Giveaway Winners

I apologize for not announcing the winners yesterday- I didn't realize the contest ended! Anyhow, I did a random draw and here's to our winners...

Tropical Breeze Fabrics 20% Coupon: Robyn from Virtuous Girlhood
Tea Cozy: Rebecca from Homeschoolin' Girlie
Blog Set: Hannah Spiceland

Robyn, please contact Miss Miranda to claim your prize, and Rebecca and Hannah- please contact Miss Kathryn. I've already notified both Miss Miranda and Miss Kathryn that you will be contacting them soon!!

Congrats!

Next issue's Over the Garden Gate...

"I baby-sit quiet often (children with ages between 10 years and 7 months), and although I enjoy spending time with the children, I sometimes run out of ideas/activities to do with them! Do you have any ideas, activities or projects that are tested and tried for babysitting blues?"
-Babysitting Girl

**Send in your answers to pllmDOTmagATgmailDOTcom!! We need them for the next issue!!**

3 Giveaways!

Unfortunately, 3 people did not claim their prizes within 72 hours. Thus, we're having the giveaways open to our readers!


Prize #1: 20% Off Coupon to Tropical Breeze Fabrics Shoppe
Miss Miranda is the dear young lady who started Sewing for the Savior, a ministry where she and many other servant of our Lord provide missionaries around the world with modest clothing. Miss Miranda also has a web shoppe called Tropical Breeze Fabrics, where she sells durable fabrics at a great price! You can also purchase modest clothing from this site, plus learn-to-sew kits.
To Enter:
-If you know a missionary, comment and tell us what country they're stationed in.
-OR-
-Comment and tell us a country you would like to be a missionary to.

Prize #2: Tea Cosy
Maidens of Virtue has kindly given us a very cute and functional tea cosy for our giveaway! It's reversible, with a ribbon to secure to tea pot. Very feminine, and it'll look great when you have a friend over and you serve tea!
To Enter:
-Post a picture of your favorite tea cup and comment us with the link.
-OR-
-Comment and tell us about a tea party you've attended.


Prize #3: Custom Blog Design Set
Do you like PLLM's site design? Prairie Rose Designs went above and beyond designing it! It was such a sweet pleasure to work with Miss Kathryn at Prairie Rose Designs, and I know our winner will enjoy working with Miss Kathryn, too! PRD has offered to give away a custom blog design set away on behalf of our 1 year anniversary!
To Enter:
-Comment and tell us what year you started blogging along with 3 benefits you've had from blogging.
-OR-
-Tell 3 of your blogging friends about this giveaway, and comment us with their blog names.



Extra Entries:
SftS Gift Cert:
-Comment and tell us 3 things that are unique about the missionary's country
-Comment and tell us 3 reasons why you want to be a missionary
Maidens of Virtue Tea Cosy:
-Post a picture of your favorite dress-up outfit and comment us with the link
-Comment and tell us what your favorite kind of tea is
Prairie Rose Designs Custom Blog Set:
-Comment and tell us what style you like the most (vintage, old fashioned, modern, etc.)
-Comment and tell us 3 things you would like in your blog design if you were to win

Giveaway ends Nov. 1st, 2009. You can enter in any of the above ways once each (4 entries per giveaway in all 4 of the different ways to enter).

Looking forward to all your entries!

Volume One, Issue Four

Pure Little Ladies Ministry
The Online Magazine
Volume 1, Issue 4
October-December 2009

In This Issue:

Opening Note- Miss Toria
Modesty Mode- Miss Toria
Pure Little Lady Interview: Miss Emmie Elisabeth
Joy From the Heart- Miss Emmie Elisabeth
Striving for the Savior- Momma H
Girlish Giggles- Miss Dorcas
Crafty Corner- Miss Rebecca
Over the Garden Gate- Mrs. Lana Marie, Rosebud, Miss Dorcas
Country Kitchen- Miss Hannah, Miss Kally, Maiden Princess
Feminine Fancy- Miss Emmie Elisabeth
Rave Reviews- Miss Dorcas
Testifying Truth- Miss KallyLyn
Servant of the Lord- Maiden Princess


Want to contribute to the next issue? Comment or e-mail us and let us know! The deadline for submitting articles for the next issue is December 17!

