Silly boy....

This... is Jesse. It looks like he was having fun over the July 4th holidays. Heck, We all were :D

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Oops! (Well, better late than never...)

I can't believe how much I forget :P Okay so, I meant to post these pictures the day after my pincurls post, and TOTALLY forgot... yipes!!

This is how it all turned out the next day :)

This is right outside my house. I am wearing a Vintage strapless dress w/ floral hem, and my favorite navy blue cardigan.

The sun was in my eyes & I just couldn't keep them open long enough. But, this turned out to be a cute pic :P

And, this one was taken inside our lovely home!

Do you find blogposts or tutorials that inspire you?? How'd they turn out??

Have a blessed week,

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Sweet Little Dress Photo's

Here is the process of making my little dress. The lighting wasn't super fantastic because I took them in the morning, and it has been raining all week:

The pattern drawn out on the shirt. Now, I don't have a daughter to borrow a dress from for a pattern, but I do have dresses of mine that my momma saved.

So, I used one of my pink easter dresses.

Detached Pocket



Goodbye sleeve...



And, there went the other one.

Close-up of the back, right before I cut the neckline for the dress.

From this photo you can't really tell but, I cut the neckline directly under the two buttons shown in the photo before this.

Side seam sewing :)

Belt loops, which I made from bits of the sleeve.

Attaching the belt loops

As you can see, I kept the pocket. I had plans for it!! I took more fabric from one of the sleeves, folded it in 1/2 and gathered it up, then attached it in a sprial to the pocket.

Ta-da!! It's a flower :D

It's almost finished.

I re-attached the pocket to the front of the dress where I felt a little girl could easily use it for hiding all her dainty little things, like a flower for mommy, or a card for dad.

Then I hand-stiched a button from my sewing box to the center of the flower, making sure not to catch the dress. Turns out, the button I chose was a larger version of the buttons already attached to the shirt.

Close-up of the flower on the pocket.

C'est Fini!!

(This photo was taken by momma later in the evening, hence the color difference.)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Do YOU think He'd make it??

I think so :D

My brother's Noah (pictured above right) and Jesse (not shown) were goofing around in the kitchen last week when I grabbed the cam. and took the shot! Such a fantastic moment.

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

A cutesy little dress, for a cutesy little girl

I found a tutorial a while back (okay, like WAY back in the Spring) on how to turn a large sized men's shirt into a dress for a little girl. Now, usually I try and at least post the tutorial video if I can, but tonight I am just going to post a link (I'm just THAT tired) : http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-shirt-dress.html.

Well actually, the way I did my little dress is from a memory of looking over a few different posts/tutorials on how to do this, when I saw them last... so I just kinda went at it with a general idea of how it worked. I wish I had a little girl sized white belt to add to it in the photo's, but I don't :( I used a Blue & White striped men's shirt that was given to one of my brothers, but ended up being too big for them.

Here is a similar one (I have yet to try, but maybe next week??? Looking forward to a new skirt, hopefully) on how to make a belted woman's skirt, using a similar technique: http://www.craftstylish.com/item/44969/how-to-make-a-belted-skirt-from-a-mens-dress-shirt

More pics to follow :D

--A Victorian Cowgirl

Beautiful Butterfly Biscuits..

Don't let their lovely looks fool you.... They're tasty and delicious too!! (My momma found the recipe on the back of our "Clabber Girl Double-Acting Baking Powder" can.) I ate my butterfly bisquits smothered inside with plenty of butter, and topped with a lazy drizzling of honey. My brother, Caleb, says he had his with just plain maple pancake syrup. And, momma says hers were delightful when spread with butter, and topped nicely with a bit of fig jam that we had made last picking season.

Old Fashioned Biscuits

Ingredients:
•2 cups all-purpose flour
•2 1/2 teaspoons Clabber Girl Baking Powder
•1/2 teaspoon salt
•1/3 cup shortening
•3/4 cup milk
•1 tablespoon soft margarine or butter

Instructions:
In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, Clabber Girl Baking Powder, and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening till mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add the milk all at once. Using a fork, stir just till moistened and dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl (dough will be sticky).

On a floured surface, lightly knead dough with floured hands for 30 seconds or till nearly smooth. Lightly roll dough to 3/4-inch thickness. Cut dough with a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter, dipping cutter into flour between cuts.

Place biscuits close together on a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush tops with soft margarine. Bake in a 475° oven for 11 to 15 minutes or till golden brown. Serve warm.

Makes about 8 - 10 biscuits. ENJOY!!

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Pincurls meets Marie Antoinette & Rachel McAdams...

I decided to give pincurls another go around. Hopefully this time it works!!


The last time I tried, I put just enough product in my hair but somehow (even after being pinned up from 12 pm to 10 pm) they must not have had enough time to dry. I was doing them because my beau, Justin, was coming in late that night after work for another lovely weekend visit. Well, I tried... and when I took them out to brush them into their proper place my hair felt ... well, just... ICK!! :(


I was putting them up tonight and when I had one left, I looked in the mirror. As I was brushing the 2" strand of hair out to make it silky smooth before curling up and pinning, I was reminded of the single little curl left down in the hairstyles of Marie Antoinette's time (and this post I had seen last night before bed. For some odd reason whatever I read an hour before and up to getting into bed I remember very clearly the next day, but never anything else. But, I digress) ... and I just smiled. As any silly girl who loves fashion would, I quickly went to work on my make-up... completely setting aside that last pin-curl for now. When I did my eye-liner I had a chance to glance down at my desk, and guess what I found?!?! An issue of Vogue magazine, with Rachel McAdams in BRIGHT pink lipstick on the cover.....


