A Letter Home

My dear mermaid hearts, 

I have promised you, dear hearts, a letter. And yet, at times, i feel put upon. I am forever cheered with enthusiasm to share the feelings of my heart and, in so doing, often accosted.

 
I am one to put my emotions in the storefront window. This article is publicising and brings about desperate individuals believing me to be a polemist seeking attention, which I am not; in truth, it is quite the opposite. I am learning to give myself grace, acceptance, and unconditional love. Ye olde Instagram requires rationing. Indeed, my darlings, I have turned a corner and accept full responsibility for my actions and insecurities when I struggled deeply on Instagram. That, my dear hearts, is what an expanded woman does; she learns and grows.
A woman who becomes, over time, a porcupine in nature is most certainly from overexposure to feeling unsafe. Which of the many ladies on Instagram should think that sharing makes her vulnerable or prickly? I understand the prickly women who have become bitter; it is for the knowing they relented in defeatism. My hope is for these women to usher in their strength and return with honouring their truth and set forth the warrior nature that is required to build the earth's return of Christ Consciousness. This understanding is a beautiful notion to look forward to with confidence and delight.
I desire change in our world for ladies and the juxtaposition of remaining graceful, feminine, and safe, which are the considerable dimensions of who she is. There is a delicate cord betwixt the two, and I hope to discover the duality not only for myself but also for my unwavering desire to help others.

 
We all, in a singular fashion, have missions to accomplish. May your letter be often read long after we've left this beautiful world of cornflower skies?

 
May you have a great deal of happiness today in your heart, knowing you are a most exceptional individual. 

(I remain on dear ole’ Instagram, and if you'd like daily little storytime, I share what I am up to each morning. This old blog is still ticking beautifully, and the new blog remains in the works. It's been more toiling than i anticipated.)

Most affably, yours til my next swim, Raquel 

A Cottage In The Woods At The End Of A Path

"Home is the nicest word there is."~Laura Ingalls Wilder 

Victorian 1890 Cotton Walking Skirt And Blouse

My dear friends, 

I am up bright and early once again today, happy as a clam and excited to begin sewing on my newly favoured wardrobe. Do you recall that I told you that once I started packing for our move that I was going to donate the rest of my 'modern' clothing? And what better time to do that than when you are moving, no? Well, that's what I did, and It's made me have to sew more clothing. No more putting it off, or I'll be walking around in my delicates, eeekkk. {smile}

My Old~Fashioned Victorian Sourdough Starter and Bread Recipe {Receipt}

 My dear friends, 

I hope you are well. I have tea in hand and some pumpkin tea snaps. It never fails that when fall sets in, and the air is brisk in the evenings, I can not get enough of anything pumpkin flavoured. The only thing that I am not mainly in favour of is a pumpkin candle. Halloween is my most favourite holiday. What is your most favoured jubilee? I begin holiday music in October. If I am making festivity gifts, I will inevitably put on A Happy Victorian Christmas or Enya holiday, to encourage my frame of mind.

Our Emotional Scales Are Unfailingly Our Vibrational Touchstones

My dear friends, 

I thought to share a little story with you. I just made the long jaunt to the nearest UPS store to mail several of my Mermaidlings/Little Women paintings, and as you know, I am using Poppins, my bicycle. 

I awoke bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. I washed my face, brushed my teeth, placed my hair in a side updo, and pinned it with many kirby grips, to keep those little stray hairs from falling into my eyes while riding. I had readily prepared by searching the internet to see what time the store opened. I was all set, and away I went. Upon arriving at the store, I noticed a little note taped upon the front of the glass door, which read "No internet." I parked Poppins {my bicycle} to the side, placed her kickstand down and walked inside. I noticed the lights were on, so I was hopeful in the shipping of said packages. 

Upon entering the store, a charming curly, sandy blond-haired girl was leaning in a chair, playing on her cellular phone with her legs kicked up on a small table. A brusque man was sitting behind the counter with his legs also kicked up on a table. I asked if I might mail some packages with which he replied, "No, our internet is down." I said, okay. He responded, it'll be back on this afternoon, or you can go down the road to the next UPS store and use theirs. I replied, "I am on a bicycle". Oh, he said. I walked out and was standing at the window while I contemplated my subsequent step. I asked myself, "Should I just go home or try and bicycle two and a half more miles to the nearest USPS?"

