Hello sweet friend, I am so glad you are here. Earlier this week I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. So I set out on a walk with Grace and tried to share a smile with every neighbor and worker that crossed our path. I returned back home with a lighter heart and a soul full of joy. Here’s to Friday Favorites Thread of Gold.
Whatnot
This charming Georgian era vicarage in London truly delighted my heart. Looking through all the photographs I loved the added scalloped detailing of fabric. It reminded me of the whatnot shelf that the Ingalls family created in By The Shores of Silver Lake, Chapter 22, Happy Winter Days.
Mix and Toss
I served this French-Style Potato and Green Bean Salad as an Easter side dish. Each bite encompasses all the flavorful delights of spring.
Eggcellent Animal Portraits
After making the dish above you may have an empty egg carton. Be sure to transform it into a series of charming animal portraits.
Sweet Still Lifes
The simple yet effective vignettes created throughout this elegant Georgian style home have me rearranging some of the bedside and front room tables here at Storybook Cottage.
Friday Favorites Thread Of Gold
This past week I have spent countless hours hand sewing with gold thread to create a silk stomacher and petticoat similar to those worn in this painting of Martha Dandridge Custis Washington by John Wollaston, 1757.
On National First Ladies Day (April 25th) I will be presenting a historical fashion show What Martha Washington Might Have Worn in celebration of National First Ladies Day and the 250th anniversary of America at the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival.
![Portrait of Martha Dandridge Custis, John Wollaston, oil on canvas, 1757. Washington-Custis-Lee Collection, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA. [U1918.1.1]](https://mtv-drupal-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/files/resources/mrs-daniel-parke-custis.jpg?VersionId=37UyNZ5TArbcoxkSEJ64QMoQty2o.dC0 "Portrait of Martha Dandridge Custis, John Wollaston, oil on canvas, 1757. Washington-Custis-Lee Collection, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA. [U1918.1.1]")
What To Watch
If you love historical fashion, Little House on the Prairie and/or Laura Ingalls Wilder then you will enjoy this weeks Land of Laura podcast.
Tomorrow marks 28 years since I put on a $100 dress found on a deep clearance rack. Our wedding rings came from the pawn shop.
But the day was priceless and I still wouldn’t change a thing.
Happy Anniversary Mr. Decor!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Laura
Your wedding picture is beautiful! Happy Anniversary and many more!
Thank you so much for visiting and your lovely words Mary Ann!
Happy Love Day to both of you!! You continue to amaze me with your appreciation to detail in the little things of life and your sweet attention to detail in your handmade costumes, sweet decor and all things Little House that point to your heritage. I look forward to seeing your book in print and the reboot of Little House this summer❤️.
I hope you had a wonderful birthday celebration sweet friend!
Happy Anniversary!!!
My wedding dress, 1977, came from the Gunnysack warehouse in San Francisco. Oh! those were the days!!! The brides of today miss out on a lot….with all their perfectionism and nonsense!!!
Laura, I hope you have a wonderful time up at the Cherry Blossom Festival! Back when I took my kids to England to visit my brother Gene and his wife Linnea and their kids (Spring break 2005), Linnea helped me make a stomacher for Amy. Her middle school was having a Renaissance fair as soon as we got back. Amy still has that piece and it gets pulled out when she and friends dress up for festivals even today. Have fun with yours!!! Love the idea of a whatnot shelf. I have an antique, tiny two shelf wood piece which is like a mini whatnot. No china shepherdess, though. <3
Happy Laura-ing (my new word!),
Hugs,
Barb
p.s. Rereading the LIW/RWL book The Little House Sampler again. Just at the part where Rose talks about Pa telling everyone that Laura is to have his fiddle after his passing. I still cry as if they were my own family! LIW is still my all-time favorite author. <3
Happy Anniversary Laura…you haven’t changed bit…beautiful wedding pic. And after all the time we lived in Missouri and Kansas, I did not know MO had a Cherry Blossom Festival…go figure. hugs