White Flag

No man is defeated without until he is defeated within.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

With all due respect to Eleanor Roosevelt, I am defeated without and within.  A disastrous work trip last week was the final blow.  I know that my life is blessed and many people struggle with much more difficult challenges than I can even imagine, but, for the moment, as Ana sometimes says:

Siento que mi corazón no tiene fuerzas.

Right now, everything is too much for me - even those things that normally bring me joy and strength.  

I'm going to take a break from blogging for a while - hopefully not long, but we'll see...  

Please don't give up on me or forget about me - I know that each of you has a full life and reads lots of blogs and I am just a tiny drop in the bucket - but you are important to me and I don't want to lose you.  

Thank you.  

Gwen

Friday: Vicarious Vintage 1912

Today's vicarious vintage pattern is a blouse.  Here is the pattern illustration:  

People have had a lot of fun with this pattern.  Msaviano eschewed (woo hoo, big word points for me!) the contrasting fabric shown on the collar and cuffs, and went for binding the collar to make it stand out.  You can see more pictures and read about her version here.  

Karen thought it was the perfect pattern for some striped fabric - look at how she flipped the direction of the stripes on the cuffs.  More here...  

Lisa and Robin used wooden beads to decorate the collar overlay.  Lots more pictures here.  

And check out Theresa's beautiful fabric choices.  More here.

Isn't it amazing how one pattern can lead to such different blouses?  I'm going to do one more post with a skirt - then we'll have been through a whole outfit - slip, blouse, skirt and the option of a wrap or a coat...  ;)

Hopefully, I'll be getting some pictures of my own sewing up SOON!  :)

Thursday: Vicarious Vintage 1912

Today's vicarious vintage project is a coat - called a duster.  Here is the pattern illustration:  

Not so many people have finished their coats yet, but there are two to show you:  

Sharon used a raw silk for the coat and a crushed velvet for the trim.  You can see lots more pictures on her blog, here.  

Toby used a heavy cotton duck for his version.  Again, visit his blog, here, to see and read more...  

Oh man, I really wish I was at home sewing...  This weekend will be taken up by taxes, but hopefully I can at least put together the three, little 2T skirts I've got cut out - after all, two of those babies are due within a month!  ;)

Tuesday: Vicarious Vintage 1912

For today's Vicarious Vintage, I'm showing the wrap that Maddie should be wearing...  Here is the pattern cover illustration:  

Melodyejoy has finished this muslin of the pattern and provided detailed modifications to the 100-year-old pattern instructions here.  

ELMO made this gorgeous version - you should see how beautifully she matched the fabric designs on the back center seam!  And you can, here!  ;)

One more picture for you - take a look at Meredith's beautiful version of this wrap!  You can see more pictures and read about her experience here.  

These projects are really inspiring and the blog posts are full of helpful information - I can't wait to get to Maddie's wrap!  :)

Finally, if you want still more, check out the main page on the official project blog here.  

I hope everyone is having a good week with time for sewing!  :)

Monday: Vicarious Vintage 1912

I spent the weekend on a family trip and am now off to San Diego for a work trip.  The cobwebs continue to multiply on my sewing machine and I am feeling more and more anxious to get back to it...  :(

In the meantime, I thought I'd share some of the Vintage 1912 projects that others have been working on.  (Poor Maddie is still in her modern, lilac linen shift...)

Today's vicarious vintage pattern is a Princess Slip from the March 24, 1912 issue of La Mode Illustree.  Here is the pattern illustration:

I've got three "teaser" shots of three versions of the pleated ruffle along the bottom for you.  First up, from CostumeDeeva:  

Next, a more minimalist pleat from Madame Mermet: 

Finally, a gloriously petite pleat from Chopkins:  

Follow any of the links above to see more about the construction of these three beautiful versions of the Princess Slip.  And, for even more slips, you can start on this page of the VPLL official blog. 

I'll try to get a Vicarious Vintage 1912 post up each day this week.  Hopefully, by next weekend, I can get back to my own sewing!  Until then, all my best for all of you!  :)