Waiter Waiter Percolator

First Mohop Moment of the Year

2011-05-14T19:01:00.000-04:00

Ok, so there are also pictures of the dress I'm wearing, not just to show the shoes in context but also to remind myself that I haven't been able to fit into this dress in 2 years. Go, me!

I also wore an orange/red cardigan in the office with this outfit. It matched the red/orange in the ribbon, and the green in the ribbon actually matches that of the dress, but doesn't look it in these pics.

I didn't get yesterday's Mohop outfit photographed, but there will be more. If you want to know more about these shoes, which you can lace with anything you want, check out their website. They have different heights, different types of wood, and even a thong version available! The possibilities are endless, and I'm only just starting to experiment with the different ways I can lace and tie these!

Last Year's Boogie Woogie World Cup

2011-05-01T18:46:00.000-04:00

Three Sweet Dresses... and of COURSE, shoes to match!

2011-04-29T21:34:00.006-04:00

Spiced Dress

Lemon Stick Wedges
I'm blonde; I probably don't look that great in yellow, but WHO CARES when both the shoes and the dress are so sweet?!?

Shine Through Dress

Chameleon Heels
Have always loved these shoes... and I love the pairing of the cutouts in the shoes with the lace cut-out texture of the dress.

1950's "wiggle" dress, etsy

Suede pumps by Pour la Victoire
This dress has an attached "swag" or wrap that you can drape down your back, across your decolletage, or around your neck. Tres elegante!

Cutest. Caravan. Ever.

2011-04-27T12:14:00.000-04:00

Retro Shoes I'm Lusting After

2011-04-25T09:29:00.000-04:00

The Rubens by Fluevog. The perfect shoe, forever and ever, amen.

The Rhon by Fluevog. How about these to go with the Weight Loss Incentive Dress?

I'm thinking yes!

It doesn't get much more 30s/40s retro than the Raquel, also from Fluevog.

Or would the Paris be better with

the Weight Loss Incentive Dress?

Boy, that's a tough one... I can see being able to wear the Rhon with more of the rest of my wardrobe than the Paris, but the heel on the Paris is just so curvy...

Of course, all of this is purely academic, because I don't have $250 to spend on a pair of shoes....

Sigh.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T14:42:00.002-04:00

My sister and I, circa 1968

The elastic on the hat always bit into my chin.

Pokey LaFarge and The South City Three

2011-04-20T16:08:00.001-04:00

These boys are doing the music of the 1920's and 30's proud!

Spring Bargain Shopping for a Strappy Blue Dress

2011-04-17T18:30:00.001-04:00

I need a new blue summer dress. These three have different levels of "dressiness"... I might need them ALL! LOL Which one do you like best, and why?

True Blue little dress from Shop Ruche $47.99

Edelweiss Dress from ModCloth $54.99

Grunge revival sundress from dirty birdies vintage, $27

Progress: The Weight Loss Incentive Dress

2011-04-08T22:22:00.000-04:00

My hubby surprised me at Valentine's Day with a beautiful dress that I had been pining over. I knew it wouldn't fit me right away, hence the name I gave it...I tried it on tonight.

I'm so lucky to be married to a photographer....
I want to lose a few more pounds in strategic places, but considering the fact that I couldn't even sort of zip this in February, I'm not too unhappy. Thanks, hubby! Now I'm ready for art openings, galas, and evening weddings!

A Closet Full of Summer Blouses

2011-03-26T17:15:00.000-04:00

I love blouses, and with my long torso, I seldom find any that fit me as I would like. This is especially a problem with fitted blouses and/or blouses with peplums, both of which I love. I found a contemporary pattern that is sweet and feminine, and only slightly "retro" in that it has a fitted waist and a peplum. I can't wait to make at least one of each of the five views on the pattern envelope!

I have also found lots of sweet fabrics, a preponderance of which are some shade of pink, and I think all of them are floral. Now to decide which fabric for which style, and how many pink summer blouses does a girl need, anyway? LOL

Little pink roses, Nauvoo Quilt Company

Oh, yeah, I totally see this one as either view A or view B, with some sweet lace.

Or maybe this one should be view A?

Trying to decide which shade of pink I like better.

I probably should be thinking about which one will match the pink fabric I bought to make

a knee-length pink skirt with...

Feedsack repro, also from Nauvoo Quilt Company.

She carries repro AND vintage feedsacks!

I see this in view D, worn with either my knee-length red t-shirt skirt or my short black skirt.

The next two I also see in view D, but I can't decide which colorway to use.

The blue is more "retro" but the green really *pops*!

Either would look sweet with jeans.

And this next one, I think should be in view C.

I don't care; I love this color so much, I'll buy the fabric just to *have* it! LOL

This chocolate and roses print might work with the pink skirt.

Again, I need to look at the skirt fabric.

I think this should be view B; what do you think?

And because we haven't had enough pink roses yet....

Do I do this print.....

or this one?

(not sure of the scale on this one - I hate it when etsy sellers don't show scale on their prints!)

Now, the other option is to search etsy for a pair of vintage pillowcases; that would be enough for the sleeveless and cap sleeve versions.... or an old sheet.....

Oh dear. You see my problem, don't you? This could go on forever!

But I definitely need to break out of the pink roses rut. LOL!

Espadrilles for Spring!

2011-03-21T08:35:00.000-04:00

Happy Spring, everyone! I have decided that I am going to try and post once a week, so Happy Monday, as well! Here's what I've got:

If, like me, you sometimes wish to express your inner desire to be une fille francaise, you may be excited to know that espadrilles, that most Mediterranean of all shoes, are "in" this year! We all know what a traditional espadrille looks like...but this year's offerings in Endless Shoes' special "Espadrilles" section are anything but traditional! Get a look at these hot modern souliers!

Charles David's jute-and-leather peeptoe

Nubuck slingback by Dolce Vita

Leather peeptoe by Cole Haan

Ralph Lauren sandal

"Hepburn" sandal by Matisse

Nine West's "Lazar"

Leather sandal by Corso Como

Steve Madden's patent slingback

"Jungle" by Jessica Simpson

Spring Virtual Shopping

2011-03-19T15:35:00.000-04:00

Totally random, not meant to go together in any way....Just things I've found this season that I love. Think Spring! It's on the way!

Winter Silks' peach blouse

Anthropologie's Sculpted Cardigan

Camera Obscura Shift from Anthropologie

Pezza Dress, Anthropologie

ModCloth's "Pulling Petals" top

"Pleating Guilty" from ModCloth

Slingback platform espadrille by Jessica Simpson

Just Not Feelin' It Lately

2011-03-16T15:24:00.001-04:00

Of course, I coulda told you that sooner. I just haven't had anything to say about vintage sewing and fashion lately... or about much of anything else, for that matter.

If you want to know what is keeping me busy lately, first of all I'm working on losing weight, getting my cardio back where it should be, and toning all those flabby bits before summer dress season! LOL I've lost 10 pounds so far... at least 15 more to go plus a LOT of toning. I'm not going to bother to sew things until I've lost some more weight and changed shape; I don't have time to sew something, only to have to alter it a few months later!

The OTHER thing that is keeping me busy is four-legged and adorable. Meet Georgia Rose, an 11-week old labradoodle from Berkshire Hills Labradoodles in Haydenville, MA. She came home this past Saturday and life has changed drastically since then!

She's smart, mischievous, and not yet housetrained. Yesterday she discovered the kitty litter box and helped herself to a "treat." Then she learned how to splash until she got every drop of water out of the pet fountain and onto the kitchen floor. She's chasing the cats all over the house (and they are being very patient with her - no claws yet!) and she has no problem making her needs known. She's feisty, alright!

We're going to be a little busy for a while..... but I don't mind. :-)

The Infinity Dress - Endless Possibilities!

2011-02-06T20:34:00.000-05:00

Following this tutorial and using 4 yards of red 4-way stretch jersey, I made new dress that totally ROCKS! IT was the easiest thing in the world to sew, and you can wrap it any way you want. I'm wearing my Mohop sandals, which you also can wrap and tie any way you want with any kind of ribbon or trim. It's my convertible outfit!! I need some red ribbons for my shoes. And I'm waiting for my super-duper on-sale $40 peeptoe heels are that I found online; I think they'll actually look better than the sandals - a better, longer line for my short little legs.

Here's tonight's photoshoot:

Lindy Flash Mob!

