The Workwoman's Guide, 1840

I have been discovering Google Books lately. It is amazing what you can find! As I like authors from years gone by, it is not hard to find something interesting.

I did a search on "aprons" and look what I found! A fascinating book from 1840. A sewing book really, on how to sew just about every household item. Curtains, dust cloths, bassinet covers, bed linens, day caps, drawers, petticoats etc... Here is the bit about aprons.

APRONS.

PLATE 11.

If for common use, aprons are made of white, brown, blue, black, or checked linen, of black stuff, calico, Holland, leather, nankeen, print, or long cloth ; if for better purposes, of cambric muslin, clear, mulled, or jaconet muslin, silk, satinette, satin, &c. The length of the apron is, of course, generally determined by the height of the wearer, and the width, by that of the material, and by the purpose for which it is intended. For working aprons, the width is generally one breadth of a yard wide; for dress aprons, two breadths, one of which is cut in half, and these halfs put one on each side of the whole breadth. If the material should be wide enough, one breadth, of from fourteen to twenty nails, will answer very well.

COMMON APRONS.

The simplest kind, and that generally worn by working men, is a yard wide or more, hemmed at the bottom and at the top, with a string run through to tie round the waist. It is thus worn by brewers, &c.

PLATE 11. FIG 12.

May be worn either as a common or as a pretty dress apron, according to the material and trimming. It may be made of silk, coloured muslin, or print. After being properly gathered into the band, two shoulder-straps, in the form of four lappets, are cut out, either pointed, as in A, or rounded, as in B. These lappets may be piped, and either edged with lace or fringe, or left plain. For a full size, the lappet is five nails along the selvage, from D to C, and one nail and three-quarters from C to B. The two straps are sewed together at C, and fastened with a bow of ribbon. The lappet is piped all round with a strong cord, to make it wear well.

A COOKING APRON.

PLATE 11. FIG. 14.

This is a neat pattern for a housekeeper, cook, or kitchen-maid. The bib is quite plain, and pins to the gown at the corners. The size given in the Plate is suitable for a girl, but the bib should be cut to suit the wearer at once, and not made by guess. The apron is made of check or strong linen.

If you absolutely need to read the rest of the book, here is the link. It is quite fascinating! And goes along with the most resent mini-series I have been watching, Cranford.

The Beauties of Shelf Paper

This is just a random thought out of no where. Somehow I found myself mulling it over. Shelf Paper. Why do we use it? Why should we use it? Have women just been doing it for centuries for no reason? Or a reason not valid anymore?

I had never really paid any attention to shelf paper before. I helped my Mom tear off the old paper and re-paint the kitchen shelves when we moved, but that was about all. Then I got an antique bedroom set. A bed, dresser and dressing table. It was in beautiful condition. As I polished and cleaned them, I suddenly knew I needed drawer liners! I just cringed thinking about my hairbrushes and makeup rattling around in the drawers. So there is one reason to use drawer liners (or shelf paper), Protection. This would also work for kitchen shelves too. Day after day all those plates and dishes going in and out, in and out. I know our painted shelves needed another coat of paint after a few years.

Then there is the question of cleanliness. When my sister moved into a new apartment, the management gave her shelf paper. And was she glad to have it! No matter how much we scrubbed those shelves, they didn't look clean. So out went the old paper in went the new paper. No more worries!

How about protecting dishes? Shelf paper protects dishes as well as the shelf. Especially if the shelf is painted. Ever go to move a dish that has been on a newly painted shelf for a few months? It is stuck!

Well, those are my reasons for using shelf paper! There is also the ascetic reason of course! Nothing is more cheerful than flowered shelf paper in the bottom of a drawer. It takes away that yawning hole look. And if you ever feel the need to wipe out your dresser drawers, you won't have to worry about ruining the wood with a little water.

I like to use wallpaper to line dresser drawers. A roll will do a couple of dressers and it has enough of a finish on it to be water proof. With shelves it is a little harder, as it really needs to stay in place. Most stores carry a self adhesive kind, but that tends to leave a sticky residue behind. There is also a waffle weave kind that stays in place by it's self that is nice for utensil drawers.

What do you think? Which side are you on? Have you ever used shelf paper?