I then walked back in and asked if I might buy a booklet of stamps. I was holding my reticule, and I knew I had sufficient cash for a brochure of stamps if I were buying from the USPS, and I also had my debit cards. The man behind the counter said no, I can't sell them to you. I walked out, and immediately the spritely young gal came out and said, " We actually can sell you a book of stamps". I said, oh, good thank you. She held out the stamps and then said, "That will be 9.24". I had the funds for a booklet that generally costs me 8 at the USPS. I didn't realise how much more their prices were, so I offered my debit card. The man didn't look up, and the young girl said, "Can we take her debit card when he replied no, "OUR INTERNET IS DOWN."

I looked squarely at him and said, "I think you should close your store." He pointed to the sign on the door and said I have a note, so why would I do that? I said, "Because you aren't capable of serving your patrons." He said, "Well, have a good day." I said, "Thank you." At that moment, I nearly broke down in tears, but I mustered inner strength, gathered myself together and peddled back home. Even though it was a bit longer, I took the scenic route. I knew that if I were able to enjoy the scenery, I would talk myself right back into a fabulous mood, which I did. I was out of breath, and to clarify my state of affairs, I live in Florida, where the temperature felt like one hundred and seven degrees, and I was wearing a dress with a corset, so my defences were down. I made it back home, rifled through my billfold and retrieved what leftover holiday stamps I had. I stuck a ridiculous amount on each envelope and crammed them in the mailbox. I came back in, and as best I could slump down on the sofa {with a corset on} sighed {ahhhh}.

I share this story with you for several reasons, and I will demonstrate with a few more accounts, to bring the conclusion of a tale about momentum, and energetic vibrations. 

If I chose to, I could have just shared that story with you and chalked it up to bad timing, the man behind the counter was daft, devoutly state I was mistreated and that all shoddy things happen to me. However, I am one to take ownership of myself, comprising of my energy. I'm abiding when I try fervently to live my truth, action accountable with vibrations and life as a whole. 

Now, hours later, having sat down and looked over the situation, I was able to recognise what happened. Nothing went wrong, even though it seems like it did, I know better. All the experiences in our lives are teaching us how to better clarify what we desire in life, and Source/God/Universe is weaving us in and out to do so. 

The bicycle trip was another example of me resting on oriented moves of physical action, as opposed to placing myself into alignment before the ride initially. I had a preceding negative approach. In preparation this morning, I had mentally thought to myself, I despise this situation. I was upset, for something other than the lack of a vehicle. I will share that particular with you in a moment. 

Me and Oliver TwistyTopsy

This gave me a reason to reflect this morning upon returning home from the UPS store. Yesterday, Jeffrey and I had received news that for the second time the contract on our sale purchase was cancelled. As I was trying to console myself from this blow, I recalled an Abraham Hicks workshop. I had remembered hearing of a man that was in the hot seat and was telling Abraham how he had his home on the market for over two years and for some reason he could not get the house sold, and he was so frustrated about it. Abraham then asks him how he feels vibrationally about the home at the moment. He began rattling off how much it needs work, his family has grown out of it, there are no kids for his kids to play with anymore, etc. Then Abraham asked about his emotions when first buying the home. He got a smile on his face and spoke of all the family gatherings they shared, how much they loved going to get new plants/ trees, and how exciting it was for them as a family. Abraham then said to him, right now, you are vibrationally sending out to others, "Come buy this piece of crap I no longer want!" Comparatively to how he used to feel about the home, it is his job to then change his vibration, and the house would sell. Well, the conclusion to that story is that one week after this workshop, the man sent word through an email that he had worked on his vibrational energy, and his house sold. So I began thinking about my vibrational energy towards my own home, and what I am sending out on an emotional scale. Isn't that the truth of it? We frequently go about life without realising our energy is off. We think just because we get up and put our hair in a cute side updo, and look presentable that all is well, however, looks are deceiving. We might as well come around to understanding we can "fool" many folks with an act of seemingly doing well, but we will never fool the Universe/God/Source. Everything is vibrational, and there are no two ways around it. After resting with myself for a time and working a focus wheel, I now realise I have had mixed emotional vibrations with regards to my dear little home. Soon it will be a matter of sufficient timing to get back onto my delightful seafaring voyage of happiness.

I share these experiences with you to remind myself visually of how I am doing on my transformational journey, as well as to hopefully inspire others to observe their own lives.