2011-01-24T20:20:00.000-05:00

How much fun is THIS?!?! Wish I could have been there. I think Lindy is the most fun you can have with your clothes still on! ;-)

Shoe Shopping: What to Wear with the New Dress?

2011-01-20T13:19:00.000-05:00

Remember that gorgeous champagne satin dress I had my eyes on, and I said that it had been sold? Well, guess who bought it? MY HUSBAND! My sweetheart bought it as a surprise for me, so just when I was settling into the idea of shopping for another "weight loss incentive dress," the one I really wanted showed up on my doorstep! I am a lucky girl.

Here's the dress. This photo makes it look much more bronze colored than it is. In real life it's a true light champagne color with cream and gold metallic embroidery.

So of course, the next question is, "What shoes do I wear with this, once I can fit into it?". Here's where you come in....which of these do you like with this dress?

I wanted a classic "babydoll" or "pinup" pump, but not with today's 4"+ stiletto heel shape. And of course the color has to be just right. This dress will be worn to cocktail and semi-formal functions, and I don't want to try and look like a starlet on the red carpet. I have old feet and an old back, and I hate pointy-toed shoes... so here's what I came up with.

Seychelles pump in mushroom.

This pair would go with lots of other things in my wardrobe, and would let the dress shine.

And they're on sale for a ridiculous price of $35.00.

Bronze leather pump by Indigo/Clarks.

A subtle metallic, could be used for other evening looks as well. A very understated, classic heel.

Absolutely gorgeous, if a bit pointy, leather print and suede pump by Menbur.

Might be a little too "brown"? And is more money than I was planning on spending, but oh, are they hot!

Rose detail pump by Nine West. Also maybe a little too "brown" but a very sweet suede texture and a comfy heel.

Nine West pump with bow detail. Danger of being too close in value to the color of the dress, but too "yellow". But a lovely classic.

1950s Winter Coat

2011-01-13T18:22:00.000-05:00

One of the sweetest things to ever happen to me in the course of writing a blog was when a reader sent me a present. It wasn't a little present; it wasn't some buttons or some cool vintage ephemera... it was a beautiful vintage coat. She said it was just sitting in her closet, and it didn't fit her, and she thought I'd appreciate it. Since this person is a costumer by profession, she appreciates quality, and this coat has it in spades. Sometime I'll do some closeups of the details so you get an idea of just how luxuriously made this coat is. In the meanwhile, enjoy these "fashion shots" hubby and I just tore off in a few minutes tonight! Thank you to Kay for my favorite piece of vintage clothing ever. I am enjoying this winter just that much more because of it!

Weight Loss Incentive: Vintage Wiggle Dress?

2011-01-08T22:16:00.000-05:00

2011 is the year I start whittling away the menopausal pounds I have accrued over the last few years. I hate going to the gym, but hubby and I are going together and that's making it much more fun! We fell into the bad stress-induced habit of using food as a reward over the last years, and we need to change that. Don't you think the perfect "reward" for losing weight would be new vintage clothes that will fit my new body? Tee hee! This dress caught my eye, and I absolutely love it...

Champagne silk embroidered wiggle dress from Butch Wax Vintage on etsy.

This is a real steal at $75.00, and it's almost my size, or will be by spring. Now I just need an occasion that calls for a dress like this!

Pumps by Vince Camuto, available at endless shoes.

This isn't the right color, but I want a classic open toe pump or open toe slingback to go with this dress. Anyone have ideas about the best color? I thought about bronze or copper, but I'm not sure in general how I feel about metallic leather. I don't want anything too "busy" because of the embroidery on the dress, but I don't want ho-hum, either. What do you think would work with this dress?

New Projects for the New Year - Refashioning Used Clothing

2010-12-31T23:19:00.007-05:00

For Christmas this year, my Dad gave me 2 dresses from Etsy that were "vintage," but not really that old. I put them on my wishlist because I saw potential in each of them to refashion them and make them look older than they are!

The first one, a silk/linen/rayon woven number from the 70's, will be refashioned to make it look a little more late 50s/early 60s. Here's what it looks like now:

A little shapeless, but a great texture, and a wonderful ginger color.... I'm going to change the buttons, shorten it to knee-length, and find the perfect brown belt to go with the brown shoes I plan on wearing with it. The weave is pretty open, so I think I'm going to either make and dye a muslin underslip to go with it, or find a vintage one and dye it. Stay tuned for updates on this one! It's going to be an awesome warm weather staple in my wardrobe.

The next dress, a 1990s-does-40s dress, is going to become a 40s dress. It's dark navy rayon with an adorable strawberry print. Like many dresses from the 90s, it's almost to my ankles. I'm going to shorten it to a war-time knee length and replace the ho-hum matte navy buttons with some lovely strawberry-rose colored buttons from my Grandmother's button box.

Still the original length here.

And one of the details I love about this dress: it has an unusual lobed collar. It's hard to photograph here unfortunately. Because of the print, that lovely detail gets lost. I'm getting up the gumption to take the collar apart and insert some lovely strawberry-rose piping around the edges so that this detail stands out. I love love love this dress, and it fits me perfectly now. When I start working out this week, I'm going to also start brushing up on my tailoring skills so that when I lose the weight I'm anticipating losing, I can do this dress justice when I take it in!

I love taking something that's *almost* right and making it *just* right. These vintage pieces were each less than the cost of buying 1 yard of the fabric it would have taken to make them. Both the garment industry and the fabric industry introduce a phenomenal amount of chemical and material waste. By taking something that's already left its mark on the planet and refashioning it, I'm reducing my contribution to the waste stream. I can make them fit me and make them look more period-appropriate. I can use the fabric that I cut off during the shortening process as either outer fabric or lining fabric for a purse to match! It's a win/win/win situation, and a fun fashion challenge to refashion existing pieces, and I love doing it.

I've also got some Salvation Army skirts that are about to be refashioned/"vintage-ized", so stay tuned for more on them as well!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T13:13:00.000-05:00

Here's wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2011!

Have a Vintage Christmas!

2010-12-23T14:12:00.002-05:00

I just found a great collection of retro and vintage images on Flickr, "the custards" photostream. I wanted to share some of the wonderful holiday and winter images I found there, but you should look around for images of vintage decor and housewares, as well! Here are some of the great holiday images I found today:

Skiers graphic from a 1960's tin

Vintage glass tree ornaments.

They don't make them like this anymore.

Bunting made from vintage ephemera.

Vintage toyshop illustration.

Have a wonderful holiday, everyone!

Dig that Crazy Santa Claus! The Brian Setzer Orchestra

2010-12-22T08:51:00.001-05:00

Dreaming in Pink, Again: Fabric Ideas for a 1940s Shirtwaist Dress

2010-12-20T08:00:00.003-05:00

As you all know, I love finding the perfect fabric, notions, and accessories. I'm willing to bend "the rules" about being true to a period; for example, for this dress I'm thinking pink, which was more popular in the 50's than the 40's, and the pattern is a definitely wartime dress. What can I say? I'm rarely a purist about anything in life... I just think that any of these choices could be sweet. In fact, I may have to make this dress up more than once!

This is the pattern, a 1940's mail-order pattern that I scooped up when I found it in my size. (Sorry the pic is blurry; it was the seller's photo and I haven't scanned the original yet.)

I know this tea cup fabric isn't really in keeping with the war-time aesthetics, but it's perfect for a day dress!

From Nauvoo Quilt Company on Etsy.

Pink Floral from the Stitch in Time Collection, Red Rooster Fabrics; again available at Nauvoo Quilt Company.

This little pink floral is part of the same collection as the tea cup fabric at Nauvoo Quilt company.

Moda 3 Sisters Oasis Check in Pink Champagne

Moda 3 Sisters Martinique Picket Fence in Aqua (above) and Shell (below)

Japanese Dice, from Fabric Tales

Fluevog Sweet Pea, available at endless shoes; really more of a 20s or 30s style, but how can you resist these shoes?!?

Jump's Bayke pump in deep pink; again, not a 40's style, really, but how often are you going to find shoes in this color?!?!

Deck the Halls

2010-12-17T13:23:00.000-05:00

Image from flickr

Is everyone ready for Christmas? Decorations hung, presents wrapped? I plan on wrapping presents this evening while listening to some festive music.

What's your take on decorating? When do you put your tree up? We can't have one because of my tree-climbing feline, but if we did, it wouldn't go up until the first week of December at the earliest.