Opening Note

Opening Note
Miss Toria

Dear Little Ladies-

Can you believe that this is the last issue of Volume 1? Time flies by so fast! This issue has something for everyone, including many giveaways! Special thanks to Sense and Sensibility, Prairie Rose Designs, Maidens of Virtue, Sewing for the Savior, A Window Into My Heart, and Practical Simplicity for all your donations! What a wonderful way to rap up our 1st volume- may our Master bless you richly!

When I first started PLLM, I never intended to have a magazine format. I was just going to post now and again about purity, modesty, etc. However, the Lord gave me the idea to develop this into a magazine, and I can’t believe we’ve published 4 of them! It seems like just yesterday when I had to stay up until past 1am on New Years night to get the first magazine up. *smiles* Over the past year, we’ve had more little ladies join our site, and YHVH has brought encouragement to both our readers and our writers. I’ve especially been blessed by the encouraging comments from our little ladies and the way our writers have offered their time to write up all these wonderful articles. I couldn’t have done this without any of you! Many thanks to all of you!

Now that a year has passed, I am is seriously thinking and praying about some major changes to our magazine. One of them is taking PLLM magazines offline and sending them straight to your mailbox in printed form! Even if for some reason we are not able to do this, you will still need to fill out PLLM’s Registration Form in order to read our magazines. Please pray for wisdom and clear direction from YHVH as we consider different avenues of this ministry. We will keep you updated!

Concerning our giveaways, I need to tell you some "rules": If you've won any of the giveaways in this issue, you MUST contact PLLM at our e-mail address and claim your prize within 72 hours (time starts NOW at 12:00pm on October 1st). If you do not claim your prize, we will draw a new winner. When you claim your prize, you must also include your shipping address and/or e-mail address. In this case, PLLM has the right to send your shipping address and/or e-mail address to the person who has donated the prize you've won so that they can mail/e-mail your prize to you as soon as possible.

With all that said, enjoy our last issue of Volume 1!

Blessings,
Miss Toria

Modesty Mode

Modesty Mode
Miss Toria

In the last 3 issues, we’ve covered a lot of ground on modesty in this column! In Issue #1, I gave you a modesty checklist and encouraged you to evaluate your clothing. In Issues #2 and #3, Maiden Princess talked about Pride vs. Humility and how our attitudes and speech also tie into modesty.

Yes, we’ve talked a lot on this subject, but there’s still much more to be said. Although we can tell you all we know about modesty, in the end it’s up to you. This column wasn’t named “Modesty Mode” by chance. Until you choose modesty as your mode, your own standard, your own lifestyle, everything we say in this column will just be wasted. It’s a choice we all have to make; we cannot let others make the choice for us.

So what will you do? Choose modesty as your way of life or do your own thing? Live the way the Lord wants you to or live the way the world wants you to? I pray you choose what is right.

If you have chosen modesty as your way of life, praise the Lord! Stand strong, dear friend, as you step out in modesty. If you’re not sure about choosing modesty as your own, pray about it. Ask Godly women in your life for advice and pray some more! James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” Once you begin a lifestyle of modesty, you will feel the joy of walking in obedience to God and the peace that comes from that obedience.

SPECIAL NOTE: Stay tuned for Volume 2 in 2010! PLLM is having a year-long contest that has to do with modest clothing, modest girls, and cameras! Want to know more? Sign up for our e-mail updates to get the latest scoops!

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Sewing for the Savior is committed to modest clothing and to providing missionaries around the globe with the clothing they need. They also have learn-to-sew kits that are very helpful and easy to understand, and SftS has donated a gift certificate to our bundle of giveaways! And the winner is...Miss Meggy T!!

Pure Little Lady Interview: Miss Emmie Elisabeth

Pure Little Lady Interview: Miss Emmie Elisabeth

PLLM: This issue we'll be taking the time to get to know more about PLLM's wonderful poetess, Miss Emmie Elisabeth! Hello, Miss Emmie! Welcome to our Pure Little Lady Interview. Could you tell us what are the top 3 things that inspire you to write such wonderful poems?

Miss Emmie Elisabeth: A lot of things inspire my poetry. Probably what inspires me most is Scripture. Sometimes I will be reading God's word and something pops out at me and thrills me so much that I just have to write it down! Another thing that inspires me is nature. God's creation just seems to shout that God is Creator, and often makes for wonderful parallels. A third inspiration would be history/country. I love seeing how God has worked in our country in the past and I enjoy capturing different events in poetry form.


