It's a Sacrifice We're Willing to Make

We're saying goodbye to the television today, and the decrepit sofa. Brian is making way for a HUGE sewing/fibre arts/handcrafts room. We had the cable TV shut off (we still have cable modem) which will save us about $60 a month and countless wasted hours.

Moving into the room will be a long table for cutting patterns on and two knitting machines, a beautiful antique brass valet for displaying and photographing garments for sale and ALL of my fabric, yarn, clay, paints, beads, etc. I'm hoping to turn my long-held stash into cash so to speak. I have far too much taking up a great deal of room, so I'm putting it to work.

How does everyone feel about losing the telly and the sofa? Well, it went with a wimper. You'd hardly notice at all that we haven't even turned on the television in 2 weeks. On rainy days, we've read selections from various books aloud or worked on projects together. Brian and jack will be heading into the woods and making use of the branches and twigs they collect for both firewood and rustic furniture. Small twigs and offcuts will be used to make bird and fairy houses. Nice straight twigs will be saved for turning (literally) into pens and lace bobbins on the lathe.

It's been a long 10 months without a paycheck, but it's taught us so much about what we can do - individually and as a family. It's taught us that we *can* just trust in God and He will provide. The ancestors that have gone before us made due with much less and survived... and thrived. I do sometimes wish easier days would return, and they will. In the meantime life feels so REAL and I'm grateful for all my senses so that I can enjoy it all the more!

Finding inspiration ...

Brian and Jack are out playing ball. The rest of use are gathered 'round the only air conditioner in the house - it's well over 90 degrees here today and muggy. We've been talking about a property we're hoping to buy all weekend. The beauty (not apparent at the moment!) and history of it has turned my mind back to old things. So as I'm sitting here TRYING to keep cool, I'm thinking of how I would decorate such a venerable abode - a 19th century manse on 5 acres. Poor dear thing needs quite a facelift to restore her to her former beauty! While searching around for vintage linens, I came across Em's Heart, an antique textiles website. She has so many beautiful vintage linens and garments, my heart fairly fluttered.

As is my way, I started to wonder about sewing new heirlooms based on these real ones. It is so sad that beauty like this doesn't enter our daily lives anymore. At least, not on a daily basis. In particular I was taken with photos of an antique Christening blanket she recently sold. I can't imagine why these are no longer available. What a precious item to be passed down through generations! The detail involved in making this piece is inspiring. It works like a duvet cover, with a button opening for the insertion of a wool fleece blanket for cold weather. Apart from a special white one for Christenings, wouldn't this be divine made from vintage calico fabric for every day? I remember my Nana describing buntings she and her contemporaries would make from soft blankets and silky satin blanket bindings. Cherished babes slept soundly all night snuggled securely in such things.

Ah, yes, I feel another project coming on!

Checking in...

Sorry for being offline for a few days! We celebrated Cate's 14th birthday on the 8th. I can hardly believe that she's almost grown! It all goes too quickly...

I've been spending my time updating all of our websites, starting with our family website. When it is completed, this blog will be moving to our own server.

The garden is coming on a treat. All of the seeds have sprouted and we should have some beautiful vegetables to bring to the table in a few weeks time. Unfortunately, we lost the carrots with all the rain we've been having, but we may try to replant...

Today I'm off to the garden center to pick up some impatiens (hopefully) to brighten up the shade garden. The bleeding hearts have gone by and the hostas are big and lush and green. I'll also be pricing some screened loam to build up the flower beds in front of the house - I can't think how the last owner left them so low! Of course, we'll be pulling out the rosebushes and other plants for that project and then replacing them later. I'm hoping to find some lavenders to trim all the beds with - 4th of July just wouldn't be the same without making lavender wands!

Sharing My Story, or: How we Came to Live a Family-Centered Life

One of the women on a list I run asked me to explain how we came to live a family-centered lifestyle.

I could write a book about this journey and it's hard to know where to start. Really, we are still working towards where we want to be. I learned a great deal about being self-sufficient from my grandparents, who spent a lot of time with me as a child. They had equal shares in raising me, in fact. I learned to garden from my grandfather, learned to preserve foods from my grandmother. I went hunting and fishing, tagged along to get parts for fixing various machines in my grandfather's barn (he was a mechanic). They always let me watch and ask questions - let me help when it was safe.

I was an only child (although I have several step-siblings now that I don't know well). My parents divorced when I was very young, and I craved siblings. I spent a great deal of time with cousins (two of whom lived with us and became like brotehrs to me). I also had friends whose families invited me in and made me part of their families. My own home wasn't at all 'homey'. My mother was never domestic, but I'd always been attracted to the 'traditional' model of family life. I picked up things from my friends' families.

I've always been very independent and was encouraged in that especially by my grandfather who quit school at age 12 and was still one of the most learned men I've ever known. He taught me that I could do anything I set my mind to and that if I could read, I could learn to do anything.

Much of what I know I taught myself, or had only basic instruction - sewing, crocheting, knitting, painting. Other things, as I said, were learned from my grandparents.

School for me was an abomination. I was a gifted child and got no services, with the exception of 4th grade. I was bored to distraction, had no respect for my teachers for the most part, and didn't feel I needed to do the petty work I was given. My grandparents taught me things about history, literature and mathematics in a very Charlotte Mason style. Of course, I didn't know that until I was grown! My mother taught me English grammar and languages (Spanish and French). All of this was just for enjoyment. I learned more at home than I ever learned at school.

