Tutorial Tuesday: Standing... No, Really.. you might be blowing it.

Well, It isn't just standing, it is the all important Hand on Hip stance, specifically.

Brought to you from The Nurse's Guide to Charm..
The same wild bunch who brought you "How to Remove Your Coat"...

click on them... make them bigger
this is info you need to read.

Picture me standing over my computer in "the thinker's position"
trrryyying to wrap my brain around all this juicy new info..
I mean screw the dieting and excercise!
Strategic hand placement Is The Way.

and don't even get me started on "Expressing Pertness"
where I'm from, we call that "Sass".
And you know what Sass will get you!?!
Friends like me, that's what.

I now must mosey off into Tutorial Tuesday's Sunset,
in the perfect, practiced and learned "cowboy hand postion"..
Adios, Amigos
and happy trails.

( so much fun, I hardly miss Sally at all...)

New Vintage Wardrobe: The Anniversary Dress

Simplicity 4257: The Anniversary dress.
The dress that took me out in San Francisco in style with my man.
( Love Ya, Chuck! Lucky 13, Baby!)

This simple dress gave me fits. It was the perfect size, so that wasn't it. I sewed it up all twisted at one point. Had to take it all apart. Why? because I was really excited. This was a dressier dress than I have tried before. And I wanted there to be all sorts of fancy details. Well, I tried to add on that removeabale collar at 3 or 4 points... but at the last second I cut it off becase it just looked much better without it. So I had to make do with what it did have:

I did make the belt with a thrifted vintage bet kit and I added covered buttons on the sleeves. The fabric was vintage and thrifted, as were the trims. I even did a nice couture finished touch and made thread covered hooks and eyes,* and made those knotted thread belt loops*...
I learned how in a vintage sewing manual and it did make me feel like a really truly seamstress, after all.

( *look for that a week from Tuesday in tutorial form!)

Bitter Betty Industries would like to thank our sponsors and supporters:
especially
Little Lovelies for the pattern donation, and
Becktress for the superior shoe shopping services.
Thanks, Ladies.

* with Vinyl Brought to you by Thrift Thursday!

Sally Stitch: The Final Post

click on the images to enlarge to legible...

Oh Sally, and Dear Mrs. Home Maker...
What will Tuesday be like without you?

("The name of my dressmaker? Why, Yes! It's Me!")

(Saying nothing of the brilliant and handsome Mr. Home Maker...
or 'Homie' as I like to call him.)

Now, go sew something.
Make Sally Proud.

Thrift Thursday on Friday (with commentary on my lateness)

Sorry I have been slacking off on the posts lately.
I have been working on some new stuff for another book
and making those Vintage Smock Videos.
The last videos are going up on Sew Mama Sew on Monday and I have to say I am kind of relieved. Obviously, I am a huge ham but when you have to edit your own video that you shot of yourself, it gets a little all "too much me-for too long a time-in my own face". I was blissfully in denial that my eyes wrinkled up so much or that my diction is not as up to snuff as I would like.
Anyway that's why I have no new photos of my Anniversary Dress up yet,
but I will try and bribe you to keep reading with this:

Here's two weeks worth of thrift store loot!
I was trying to drop donations off every time I picked up anything but at this point I need to do a couple of make up drop offs as we have been lackadaisical about continuing to edit our stuff. And I have always been able to squeeze in some quality thrift time.

Don't you love the colors?

A gang of middle school students killed my last hand mixer on a rainy day cookie making bender. I loved the color of this one and these crazy egg beater attachments crack me up.
You should see them shimmy on "whip".

Umm, yes... More suitcases.
But they were orange and a matched set. I resisted for 2 weeks and then succumbed.
The set was a slightly ridiculous 25.00. But I was no match for their orange allure.

and I couldn't leave a face like this alone at the thrift store.

Especially when it was attached to the rest of this juicy zoo barkcloth goodness.
A "diaper storage hanger" that will become something for a kid to wear.
Too fun to hang in a closet!
At least a yard of salvageable material.

I'll have more on that candy jar and desk lap in another post..

Who gets the tracing wheels?
That would be Ms. Cleaver and Peitseoga...
Email me your addresses, ladies and they will be on their way...
Michelle and Lindy get the next two I find.

Milo made sure it wasn't rigged.

Tutorial Tuesday with Sally Stitch- Cutting It Up

Golly.. I need to make some bound buttonholes too... But I didn't practice first.
Man, why do I ever ignore Sally? I always end up paying in the long run!

( I did get a couple extra tracing wheels at the thrift store.. I'll send one to one lucky commenter. It really is a great way to transfer darts.)

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.