PLLM: You've also written quite a few articles for PLLM; which writing style do you enjoy the most (i.e. novels, poems, Old English, articles, etc.)?

Miss Emmie Elisabeth: I love to write novels most, and am continuing to develop my style in that area. But really, I enjoy almost any kind of writing.


PLLM: I know you really love history; tell us what your favorite era is and any interesting information you've learned about it!

Miss Emmie Elisabeth: Oh dear! Favorite era! Perhaps the easier question is, what is my least favorite era? ;-) Probably my favorite is the 1800's... from beginning to end. :-) I love studying the fashions. The progress (and regress) of science and industry is intriguing. I love the history of the Civil War, the Western expansion, the revivals... The 1800's were also a time of great expansion of the Gospel, especially as England gained more territories under Queen Victoria. God was truly at work throughout the world!


PLLM: In the last issue, you shared your testimony of how God changed your heart as you moved to your current church, Heritage Baptist Church. What are some of the things you are actively involved in there?

Miss Emmie Elisabeth: I sing in the adult choir and the teen choir, and sometimes play the piano and sing with my family. Besides that, I enjoy being there to encourage others in the Lord and helping the moms with their little ones. :-)


PLLM: You and your sisters really have a talent for the musical arts! What instruments do you play?

Miss Emmie Elisabeth: The main instrument I play is the piano-- I have been playing for about ten years. Besides that, I play a little of the clarinet, the mountain dulcimer, and the Irish penny whistle. I am also learning guitar!


PLLM: You will soon be finishing up your high school education. Could you tell us some of the plans you have for after you graduate?

Miss Emmie Elisabeth: At this point, I am still praying about what God would have me do. My heart's desire is to work with children; whether here or overseas, I don't know yet. And, of course, I will keep up with my writing, and, Lord willing, publish one of my novels. :-)


PLLM: You certainly are a bright example of what a pure little lady should look like. Is there anything you would like to tell the other little ladies reading this to encourage them?

Miss Emmie Elisabeth: PUT GOD FIRST! Many of you girls are probably pre-teens or teens, just at the beginning of a grand adventure. You have two choices: living for God or living for yourself. Do not wait until you are married and have kids to start seeking after God. Choose NOW to live your life for Jesus, daily cultivating your relationship with Him. There is nothing more fulfilling, more satisfying, than having a personal walk with Jesus Christ. He will be your guide, your strength, your shield, and your salvation!


PLLM: Thank you so much for all your support of PLLM! I hope the other little ladies enjoyed learning more about you! Continue to strive to be a pure little lady for our Savior's glory!

Joy From the Heart

Joy From the Heart
Miss Emmie Elisabeth

DELIVERANCE

Along the path of living
Is ever-present death,
And sin, however subtle,
Can snare my very breath.

The "good" and "wholesome" pleasures,
Though "innocent" they be,
By stealing time and talent,
Can soon be gods to me.

Dear Saviour, Jesus, capture,
O capture me, I pray,
And bind me in the freedom
Of life and glorious day.

Remove each rock of stumbling;
Tear ev'ry barrier down;
Extinguish every taper,
That I may win the crown.

Striving for the Savior

Striving for the Savior
Momma H.

People in today’s society do not place much importance on being gracious. People usually “look out for number one” and don’t mind if they treat others unkindly or indifferently. Even many Christians will be kind and friendly to those they know, yet pass coldly by a stranger without a smile or even a look. Some go the extra mile and try to be courteous to people they come in contact with, yet if they are crossed, they forget all graciousness. Let me give you an example.

Jane is having a lunch date with her girlfriends at a very nice restaurant. She politely orders her favorite meal and even laughs with the waitress as they speak. Once the meal arrives and she tastes her food, though, everything changes. Her chicken is raw in the middle and she motions with anger at the waitress. She proceeds to vent her anger accusing the waitress of attempted murder by way of poisoning! She demands that a new dish be made and that she be given the entire meal, drink included, for free. Her girlfriends are embarrassed, the waitress is furious at her accusations, and a scene is being caused in this once-peaceful restaurant. So….what happened to being gracious? Let’s take a look at what being gracious really means:

Gra-cious: adj. 1. having or showing kindness, courtesy, charm, etc. 2. merciful; compassionate 3. indulgent or polite to those held to be inferiors 4. favorable; kind; friendly; benevolent; merciful 5. disposed to forgive offenses and impart unmerited blessings 6. virtuous; good

If Jane had truly been gracious, she would have “been disposed to forgive offenses”, even if that included an accidentally under-cooked meal. She would have been ready to “impart unmerited blessings” such as kindly informing the waitress of her dilemma without placing blame or making demands. She would have been “polite, kind, friendly, merciful, and good”. Unfortunately, she failed this test of her graciousness.

