Summer has been a very busy time and I have had little time to post the thoughts and ideas I had planned to put in  this time of year.  I will do some catching up in the near future, Lord willing.

I do want to mention an article from a blog I thought interesting and very succinctly put.  You can find it here:http://wwnh.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/1382-old-school-female-strategy/

Great Summer Reading

I was gone for 3 weeks this summer to help my daughter-in-law after she had her latest blessing--a boy-- which makes it number seven in their busy family. During the time when all were in bed and I had a few moments, I started my latest purchase, The Beauty of Modesty by David Vaughan and Diane Vaughan.  I found it to be very thorough and  thought-provoking.  I will add more comments later, but I do want to encourage you to check this one out as soon as you are able unless you have already read it and would like to add your comments. This has been on the market since 2005.

How about a "Pretty Dress Day" Challenge?

                                               Women Walking on the Beach
                                                Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida

I have noticed that a lot of housewives, homemakers, and women in general wear very casual outfits when they shop in town. Even those of us who wear dresses and skirts tend to be quite casual. The only ones that are dressed up are the working women who have a dress code requiring a skirt and perhaps heels. However, yesterday I noticed a few ladies wearing dresses with a variety of summer shoes. I decided to wear a hat with my skirt and top and found it very comfortable to keep the sun off the face and eyes. I did notice another lady weating a nice long denim dress with a hat, so it must be the season for hats.

Summer will be here in another week and in our part of the country we are just starting to warm up. I have seen females of all ages bring out the skimpy summer dresses. They just don't cut it when it comes to propriety and I think that as Christian women, we can make a statement that says we can be modest and proper and pretty at the same time.

I would think it would be a fun idea to put on a pretty spring or summer dress or outfit and do our shopping with a smile. It may be a an opportunity to show that we care enough to dress with a purpose and enjoy being a woman who can do so without feeling overdone.

It is very difficult to find dresses that are modest. Many companies advertise "modest" clothing, but form-fitting, low-necks, sleeveless, and short don't exactly qualify. To be truly feminine it seems that a dress or top and skirt would show some shape, be fluid enough to move comfortably, no clinging or see-through fabric, and cover enough arm and leg and torso so that when it is worn one feels free of any hindrances, if that makes sense.

This is a dress that would be appropriate and is found at Blair.

This is a wonderful example of a modest summer dress appropriate for shopping, church, and visiting and it is found at sewladylike.com.

Cool spring dress ( My two-hour dress!)

NORTHERN LIGHTS

This pattern is from Dana Marie Design Co.

(Originally  under  Paw Prints Pattern Co. name)

 I have found a pattern that works decently for me.  I have had this pattern for a long time and finally got around to sewing it up.  It is very basic with just a simple bodice with no darts, no collar with either a v-neckline or a jewel neckline, short or long sleeves, nipped in at the waist comfortably, with gathered skirt.  I made side seam pockets instead of the patch pockets. I have noticed that it is on sale for $5. while supplies last.  It is easy to sew.  The other pattern (below) #1008, Jumpsuit & Jumper
is also for sale for $5.  It is the same but without the appliques. 

In order for me to sew it up in two hours, I had my pattern cut out, thread on the sewing machine and the serger and the ironing board set up.  I notice when I have something I just want to get done, there seems to be no end to interruptions!  All the family was gone and I had two hours.  My only glitch came when I ran out of bobbin thread and didn't notice it until halfway around the waist seam. 

The other step I didn't do was to line the bodice.  My fabric was heavy and I just cut some bias from scraps and sewed it around the neck to finish it. 

I also made a placket for the skirt instead of buttons down the front.  It saves time and not having to sew the buttonholes and buttons on the skirt.

I did not include sewing the buttons  and waist hook on in the two hours.  It was basically machine sewing. 

Actually, it was fun to beat the clock and not get too many interruptions.  It inspired me to get a few more dresses cut out and have ready to sew.

Here is my dress:

Some great sales and ideas for summer

This has been a very busy time of year for us. We are raising some baby chicks in the house and waiting for good weather so we can finish the chicken house and move those chicks out. It seems that spring came after many snow showers and grass is turning green and daffodils are blooming on our high plains hill. Hurray!

It won't be long before school is finished for this year and summer work and activity keeps us busy. In the meantime, I am trying to get ahead in some summer sewing as spring is usually cool for us and we have to use "transitional" clothing of being warm enough but springy and spritely looking.

Our Hancock's had a great sale where I was able to get 52 yards for $52.! I was so thankful that I was able to get some great quality fabric for such a price. These were summer fabrics with a variety of weights and designs in mostly cottons. I try to leave the poly blends out of our clothing and stick with 100% cotton. It wears well and is comfortable. My take on polyester and blends is that it holds the heat in when it is hot as well as keeps one cold when the weather is cold.

I also found some older sewing patterns at a thrift store: 20 for $1. I found a few vest patterns to use for the kids and some shirtwaists for me. Most are unused with a few used but nice. I like those kind of sales.

I also decided to make a couple blouse/skirt combinations for summer. Our local quilt shop had some fabrics on sale and I bought some for skirts and blouses so I am looking forward to sewing them soon.

McCall's 2094 is a favorite blouse pattern with simple lines and not difficult to put together.

I use Vogue 9850 for a skirt pattern. Actually a simple A-line skirt pattern would work with little bulk around the waist. My shape is a rectangular block shape according to the Vogue pattern "FigureFlattery" description and so I aim for a little indentation at the waist. I gather the skirt instead of using pleats. I also like to make pockets in the side seams and use the Palmer/Pletsch method of using the pocket for an opening instead of a zipper. McCall's 2255 is also a good skirt pattern. Butterick 5431, 3134, Simplicity 2314, 2368, and New Look 6054 will work nicely for a slightly A-line skirt.

Some opinions are worth considering

I just happened to see this title on the web front page and thought it well worth reading. The language may be shocking, but what is more shocking is the behavior of parents as mentioned in the article. Read: PARENTS, DON'T DRESS YOUR GIRLS LIKE TRAMPS

Is not this something we have missed by not being salt and light in our country, dear Christian ladies (and husbands)? How much of our life is spent following the world in our apparel and what we put on our children? What are we trying to say? We can deceive ourselves easily by saying there is nothing else to buy, or I don't know how to sew, and I don't buy second hand or out-of-date/style clothing. We are to be in the world, but not of the world. (Gal. 5:13, Tit. 2:12, 1 John 2:15,16, 1 John 5:3, Rom. 12:1,2. ) Our decisions should be made with a view to glorifying God in whatever we do (and wear) Col.3:17.

A few little things sewn..........

I have been looking through the sewing idea books and manuals that I want to use with the girls to teach them how to sew. One of them had placemat purses to sew. I had picked up a couple simple placemats at the thrift store and decided to see how easy they would be for the girls to try.

I checked out several websites that listed instructions for ideas and found them quite simple and easy to put together. Fortunately I had a roll of green webbing that matched the bags and so it was all done within an hour.

I don't know how the pictures turned out blue, but the fabric is forest green and white. I also put in a little long pocket for their pencils and what-nots.