19th Century Handkerchief Case - Finished!

I have been searching for a reproduction button to put at the center of the lower part of this handkerchief case but have not been able to find a suitable one. The case could be used as is, without a button and loop to close so I am considering it as finished. The body is 10" long by 11 1/2" wide, and is lined with an imitation pink satin. The stitch and thread details may be found in my earlier post of March 3, 2008.

Desolation Island Mittens - Finished!

These are the warmest mittens I have ever worn and I would like to think that Louisa Wogan knit with similar wool for Stephen Maturin or those American whalers who brought her back to the United States. I finished them three ways, first with a squared off top, then a pointed one and finally settled on a rounded edge by knitting two together around in the last three rows until there were only three stitches left which I ran through with the tail of wool. Since we have no description of the mittens, let alone Louisa Wogan’s knitting techniques, the mittens are open to interpretation and are more of a tribute to part of her seagoing output than a reproduction of an early 19th century style. The wool, handspun, from an unknown breed (it was a gift to me), is dense and thickly spun.

The mittens were photographed on a nearby beach. Not quite resembling Desolation Island (http://www.discoverfrance.net/Colonies/Kerguelen.shtml#) but looking appropriately bleak, I quite like it in the winter, when the wind is blowing and the air is so invigorating.