Gone Riding

 

I'll be back tomorrow! xo

Measure Twice, Cut Once

Measure twice, cut once. (Or as Ben Napier says on HGTV's Home Town, "Measure twice, cuss once." Hah!)

I did measure twice. I always do before I cut a length of fabric into smaller lengths. And it's especially important when I am making petticoats. I buy just enough fabric to make one so there is no room for error. Then I lay it out, I measure it once and then measure it again, and finally, I cut.

So, when I was making the red petticoat, I measured twice as always, grabbed my roto cutter, and cut. I pinned the two pieces together to stitch the side seams and...

What?? Wait, one piece is longer than the other. What was going on?

I checked to be sure I hadn't accidentally folded one piece under itself when I'd pinned. An easy fix.

Yeah. If only.

Somehow I'd cut one of the two pieces 3 1/4" shorter than the other. A significant mistake, and one that I could not repair. I either had to get more fabric and cut again, or shorten the longer piece by 3 1/4" and proceed with making the petticoat.

I chose the latter option. Petticoat hem lengths in the 18th century varied from mid calf to ankle, plus a shorter woman would have no problem with the length. (At least, that's what I told myself.)

The petticoat is completed but that error pointed something out - I was getting really tired and starting to make mistakes. Time to take a break for maybe a day and just do other things. And that's what I did.

When I returned, I began work on the blue knee-length cloak. It was time to attach the silk lining, something that would require very tiny hand stitches and take a lot of time to do.

I also needed my special sewing glasses so I could see my stitching and a good light source. And maybe even some Tylenol because my neck was soon getting a kink from bending over the table. (Some chocolate and a coke would be nice, too, but I didn't want to get any food on that silk.)

Since the stitches would be seen on both sides of the hood, I used blue thread to match the outside of the hood - that is what would show most of the time. And, it was more incentive to get those stitches as teeny tiny as I could.

An hour later, the silk was attached and I continued on to making the hood itself.

Using more hand stitching, I gathered the back of the hood. Now I need to even out those gathers into a neater circle and then anchor them in place with stitches, again all by hand. (Sure am glad I chose to not use the other cloak pattern that required hand stitching. ::cough cough::)

I'm going to take another break from sewing for today, though. Tomorrow's Sunday and I always take that day off, so I won't get back to the blue cloak until Monday. No doubt a two day break will do me some good. And hopefully I will feel fresher and less tired on Monday and when I measure twice and then cut, I'll get it right.

Stay 'tooned!

Vintage Club Phoebe Lamp & Bonus Stablemate

Phoebe is here! The last Vintage Club offering of 2026 (well, there is one more optional piece yet to come.) The box has been on a shelf for days but I finally found the time to open it yesterday.

Because it's a lamp, the box was large. I can only imagine what the shipping cost was for all of these!

The side of the box.

Inside was a styrofoam, clam-style box that held and protected the lamp.

Phoebe (without her lamp shade.)

She's also a nice match for my Vegvisir, the 2026 Ambassador model.

Some folks have reported that their Phoebe is pearly. I've examined mine, and when I look at the bare white plastic on her legs, I think mine may be. There is definitely a pearly sheen.

Riding along with Phoebe was her Stablemate companion, the flocked circus pony. A special cut out in the styrofoam was made for it and the lamp bulb. (That was nice to receive - I'd thought I'd have to go buy one!)

Honestly, this Stablemate is one of two of my favorite models of all for 2026, be it regular run, special run, or limited edition.

I will keep him in his box for the time being. A quick check showed me that the red surcingle had a lining preventing the red from bleeding onto the flocking, and the red feathers are not touching his head or body, either. He's safe and will stay dust-free and clean where he is.

Both pieces are very unusual, stand out pieces, and once again, I am so glad I am a member of the Vintage Club. I have been from the very beginning, and you can bet that I plan to rejoin again for 2027.

Stay 'tooned!

The Cloak Saga

Yesterday I sat down at the sewing table and opened my new cloak pattern. I was excited to have another one to try since I had not been happy with how the green short cloak was looking. I began reading the directions, and stopped short.

