Wednesday Wonders

There's been a parade of deer through the yard today.  One group after another. Mostly does with fawns trotting behind.  They are always wandering through.  I love watching them.  

Three deer were grazing outside my window this morning.  One of them wandered away from the other two and starting digging in a pile of landscape bark that we have sitting at the end of the driveway. 

Yes, I said digging--with his little hoof. 

It reminded me of a cat using a litter box.  And I thought, surely he's not going to do THAT! 

I kept watching. 

He continued digging for several more minutes.  When he was quite satisfied, he curled up in the hole he'd made. 

Apparently, even deer have their creature comforts.

But enough about the silly deer. . .

I have some fun stitching to show you!

Can you believe this is constructed from a square and four rectangles? 

Well, it is! 

I'd always wondered how these traditional peasant-type garments were made because I'd never seen any commercial patterns for them.  So when I found a website with a downloadable pattern (from the *Mexican Dress Lady) I had to give it a whirl.

I made a small blouse to start with, just to make sure I was on the right path.   Ginger designed the yoke and I did the embroidery.  We love how it turned out. The only thing I did differently was cut out two yoke pieces, instead of roll-hemming the neck edge, which is more traditional.  I used one as a facing to hide raw edges and to cover the back of the embroidery, which finished it quite neatly and made a nicer edge for the blanket-stitching.

UPDATE 2018:  *The Mexican Dress Lady website is no longer online.

Comments

[Emily]

I still get excited when we're vacationing by the ocean and I see dolphins and I was talking to my mother about this - wondering how something I'd seen over and over could still capture my attention and fill me with glee. It's just like deer - which we see all the time, too...it's still kind of magical. I guess dolphin are the deer of the sea or something. Anyway - those are really great photos! Cute blouse, too! :-)

[elizabeth]

What a wonderful blouse! I think I made one similar when I was 12. Maybe it's time to do it again!

[Miss Sassy]

That fawn is so sweet. What a special thing to watch.

I love Ginger's blouse.The embroidery is so cute and I really like that it is made out of muslin!

[Gina]

Vicky, thank you so much for sharing the website and finished blouse. I too have been looking for something like that! I love the style. I even sometimes just browser ebays "pheasant dress or shirt" search just to admire them. I sometimes think I was born in the wrong era, and then think, nah..I like my hot showers to much..LOL..but I do love how people use to dress.

[June]

How sweet that little deer looks all comfy in his/her nest!

The Mexican blouse is really lovely. One good thing about living in Tucson is that I can find these dresses easily. I live in them at home 'cause they're so comfy. I think I would like to try making one myself, too, so I appreciate the link and discussion about it.

[Wendy]

Fantastic blouse!!! I'm headed over there right now. What a perfect way to use all the cute embroidery patterns I've been hoarding. I see matching blouses for my girls next summer...

[Bonnie Buckingham]

Gorgeous! I think TIME is multiplied where you are on the West Coast!
From John Milton's ON TIME:

FLY envious Time, till thou run out thy race,
Call on the lazy leaden-stepping hours,
Whose speed is but the heavy Plummets pace;
And glut thy self with what thy womb devours,
Which is no more then what is false and vain, 5
And meerly mortal dross;
So little is our loss,
So little is thy gain.

You blessed me!
Bonnie

[tinker]

Love the deer photos - they are so sweet (as long as they aren't munching on your roses, that is!)

And the peasant-style blouse is so cute!

[Dawn]

What a sweet little blouse! Reminds me of one I made for older daughter back in the day...with smocking under the rounded yoke...

[Jessica]

Deer are fun to watch and so pretty, too. Mexican peasant blouses are always in style in my book. That embroidery is too cute! Thanks for the store link.

~~jessica

[paula luckhurst]

How wonderful to have deer in the garden!I wish I hade too.
----
That blouse is very nice.

[Matron]

That's wonderful, what a treat when wildlife chooses to come into our lives. So glad you managed to get the pictures. Thank you.

[Teresa]

The deer photos are lovely! How great you got to watch him make his bed in the cool mulch.

Recently I found that Mexican Dress web site and down loaded the pattern. I think it would make a cool and comfy summer nightgown out of some muslin or plisse. The blouse for Ginger is just charming.

[Felicia]

LOL!! That deer on the pile looks quite at home.

[Cassi]

I am so envious of all the deer you get browsing through your yard - you must live on the deer highway! I'm glad you were able to get a picture of the fawn curled up in his little self-made bed, what a sweetie.

Thank you so much for hunting down this dress pattern. I *love* these dresses. A long time ago I had one that I treasured but gave it away to a friend who admired it. I've kind of regretted it since I never got another one and I know it eventually went to the back of her closet never to see daylight again. Oh well, now I can make my own and one for my daughter too! I like the idea of cutting out two yokes and covering up the wrong side of the embroidery - you smartie you! ;)

[Mrs.Staggs]

I remember these shirts! We used to wear them with our jeans in high school. With silver hoop earrings.
Love the embroidery....and the beautiful deer! 11, wow!

[Daisy Cottage]

Love the deer, love the blouse, ADORE your beautiful blog - every single thing about it.. so well done and has always been one of my favorites.

xo,
Kim

[Mama Urchin]

I am getting that pattern - right now. It will be perfect for making nightgowns, I have been searching for a simple adjustable pattern.

[Cindy]

Love the deer photos! I must say I am envious of your view! Love the covered buttons on the blouses. I visit your blog regularly and hope you visit me as well! I would love to hear a comment from you sometime!

[ReminisceHeirlooms]

The blouse is stunning.

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

I bought that pattern. Thanks so much for telling us about it. I'm going to make one for me but you vintage linen for the yoke since I can't see worth beans to embroider. I also read the pattern and like your idea of the lined yoke instead, so I'll do that too. Those blouses are always so expensive and such cheap quality. Now I can make my own. Yay!