So, here's how it all ended up :D

The lipstick isn't as bright in the photo because of some color fixing thanks to the dang camera... but, hey.. it works.

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Casey's 50's Tutorial in practice

So, I said I tried the style out the next morning, and here is how it looked! (These pics were taken about the middle of the day when I finally got around to it)

Left side twist

(And, a sweet little over-the-shoulder pose.. very Vogue)


Rear-view


Right side twist

Front view

My general silliness.. such a poser :P

It turned out very nicely as you can see. And, I'm sure by now you've noticed I decided to go with a chic bun as opposed to the ponytail.. love it!!

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

50s style faux bang and ponytail tutorial

Thank you SOO much Casey for having such a wonderful blog!! I found this video VERY helpful, and I tried it the next morning. I also have been applying my make-up w/ a 50's style look (it only added one more step surprisingly.. eye-liner .. go figure it's the one thing I never could get right, until I had a reason to practice daily) and have loved it ever since. Your tutorial on applying it was extremely helpful for a few extra tips as well.

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Blueberry Streusel Cake

My mom and I love to bake. She made a Blueberry Streusel Cake for our breakfast this morning so I thought I'd share!

For the cake:

4 tablespoons butter or margarine, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, at room temperature
1/2 cup milk
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups fresh blueberries

For the topping:

1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces


Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9 inch square baking dish.

Cream the butter or margarine with the sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, beat to combine, then mix in the milk until blended.

Pour the two cups of flour into the center of the mixture and sift the baking powder, salt, and cinnamon over the flour. Stir just enough to blend all the ingredients.

Add the blueberries and stir.

Transfer to baking dish, and set aside.

Place the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and butter in a separate mixing bowl and cut in with a pastry blender or two knives until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Sprinkle the topping over the batter that is already in the baking pan.

Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

Serve warm or cold, with or without a nice dollop of whipped cream! ENJOY!!

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Goodbye & Rest in Peace

This blogpost is to inform you all that I will not be posting for a while. We just had a death in our family, and we are going back home to KY to take care of it.

Please keep my mom & our family in your prayers!!

In loving memory of:

Emma Belle Beard

Sept. 5, 1947 -Aug. 6, 2010

A good Christian woman, married to D.E. Beard for a good many years, and mother of 3.

Granny, Wife, Aunt, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Friend

You are loved Granny.

And many will miss you dearly but, we are rejoicing because we know you are in a far better place than here below!

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Swoon!!

I have spent my morning between emailing, cutting the pattern for my Christmas Gown, and watching/listening to the 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice as I go along...

When I got towards the end and heard Darcy's simple words
 "You have bewitched me body and soul, and I love.. I love.. I love you!" 

I couldn't think of any better way to say it.

Red Pennies, Truffles, and Rust..

Just like the title says.

(Can you guess which is which?!)

This dress is another find from my Thrift Store shopping spree.

I came home & looked it up...
This dress is David's Bridal sz. 4
Online it is on Sale for 80$ .. I bought it barely used, for 7$!!

I bought the Cameo at a Farmer's Market in Shepherdsville, KY many years ago. I realized after buying the pendant/pin cameo that it is in fact authentic, even if the gold & crystals surrounding it are not. The Pearl & Swarovski Ring is passed on from my momma!

I was given the Pearl, Gold, and Jet Bead chain one year for my Brithday, I think. And, the clutch (5$) is the result of a sale at TJ Maxx a few months ago.
The shoes.. you guessed it.. 50$ on sale for 15$!! I bought them to wear with a Peach colored dress for a friends wedding this Spring.

My mom and I had plenty of fun,

just getting out and snapping photo's of my new dresses!!

What a day!!

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Frugal Findings of A Victorian Cowgirl

I have been CRAVING a shopping spree for about a month now.. I was able to put it off for as long as I could stand NOT shopping... but, I had to go & buy some pretty Swiss Dot fabric for a new shirt I want to make, and the CGF Thrift Store was calling my name from just around the corner!! So, I had to, of course, pay a little visit :P

Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this lovely little number!

For only $5.00 I had to buy it whether it fit or not
(I tried it on, and IT FITS!!)

I just HAD to take photo's to share with a special someone what good fortune I had had shopping...

It's just so... well, you know.. Lucy!! :)
And, then I thought, "Well, this would make a GREAT blogpost!"
So here it is :D

I found this dress in New Bern. And, I fell in love with it!
It is EXACTLY the style of thing I wish I could wear everyday of my life..
I mean, who can resist the allure of the 1930's-50's?? BUT, I'm so tall & thin that I can't ever find things long enough, or small enough :(

I found a steal with this one!! And, it makes me feel so Va-va-va-Voom .. you know?!
Do you have a dress that makes you feel that way?? I think EVERY woman should!

Well, there aren't any tags in it, and I noticed that it is home-made :D There is a matching belt at the already cinched waist line and, it is the perfect length for me. Looks so good with heels.. another bonus! It is so amazingly comfortable. Who says you have to sacrifice comfort to be stylish & classic?!

I hope you have such luck in your shopping this week, Girls!Oh, and Thanks Kater, for being such an inspiration in the blogosphere!!

-- A Victorian Cowgirl