Sense & Sensibility Patterns

I’ve really struggled over this decision, as IG has been such a huge way for me to communicate with people, but after studying the new TOS in-depth this week, I just can’t keep the app. I won’t delete my account (because I hope there’s enough push-back to change things for the better), but I won’t be posting here. 2020 has changed a lot of things in my life anyway, and being off IG almost entirely since Mom’s diagnosis has actually helped me focus on what is most important. I have missed all your lovely notes and stories, so don’t be strangers! Check my image above for how to reach me, and please do stay in touch! ❤️ Jennie

I know it’s been a very long pause from my side. It has been a challenging time, but we have so much to be thankful for. Mom’s oncologist switched her to chemo two weeks ago to speed the shrinkage of the tumors, and her hair has begun to fall out. She emailed me earlier this week to say Sunday had been so comforting, because the reading for the day in church was from Matthew 10: “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” She continues to be filled with hope and courage, and she thanks everyone for their prayers. I have been keeping up with your emails, but I’m far behind on IG messages. I promise I will get back to them soon. I hope all of you are finding cheer and comfort wherever you are. Your kindness has meant SO much. ❤️ #HappyThanksgiving #GiveThanks #ThankYou

I have been AWOL for a while now, and I wanted to drop in and tell you I will be off social media for a long stretch. My amazing mother finally got her annual cancer screening last week, after four months of lockdown. The docs found extensive growths in her lymphatic system, and she is scheduled for biopsies and further testing in the coming weeks. As you would imagine, anything else has paled in comparison. I’m checking on Mom daily and have fallen way behind on DMs and emails. I will do my best to keep up with emails, but I’m not checking DMs on IG right now. Thank you for your understanding and patience. 2020 has just gotten harder than it already was. Hopefully the news will be better in a few weeks. 🙏🏼❤️

To live surrounded by such natural splendor...! 😍 Repost from @la_serraspina • 🇫🇷Voici ma toute dernière création 🎀! Une robe à l'anglaise 1780 que j'ai réalisée en lin de couleur mauve et que je porte sur un jupon en lin, lui aussi, couleur aubergine. Une ceinture de coton dans les mêmes tons vient compléter l'ensemble! J'ai réalisé le manteau de robe en me basant sur le patron de @s_and_s_patterns . Il s'agit d'une des versions proposées par ce patron, une autre étant la chemise à la reine que j'ai déjà cousue plusieurs fois et que je vous ai présentée ici. Donc un peu sur cette même base, voici donc une robe très différente! ⁠ .⁠ 🇺🇸Here is my latest creation 🎀 ! A 1780s English Gown that I made in purple linen and that I wear over a linen petticoat, too, eggplant color. A cotton belt in the same tones completes the outfit! I made the gown based on the pattern from @s_and_s_patterns . This is one of the views proposed by this pattern, another being the Chemise à la Reine that I have already sewn several times and that I have presented here. On this same basis, here is a very different result! ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #historicalcostume #historicaldress #historicalfashion #18thcenturyfashion #cousumain #coutureaddict #sewingaddict #18thcenturysewing #handmadeclothing #creatricefrancaise #historique #livinghistory #robehistorique #costumehistorique #costumedethéâtre⁠ #atelierserraspina #18thcenturydress #marieantoinette #1780s #1780sfashion #18thcenturysewing #marieantoinettestyle #historybounding #18thcenturycostume #historicalgarments #18thcenturtystyle⁠

Two years ago today I was doing the final fittings on the suit for this beautiful young woman in South Africa. Crystal radiated light and warmth like few other people I have ever met. We connected through our shared faith, and her joy bubbled and overflowed. It was an incredible privilege to have her as a model for my 1950s Wardrobe pattern. I was devastated to learn she had been killed in a car accident just a few months later, and I know her family misses her light and her smile. We live in a world filled with tragedy and loss and hurt, but there is also beauty and connection and joy. Crystal will shine in my life as long as I live, and that’s the power of personal relationships that cross cultural lines and leap over boundaries that really do not matter. Make those connections, folks. Look people in the eye. Reach out a hand. Give more hugs. Talk less and listen more. This is how love wins in the end. To Crystal’s family back in Hermanus, I think of you all the time, and I hope you know how much I treasure the memories of my brief time getting to know your wonderful daughter. She is not forgotten. #friendship #connection #makebeauty #bethechange #loveoneanother

Signing off until later next week for a much-needed family break. With all that's going on, it is easy to overlook the needs of our children. I don't want to miss this time to focus on them, answer their questions, and speak into their hearts. Take care, everyone, and love each other. #mediafast #takingabreak

If you missed today's livestream movie chat with @founding.mother and me, do yourself a favor and watch "The Fabulous Life of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun" (on Amazon Prime and elsewhere). Le Brun was one of the most prolific French portraitists of the 18th and early 19th centuries, living from 1755-1842. Her work began under her father's tutelage and took off as she gained clients all over Paris, including Marie Antoinette. To say her life was a fascinating one is putting it mildly. Do you know why she painted most of her male sitters gazing off into the distance? Did you know her clients loved the way she dressed and asked to pose in her clothes (which means you see a lot of repeated outfits and accessories on different sitters!)? Do you know why she painted Marie Antoinette and her children sitting with M.A.'s jewel cabinet in the background? There are stories in all of her portraits, and I can't recommend this docudrama highly enough. Well worth an hour and a half of your time (and you'll get lots of historical fashion inspo to boot!). She's always been my favorite painter from this time period, but now I want to read her memoirs for myself! #vigeelebrun #historicalfashion #historicalcostuming #portraitpainter #18thcenturyfashion #18thcentury #artist #womanartist

