Late 18th Century + Early 19th Century Gowns

So, I've officially started taking photos of all the things I made last year. Thanks for your patience! First, Mirial's Georgian formal gown and Mandee's Regency gown. They match! Hope you enjoy :)

I told Mandee, "Just look up at the tree..."

Grins :D

Detail on the ruffle sleeve and gathers at the waistline.

Please don't kill me, fellow seamstresses...I put a zipper in!

Detail on the skirts.

Mirial was gathering her "nuts".

Mandee wanted to pick "nuts", too!

More grins! Always grins!!!

 

 

 

 

 I hope you liked the pics. It was so much fun taking them! Chilly, but so much fun! If you have any questions, email me at missmckennaray@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you and become friends!

Recommended Reading List #1

So, I have compiled a list of my favorite books that I recommend to everyone when they ask. I've read most of these at least twice through :) My favorite and my best, as you might put it! 

First is "Stepping Heavenward" by Elizabeth Prentiss. It's the fictional journal of a girl growing in her faith during the mid 1800's. I've read this one through many times and discover more about the heart of what my Savior has for me each time through. It's a good read-aloud for older sisters or mothers to younger sisters 12 and up. And I say 12 and up only because the antiquated language might be a little beyond early comprehension.

This book was a happy birthday present from my parents two Summers ago. A fantastic read for girls 13 and up. Debi Pearl hits home with practical insights to how we as single young ladies can be preparing for our future position as helper and completer at the side of a godly man. There's also a study guide at the back written by one of Debi's lovely daughters!

"Little Women" is one of my annual reads! The home-centered tale of four sisters is rich with good old-fashioned American history and values to apply in every day life. I recommend "book one" (the first half. My edition is divided) for all ages. And it's fairly easy to understand even for younger girls. But, part two is more...how shall we say, romantic? It's the part where the girls go abroad, fall in love, and get married. If your younger girls struggle with things like keeping their hearts at home, and romantic thoughts and feelings, I wouldn't recommend it yet. Or the second sequel (book 3) "Jo's Boys". That one gets pretty intensely romantic. 

This book is fabulous for all ages! A great read aloud for the whole family. "Little Britches" by Ralph Moody is the story of an East-coast family that moves to Colorado to start a farm. I've read it 4 times through and it gets better each time :)

A riveting tale told in first-person by Corrie Ten Boom herself! This narrative takes place in Holland during WWII when the Ten Booms hid Jews in their home above the watch shop. 

I have mentioned this book before, but I had not read it yet. I am at the end of it now and gaining more and more knowledge each page I turn :) Perhaps I'm not very clever with post titles, but this truly is on the top of my recommended reading list! 

There will be more to come as I read and acquire more books to add to my library (the top of my dresser). Meanwhile, what are the books that you recommend? Have you read any of the books that I posted above? Please comment and let me know!
 

A Poem...By Me

I wrote this poem about a year ago and haven't thought to share it with the world until now. It expresses the way I feel toward my family and the life that God has blessed me with! How...maybe it's not "perfect" to the world...but it's "perfect" the way God saw fit to create it!

Here's a house with flower beds

of colors o so gay

nary a weed has been seen there

where bumblebees do play

The grass is green, the fence is white

the house is like a picture

and looking in the window

you can see the silver fixtures

Inside, the place is spick-and-span

the dust does never stay

The silver gleams, no children scream

it always smells of May

The bedrooms never see a piece

of clothing on the floor

The shelves are neat, the flowers sweet

and bloom forever more

The windows will stay open

a cool breeze flowing through

And when you heave a deep breath in

you'll feel completely new

But what it lacks is joyful noise

and a loving family

For it must stay stay so clean and neat;

you must not touch, just see

Now I will tell you of a house

with no white picket fence

The grass is dry, the weeds are high

The kids have dug a trench!

The rooms look like a hurricane

swept in and left disaster

I never in my life did see

a closet emptied faster.