When we look at Scripture, we see that YHVH is gracious. “YHVH, YHVH, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Exodus 34:6) We also find that Yeshua is gracious. “All spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from His lips…” (Luke 4:22) We also find that we will be blessed if we are gracious. “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.” (Psalm 112:4) Those who use gracious words are both wise and respected. “A gracious woman gains respect…” (Proverbs 11:16) and “Words from a wise man’s mouth are gracious,…” (Ecc. 1:12)

It is definitely clear from Scripture that if we want to live the way He intends for His children to live, then we should be gracious. Now, if Jane had been a truly gracious person, her reaction would have been a little more like this:

“Excuse me, ma’am…I hate to trouble you, but my chicken isn’t fully cooked.” To which the waitress would reply, “Oh, I’m so sorry. I will take care of this right away.” Jane would follow with, “Thank you so much, I know it wasn’t your fault. I’m sure the chef is very busy and that it was merely an oversight.” This reaction would probably shock the waitress who may even comment on her patience and grace in dealing with the situation. This would give Jane the opportunity to say that the Holy Spirit is working in her to help her live the kind of gracious life the Lord desires of her. The waitress would have brought her a complimentary appetizer to eat while they prepared a new meal. This would have been a wonderful witnessing opportunity for Jane!

So, little ladies, let us strive to be like our Savior and use gracious words, especially when dealing with difficult situations. You will bring glory to the Lord as people marvel at YOUR gracious words! Who knows…you may even get a free appetizer to boot!

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Practical Simplicity has kindly given us 3 of their lip balms to give away! (chocolate, vanilla, and orange) All natural and all homemade, wear these glossy moisturizers to remind you to speak only gracious words! Our winners? Maiden Princess, Momma H., and Miss Emmie Elisabeth! Please contact PLLM with which flavor you would like.

Girlish Giggles

Girlish Giggles
Miss Dorcas

David loved his place. He loved the house, the land, and the river that flowed behind the house. There was only one thing David hated: the outhouse. He despised the outhouse for all his might. He hated the stench. He hated having to clean it. He hated everything about it.

Ond day, his hatred got the best of him: He pushed the outhouse into the river. With joy on his face, he watched it float away down the river, never to be seen again.

That night at the dinner table, his dad said, “David, did you push the outhouse into the river?”

“Yes, sir,” he replied.

His dad continued, “David, I want you to meet me in the woodshed tonight after dinner.”

“But, Dad,” David said, “When George Washington chopped down the cherry tree, he didn’t get in trouble because he told the truth. I told the truth!”

“You’re right, son,” his father said, “but George Washington’s father wasn’t in the tree.”

Crafty Corner

Crafty Corner
Miss Rebecca

Things To Remember Craft:

What you need-
1 sheet of colored poster board
2 sheets of plain white paper
Pencil
Pencil Crayons
Stickers and other decorations of your choice
A Bible
A creative mind!

What to do-
This project is quite simple, although you do need to get creative. I have this chart posted on the wall in my bedroom as a reminder for me. It just has things on it that help you keep a good attitude in many areas. All you have to do is take the poster board and tape it on the back of your door, or on the wall in your room. (be careful, it might take away paint!) Then take your Bible and try to find verses that associate with words such as:

Thankful
Joyful
Observant
Obedient
Responsible
Commited
Fair
Persuasive

Then make up poems that go with each word. Be creative and write all the poems and verses on small pieces of white paper. Tape these poems and verses to the coloured poster board.

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This craft helps you to remember important character traits, and we have a giveaway that helps you to remember things as well (although it doesn't have to do with character traits!). PLLM has a Hope Chest E-Book from Maidens of Virtue to give away to someone very special...Miss Rosebud! This e-book will help you remember everything you have in your hope chest, plus care instructions for the items, when you made/received them, and more!

