marie-madeline studio

A Fabulous Friday

Here's what we've been loving!  How 'bout YOU??? xox the Long ladies

{achaia's picks}

1. suitcases piled high (the higher the better!)

2. my new sweater... I can't wait to get it in the mail

3. Frank Sinatra

4. Oxfords - anyway you cut them, they're fabulous

{abiah's picks}

1. braids in my hair...

2. good food

3. my new maxi skirt from Boden!

4. dancing

{kristie's picks}

 

1. buttons, buttons, and more buttons

2. Cath Kidston fabrics

3. one of my favorite movies

4. a bit of humor

{apphia's picks}

1. the perfectly happy pink cardigan

2. cutest ponytail ever

3. maybe someday...

4. I've got to try these

{abigail's picks}

1. love this combination!

2. my new tee

3. the bunting that Abiah & I made for our room.  We love the word LOVE.

4. our littlest friends

1 skirt | 3 days | Day 2 ~ The Wearing of the Green

Skirt - Made by me | Tank - American Eagle | Cardigan - Anthropologie (via eBay) | Boots - Lazy S Western Wear (Fredericksburg, Tx) | Bag - Zappos (gift)

Well, today Apphia, Abiah, and I had to run into town to mail some packages and do a little grocery shopping for the coming week, so we decided to stop off and take outfit photos while we were there. When I was deciding what to wear with my skirt today, what would you know but I pulled out this Anthro cardigan and the greens matched PERFECTLY!  I was so excited.  And, it's always fun to have an opportunity to wear my cowboy boots.  Currently they're my shoe of choice!

Oh, and everything I planned last night happened.  I ate pepperoni pizza, watched this, this, and this, and stitched on a pillow that I started a few months back.  I can't wait to show you the finished product!

Have a lovely day! xoAchaiaxox

Titanic 100

The Titanic 100 was a perfectly wonderful experience in every way!  We still haven't stopped talking about it yet.  We gathered with a little under 600 people in Branson, Missouri, to remember and honor the heroism displayed on Titanic's decks as she went down.

There were lots of wonderful events that we were so happy to be a part of including a special trip to the amazing Titanic Museum, visiting with many reenactors, wonderful lectures by some of our favorite speakers, a screening of A Night to Remember (which you really need to see!), a special children's play  commemorating 'women and children first', music by Charlie Zahm, the San Antonio Darlings, Paddy Walsh and the Boilermakers & the boys from Third Class, and many more!

The wonderful event culminated in a fabulous White Star dinner on the Branson Belle showboat as we cruised around Tablerock Lake, at the exact moment Titanic struck the iceberg that sent her down.  Most of us in early 1900s-inspired clothing, naturally.  We girls were so happy to have the opportunity to make our dresses for the occasion, and pull out some of our vintage rhinestone jewelry.  And, Mom got to wear her paternal grandmother's haircomb and maternal grandmother's rhinestone pin.  Dressing for the occasion was just icing on the cake!

As we said earlier, the whole experience was beyond wonderful, and we are so thankful for the opportunity to have joined in.  It was definitely a few days to remember always!

Hope you enjoyed a peek at it! Hugs-- xoUs

Going Through the Era's: the Gina dress

If it hasn't been said already (and I think it has), I have a great love for all things vintage.  And, clothes are no exception.  When I slide into them, they just feel right.  I just think there's something fabulous about taking an idea from the past and updating it for today.   

I love to gather ideas from practically anywhere I can lay my hands on.  My inspiration for this dress came from this fantastic photo of Gina Lollobrigida (who happens to play in one of my favorite movies).  It was so cute to me... I just couldn't get it out of my head.

