For My Mom

Happy Mother's Day.

Where I'm From.

I am from the hand-me-down, green bell bottoms, Sears catalog school shopping and shelves lined with children's books.

I am from the house in the woods , rough hewn, modern, full of windows.

I am from the homegrown tomato, shooting star, granite boulder, the sugar pine tree, monkey flower, lake.

I am from get your hands dirty, creative and not quite graceful, from Anna and Gary and Ruth.

I am from the well read and curious.

From the santa claus, easter bunny, tooth fairy, wizard of oz and from being clever, exceptional, funny and hard to live with.

I am from the understanding that god is everywhere, in everything and everyone. Including you and me and that rock and your cat. From it's your job to be good, and take care of the world you live in. pick up trash and recycle.

I'm from Los Angeles, Ohio, brownies and blackberry jam.

From the Christmas presents that disappear if you look at them too soon and my sister covering her eyes all through breakfast, from the year my other sister spent in Sweden and the long distance call that made her feel even further away: talk- delay -talk -delay.

I am from being on my own at 17 . From a real dad who wasn't really real at all, and a step dad who made up for everything.

I am from the library of congress, blue ribbon quilts, newspaper clippings of theater productions, handmade rag dolls, campfire songs, faded Polaroid pictures, crocheted baby clothes, homemade outfits and pyrex pie plates. These things that are priceless and worth nothing without the history they represent. our history.


This poem was made using this template.

I am using it to say to my mom, I am proud of where I'm from.
I love you, Mom.

Guess What

I'm in a book...

No... not just my nose in there...

My actual name, attached to my actual craft.

with lots of other Really Cool People.

Feel free to ask for my autograph...
Really, I practically AM somebody now.
(At least I'm closer than I was before!)

Tutorial Tuesday: Sally Stitch Does Measurements and Pattern Alteration

Another handy chapter from our good friend Sally-
Fix your pattern before you cut your fabric.

( don't forget: click on each image to enlarge for legibility.)

Sorry about "no robots"... My computer is acting up lately. I have had a rough time with uploading to Flickr too. Computer maintenance is in my near future. Oh, Joy.

On the bright side my smock pattern and video are up on Sew Mama Sew!

The written instructions will be up really soon and I would love to see ya'll "Smocking Out"..
The project has excellent stash busting possibilities!

Maker Faire: Fashion 2

Oh, I can't believe I forgot 2 of my favorites... Original and handmade.

The wet felt maker. I love the dress, the garters, the hair... and she was about as nice as a person could be. She said she thought maybe there was 4 lbs of roving in her dress.
That's cool. Or warm.. or what ever.

... if they got their hat at Target... I will eat one of mine.

There was tons of Steampunk stuff too... all will be on Flickr someday soon.

Maker Faire: Fashion

Hey gang! Was at the Maker Faire Yesterday. Man, I love the Maker Faire. There really isn't anything more crowded, more controlled chaotic, more over stimulating (in a good way) than a day spent with 12,000 creative and curious people and the inventions that some of them have made.

Here are some prime examples of Maker Faire Fashion:

You know it is all good when a girl can coordinate her top, her handbag and her beverage, thereby employing my current favorite styling technique.

Best friend share hair dye.
80's.. it still looks cute on young people.
Not on me.

well coordinated neutrals... cool indy t.
(edit: oops! apparently Target t.. but cute and well matched.)

sparkly member of the bike dancing team.
She does bike tricks in a sequin mini.
Props, people. Give her props.

I like a couple that is coordinated without being matchy-matchy.
These guys have their own indy clothes company...
Bunnywarez.
I am considering a kitty hat. But am not sure where I'd wear it,
as the club scene is over for me,
unless you are talking Garden Club or Lawn Bowling Club.

arm warmers and a tank... over-alls and cute hair. I liked it. I like it.

and this guy? he is my new modeling super hero.

People watching supreme... and there were robots.
But more on that tomorrow.

New Vintage # 18: Don't Drink and Dress

1967 Simplicity 7382...
It's a Wardrobe Malfunction looking for a place to happen.

Actually finished over the winter, I just hung it in the closet.
Green and deep winter pasty just don't mix.


Sure, it looks like a party dress...

But this bad boy gaps like nobody's business.
Wear your good bra and most conservative undies...
That's all I'm saying.

and stay sober and alert or you'll be giving away the farm.

I do believe a few of those clear snaps,
strategically placed, might make this workable...
Or it will be a fairly cute bathing suit cover-up.
But straight off the pattern?
Yipes!

And Hey Erin... It does have pockets.
Or maybe I should say half pockets.
These are more shallow than my aspirations of super modeling.

But nothing says 'Betty' like cute contrasting facings and bias tape edging.
Messy on the outside,
but oh-so-tidy on the inside.

Our Next New Vintage Adventure will be:
The Anniversary Dress..
But I wonder if the Hub would prefer this one?