65 Years Ago Today

2010-12-15T10:36:00.000-05:00

I got this email from my mom today:

"65 years ago today at 12:30 AM, Grandpa returned home from Amchitka in the Aleutian Islands. Uncle Ted picked him up in Carbondale where he had arrived by bus from Indian Town Gap via Scranton. What I remember is being awakened in the middle of the night, sitting on the floor in the kitchen, and Grandpa giving me a Hershey bar from his duffelbag. The bag was stenciled with his service number Burdick---B 33849309."

What a great Christmas present that must have been for my family.

In my quick online research this morning, I found some more information on the lives of US servicemen in the Aleutians. It definitely sounds like there was a lot more going on than what anyone in my family ever let on.

Soldier in front of Headquarters of Companies E and F, 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, Arkansas Army National Guard, on Umnak Island, in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, 1942.

(not my Grandfather's outfit; he was from Pennsylvania)

photo from wikipedia

I don't know what unit he was in, but I know my grandfather was in the Army Corps of Engineers. I think I remember my mom saying that he helped build bridges to help the Army gain access to as much territory as possible. It was always made to sound like he didn't see any action; until today I didn't know that the Japanese had actually taken a few of the islands. Now I wonder what he saw and did, and how he felt about it. Like many of his generation, he was a very stoic man; he didn't like to talk about any suffering or trials he may have endured.

I don't have any pictures of my grandfather in uniform, or in the Aleutians. I'm sure there are some, somewhere, but I don't have access to them.

Here Comes the Snow!!!

2010-12-13T13:27:00.000-05:00

Teapot Earrings?

2010-12-08T12:32:00.013-05:00

Now that we're closing the studio, I'll probably never sit down and make all the teapots I had designed in my head. And that's ok, really. I'm alright with that. But I can't let this chapter of our lives go unacknowledged in my wardrobe; something must be done!!

Until I find the perfect tea-themed fabric with which to make a dress, I'll start with earrings....

Bean Doll has these lovely green ceramic teacup earrings for sale. There are other colors as well, but these would go nicely with that green outfit idea in my last post, n'est-ce pas?

Crow Star Designs features this pair of teapot and cup earrings, made of acrylic.

And then there's this yellow ceramic doll house tea set that I'm just drooling over:

I may have to have all the pieces, and make earrings, a pin, a pendant....

These adorable glass lampworked teapot beads are from Canterbury Keepsakes. Just imagine wearing them with some lovely rose-print day dress!

Oh dear! Adorable tiny roses!!!

If you're interested in this idea, a search in Etsy for "doll + tea" will help you find lots of tiny teapots and cups...but be sure to check the scale! I'm thinking I have to have more than one set of teapot jewelry!

Fabric Choices

2010-12-07T18:27:00.000-05:00

Well, how do you like *them* apples? If I choose, I could do Simplicity 2312 in a very similar set of fabrics to those in the pattern illustration!

This fabric, "Delilah" by Tanya Whelan for Free Spirit Fabrics, has a more dense polka-dot pattern than the original (below). What do you think? Almost too easy, isn't it?!

Or should I find some pretty little floral and do both the blouse and skirt in the same fabric? This print (below) from "Dolly Dresses" might be nice as a "two piece dress".

I also can envision this fabric below from the "Aunt Grace" line for both the blouse and the skirt, plus some dark green bakelite buttons and a belt with a bakelite buckle, instead of the bows. And maybe some dark green piping?

Bakelite buttons and buckle
available at Victorian Buttons, on Etsy.

I do enjoy finding the right fabric for a pattern....I keep doing it, without actually *sewing* any of them! I need to find a seamstress who'll trade her services for graphics work...or photography...or something....

Pearl Harbor Day - A Prayer for Peace

2010-12-07T08:13:00.001-05:00

Today is December 7, 2010, the 69th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The naval base was completely caught by surprise. In the end, there were over 2,000 dead, and hundreds more injured. Our Pacific fleet was destroyed.

Later in the war, the U.S would bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing hundreds of thousands of civilians in a matter of seconds, with many more dying of injuries and radiation-induced cancer in the months and years to come.

In honor of all the victors and victims, and as a prayer for peace everywhere, I've collected some images.

May we find peace in our lifetime, so that another war of such monumental loss might never again take place.

Women firefighters at work on the docks at Pearl Harbor

Drydocks on fire, Pearl Harbor

Gate in Nagasaki after the bombing

Toddler in Hiroshima

Peace cranes

Wreaths laid at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor

Christmas Came Early!

2010-12-04T11:09:00.001-05:00

I'm such a lucky girl. I was innocently cruising Etsy, looking at vintage sewing patterns, when I actually found some in my size...hubby looked over my shoulder after hearing me make happy little sounds and said, "Why don't you get them, as a Christmas present?"

This man "gets" it. He also "gets" it about a girl's need for chocolate. And shoes. How lucky can a girl get?!

I've been looking for a classic 1930's 2-piece dress pattern in my size for a while...I absolutely love this one. I found it at Wearing History, and now it's on its way to me! It's a little large, which is a rare thing, so I'll finally get practice in sizing a pattern down for a change! LOL.

This next pattern is also from Wearing History, and I'm looking forward to making it up in both a solid color linen and in a pretty cotton print. Hurray for shirtwaist dresses!

Of course, I have a bunch of other sewing projects awaiting my attention, so these will go into the queue, but it will be fun to take my time and find the perfect fabrics and notions for these two.

If you haven't checked out Lauren's patterns at Wearing History, I highly recommend it. She sells vintage patterns, repro patterns that she has created, and select pieces of vintage clothing. Lauren has a great sense of style and a sharp eye. If you like her shop, you should also check out her blog, where she talks about her latest projects, her influences, articles on fashion history, and sewing tips.

Thanks to Lauren for the latest additions to my pattern collection, and thanks to my sweet hubby, who understands that the way to this girl's heart is through her addiction to vintage patterns!

How Much is that Doggie in the Window?

2010-11-28T23:45:00.001-05:00

Ok, I guess I'm on a dog art kick right now. Here are some works of art from some Etsy sellers, some retro-inspired; some not.

Pug, from Sarah Beth Photography

Chihuahua in a Chanel, from It's a Dog's Life studio

Black Lab, by Jennifer Burkin

Phoebe at Barbershop, by sibling rivalrie

American Pit Bull Terrier, by John W. Golden

Dogs on Mod Chairs, from pistachio press

Time to Walk Blinkey! from MLaznicka

Black Dog Maple Syrup, from native vermont

Brown Dog Ski Company, from native vermont

Leash the One You Love, from life with tigers

Improve Allergies, from life with tigers

Dachshund Records, from gemini studio

Weimaraner Postage Stamp, from gemini studio

Zoom Zoom Boston, from rubenacker

Buck, from valery design wrks

Redecoration Dreams, Part II - The Bathroom Stool

2010-11-25T18:50:00.000-05:00

I've done a lot of thinking about our downstairs bathroom. I wrote a post about it eons ago, talking about color schemes and artwork. We're still no nearer to working on this room (we have even less money to work with than when I wrote my last post) but I can still dream, right? Dreaming is free!

One of the things I miss having in the bathroom is a bathroom stool. It's nice to have a place to put your towel, clothes, or a toiletry kit if you're a visitor, that stands a chance of staying dry. It's nice to have a place other than the toilet to sit when your painting your toenails, etc....

Here are some lovely candidates for the position of Bathroom Stool, found on Etsy (where else?!). They each take things in a slightly different direction; I love playing with things and seeing how far I can stretch it before they just don't work together. (Gosh, what does that say about my personality?!)

Child's chair

Wooden child's chair

Cream and chrome metal stool

Robin's egg blue and chrome "diner" stool

Which is your favorite? And if you looked at the earlier post I mentioned, which pieces of art would you pair with your favorite stool?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-23T23:08:00.000-05:00

Here's hoping all your turkeys are moist,

your gravy is smooth,

and your pie crusts are perfect!

One Lovely Blog Award!

2010-11-23T12:41:00.001-05:00

I've been awarded a blog award by Heidi at the swing of things! Thanks for the blog love, Heidi! I am honored indeed. Thank you, Heidi!

Accepting the award means doing the following: 
1. Accept the award. Post it on your blog with the name of the person who awarded it along with a link to their blog.
2. Send it on to 15 other bloggers that you have recently discovered.
3. Contact those bloggers and let them know they've been chosen.

