Heirloom Acquisitions - Buttons and 1920 Wedding Dress

Ugh I've been horrible this fall about staying up to date! August we had vacation, September saw us trying to start wedding planning, and October has just managed to fly by. After September, we did some number crunching for the wedding and my sewing habit is going to have to go through some budget cutbacks for a few months. Womp-womp :(

So yes, still not a whole lot of sewing happening - both in general and for my 1890s suit dress - but I have other fun things to show off!

For starters, my Aunt Dianne was recently going through stuff at her house and bequeathed to me a family button box!

There's some really interesting buttons in here that go all the way back to the turn of the 1900s probably, based on what I was told and what I found in the box (an old stogie box) as well. These were a few of my favorite finds:

Glass buttons, buttons on a card, iridescent glass/jet with animal claws, and someone's leather thimble.

Now the really spectacular part of this post started with a phone call from my Grandma Siegfried. They were also going through stuff at their house and found a box with a wedding dress in it (I need to get names again for who it belonged to), probably from around the 1920s. From what she described, it had been picked apart after being worn and there were just pieces of dress in the box. She wanted to know if I might be interested though because I could possibly use the pieces in other projects. I told her to send it along and I would take a look at it.

House Sewing and a Flapper Frock

Gadzooks! Where did January go? So I have been doing some sewing, but it's been off the "house work" pile. I don't obtain this pile too often, because housework = chores = stuff I try to put off. In this case, it was curtain hemming. Always a "fun" task in my book.

Curtains. Yay. Fun. Totally not exciting.

So on to the real fun stuff now. I don't know why I didn't put this up sooner.

In November last fall, I awoke on Black Friday and started perusing the online sales. And I don't mean the Macy's or Best Buy sales. Instead I head over to some of my favorite costume and boutique sites. In this case, Unique Vintage. 

Unique Vintage is well known for vintage style wear, but I've been stalking this site for a few years for their beaded flapper dresses. I've been wanting one since I first found this site about 3 years ago. On Black Friday, they do a huge sale and it's the best time to grab one of these because they normally go for about $100-$300 each (prices vary according to style, popularity, if it's on clearance, etc.). With some help from my sister, I selected this beaded beauty.

Teal beaded dress by Unique Vintage

Downton Abbey Season 4 review

Here in Ohio we are getting a very frigid start to the new year (the weather forecast shows a high of 3 degrees). On the plus side, with the start of the new year we also have a new season of Downton Abbey to look forward to! I first started watching this wonderful show when it first came out and have been watching since.

The first episode of season 4 aired this past Sunday, January 5, but I have - ahem - connections and have watched the entire season already.

This season opens with Mary still in mourning for the death of Matthew which happened in the last season (six months previously for the Downton Abbey timeline). As she tries to cope with depression and a new baby whom she has little feeling toward, the rest of the Crawley family try to figure what it best for their daughter and the estate which is now having to face the changes of a new era.

As the series progresses, she finds the motivation to keep moving forward through both her work and from her family. Soon enough, two contenders for her hand will enter the scene and lead the viewer on a back and forth debate of what may happen next for Mary.

When we last left the season 3 Christmas special, it was announced that Lady Rose MacClare would be joining the Crawley household. Lady Sybil may be gone, but Rose manages to fill in her place with keeping the Crawley family and the Downton staff on their toes between her various rebellious acts and interests. 

"Let's face it, she is a flapper," remarks Lady Mary at one point. The Christmas Special will see a trip to London for Rose's court presentation which is not to be missed.

For those of us who know history, Lady Edith's own story is bound to get interesting. Not just in this season, but in future storylines as well. Her romance with Michael Gregson, the magazine editor, has become very intense but he is unable to obtain a divorce unless he travels to Germany to become a citizen.

The ensuing struggles Edith faces while she waits at home at Downton Abbey will have the viewer once again remarking, "Poor Edith!" It just seems inescapable.

Not to be ignored of course is the downstairs staff of Downton. Still caught up in the happiness of Mr. Bates' release from prison, he and Anna are living in marital bliss. Tragedy does strike however that will soon test their love and trust in each other. Sorry, but I can't really say much else without giving away the plot. 

Of course no episode would be complete without Mrs. Patmore, Daisy, and now Ivy having a row of some sort in the kitchen. As the two young girls continue to vie for the affection of Alfred, one of the footmen, Mrs. Patmore is always there to offer a bit of advice.

Not to be missed of course is the Dowager Countess (played by the spectacular Dame Maggie Smith). She's back with more wisdom and wit than ever, but we do have a brief glimpse into the future in which there may no longer be a Dowager Countess. It's very depressing to think about.

Other returning favorites include Tom Branson, Lady Sybil's husband and prior chauffeur to the Crawley family, and Martha Levinson played by Shirley McLaine. Her and the Dowager Countess will get a few stabs at each other but not until the Christmas Special at the end. 

There is a lot to look forward to in Season 4 and while it does not seem to move as fast as other seasons, there's a resolution in some of the open plot areas which are only opened by new story points that will no doubt continue into Season 5. 

Costumes of course continue to be wonderful and drool-inducing. Since the series has now reached the early 1920s, there are a number of the loose, frock-like dresses making appearances along with the robe-de-style that I love in particular. 

I would love to include so much more about what to expect this season, but then I would be giving too much away I feel. In short, tune in Sundays to watch the latest season of Downton Abbey. You just can't miss it!

Overall rating - 4.5 out of 5
Costumes - 5 out of 5

For enticement of those who haven't seen the entire season, here's some photos from series: