Creamy, Glitzy, Deliciousness!!

I bought several new hats while I was staying in Colorado, and this one has become part of the inspiration for the redesign of my bedroom.

I absolutely LOVE the feathers on this hat! My father calls it my Robin Hood cap. lol. I'm thinking my walls are screaming PAINT ME! What do you think?

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

PS: Much thanks to Jennifer Creviston of The Creviston Nest for her guest post on my dresser, and for all the hard work she put into it!!! It's amazing what beautiful people you meet in life, and a line from one of my favorite movies comes to mind, "Good trade!" - Dances With Wolves

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 New "Holiday" Hairstyle

LOVE!!

In Color

In Black & White

I think my hair looks like Kate Winslet's... but without her gorgeous color ;)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Simple Organization for Packing for a Trip

I have been in Colorado for the last few weeks visiting my Oma and Opa. I started working on several blog posts before I left and they have been in limbo waiting for me to get time to finish them up. I don't have a lot of computer time for blogging but I do hope to get a few of them up eventually!

When we were small children my momma chose and packed everything for everyone in the family, except my father. As my brothers and I got older, she would give us a list of the types of clothes she wanted to pack that we would need for the trip but left the choosing up to us. She has only recently let everyone pack their own bag, but she still hands out a list of requirements. I guess she wants to make sure my brothers don't end up in church somewhere away from home in cargo shorts and a white undershirt! LOL.

I have sort of taken the list one step further when I pack my bags. Let me show you what I mean:

This was taken so I could have an idea of what the outfit & jewelry might look like.

Have to look good, right?!

The dresses all spread out on the couch. I only ended up bringing 1/2 of what was actually all over the couch.

Everything on the floor and ready to be packed,

BEFORE I had the genius idea to use space bags!!

Here two outfits are drawn on the same paper, one on each side. This happened because I didn't have as much space to pack with on one of my trips to see Justin. And since I didn't want to re-draw one of them, I just packed both outfits!

Something sweet for church, work, or out to dinner, etc. If I change the skirt to my beaded pencil and it's perfect for a night at the Kennedy Center in DC!!

This one is actually from my outfit/fashion journal. I liked it when I wore it, and wanted to make sure I didn't forget it. As you can see from reading the scribbles all over, I wore this one a "Skype date" with Justin. :) This is one of the more detailed sketches.

When each and every outfit has been drawn up, I sit down and go through them to narrow downsize my bag. In this case I think I nixed between 7 and 12 outfits from the list. Including two I took out of my bag at the airport to check my bag without the extra fees. Each outfit is then packed away. Generally for a short trip I have about 6-10 outfits.

When I pack my bag, I set the outfit drawings between each outfit as they go in. Here though I think I had over 20 0outfits, not including all of my dresses, for a 3 month trip to Colorado. I changed they way I packed for this trip by using space bags, and placing the outfit sketches in my purse. (New since I'm more than a little OCD about packing.)

Each sketch includes a description of the outfit and alternative ideas for key pieces (like the Kennedy Center sketch above), an idea of when/where I might wear it, any possible jewelry options and combinations, shoes, coats, sweaters, etc. just to be sure I have all bases covered. And then it's off to catch my flight, or stow it away in the car.

How do you pack for long trips?! Do have fun with it, are you SUPER organized like me, or do you just kinda toss it all in and hope your hotel has an iron when you get there?

-- 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

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

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

An expirement in RED

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

The Photo of a Lifetime..

I love this Photographic Panorama taken by one of my friends with his iPhone. Can you say WOW to fantastic technology?! (And this coming from the woman who is not in the slightest technologically inclined...)

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Sharing a Link for a Tutorial

I read an article this morning about the common misconception that girls who stay at home either just sit around twiddling our thumbs while we "wait for our prince charming" or that we only know how to cook and clean. Those are good things to know, by the way, but if I only did that I'd be bored stiff. Anyway, that isn't the purpose of this post so I'll move on.

The author of that post is Emily Rose Brookshire of Simply Vintagegirl. I love all things vintage and beautiful so I just HAD to go visit her site when I saw the name of her blog :)

I found this lovely tutorial for fabric flowers and wanted to share. The post is at http://www.simplyvintagegirl.com/blog/index.php/2010/05/29/tutorial-how-to-make-lovely-fabric-flowers/

I have known how to make different sorts of fabric and ribbon flowers for a while but I never thought of using a tealight to crinkle the flower edges. They remind me of old english roses or peonies (which I love!!). I am making some of these today... how about you?!

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

I like...

walking on the beach....

BUT

walking on the beach with a friend is so much better!!!

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Spencers and Gostwicks... expanding the family tree

I recently posted a fan image of my family tree extended out 4 generations. I said in that post that one of our lines is Spencer, but that it was a different English line than Princess Diana. I thought I might post a bit more about this line today.

(photo courtesy of my family)

Virginia Spencer was my great-great-great-great grandmother. The Spencer's, and marriages within that line, are some of my favorite parts of our family tree. There is so much history tied up with them :-)


For instance, Moses Spencer, who was Virginia's great grandfather, was a soldier in the Virginia Continental Line during the Revolutionary War. He received 100 acres for his service to his country.


Farther into the line we find Col. Nicholas Spencer, who was married to Frances Mottram. Nicholas served as President of the Council of the Virginia Colony. His cousin was Thomas Colepeper/Culpeper. Nicholas played a major role in securing the land grant for what would become Mount Vernon. I have an opportunity next Saturday morning to perhaps see Mount Vernon and I am very excited about that!


Nicholas' mother was Mary Gostwick (my 12th great-grandmother). Mary's father was Sir Edward Gostwick/Gostwicke. He was the 2nd Baronet Gostwick of Willington. He was also the Sheriff of Bedfordshire! I have always found Edward very interesting and is probably the tomb I'd like to see the most of all my ancestors (how morbid is that?!). I have read in several places that his body is laid in a glass or marble tomb in a church in England. I don't know how true that is but it would be interesting to find out for sure!!

the crest of Gostwick of Willington

(image courtesy of http://www.british-history.ac.uk)

I will post other family lines in the future but I thought this one was a good place to start :-D

-- A Victorian Cowgirl

Welcome

Welcome to my blog :-) I am new to this area of the blogging world, but have another blog on my parents site. I guess I should say a little something about myself, huh?

So, for starters... I am 18 years old, a Christian, military brat, who is a graduated high school homeschooler, and a wife in training. My favorite place to get coffee is Starbucks :-) and you can bet that more likely than not I will order a Venti Latte, no foam, no sugar! I love fashion and designing my own clothes. I AM having problems making pencil skirts, I hope to remedy that little hick-up soon :-) LOL.

I plan to write about purity, faith, courtship, fashion, home decor, thoughts of the day, life in general, and family to name a few.

I hope you like what you see, and if you have any questions about something I post feel absolutely free to leave a comment and I will respond as soon as I am able.

-- A Victorian Cowgirl :-)

PS ~ I would like to thank Sallie (my mom) and my other friends for helping me get this thing up and running!!