Grace Marie Fitzpatrick, Coffee House Days

January is one of those months allowing one to dream a bit, sit back and sort through what has passed and what might come to be.  I've been doing quite a bit of that by sorting through literally thousands of photographs and bits of ephemera saved in one single folder called "Lettie Lane".  The title alone gives away that I began filling it up a good nine years ago.  I never really got the hang, technically, of setting up albums within folders, on and on.  But, this month, we bought my sister a brand new computer, helped her set it up over the telephone, and suddenly I started feeling technically inquisitive.  So once again I had my husband show me how to make a folder, or album.  It did take a few steps, but once I did it fifty times, I began to really hit the Lettie Lane folder and start sorting and filing.

I am far from completion, and to date, I've set up 55 new folders to sort all the images into, and there will be more.  What has transpired by doing this, is an in depth survey 

of my life.  Dog and trip photos intermingled with UFDC events, doll clothing and accessory projects, photos of just about anything, ephemera, scans for projects, and everything including the kitchen sink.  I've come across so many things I've made that I'd forgotten about.  And, its true!  After I make something, especially if I've given it away, I forget about it as I've moved on to the next, and then the next project.  I've also come across all the dolls and trunk collections I've sold, and this saddens me.  I miss them.  But, at the time they were passed to a new collector, it seemed the right thing to do.  If I had every doll I'd ever purchased, I could open up five doll shops with inventory for the ages!  Still, I become sentimental, and remember that I did once own them and enjoy them.

I've been reading.  I always have a book with a book mark in it, and thoroughly enjoyed Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher.  Before that, I'd finished Follett's 

prequel to the Kingsbridge series.  And Maeve Binchy's, A Week in Winter, which was a light, quick read.  Now I'm reading Pilcher's, Coming Home.  I really love this author.  And, so yes, I've not done much sewing this month, and when I take a break like that, it is often difficult to get into the swing of it again.  This is when I came upon Tamara Casey's new patterns for Grace Marie.  One in particular was Cozy Coat, and the other, Fizz.  Fizz?  Not sure what that means, but I loved the outfit.

I can't tell you exactly why I'm so technically challenged, but it might be the same reason that I'm lousy at math.  So when I put the legal sized paper into the printer to print off the Cozy Coat, I forgot that step in the pdf print stage to "modify" and change the paper size.  The computer to printer thing-o is not intuitive.  So I started making this coat, just to ease myself back into sewing, and the darn thing was too small.  I had to throw it out and couldn't understand what the problem was.  It wasn't until I wrote to Tamara for help, and was reading upstairs with the cat on my lap, that the light bulb went off.  Off the lap went the cat, and down to the computer I flew to see if the bulb flash was indeed bright.  It was.  Still defeated by 

the coat, I snipped out the pattern for Fizz, and began afresh.  

During the Christmas Pageant, I'd purchased Tamara's Coffee House outfit in her sale album.  It was right up my alley as a casual outfit,  and I knew I'd be wanting to make my other Grace doll a complimentary outfit.  The whole idea of something to wear to a Starbucks was just too delicious an idea.  My sister and I used to have coffees together in Portland at Starbucks when I'd visit, and these times were comforting - as well as the trips across the street to Powell's book store.  There is nothing better than a good coffee drink and a good book to read.  On a rainy day.  With a piece of cake or sweet treat on a plate. 

And, so it was with all these thoughts that I made up my own version of Coffee House for Grace.  This chic little outfit is made up in a silk suiting, with silk lining.  The high neck top beneath is an avocado green jersey.  I finished it off with a dark brown "alligator" belt with a buckle to go through the belt loops of the skirt.  I had these beautiful, decorative black vintage buttons on a card, and used one of them to close the cape.  The outfit is very "Agatha Primrose", if you recall the

twelve inch Tonner doll.  Its also a bit Sherlock Holmes, although on a strictly feminine scale.  Its fun.  Its Coffee House.  Its walking down a cobbled street after a good rain, in fashionable boots, and hearing the tinkle of a bell as one opens a door to a warm cafe filled with the scents of coffee beans, and vanilla wafting from the freshly baked selections.

I did make up the skirt a bit differently than the instructions (yes, I read them), asked, but I do understand why they were written as such.  To finish the lining in the skirt the way I do it, would be difficult to describe.  But, I do it as Magalie Dawson would, which is how I learned to line anything in the first place.  Clean and tailored.  To me, if it looks beautiful on the inside, it most likely will hold the same appeal on the outside.  I should have taken photos of the process and included them, but maybe I'll do that as a stand alone blog sometime.

I know.  I'm not stretching myself these days, but the break was necessary.  I simply listen to my body, pay attention to how much sleep I'm getting, understand if I'm inspired or not, and really just do what pleases me most.  We all need time to gather our energies again from time to time, and sometimes just making folders and filing photos, and reading for the pleasure of it is enough.  And, it worked.  I'm ready to tackle the unknown again and challenge myself in some way.  The filing will get done.  That's not something you can push either.  And, I like to leave myself open to things that may suddenly come my way. 

Below you'll find my very full and now shelved scrapbook binder from the Virtual Doll Convention collectings that began last July.  A new album has already been started.  And, I also purchased one more Grace doll for all the new doings this year.  She's Aspen Grace with gorgeous blue eyes.  Tonner will not be making anymore Grace dolls, so she was a must have.  And, finally, my two other Grace dolls in their Coffee House outfits complete with books to read and foamy topped Starbucks cups.

I hope this posting finds you relaxing into the new year and ready to enjoy the days ahead.  We still have so many challenges to face, but when we have treasured pastimes, the scales balance perfectly!

Love, Melissa

Such wonderful memories.

Aspen Grace arrives with little gifts.