New Vintage Wardrobe # 7: Mrs. Peacock's Minidress

This dress looks suspiciously like a long shirt. After 4 fittings and sets of alterations.. I am looking to tie one on..

Why else would Mrs. Peacock be in the dining room? With A rope?

Mc Calls 8865. A line mini dress .. Space Age Mandarin funnel collar..Amy Butler fabric. Belle : Royal Garden in Turquiose... and dark chambray.




Who Me? I'm Innocent, I tell you. Sure, I used fabrics that were far too light to honor the original design... But look: It's mod and Asian-ish and wearable. In fact, it just went to the market for plum sauce.




I've been framed! but dig this crazy collar! And my Grandma's brooch.. She wouldn't have worn this serious of an A line. My Grandma was more of a sheath (and dagger) girl.




What I love about this garment is the lines down the sides.. But the fit and the drape have had me searching for solutions. This was the first project where I wondered if I was committing a crime of fashion. There were plenty of moments when this just wasn't cute. At All.
But I knew the fabric was worth the effort so I slashed and hacked and.. Voila. Something suitable for dinner and a perhaps a little (foul) play.




It was a close call though. When you play the Vintage pattern game... you roll your dice and you take your chances.

New Vintage Wardrobe Project # 6: Wee Party Dress

Okay, Everybody! Hop into your way back machine and the Vintage Me will model my latest creation for you...



Simplicity 2160: The starched cotton Party Dress!

(Okay really this was the birthday frock for my sweet little niece Violet on her 3rd Birthday!)
(What do you think? Does she look like Alice in Wonderland? Or Dorothy? Or little me?)




This was a very good learning experience for me. I learned little dresses are just as challenging as big dresses. I learned that machine gathering is vastly more fool proof than hand stitched gathering (skirt installed twice) and a piece of the pattern was missing so I learned to use other pieces, and my imagination to recreate it.






The fabric was purchased from a local shop who also sells on Etsy as Starlit Nest.. She has this in stock still and will sell it to you if you ask. It is like a confection and all the wee bugs keep it from being too sweet.

Violet named all the ants and bugs after members of the family.




The little eyelet apron was a fast addition. I was short on materials and time to do the whole overdress.. But thanks goodness the pattern had one or the bodice piece recreation would have been a million times harder.


Finishing the insides properly is my great joy... so I am sharing that with you. Double fold Bias tape over all the gathers, ( not pictured is the 3 different seam treatments: Flat felled under the arms , hand stitched- turned on the skirt and pinked at the shoulders ( to make it comfy)..


I love sweet little buttons all in a row..
and I just love these dresses on little girls. Yummy.

All My Friends are Beautiful And Talented

Guess how I got my first blog crush? Michelle told me to check out Futuregirl's blog. And guess what she had posted?
This amazing, heartwrenchingly cute/cool Octopus.

And as of Last Night... she is selling the pattern.

Order the pattern.
Do it now.
You know you want to......

Hurry over to Futuregirl's site.

You simply must make one of these. ( I made the green one.) It is So Fun!!!
Your life will be so incomplete until you have these tentacles to hold.

Art and Fashion In the Big City

1. We Are the Art, 2. Pouting with the Graffiti, 3. Haight Street Hipster, 4. Big Scary Leaf, 5. Gratutious Tea Garden Shot, 6. Cup of Coffee As Big As My Face, 7. "This is My Favorite.", 8. tea cooling, 9. Japanese Tea garden, 10. Canvas Gallery Upshot, 11. "This a cool painting. I want to paint like this.", 12. dwarfed by art, 13. View from the tower

Got to go to San Francisco for a bit of Cultural enlightenment over spring break with my charming and goofy fashion photographer and son, Jacob.

We went to the Golden Gate park and surrounding neighborhoods for a glorious day of art and food and lovely gardens.
We saw the Vivienne Westwood exhibit at the DeYoung Museum and then spent time in its permanent collection galleries. I had not been to the new DeYoung and although I tend to be Nostalgic for the old I thoroughly enjoyed their new space. Perhaps it was my charming company. This was the first trip to a museum with Jacob where we moved at a similar pace. There was an exception with the Fashion exhibit, where I could have taken up all day residence, but that is my personal hang up and no reflection on his ability to appreciate it for what it is. He actually came home inspired by it to do some action figure fashion designing of his own… based on her earlier collaborations with the punk and new wave godfather Malcolm McLauren.