Oh, I'm not going to get to 15 because I'm doing this at work and need to get it done fast....
Here are some bloggers whose lovely blogs I read regularly. Enjoy!

1.) Tina at what-i-found
2.) Trisha at made by Trisha
3.) Jill at Tea with the Vintage Baroness
4.) Sassy Lassie at Sassy Lassies' Vintage Life
5.) Susan at Spare Time (for sewing)
6.) Sarah at Rhinestones and Telephones
7.) Lisa at The Vintage Fashion Librarian
8.) Mary at Welcome to DeluxeVille
9.) Nancy at $25 Vintage
10.) Julie at bricolage

Treasure from Trash: Sculptures Made from Vintage Tins, Etc.

2010-11-21T20:20:00.003-05:00

I went looking for "retro dog" under "Art" at etsy, and look what I found! These sculptures combine my love for retro housewares and the clever reuse of materials to create humorous depictions of man's best friend.

Terrier, from madam pickay
That little red collar is just the perfect touch.

"Princess, Robot Dog" by Heavy Metal Milkman
Love the tail made from a spring, shown "in action" in this photo!

Dog Sculptures from reclaim2fame
Dogs on wheels! Spoons for ears!

These sculptures made me wanna get a pop rivet gun, learn to solder, and start looking at objects on flea market tables differently!

Shopping for Holiday Outfits?

2010-11-17T19:08:00.001-05:00

I love to look at the Anthropologie site and imagine what I would buy if money and menopausal weight gain weren't issues....

So, in a perfect world, here's what I would wear for a lovely formal-ish Thanksgiving:

Silk chiffon dress

(Actually, with the cut of this dress, the only issue would be money...)

Adorable green kiltie heels

I still haven't found the perfect sweater or wrap to go with this outfit.... any suggestions?

Christmas Morning? Or Christmas Eve? This dress could be for either....

"Perthshire Dress"

Red Ribbon Pumps

Ruched Shrug

New Years' Eve - champagne and bubbles....

Silver sheath

I can't decide between these 2 pairs of shoes.... might have to have both!

Peep-toe pumps with bling!

Perfect satin heels

Not as close a color match with the shrug as the other pumps, but these are so perfect, I don't care!

Linen and rayon shrug

Detail of shrug back

Ok, now for what I'll *really* be wearing on any of these given days? A sweater and jeans. Yup, that's pretty much it. We don't do anything formal *ever*, so I would never in a million years have an excuse to buy these outfits. I don't really *like* formality, for the most part. I want clothes that totally don't fit my life! LOL! But that's what "virtual" shopping is all about, isn't it?

Nifty, Cozy Handmade Retro Hats

2010-11-07T20:17:00.000-05:00

Have I ever mentioned how much I love etsy? Guess it's pretty obvious by now, isn't it? Now that the weather is turning colder, I went "virtual shopping" in the Handmade section for warm retro-styled hats this week. Here are some of my favorites:

Plaid cloche from Bonniesknitting

Uses vintage fabric and notions to make these wonderful hats - work with her to design your own!

The Hazel, by felt fancy

felt and cotton hat from jannio

Velvet lined cloche from Creations by Gail

Wool felt cloche by mo jackson

Mo also makes sweet hats made from vintage chenille bedspreads! Check them out!

Karina Couture's fuschia wool cloche

Zazu and Violet's asymmetrical cloche

Anna Shoub's Forties-Style fleece hat

Fleece Opera Hat, by Anna Shoub

"Ruby" beret by Anna Shoub

Blueberry Tam from soft shelter hats

Felted beret from Friendly Fairies

Harvest Gold

2010-11-02T20:01:00.000-04:00

Here's some of what you'll find if you search vintage clothing on etsy with the keywords "harvest gold"...

1960's Dress from Nikita Jade

1950s Dress from jessjamesjake

Cropped Jacket from EG Vintage

Sheath Dress from The Church of Vintage

Tweed Coat from Luncheonette Vintage

Embroidered Sweater from Bombshell Bettie's Vintage

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-30T18:37:00.001-04:00

We won't be around much tomorrow - hockey games and family birthday celebrations will keep me from the computer - so here's wishing you all a Happy Halloween!

A Merry Halloween

2010-10-26T20:52:00.000-04:00

Sounds weird, doesn't it? But I've seen that greeting on vintage Halloween cards. I've seen "A Joyous Halloween" and "A Joyful Halloween" as well...Apparently Halloween wasn't always the scare-fest that it often is today.

I have a confession to make. And it's going to make me instantly uncool.

I have never liked Halloween.

Yeah. I know. I've never gotten the whole spooky thing.

So, while y'all are all dressed up and spooky like this:

Me and my little black cat are all:

Seriously, I realized that when trying to come up with a costume for Halloween, I always wanted to wear vintage clothes, especially from the 40's. Well, now that I wear vintage and vintage-inspired stuff all the time, I don't feel a need to do the costume thing at all! I worry that this means there's something wrong with me; after all, aren't creative people supposed to appreciate any opportunity to be creative?

Maybe I was scared by a scary clown as a child or something. After all, I was less than a month old for my very first Halloween.

Whatever *my* problem is, A Merry Halloween to you all. I'm not going to any parties...I'll be at home with my little black cat on my lap on All Hallows Eve, probably knitting. Hope you all have a ghoulishly good time, and get lots of good candy! I look forward to seeing all your costume pictures!

Favorite Retro-Inspired Shoes for Fall and Winter

2010-10-25T20:10:00.000-04:00

I know I'm a little late in talking about shoes and boots for fall, now that it's almost November, but I'm going to do it anyway....

I totally see these first three pumps with 20s and 30s fashions.

Kickers' Mary Jane pump

T-Strap pump from Biviel

Miz Mooz two-tone oxford pump

And you can't go wrong with classic riding boots...

Miz Mooz riding boot

Frye "Heath" riding boot

For a more rural, less "genteel" look, this logging boot is perfect.

I have a pair that I wear with my "Rosie the Riveter" jeans, but they also look great with skirts and dresses.

Maybe a Land Girl would have worn something like these?

Frye logging boot

They call this a motocross boot, but in brown it looks more Victorian or Edwardian to me.

What do you think?

Frye "motocross" boot

More sweet shoes to wear with fashions from the 20s and 30s...

Wingtip by Poetic License

Naturalizer t-strap

And these big honking shoes from Dansko look Edwardian/1920's to me, while looking contemporary at the same time.

I TOTALLY want these.

Dansko "Rory"

Not quite a post-war pump, but I'll take them! The leather is gorgeous, and they're from Born, so they're bound to be comfortable.

Born pump

I love how these Hush Puppies look old and new at the same time,

and I'm a total sucker for 2-tone shoes...

Hush Puppies two-tone pump

A nice flat alternative, kind of a schoolgirl look.

Spectator flat by Indigo

These look to me like something Amelia Earhart should have worn.

Combat boot by Wanted

And these, as well...

or else they were standard issue for the women who were Red Cross drivers in WWI.

Diba lined boot

What do you think? What do you see in these shoes and boots? What would you wear with them?

Virtual Shopping: Some Fall Items from Vintage Etsy

2010-10-23T20:15:00.001-04:00

This is a lovely early-to-mid-fall dress. I know the cream trim takes this into more of a summer palette, but I don't care! I am in love with this shade of green!

Lovely green and cream linen dress from Adelaide Homesewn.

The quintessential fall shoes....unfortunately several sizes too small for me...

Fabulous 1940's heels, Adelaide Homesewn

And I would wear those shoes with this dress in a minute!
Again, a summer-ish dress because of the fabric weight, but the color is more autumnal.

1940's rayon dress from simplicityisbliss

How can you not love a hat with a perky pumpkin feather?!?

Pumpkin Feather Hat, Adelaide Homesewn

And a sweet spice-colored coat to go with it...

Brown princess-seamed coat, simplicityisbliss

The Perfect Fabric for Your Sewing Room Accoutrements!

2010-10-22T10:42:00.000-04:00

This collection of fabric from Andover Fabrics just came in at the Fat Quarter Shop, and I think it's adorable!

It's called "Tailor Made" and it has a vintage-y seamstress/tailor theme. Check out these sweet prints! They're in a quilting weight cotton, perfect for sewing machine covers, curtains, aprons, maybe even a day dress?!

Yes, those are little dress forms, lined up in stripes...available in other colorways as well.

