A Child's Bodice c1840....

We are so very fortunate and indebted to the early photographers to have little windows into the mid 19th century, but even still.....it is hard for one to imagine how absolutely beautiful the colours must have been. There were definitely unique pallets of colour, changing and evolving as the dyers developed new colors in their dye baths. From the above late 1840's daguerreotype, it is obvious the girl's dress is pretty.........but I imagine it was stunning in colour.

My little Pip is modeling a c1840 child's bodice for you today~ I have a general rule to not keep bodices that have been unpicked from their skirting, but this one was too rich in pattern and colour to ignore. Basting stitches are evident at the bottom of the waistband. Both wear to the folds of the fan front, and slight stains on the interior lining are evidence that it was indeed worn as a dress by a child~ either girl or boy at this age(2-3 yr). Pippin will be 3 yr in Sept, and it fits her perfect.
The back closure is hand made button holes & little brass buttons. One is absent on the waistband. All seams are piped. The fabric is a beautiful block printed wool blend challis~ medium weight and slightly scratchy. The texture of early textiles must be experienced in person, as there is nothing to describe the unique hand of them in words

I date this bodice to 1840 mainly from the sleeve construction and fabric design. The middle of the 1830's saw HUGE gigot sleeves at their largest ever, from about 1836, they started deflating~ first the huge puffs were banded and tucked at the shoulders pushing the 'puff' down lower on the arm. Eventually the puff disappeared all together, and in most of the 1840's, sleeves were very high up under the armpits, and nearly skin tight. The little short sleeves on this bodice are gathered and pleated at their tops in late 1830's fashion, the little ruffles having mint trim of mint green wool braid. This type of braid was very popular for trim on children's clothes during the 1840-70 time period.

Having this little bodice just makes my mind race as to what the skirting was unpicked and made into.....a lady's pocket? Mending or for patchwork, maybe. Perhaps a little dolly's dress? In my perfect world, it is lying neatly folded in an attic trunk, waiting for me to find it and give it back to its bodice..................

Cyndi F. of Carmel Ca!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations!! Woo Hoo! Thankyou SO much to all of you who helped make this years Fund Drive a success!

Cyndi Has chosen sweet Hannah Grodnertal for her prize

Are you all Ready?

One Potata........Two Potata...........

First, I must say a very sincere THANKYOU to all of you who come to read the BLOG, and who support the Museum thru your very kinde & generous donations and purchase of my dolls & folk art. I could not do what I do, WITHOUT YOU. With the support of my patrons, we all can do a little to help save our past material culture from being lost, and to preserve it for future generations to study & enjoy.

I love the above daguerreotype, c1855-60. Just look at those children~ literally 'dripping in money', as my Grandmother would say. The finest clothes, the girl with her dollye, the boy holding the string to his pull toy~ a magnificent paddle~wheel boat. Their parents have paid the daguerreotypist to come to their home to make the picture, their posh floor cloth can clearly be seen, as well as the wooden baseboard behind the children's feet and at the base of one heck of an amazing painted mural. I wonder how many of their friends dreamed of paying them a visit to come and play???

Enough dreaming already! It is time for my 2008 Fundraiser giveaway! Sometime this week I will be drawing the name of the lucky winner of a dollye....all who previously donated this year, or have made a Diamond K Folk Art purchase are entered! Keep checkin back to see who the lucky winner is~

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!

The Lamplighter............

Try as I may, I just cannot make a spooky, mean looking witch! Enchanted, why most definitely...but, not spooky.

Candle is a very sweet girl, and yes, she is a lamplighter. She walks the streets of the Towne Common every evening at dusk carefully illuminating the street lamps with the flame from her magical lantern. The olde wooden plank walks come to life with a warm mellow glow in the pitch black night...... Candle has the elite privilege of lighting the walks of the Town Common, where all the merchants conduct their businesses. On her rounds, between lamps, she can occasionally be seen with her nose pressed up close against the enchanting shoppe window of "Msrs. Pitford & Pumperdinkle, Importers of fine French Frippery" ...and I hear tale that she has in fact entered within and made a purchase of the latest most fashionable Punkin unmentionable........

She will love to make your acquaintance on eBay tomorrow evening

A Hallowe'en Haunting in July........

Continues!!!

I will be having more Halloweenies here and there up to Hallowe'en....but My Haunting in July will continue on eBay this month! I will be having one more punkin dollye, and of coarse a Haunting couldnt be a haunting without some witchy-poo's!

As for the TDIPT update this evening, the theme this month is Christmas in July! LOL. I didnt want to put a damper on my Haunting in July, so am offering just a single Xmas piece there tonight. I dont 'do' Santa's, so this piece is the only one you will see from me this year.....and who knows for how long thereafter!

God Bless our United States!

I AM THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

By Howard Schnauber
I am the flag of the United States of America.

My name is "Old Glory".

I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.

I stand watch in America's halls of justice.

I fly majestically over institutions of learning.

I stand guard with power in the world.

Look up and see me!

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.

I stand for freedom.

I am confident.

I am arrogant.

I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners,

My head is a little higher, My colors a little truer.

I bow to no one!

I am recognized all over the world.

I am worshipped -- I am saluted.

I am loved -- I am revered.

I am respected -- and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war for more then 200 years.

I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg,Shiloh and Appomattox.

I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France,

in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome

and the beaches of Normandy, Guam,Okinawa, Korea, and Vietnam.

I was there.

I led my troops.

I was dirty, battle-weary and tired, but my soldiers cheered me

And I was proud.

I have been burned, torn and trampled

on the streets of countries I have helped set free.

It does not hurt, for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned, torn

and trampled on the streets of my country.

And when it's by those whom I've served in battle -- it hurts.

But I shall overcome -- for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth

and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space

from my vantage point on the moon.

I have borne silent witness to all of America's finest hours.

But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips and used as bandages

for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,

When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,

Or when I lie in the trembling arms

of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,

I am proud.

MY NAME IS "OLD GLORY".

LONG MAY I WAVE.

DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN,

LONG MAY I WAVE.

In my 10 years active duty in the US Navy, this poem by Schnauber was always read during the 4th of July Quarters, and it was, and still is my favorite. It still brings tears to my eyes, in remembrance of all those who have gone before us, and gave of themselves what they held most dear, for our Freedom. I say a sincere THANKYOU. Happy Independence Day

~~~~ photo credit~ Library of Congress, c1846 Plumbe Daguerreotype of East Front view of the US Capitol.

Flowers bloom as black as night...

Removing color from your sight...



Hallowe'en Enchantments to come to eBay......



Tonight!!!