We used the most cheerful fabric scraps we could find in the stash to make these masks for the #vddcosendinglove project. Thank you, Rebecca, for lining up the medical facilities that needed these so we could literally just sew and drop them into the mail. My 10yo became a speed-tying champ and tidied up all the loose ends. ❤️ #sewing #sew #maskmaking #sendinglove

For #FamilyPhotoFriday, here's my glamorous Mimi with my dad, circa 1951. They were stationed on the Air Force Base in Okinawa during the Korean War. My grandfather flew P-51s on scouting missions during the day and was home every night for dinner. My grandmother said it was a surreal life. She's wearing a pleated skirt with silk blouse she made herself from Japanese fabrics (I remember seeing her pleater as a child, and I sure wish I knew what happened to it!). Dad is so cute with his Roy Rogers holster and double-strap shoes! He was four years old in this photo, but he vividly remembered his time on that base. #family #familyhistory #oldphoto #glamourousgrandma #1950sfashion #1950sstyle #historyispeople

This is the stuff of dreams! @la_serraspina made this glorious gown worthy of a LeBrun portrait from my 1780s pattern, adding extra skirt panels for a super full and fluffy look. Go check her stories for the video clip and more of this breathtaking scenery! #Repost @la_serraspina • • • • • • 🇫🇷 Voici ma nouvelle chemise à la reine en soie bleue, la même que je vous présentais hier, vue de dos! Il faisait beaucoup de vent ce jour-là, ce qui permet d'apprécier le très généreux volume de la jupe! La ceinture est en taffetas marron à fines rayures. Je l'ai faite très grande (3,60m x 15 cm) pour faire un gros nœud au dos!⁠ Patron: @s_and_s_patterns ⁠ Tissu robe: soie 100% couleur gris bleu⁠ Ceinture: taffetas marron à fines rayures bleu gris⁠ Chemise de corps en coton blanc à volants⁠ .⁠ 🇺🇸Here is my new blue silk queen shirt, the same one I posted yesterday, seen from the back! It was very windy that day, which allows to appreciate the very generous volume of the skirt! The sash is made of brown taffeta with thin stripes. I cut it very large (3,60m x 15 cm) to make a big knot on the back!⁠ Patron: @s_and_s_patterns ⁠ Dress fabric: silk 100% color gray blue⁠ Belt: brown taffeta with thin grey-blue stripes⁠ White cotton shirt with flounces.⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #historicalcostume #historicaldress #historicalfashion #18thcenturyfashion #cousumain #coutureaddict #sewingaddict #18thcenturysewing #handmadeclothing #creatricefrancaise #historique #livinghistory #robehistorique #costumehistorique #costumedethéâtre⁠ #atelierserraspina #18thcenturydress #marieantoinette #1780s #1780sfashion #18thcenturysewing #marieantoinettestyle #historybounding

Join @founding.mother and me this Saturday (May 30) at 2pm Eastern Time (7pmBST) as we livestream a fabulous docudrama about the life of Georgian Era painter Élisabeth Vigée LeBrun. Her incredibly detailed portraits provide us insight into the fashions of the time and are a fascinating glimpse into the lives of her subjects, including Marie Antoinette. We are going to dish costumes, spill tea, and talk about translating portraits during the livestream on Kast.gg. If you've never joined me for a movie before, download the app and send a friend request to Sensibility so I can add you to our party room. We always have a blast, and we are looking forward to gathering again this weekend! #movieparty #watchwithus #historicalfashion #historicaldress #vigeelebrun

I always get a thrill when you share what you've made with my patterns. Here is @dressing_miss_dashwood , making me long for the seaside in her naval Spencer from my pattern. Pop over to her account to see all the looks she created with her classic white gown. Delightful! #Repost @dressing_miss_dashwood • • • • • • The "little white dress" was a staple of the regency wardrobe and is such a versatile item to have in your regency wardrobe. It's definitely something I would recommend having and is a good starter dress if you are just getting into regency costuming as it can be adapted for day and night, and you can create so many looks with just a few changes of accessories. I thought I'd show you some of the looks I have created with my white dress. 1) plain white dress, no sash, simple white bandeau for hair. 2) yellow and black sleeveless spencer and turban ("Hufflepuff" outfit) 3)Yellow sash, orange shot silk bandeau, cream and orange pashmina, cream parasol 4)Blue and yellow @papilionaceouspuresilk "Amy" ribbon sash, blue and yellow floral wreath 5) purple sash, lilac pashmina, gold grecian tiara 6)Hampshire tartan sleeveless spencer, black bandeau 7)Naval spencer (@s_and_s_patterns pattern) mini straw tricorn (@neheleniapatterns ) 8) Red sash, Red bead necklace, pearl bead earrings, white silk parasol (@sherrithehatter ). (Mary Poppins Jolly Holiday outfit) 9)Lilac robe (@mrspapendick ) lilac bonnet (@hatsperiod ) and white silk parasol. There are many many more looks I could also create with my white dress from items I already have in my regency wardrobe. #dressingmissdashwood #regency #regencydress #historicalcostuming #historicalclothing #regencywhitedress #littlewhitedress