Greetings from Quaker Jane . . .
and welcome to my website where I share the openings, concerns, leadings and opportunities God has, in his great loving-kindness, provided to me. My name is Isabel, aka Quaker Jane. I am a Conservative Quaker in the tradition of Ohio Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends--which means I know that Christ has come to teach his people himself, experientially, personally, powerfully. I live with my husband Sebastian in Colorado. Read about How I Became a (Bonnet-required) Plain-dressing Quaker or for more information about me visit the Sebastian and Isabel family page.
Quaker Jane on Facebook
I've created a Quaker Jane entry on Facebook. Click here to go to it. I've started placing images and info there that may be too minor for a webpage of its own or will someday evolve into a webpage but isn't there yet.
Plain and Modest Dress on the Web
Source for Plain, Friends' Style Broad-brimmed Hats
Seth Hinshaw has reached an understanding with a hat-maker who will manufacture broad-brimmed hats in the proper Friends' style, in "Quaker Gray." The price will be $80 and includes shipping. He is asking that checks be made out to the hatmaker, Flying Cloud Hats, and sent to him at: 617 Norwood House Road, Downingtown, PA, 19335. He will then place the order all at once. The hats are available in two materials, wool felt (which everyone ordered last time) which is a lighter gray than the color available if someone orders fur felt. The price of the two is the same. Any questions, contact Seth Hinshaw: sethhinshaw[at]yahoo.com
Quaker Jane's Favorite Caps Available
It has been five years since my everyday cap has been available for sale on the web in my size. My favorite "going to meeting" cap hasn't been available at all, as it was made for me by a Friend who doesn't make caps for purchase. But now, thanks to Lisa at Rachel's Seamstress Service, both of my favorite caps are available in multiple sizes with fabric and tie options. She is calling the everyday cap the "Caroline" and the "going to meeting" cap with the frill the "Laura." I am so delighted to be able to point women to these two new options.
Updates
For those interested in such things, I have updated a number of pages.
Also, check out the QuakerQuaker Library. There are a number of interesting things collected there (at the time of this writing), including pdfs of the Journals of Elizabeth Stirredge, Job Scott and John Woolman, Works of George Fox, Old Rules of Discipline, and the three volumes in one PDF of A Portraiture of Quakerism by Thomas Clarkson. I highly recommend A Portraiture of Quakerism for those who wish to understand how Friends lived their faith in the early 1800s. I have my own (smaller) PDFs of these documents, currently linked from the "Download from Quaker Jane" section of the Practical Advice for those Seeking Quakers page.
I have added an entry under "Ask Ibbie" for those women who feel drawn to plain dress but whose husbands do not approve, as well as changing the layout of the page somewhat to make it easier to navigate the many questions.
Ibbie and Tibbie
Tabitha and I making breakfast. She is wearing a lovely Carrie's Dress and Toddler Pinafore from Graceful Threads (scroll down). Elizabeth has been a delight to work with and was even generous enough to design this little gray coat for me based on an example coat I sent. Tabitha is wearing her Brimmed Bonnet from Rachels' Seamstress Services
I've updated the bonnets page with more Quaker bonnets and updated resources. I'm particularly taken with the University of Tasmania's Quaker Life in Tasmania project, in particular the section on Quaker costume. Very interesting.
Plain Dress
If thee is curious about what Quaker plain dress look like today, I have a collection of photographs of modern plain dressing Quakers. Thee can read about my plain dress witness and testimony here. For plain Quakers with no "uniform," the options seem to approach infinity. I share the evolution of my own plain dress style here. Here is where I go on and on about some examples of historical Quaker plain dress (women's) and plain dress and what I call modest dress and plain modern. Also, I have photographs of some early twentieth century and mid-1800s plain Friends as well as sharing my responses to people who are opposed to the discipline of plain dress In Defensiveness of Plain Dress. Also, Some photos of me in my plain maternity clothes.
Ask Ibbie.
Readers' questions answered at "Ask Ibbie." This page also includes answers to FAQs and Responses to Some Common False Assumptions.
Photos from Conservative Gatherings.
Martin Kelley's photos from the Conservative Gathering 2009, again hosted by Keystone Fellowship Monthly Meeting of Ohio Yearly Meeting in Lancaster, PA.
Photos from the Conservative Quaker Gathering held 20th through the 22nd of Sixth Month 2008 at Stillwater Meeting in Barnesville, OH.
Photos from the Gathering of Conservative Friends from 2007 hosted by Keystone Fellowship Monthly Meeting of Ohio Yearly Meeting. Also, here's a photo of some interesting "graffiti" in the Lampeter Meetinghouse, where we worshipped.
Jesus, the Light that Lighteth Every Man that Cometh into the World
Jesus will Light the way for thee, if thee will but Listen to what he is telling thee in thy heart. It isn't just thy conscience speaking. Sometimes, I am told to turn left rather than right, when neither choice is wrong in an ethical or moral sense. One or the other becomes wrong when it is contrary to God's wishes for me. When that becomes apparent, I yield. If thee can let Jesus guide thee in thy daily life, he may set thee free.
I have been much exercised of late with the fundamental Christian witness of Love as it pertains to the essential Quaker witness to Christ as our Inward Teacher, True Source, and only Guide to the Truth and the Way. Here I share my searching of myself and the world on the subject.
A great many Conservative Quakers find themselves attempting a solitary Quaker practice. Here I offer up some practices and habits that may offer nourishment, grounding, hope.