Where to start?

Well, I've been busy. My lack of blogging, as well as the bleary-eyed look you've seen me with lately, testify to my busyness.

I have been sewing; about everyday since the 10th. I was mostly preparing my three little sisters to come reenacting with me at the Fort. It took me fourteen days, two weeks, to do it. I worked everyday after school, skipped school for two days before the event and didn't sleep as Mama, sis and I worked all night. I finished adding buttons at 7:00am the day of the event.
I made, in order (things got tight at the end!):
2 corded stays
2 chemises (with help overcasting sideseams)
2 tucked petticoats (with help hemming)
2 plain petticoats (with help hemming)
2 pairs split drawers
2 dresses (with help everywhere!)
And my sister Clara made her skirt.

Please excuse the I-haven’t-slept-in 36-hours look on my face.  

They had a wonderful time playing games, twirling their dresses, dancing, petting chicks, churning butter, skipping around, eating a picnic, standing in the rain, and being cute : )

Sewing. . .

I only remembered to take pictures of the corsets. . . I love the bows, to tell them apart.

So, we’ve also had some birthdays! Clara’s was earlier, and Daddy’s was last weekend.  You wanna see the cakes?

 

Mocha-caramel-chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream!

Carrot cake cupcakes with hand-roasted almonds and orange-ginger buttercream frosting! 

And last in Sophia’s News, is the weather! Spring is in it’s beautiful best!

I can’t really do justice with my camera, but you know how it is. The smells of grass and earth and cherry blossoms in our case. On the day of these pictures, there was a warm, fragrant breeze, and the weather was neither hot nor cold. Today it’s just. . . Wet. And rainy.

~Sophia

P.S. Do you like the new template and corresponding theme song?

A Song

Here's the song of the month. I usually post these on the 9th, but tomorrow's my sister's birthday.

Promise Of a Lifetime by Kutless:



And I can't post that without posting my favorite Kutless song, and my favorite song anyway:


If you'd like a chance to win tickets, this radio station has a contest/drawing. It's up in Ballard WA, so we'll probably not go :(

I love Kutless!

~Sophia

I feel horribly elated

Or rather, I feel horrible, *and* elated beyond words. Let me explain.

This week is spring break! That means knitting, hanging out, sleeping in, sewing, catching up on homework, artistry, and cleaning. Whew! Only took two days, I still have time for collages, flower planting, wood whittling and the sniffles. Yes, that’s why I feel bad, clutching onto my box of tissues and looking pathetic. Yet with a grin on my face because I’ve found this:

Well, I didn’t find it, but I found out what it looked a whole lot like:

A guitar from the 1850’s. That’s what it looks like.

I was using a larger Spanish guitar (black case in the picture), but being a small person with small hands, this wasn’t working. I decided to switch to the beginners guitar in picture 1, which was shoved behind my brother’s bed. It’s a Lyle C605, made in the 1960’s, now the company is expired and the guitar is “vintage” It needed a bit of work, two pieces fell off as I removed the 30- year- old strings (ick) and a tuning gear is missing.

Bored from gear-hunting, I searched online for pictures of 19th century guitars. I found one. That looks exactly. Like. Mine. Dated 1850. Needless to say, I’m thrilled.My guitar is 36'” inches long. Just like in the 19th century, because guitars were typically played by women and children. The sound-hole, head, tuning pegs, and bridge all look just the same. They’re both scratched up the same too, and are within 1/2” of each other's length.

I have a book from 1853 that’s called “The New and Improved Method of the Guitar” from which the latter picture comes from. I find the whole thing completely ironic and perfect.

Now all I need is that gear. Initiate massive gear hunt! Well, after I knit something for my sister’s 14th birthday this week!

Sophia

BTW, I added a new recipe. Don’t worry, I won’t keep on putting up tomato based soups, I’ll do better in the future. Please give me a bit of slack, I’m sick.