Fall Fashion Ala The 1940s

I think it is always interesting to look at the clothing that was worn in different periods for the changing seasons, so this post is a compilation of a few of the 1940s autumnal fashions.

Myrna Loy, who happens to be one of my favorite female actresses from the Golden Era (1930s-1940s), is wearing a lovely suit ensemble with an adorable chapeau.


This Simplicity pattern is a fine example of the lounging suit, perfect for the cold evenings when all you want to do is curl up with a captivating book & a cup of steaming hot tea.



The title says it all, accessorization is key to making a small wardrobe seem endless.


A photo I found online taken of a young woman entering her freshman year at university. Her outfit is comfortable, while still be in style.


A very flattering style with the gathering on the bodice & the pointed waistband. Lengthening the sleeves & making it from a tropical weight wool would easily carry this lovely frock into the blistering cold months of winter.


The newly popular, but not yet widely worn, pant suit. Pants were questionable for women still, even in the 1940s (some question them even now). I personally don't wear pants, but I thought it might be of some inspiration to others that do.


An adorable mother-daughter matching sweater set! I simply love the color & the sleeve length. A wonder way to add warmth when there is a slight nip to the air.


A fabulous coat that would serve many age levels & could double as a maternity coat. The styling is timeless & could easily be worn with modern attire. Would be great made from a wool outer & a silk lining.


Do any of these coats look familiar? The styles & lines are very similar to some of the coats today, which are advertised as a NEW style. LOL! It just goes to prove that the fashions of the past will repeat themselves again & again.


If you owned all of the pieces in this image, you could mix & match to make dozens of ensembles. With three jacket/skirt combos, one blouse/skirt, & a vest/skirt the possibilities are endless.


I hope you were all inspired to try something new that might have been old :), for your upcoming fall/winter wardrobes.
I plan to do another post on 1930s fall/winter garments soon.

God bless & have a wonderful weekend.
Sarah Grace

Remembrance of Our Soldiers, Past & Present

I apologize for how late this post is, almost a week past the date, but I have not been well as of late, so I failed to post anything on Sunday. A friend emailed me the below story & I think it is very touching. I would also like to apologize for the lack of photos of any sort, as my computer will not allow me to load them at present.



Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned

seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will

get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats,

totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa.

We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for

five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch

would help pass the time...

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.

‘No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks.

I'll wait till we get to base.

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch.

I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all

those soldiers.'

She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a

soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my

seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she

asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first

class.

'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man

stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five

dollars. Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at

the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the

numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand

and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the

Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once,

someone bought me a lunch.

It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the

passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six

rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in

my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane.

Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something

in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another

twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.

I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars.

It will take you some time to reach the base.

It will be about time for a sandwich.

God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.

As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These

soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of

meals. It seemed so little...


A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made

payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and

including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

Psalm 23:1-6: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Have a blessed week,
Sarah Grace

Happy Belated Birthday Beatrix!

On Thursday, July 28th, 1866 Helen Beatrix Potter Heelis was born. It is hard to believe that it has been 145 years since my eternally favourite authoress/ illustrator was born. With her imagination for such loveable & memorable characters & her breathtakingly beautiful illustrations, it is hard not to get lost in the world of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, or Jemima Puddleduck. Her tales draw the reader into a time long since past, with such animation of idea, that one becomes a part in her world. I long to be even half as accomplished as Beatrix in the arts of pen & drawing. Happy 145th Birthday Beatrix, may your tales continue to be beloved by the generations to come.

God bless,
Sarah Grace

Elegant Lady's Closet Giveaway

Over at the Royal Daughters of the King blog, they are having a giveaway for Sense & Sensibility's Elegant Lady's Closet ePattern. I would love to win this, as I have long wanted all of the patterns from S&S, but never enough free falling leaves from the fabled money tree to afford them. Mrs. Chancey's patterns are fabulous & the results always stunning. If you have never done so before, go to the S&S website www.sensibility.com. It is a lovely place to visit. www.royal-daughters-of-the-king.blogspot.com is the site where the giveaway is taking place.

God bless & have a lovely day,
Sarah Grace

Independence Day

Tomorrow is Independence Day, the 4th of July, & for me this day means spending time with my family & sometimes friends, partaking in delicious food, enjoying each others company, & then after the evening has come, watching the brightly shining fireworks display that flashes over the corn fields near my Grandfather's home. But Independence Day means so much more. It represents the past, present, & the future of our nation. The trials & the joys we have persevered to overcome through the years. The pains & sorrows that have been brought to families to retain the freedom we so cherish & desire. Our past defines our future. Mr. Winston Churchill once said: "The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see." I believe he was entirely correct. If we do not know of our past, then we are not prepared for the future.
Below are two pieces, one of poetry, the other of music, that speak very well in my opinion of Independence Day.
Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!
Sail on, O Union, strong and great!
Humanity with all its fears,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on the fate!
We know what Master laid the keel,
What Workmen wrought thy ribs of steel,
Who made each mast, and sail, and rope,
What anvils rang, what hammers beat,
In what forge and what a heat
Were shaped the anchors of thy hope!
Fear not each sudden sound and shock,
'Tis of the wave and not the rock;
'Tis but the flapping of the sail,
And not a rent made by the gale!
In spite of rock and tempest's roar,
In spite of false lights on the shore,
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea!
Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee,
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o'er our fears,
Are all with thee, - are all with thee!

From The Republic from "The Building of the Ship"
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I have heard how Christians long ago
Were brought before a tyrant's throne
And they were told that he would spare their lives
If they would renounce the name of Christ
But one by one they chose to die
The Son of God they would not deny
Like a great angelic choir sings
I can almost hear their voices ring

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength
With all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

Now the years have come and the years have gone
But the cause of Jesus still goes on
And now our time has come to count the cost
To reject this world, to embrace the cross
And one by one let us live our lives
For the One who died to give us life
Till the trumpet sounds on the final day
Let us proudly stand and boldly say

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength
With all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

To the Lamb of God who bore my pain
Who took my place, who wore my shame
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

Lyrics from I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb.


God bless to everyone & their families,
Sarah Grace

My Most Humble Apologies...

I wish to apologize for the rather long absence. I unexpectedly spent some time at my Grandfather's house, helping with laundry, cooking meals, cleaning house, etc. while my uncles, with my Grandfather's supervision, planted the fields. I had a great time, but he unfortunately does not believe the internet to be something of any value. He believes it to be one of the evils of modern invention, LOL. I pray everyone has a wonderful week before Independence Day arrives. Summer is an excellent time to rejoice & marvel in God's stunning creations of life. As a new passion & hobby, I have planted a somewhat small garden, with several heirloom seed varieties: Tomatoes, pole beans, bush beans, black-eyed peas, bush peas, spinach, red beets, turnips, kohlrabi, carrots, acorn squash, golden zucchini, cushaw squash, garlic, & sweet potatoes. I pray daily for a bumper crop. I hope everyone has a fabulous Independence Day with their family & friends.

God bless,
Sarah Grace

Thank You Mama

Today is Mother's Day, a day to stop & thank our mothers for all of the selfless acts they perform for us throughout our daily lives. I think sometimes we take our mothers for granted, I know I have. So, not only today but even on ordinary days, stop & show your appreciation for your mother just being there for you through thick & thin. Tell her you love & appreciate her, make her a card , cook breakfast, or just give her a hug to show her how much you care.

Proverbs 31:28 & 31: Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

God bless to all & have a lovely Mother's Day,
Sarah Grace