This morning I told my dear gardener of my synopsis and how even though I live the law of attraction and teach the law of attraction, it will forever be ongoing in our earth life learning. As much as the quote is cliche, it is about the voyage, not the destination. I am so appreciative of the ability to see these experiences as a way to autocorrect.

Aren't these girls just as cute as can be? Their mother sent me these photos of their painting reveals and I just HAD to show you their darling little faces.  

I wanted to show you two separate photos and get your opinions. I know the coloured one is delightful, but I also think the sepia one is delightful too. I am attempting to determine if sepia and black and white images would be more suitable to my blog. If we look back at the Victorian days, they didn't have coloured pictures and If I'm attempting to create an actual Victorian blog, wouldn't the photos be better suited in what would have appeared then? You tell me. I would love your opinion. 

This is the new sign for The English Settlement. Isn't it a delight!

I also wanted to share a few books that I am currently loving.

~Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Classic Children's Tales: Marta McDowell

~The 1885 Edition of Hill's Manual of Social and Business Forms: The How-To-Do Everything Book of Victorian America: Thomas E. Hill

~Red: A History of the Redhead: Jacky Colliss Harvey

~ Tasha Tudors Heirloom Crafts: Tovah Martin

~The LittleHouse Cookbook: Frontier Foods from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Classic Stories: Barbara M. Walker

~The Beatrix Potter Country Cooking Book: Sara Paston-Williams

~The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady: A facsimile reproduction of a 1906 naturalist's diary: Edith Holden

~The Trade of Authorship: Wolstan Dixey {Victorian}

Most Affably Yours Til My Next Swim, Raquelxxx

Everyday Life As Of Late

My dear friends, 

Won't you pour some tea and let us have a visit. I hope you have faired well. The gardener and I were indeed lucky again with the case of hurricane Dorian. She decided not to make a visit, and I am feeling rather appreciative. 

A Sprinkling Of The Little Mermaid's Victorian Affairs

My dear friends,

I have so much to tell you! I have a cup of earl grey tea and a few pumpkin spice cookies next to me, and I'm sitting in a stately position. Today is the first week of steadily wearing a corset. Yes, indeed! I am slowly becoming a Victorian lady, after all! I left my sewing baskets readily available to sew in the evenings before the gardener and I are put out to pasture, as the saying goes.

Mermaidlings, Little Women, The Tale Of Sawyer Lamby, Victorian Hat Pins And Potterings

" When they said, "There's no such thing as mermaids" I nearly fell off my dolphin."

My dear friends, 

Pour some tea and let us have a visit. I am having a cup of earl grey with cream and an orange and cranberry scone. I have a new little tiny tea and cookies book, sent from a friend a time ago, and think that I should at least attempt to make some of my very own scones. Have you ever tried to make scones, there is rest assuredly a tricky little secret to such tasty morsels?

How To Create A Victorian Period Cottage Kitchen

My dear friend, 

Won't you pour a cup of tea and let us visit. As many of you know, I have begun the transformation of converting our Florida stucco home into an accurately Victorian period cottage. 

The Art Of Thievery

My dear friends, 

I have been a bit under the weather, but I must write. Oliver and I wanted to say Rabbit Rabbit even though we are a day late!

Cottage Intentions And More Victorian Author Readings

My dear friends,

Pour some tea, my dearies. Oliver is joining us this morning. Isn't he darling how he seems to camouflage himself? I had removed the unattractive table that was in the kitchen when I moved in, and since I am making due, I decided to use one of my sewing machines as a tiny table for now. I am thinking of painting every other tile black, to perhaps add a Victorian appeal. I posted a photo below. What do you think?

The Artful Way Of Allowing Abundance Into Your Life

My dear friends,

Let us have some tea. We will need an extra strong cup this morning. {smile}

I am completely transparent when I speak about my voyage, and that's financially included. I shared a video last week {here} about my latest evaluation of what has been plaguing my mind with special pointers about my abundance.

How often do we hear about women and their entrepreneurial voyage but not truly understand that many women have been whirling for sometimes decades before they become popular or famous?

The Art Of A Homemaker

courtesy of Pinterest

My Dear Friends,

I wrote this on my facebook page at one time and thought it was a delightful entry. I wanted to share it with you since leaving social media. 