Thrift Thursday: The Frame Game

Well, I am beginning to see how it works with me.
If One Is Good, Then 3 Must Be Better.

frame tack board covered with upholstery fabric
and filled with acetate pages from a anatomy book in bulldog clips

Can't pass up a nice frame anymore. I fill them with pinboards, so I can have a great casually ever-changing art display. Frames without glass come cheap, Homosote board (noise dampening fiber board) bigger than your car is 10.00 and batting and fabric tend to be spilling out of the craft cave.

board covered with vintage pillowcase, usually filled with the pattern I am sewing up.

It takes about 25 minutes and a box knife, straight edge and a staple gun to make these.

You've seen this... but I did thrift up some new brooches since it's last appearance.
(Oooh.. these are a bit blurry. soorrry.)

Grab those frames! Make yourself a gallery of delights. Just buy every little print you see on etsy and change them out weekly.

I'd get

This One,

This One,

and This One ...

Just for starters.



And A Huge Hurray and Thanks to GeekCraft who featured the robot doll I made for my nephew, way back when, and to Craftzine who picked it up...
super-groovy. I'm all a twitter!

Oh- PS:
Hey... Anybody else going to the Maker Faire this Weekend?
I never miss it. My kid would kill me.
Email me if you wanna meet up.
I'm going Saturday for sure and we'll see what Sunday brings.

WIP Wednesday: OMG

Today:

Photo shoot for New Vintage for Fashion Friday..
Video Shoot for Sew Mama Sew Vintage smock sew along...
Doing mad exercise to try and get my spandex license reinstated...
Finishing two cute Amy Butler patterns for the Amy Butler trunk show on May 9th and 10th at Luminous Threads...
Excavating the 'fridgerator to get ready for the next box of veg from my CSA...
Speed cleaning (if you do it fast it also counts as exercise. Finally,two of my least favorite activities in one package, Hurray!)
Signing the kid up for guitar lessons And comic drawing lessons to go with his robotics and film special effects and animation classes for the summer...
trying to limit my sugar... (If I am working this hard I am going to need sugar, I think.)


Yes... I don't have time to take pictures for this post, so here:



That sums it up nicely.

I will be doing a birdie girl and lace crown tutorial sometime fairly soon. But I have to get this to do list whittled down first..

stay tuned.

Tutorial Tuesday: Tea Cart Yourself Over Here

This couple is Red Hot in their casual LeisureWear.
Is that a romper she's wearing?
Fashion Genius, the romper.
Not very flattering and impossible to pee.
I'll probably make one, one day.
Just 'cause.

This is another fun project from
Mechanix Illustrated How To Encyclopedia, 1961.

( just click on the photos to enlarge to legible!)

But seriously, this cart would be so cool if I had a little craft studio. So handy.
I'd paint it a glossy sky blue and
put all my cream colored thrifted planters
on there with craft supplies in them.
I just love stuff on casters, don't you?
Makes your whole house a little more like an amusement park.

Speaking of 'Like an Amusement Park'...
My mail box over flowed last week with lovely surprises.



I got a music swap package from charming Caitlin.
She spoiled me with great music,
and also a sweet little hankie,
and some cool cards wrapped in tons of everyone's favorite twine.
I put one in the mail back on Monday... sorry for the delay, partner!




And from my friend Lindy: Another vintage Sewing Manual!!!
Singer! 192? Super Cute! and she also made me a great card.
Lindy spoils me and helps me spread sewing Joy across the universe. She is the one who found Sally Stitch for us all.

If ya'll want another look at my loot... I will be posting more pics on Flicker in a bit here.

New Vintage # 17: The Sporty Shirt Knit-Wit

Got This One at the flea market last summer. So stinkin' cute!!

Simplicity 1227. What do you think 1956-7?
That's my guess.

And I actually made it last year in the fall. I used a ribbed knit jersey-ish stuff. I decided that I needed to embellish it with some cool big black rick rack.

"Excuse Me ma'am, Fashion Police. I am sorry but it seems like we have a problem. Apparently you have added a point of visual interest on your garment that corresponds directly with a Figure Flaw. And I am sorry ma'am but it seems like your Spandex License has expired."



"But Officer! I made this shirt myself! The pattern was so cute... and the stretch pants are only for the photo shoot.. I swear! It's like a vintage thing."



"I'm sorry Ma'am, you'll have to come with us. We have no choice but to book you on one count of "If you wore it the last time it was in style: Don't Do It Again" and 2nd Degree Belly Embellishment."

The pattern was pretty easy. That made up for the challenge of sewing my first knit on a standard sewing machine. That was okay too. Do-able. Just use the right needle and never stretch the fabric . Be prepare to hand roll the hems. Here is where I really wanted a serger. the fabric is thick so it seems bulky. I used a zig zag overlock stitch on the raw inside edges and so far it hasn't frayed. But in all honesty, I don't wear this all that often. I guess I just hate getting stopped by the Fashion Police.

I think I will try the pattern again sometime with a less challenging fabric... Because I am just dying to look like those sassy girls on the cover. I bet the fashion police give them a merit badge.