Over the Garden Gate

Over the Garden Gate
Neighborly Advice to Thoughts, Questions, and Ideas Girls Have

“When wearing skirts, how do you know how short is too short? Below the knee while standing but above the knee while sitting down? Or above the knee no matter whether sitting or standing? Can you wear shorter skirts and still be modest? Also while we’re on this topic, how high should a slit be able to go while still being modest? Please let me know your opinion on this matter.”
-Seeking Modesty

For myself, I prefer skirts that come almost to the ground. But for shorter skirts, I think a good rule is for the skirt to stay below your knee even when you’re sitting down; because if it comes higher than your knee when sitting, the people sitting across from you can see right up your skirt.

As for slits, what I’ve heard from people is that slits create kind of a peek-a-boo effect for guys, teasing them, and prompting them to look again. I prefer my slits (or kick-pleats) to go no higher than my knee if they’re in the back, and if they’re on the sides, to be lower than that. –ROSEBUD

“I know your magazine doesn’t really deal with animal topics, but I was wondering if your readers could come up with an answer for my following question: What is it about horses that make girls so attracted to them? Why is it that horses are a girl’s favorite animal?” –Johanna A.J.

I think horses remind some girls of stories of chivalry, of knights and fair maidens, (or of cowboys and cowgirls) and so they appear very romantic.
Also, horses are large, powerful creatures, that are also beautiful and graceful (compare to, say, a hippopotamus - which is powerful and large, but not a bit graceful and only beautiful in the eye of the beholder) - horses exude a sense of freedom and agility and - again - gracefulness that I think appeals to a lot of girls.

I'm not a huge 'horse fan', in that I never read all the horse books, but I love to watch horses run in fields, and ride on them when I get a (very rare) chance to. Oh yeah, and I'm twenty one. It's not just a little girl thing.
–MRS. LANA MARIE

I do not know what it is about horses and girls, but it just is! I’ve been in love with horses for as long as I can remember, and I have many friends who have the same “issue”. Maybe it’s because they’re so beautiful. I really don’t know. Sorry I guess that wasn’t an “answer” per se, but at least you know you’re not alone in your love for horses! -ROSEBUD

“Do the same ‘rules’ of modesty apply to men as well as women? For example, if a woman cannot wear something that shows her back, stomach, legs, or is low-cut, is it still immodest if a guy wears something that shows these areas? Or is it okay for a guy to wear/show something that would be immodest if a woman wore/showed it? Do the ‘rules’ of modesty change just because they’re guys?” –Confuzzled

I would says, Yes (to the original question)!!! When God clothed Adam and Eve, He made them BOTH COATS of skin. He didn't let Adam keep the apron. This is really hard for me, because so many men don't think this way. We girls can't wear things that show our thighs, yet men can wear shorts that show the thigh when sitting. And most men think it is fine to not wear a shirt. I don't think the Lord has two different standards for modesty depending on gender. We as humans have changed how the Lord wants us to dress and made a double standard.

Hope this helps! If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. James 1:5
–MISS DORCAS


In regards to “the rules of modesty” for men and women - it is my personal opinion that there is NO clear cut world-fitting rule that applies to all women for “how they should dress modestly”. Some may wear only turtlenecks, others may feel comfortable wearing a scoop-neck.
It's my opinion that a lady shouldn't wear anything that shows cleavage, that she should keep her midriff covered, and that she should not expose too much of her thighs - but some people are much stricter, and some are much more lenient. I think everyone should dress out of faith, and love, and so as not to be a stumbling block.
I don't think that there is one “rule” that God expects you to dress by - and that is part of how I answer the question “do the same rules apply to men as well as women?” - I don't believe there IS a universal rule, and if that's true and there's no universal rule, it couldn't possibly apply to men.