I'm seeing a day dress out of this floral.

Curtains? Sewing machine cover? Also available in black/white or yellow/black.

This scissor print is also offered in green/white, teal/white and white/gold.

It's like a primer of stitches!
But my grandmother's machine couldn't do any of these, way back then....

Two of the "newsprint" colorways...also available in yellow.

I'm ready to make my sewing room curtains out of this, but I can't decide which color!

Vintage-Inspired Knitting Patterns!

2010-10-21T20:05:00.000-04:00

I was perusing the knitting and sewing magazines in the bookstore this evening, and found out that Debbie Bliss has a new book of knitting patterns called "Land Girl." The collection is inspired by WWII British knitting patterns, and takes its name from those intrepid women who went into the fields to grow food for the nation when the farmer boys went off to war.

The challenge for vintage knitters is figuring out which contemporary yarn will serve as a substitute for the original yarn, since many yarn companies have come and gone over the years...With this book, you can use today's Royal Yarns and know you've got the right weight and fiber content!

Here's a few of the patterns available. I'm a novice knitter at best; now I have something to aspire to!

Heyday Dress Giveaway!

2010-10-13T15:46:00.000-04:00

Hey Kittens! Jitterbug on over to the In the Heyday blog and register for your chance to win this rockin' dress!

(giveaway details on Shona's blog)

I have always loved this dress; as a matter of fact, I bought some vintage sheets in a rose print after seeing this dress. I haven't made them up into a dress yet, but since the sheets are a gold/yellow rose print, it won't matter if I *also* win the Heyday dress! LOL

Good luck to all the entrants, and may the best gal win!

Rooibos Dreams

2010-10-09T12:15:00.000-04:00

I shouldn't be thinking about new projects. I have sewing projects from 3 years ago that haven't been done yet. But when I see a great fabric and can envision it made up in a particular pattern....sigh. I lose my resolve.

I've been thinking about the fun challenge posed by Colette Patterns' dress, the Rooibos.

This little gem (the black dress in the photo above) calls for piping, and contrasting fabric for the little collar. Oh, so many choices....

I'm imagining doing a version out of Michael Miller's Lawn Chair fabric:

I'd use the lawn chairs for the dress body,

The black pindot for the collar,

And the clementine pindot for the piping.

I'd better hurry if I'm really going to do this - this fabric is from last season and it's getting hard to find!!

I also found this amazing vintage fabric on etsy at souvenirsouvenir:

The body of the dress would be this fabric, and I'm thinking the collar would be either this fabric as well, or some creamy yellow color to match the background of this fabric. The piping would be either gold or deep pink.

And THEN I found this fabric from Andover Fabrics at Harts:

Oh, what's not to love? I'm not sure, but I think I'd use this print in the lighter green (below) for the collar and piping.

Oh, but then, THEN!!!! I saw this retro red dot pattern at Harts:

...which also comes in green:

And I may need to do a dress in each of these.....

You see what my problem is, don't you? The truth is, I'm really a designer, not a seamstress. I'd rather put the pattern and fabrics and notions together and let somebody ELSE worry about the FBAs, darts, and tucks...

Fabulous Throw Pillows!

2010-10-06T14:40:00.000-04:00

I always loved the vintage postcards that said "Greetings From..." or that showed the outline of a state and all its famous features. They're quite the collectors' item, and if you don't want to search for a long time to find your favorite state, search no more.

Now you can have throw pillows with these fabulous vintage postcard graphics, thanks to Wind and Weather! They're all so great, it's hard to choose... we have to have Florida because that's where my dear hubby was born and raised. I grew up in NYS, and we live there now. And my 13 yr old stepdaughter was born in Utah, so we have to have that one as well!

Now I ask you: How FUN are these?!?!

And.....We're Back!

2010-09-27T22:23:00.000-04:00

So what have I been doing all month, anyway?

After a month spent resting AND helping hubby with the start of his new photography business, (see sidebar for links to his photo blog and website), I'm back and ready to think about sewing again. I bought myself a reprieve (literally) from sewing shirts for the hubby by catching some amazing sales, but now I have to get back to work. Since we're at the edge of hockey season, I'll only be able to sew every-other weekend if I'm lucky. The boy needs things to wear other than clay-covered t-shirts and sweatpants. So his shirts and everything else on my to-do list are still waiting for me, and more things have been added...

I couldn't pass up this 2-piece dress pattern from 1948. It was $5.00, bust size 37. I don't think the seller carries sewing patterns regularly, or he would have known to charge more!! I'm going to need to make this bigger in order to fit me, so I've got some learning to do.

I know the next two patterns aren't really "vintage" but I wanted some EASY, relatively mindless dress patterns for next spring. These were a wicked bargain as well. Yay, me!

And the short version of this dress, with short sleeves, is almost a war-time aesthetic...

I've promised myself that I'm not going to look at any more patterns or fabric until I've gotten more of my existing sewing projects done. Sigh. I don't know why I'm whining; I have probably 20 projects waiting, and most of them are for me!

I also spent some time shopping for some organizational tools to help us conquer our clutter. I was hoping to pull together a humungous yard sale, but I think I'm running out of time for that now. The rains of autumn have begun. So I'll spend the winter trying to organize all the stuff we want to get rid of... and the stuff we want to keep.

I found some great big jars to use in our pantry:

and 3 wire baskets to corral our hats and mittens:

and a metal picnic basket to hold the pet care supplies:

I pride myself on having shopped for the best possible deals on these things; it was more fun than just buying the first thing I saw. I love etsy!!

My hockey knitting for this season will be a sweater for which I got the pattern and yarn over a year ago. Picture this in a soft coral-peach color, with a straight cream or natural linen skirt and my cream and linen oxfords!
.

I've never knitted a sweater or used a pattern, so luckily I have fellow hockey moms who are willing to coach me. Hurray for knitting coaches! I'm a lucky girl.

October, my favorite month, is almost here, hockey pre-season is in gear, and I'm ready to hunker down and get busy! Let the autumn begin!

Taking a Break

2010-08-27T11:13:00.002-04:00

I've been feeling completely uninspired lately, and I haven't been able to sew all summer, so I don't have any fun vintage sewing projects to share....

I think it's time to take a little break from blogging and recharge my batteries!

Happy Back-to-School, everyone!

One Door Closes, Another One Opens

2010-08-21T13:20:00.000-04:00

Our pottery studio is officially closed as of noon today.

Please join us in our new endeavor, as Alex opens his photography studio. If you want to follow along, check out the business website:

alexsollaphotography.com

and his new blog,

alexsollaphotographyblog.blogspot.com

Thank you all for your years of support. We're looking forward to this new chapter in our lives!

Gone Fishin'

2010-08-11T22:49:00.000-04:00

Lest We Forget

2010-08-06T19:24:00.000-04:00

My friend Kathy just reminded me that today is the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. When I talk to kids at the university these days, many of them do not, perhaps *cannot* comprehend the gravity of this day and the day of the Nagasaki bombing. It was my grandparents' generation who fought this war and saw the effects firsthand. As our population ages, our societal memory fades. But we cannot forget. We must never, ever forget.

We must never forget the horrible loss of life incurred on these two days, and through the Holocaust. We must never forget what was done in the Balkans, in Uganda, and in all the many other places where hate has been allowed to foment into unspeakable violence. We must be persistent in our efforts to understand and respect one another, and vigilant in the prevention of any further atrocities.

For the victims of Hiroshima, I will not forget you.

The mushroom cloud rising over Hiroshima, Japan. The city of Hiroshima was the target of the world’s first atomic bomb attack at 8:16 a.m. on August 6, 1945. The cloud rose to over 60,000 feet in about ten minutes.

Ruins and debris scattered near the hypocenter. The tall building in the distance is the Chugoku Shimbun building, one of Hiroshima’s newspapers.

The ruins of Hiroshima. Almost all wooden houses to a radius of 4,750 - 6,330 feet (1,450 - 1,930 meters) from the hypocenter were crushed instantly. Fire then swept through them, either from the heat of the blast or from cooking fires, until they were engulfed by the firestorm.

photos from Hiroshima & Nagasaki Remembered

"Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943"

2010-08-04T09:59:00.001-04:00

My friend Kim sent me a link to a post about this collection of photographs, sweetie that she is. She's an historian and educator, and is good at finding great resources. This collection is a visual treasure trove, especially for those who want to know what life really looked like in the US during this time period. I picked out a few of my favorites to share here, although I could easily have posted any of these. (For those of you interested in clothing of the time, especially in everyday working class wardrobes, be sure to check the site out. And click on these photos below to enlarge them so you can see the fabric in the clothing! There are some sweet prints.)

