So here are the pictures of my new dress and bonnet. It's completely hand stitched, yes I'm crazy. Amazingly it took me 3 days to sew it from cut to finish. The bonnet is also hand stitched and started as a straw brim hat I found at a garden store. I am definately loving this era. I'm currently working on retrofitting an old corset to make it period correct. It will help give me the correct shape and lift needed for the period. I am also researching ideas for Aaron's costume. I'm debating if I will sew the entire wardrobe or buy his breeches and frock coat and sew the rest. I admitt, I'm intimidated by men's clothing. I need to read more and look at more fashion plates. Well, Aaron and I are heading to Astoria this weekend for some much needed time away and alone :-) God Bless and enjoy the pics below.

Oh, So Much Fun

I was wandering around the internet this morning when I stumble across this Regency Dress-up doll (pictured below) . It's too much fun! Yes, I'm such a kid, but it's great! Here's the link.

Regency Doll

Enjoy :-)

Regency Reticule

I was blessed with a wonderful day off today. I was very domestic and spent my day cleaning, walking the pups, and sewing, while watching my "girly costume movies." My new pattern came, as you know from my previous post I recieved my new regency gown pattern. Not only does this excellent pattern contain numerous gown options, but it also contains two patterns for a reticule (basically a Regency Era purse) as well as embroidery patterns taken from extant costumes. I hand stitched my own little reticule from scrap fabric. It took me about 3 hours total, the embroidery portion took the bulk of my time. But here it is, a very easy, and pretty little reticule. Enjoy :-)

The pattern, The Elegant Ladies Closet, can be found here...

Sense and Sensibility Patters.

New Pattern!!!

Yeah!!! I'm sooo excited. I just recieved my new pattern that contains enough options to create an entire Regency wardrobe. Can you tell I'm in a bit of a Regency mood :-) I can't wait to buy the fabric and start sewing. I will hopefully go to the fabric store on Sunday to get my materials. I think I'm going to make the burgandy dress below, on Marriane Dashwood.

I don't think I will make it in the same colors, but I'm not positve yet. I need to see what kind of period correct cotton prints I can find. I will certainly post more pictures once I have the fabric, and once the dress is completed. I'm thinking it should take me about 10 days, if I hand stitch the entire piece. Yes, I'm a nut, but the dress is from the early 19th century and they didn't invent the sewing machine for many years later. So, of course I have to handstitch the gown. I can't wait to start.

The pattern, The Elegant Ladies Closet, can be found at Sense and Sensibility Patterns.

Are you a Regency Catch?

I had a bit of fun with this one... I took a quize and here's the result...

Everyone adores you! But you're the heroine's sister, not the star attraction. You're accomplished in all things, but not as accomplished as your sister. You're like Pride and Prejudice's lovable Jane Bennet.

Okay, so I'm boring but loveable, and born in the wrong century :-) LOL!

If you're interested, you can find out if you are a catch at the link below ;-)

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/R/regencyhouse/catch/index.html

Completed Room

My completely wonderful husband indulged my historical tates for my birthday and helped me finish our bedroom. It's so pretty. I just want to stay in my gharb all day long :-) I'm such a dork. On a side note, I joined the Oregon Regency Society today. I will be attending my first High Tea on March 30th, complete with historically accurate clothing. I can't wait. Anywhoo, here's the new pics of our loverly 18th century bedroom. Enjoy!

8 Things

I have been unofficially tagged. So here goes!

8 Things I’m Passionate About
1. God
2. Aaron
3. My Family, fur and feather babies included (especially my nephew)
4. Kids
5. Animals
6. Adoption
7. History
8. Historical Clothing

8 Things I Want to Do Before I die
1. Be a stay at home mom
2. Adopt
3. Go back to Europe and Africa
4. Do a Revolutionary and Civil War tour of America
5. Visit Deleware and see the church my ancestors built in the 1690’s
6. Own horses
7. Have a large parrot (Macaw or Cockatoo, I go back and forth)
8. Join a Historical Reenacting group

8 Things I Say Often
1. What’s Up
2. I love you…
3. Maximus, heel
4. Leila Lu, heel
5.Gico, be gentle, no bite
6.Carpet Place this is Lauren (like 15 million times a day)
7.D’oh (in a Homer Simpson voice)
8.Good Grief

8 TV Shows I’ve Recently Watched
1.The Simpsons
2.House
3.Monk
4.Documentaries on anything history (okay I’m boring)
5.That’s it in the TV depot. We have Netflix and no cable so we don’t watch a ton of TV.

