White Christmas

Well, signs are it won't be a white Christmas here in Connecticut as it is way to warm, so I went in search of something white instead and found this blog about the Sheelin Lace Musuem and Irish crochet lace. Looks a lot like snowflakes and snow.....

                                                            Can you spot the holly leaves?

rosemarycathcart.blogspot.co.uk

Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

SAGANews Blog will be back in the New Year.

Taking Ironing to the Extreme

Do you like to iron?  I mean that weekly wash ironing, not the pressing and ironing needed when making something like a baby gown or christening dress. I am not particularly fond of it myself. It is a necessary chore and I like things to look nice when I wear them so I do it. But did you know there was such a thing as Extreme Ironing?

Now I though my mother was an extreme ironer as she irons everything (I had a cone bra way before Madonna- yes, it was ironed!) but the members of the Extreme Ironing Board (EIB)(yes, I am sure the pun is intended!) really do go that little bit further.

By extreme, I mean climbing mountains with the iron and ironing board and then pressing a shirt or climbing to the top of a cliff or running in a marathon carrying the ironing board and iron? Well, apparently there are people out there who take their ironing to the extreme. It started in England, in 1997, with a man (yes, a lot of men iron) who after a days work at a knitwear factory came home to a pile of ironing and decided that he would take it outside in the garden to do as it was better than just standing inside. The idea caught on and with his friends he formed the EIB and took on the name Steam. The 'sport' of ironing has not looked back.

You can see a whole lot more on the official Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/ExtremeIroningOfficial/

or just Google Extreme Ironing

Looking at the photos I think I will just stick to standing in the kitchen and doing my ironing!

(Thanks to my chapter member Jan for the lead to this interesting piece).

If the shoe fits.....

In a case at a local historical society is a beautiful shoe from the 18^th century. It is made from a woven fabric and the edges are bound with contrasting fabric. The shoe ties with a silk ribbon bow (the piece of ribbon used is obviously not original). The heel and pointed toe would be in fashion today and then, as now, shoes were integral part of completing a women’s outfit.  But one big difference is the fact that there was no difference between the right and left shoe! Both were the same.  Also, the soles of the shoes were so flimsy that the wealthy women would often buy new shoes every week. So they have a lot in common with many of the fashionistas of today.

SAGANews item intrigues a member

I received an email concerning the latest issue of SAGANews from a SAGA member in Australia:

As an Australian SAGA member I need to ask you for assistance. Receiving SAGANews today I am interested in the article on silk ribbon pattern weights, but am a loss as to what BB's are. 

Can you help me, I am intrigued. 

I must admit I had not thought of someone not knowing what BB's are. I emailed her the answer and am sure there is something similar in Australia, but it got me thinking about how, even though we share a common language, how something simple can be confusing!

This is especially pertinent to me, as I have had to adapt many of the words I use, as coming from England, again, the common language, but very different words and usage.

Take haberdashery. In the UK that means buttons, threads, ribbons, zippers-what Americans would term as notions, not items in a menswear department such as hankies, socks etc. Imagine my confusion when, newly arrived in  America, I asked where to find the nearest haberdashery shop!

And here is an interesting tidbit for you:

Saint Louis IX, King of France 1226–70, is the patron saint of French haberdashers. In Belgium and elsewhere in Continental Europe, Saint Nicholas remains their patron saint, while Saint Catherine was adopted by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in the City of London. 

Oh, and one question- how come SAGANews has reached Australia, but not got to me in Connecticut yet?