bundling up in pretty threads and colors...

loving these cool fall mornings and evenings when

i can put on an aran sweater or a plaid long-sleeve shirt...

even better is when i can add my boots.

i love looking at these tops all together...it looks like fall!

sneak peak: the "jane austen" dress

i have just a few more things to add to my
"jane austen" dress before it is finished:
some straps and some other embellishments.

i've used this embroidered fabric before, remember?
i had some left over and wanted to use it
before i went out to buy more fabric.

i'm hoping to have it finished before the weekend.
wish me luck.

........................................

and, on another note,
i read one of my most favorite poems this morning,
and it dripped from my tongue
and my soul sang.
it's a poem by wordsworth called "farewell."
an excerpt:

farewell, thou little nook of mountain ground,
thou rocky corner in the lowest stair
of that magnificent temple which doth bound
one side of our whole vale with grandeur rare;
sweet garden-orchard, eminently fair,
the loveliest spot that man hath ever found,
farewell! -we leave thee to heav'n's peaceful care,
thee, and the cottage which thou dost surround.

ta-da!

finally.
i made a skirt.
and it's not the usual a-line that i used
to make over and over.

i'm smitten by both the embroidery and the lace.
who thinks to make such pretty fabric?

been thinking a lot lately about how my grandma
and my mom used to sew so much.
they could make anything.
my goal: to be able to sew anything...
even my future daughter's wedding dress
{when it comes time for kids, i'm hoping for at least one girl!}

so there it is.
what do you think?

photos by cj.

Too Early?

The weather here is finally cooling down a bit...to the 80's. Sweaters are actually needed in the morning now.

Yesterday I retrieved a few boxes from our storage unit...their contents are my favorite things I own: coats, sweaters, and boots! I can hardly contain my joy over wool, tweed, argyle, herringbone, and boots (wellies, riding, and comfy)! I am ready to bundle up now. So glad I get to go to cooler places in the country within the next few weeks. I plan to overpack my bags with my favorite green wellies, a couple wool coats, my argyle tights, a burnt orange tweed skirt, and a scarf, just in case the east coast wind begins to bite. Oh, fall! You are SOOO close. I'm dying with anticipation. My mind begins racing with excitement...my favorite time of year!!! Fall leaves, cool weather, Autumnal Equinox Fest, Halloween, first snows, fire place in use, Thanksgiving gatherings, then the festivities of Christmas! I love this season of anticipation for such wonderful warm things during the beauty of change and cold.