Here's the introduction on the Denver Post's page about these photos:

These images, by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. The photographs are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in a 2006 exhibit Bound for Glory: America in Color.

Faro and Doris Caudill, homesteaders. Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

Chopping cotton on rented land near White Plains. White Plains, Greene County, Georgia, June 1941. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

Woman is working on a "Vengeance" dive bomber Tennessee, February 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Alfred T. Palmer. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

Women workers employed as wipers in the roundhouse having lunch in their rest room, Chicago and Northwest Railway Company. Clinton, Iowa, April 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

(Note: A "wiper" is responsible for hosing down locomotives with steaming hot water to clean the grime away and keep the machinery from clogging. Hot, nasty, hazardous work; one of the many nasty jobs women were allowed to do during the war, but were removed from when the men returned.)

I can't sleep

2010-08-02T03:07:00.004-04:00

Last night it was Alex, tonight I can't sleep. Trying to meditate, etc. to get myself back to sleep but to no avail. Instead I've ended up with a new poem about my grandmother. Go figure.

Family Photo

Adsette Wilcox was a hellraiser
In her day
Aw hell I don’t even know how to spell it
Adsit Adsette
I’ve only ever seen it written on her funeral program
When I was seven
Cigarette smoke wiggle dress and girdle
That’s what I remember
Not this sullen flapper forced to pose with her mother

I’ve got her hair

Retro Dog Collars!!

2010-08-01T20:22:00.000-04:00

You didn't think I'd stop thinking about puppies, did you? ;-)

While I certainly could make any of these at home, handy gal that I am, I may decide to patronize some of these fine folks (mostly from etsy) for my puppy-bling needs.

Aqua and fuchsia crabs from Hampton's Hideaway.

One of my favorite retro color combos!

Cotton and linen gingham collar from ehmio.

A selection of gingham collars from Pet Elegance

Buck-a-Roo Dots from muttropolis.

A funny take on Andy Warhol's famous soup cans, from muttropolis.

Retro trailer print collar from The Mod Dog

Pink Flamingos from fairy tail collars

Cherries from fairy tail collars.

The perfect collar for you Fala (FDR's Scottie) fans, from restowe.

Any of you vintage sewists recognize this fabric?

From Lucky Fiona, who specializes in retro print dog collars.

"Fruit Salad," from Lucky Fiona.

I'm Supposed to be Cleaning the Litter Boxes.....

2010-07-27T19:24:00.000-04:00

...so what am I doing instead? Um..... looking for labradoodle breeders. Yeah, I'm ignoring my cats' needs so that I can shop for a DOG. What a bad cat mommy I am! LOL

And before anybody goes gettin' all self-righteous on me about buying a "designer dog," let me say that my histamine response to dog dander now runs along the "Oh-My-God-Get-Her-to-the-Emergency-Room" end of things. Labradoodles with woolly coats are as close to hypoallergenic as you can get, they have an awesome temperament, and most of them inherit the Lab's love of water. Sounds like a match made in heaven to me!

I just found a breeder in the Northhampton, MA area, thanks to a suggestion from Barbie at Landmark Labradoodles, a lovely and helpful breeder with whom our timing is off. These breeders in MA are Berkshire Hills Labradoodles, and I've just spent the last hour falling in love with their dogs. I've emailed them to see about coming to meet them this fall. If our "families" get along, we will put our name on the waiting list for a pup!

Now tell me, what is not to love about that face?!?

This is Berkshire Hill's Hazel, who was born a cafe color

and turned to this unique parchment color as she grew up.

I haven't had a dog since I lived at home, a million years ago, and neither has Alex. It's time, and soon.

Best Way to Recycle Old Knitting Needles - EVER!

2010-07-26T17:59:00.001-04:00

By now you know that I spend a LOT of time on etsy. It's my favorite place to shop. You never know what you're going to find there. Today's find was an incredible line of bracelets, made from old plastic knitting needles!

How cute are these?!?!? Sold in sets of three at SewNewThings for $27/set.

How can I ever decide which set to get?!?!?

ThirtySixTen, jewelry made from vintage stuff

2010-07-24T18:27:00.002-04:00

The perfect jewelry for a vintage enthusiast! Made of vintage notions and sterling silver, ThirtySixTen's line of jewelry is right up my alley!

Now you can always wear mother of pearl buttons!

This lovely piece of Japanese glass has just
the perfect retro color scheme!

Peach acrylic "cabochon" ring.
I wonder what it was in its previous life?

XYZ Blocks

2010-07-22T13:21:00.001-04:00

Ok, I want these blocks from Fred.

I wanna just put them on a coffee table in a bowl.

Hoedown!

2010-07-21T18:50:00.001-04:00

Hoedown from Rodeo from Eleanor Stewart on Vimeo.

Virtual Shopping Spree

2010-07-18T23:12:00.003-04:00

Here are some nifty finds that I would love to add to my wardrobe....I picture myself wearing them while shopping....

Vintage green rayon dress from UnderWired at etsy.

Striped espadrilles from secretlake on etsy.

Yes, it's a dachshund-shaped clutch purse
from "Dutch By Design."
Isn't it just the most fun ever? Terribly impractical in some ways, and yet if you cradled it just right, people would do a double-take!

Sweet Retro 1930's Fabrics

2010-07-16T22:39:00.001-04:00

Here are some sweet fabrics that are perfect for making up in some 1930's patterns. So many fabrics; so little income! Sigh.

Can't wait for these retro cuties to be released! Great for aprons or kitchen curtains!

Thanks to my momma, I have the perfect vintage blue buttons to go with this fabric.

What a pretty 1930's dress this would make. At the Fat Quarter Shop, by Andover Fabrics

These won't be released at the Fat Quarter Shop until September. I'm a sucker for roses.

Another great retro print. I like all the colorways for this one.

From the "June's Back Yard" collection.

"Blossoms in the Clouds" from the Many Moons collection.

Also available in aqua:

Happy Bastille Day!

2010-07-14T16:08:00.006-04:00

La Marseillaise (English Translation from marseillaise.org)

Arise children of the fatherland
The day of glory has arrived
Against us tyranny's
Bloody standard is raised
Listen to the sound in the fields
The howling of these fearsome soldiers
They are coming into our midst
To cut the throats of your sons and consorts

To arms citizens Form your battalions
March, march
Let impure blood
Water our furrows (Chorus)

What do they want this horde of slaves
Of traitors and conspiratorial kings?
For whom these vile chains
These long-prepared irons?
Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage
What methods must be taken?
It is us they dare plan
To return to the old slavery!

What! These foreign cohorts!
They would make laws in our courts!
What! These mercenary phalanxes
Would cut down our warrior sons
Good Lord! By chained hands
Our brow would yield under the yoke
The vile despots would have themselves be
The masters of destiny

Tremble, tyrants and traitors
The shame of all good men
Tremble! Your parricidal schemes
Will receive their just reward
Against you we are all soldiers
If they fall, our young heros
France will bear new ones
Ready to join the fight against you

Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors
Bear or hold back your blows
Spare these sad victims
That they regret taking up arms against us
But not these bloody despots
These accomplices of Bouillé
All these tigers who pitilessly
Ripped out their mothers' wombs

We too shall enlist
When our elders' time has come
To add to the list of deeds
Inscribed upon their tombs
We are much less jealous of surviving them
Than of sharing their coffins
We shall have the sublime pride
Of avenging or joining them

Drive on sacred patriotism
Support our avenging arms
Liberty, cherished liberty
Join the struggle with your defenders
Under our flags, let victory
Hurry to your manly tone
So that in death your enemies
See your triumph and our glory!

The Rongovian Embassy of Yumminess

2010-07-13T19:17:00.000-04:00

Folks who have lived in the Ithaca area for any amount of time know about the Rongovian Embassy, a groovy wateringhole and the hot spot for catching the wonderful local bands in Trumansburg. The Rongo, as it is affectionately known, has gone through several quick changes of ownership since Eric and Mary Ott sold it several years ago. Plagued by well-intentioned but misguided management, it looked as though the Rongo was about to become just a memory...

