Oh My Gosh....

Life is moving so fast this week.

My husband's 40th birthday (with big dinner party, 20 plus) ..
Jacob's second to last week of regular school before a science camp..
The yard and garden taking off..
a craft fair coming up..

I have so much to blog about and I am going to do it I swear!
But it might have to be tomorrow.

eek.

New Vintage Wardrobe Project #10 : PJ Party Of One

Ooops you caught me. Late in the morning and still in my PJ's.
But it's Okay! They are New Vintage Fashion, darlings!
Simplicity 4184 pajamas and housecoat.. circa late 1950's.



PJ's made from a vintage sheet and housecoat from a vintage chenille bedspread. That's right... Bed clothes from bedclothes.
So sweet and perky that I wake up every morning with a necklace on and a dewy gardenia in my beehive.



This little ensemble was a bit challenging as the sheet was just barely big enough and chenille is a real adventure in cutting. The sewing of it was mostly just peachy but a couple of times my machine sort of swore at me, just a little. You know, it made a sound like when you mess up on a game show, only more threatening.



This was my first plaid matching and it was just as tricky as all the books said it would be. That is why I tried it on something to wear around the house first.



Don't you just love the idea of a housecoat? So cute and feminine. Cuts the chill without all the mass of a big robe.



I am going to express my joy through interpretive dance.



Holy Mother of Pearl.. That was ridiculous!

Thrift Tuesday

tablecloth with houses 1.00 (skirts?)
health primer 3.00 ( cute... worth it!)
reading book .50 ( the cover alone...)
wee lidded basket and leather case 1.00 ( future bunnychildren accessories)
jungle neckerchief .25 ( you can't see the animals on there. They're cute.)
stacking jars (sans goodies inside) 1.00 and 1.50 ( still working on the craftcave's organization)
a couple lbs of beeswax 4.50 (smells good, encaustic artworks or candles... or both!)

Now back to the housework!

What I did Last Weekend

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Maker Faire 2007 Bitter Betty style.

I was in Craft Geek Heaven.

photo realism

(exerpt from the Nurses Guide to Beauty Charm and Poise: on loan from Becktress)


Ever since I have been blogging there have been " conversations" about real life versus blog life portrayals and the apparently magical lives of our favorite craft-stars.

Last week (I think it was last week) everybody's darlin', Alicia P from Posie Gets Cosy wrote about the difficulty in 'Having her Picture Taken'. Yesterday my best craft pal Michelle called me and was lamenting the same crisis. Both look great in their pictures, as far as I concerned... But they were both....concerned.
Angelina, (easily my favorite "cut the crap" blog personality) is famous for posting "truth in advertising" pics of her home/ studio has also posted some great pictures of her beautiful self and some salty self depicating humor on the side!

And here i am, slathered all over my blog...me me me. What a dork.

Recently I was asked: "aren't you ever embarrassed?"

It is true, that Michelle refers to my posing and prancing as shameless (with a gleam of pride in her eyes..)
and I never thought I would be my own pretend fashion model when I was nearing 40. In fact, I really started sewing these vintage patterns because I was not liking my aging body ( especially in photographs) and I thought some less skimpy clothes could be just the ticket.
I loved the look of the vintage patterns, always bought vintage clothes when I could find them and the new fabrics were so bold and pretty and I wanted to share what I hoped was something that other crafters might get a kick out of. Since I really hadn't much serious sewing experience at all, I figured it might be a real adventure. Ideally, getting other like minded seamstresses to go along for the ride, so we could share our tips and tricks while we built fantabulous wardrobes.



Inspired by the sewing and wardrobing books I was finding in "thriftland" and how they really expected another level of sewing skill for the average woman of the mid-century, it made me believe that the skills were totally possible to acquire.

After I finished my first project, it became clear that the best thing about the garments were, they were made to look "right" on me. They really looked lackluster on a hanger... and didn't fit my dress form (my reliable stand-in is not my size, sadly.).The main thing I was learning , and the thing I thought was important for any other "new seamstresses" was the fitting.

Reality began to set in.

Oh My God. I have to have my picture taken... from many angles.

