Downton Abbey Meets the 1970s

First of all, please don't be offended by the title of this post.  Please know that I would never, ever suggest that something like Downtown Abbey should be influenced by the 1970s.  I would like to argue, however, that perhaps the 1970s might have been influenced by the era of Downton Abbey. 

Lost yet?

I'm talking in terms of clothing.  Those of you who follow fashion know that there is rarely a new idea in fashion.  Instead, the clothes we wear today are broadly shaped by what has come before us.  Take, for example, all of those lovely sailor collarish creations seen during season 2 of Downton.  Sweaters, blouses, jackets - many of them featured square collars that draped over the shoulders gracefully.  So gracefully, in fact, that I found myself starting to lust after them.

Recreating such an outfit presents many issues, though.  And truthfully, I might look a little wacky wandering in something that was quite that period - though trust me, I've been tempted.  Probably the biggest problem is the lack of such patterns.  Enter the 1970s.

Sailor collars were big in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  And lucky enough, I have one such pattern that was given to me by a friend!  Even better - it's the proper size.  Wahoo! 

So here's my solution to my desire for a Downton inspired suit.  One jacket, made from the pattern above.  One skirt, made from the pattern below, in  the longer length.  And maybe a belt with a couple of buttons on it to cinch the jacket in.

And here's the fabric, if you're wondering.  A navy with a fine white plaid. 

Now to find the time to make it....

A Springtime Quilt

Here's a glimpse of something I've been working on.  When it's done it will be a throw quilt.  I'm going to save it and give it as a gift to a friend later this year.  As I'm pretty sure that she's not a reader, I thought I'd share a little peak with you.  It's made out of a Moda layer cake called Spring Magic that came out a couple of years ago. 

Everytime I start a quilt, I am amazed at how pleasurable it is to take on the challenge of arranging all of those different fabrics into patterns.  I imagine that's why women have loved quilting or centuries - it's such a perfect way to unlock the creative side of your mind while making something practical and warm!

Why Do We Have Wallpaper?

Wallpaper is not, as far as I know, a very trendy topic of late.  I think that too many of us were scarred by the geese and cows that appeared in EVERYONE's kitchen in the early 1990s to consider using wallpaper again anytime soon.  (If that was your kitchen, btw, no shame.  You were very stylish.)  That being said, though, there have been many times throughout history when wallpaper was the style trend of the moment.  In fact in the Victorian era, wallpaper was sometimes cheaper than paint, and was, therefore, very, very common.

Like everything else, though, wallpaper had to come from somewhere, and had to be invented for some purpose.  I had always assumed that it probably came about as a way to deal with bad plaster.  As many historic home owners know, sometimes the glue on the wallpaper is the only thing holding an old plaster wall together.  This week, though, I learned differently, thanks to Amanda Vickery's wonderful book Behind Closed Doors: At Home in Georgian England.  According to Amanda, the earliest known wallpaper is from 1509, but the product didn't come into significant popular use until the late 17th century.  And why was it invented?  Not to hold together the plaster - oops!  Instead, it was marketed as a cheaper alternative to covering your walls with fabric, which had been (and would continue to be) - the style for the upper classes.  Most people couldn't afford yards upon yards of silk or damask to glue on the walls, but they could afford paper.

Bingo!

Isn't history interesting?

A Pink and Lace Jacket

I first came across the pattern (Simplicity 2223) for this jacket/vesty thingy last year, while on a shopping trip with my mother.  I found myself drawn to it immediately, and was pleased several months later when I came across this pink fabric on the clearance rack.  I immediately decided to use it for this little jacket/vest thingy.  Not long after I purchased the lace (which added up quickly - ouch!) and added the project to my pile.  I finished it a few months ago.

Ever since I put it on for the first time, I've been rather milk toast about it.  I'm just not sure it's me.   I was surprised then yesterday when I wore it  and received so many compliments on it!  Upon putting it on in the morning, when I was with my youth group girls at a weekend retreat, I received several compliments on it from women and girls alike.  Even my youth group girls, who like ot sport black t-shirts with skulls on them, commented on it.  As did the mother of my pastor (hi Shelly!) who was visiting at church on Sunday.  She commented that it reminded her of something that was worn in the 1960s or 1970s.  Such a compliment, of course, made me smile. 

At this point, I've decided that do I like the piece, but I don't love it. I wonder, though, if the issue is what I'm wearing with it.  On Sunday I wore it with jeans and a turtleneck (no, I don't normally wear pants to church, but we were coming back from the retreat).  I have a feeling, though, that it might look better in the summertime over a black dress.  Hmmm....  Sometimes an accessory piece, as I consider this to be, is just waiting for the right base.

Snugitude

As you all know, I love spoiling people's misconceptions about history.  One of the biggest fallacies about history, I think, is this ridiculous idea people have that everyone who came before us was terribly serious.  Now granted, I do think that people were more responsible then we are today.  But everyone, at some time, needs a laugh.  Even those dour looking Victorians from the 19th century.  They laughed too - they just considered it too informal for a portrait!

