The Prettiest Thing

Hello dear friends! I hope upon reading this you are well. This spring I had a lot of fun with a project, and the lovely sunny weather we've been having was the perfect time to wear it. But let me start back at the beginning, which goes all the way back to the Christmas of 2017.

Melissa, my fabulous mother-in-law, devoted many late nights to sew Abigail and I both dresses out of a dream, a Victorian dream that is! 

This dress is the prettiest thing I have ever owned, and I think you'll agree once you see it! Though we did receive our dresses on Christmas, they weren't quite finished yet (there are many, many hook & eyes along the back, which took a long time to sew I'm sure!), and life got in the way and they weren't finished till October of 2018. By this time it was too rainy and gray to wear something so lovely outside, so I had the whole of the winter to daydream about wearing my pretty Victorian dress. After a while of dreaming I decided to put my hands to work and create some accessories!

First came the idea for a hat - a big, beautiful Victorian hat straight out of a BBC show! I looked around Pinterest for a tutorial on how to make one, but I didn't find anything that matched exactly what I was going for, so I made it up as I went along (of course the second and third hats turned out better...yes, I've made three! But I'm getting ahead of myself.). 

I used a straw hat as a base, hot glued fabric with pleats around the crown of the head and then wrapped the fabric underneath the brim and hot glued it to the inside of the crown, pleating it again (so both the top part and the underside are covered). I then covered the top of the hat with some stuffing to give it the illusion of a larger top, and then stretched fabric over this and hot glued it down - covering any hot glue with a nice ribbon and flowers. 

The next project I tackled was a matching purse to go with my new hat. I found a free pattern on Pinterest for a Regency era reticule (which is a fancy purse, often heavily beaded or decorated). Even though it wouldn't be historically accurate, I thought it would look very nice with the dress, so I first made a very simple version and then got creative with decorating later. Alright, I know I've kept you waiting long enough. Let me show you the lovely Victorian dress and the hat and reticule I made to go with it:

 Quinn took these photos of me in January, right after I made the hat and purse. The snow was frozen from several clear nights, and I thought it made the perfect backdrop for my cream-colored dress and the bright pink peonies on my hat.

My childhood dream of having a hat like Marry Poppins has come true! 

Please do excuse the haphazard nature of the tulle - I still haven't perfected putting it over the hat myself with the aid of a mirror. I bought the flowers (the tiny lily of the valley are my favorite) while visiting my parents in Seattle at a Marshall's (pretty sure I could live in that store, ha!). After covering the hat in fabric I would lay out the leaves and flowers to try to plan out how I would have them, but they would always change a little as I set to hot glueing everything in place.

This was the first reticule I made, so it's very plain compared to the ones I made later. I used a cream silk similar to what my dress was made of for the body and lining, and as an accent I covered the outer fabric with a layer of the same shiny salmon tulle I use to wrap around the hat. I added a tassel and two tiny flowers to the bottom, and the ties are cream velvet ribbon. 

Moving on to the winter of 2018 - my mom and dad gifted me a lovely pair of lavender gloves for Christmas, and I was inspired again to make a new hat and purse to match. I went and got more flowers from Marshal's, and with my new knowledge from making my first set I made another hat and purse!

For this purse I decided to sew flowers and beads onto the outside of the bag, and I am so happy I did, as I am quite pleased with the result. Allow me to show you the purple and blue version of my outfit (and please do tell me below in the comments which set you like more!):

I use a wide silk ribbon as a belt for now, but someday I hope to sew a belt like the salmon colored one Melissa sewed for me  (those little bows on it are just divine!). I love the lavender colored gloves - and I'm so happy I can wear them with this dress. 

I have since bought a beautiful purple colored cameo brooch to wear with this ensemble - I hope to wear it soon! The blue hydrangea is one of my top three favorite flowers, and doesn't it look lovely with the purple and the tiny lily of the valley?

And here is a closeup of the second reticule I made! I think the flowers and beads really made it stand out - I love the icy blue hue!

I was so happy with the way these projects turned out, that I simply couldn't stop there! Early this spring Abigail and the family were gone, missing Easter Sunday. As a surprise, I decided to make them all some Easter baskets to come home to. But a basket is boring! (I say this in jest of course, I have a love for baskets and my collection is getting quite large, ha!) So instead I decided to make each person a hat to put their surprises in. 

Please forgive the not-so-nice photo, it was taken with my phone!

The rain hat on the top left is of course for my father-in-law Paul, who is always out in the elements (Quinn picked it out, and I taped the flowers and ribbon on it just to be silly). 

The large sun hat with the black ribbon says "her royal highness", which I made with Laura in mind. She always asks us to call her this whenever we play games that involve picking a name for yourself. The lettering is strings of black or gold sequin trim (bought in big spools off of Amazon) and is glued onto the hat. I made a whole set of these two years ago for all my sisters and my mom for a family vacation - they were a big hit! 