For many women this is a bigger challenge than they usually admit, even to themselves. I know very few over the age of 15 who go looking to get a snapshot taken. I have never really thought of myself as great looking or even really cute. I didn't date much in high school and boys literally made fun of my looks. ( And, No Mom, it wasn't because they were intimidated. They thought I was funny looking.) So, I was not really jumping up and down to loose my blog-o-nimity.


But I believed in the project.

The one thing that kept me on track was actually my old theater training.I had always been cast as a character actor, never the ingenue, so I got into character. I kept in mind I needed to "sell it" and if I was embarrassed, you all would be embarrassed for me... and well, that isn't "fun reading" is it? So I basically "decided" to not be embarrassed.

Thank God everyone was So Nice. It is amazing I am not a conceited egomaniac at this point. But I do try to never buy my own hype.



In the interest of not making anything look to easy, you should know:
I have Jacob take zillions of pictures... usually at least 20 or 30 per outfit. I only post the most flattering. I am only human.
Also:
I studied old "poise" books about "how to stand".
I act goofy because deep inside, I really am, and the serious pictures are Horrid.
Daylight eliminates wrinkles (from a photo perspective).
Action shots are usually cuter and make your thighs look smaller.
Skirts are also good for that too.
Always try to look up ( it removes chicken neck and undereye circles as well as makes your eyes look bigger and brighter.)
Always stand with one foot in front and the weight on the back foot. Verrry Slimming.
Weird angles help too. ( But not always..)

I also have dieted and exercised a bit since this started, thinking of that line from Fight Club where Ed Norton is voicing over:
" Fight Club became the reason to cut your hair or clip your nails short."
whilst I applied Crest White Strips or hair dye.

"What Would Tyler Durden Do?"

My New Vintage muses: Mary Tyler Moore, Audrey Hepburn, Tyler Durden and Auntie Mame

But You Know, I love this project. Not because of my photo sessions, with which, I have had some serious fun, but because
I Love Sewing.

Sewing is a series of "Tah-Dah" moments. Every time you finish a sleeve and turn it right side out, get the collar straight, finish the seams. There is for me a tremendous pleasure in constructing something complex and detailed from a plan and flat yardage. I am so excited every time I finish something, be it a whole garment or installing a zipper. Pressing in those seams, I am fulfilled.

So if I ham it up, posing my life away, just know it is just chutzpah smoke and mirrors.
Real life is just fine too.
But you can find that anywhere.

And there will be a new New Vintage Project ready to go Tuesday.

I was busy cleaning out the craft cave, see?



(sorry for the appearing/disappearing in bloglines kids... blogger is tweaking me out today.)

It's All Fair...

Here is a mosaic of my happy Handmade Parade love.

I got the house needle book from carolyn of laughingduck
And the wee Bear is from missy ballance ( The creature lovin the bear is from Ardent Curse. I got him awhile back. Love him too.
And the pattern lady cards from claire of little lovelies

It was a great day and I am glad I am going to get to see some of my new friends again when I go to the the Maker Faire this weekend.

Click To Play

I really can't recommend this fair enough. My son wants us to get there before it opens so we can be first in line "to do everything", and we aren't to leave until they kick us out.. Last year he said this Faire is better than Disneyland. Check Out Bre Pettis on this video. I met him taping my upcoming Egg Art Episode of CraftLab CraftLab with Austin Craft Mafia's Jennifer Perkins, last fall. (Bre is techno super crafty . Boy craft. Lovin' that.)



I was in the Bazaar Bizarre Crafts show at the Maker Faire last year, but I was sooo busy sewing up New Vintage clothes this year I let that application deadline sneak by me.

I was so sad ( It was my favorite event of the Whole Year last year) until I realized that I will be able to run around the whole Faire unfettered this time.. Ya- Hooooooo!!! There are all these craft and hack workshops and demos and creative wildness everywhere... and last year I was relatively "booth bound". Not This Year. I am going to try everything!


I am also getting ready for next month, when the fair's Just Keeep Coming!!!!

I am going to be participating in C is 4Craft here in Beeeeauuutiful Santa Cruz. Ya'll should come down for the weekend. Craft Faire, Boardwalk. You'd just love it. I am very much looking forward to their list of participants and will share when I get it.


Meanwhile.. Hey, will I see you at the Maker Faire?

New Vintage Wardrobe Project #9 : Reversible Wrap Skirt

For this project I used some of my great vintage fabric stash and made something different and yet the same as this Disco Era wrap skirt: Simplicity Pattern 7876.