8 Songs I Could Listen to Over and Over (In no order and at random)
1.Jesus Freak (DC Talk)
2.I love the old hymns
3.Raindrops (Chopin)
4.Zoot Suit Riot (Cherry Poppin’ Daddies)
5.Hey There Delilah (Plain White Tees)
6.Gravity (John Mayer)
7.Blaze of Glory (Bon Jovi)
8.Walk On (U2)

8 Things That Attract Me To My Friends
1.Honesty
2.Humility
3.Trust
4.Similar beliefs and respect for dissimilar beliefs
5.Interests
6.Contentment
7.Funny
8.Understanding

8 Things I’ve Learned or Been Reminded of This Past Year
1.God always provides and is in control!
2.God is truly AWESOME!
3.I truly love my husband more each day
4.My parents are awesome (okay I’ve know this, but it becomes more true as I get older)
5.Age is not as important as maturity
6.Patience is something I still need to work on
7.I too can be organized (my parents must be shocked!)
8.I love being a manager. If you had told me a year ago I would be one, I would have said “you can’t pay me enough money to do that.”

I am now tagging anyone who would like to do their own 8 things, and my husband Aaron!

New Room

Many of you know that I absolutely love history and interior design. Therefore, all of my decor has to have a bit of historical flair. I know I can't be completely historically accurate, especially in this house, but I do the best I can. When I was in High School I redid my bedroom in a Victorian, Gothic, kinda Medieval/ Renaissance look. It was my sanctuary. When I got married, I did our bedroom in the same style with the same pieces I had in my parents home. Well, after seven years of a Renaissance bedroom it was time to upgrade. I have been wanting to do our room in an 18th century colonial style for about a year now. Unfortunately, the funds for such a venture can be more than I want to spend at the time. But, a friend of ours had some old blue toile curtains that she never used and wanted to give away. Bingo! They were perfect. So, here is our new look. It's not quite finished, I still need to find some fabric to use as a scarf over the toile, to pull the colors from the bedspread up to the canopy thing. Anywhoo, enjoy the first glimpse of our soon to be completed 18th century bedroom :-)

THE ZOOOOOOOO!

Oh yes! We went to the Zoo today and we had a blast. Those of you who know me, know I absolutely adore animals. I love watching them, bonding with them, and just plain lovin on them. Yes, I'm a dork, and still such a kid :-) Anywhoo, here's some pics and video from our little adventure.

What a Day

Oh my!!!!!! Today was just plain weird. Every wacho came out of the woodworks to "play" at The Carpet Place. We had claims, very odd customers, and weird phone calls!
It was quite the day. Not that it was bad, it was just really, really weird. We couldn't figure out what the deal was. Then we realized DUH! Tomorrow is a FULL MOON and we had a METEOR SHOWER this morning. So it makes perfect sense, all the wachos are coming out to play hehe :-)

Hope you all in internet land had interesting days as well! God Bless

Here's the gang at our last company meeting! Our faces pretty much sums up today :-)

The Rhododendron Garden

Today was absolutely be-a-utiful!!! It was 60ish, sunny, and clear. As stated in my last post, Spring is slowly coming and I can't wait :-) It's amazing to me how many gorgeous parks there are in the metro area; I have never seen so many in one city before. Here are some pictures from our walk through the garden and some of my new friends we met along the way.

SPRING!!

I'm ready for spring. Soooo ready!!!! It has been a long dreary winter. I think I've seen more rain in the past few months than I have in my entire life. However, we have had an inkling of sunshine the past few days. Monday was absolutely beautiful. It warmed up to the 50's and the sun peeped out for the afternoon. Of course, it was back to rain yesterday, but I'm starting to feel spring coming. I have been so anxious to be outside without layering sweats, rain gear, and winter coats! According to the groundhog, we only have 5 weeks of winter left. I hope I can hold out until the sun comes out and the days become longer. Here's to thinking of spring :-)

PDX Rose Garden August 06

Scrapbooking Bug

Okay, I finally started scrapbooking. I have been wanting to for quite a while, but everytime I tried, I would loose interest. This time, it seems to have stuck :-) Here are a few layouts I did while I was sick this past weekend.