In the top right we have a bonnet-style sun hat that I decorated for Melissa. I added the light blue ribbon and hot glued the yellow flowers on it, thinking it could be the perfect gardening hat for her.

And finally the hat for Abigail: a large flowery hat that looks as if it came right off of a BBC period film shoot! I am happy to report that she loved it very much, as well as the matching purse I made her (which is wrapped in one of those boxes on the table). 

Now imagine our delight at the sunny weather we have been blessed with! Abby and I simply couldn't wait to go out together wearing out finest, and the time finally came on a warm Saturday afternoon. We drove out to the Jensen-Olsen Arboretum (which you may remember from this post so long ago!) with a tea party packed away in my picnic basket and with Melissa tagging along. Oh Dear Reader, I couldn't help but think I was dreaming - Abigail looked like she belonged in a movie! 

We sat on an old quilt in the grass, and watched the butterflies go by (for there were so may of them among the flower beds). I had brought along a book of poems by Emily Dickinson, so we took turns reading aloud while we sipped our tea. I think it must have been the most perfect way to spend an afternoon.

The Arboretum closed far too soon for our taste (I think we would have all liked to stay hours more), so before we left we snapped a few pictures of each other before promising ourselves we would come back again very soon. 

I simply can't wait to put the dress on again - next time I will wear the purple and blue set! I have also been dreaming about making a hat and purse set with reds and greens, and some big poinsettias - but I don't know what sort of Christmas gathering I could possibly wear it to (can someone please invite me to a Victorian Christmas party?). 

I do hope you enjoyed this look at the prettiest thing I have in my wardrobe. I plan on wearing this ensemble a lot this summer, weather permitting. Until next time, Dear Friend!

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A Search for Autumn

I went out looking for Autumn, on a cold and rainy day.

Summer had seemed to disappear and had taken the sun away.

I thought for sure I would find her, nestled in among some leaves,

So I went out from the house and yard and walked out to the trees.

I first looked at the flowers, their faces happy and bright.

But although I felt she'd been there, Autumn was not in sight.

So I went out to the garden, and the carrots seemed to tell

That Autumn had been there a day ago, but had left just for a spell.

I then went to the wood, but the trees their secret kept.

Autumn had been there, just before, but their silence I had to accept.

I made my way to the home of my furry brown bear friends,

But they seemed to be out for the afternoon at the stream around the bend.

I thought they would know Autumn, but they seemed too busy with lunch -

So I shrugged my shoulders and went on my way, now with another hunch.

Perhaps she was with the geese that flew high above my head,

Or with the little songbirds that make the willows their beds?

But although I tried to holler and call up to their nests

The birds seemed not to hear me to answer my request.

Autumn seemed to be a step or two ahead

of all the places I had gone and in my boots had tread.

Perhaps I wouldn't find her - but she seemed to be all around!

The leaves, the birds, the animals too all sung of her renown.

I gave up on my search that day for soon it will be time

To welcome Mr. Winter for blessed Christmastime!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I am so very excited that Autumn - my most favorite season - is finally here to stay! Of course Autumn in Juneau (the temperate rainforest that it is) is not always cool crisp air and crunchy leaves...it's normally rainy and soggy instead. But that wont stop my enthusiasm for decorating Blueberry Barn with all my most favorite Autumn things and bringing out my best fall-colored dresses!

I've already unpacked all my warm sweaters, and I look forward to wearing gloves and hats once again! After all, it's the perfect time of year to make some tea, eat a scone, and read a book under a blanket in front of a cozy fire (I just need a fireplace or a stove...hmmm.). 

I hope you enjoyed the little poem I wrote and I wish you a Happy Autumn. Do let me know down in the comments what Autumn things you are excited to do this year! Until next time, Dear Reader, I remain your faithful friend. 

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A Busy Bee

 What a busy July it was for us here at Blueberry Barn! Our Russia trip, a big family reunion, two of my siblings staying with us for two whole weeks, and shows performed on cruise ships! I have been a busy little bee finding plenty of work to put my hands to - and lots of fun as well!

Not only had July been a busy month, but it was also the nicest on record in Juneau history. What an amazing blessing it was to be out in the sun so often, and the heat! - it certainly didn't feel like I was living in Alaska. I went swimming so many times I can't even remember them all - and I'm sure you can guess how cold the water is.

When its nice in Juneau, everyone goes a bit crazy and lets certain household chores slip by the way side...so instead of cleaning or tidying up the house one fine day, Quinn and I decided to go flower picking.

But this wasn't just for the beauty of the tall fireweed stalks, oh no! We were going to try our hands at making fireweed honey. You may remember two years ago when we made fireweed syrup - this turned out quite well (for you know I love floral tastes!) and I was excited to try something a little different.