"It's amazing how lovely common things become if one only knows how to look at them."~Louisa May Alcott

I slowly slip out of my cosy sheets, walk through the softly lit cottage and put the kettle on. I quietly set about my morning routine but firstly, putting on my baby pink robe. I say a silent prayer of appreciation thanking the sweet god's there was a time it was all just a dream; a thought in my mind.

I pull the lace curtains and make my way through the cow path to tend the chickens and then sweet Oliver the rabbit. The ladies are now laying small eggs. Though they are small, they are full of taste. May, {our sweet Plymouth Rock} bows down for a back scratch and then they follow suit going about their day. 

I am not in a rush, I plan my household management for the day. I then feel how the inspiration flows to me guiding me gently to paint pretty pictures.

A bit of reading, some spiritual encouragement and now the steaming cup of tea is in my hand. It keeps me warm and cosy with its thick honey. I breathe deeply and bask in the early hour. Soon the cottage will become alive. I am ready for it. I will carefully fix the bed, prepare breakfast, which is my favourite meal of all, fluff the cushions and start the wash. 

My mornings are never stressed, the home is peaceful and beautifully blessed. 

I am living the art of slow. I am a homemaker. 

A Victorian Message Of Good Cheer

Apple Cinnamon tea and stollen

My dear friends,

I've missed you, and it seems those words are oft-spoken from me. I have a wee bit of news to share with you.

But firstly, tea and a Victorian quote to set us right.

" How oft does an emblem-bud silently tell what language could never speak half so well!" ~Louisa Anne Twamley, Romance of Nature {1836}

Last week I sent out my very first email newsletter "The Current." I think I should continually flush out a few ways of making it become a delightful bit of tail mail or messages in a bottle from Raquel. Which Title do you prefer? I'd very much appreciate it being somewhat like snail mail. I miss not having handwritten letters from the post. I love having pen pals, do you not?

A History Of The Redhead~Vexings and Victories

My Dear Friends,

It's no longer National Redhead Day, but, as I'm a woman of my word, I feel it pertinent to write. I am a work in progress, so thank you for your patience, jolly dependable readers.

Won't you pour some tea and I shall get on with it? Today, my beverage of choice is apple spice tea with honey. 

Since I am a real redhead, I now celebrate the fact that I have an extra chromosome. 

As you may well know, I have been on a self-awareness voyage for almost five years, and my thoughts have led me to several conclusions.

Ever since I was a sprout, I've been the inquisitive type. Throughout my life, there have been assumptions made about me, because of my red hair. On this particular day, I'd like to share my experiences as a redhead, as well as, vexings, victories and a tad bit of history. 

Throughout history, women with red hair were shunned and burned at stake, all because they had hair the colour of flames. They were labelled as witches and vampires, who spewed fire from their lungs.

As a young girl with red hair, I was bullied. Redheads weren't admired; especially, the way that they are now. In fact, today, it seems that every turn I take, a woman is dying her hair red. I think I had {or have}, a little resentment with regards to the treatment that I received as a young girl, in comparison to the treatment women get nowadays. It seems that women today are admired and adored. That was not the case when I was young. Let's be honest, there's a whole new way that women with red hair get attention.

I think you can collectively understand my sentiments, without me having to further my case, that I developed paramount insecurities by having red hair. I even went so far, as to dye my hair brown, because of my dangers. 

Here are several things that scientifically make me different because of red hair: 

1. Redheads have a recessive gene, and both parents must have the gene, to have a child with red hair. The parent doesn't have to have red hair themselves, and often a parent carries the gene, without knowing.

 2. Redheads make up 2% of the population, making us quite rare. England and Ireland are the most populated with folks having red hair.

3. Redheads are more sensitive to pain and more resistant to pain medication.
  

4. We carry a mutant gene, which makes us genetically different.

5. We have a superior adrenal function. Meaning, that, in a fight or flight scenario, having a redhead around would be beneficial; we operate very well in dangerous situations.

6. Redheads have a different smell. The skin mantle of a redhead is more acidic. Meaning, that when we wear perfume, oils or fragrances, the scent is distinct. We have to apply scents more frequently than the average person, as odours fade more quickly than perhaps, a blond or brunette.

7. Redheads are more sensitive to thermal pain; and more vulnerable to hot and cold temperatures.

8. We are more susceptible to getting cancer.

9. We have more vitamin D than other folks.

10. Historically, we've been seen as royalty. Have you ever noticed, in movies or storybooks, how many redheads are either, the heroines or villains?