Laundry piling in the rooms

but not prepared for washing

to find your favorite sweater, dear

the toys you will be tossing

When you enter in the back

through the smudged storm door

the muddy footprints big and small

are tracked upon the floor

But peek inside the kitchen, friend

it brings a smile to see

the wet, and muddy commodores

that sip their sweet iced tea

Some are tall and some are short

their faces all a mess

but sitting still and giving thanks

they feel so very blessed

So as we close upon this scene,

of joyful faces dear

don't forget to be content

with what God gives you here

2013 Sewing Endeavors-to-be

I have upcoming projects to work on and plans for what I'm going to sew this year. I'm afraid we'll have to wait until I find my camera's battery charger to see pics of what I did last year. But for now, here are my upcoming plans! 

So, beginning last year, I, unintentionally, started a tradition. Birthday kids get to pick what costume they want McKenna (that's me) to make for them! First up are Moses (turning 9) and Mandee (turning 3). 

Moses has asked for a Frodo Baggins costume and he's getting it. I won't be including the coat (not pictured here) or a shirt (we can use a button-down for now). But, I shall construct a velveteen vest, brown pantlets and a cape. And for Matthew's 6th birthday, he'll be getting a Samwise Gamgee outfit. They're going to be so cute together!!!

Back in the Fall, Mirial (age 7) got a green Susan gown for her birthday (pics coming soon). Now, Mandee gets a Lucy dress to match. Oh! And she also gets a new wardrobe ;) These are just some ideas for possibilities!

I can't get over this!

I love the multicolor theme and the button flowers

I can use my girls' regency pattern for this one

I don't think a pattern is needed for this one :)

Simple and easy

I just had to put this up! I love the sleeves!!!

A little Summery, but with a cardigan...

Salvation Army top+cute fabric!

Made out of Daddy's button-down!

How cute is this wrap dress?!

Okay, so, I kinda went crazy there, but, you get the picture. 

I'm also doing costumes for some little friends of mine who are 9 and 11 years old. They're in a school production of "The Music Man" and I've been hired to construct their costumes. 1919. I'm really excited! 

Next up, my sister Marley is going on a missions trip to El Salvador with the Duggar family. So, she needs some supplies. A.K.A. skirts and a bag :) 

I like this khaki skirt just a tad longer.

I love making skirts from jeans and I already have made several 

I positively adore this messenger bag! Marley won't be crazy about the fabric but she'll  love the belt handle :)


Mason will be turning 2 in June and he isn't particularly crazy about anything but "Mater's Tall Tales" and "Martha Speaks". So I've decided that he needs a waistcoat :D

Something like this, including the tie. 

So, I'm booked for the first half of the year. I really can't think as far ahead as July for now...

Recapping 2012

So, it's been awhile. And now it's the New Year. I shall join all the other bloggers and recap 2012.

I left on the first of the year for Ecuador on a Compassion International mission trip with my Dad.

You can find out more here:

http://cherishingmyrole.blogspot.com/2012/01/ecuador-post-part-1.html

http://cherishingmyrole.blogspot.com/2012/01/fyi-this-was-written-about-week-ago.html

http://cherishingmyrole.blogspot.com/2012/01/ecuador-post-part-3.html

Here are a couple of my favorite pictures!

The president of Compassion Wess Stafford and I.

This sweet girl would not tell me her name but clung to me like a leech :)

I did a lot of sewing, but haven't had time to take pictures. I shall have to do that very soon :)

In July, I began emailing back and forth with the head costume designer for Burns Family Studios (burnsfamilystudios.com), Marilyn. BFS is an independent Christian film company in Michigan. At the time, they were at the end of pre-production and costuming hadn't even started yet! In a couple of weeks, Daddy and I were on the road again, but this time to Michigan. I spent a short 3 days there then went home again. 

My "timekeeper" pose in the pocket hoops I just finished!

I assisted in making this petticoat out of a bedskirt!

Ripping apart wool coats to make more coats/ trousers, etc.

Though I couldn't make it back to help with more costuming, two months later, I was back to act! My Dad and I got to be a feature couple in a masked ball! What an experience! We shot our scene in the bitter cold of night outside in October! Thank goodness for layers!

Here is my gown. And yes, that is a ship on my head :)

Most of us wore masks. The movie is titled "Beyond the Mask"

Here is the practice in an insulated barn about 3 days before filming :)

 What an exciting couple of days! Dad preferred that a picture of him in a tricorn hat NOT be posted on the internet.

Those are the two big events that happened this year, through them I made so many wonderful new friends. I'm excited that I got to share with you and I look forward to what awaits in 2013!

~McKenna