Hand sewing?! Surely not. I did not have the time to do that nor do I have the hands for it due to arthritis. Besides, if sewing the cloak on my sewing machine would be too heavy for the machine, what would the weight of it do to my hands?

And "don't panic"? Too late for that. It looked like I would not have any cloaks to sell at the Feast, which is a shame because preliminary weather reports are calling for temperatures down in the 30s that weekend.

What to do... What to do...

The green short cloak was still hanging where I'd left it a week ago and I decided to take another look at it. Maybe it was still salvageable. Turned out that it was.

After a little trimming in a few areas and the addition of silk ribbon ties, the green short cloak was finished. It was not a loss! And I was really happy with how it had turned out, too.

So happy that I decided I would go ahead and finish the blue short cloak I'd also cut out. It is a knee length cloak as opposed to a hip length like the green one, 

plus it has a hood instead of a double collar,

The hood is silk-lined. 

It's 100% silk, not a blend or an imitation silk. It's the real deal. I love to just smooth my hands over it as it has such a beautiful feel. Hard to describe; if you've ever had something in your hands made of pure silk, you will know what I mean.

Last year I made two silk-lined hooded short cloaks using the same pattern.

Both were hip length, and both sold quickly.

This is the same wool as the one I am currently making.

I also made a silk-lined hooded hip length cloak, and it sold quickly, too. 

I hope to finish the blue cloak today, and then I have two pockets cut out to finish. I will probably call the Feast sewing good after that. 

Stay 'tooned!

The Feast Map Has Dropped!

Second Post of the Day

Yesterday afternoon, the 2026 Feast map dropped. That's welcome news for sutlers and vendors. 

I'd heard rumors that some things would be "rearranged" on the site, and I was hoping that I would not be one of those who was moved to a different spot. I like my site and I like the people around me. (Plus, I am close to the "bathrooms." LOL)

As always, it was a struggle to pull the map and key off the web site or download it.

I am pleased to see that for my 5th year, I am in the same place, site 353 (bottom left arrow.) Leslie is in her same place as well, site 102 (top right arrow.) Remaining in the same place makes it much easier for my family, friends, and customers to find me.

This is the key - hard to read, I know, but it's the best I could do this morning. (I will keep trying.) In the meantime, here is the link to the site map and key so you can see them better. 

Here's a promotional video for this year's Feast - that's Brooke Sauter's voice, head of the event and the owner and restorer of the Dan Patch/Messner building where I held Happy Trails last year. It's a Facebook link; sorry if you cannot see it.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1435143248540442

The Feast of the Hunters' Moon is the biggest event in our community, aside from a Purdue football game when the Boilermakers are having a good year ::cough cough:: and even during good years for Purdue, the Feast attendance may surpass them.

A current advertisement in downtown Lafayette as you approach one of the bridges over the Wabash and into West Lafayette.

It's getting real, folks!

A Little Bit of Abby

First Post of the Day

Wondering what was in the pretty little box I posted yesterday?  

A gift from reader Amanda G. A pretty clear bead on a silver necklace. But look closely at that bead. See the red-brown stripe?

That's a little bit of Abby's hair, pulled from one of Abby's brushes.

Last June while cleaning and organizing the garage, I'd discovered one of her brushes was still covered in hair - I must've been in a hurry and instead of cleaning it off like I normally would, I'd simply tossed the brush into the bucket.

That turned out to be a real bonus for me because Abby passed soon afterward.

A few months ago, Amanda contacted me and asked if I'd like a bead made from a little bit of that hair.

Honestly, I had to think about it - that hair was precious to me. When it was gone, there'd be no more. But the idea of wearing a little bit of my girl was appealing, so I agreed to send a pinch of hair and Amanda had the bead made.

Thanks, Amanda. What a special gift. I really like it and appreciate your thoughtfulness. xo

Stay 'tooned!

An October Mish Mosh

(Hang onto your hats; this mish mosh post is going to cover a lot of different things!)