SO... When I got married, I had a clear idea of what I wanted from life. I wanted a large family, I wanted to teach my own children (I had visions of being a sort of governess to my children!), I wanted to live on a large farm and do for ourselves almost entirely. I knew I had the skills, but had trouble convincing my husband. THAT took many years of conventional living. I did put my foot down with the homeschooling however and that is, I think, what turned Brian around. The fact that I was always making clothing for our family, and could cook, can, make jelly all helped to convince him that we could do for ourselves.

We spent 7 years in the military and 8 years total (on either side of the Air Force) in a work-a-day job lifestyle. I have never really worked for someone else since getting married. Any job I had was under my own business. Finally, after some pushing, and having done everything I could on my own, brian quit his job as an engineer and helped me start a small-press publishing company. My entrepreneurial spirit finally rubbed off on Brian, so we take any opportunity we can to turn an interest or a need into an opportunity to serve others and support ourselves.


Phew. That WAS long winded, and probably a little incoherent in places! PLEASE ask questions of me - I love to share!

Blessings,
Nissa

More Vintage...

Sweet smocks, pinafores, suits, nightgowns and pyjamas, elaborate Christening gowns... Modest, classic clothing wears well even today. Patterns that are too costumey can be modified by a skilled seamstress for more modern sensibilities.

Ethnic clothing also offers myriad opportunities for creative expression and fabric experimentation without sacrificing modesty. Check our one of my favorites: Folkwear Patterns.

For something special, look out for yummy fabrics available online - you can find beautiful Asian inspired satins for jammies or jacket lining, gorgeous butter soft solids for pants and skirts and awesome embroidered cool cottons for tops. Try making everyday garments from vintage patterns and common calicos. Choose soft neutrals with a touch of color for a great summer look that won't scream 'covered wagon'. Be sure to choose fabrics that will be colorfast and will softly drape after washing. My girls' favorite dress is a paisley calico that I sewed from a Vogue pattern just about 10 years ago. It's a bit faded, but has held up better than any store bought garment and it STILL gets compliments and looks great with handknit cardis.

Sewing for Boys

If you have sons and you sew, you understand my frustration. I've found that very few moms sew anything for their sons after babyhood beyond the odd pair of shorts and pyjamas. I am one of those moms. Sewing for my daughters is simple - little dresses and skirts, frilly, lacy, embroidered... I have done some of that for the boys when they were wee babes. As they got older, I just got stuck.

I gave it some thought and realized that I'm intimidated by the tailoring involved in button down shirts and zip fly pants. Pull on pants and T-shirts aren't a problem, but let's face it - they can't wear them everywhere. The conclusion I've come to is that I need to study up and learn some new tricks. I want my boys to have clothing they'll treasure just like my girls do.

Let the Nesting Begin!

It's funny. I hadn't concentrated that closely on this pregnancy until I saw that little chap moving around inside me. It's frankly not at all like me. I normally start nesting the minute I see that positive test result. When I got through laughing at the idea that we'll be having a little boy - maintaining our family pattern - I immediately started planning sew, knitting, crocheting and painting projects.

Oddly, in my very attention deficient way, I started thinking about the next year of homeschooling and what is most important to cover with our children. Then I started dreaming about field trips we'd take, classes we'd organize, what other life changes will come our way. And then - logically - back to sewing, knitting, crocheting and painting projects.

I began thinking again about brother-sister outfits and then, co-ordinating the entire family... Something of a family uniform. As creepy as that idea may sound to some, it's dead useful when you have a large family who likes to travel a lot. This is a strategy I used extensively when our oldest three children were small. We made frequent trips, including several trans-Atlantic crossings during that time. Whenever we dressed for an outing, or packed for a trip, I planned totally co-ordinated outfits to be worn on each day. That meant if we had an escapee, I could instantly spot or identify him or her by the outift. Fortunately, I never had an escapee, but I was glad to be prepared.

I also noticed that other families who had adopted this practice exuded an air of unity - in more than just their dress. In addition, you tend to look at their faces more, rather than just passing by. It offers an opportunity to smile at someone! Although my husband likes to tease about my manic co-ordination for family portraits, he's often the first to ask what color we're wearing. Whether it's matching t-shirts printed especially for a family gathering (don't laugh I know a lady who did this!), or an actual family uniform, the effect is the same. It says "We belong together".

I know I'll get the argument that I'm squashing individuality. Truly, the entire family is consulted about tastes and styles. Fortunately, my kids tend toward the classic and modest and we can at least agree on style and cut. From there, colors are a bit more of a challenge, but we have never had a problem choosing palettes that suit the entire family.

As for economics, co-ordinating a large family can be a huge budget saver. For instance, I can buy a bolt of khaki fabric for 20% the per/yard price and make pants or shorts for the boys and dresses, skirts, or shorts for us gals. I can do the same with shirting fabrics and then the boys will choose their own ties, the girls their own jewelry or scarves to accent their outfits. We all look similar, but unique. The best part is that classic solids and cuts mean that the same garments can be worn again without looking out of place, or out of fashion.

I'm thinking I'm going to need some help to get these projects done. I make excellent Kahlua fudge brownies, if there are any volunteers!

It's a...

Boy! We just got home from the U/S. Everything looks very good with the baby - they didn't get as good a picture of his heart as they wanted, but not to worry.

I'm bang on for dates, which is goodnews -and a testament to charting!My placenta is very low, so they want to re-scan in about 6 weeks to make sure it's well out of the way. When she told us we were having another boy I started laughing hysterically, which significanlty delayed the progress of the scan. We were convinced that there was no way we could maintain the pattern: G, B, G, B, G, B! We're pretty thrilled, but now I have to pack away the girl clothes and see what I can scare up for a little chap!