11. We have a high tolerance to heat.

A delightful book about the history of redheads is, "Red-A History of the Redhead" by Jacky Collins Harvey.

Most affably your til my next swim, Raquelxxx

A Lesson In Victorian Etiquette According To The Manners Of A MerryMaid

My dear friends,

Put the kettle on darlings, and let us commence with a delightful topic this morning. I am having green tea with a bit of coconut. I am most assuredly anticipating it will carry me through during the penning of this post. It has a bit of caffeine and I knowingly admit to partaking several cups before this day has come to an end.

I am at the deadline of my book, as it must be in the letterbox by days end.

Did I share with you what occurred and why I decided to get a formatting company to assemble my book? I shared a video on ye olde youtube channel. Swim to the link to uncover what transpired.

Have you signed up for my newsletter "The Current?" I do hope that you have. I will be drawing from my little fishers net to select a few winners to receive a gift basket of treasures. I am including my storybook, some reading paraphernalia, and a Scarlette Rose Lolly Dolly Merrymaid. Isn't she the most beautiful? She was made by my dear friend from the UK. Her name is Bridgette. I met Bridgette some time ago on Instagram. If you feel inspired send her some love. Her handle is @moetlala.

As you may know, if you follow me on social media, most particulary Instagram, that I have spent the last several weeks fiddling with some new ideas. A few of those particular bits are reintroducing the beautiful superfluous way the British spoke the Victorian language. I am in constant readiness to continually expand along my spiritual transformational tale. So just as my personal life is expanding, changing and growing expotentially, I too would love to carry along spiritually my little online piece of heaven. My blog makes me ever so happy. I feel like its a special place I come to daily and continually learn about myself. I love to revisit old diary entries so that I may encorporate the lessons into my daily life.

As I was telling you, I have been amassing my victorian books, adding many to my delightful collection. I shall share a few passages that I have found useful from The Essential Handbook of Victorian Etiquette that has served me most. If you favor victorian life, I highly recommend this handbook.

I wear dresses for my everyday attire, and I have become a maven when it comes to practicality, and how to wear a dress with etiquette.

When going to take care of bits, crossing the pavement or climbing steps a lady should raise her dress with the right hand, a little about the ankle. To raise the dress with both hands is considered vulgar and can only be excused when mud is very deep.

When I am about the garden, doing housework I wear a scarf or keep my hair in a lower bun about the nape of the neck. If I leave the cottage, I am always prepared with a scarf and a hat. If it is summer, it's a straw poke or cotton bonnet and a thin scarf. In a cooler climate, I wear a wrap made of wool. My hats are also made of wool or heavy knitting. I have a cotton loop with a button and a large pin that I secure my skirt on the side if I am engaged in a strenuous or untidy activity. Painting, climbing a ladder, cutting wood, carpentry, making candles, or cleaning the chicken coop, calls for a skirt pinning. I learned early on that everyone is capable of wearing a dress to perform any type of task. You actually get quite used to wearing a dress and I would bet once you've started wearing a dress, you'll never want to wear anything else.

When wearing a dress, and sitting down, slant one foot just slightly over the other at the ankle and tilt legs inward towards who you are engaged in conversation with. It creates an intimacy with the other person. Never cross your legs. To cross one's legs is considered vulgar, and varicose veins become inevitable. Hands are always to be clasped and set in your lap. Crossing arms means you are upset and disgruntled.

When in public or having company while partaking of tea, always look into your cup when sipping. It's considered highly rude to look about the room or at your guests while sipping tea. When raising your teacup, accompany the cup with saucer below, never picking up the teacup by itself. You appear undignified and without manners.

If you are issuing and accepting luncheon invitations, the invitations may be given by card, or even verbally. They should be delivered four days to two weeks in advance of the event. A lady that has been invited should accept immediately. It is not considered proper for ladies to remove jackets, hats, or bonnets at a luncheon. Tea or coffee are never served at or after a luncheon. A tea party is an entirely separate affair.

Tea parties are from the hours of 4-6 pm. Six ladies are the perfect number for a tea party. Its often time local custom for a lady to bring her own cup. If she does, it should be wrapped beautifully in a box and taken to the table where the tea is to be served.

I think I've allowed the time to run away dear friends. I surely hope with all my might this post served you and you found a few tips from the Victorians that you can use straight away. I am most anticipatory of hearing if you were able to incorporate any of my tips for your next affair.