But, as far as the original question - I should clarify what I mean when I say I don't think there is “a rule”. By this I mean, "I don't believe there is a rule saying how much of the body can or can't be revealed" - BUT I DO believe there is a rule of modesty, and it's this: clothes, like every action, should be worn out of faith and love, and not out of pride - and the wearers shouldn't wear things that they know will cause others to stumble (because that isn't out of love).
So I believe that guys DO have the same responsibility as women to dress modestly - but that it is for the guy (and his parents, if he is at home) to decided what it pleases God for him to wear, and it is not mine to judge.
For the record, my husband always wears undershirts under everything, so that his torso isn't plainly outlined under his t-shirts, which are often somewhat thin, and I have always appreciated this - especially when we were “just friends”. I also know men that wear shirts with the top buttons unbuttoned and with NO undershirt, or wear tank-tops in public, and this embarrasses me the same way a Speed-o swimsuit does - I simply do not like to see that much of a man who is not my husband or my little brother. But that is, I think, a personal thing and I have no right to expect other men to dress like my husband does. But I DO have the right to decide how my young sons - if God gives us any - will dress.

Because in the end, modesty is all about pleasing God our Father, and not about obeying a rule (and that can apply to the other question about skirts, I think).

~Mrs. Lana Marie

Country Kitchen

Country Kitchen

Chicken Alfredo
Submitted by Miss Hannah
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken, thighs or breasts, cut into small pieces
4T butter
1 onion, chopped
1T minced garlic
1t salt
1/4t cayenne pepper
3T whole wheat flour (regular flour works too)
3 cups half & half
1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
12 oz pasta of your choice, whole grain for a healthier choice

In a large frying pan or pot, sauté chicken, onion, and garlic until the chicken is cooked and the onions are soft. Stir in salt, cayenne pepper, and flour until it is blended in. Slowly add the half & half until mixed in, add peas and Parmesan cheese. Simmer and stir for 1 or 2 minutes until think, remove from heat.

Cook your pasta, drain and toss with the Chicken Alfredo and serve with a salad and some homemade dinner rolls.

Tex-Mex Mac and Cheese
Submitted by Miss KallyLyn

Prep time: 15 min.

Cook time: 40 min.

Serves 6

1 lb. Ground beef
1 c. Chopped onion
1 (18.5 oz.) can ready-to-serve tomato soup
1 (1.25 oz.) pkg. fajita seasoning mix (or you can make your own, there are lots of recipes online)
4 c. Hot cooked pasta (shells, elbows, bowties, etc.)
2 c. Shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
1 c. Halved cherry tomatoes (optional)
1 (2 oz.) can sliced black olives, drained (optional)

MAKE NOODLES FIRST AND HAVE READY TO USE.
Then follow the rest of the instructions.

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Brown Beef in large skillet, stirring to break into bits. Add onion and cook 3 minutes; drain fat. Stir in soup and fajita seasoning. Mix in macaroni, 11/2 cups of the cheese, tomatoes and olives.

Spoon into 2-quart baking dish. Top with remaining ½ cup of cheese. Bake 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Note: It tastes wonderful as leftovers, too. That is- if there are any left! It really is good!

Cheesy Hashbrown Potatoes
Maiden Princess

2 Pounds cubed frozen hashbrowns
1 Can cream of chicken soup
1 Teaspoon of chicken boullion mixed with 1 Cup hot water
1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
Dried Onions
Parsley dried and crumbled between your fingers
Spices to taste!

Directions: Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Spread evenly into a 9x13 pan. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

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In our last issue, we had a few tea-time treats in this recipe column. To continue with that theme, Maidens of Virtue has kindly given us a very cute and functional tea cosy for our winner.....Miss Julia! It's reversible, with a ribbon to secure to tea pot. Very feminine, and it'll look great when you have a friend over and you serve tea! Also, A Window Into My Heart has donated a bread book for one of our many giveaways! This goes to....Momma H!

Feminine Fancy

Feminine Fancy
Miss Emmie Elisabeth

DRESSING IN THE PAST

My love for historical costuming had an early start. The Little House books stole my heart right away; I began collecting American Girl books and the Kirsten wardrobe when I was six; I was a fan of “Anne of Green Gables” by the age of eight. Then as I got a little older, I fell in love with the world of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Why, oh why, thought I, do girls still not dress as lovely as they did then? I would have loved to have all of Kirsten’s beautiful dresses, with the little pantaloons sticking out from under the skirts, and the sunbonnets to push off my head as Laura did. My nights, as a child, were often spent imagining how I could invent a time machine that would take me back to the years I was sure I should have been born in—somewhere between Felicity Merriman and Molly McIntire!