If you like the idea of Fashion as Theatre and grew up in the 70’s and 80’s I really recommend the exhibit.. I loved the evolution of her designs and the obvious gain of tailoring skills and the way she was referential and irreverent throughout her career. I want to get the book. I stopped myself but I am still thinking about it.

After a few hours at the museum, where Jake showed a sophisticated appreciation for the more modern pieces, we went to the Canvas Gallery on 9th for chocolate cake and caffeine. We giggled, spilled and took pictures and then headed into the Strybing Arboreum to check out the plants and re-inact a few scenes from Monty Python and The Holy Grail. We galloped on over to the Japanese Tea Garden and enjoyed the beauty but agreed it was way too crowded to get your zen on.

Then off to Haight Street for a fast shop at Kid Robot ( Purchased a gorillaz action figure for Jakes collection) and a few vintage clothing stores where we bought.. Nothing.

Why Nothing?

Because I am a proud member of the Wardrobe Refahionistas, as of this month. I took the 4 month pledge. And no one had the cheap used crinoline I was longing for.


THE PLEDGE
I, Bitter Betty, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 4 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoated, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftyness brings! Signed Bitter Betty

The girl With The most Cake

Well, You can't even believe how lucky I am these days. On top of all the lovely comments and new and exciting folks who I am finding via New Vintage, I have all these wonderful talented blog friends that I have liked to go and visit since I started blogging.. and sometimes these kind and generous souls are just Giving Away the beautiful stuff that they make.

Talk about good timing?
I was Kristin of Kleas' 1000th comment and so she sent me the most charming pincushion which will inspire me to make many more New Vintage Items. I love her pincushions: the color combos, the plumpness, the perfect tiny stiches on the blossoms. Just Look at the Cuteness!!



i wish i was tiny... it would be my tuffet.


Then Stephanie of Ruby Crowned Kinglet t said she drew my name from her blog birthday list? Wha? Hello? I must have been I very good girl in my previous life! ( Obviously, it can't have been based on anything I have been up to in this one, I assure you.)

You can buy a spring wristlet for yourself, i mean, if you are feeling envious ( if I wasn't me, probably I would be feeling a little envious.. not to gloat.. much).. at Steph's shop

She also sent candy ( I love candy...) and the vintage pattern that made me swoon.



The outfit will have to have its own cocktail party. I am going to have to have a sweeping staircase added to my single story house so I can make a proper entrance.. You know... Like Auntie Mame.


Thanks ladies, for making me lucky.

La-de-da.. Mod-de-dah..

Here we go folks. Simplicity 7679. Check out the eyeliner on these chicas! Yowza!

It coulda been a mini.. but the vintage tablecloth (thrifted up about a month ago and soaked ever so long in Oxy-clean to get it wearable) didn't want to be cut short. And my legs aren't as adorable as I remember them being so the cute material is doing us all a big favor!




The pattern has this a really boxy cut so we had to "mod"-ify it ( did you gag a little on that pun? sorry.) with big major- inch deep in the middle- back darts and take in what would be long straight seams on the sides too.. ( I had a sewing buddy.. I was standing on a chair in the Green Kitchen, if you know what I mean. ( BTW: a good sewing buddy beats the heck out of any other sewing notion you can get your mits on. If you are going to try this at home... Get one if you can!)




Okay, Back to the dress:
Yeeesss.. Our alteration does mess with the lines, and essentially changes the design, but "as is" this pattern would probably only look really good on a broad shouldered size 2... or a hanger.




Now I have a little something extra because I am truly shameless and will do pretty much anything to entertain anyone who will come look at this little ol' blog o' mine.

And if that isn't enough!

We have a few new players... Check out:

Practically Neccessary and
Dandelion Vintage, Sewin' it up!

Go On, Ladies.. you are way too groovy!

The Red Thrift Store Series

Here are some red hot thrift store goodies.

Sweet dollies. Got these last week for 3.50 for the pair.
They are a romping in a felted mohair meadow with a thrifted book in the background.




This is an official boy scout jacket. It is so red they will be able to find me if if I go into the woods without my compass.
Must have been an eagle scout because it fits me. And I am quite fond of it.






