“I feel as if I had opened a book and found roses of yesterday sweet and fragrant, between its leaves.”

While I was visiting my cousin Katie, one day on an early summer evening we decided to stop at a nearby park and take a few outfit photos together.

The green plaid dress I wore was an re print 1960's pattern I purchased. I choose the fabric because it reminded me of Scotland, and I was in a big highland mood. I guess that is to be expected because I have Scotch-Irish blood in me. Though I found out that Scotch Irish are really just Scottish, but originated from the Scottish lowlands, not the highlands. Though I shouldn't complain, seeing that I do have true Scottish heritage, and that makes me happy.

“I wish we could see perfumes as well as smell them. I'm sure they would be very beautiful.”

When Katie's party was over, us girls headed over to the beach to get some outfit shots. I love how these turned out! Thank you Katie for taking the pictures!

I don't know what else to talk about with this post. It seams the pictures say it all better than what I can express in writing. So without further ado, here are a few of my favorite shots. 

"Hey, are you Hipsters or Amish?"

Perhaps I'm a total nerd. I probably am, after all I was home schooled. It seems home schoolers are in a class of nerdom all their own. But in a good way. They usually don't worry about following the newest coolest trends, they listen to the music that they love, wear what they like, and pretty much know who they are as a person. They aren't afraid of not fitting in, and don't have as much peer pressure to fit into the way things are "supposed" to be. Home schooling shaped my life in so many ways and it has made me who I am today.

 Keeping that in mind, My sister, Anna, and I were driving about town all afternoon, to the coffee shop, fabric store, and finally to the park to get pictures of my newest dress that I sewed. All while I was wearing my new 1950's dress I sewed, which I am completely not afraid to wear out on a day to day basis. This time I made an actual vintage pattern from the 1950's. (Vogue 8789).

 We were standing by the swings, taking photos, when a group of about four teenagers noticed us. One of the boys, no older than sixteen, yelled loudly across the park in our direction, asking if we were Amish.

I didn't really pay much heed, not sure they were talking to us, and continued snapping pictures.

"Hey, are you guys Amish?!" they yelled again, this time most definitely at us.

I smiled to myself, wondering that they did not know a 1950's dress when they saw it and instead thought me and my sister were Amish for merely wearing a pretty dress. It made me feel a bit sad that no one dresses up anymore, and that by simply wearing a pretty full skirted vintage dress they assumed we were Amish.

The boy was yelling rather rudely across the park at us though, and I wouldn't have minded answering them if they had been a bit gentlemanly and come up and asked politely. But yelling at two young ladies they had never seen before, half way across the park, was just childish, and rude. Perhaps I was a bit stand offish, but I didn't want to answer them when they behaved like that. If they had been nice about it I would have answered. So I ignored them, and we both decided we wanted to go to a more peaceful part of the park, away from the troubled youths, as we so lovingly refer to boys such as that.

I took a few steps and then came the best line I have heard in a long time.

"Hey! Are you hipsters or Amish?"

Now I have had many random things said to me, but never have had the comparison of hipsters to Amish. I wouldn't have known what to say, even if I did answer, but as it was I was already dieing of laughter inside.

Do you get odd comments when you wear a vintage or old fashioned dress?

Cotton Candied Dress // What I Want in a Dress

At least that's what I like to call my new dress. The pink and the blue colors remind me so much of cotton candy. I'm excited, for soon I think I shall be opening my online shop. With each sewing project I've done, I feel more and more confident that I can sew and sell my cotton frocks. The key is, that I actually wear the things I make -- and feel pretty when I put them on. That's always a big plus. <3 I mean I don't have a pair of jeans I feel nice in. They are all too tight, or too low, or stretch out too easily, or are just plain unflattering. So a big hurrah for another dress I can wear with ease, and feel ladylike in. I know, it doesn't take a pretty dress to be a lady, but it sure helps!

I made this dress to wear to my cousin's graduation party this July. She has all sorts of fun decorations planned and I can't wait to go there in my new pretty dress.  

There is a little old fashioned quilt shop in a small town close to wear I live that I just discovered recently. I went there to buy my fabric for this dress. I couldn't choose a better place to shop. I has shelves and shelves of pretty floral old-fashioned fabric to choose from. I could spend hours of my time in there, not to mention tons of money if I had tons. 

Whenever I go there I get compliments from the ladies that work there. One of them said to me, "Aww! I love it when girls wear dresses like that! I was feeling sad that no one wears things like this anymore, when in you walked!" I was beaming. 

I had to agree with them. It is so hard to find clothes that are becoming, stylish, and well made. Well that's why I started sewing in the first place, I suppose. I couldn't stand the loose flowing t-shirty things that are in style now, or at least the things you can find at big stores. But even dresses that are cute from small indie places don't fit my critique. They are made too cheaply. I suppose I love yards of fabric in my skirts and so it is not the most economical, but is it really too hard to make things with decent cotton? Not that stuff that is so flimsy and see through that nearly everything is made out of now. I rather have say, five well made dresses that I love, than a closet full of things I wear some of the time but don't really like.That is why I sew. And that is why I want to sew dresses for other women and girls. It is just a creative way for me to express myself, and I don't see myself stopping for anything less.

 What I want in a dress

Femininity

Comfort

Modesty

Twirly

Girly

Sturdy

Well Structured

Well Fitted

1950's Inspired

Quilting Quality Cotton

Time and Love poured into sewing it 

On a side note, my hair actually seams long-ish in these pictures. Yay! I've been trying to grow it out for some time now, and I can finally say it is long enough not to call it short anymore. Albeit, it's not long yet either, but it is getting there. My hope is for it to be near or at waist by Christmas. We'll see.

One Year Ago

 Nearly one year ago I:

Graduated from home school high school. 

Learned to sew my first successful dress.

Didn't know what I was going to do with my life.

Was afraid of trusting God with my life. 

Started my hope chest.

Spent a summer away from home for the first time.

Started to grow my hair out. 

Got my first real job. 

Now I:

Am opening my own business very soon.

Have a pretty collection of pyrex and cook wear in my hope chest.

Have sewed many dresses.

Have mid back length hair. 

Am saving my money for the future. 

Know I can trust God with my life. 

(Photo Credit: Katie)

Road to Romance Dress

The Royal Road to Romance is a book by Richard Halliburton, a young man in the 1920's who gave up a career in order to travel the world. He wanted to climb treacherous mountains, swim oceans, and see distant lands. This dress, therefore, in the spirit of his amazing travel book, is dubbed the Road to Romance Dress. Who knows on what journeys this dress could take you? Anywhere from America, to Europe, to Asia, or on a ship sailing round the world. A train speeding across the country, or a automobile driving fast on the highway.

This dress I made in November and December as a Christmas gift for my sister, who so beautifully poses for these photos. As soon as I saw the fabric at Hobby Lobby, I snatched it up with great plans for it. Now, months later, we finally took some proper pictures of the dress.

Adieu,
Molly