The fireweed is the state flower of Alaska and is so named because it is the first plant to grow after a forest fire. It is also a telltale sign of the end of summer, as once it starts fluffing up with cotton you know autumn is coming along the bend. As I write this the warm sunny days seem to be behind us and have been replaced with colder, wet weather. I sure do hope there are a few sunny days left for us before autumn really sets in! But back to the flower picking...

The recipe we were following called for 50 fireweed flowers, 40 white clover, and 40 purple clover (along with five pounds of sugar - oh my!). With basket in hand we started picking, the wind blowing the tall stalks this way and that in the warm summer wind.

In most places the fireweed flowers are at the top of the stalk, signifying that summer is coming to an end, but there were still quite a few stalks with most of their flowers still blooming. I think they are the prettiest when the stalks are full of blooming pink flowers!

Even though its been sunny, I've tried to keep my skin from getting burnt and rosy (my sun hats have come in handy for this!). My poor fair skin can't take too much sun before I start looking almost as neon as the flowers! Haha!

Reaching towards the bluest sky
Watching ravens fly on by
Up we reach pink, purple, green
A sea of flowers to be seen.

Soon we'll be beat by winter snow
The rain that comes, the winds that blow
Or maybe fire burning bright
To burn the trees and split the night
Fear for us not, for after spring
We'll be here once more, our song to sing.

- Fireweed - 

{From my poetry journal}

Locals of Juneau seeing these photos will know exactly where Quinn and I went to pick our fireweed flowers (it's a favorite spot to photographers for obvious reasons). However, looking at these photos you may never know the truth about this spot - for Quinn is a good photographer. Would you ever guess that this lovely, tranquil spot is in fact not so tranquil? Because in fact, it is not in the middle of nowhere, it is in fact by a busy highway and the Juneau airport.

Even though this lovely field of flowers is sandwiched between the airport and the highway, it's still by far the prettiest fireweed field around so it was fun none the less (even if the honking cars and the loud sounds of planes taking off did take away from the overall mood...haha!). 

It was back to the Barn for us to find some clover and to start cooking!

It seems picking flowers on the side of the road is the theme for today, for we are lucky to have a big purple clover-patch right down the street from the Barn. I've asked Quinn several times if he feels at all embarrassed walking beside me when I'm wearing dresses or dirndls or anything considered peculiar. Thankfully, he's not! I certainly lucked out on marrying a man who likes to wear kilts and pink bunny costumes and therefore doesn't mind me dressing up like a Russian babushka! 

I was recently enchanted by a book of Melissa's called "Drawn From New England" which is about the life of Tasha Tudor (written by her daughter, Bethany Tudor). It had several pages detailing Tasha's early life along with pictures of her in her teens and twenties. I was quite struck by the fact that we had so much in common. In the photos Tasha wore dresses and outfits from centuries past - much as I enjoy doing! I think we would have been good friends. My favorite photo of Tasha showed her posing under a very large rhubarb leaf as a young girl. Our rhubarb has been moved to a new location, so it hasn't gotten quite this big yet, instead I chose a large skunk cabbage leaf so I could emulate the old photograph. What do you think? I think we make quite the pair.

With plenty of purple and white clover I think we were near to cooking up some honey! (I may have added in some rose petals as well, just for the fun of it...)

Cooking with flowers is such a joy - I really should do it more often! Do you, Dear Reader, have any favorite recipes that use edible flowers? Please share them with me below in the comment section - I would love to try them.

The fireweed looked so pretty mixed in with the clover and rose petals that I had Quinn take another picture. It reminds me of little kids making mud pies decorated with wild flowers and having tea parties under big spruce trees (did you ever do this? I know I did!).

My siblings Wesley and Valerie were visiting us and Wesley offered to help with the canning and the honey making. He sure looks fine in front of the stove, I'm sure he will make some lucky girl very happy someday.

And speaking of the honey making: five pounds of sugar doesn't look as scary when mixed with lots of flowers. Of course, you wouldn't want to eat all this honey at once, but a little drizzle on some toast? Why that sounds like heaven to me.

We added water and soon we had a bubbling pot of golden honey. After straining it we started the canning process - which is always a little stressful with so much boiling water in such a tiny kitchen.

Wesley got to take home the biggest jar of honey for all his help, and both he and Quinn got to lick the bowl after all the jars were filled. We'll keep a few jars for ourselves of course, but I think most will be given away as gifts this winter. Fireweed honey will certainly be a welcome memory of summer once the snow starts falling!


Thank you so much Dear Friend for reading along on our adventure. I hope you're having a wonderful week and I look forward to chatting with you again soon!

P.S. - Below you'll see just how big the fireweed stalks can get compared to my height!

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