All posts filed under: Miscellenia

Shake city

There have been two earthquakes that measured over 6.5 on the Richter scale in Wellington in the last month. The first one hit on Sunday evening July 21. I was making dinner. Mr D had just gone out to pick up his brothers for family dinner at our place. I’d put rice on, chopped some vegetables, and then went to the bathrooms to wash my hands. As I walked out, the earthquake started, and since it seemed pretty big, I stopped in the doorway and held on. Standing there, I saw the only piece of damage in our house happen: the last embroidery hoop on a whole stack stuck on a nail in the wall fell off. When it ended I thought “Hmmm…I think that was the biggest quake I’ve ever felt.” Felicity bounded through the cat door, ears back and hair raised. She’d never shown the slightest concern at any earthquake previously. Still, I went on with my day, pretty unconcerned. Then the in-laws called to check if we were OK, and asked if …

The HSF Challenge #23: Gratitude

Published by The Dreamstress

The Historical Sew-Fortnightly has been fantastic for all the things that have been produced: for motivating us to sew, and create, and finish things. What has really made it great for me though, is all the connections: the sharing of our successes, our failures, our knowledge, our findings, our inspiration. The international historical sewing community is amazing because everyone is so generous in their knowledge and experiences. Huge amounts of information, research, knowledge, tutorials, and free patterns are put out by passionate amateurs and professionals who extend their work into their personal time. Challenge #23: Generosity & Gratitude, due November 18, is not about a particular item or aesthetic, it’s about celebrating the generosity of spirit and willingness to help others that makes the historical sewing community great, and giving credit and thanks to those who have contributed to our collective knowledge without expecting payment in return. Make anything that fits the general HSF guidelines, and utilizes research, patterns, and tutorials that have been made available for free, and acknowledge all the sources that have …

Historical Sew Fortnightly – Favourites for Challenges 11-15

Published by The Dreamstress

I can’t believe we are more than halfway done with the Historical Sew Fortnightly! I’m half thrilled with what I have accomplished, and sad looking at the rest of the year and realising I’m never going to get all the things I want made. My wish-list is just too long! Once again, it’s time for me to share with you the projects that I have drooled over most, that I have most wished I had the time to make, and that best embodied the spirit of the Historical Sew Fortnightly; the quest to explore history, raise our skill levels and standard, stretch ourselves (or sometimes just get something done, rather than just procrastinating); and the spirit of the individual challenge. I shared my favourites for Challenges 1-5 here, and for Challenges 6-10 here. You can see all the creations for each challenge (because there are always dozens more creations that I wish I could feature!) either through the comments for each individual challenge page, or through the Facebook group albums). I’ll share my favourites for …