One for ruthette

more fail, owned and pwned pics and videos

Which, incidentally, isn't getting good votes. This is wrong.



Also,

more fail, owned and pwned pics and videos

(no subject)

This book is dedicated to women and girls—
    and especially to teachers of sewing everywhere—
who enjoy the feel of fabric, the beauty of textures,
    the precision of stitches, the smoothness of seams,
and who delight always in appropriate fabrics
    carefully cut and made up for a happy purpose.

So reads the dedication page in 1950 "Singer Sewing Book" by Mary Brooks Picken—the book I put on hold yesterday at the antique shop and went and picked up today. I find it quite a charming thought—and very true. I think those who sew because they want to sew, or people like me who find it an art form, do indeed find much pleasure in the above-mentioned things.

Another nice touch I found in the book was the pencilled inscription on the dedication page that reads, "This Book belonged first to Helen Osborne—now to Deleda Roper". So I wrote beneath it, "Now to Jael Baldwin, Oct 2008".

Glancing through, I see some elements repeated here that were touched on in "The Secrets of Distinctive Dress", an earlier book this lady wrote in the 1910s - for instance, what colours of clothes are best with what hair and eye colours, etc.

There's a gift list as well. Some of the suggested gifts recommended to make for women are place mats, handbags, slippers, hats, belts, closet accessories, dickies, and lingerie cases.

There are instructions on mending, decorating a house (she says if you have brown, tan, or green floor covering, walls should be light blue-green or brown; draperies should be dark blue-green or gold; upholstery should be brown, copper, gold, or medium green; accents should be white or bright green).

Sometime I'll scan in some of the pictures for you fellow vintage fiends. Some of the dresses are just lovely.