think that's fair. So welcome to my little world.

I've thought about getting a blog for a long time. What I'll write, who knows? This is just for Lydia, so she's the only one who's obligated to read it. :)

My blog name comes from the book How Green Was My Valley. It was a line the mother - a good, motherly, beautiful mother - would say.I love that book because of the emotions, passions, and reality of the writing. I love books for their feelings.

So, Lydia, here I am!