I am mostly in admiration with the tea party and since the information is so deeply infused I shall create an entirely new post specifically for tea parties. I will accompany it with lovely photographs as well. I am certain it will be a popular entry.

 If you delight in entertaining, I would suggest The Essential Handbook of Victorian Entertaining.

Once again dear friends If you haven't signed up for my newsletter, I'd be delighted if you would. I have a sign-up space to the right on the side panel or if you have read this post all the way through, a pop-up version should have appeared.

My book will be out within a few weeks and I could not be more ecstatic.

most affably yours til' my next swim, Raquelxxx

A Multitude of Curiosities

 Hello friends,

I'm spending my days at the cottage working on the illustration for my very first children's book The Tale of MerryMaid Scarlette Rose™. I also spent a few days doing much-needed research and was able to get my company products trademarked and copyrighted. I feel quite pleased and genuinely proud of myself for so many things I've been independently accomplishing.  

 I also paint for myself when I'm not painting for my book, so that I will continue to hone my craft.

"I believe in magick"

This painting is for sale $25 sand dollars.  

"Ask~Beleive~Receive"

 This painting is for sale $25

I made a little jute line and hung my fall art to display for a photo shoot. Oliver was a terrific model.

I spend hours writing and practicing my penmanship and calligraphy. I have since I was a child. 

 I made an herb, flower drying rack for the cottage. I add baskets and all sorts of particulars to create a European look.

"Light Carrier"

 This painting is for sale $25.

A day at my childhood pond.

 A commissioned piece for my friend Janice.

 I've had so many things on my mind as of late. I've been walking to one of the ponds that are located two blocks from the cottage. I have really enjoyed the solitude and thinking deeply about a few particulars. One of those particulars is that without the announcement, I quietly deleted most of my social media platforms {all except Youtube and this blog} from my smartphone. I am quite a social person, and have loved sharing, but have felt in the last year I began to have a negative visceral effect everytime I'd open an app. I didn't delete my accounts but have found it to be something that I think will allow me to get many more ventures accomplished and I will have more energy and focus to place deeper and more consistent content on my youtube and here on my blog.

 It hasn't been twenty~four hours and yet I find I have such an open stream of joy in my day. I woke up enthusiastic about really making a go of my blog. In some weird way, I think that when one is not so available and connected everywhere, it leaves an open door for my true friends, viewers, and readers to seek out my work and to become more authentically engaged.

 During the fall months one of my dearest friends Janice that I met through the Tasha Tudor Take Peace sent me lovely fall leaves. I made garlands by stringing them all with needle and thread. I hung them in the cottage windows. The candles were all aglow and they were spectacular to look at.

My leaf garland I created for fall at the cottage "Staffordshire".

 I made my Mermaid Magical Peanut butter cookies for my tea time. I was able to find a lovely recipe to add to my recipe box. When my previous marriage ended it's funny how after settling in and beginning my new life I realized all the little things that I no longer had possession of. I no longer had any of my old recipes. It took me my whole life to create such a terrific collection, but I have learned how to begin a new with everything in my life. In speaking about this in a post one day, my friend Janice sent me along with her collected leaves, she sent me some vintage recipe cards and a cookie recipe from her own collection. I cried tears of appreciation that she felt impressed to share. I am so blessed by the universe/God every day.

I am going to continue to use this blog to share with you the many glimpses and moments of my life by documenting my journey and beauty of all the wonders I'm relearning.

I believe highly in spirit guides and know that one of those guides is Beatrix Potter. I have studied her life for over half of my life.

 I had the time to stop off at the nearest thrift store and found this solid brass candlestick holder for .75 cents, needlepoint serving tray for 1.25, and the fall needlepoint for .75 cents. I added some dried flowers to the sides to cover up the webbing, but I think it turned out quite charming.

 I love old-fashioned clothing and have worn old clothing since my childhood. I was slowly conditioned out of wearing the clothes that I felt most comfortable in however, I am slowly re-establishing a whole new wardrobe. I found this historical pattern on Etsy. I'm still seeking out the most perfect fabric for this pattern, so until then I have it all cut out and ready to go.

I bought several of Susan Branch's books for my newly created library at the cottage. I have loved her for so long, and she was a terrific encouragement as I rediscovered my art career. She's such an inspiration.