Woman selling Irish lace on the Titanic
April 15, 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. We purchased the only accurate Titanic DVD, recommended by Vision Forum, which we watched last week. The DVD, A Night to Remember, is was based on the novel by the same name and is put out by the Criterion Collection.
The other night the Patriarch & I watched the extras on disk two. Very, very good! I highly recommend this. There were two different interviews of Titanic survivors, a behind the scenes of how it was made along with some background information and much more! The only caution from disk two… the global warming junk-science & the 15,000 years ago mantra in the feature on icebergs.
Here is a link to some never before seen photos.
The Titanic’s musicians
In some of the early articles it said “Lead, Kindly Light” was one of the hymns played by the musicians while the ship sank. This is not a hymn I was familiar with. I love the words! The tune can be found at the link through the hymn title. I had heard that they played Nearer My God to Thee, and David Craig sang that hymn at the Titanic 100 event.
Lead, Kindly Light
Lead, kindly Light, amid th’ encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!
So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile, which I
Have loved long since, and lost awhile!
Meantime, along the narrow rugged path, Thyself hast trod,
Lead, Savior, lead me home in childlike faith, home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.
steward & stewardess, surviving crew of the Titanic
As I have looked at various Titanic pictures it struck me that I made a Titanic era outfit! It is my “Aunt Mae” persona clothing and I thought you might enjoy seeing what I made. I used mostly what was already in my closet, making a few changes by adding period-looking embellishments.
Here is my jacket with photos of the decorative details. The jacket was purchased about 7 years ago and only worn a few times. The decorative trim was originally along only one edge of the lapel and center front, has three-quarter sleeves and four buttons and button holes. The original design was to wear this jacket buttoned up. If you look at the surviving stewardess in the photo above, you will see her jacket collar is very similar to my jacket’s stand-up collar!
I searched for matching trim to add to the other lapel and bottom edges and attached it with my sewing machine. The frog closure was sewn on by hand, buttons removed and the button holes hand-sewn closed. Black velvet ribbon was attached on top of the existing belt and a decorative button added. The only thing left to do is to add black velvet cuffs for a bit more authentic look.
My shirt is one I have had in my closet for many years. It is a light cream with a covered-button placket, embroidered with tiny purple violets and green leaves.
shirt front and lace cuff
Lace was attached to the cuffs so that is hangs below the jacket sleeves. This is actually lace with a second decorative trim sewn on top of where the lace attached. All sewn on by hand.
cuff lace detail
IN “those” days, a woman past childbearing age would wear black as a symbol of her infertility or when she was in mourning. I used what was already in my closet, and didn’t intend to make a mourning outfit and my whole outfit cannot be considered mourning as my hat is NOT black! This was a hat I also had in my closet for a several years. A few alterations later and an embellishment or two added… well maybe more than two things! 😀
partial top view
The brim trim is a lace scarf out of my closet. I cannot even remember when I acquired it and I never wore it. I love scarves, but hadn’t worn this one. All the flowers and feathers I purchased from the fabric store and were wired on and some are hot glued in place.
rear view
I could not find a hat pin that was A) long enough or B) in my price range. Mostly the former. My favorite hardware store, McLendon’s, to the rescue! I bought a small package of piano wire and Arrow filed one end to a point… of sorts anyway! I then bent one end of the wire to hold a decorative button to match the jacket-belt button. It was too thin and not secure enough but worked until I could find the “hat pin of my dreams”! 🙂 The “hat pin of my dreams” I purchased through Ebay. These things could also be used as a weapon in an extreme emergency… it is 14 inches long, has a thick, sturdy shaft and is VERY pointy.
Caledonian Railway Button Hatpin
Aunt Mae & her soaps!
The Titanic’s soap label
Over at Jennie Chancey’s blog (http://sensibility.com/blog/reproducing-1912-fashions-remember-titanic/) and at the end of the article you will find a link to download a free eBook containing all the images in this special feature, plus an array of extra goodies that will help you gain an excellent picture of the time period. You can print these for your own personal use, and feel free to pass the link around to others. The eBook is free until the end of April!
If you look at page 22 of the free e-book, you will see pictures of blouses. My collar isn’t too far off!! I didn’t have time for complete authenticity in my wardrobe, just a ‘sense of the times’. In my portrait I wore a lace collar that I pinned the jabot to. But the jabot wouldn’t be worn at home… so I am working on an apron.
Oh my skirt? Um, … well… it isn’t even close to being right. It only goes down to the mid calf. I guess after the apron, a Beatrix Potter skirt is on my to-do list!
To tie the Titanic disaster to today…
Blessings, ~Aunt Mae (aka ~Mrs. R)
Other posts you that may interest you:
Mother’s Day 2012 Soap Special!
Disclaimer: Some links in this post are affiliate links. I do receive compensation if you buy through them. This is one way I am able to contribute a bit to our family resources. All comments and opinions are my own.
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Honey From Flinty Rocks 