At eleven years old, I decided I wanted to start wearing skirts because they were so pretty, so feminine, so old-fashioned! To add to my delight, my mom made me a Kirsten dress and a Felicity dress when I was about twelve! What fun! A prairie reproduction of a dress and pinafore came one Christmas as a gift from my grandma, and has been a treasure ever since. If I couldn’t live in the 1800’s, at least I could dress like I did.

Of course, I hope I have matured a little since then. However, my love for history and my love for historical fashion has remained intact. This last winter marked the starting point of my sewing historical costumes for myself. During those cold, snowy months, I delved into some in-depth study on historical fashions, particularly from the Regency era (1795-1820). Since then, I have made myself a small Regency era wardrobe, including underpinnings!

Historical costuming is a delightful hobby if your interests consist of history and fashion. One thing that you will learn is that there are two kinds of historical costumes: There are historically inspired costumes, and there are historically accurate costumes. “Historically inspired” means that the costume features a look connected with a certain era, but is still modern in many ways. “Historically accurate” refers to costumes constructed and worn in the exact same way as they would have been in the era they are representing. (For instance, a 1700’s dress closing with a zipper rather than laces or pins is historically inspired, not historically accurate!) In my sewing, I like to be as historically accurate as possible, with one exception: I do not hand-sew; I use the machine!

There are many eras to explore. As you probe deeper, you will discover that fashions were changing from decade to decade. You will find that while 1840 and 1880 are both part of the Victorian era, the fashions were very different. Some eras have very distinct features, such as the high waistlines of the Regency era, and the huge hoop skirts of the 1860’s. If you love Anne of Green Gables, you will probably enjoy studying the Edwardian era (approx. 1900-1920); if you are intrigued with the American War for Independence, the Georgian era (1714-1795) may hold an attraction for you. There are countless sites that supply patterns for gowns from these eras. Simplicity, Butterick, and McCalls are some good places to look first if you want to go local and inexpensive. Mrs. Chancey’s patterns from Sense and Sensibility are my first choice for historical costume reproductions.

With all this said, allow me to emphasize that historical costuming is merely a hobby of mine. Dressing old-fashioned does not mean I am more holy than someone who dresses in modern fashions. (And I do wear modern fashions if they are modest!) Also, however fun it may be, dress, whether modern or historical, must never become our priority. Many people have allowed it to be a matter of status, regardless of the approach: For instance, one person may think she is somehow better than another because she always wears the latest, cutest fashions, while another person may think she is better than the next girl down the line because she always wears skirts and higher necklines. God encourages us, through Peter, to “not let [our] adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing [we] wear—but let it be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” God wants our hearts to be attuned to Him, fellowshipping with Him and striving to please Him in everything, and allowing nothing to come between him and us. Without a relationship with Jesus Christ, everything else is pointless and will be lost in the end.

All we do can be done for God’s glory—even eating and drinking (1 Corinthians 10:31)—if we commit it to Him and use it for His glory. You can glorify God by dressing old-fashioned as you use the creative talents that He has given you. So, in your sewing, glorify God.

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In this article, Miss Emmie mentioned Mrs. Chancey and her delightful patterns, Sense and Sensibility. It just so happens that Mrs. Chancey was so gracious to give PLLM not one, but TWO of her patterns (one regular pattern and one e-pattern) in honor of our anniversary! And who are the blessed winners? Momma H (pattern) and Miss Emmie Elisabeth (e-pattern)!! Please contact PLLM with the name of the pattern you would like to recieve from S&S so that we can contact Mrs. Chancey.

Rave Reviews

Rave Reviews
Miss Dorcas

Before You Meet Prince Charming is a book written by Sarah Mally. It is published by Tomorrow’s Forefathers.

I received this book as a gift a few years ago. As a teenage young lady, it has been an indispensable help to me. Just a few of the topics covered are: How can I wait? How can I stay pure, both emotionally and physically? What do you do when all the girls you know have boyfriends? How do I know he is God’s best? How do I say no? What about dating?

Told partly through a fairy tale, this book offers solid, Biblical advice. Instead of turning to the world, Sarah Mally points young ladies to Christ. With humor and honesty, this book offers encouraging words to young ladies.

I would highly recommend Before You Meet Prince Charming to any young lady who is 12 or older. It can be purchased online at www.tomorrowsforefathers.net.

*NOTE: PLLM does not endorse some doctrinal issues addressed in this book. Please use discretion when reading*