This was a great project and fast too! Because it's reversible, there is no hand hemming. Just flip it inside out and attach the waist band.. deliciously easy.




I love the high waist and long lines of this skirt. I feel very tall when I am wearing it. It was inspired by an Audrey Hepburn skirt from a back stage photo shoot about the time Sabrina came out. I am so pleased I was able to get the right geometery by just adding 5 inches to the bottom. The weight of the doubled up fabric makes it feel more 50's than 70's as well. I need to get my crinoline situation handled. It would be exciting to see this over a light one!



Even my cat likes it.

I wrote a tutorial about how to draft this pattern from scratch ... And how to sew together this skirt. It will be posted in every step, with photos, as a feature fo rSew, Mama, Sew's skirt month. Hooray!! I will let you all know when it is up and running.


There is even a bit on how to adjust it for a more "modern" fit.. But why would you want to?

Swamped.

Well. Full Disclosure picture of The Craft Cave. Yipes. It really looks this dangerous. There have been people lost in here in avalanches and it took dogs and professionals to get them out. This needs to change and I am feeling powerless in the face of the whole 24 hours in a day thing. Who came up with that anyway? 27 and I just might be able to get organized.

I always have been quite the busy slacker!

All the other ladies from the HandMade Parade are so busy blogging and linking and all that lovely stuff but I came home to some submission deadlines and a tutorial to do and a New Vintage Wardrobe project that looked like it just might not happen... I was/ am always really late with thank you notes too.... Really, not Trying to be rude... just "socially unkempt" for certain!

But here is a quick link list for your perusal!

Thank you to all the ladies I sold to, bought from, or traded with:

Jenn of rosebud designs and indie galore
claire of little lovelies
sarah of p dot
melissa of peptogirl
vallen of queenlythings
carolyn of laughingduck
missy ballance

Full disclosure On Monday.. with Photos.....

And Get ready for May 14th...

National Wear Your Apron Out Day.

I am SO doing it.

And someday soon I hope to have an " After" shot of The Craft Cave.
(Oh please, let it happen someday!)

New Vintage Wardrobe # 8 and 8.5: The Shameless Commerce Divison

Hey Ya'll! Well, I am so sorry I have been Persona-Non-Blogga lately.. I have been busy sewing like a madwoman to get ready for this weekend and my little march in the HandMade Parade . I can't seem to blog and craft simultaniously when it gets this intense. So bear with me! I will post gobs more soon.

But if you live with in a 4 hour drive of Sacramento... You should totally come visit all the crafty ladies there.
Get the details on their blog!

I did decide I had to make some New Vintage for sale:


I made a couple of "Thoroughly Modern Muu Muus" to wear around when it is too hot for clothing. They are good as jumpers in the fall as well. Just layer them!




I modified the jumper pattern with a sash in the back to help with fitting the masses. I will be taking orders at the show for these and hopefully I will sell the two I made. But just in case, I happened to make them in Medium... Just my size. I also made them sooo short because I like this style over my shorts/ capris/ jeans! ( The one below is my favorite....)





I also made a couple of 'toddler tunix'.. really for the pre-toddling set.. they need bloomers, but alas, I am out of time!




I made a few aprons for the Mother's day shoppers:




I will be selling the Utility Obis ( another New Vintage Creation) as well as my Modern Geisha Obi's from the Etsy stuff.. Hanky Tanks and other goodies.




I am even doing some of my latest craft: Nite Nite Owls. Felted sweater owls with needle felt embellishments (took "Knit Sonya" class and was hooked)and scented with lavander for sweet dreams.
You should go to Knit Sonyas new site.. It is very very cool! ( I am suffering for site envy for certain.)



All right.. this isn't the super juiciest New Vintage post and for that I apologise. I will try Like a Demon to make up for it in the next couple of weeks ... But in the mean time I do recommend the new Blueprint and their article on Mod Dresses. We will ignore the fact that the model is depressingly skinny and looks tres bored.. and focus on the fact that with ready made prices like these... Every Fabric Purchase I make Is Justifiable. (But somebody needs to make that poor thing a cookie.. really.)


(ooh.. sorry for the wierd disappearing photo posts Blogliners.. I am no tech genius and I did something goofy.. sorry.)