These shoes are straight up dangerous. I almost passed them up because they are a tad impractical. But they fit... and you never know when you will need shoes like these. Better just to keep them on hand, in case of emergencies.




Besides they have the "Good Housekeeping Seal Of Approval".




Here are the delightful goodies sent to me by the lovelyAmanda Button . Peep soap bubbles in fruity flavors. A lovely fairy nest and a cd that was put on the stereo and homemade soap.. Yipee..



Go Visit and send the dear girl some positive mojo! She is a bright spot in the universe!

Fashion Utility Obi Apron

Fashion Utility Obi Apron from a 70's pattern.. Included stirrup leg warmer in the pattern. Didn't make those.

We have to call this one New Vintage Wardrobe Project 4.5 because really it isn't that old (70's) and it was pretty easy to do too..







I have a much fancier item to post next week and this is the "filler" before the "killer".
The pattern will be used to make a few other corset-y belts, I think, but probably not the lighter holder or the many stash pouches. Bad habits as fashion accessories! Ooh La La!



Call me old fashioned, but if I can't be bothered to dig a lighter out of my purse maybe it is time to cut back on the cigs. Alright I don't really smoke unless someone sets me on fire.. but still....

For other great modern day utility aprons .. you simply must go visit that Super Eggplant and the darling of the internet, sweet Kristin at kleas..
Superior apronage, for certain.

And now on to glamourous and gratuitous Non Denominational Springtime decor:


The white rabbit my mom made me from the Mc Call's pattern when I was a kid.

The manniquins with flowers and nests. (The center manniquin is wearing a beautiful baby dress from Besty Partridge.. A friend of my family and a great children's author.)

The wooden peg-ish dolls and butterfly doll I have been working on.




My childhood bunny cart.. made for me when I was 3.

Happy Easter Weekend everyone! Save some peeps for me!

Livin' The Dream

Okay.. so Yesterday I had a perfect day.
I met with a lady about a custom necklace ( pretty lovely way to start the day)..
Then I treated myself to a GorillaPod on my way to have a full throttle Jam Packed Adventure with the dazzling and wickedly funny Sonya of Knit Sonya and her son, Cyrus.

We met at Tail of the Yak.


I induged in Embroidered Ribbon and Japanese Fruit Beetle Shells.. What I really wanted was the stuffed Emu. While we were there we actually met Anandamayi Arnold, the lady who makes the crepe paper "surprise" gifts that you might see in the current issue of Mary Englebreit magazine this month.

Next, we went Ici ... It is just around the corner. The shop is a visual as well as a gastronomical feast.



I got a caramel and chocolate cone, Sonya got a honey lavander and our wee companion enjoyed straight up chocolate in the dish.. the ice cream was Great But The Cones Were Perfect. When Sonya asked if we could take pictures the owner said"Please just write nice things on your Blog.."

Oh jeez... are we that obvious?



But really she was so very nice, and so were the treats.
It was not a big surprise when we saw Anandamayi there as well.

Into the car and off to Stone Mountain Fabric Stone Mountain Fabric store which blew my mind in all the right ways. I loved it! I was controlling myself this time and bought stuff for a project that I have coming up...




But next time i will bring a big list and all my allowance because I fell in love about 30 times in there.

The last stop before I had to tear off for home and my darling boy was The Center for Creative Reuse. Hello? Score!


I love Berkeland..( It is in the block where one city becomes the other I think.) What could be better? Crazy bins of stuff to sift through and then Gems... absolute GEMS!!!!







And who should we run into but Anandamayi! She said, "Did you go to Poppy Fabric?" "No, Stone Mountain.." Apparently she usually goes to Stone Mountain.. But Poppy was having a big sale. ( Wha?)
Okay? that was pretty funny. I guess the creative shopping circuit was successfully completed.

Thanks Sonya! Great Day.. But now back to reality!!!


And btw: the egg class was good and kinda crazy... and mostly really fun. Very Small group which worked out perfectly.
I will be posting pictures of that tomorrow with the "Non Denominational Spring Egg and Rabbit Decor" shots from our culturally mixed cabin in the redwoods.. ( My Dear Boy Jake says he is "half Jewish- half vegetarian...")

Yup, a B'lated Happy Passover to ya! (No, Not a Fan of the Gefilte Fish. I 'm definitely more of the chocolate bunny type..)