Enter Tom and Cheryl Covell, locals who took up the mantle and have done a lot of work to bring our beloved Rongo up to code, up to speed, and up to snuff. Not only are they pulling in bands once again; they have resurrected the kitchen and are offering a menu of tasty Mexican-inspired food.

Tom and Cheryl have done things right. They bought the building, so they have complete control of their environment. They have kept some of the key features, such as the "history of the world" timeline on the wall and the "Suffering, Dying, and Dead Bastards" on the drink menu. But they're gradually making their own additions to the legendary establishment, and breathing some new life into the old gal.

Alex and I just had dinner there, and it was darn tasty. I'll eat their mac & cheese with mole sauce ANY TIME, and Alex polished off his enchilada with great satisfaction. The wait staff was friendly and timely, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the cheesecake was exactly the right note after that tasty hot-but-not-too-hot Mexican cuisine.

"Tburg" has been proud to have an identity separate from Ithaca, and the Rongo has always been a key part of that identity. Three cheers to Tom and Cheryl for continuing to add to the history of the heart of Trumansburg, the Rongovian Embassy.

Avoiding the Great White Death

2010-07-13T12:12:00.001-04:00

image from boingboing

So we went to the Emergency Room Saturday evening thinking Alex was having a heart attack, and were relieved to discover it was not a heart attack. It was stress/anxiety and extremely high blood sugar.

Years ago I lived in a house with several other womyn, one of whom was diabetic and referred to sugar as "The Great White Death." Alex's blood sugar was up to 270 on Saturday, approaching diabetic shock #'s, but he's managed to get his numbers sub-200 since then. He's now on Metformin, which will help his body use the insulin he's already producing, and with dietary changes, he'll be able to avoid The Great White Death easily.

Thanks to the good doctors and nurses who helped us through this latest little wrinkle.

My boy is tough. It's going to take more than sugar cubes to bring him down.

Why I Wouldn't Mind Living in Nova Scotia: Reason #51

2010-07-05T22:46:00.002-04:00

Happy 4th!

2010-07-04T12:15:00.000-04:00

image from fort and field's flickr stream

Alphabet Soup!

2010-06-29T21:19:00.000-04:00

Here's some mid-week eye candy for you: retro-inspired "alphabet" prints from artists on etsy. D is for Dress!!

A is for airplane, from Finny and Zook

"U" code flag from bexpert

L, c'est Lapin, from bark decor

G from Alphabet City

O is for the oven, by Valerie Burgess Collages

Alphabet Alice, from peanutbutterandyelly

C is for crab, by Jenn Ski Art

Queen for a Day by swellkid

F by Allison B

D as in Dress by Lindsay Brackeen

M is for Mouse, by Jessica Shult Huppi

Virtual Vintage Shopping at etsy

2010-06-25T20:35:00.000-04:00

Brown Rayon 1940's dress from Simplicity is Bliss

Gin 'n Tonic dress at Dear Golden Vintage

Barbelle of Bemberg dress from The Ruby Kitten

Seafoam flapper dress from revival house

4 piece blue luggage set from paddy ridge

vintage tool tote from paddy ridge

So Many Links, So Little Space

2010-06-24T19:34:00.001-04:00

I used to have some link lists in the sidebar of this blog, but it felt unwieldy, and I felt like I didn't have room to include a lot of my favorites. I've started to rectify the situation by creating some pages of links, and filling in the blanks. I've still got more to add, but it's a start!

There will be more added to every page listed in the sidebar, but I'm starting with Fashion and Sewing first, unsurprisingly...mostly I've added a TON of links to shops on etsy that sell vintage sewing patterns. I've also started a SHOES section, which is long overdue. I have more to add there.

Still to come are leather goods - I used to sell high quality jackets, luggage, bags, wallets, shoes, etc. I have a North Beach baby pink leather bustier in my closet that I didn't have the nerve to wear back when it still fit me...and the baby pink lizard cowgirl boots to go with it.... Not all the leather goods I'll highlight on my links pages will be that outrageous. I have a soft spot for handmade leather luggage, especially if it looks old-fashioned. And I am a leather jacket snob. If you want to see some of the best leather goods out there, check back in a week or so. That section will be fun to browse through!

Here are some of the things you'll find on the Fashion and Sewing links page...

Check out the handmade shoes by Tracey Neuls, for example:

Peruse the thousands of vintage sewing patterns available at shops such as Patterns from the Past:

Check out the amazing collection of clothing from the 20's through 60's at the vintage shop, Adeline's Attic. This gal has a keen eye for stylish, well-made pieces, especially from the 20's and 30's.

D's Grandma's Wardrobe!

2010-06-22T22:19:00.000-04:00

My friend D. has a cool Grandma. She used to be a seamstress, and she made her own clothes. I've seen what D. has sewn for herself; sewing talent must run in the family, because her clothes are beautifully made. Someday I'm going to sew as well as D. and her Grandma!

D. has helped Grandma put some of the clothes she's not wearing anymore up on etsy. Some were made by her, some not, but all are guaranteed to have been well made.

Here's a cute little outfit from Grandma's shop:

POLKA DOTS! How cute is this?!?

My Trousseau (for my imaginary honeymoon in France)

2010-06-21T19:39:00.003-04:00

My hubby and I never got our honeymoon. Due to family circumstances beyond our control, instead of going to Tuscany for 2 weeks, we went to Maine for 4 days. Don't get me wrong; I love Maine, but neither of us has been to Europe, and we both want to go. It doesn't even have to be Italy; lately I've been wanting to see France. All of it. I want to spend at least a week in Paris, then go to the Alps, then to Provence, and then the Riviera. I figure a month might just barely be enough time...no, better make it 2.

I'm dreaming, seriously dreaming, but shopping is half the fun of planning for a trip, so here's some of the fun! Here's (some of) what I would want to take with me on our Tour de France. Everything's from Anthropologie, unless otherwise noted.

I would wear this dress at the "Bon Voyage" party, as our steamer leaves the dock:

Tea and Sweets Dress

With these sweet flats:

Petal Pushing Flats

Andes heel from Mod Cloth
Oo-la-la! I haven't found the perfect dress for these yet.... but they must be worn in a smoky bistro.

Hmmm, what about this?

The Undercurrent Dress
Oui!

I would TOTALLY wear this lovely cream and black robe with the shoes below, for an afternoon at the Louvre, maybe the Tuillieries as well.

Time Gone By Dress

Back Rock Spectators
Note the cork sole! So Mediterranean!

I'll hit the marche in Chamonix with a basket on my arm in this dress.

Secret Treasure Dress

. "Je voudrais deux pommes et du fromage, s'il vous plait."

I love this jacket so much, I can't even tell you!

At First Sight Jacket

City Park Espadrilles
But of course, espadrilles channel some of the energy of Southern France... these are heavenly! Must find the perfect skirt to go with this jacket and espadrille combination....

Voila! The Lingering Rays Skirt! Parfait!

Just picture me in the middle of a field of lavande, with blue skies overhead.

And for my travels to la plage (the beach), how about these shorts?

Heat Seeker Shorts

I would pair them with a blue and white striped sailor t (as suggested in the photo above) and these shoes:

Encoded Platforms

All of which I would take off to reveal this maillot with the poisson buckle!

Calypso's Calm One Piece

And to show my tan to its best advantage when I return home,

The Susannah Dress

Cassis T-Straps
Bien sur! How could I not wear these sandals, since one finds cassis in Provence?

How about you? If you could go on the trip of your dreams, what would you take with you?

What Was I Thinking?!? re: What Pattern Should I Use?

2010-06-18T13:22:00.001-04:00

Oh my goodness!!! What was I thinking?!?!? I completely forgot about this dress pattern, mostly because I didn't save a copy of the photo of it on my computer...

Don't you think that THIS pattern:

...would be perfect for the vintage sheet fabric?

Thanks for all the feedback, but I think I've completely fallen in love with this idea...case closed!

Which Pattern Should I Use?

2010-06-16T20:02:00.002-04:00

I'm buying 2 sheets like the one below from Regency Cottage on etsy, and I can't wait to sew with them! They're SOOO much cheaper than buying fabric yardage, they're already soft, and they're PRETTY! I may tea-dye them a little once I get them, but we'll see.....

So here's the problem.... WHICH DRESS do I make??? Each sheet is 70"x84", so I've got a fair amount of fabric to work with.

Inspirational dress from etsy - won't be hard to throw together based on my measurements, etc.

