''Cross this evil land, ill winds blow
Despite the darkness, mushrooms glow
All will rot & decompose
For something wicked this way grows...
~~~~Ray Bradbury
Dare keep watch Dear Friends, for I knoweth not when my own Spirit shall not be enchanted beyond all reconance of mortal remain..........
Oft in the silence of the night,
When the lonely moon rides high,
When wintry winds are whistling,
And we hear the owl's shrill cry,
In the quiet, dusky chamber,
By the flickering firelight,
Rising up between two sleepers,
Comes a spirit all in white...............
~~Louisa May Alcott
I can not say exactly what it is in the summertime that makes me so look foreword to the fall....I suppose it could be the near 100 degree dry weather we have been having.....I don't know! It does seem a bit pathetic that just as the garden is starting to come alive, I am already planning where I will put my bunches of dried corn stalks and gourds this fall...... I have some wonderful Halloweenies for this year~ already! Mine aren't exactly scary tho....I like to think of them as just enchanted, without the fire & brimstone! The 'Widow Noir' will be listed on eBay this evening along with some other little specials~ you can see my eBay auctions by following the link on the right! Hope to see you there!
"Einstein said that time is like a river, it flows in bends. If we could only step back around the turns, we could travel in either direction. I'm sure it's possible. When I die, I'm going right back to the 1830s. I'm not even afraid of dying. I think it must be quite exciting." ~Tasha Tudor
The above quote so true. There is nothing more beautiful to me, than an innocent child! Their minds like sponges waiting to soak up all the information their surroundings can provide them. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love children, and that the main focus of collection and study here at the Museum is children~ what they wore, what they played with, what they studied in school, how their fragile countenances were carefully molded in a time when it was not easy, just being a child. My daughter Emma was happy to model for me today what her little friends of the mid 1830's would have worn.
Emma is 6, and the above photo would be nearly correct had she been living 173 years ago. Girls and boys alike wore their hair swooped back and kept close the the head thru out the first half of the 19th century. In a few years, or even at this age in an especially rich & fashionable household, Emma would have worn a set of false curls set above her ears on the temples. They were made from human hair or sometimes woven horsehair, and attached to small combs so they could be easily taken on and off.
Colors were vibrant~ we don't normally associate vibrant colors with the early 1800's, as many of the vegetable dyes have faded over time. This dress is all original, c1836 when the Gigot sleeves were at their largest. It is made from a cherry red cotton print with vertical stripes of ombre shaded flowers that run from neon skye blue to cream & pale yellow. All seams are piped, including the center front, and decorative piping on the back seams.
I have seen period paintings with skirt fullness of varying degrees that would support the assumption that during the hot summer days, only the chemise & pantaloons were worn underneath, and on cold winter days, more petticoats under for warmth. There are 2 growth tucks sewn in the hem for lengthening as the child grew. As well, the back waistband has a series of vertical tucks that could be let out to widen the waist if needed, without having to unpick the entire dress.
Emma wears a simple lace cap that would have always been worn both inside the house, and outside, under the outer bonnet. The muslin pantaloons can be seen just underneath the hem of the dress, reaching to the ankles.
A common accessory for both mother & child during the last decade of the 18th century, and stretching to the 1860's, was the basket purse. This example is c1830-40, from Pennsylvania. Both sides are hand painted with a Pineapple design. It is complete with 2 swing handles, and hinged lid, also with polychrome paint
The pantaloon's Emma wears are c1830-40, and show the wide straight leg reaching to the ankles. Many of this era are left plain and devoid of any trim or decoration at the hems. There are button holes in the waist that would either fasten to a chemise, or directly onto the soft corded corset the child would be wearing.
This is Little Mifs Liberty~ she will be available on the new TDIPT update this evening~ she is SOOOO sweet! I dressed her c1850, and she has donned her most patriotic rosette sash in remembrance of her dear Great Grandfather who gave his life in the Revolutionary War~ and for all who made the ultimate sacrifice for their new country. Her township is marking this 4th of July with much pompe~ a parade & ceremony in the towne square, a big picnic feast at the schoolhouse, and her most anticipated, earlye evening dance being hosted by the Lady's Seminary. She has eagerly helped with the decorations, and will be offering 2 of the banners she had left over on the update as well~ (she was very eager!) Each are one of a kind, and will come in their own covered box~ hope you will stop by and take a peek later this evening!~
What a WONDERFUL day! Dr. unwrapped Tressa's leg on Saturday morning for a peek, and was very pleased. This morning, he took a second look, and said we could GO HOME! Words just cannot express how both of us felt at that moment! Nearly all her skin graft attached~ there is an area in the center and to the bottom that has sluffed away, but that will gradually fill in by itself. She will be doing at home exactly what she was doing in hospital~ strict bed rest, only getting up to go to the bathroom with her crutches, and keeping her leg elevated. She is on keflex 4x a day, and we will go back to the Dr in a week for him to check her progress. 25 days in hospital, and we are HOME at 11 am this morning!!!! WOO HOOO! I took the above picture right after the Dr left, and she was doing the happy dance in bed!
Nurse Linda is wheeling her out to the car...she doesn't look the least bit happy does she? The whole drive home, she kept saying~ 'wow~ look at that!'.....when we went in hospital, the trees were not yet budded out even, and now everything is, as Tressa says, "All Green and Fuffy"
On our way!
She managed not to cry until we drove up the driveway, me~ I cried all the way home! Tears of J*O*Y*
My Little Mifs Liberty dolly will be available on the June 15th TDIPT update, along with a couple other dear little Patriotic Trifles for your amusement~ I hope you will drop by if you have the time
My country,' tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
land where my fathers died,
land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside let freedom ring!
~from the first stanza of 'America', by Samuel F. Smith
