Note: "The Ledge of Doom" because after the dance at about midnight JB said we should do something crazy to end the night, so I suggested we roll down the hill by the library (which is quite long and steep, ending in a sharp drop over a ledge). So we rolled down the hill, and when we reached the bottom we discovered that MPT had rolled right over this ledge (at full rolling speed too!). He didn't know it was there. We think that he survived with only a few bruises because he was so disoriented and dizzy that he didn't try to brace himself for it; he just flopped on the sidewalk, his head landing on his arm. It was hilarious.

Virginia City day 2

The second day we were joined by some friends, and some very hot weather that added to the realism of wearing ten yards of fabric and a corset.

I made the red paisley dress, the green dress, and the grey vest and removable collar.

virginia city day 1

These are pictures of us on Friday. We rented a cabin and walked around the town all afternoon in our day dresses. Later, we went to a play (in different gowns of course). We were literally walking tourist attractions.

The Secret of Gracefulness

I recently made a beautiful 1930's style skirt that I just love. I put it on and I feel as graceful and elegant as if I were Ginger Rogers herself. The way it swings to and fro when I walk. The way it twirls outwards when I spin. Its heaviness and drape make me feel so feminine.
But there is nothing very extraordinary about the skirt at all until it is on. By itself it is just some dark grey-blue plaid wool that hangs almost to the floor. Very conservative. Very old-fashioned. Very ordinary. But what womanly medicine it can be!

In this skirt one must move gracefully. No matter how clumsy you feel in your jeans, the abundance of fabric swaying around your legs will give the semblance of grace, and ultimately of beauty itself.

This is just one of the reasons why I adore the styles of the past. Instead of making the human body appear awkward and unshapely (as most modern clothes do) they accentuated the best parts, lent grace to an ungraceful form, and made what was beautiful ten times more beautiful. I might even conclude that they made us more human.

Withstanding The Test of Time

I have only been sewing for about a year now. It all began last June when I was housesitting for a friend in her beautiful home on north Wallace. It was during those hot summer days of reading in the sun with Edward and Ranger (her dogs) laying at my feet that I got the sudden inspiration to sew myself a dress....by hand, of course. The sewing machine was one of my worst fears. They were associated with tangled threads, obstinate bobbins, and utter frustration. Therefore, I set out to make a simple summer dress without their "help". It was exhilarating. But I had no idea it was the beginning of a great obsession.

About a month later my sister-in-law lent me her sewing machine. My creative juices were flowing too fast for my nimble fingers to keep up. I didn't like the idea of my neatness and perfection being compromised by sub-par machine sewing, but I gave it a whirl anyway. The sewing machine won.

That last gown I sewed was the result of one year's sewing experience. I would hardly call that withstanding the test of time. Give me five or ten more years. See if I keep up, or if this hobby falls into my long list of past hobbies. I haven't even made it passed the beginning yet.