This week's Going Through the Era's Fashionable Friday just happened to be 1950s, so it was the perfect excuse to finish this dress up!  I am over-the-moon happy with the results, and am just itching to "officially" get to wear it!!  I also have a pair of bright satin blue flats that match perfectly with the bright blue in the peacock feathers so I'm excited to match those up with this dress. (Of course, I used this fabric!)

hugs~ xox Achaia Victoria

Going Through the Era's Fashionable Friday: Casablanca Inspired

Details~ Lauren's jeans ruffle blouse {Macy's} - red ruffle skirt {Made by Abigail for me!} - navy cumberbund {Made by me} - Anne Klein flats {Macy's}

Well, today is Fashionable Friday, 1940s inspired, so I chose to gather up inspiration from one of the most famous movies of all time: Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.  This seemed to be pretty fitting, as this year marks the 70th anniversary of the movie's release.  Plus, my sweet family has decided that out of almost any actress I can look most like Ingrid Bergman. 

Casablanca came out in 1942, and is still widely considered one of the best movies ever made.  My outfit was inspired by the ruffle blouse, maxi skirt, and cumberbund that Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) wears when she goes to Rick's Cafe (you can see the real outfit here, here, and here).  I've always loved Ilsa's clothes, and hope to make an almost perfect replica of this outfit again one day!

Okay.  Time to go watch Casablanca!  (Is there anyone out there who hasn't seen it??)

"Here's looking at you, kid"~ xo Achaia

PS  I found out some interesting information about the movie.... To prepare for her role opposite Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman watched The Maltese Falcon over and over again.

Going Through the Era's Historical Sunday: WW2 Hero

A portrait of Audie Murphy in his Class A uniform as an army captain.

Well, Ashley is again putting on a fabulous event, and I have to join in as often as possible!  Today is 1940s Historical Sunday, so I chose to share my favorite World War 2 hero, Audie Murphy.  I'm terribly notorious for making my writing waaaayyy too long (when in high school my papers were always about 2000 more words than they were supposed to be!), so I'll skim over things and make this as brief as possible.

Audie L. Murphy was the most decorated soldier of World War 2 --- in fact, to this day he is the most decorated US soldier ever.  Joining the army at the age of 17, Audie fought in 7 major campaigns of World War 2, was given a "battle field" commission as 2nd Lieutenant, was wounded three times, and survived.  Audie personally killed 240 Germans, and was one of the only two soldiers left in the orginal company at the end of the war. He received every decoration his country could give (some of them more than once), including some from the French and Belgium governments -- 33 decorations and awards in total.  Audie was awarded the highest award that a soldier can receive, the Congressional Medal of Honor, on August 9th, 1945, just after his 19th birthday.

In 1955 Audie's amazing story was made into a movie that was based on his autobiography.  The movie, To Hell and Back, featuring Audie playing as himself, was a box office hit and the highest grossing picture for Universal Studios until 1975.  Audie L. Murphy was without a doubt a true hero.

xox Achaia

Turning 22 properly.

*First off--- Thank you all for the lovely birthday wishes!  I had a beautiful day, complete with cinnamon rolls, Anna Maria bias binding, a light box (to help with my embroidery, yay!), Mexican food & pop cake, Dr. Pepper, and Audie Murphy (yes, I'm a girl that loves classic westerns--- you can thank my Dad and brothers for that).  I feel so very blessed by your friendship and my family's love. xxx

You are probably curious about The Dress.  About a week before my birthday I decided I was only turning 22 once, therefore a new dress would be in order.  I'm so happy with it!  The bias cut skirt is perfect (and definitely worth the extra fabric usage!), and I decided to liven things up with making the sleeves hemmed with a subtle 'V'.  I've always loved a detail like that, and was so happy I could add it to this dress.

The fabric is my newest fabric love: Loulouthi velveteen.  I've always had a soft spot for velveteens, and having it designed by Anna Maria Horner, was just icing on the cake.  And, it just so happens that she always picks colors that I love to wear.  These velveteens are super great to sew with, and I'm always on the band wagon of recommending them for winter sewing!

I'm excited to see what God has in store for me in my 22nd year!  I just can't believe it's here.

hugs and kisses ~Achaia

The Newest Fabric on the Shelves!