October is the month of the Hunters' Moon.  The name acknowledges the shift from gathering crops to continuing to prepare for Winter by hunting - fields are mostly harvested and clear and leaves have fallen which makes it easier to see game, game that's been preparing itself for winter and is fattened up.

The Harvest Moon is waning at the moment and when I was out this morning with Pepper (once again, Tammo was too warm and cozy to get up at that early hour) the moon was aligned with a star or planet just above it.

The beauty of the moment took my breath away, and I snapped a few pictures. Some of the best things about being an early riser are the things you get to see just before dawn. This was one of them. Lucky, lucky me.

It's been in the 40s for a week or so now, and it's still cool enough after the sun rises that I need a jacket or a sweatshirt to stay warm. I haven't spoken much about my weight loss (I began right after Thanksgiving in 2024), but I've lost 57 pounds. (Slow and steady wins the race, as the turtle said to the hare.)

Craig snapped this photo of Pepper and me the other day and, while I knew my clothes were becoming too big for me, I didn't realize just how loose they had become and how they were hanging off me. That's my favorite pair of capris and a new sweatshirt that was a gift but they're too big. I'm very, very grateful for the weight loss, but I've realized that it is time to do some shopping. (More lucky me, depending on your point of view.)

Ian's final football game was last Thursday. He'd never played football on a team before, and he has learned a lot. (That's him in the middle of the photo.)

He made some really good plays in their final game, including a fumble recovery at the last play. Still, they lost 0 - 8, the only game they lost this season. Proud of you, buddy!

The family cheering squad: Craig, Nancy, and Paul (Vanessa's parents), and Lisa, Curt, Vanessa, and Brianna (Vanessa's sister.)

In other sports news, Mila and Lucas' soccer season wraps up this week.

Curt (pointing) and Vanessa have coached both teams again.

Mila keeping her eye on the ball.

Halftime pep talk. It's been fun, but as the weather has gotten cooler, I feel a bit like Tammo does - I don't want to leave my cozy home and sit on a windy, chilly soccer field. LOL

Jayci is so good about sending us photos of Elsie Mae (who celebrates her first birth day on Halloween. Hard to believe.)  I was looking through the latest batch and something caught my eye. Do you see it, too?

The quiet book!  And she's been playing with it! That made my heart really happy.

Before heading into the sewing room yesterday, I brought all the newly blackened beeswax ornaments upstairs, pulled out the ones I already had, sorted them into groups (Christmas, Animals, Miscellaneous., etc.) and discovered a big oops.

I had used the wrong inventory sheet when I'd made this batch. That sheet was an older one and did not reflect what I actually had had in stock.

Instead of the 165 ornaments I thought I now had in stock, I only have 126. I was going to have to make another batch. I began inventorying what I still needed to make.

And then common sense stepped in. I have 45 molds. I had at least one finished ornament of all of those except 2. The only one who was going to notice those missing molds is me. Did I really want to spend several hours to set up/pour/pop/clean up again for two missing molds?

I did not.

So, I packed up all the ornaments, updated my inventory sheets, and called it good. And then I headed into the sewing room.

I have discovered that I can make a pleated petticoat in about three hours, including cutting it out. I'm working my way through the six different cotton fabrics that I bought last week. (Three different shades of blue, a red, a black and a green striped.)

Yesterday I made the black. Have I said before how much I love pleats and pleating? (Rhetorical question, folks. I know I have! LOL)

Today's plans? Walking the dogs, of course. Then, I'd like to open my Vintage Club Phoebe (the lamp)

which has been languishing on the clothes rack shelf for a few days.

And, I found and bought another short cloak pattern that arrived yesterday.

I've used this brand's patterns before and found them to be well researched and accurate. The short cloak pattern is hard to find, but I got lucky.

I haven't finished either of the short cloaks I've already cut out of wool. I want to see how this pattern makes up before I put any more time into them. I don't want to waste the wool, either, but if this pattern works out like I hope it will, then I will try to get a few made from it now and then come back to the other two unfinished cloaks after the Feast when I have more time. (You know, when I start my holiday sewing. Lots of time, right? LOL)

That's it for today! I'll end with a hint about tomorrow's post.

Stay 'tooned!