The other day while reading a book about English domestic culture in the Georgian period (because that's what I do - for fun) I found a silly little case to prove my point.  The author quoted a gentleman that apparently coined the word "snugitude" to describe the happy state of living in a comfortable house with close family.  As Bow Tie Man and I are big fans of creating new words, I instantly knew that this was a word I had to co-opt and insert in my own vocabulary.  And every time I say it, I smile.  And laugh.  As I think that gentleman probably did too.  What a perfect, historically accurate, funny little word to describe one's happy state!

In My Life....

Everyone, I know, has those times of life when there are a million projects boiling away, with no sign of completion of any of them anytime soon.  That's me right now.  Be it quilting or youth group, there are things happening, and while I'm enjoying it, those things don't always translate well into blog posts!

So anyway, here's where I am. 

-  I've started teaching the youth group on my own.  Bow Tie Man used to do it, but as we have a grand total of 3 girls who come every Wednesday, I thought it made more sense for me to do it.  I love the girls dearly, but have gotten the feeling for awhile that the cirriculum wasn't sinking in.  So now, like the good Baptist we are, we're studying the tradition of Lent!  We'll cover topics like Passover, Palm Sunday, the sacrament of communion, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and so on over the next few weeks.

-  I've stared about a million projects lately, and as of yet, have finished none of them.  They include a quilt (piecing), a sweater vest jackety thing (knitting), an afghan (crochet), a doily (more crochet), and embroidering napkins.  I need more hobbies

-  I have read one and a half of the five books on my New Year's Reading List thus far.  I thoroughly enjoyed Peter Pan.  Emma - not so much.  I put it down several weeks ago with my book mark about dead in the middle, and can't get up enough enthusiasm for finishing it. 

-  I'm currently training five new people at work.  It's very fun, but takes up lots of time.  They are all very neat people, though, and I'm really enjoying getting to know them better.

-  I have really exciting news about the Historical Society!  But I can't share it.  Yet. 

What have you been up to?

So Downton Abbey Arrived in My Mailbox Yesterday....

Season two, to be specific.  I've owned season one since last spring.  I knew it was coming out this week.  I knew it.  But my heart still raced a little bit when I pulled it out of the mailbox with a squeal.  Instantly, the temptation began.  Temptation, you ask, dear British readers?  Yes, temptation.  Because they've only broadcast part of it thus far in the States.  We still have TWO installments to go.  That means at present, Matthew has "felt something" but is still in the wheelchair, Mary is still safely engaged to the newspaper man, who has taken to threatening her, Bates' wife just came up dead, Lavinia just returned, and Cybil is about done putting off her chauffeur. 

Oy.

Don't tell me how it ends.  I have my own theories, but still want to watch it unfold on screen firsthand.

Did I consider sitting down and watching the last several (probably four - six) hours last night?  Yes, I honestly did.  Funny enough, Bow Tie Man found it funny and kept egging me on to do it. 

The only problem?  I had a youth group lesson to write.  And yes, God is more important than Downton.  Dusting that had to be done before friends come for dinner this Friday.  And I also knew that tonight (Tuesday) I'd be at a board meeting for the historical society all night, and Wednesday night is church.  So if I didn't watch it all last night, I wouldn't get back to it until Thursday. 

I did, however, spend a GREAT. DEAL. OF. TIME thinking about it.  Because you know, I'm a dork.

Will I watch it all Thursday night?  Maybe.  Maybe I'll just spend all of Saturday on the couch, sucked into the wonderfulness of Downton. 

Anyway, if you don't hear back from me until next week, you'll know that I'm either 1) lost in couch cushions, never to be found again or 2) hospitalized from the shakes I got while waiting to watch it.

This is What It Looks Like When the 1970s Vomits on a Building

This is what happens when a gnome builds a home (see center of building), wins the lottery, and takes up, in this order, acid and architecture. 

Blue and Gray Jumper

I finished this jumper a couple of weeks ago, but decided to wait until my birthday weekend to wear it.  It's made out of a nice wool that my mother bought me on a shopping trip to Shipshewana a couple of years ago.  The quality of the fabric is absolutely beautiful.  If any of you live in Michigan/Ohio/Indiana and like to make clothing, I highly recommend a trip to Yoder's Store in Shipshewana. 

The pattern, if you're wondering, is a 1950s reproduction.  It's Simplicity 3673.  I made the full skirted varity when I first started sewing, and have always been pleased with its fit.  Needless to say, the straight silhouette didn't disappoint either.  The only alteration I would recommend making to the straight jumper would be to line the skirt of the jumper as well as the top.  This absolves the wearer of having to wear a slip underneath, which can be tricky thanks to the slit in the back of the skirt.