Fixing something old to fit...

I'd set to fixing up an old gown of mine before our trip to Va, and turned it into a gown for one of my daughters... one of these days, many years hence, they'll find it in a box in some quiet corner of our family's attic, I'm sure. Hopefully they will enjoy it more than I ever had time to...

Though I completely changed the bodice from what it was before, I do have a picture saved  to my compy of the fabric.

I somehow managed to save the lace from the neckline in front, and used it again on the new front bodice.. which was a blessing, so I wouldn't have to rip the lace from the back of the gown just to make it look right/even. One simple new gown for daytime that I hope they will enjoy :)

Do you ever think of taking your old gowns and altering them down for future (or present) children, or buy sweet little things you happen to see while passing a shop window and pack them away for sometime in the future? I find myself doing this often... oops! Then again, I always have felt I would be a wife and mom. Just waiting on God to bring around the almost perfect man... who wants perfect after all? Where is the fun in that?! 

Fun, laughter, heart, feeling, and soul is much to be preferred. 

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

For my first set of stays; My true love gave to me...

2 yards of muslin, and a new, working sewing machine ;)

When I was in Colorado visiting my fathers parents, my parents went to visit my mothers father for Thanksgiving and he sent two of my granny's sewing machines and a Serger home to me! Thank you Papaw!!!

 I really want to try and make a Georgian dress but need stays for that, even more than I do for my Regency dresses. I looked through my stash of patterns and found this one from McCall's. I am making it out of a plain white muslin, and eyelet's instead of grommets for lacing (since I am HORRIBLE at putting in grommets). I am almost done (but for attaching lining to corset once the boning is in). While waiting on the chance to get my boning, I  have decided that I will add a little decorative touch to one or two of the front panels. I started earlier today on the embroidery and will post a pic as soon as I have one. Though I fear my stitches are always very poor I think it will be all the more lovely knowing that I did it with my own hand, and hopefully one of my children can enjoy my toils many years from now when it gets passed down from myself to some dear little girl... 

If you have any tips for corsetry (yes, it's a "new" word :P), please share them if you can spare a moment here. I am very new to this, and though I am using a modern pattern for my stays this time, I hope to learn from it and make a set of 18th Century stays somewhere in the near future. (Hopefully with the help of your tips, and also a little guidance from the quick hands of my dear friend Laura at Tryon Palace...)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

My Christmas Present from Sophia :)

I am leaving Colorado in a few days to return home to NC and be back with my family. So my friend, Sophia, and I decided to give presents early :) I decided to get her a present from her favorite store, Charlotte Russe... and apparently so did she for mine... lol. Unfortunately I can only find the link for the necklace I got her: http://www.charlotterusse.com .

I had gotten her a pair of earrings too, but I can't find them :'(

And here is my present from her:

Isn't it lovely?!?!

 Here's a close-up :D

Have you gotten any special presents yet this year?? Do you think you will?? :) 

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Quoth the Raven Nevermore....

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -

Only this, and nothing more.' "

~Edgar Allen Poe

A Vote for Kate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please stop by Kate's blog, see her stuff, fall in love, and vote here for her :D It's so worth the trip!! She will definitely appreciate the votes I'm sure....

(photo courtesy of Kate's blog)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Hurricane Earl is Coming

The calm before the storm...

Noah and Jesse being their normal happily silly selves, and playing in the sand.

Jesse and the dolphin statue at the park.

Mom and Dad

Random beach-goers. Apparently it was a good day to go surfing :P

...making waves...

There weren't a ton of clouds in the sky, and the ones that were there were more whispy than cloud-like.

More of those crashing waves

Caleb looking out at the waves

Daddy

Just walking' along, and enjoying our time.

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

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

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

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

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