Park Avenue

This is my new pink glass. Isn't it beautiful? If you remember this is one of the items I bought last weekend antique shopping. I have it on my dressing table so I don't have to traipse all the way downstairs to get a drink of water at night. Also I was tired of having a green plastic cup marring my decorating theme. The pictures captured the color wonderfully.

I didn't really know anything about the pattern or who made it, so I did a little research. The pattern is called "Park Avenue" made by the Federal Glass Co in the 1940s. The color is called "Ruby Flash". To make it ruby colored they had to put a thin layer of colored glass over clear glass and reheat or flash it to bond them. In the picture above you can see the company mark, an F in a shield.

I really love the color. Maybe I should start a collection of ruby glass...

Happy Easter!

He is Lord, He is Lord,

He is Risen from the dead and He is Lord!

Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess,

That Jesus Christ is Lord!

I remember singing that at the top of our voices while swing on the swing set, when we were kids. We were so excited that spring was here and that Easter candy would soon be plentiful.

Happy Easter!!

P.S. The little chicks are my newest Easter decoration. They look old, but are not!

Lemon Pudding Cakes

My sister and I have been in a baking mood. I think it is all the gloomy, rainy, cold weather we've had. We needed some comfort food! The King Arthur Flour catalog had just come and this is one of the recipes they featured, Lemon Pudding Cake.

The recipe can be found at:

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/lemon-pudding-cakes-recipe

Contrary to what the name might imply, these little cakes do not have pudding in them. You actually make a cake batter, then pour a "sauce" over it before it bakes. When it is done the cake is on top and a pudding has formed on the bottom.

We did change the recipe a bit, as we didn't have lemon powder or lemon bits. Instead we put lemon zest(peel) and lemon juice(2 tbls) in the cake batter and 3 tbls of lemon juice in the sauce.

So Yummy! And very English. I have an English cookbook and there is a whole chapter on "puddings". Did you know pudding is slang for dessert in England?

Aren't they cute? In vintage Fire King custard cups.

Trip to the Antique Store

I went antique shopping last weekend. You probably think that is all I do, but not really. It goes in cycles. Spring always gives me the bug. Besides, I was on a mission! But I did get a little distracted. I was looking for a pink glass drinking glass for my room, so I don't have to traipse all the way down the stairs for water in the night. I found a marvelous glass, but I don't have pictures yet.

I did come across these darling little cookbooks! There were each only a dollar and aren't really books, little paperback pamphlets really. I don't feel as guilty about buying them and they won't take up a lot of space, so I can squeeze them on my cookbook shelf.

Menu Magic is from the Diamond Walnut Company. A very cute, colorful book. Judging from the pictures it was probably printed in the late 30's.

I opened it up and that was it, I knew I had to get it, an Apron!

Don't they look good?

Next up, is a Swift's Bland Lard cookbook. Probably 1930s also. I love the size and the color of this little book.

It has just about every sort of recipe, cakes, biscuits, fried chicken, doughnuts, pies, cookies.

Yum! Doughnuts! My mouth is watering at this picture. I love the recipe title too, Tea Doughnuts. Didn't know there was such a thing?

I just fell in love with this title. 12 Pies Husband Like Best. Don't you love it?

Aunt Jenny's forward is too cute. Nearly every man loves pie. Then give him pie to his hearts content! Any one of these recipes is sure to be pie to his liking- they were chosen because they're the pies that surveys, research, letters in my mail show most men like best. So begin anywhere- run your own popularity contest- see which pie wins with him!

Aunt Jenny seems to be right, I have never met a guy whose eyes haven't lit up at the thought of pie. I really want to try I few of her recipes, they look interesting.

This little book was put out by Spry Shortening. Interesting way to make pie crust, wonder if it works. Anyone ever made it this way?

April Gold

Spring has finally sprung here in Wisconsin! The dafodills and forsythia are in bloom!

They always remind me of April Gold by Grace Livingston Hill. In the book she calls her daffodils and forsythia her "april gold". They are so cheerful to see in the spring!

Have you ever read April Gold? It is such a cute little story. Copyright 1936. It is about a mother, son and daughter who have to sell their family home and move to the wrong side of town because they have lost their money. How they settle into their new life and make it through with determination, family and God. I love the part where the mohter misses her "april gold", so the son digs up all her daffodils and forsythia, and re-plants them at the new house.

I love Grace Livingston Hill books! They are so sweet. And give a good picture of living in the 20, 30s, 40s. Even though it is romantizied!