Painting on Velvet

Something odd has been happening lately. Over and over, I keep running into theorem pieces. It is even happening in the oddest of places including the dressing room of a second hand shop. (Granted, I know the manager and suspect she is why it is there.) The first little piece that I can recall is the cutest little shell pincushion at an antique show. The design was faded to almost not being there. Then came several more similar pincushions in a photo with very bright flowers still on the velvet. A couple weeks later I noticed the one in the dressing room. A few more glimpses later, I get a message from Eileen with a link to a photo in the OSV collection which has several items with small pieces of theorem.

All these little run-ins is making me quite a bit camp sick because theorem used to be a hit among the Pioneer Days campers at Stone Tolan House.

With that in mind, I just have to make some of these little shell pincushions with the theorem. I’ve been wanting to make the pincushions with the shells. I even have shells saved from our first anniversary. Now that I’ve been seeing so many with the theorem, I just have to do that bit as well.

This little sewing case is darling with its theorem just inside the cover. It is also rather unusual to see the large pocket on the back side.  

Published in: on March 22, 2012 at 4:14 pm  Comments (5)  

Shaker Style Work Boxes

I meant to get this post together over a week ago, but I’ve been non-functional sick. I just had a conversation that reminded me to put this together. This is one of those posts I’ll be adding info and image to over several days.

While at the Geneseo Kiwanis antique show, I saw a display of Shaker or Shaker style work boxes, aka sewing baskets. (I do wish I had my real camera rather than my camera phone for you all.) None of these boxes are dated.

In this box we see a green silk lining around the sides and bottom. The needle-book is a woven straw tied with ribbon to the box. There are two pincushions one in silk and one in an off-white velvet. The exterior shot shows the green ribbon ties which likely held other accessories in place.

This box has a creamy silk lining without any pockets evident and a single tie to the front right.

If you look online at reproduction shaker boxes, you will see some such as this one  with drop in trays including trays with thread spool pegs. As much as I love the idea of keeping my thread neat, I have yet to discover whether this version is appropriate for the mid-century.

This is a Shaker style sewing box finished by Bevin. (The box itself was made by the Rapones at GCVM.) She lined her box and lid. Inside she has a scissor’s case, pincushion and needlepages.

Now, this has little to do with the above Shaker or Shaker style work boxes. This is just another sewing box I happen to love the look of and would really like a reproduction of.

Published in: on November 17, 2011 at 1:50 pm  Leave a Comment  

A Half Dozen Housewifes

I had fun putting these little pieces together. It can be fun playing with the fabrics, putting them together in ways I think the original cast might have.

 

Each of these are available for purchase on Etsy at a special limited time price  .

I’m looking forward to doing some rolled pocket cases with each pocket a variation on one kind of fabric – Turkey reds, poison greens, Prussian blues and chrome yellows. I may even play with some all in plaids.

Published in: on August 30, 2011 at 12:44 pm  Comments (1)  

More Sewing Cases

Here are a couple more sewing cases.

I am particularly fond of this fold-over case style. It has lots of room to store needles, thread spools, thread winders, scissors or what have you. The exterior is a black felted wool. The interior is a silk with a cone motif on a damask weave. The pocket is a twill weave golden silk. The whole case is bound with black silk taffeta ribbon. The trio of wool pages will hold plenty of needles.

When I saw this fabric, I knew it had to be a sewing case. Or, in this instance a pair of sewing cases. I would love to see this pair say as a pair possibly for a husband and wife, a pair of brothers or a father and son. Each rolled case is handsewn. The pinked needle-pages are off white wool. The button placement with button loop allows the case to be filled and still closed.

Published in: on May 26, 2011 at 9:40 am  Comments (5)  

Sewing Cases….. Available Soon

With my job search comes the need to de-stress. Lucky for those who have been asking for sewing cases, I’ve been de-stressing with sewing some cases and needle-books.

For those of you wanting to make your own sewing cases or needle-books, Fanciful Utility: Victorian Sewing Cases & Needle-Books should be available for pre-publication orders in Early August for shipping in Early September.

This case is made with a lovely fall toned striped silk on the exterior and a coppery shot silk on the interior. The spacious pocket is a white and golden yellow plaid silk. The two off white wool needle-pages are vine stitched with dark green on the first and golden yellow on the second. The viney stitch is continued on the ends of the cotton batted roll. The case is held closed with a tiny mother of pearl button and loop. This case is entirely hand-sewn and based on an original formerly in my collection and featured in the up-coming  Fanciful Utility

The bell shaped needle-book is made of coppery silk with a pair of off white needle-pages inside. It is tied at top with a cream silk taffeta ribbon.

Published in: on May 23, 2011 at 5:58 pm  Comments (2)  

My Publications

Nineteenth Century Shawls (e-book)          October, 2007

From Field to Fashion (booklet)                  February, 2006

 

Published in The Citizens’ Companion

“Looking at Looking Glasses”                 April, 2009

“Serving 19th Century Style                      March, 2009

“Keeping Warm This Winter”                 January, 2009

“Carrying Your Impression”                    December, 2009

“Folding Chairs”                                       November, 2008

“Paper Flower from Godey’s Lady’s Book”       August, 2008

“Types of Buttons” 2 parts                       June & July, 2008

“What’s Under Foot” Carpets & Rugs    April, 2008

“Doll and Ball Toy Patterns”                   March, 2008

“Shopping For Millinery”                         January, 2008

“Needle-books, Sewing-Cases and House-wives”          November, 2007

“Straw Hats”                                             August, 2007

“Social Movements Series” 10 parts       February, 2007 thru 2008

“Bonnet Ribbons: A Survey”                   April, 2007

“An Introduction to Introductions”          December, 2006

“A Study of Trunks”                                 December, 2006

“Choosing a Shawl for Your Living History Impression” October, 2006

“Wearing a Hair-Net”                              August, 2006

“Straw Bonnets”                                       June, 2006

“Shawls: An Article of Dress”                  February, 2006

“To Net or Not to Net”                             December, 2005

 

PDF Resources on the Mite Society Website

            “Anatomy of a Bonnet”

            “Anatomy of a Dress”

            “Books and Paper”

“Creature Comforts” (Those things that make an event more comfortable)

            “Dining and Entertaining”

            “Etiquette & Manners Resources list”

            “Event Prep Cheat Sheet”

            “Fabric Rosettes”

            “Godey’s Scissor’s Case”

            “Guidelines for Civilians”

            “Keeping Your Hands Busy”

            “Introductions to Introductions”

            “Making Ribbons”

            “Packing and Storing”

            “Small Containers”

            “Soldiers’ Aide Acquisition and Distribution”

            “Tents and Camping”

Published in: on January 12, 2009 at 7:47 am  Leave a Comment  
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