Re-issued pattern I bought and haven't made up yet. Not sure I'll be able to make the skirt that full, but I wouldn't be wearing a crinoline with it anyway.

Vintage pattern I bought and haven't made up yet.

Yet another vintage pattern I bought and haven't made up yet.

What do you all think? Which would you choose? Would you tea-dye this and line the bodice with muslin, or just leave it ivory and line the bodice? So many choices! so fun!!

My Talented Husband

2010-06-10T11:17:00.002-04:00

Have I mentioned what a talented man my husband is? The things he can do with a camera, I just don't understand. He's about to start writing a business plan for a photography business, to replace the pottery that he can no longer do full time. He's good; we just need to figure out how to get the word out and how to get him paid for his talent.

He can make a silk purse out of this sow's ear.

You have to understand, there are NO pictures of me that I like; I think I am the least photogenic person on the planet. I like this one.

The Boy Who Lived

2010-06-08T09:48:00.000-04:00

Those of you who have read the Harry Potter books recognize the phrase above as a description of Harry himself, who as an infant was the only being to survive the wrath of He Who Must Not Be Named. Lately we've been referring to Alex as The Boy Who Lived, as a way of making light of his near-death experience this past fall.

All the doctors told us he wouldn't make it; they had never seen anyone with such severe sepsis survive. But like Harry, Alex survived against all odds, where no-one else had done so. And that survival, just the act of it, made both of them famous, whether they wanted to be or not. Harry was constantly whispered about behind his back; Alex met with one of the doctors the other day, who told him his case has been the subject of a few medical conferences now. Given their 'druthers, I think both of them would trade the notoriety for what they lost in the bargain: Harry, his parents and his innocence, the ability to be "a normal kid"; Alex, his health, his peace of mind, and his career in ceramics.

But today is Alex's birthday, a day they said he wouldn't reach. "It's not every day your young man turns 11," said Hagrid on Harry's birthday. Well, it's not every day our young man turns 38.

Happy Birthday, Alex, the Boy Who Lived.

Studio Ditte, Your Source for Adorable Wallpaper!

2010-06-07T09:57:00.001-04:00

I was poking around on u-handbag last night and found this wonderful Dutch design company!

First of all, if you don't know u-handbag and you want to make your own purses and bags, you owe it to yourself to get over there! Not only are there great tutorials and design ideas, there's a shop where you can get notions, hardware, etc.

Lisa had posted some pics of inspirational sewing/craft rooms, and highlighted this sweet wallpaper by Studio Ditte:

Yes, those are BUTTONS! How cute are they?!? But that's not all; they do other wallpaper designs as well.

Birdhouses!

Closeup of the birdhouse paper.

And another one for the seamstresses out there:

Ribbons!

And one that's dear to my heart, seein' as how we have a pottery studio and all:

China!

Studio Ditte does other things besides wallpaper, too. I really want these chairs (yes, chairs!).

BUNNIES!!!!

Available in 2 sizes; one for kids, and one for adults.

Virtual Etsy Shopping Spree

2010-06-05T23:25:00.001-04:00

1940's shirtdress at Daylight and Dark

1930's teal dress at Vindemial Vintage

1970's dress with portrait collar from fluffy pink bunnies

1940's housedress pattern from Sandritocat

Lime day dress at Crafty Crow Vintage

1950's floral shift from Crafty Crow Vintage

Wanna Go?

2010-06-04T14:09:00.002-04:00

This video makes me wanna go to Iceland! Part of their board of tourism's attempt to bring people back now that the volcano has done its thing.

Inspired by Iceland Video from Inspired By Iceland on Vimeo.

Anna Shoub's Summer Hats: The Creations of a Fellow Hat Junkie

2010-06-02T20:13:00.000-04:00

I love hats. I would love to own more. I specifically would love to own several of Anna's hats. Anna Shoub is a lovely milliner living and working in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, a lovely seaside town. I found Anna via her etsy site while doing a search for cloches, and discovered the rest of her lovely line as well. I just looked back through my posts and realized that I've already written twice about Anna...hope you don't mind some more shots of her beautiful hats, because I just love looking at them and arguing with myself over which one I'll buy first!

Anna Shoub's lovely linen hat, the "Veronica"

Snazzy sea grass topper "Lana"

Summer cloche the "Betty," in rose linen

The "Lilly," made of sea grass, linen and vintage hankies

Raffia and linen "Rachel," my current favorite

Anna's blog "a day in the life of a hat junkie" is always a lovely read, with pics of her hats, her house under renovation, and days on the shore with family and friends. I highly recommend a trip to her corner of the web!

The Ultimate Wardrobe-Stretching Sandal: Mohop Shoes

2010-05-28T10:28:00.000-04:00

Oh. My.

I haven't been this excited about a pair of shoes since I got my baby pink lizard cowboy boots, back in the 90's. I wore them to death. (Almost literally! They're in desperate need of their second resoling, but the only shoe repair guy in town who did a good job on cowboy boots has retired, so I'm afraid to wear them. They decorate my dresser for now.) The pink was a bit limiting in terms of the wardrobe; for a while my entire wardrobe was pink, to go with them.

But these sandals by Mohop are so much more than ONE pair of shoes. Made by 2 former architects, these are a work of design genius, a masterpiece of elegance in their design, execution, and attention to carbon footprint.

When I first looked at them, I thought, "$150 for a pair of wooden soles?!?" (Ok, I admit, I was very tired. I wasn't thinking clearly. I'm sleep-deprived and menopausal, what can I say?)

But with that pair of soles, you get infinite possibilities, as the company slogan suggests. These handmade soles, available in any combination of 3 heights, 3 toe shapes, and 3 sustainably harvested hardwoods, come with a set of ribbons. You get to decide, every time you put them on, how to feed the ribbon through the elastic loops tacked along the sides of the sole. The possibilities are truly endless.

This pair is the mid-height sole, with a round toe, out of cherry.
(photo from the Mohop site.)

If you look at their gallery, you'll see a FEW of the possibilities for strap design; a really good place to look at some possibilities is their FaceBook page, where customers have sent in their versions. I'm not going to post more here...you have to go look for yourself! ;-)

One thing I really love is that they've taken some very old shoe design concepts, and made them their own: the wooden soles of the Northern European clog and the Japanese traditional sandal, combined with the continuous-strap-attached-to-the-sole-via-loops concept of the Greco-Roman sandal. But with modern sole profiles that are sexy.

I'm already thinking about using my bias tape maker to make fabric ribbons to match the dresses I'm about to sew.....or using satin cord and large beads... or deerskin strips....oh, my. These could keep me busy for a very long time. I could have the absolute perfect sandal to go with every outfit I own!

These are paradigm-shifters, these little numbers. None of the toxic waste involved in shoe production, ultimate reuse scenarios, long-wearing hardwood, AND endless fashion possibilities!!! What more could a modern girl want?

Smile and Say Thank You

2010-05-23T22:09:00.000-04:00

Wow. Dear Readers, you are a special bunch. I've had so many nice surprises this week, all I can do is smile and say thank you.

First, my pal D. gave me a dishy 1950's-60's white top that once belonged to her beloved Grandma. I wanted to take a picture of myself in it...but I have to lose a few pounds before I do that! ;-)

I'm having my first meetup with a reader I've only conversed with on FaceBook! C. and I are meeting to have coffee on Tuesday; she loves shoes as much as I do!

Then, out of the blue, K. sent me her Auntie's beautiful black coat AND an offer of copies of some of her vintage patterns. How sweet!

I wasn't even sure anyone was reading my posts! I am one lucky girl.

The 111 Navy Chair by EMECO and....Coca Cola?

2010-05-20T10:49:00.000-04:00

Yep, Emeco and Coke have worked together to take 111 recycled plastic Coke bottles and turn them into the classic "Navy" chair, the popular 1940's design that you can find in steel or aluminum for beaucoup bucks at antique stores. (Or brand-new from Emeco.)

That's right; out of plastic. And they're beautiful.

I read about this first at notcot.org, but you can also read about it at Emeco's site. They took their aluminum chair and made it out of trash, and made it beautiful. One of the reasons Coke approached Emeco with this idea was that they wanted to encourage more people to recycle their bottles. In other parts of the world, 80% of soda bottles are recycled; in the US, we recycle only 20%.

Wouldn't you rather have a nice chair to sit in, than 111 bottles in the ditch near your house?

I thought so, too.