Hope Diamond Ouray Colorado

I would have never considered that the Hope Diamond ever resided with a family in Ouray, Colorado. Don't get me wrong, I love Ouray and hope to spend a week there every summer.  But really....the Hope Diamond! We have spent a week there for about the last five summers. It wasn't until summer of 2010 that I finally visited the museum. I was wandering though the house and came to a room where a video was playing, so I sat down to learn more about the family who had owned this home.  This summer I brought my camera along and took pictures.

It had been built by the Walsh family who also began many of the gold/silver mines such as Camp Bird in the area. Some years ago Evelyn Walsh McLean, the daughter of Mr. Walsh wrote a biography, "Father Struck it Rich." The portrait above is of Evelyn and her children. If you get a chance to read her biography it really portrays the era and some of her crazy antics!


The Hope Diamond was a topic of the video as well. While watching it came to the part that told about Evelyn owning the Hope Diamond. Also stating that a replica was located in the room.

I immediately got up and looked at it. The museum curator told me that we had missed it by a week to have met Evelyns grandson and they were taking picture of people wearing the replica...darn! 

I couldn't believe I  hadn't seen the replica as I walked into the room; however, there was a lot to see in the room.

After Evelyns death the Hope was sold to Harry Winston who reset it to its current setting for the Smithsonian.

Sometimes when you visit small towns you really need to stop for a moment and get to know more about them...it's amazing what you discover.

Flower Garden Camisole

I haven't made a piece of clothing for many, many years.  As I was digging through all of my vintage textile collection I came to this lovely hand crocheted yoke.  It looks like dogwood flowers, but I'm not sure.  What do you think?  I wish I could crochet like this because I'd love to make another.  It looks like a very easy pattern and I may try it someday...adding it to my journal as I type, so I don't forget!

I began by putting this on my dress form and just looking at it for a few hours. At that point I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep the pink ribbon that runs through it.  As I was looking at it my eyes spotted a piece of pink linen that I saved from Goodwill a few years ago.  I've used small bits and pieces of this linen over time, but still had a large piece that would be just enough for this creation. Along one edge it had a border print and then a nice open print along the other edge.

Drafting a pattern is something that I haven't done in an even longer time. I began sketching what I wanted and then created the pattern from there.

Since I love embroidery I saw the perfect way to incorporate it into this design. I echoed the design on the linen onto a solid linen.

I attached this piece to the front, then sewed the yoke to the front.

On the back I wanted it to be open and summery romantic. So I opened up the back and then created tabs, added a bit of the vintage lace from the bottom front to each of these tabs.

At first it was kind of gaping under the arms and I didn't like that.  I pulled a thin sting elastic thread through the underarm and gave it a light gathering.

One of the things that I thought was very unique about this piece of vintage crochet is that there are buttons on the left shoulder to make it easier to take off and on.

It took me the entire day to create this top and I am so happy with how it turned out.