Oldest Known Photographs

Have a happy Saturday night looking at old photos.  My favorites are this handsome gentleman, John Johnson (1813-1871) and the shot of the Louvre.  What are yours?

Treadle Sewing

She is cranky and fun, and it really takes a little practice.  Pretty stitches, though, once you get it.  The wood is all original, down to the fading measuring stick painted in front.  The decals are rubbed off in the center of the machine head, but are clear on the end.

 The bobbin winder is kind of steampunk-crazy.  (I've yet to figure it out.)

The Mary Francis Sewing Book: Adventures Among the Thimble People

I’ve recently acquired a re-print of a book published in 1913 that includes patterns for an entire doll’s wardrobe from the era.  Wow!  

This book has actually been on my wish-list for the last 3.5 years.  So, I’ve finally ordered it and opened it up.

The book is gorgeous, with tons of illustrations, instructions, and rhymes.  The story is about a little girl learning to sew from a group of sewing tools that talk and a magic sewing fairy. 

 Mary Francis learns to make clothes for her dolly, but she has to keep it a secret, for some reason.  (Most likely because little girls just love secrets, and the author wrote it in.)  The story is really sweet, and there is tons of practical (now almost lost) sewing information.

 My copy is a hard cover edition and came with the sewing patterns.  I haven’t been able to put it down since it arrived.  (Except to hunt for a suitable 16” dolly.)  I'd recommend this book for everyone who even thinks they want to sew, regardless of age or ability.