Say hello to Lecien's Flower Sugar fall 2011 collection!  It's really a beautiful line.  We say that all the time, but it is really true.  We had the pleasure of sewing up some goodies for Lecien's market booth this fall (a small smattering of what we made above!), so we had the double pleasure of getting to see all the lovely prints ahead of time.  However, we didn't take a single picture of our handwork hanging up in their booth!  When we came back the other half that stayed home couldn't understand that.  How could we do such a thing?  Come to think of it, our appointment with Lecien was on the last day we were at market.  Our eyes must have been glazed over by then.  (That happens at market, ya know?)

While Abs was taking bolt pictures today she noticed someone looking in on her.  See Robie??  She's such a sweet kitty, and very willing to let Bo & Blayde share their dinner with her.  Robie's taken to walking along the window ledges, watching what's going on inside.  It probably helped that someone fed her a slice of cheese out the door.  You think?  Oh, and why is "she" named after a "he" movie character?  That's a good question.  We named her before we knew it was a her.  I don't think she minds.

Happy fabric-ing!   xox Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, & Abiah

Fall Fashion Challenge ~Day 7

Me with my faithful photographer.

Details~

{Top- Target} {Cardigan- Anthropologie} {Skirt- Anthropologie} {Flats- Lands' End Canvas}

{Hat- Forever21}

Well, it's the very last day of Ashley's Fall Fashion Challenge... too bad, so sad!  I've had a great time!!  A big hug to Ashley for putting it all together.

It was hat day, so I pulled out my new floppy hat.  I'm looking forward to wearing it more this fall/winter, Lord willing, and messing around with shaping it differently.  It was sooo windy here today that holding onto your hat was a complete necessity.

It wasn't hard for me to pick out my outfit.  I got this skirt on sale a few weeks back, and really really like it.  Actually, the skirt is a wrap-around one, with the added benefit of an adorable ruffle!  Oh, and I love my cardigan--- I don't have a ton of green things, so I love this emerald one.

Okay, so now I have a question.... out of all the outfits I wore this week what one(s) were your favorites???

Time to get on with supper, possibly try a new dessert recipe (I'll have to let you know how it turns out!), and watch Gone With the Wind.

Much love! Achaia

PS-- Thanks so much for the sweet words about yesterday's outfit!  Some of you asked about my polka dot satchel.   It's from Cath Kidston, and you can see it here.  Mine is a little bit brighter, as it was last year's color.  By the way, it's laminate so it is a breeze to keep clean.  Definitely a favorite!! xx

Fall Fashion Challenge ~Day 4

Details~

{Top- TravelSmith} {Jacket- Talbot's} {Velveteen skirt- Made by me}

{Dotty tights- Target} {Heels- Sofft} {Pillbox hat- Made by me}

Well, today was awfully fun for me, as the "must do" was choose one of your favorite eras and wear it!  I have several eras that I adore (40s, 50s, 60s, 70s...), but it wasn't too hard to decide which one to do--- late 50s.  A la Eva Marie Saint in North by Northwest to be exact.  I love all of Eva Marie's clothes in the movie, so I combined a few different elements from a couple of her outfits.  I'm happy with the result!

Mom and I picked up my velvet jacket when we were shopping on my birthday earlier this year.  What a find from the clearance rack!  It's one of those absolutely love pieces from my closet! (I have a complete and utter nutty weakness for jackets.)  The mustardy-gold velveteen skirt was my take on Ashley's great mustard pencil skirt that I was always mooning over when she posted pictures of it--- now I have my own!

And my hat.  Yes, I did make it.  Out of Anna Maria Horner's velveteen (I am noticing a velvet/velveteen theme here...).  I've been mulling over the idea of making myself a hat, and I was really wanting a pillbox.  So, thanks to some invaluable information from Nanny, I started cutting away and came up with this.  I love it!

xxx Achaia