New Vintage Wardrobe Project# 24: The Mail Order Pattern

This is a mail order pattern from the LA Times.

It has been a WIP for quite some time. 

2 years minus only about 1 Month, I think.

My first pattern with no seam lines or printing on the pieces.

And it was mailed in 1952 to Miss Bonnie Lawrence.

But it doesn't look like she ever made it.

Finally finished... Ta Daaaah!

New skill: Button loops!

I'm happy. 

Sooo Happy, in fact, that I made it a necklace, out of vintage bingo pieces and milagros.

I bought this  fabric from my friend Amber (aka Maple Syrup) and I think these two boys look like her two boys.. at least a little. 

 

But these guys would be older than me these days.

This NVW project is dedicated to her.

 

I got the buckle form the Addison Studio sale that I attended with my lovely sister...

Perfect, don't you think?

Well, That's all until Monday!

Thanks to Miss Retro Modern for the backgrounds for this shoot!

This Supposed to be Thrift Thursday

But it's not.
It is more like WIP Wednesday Part II.
The Quilt Top .

my very first one ever...

Milo thinks maybe I was a little too freewheeling on the seams.

"I'm going to give this my kitten paws of approval..

but I think you could do better, and frankly I am a little disappointed.

In fact, I just gotta go."

Dang, Milo sure is touchy today!

If I'm good enough for this:


I should be good enough for a surly teenage kitten.

That's right Ladies and Gentlemen,
Bitter Betty is on the board...

Thanks Kristen and Beth for letting me
play a little part in one of the coolest sewing sites ever!

oh!! and Thanks Liz!!! Flattery will get you everywhere with me!!

(Thank Goodness I have Milo around to deflate my ego! Egads!)

Thrift Thursday: The Recycled Redecorating Project

Ummm.. I guess I really don't do before pictures.


But here is an after pic that you all might like a little:




Trust me, it looks better now.

The living room corner with repainted baby changing dresser ala Ikea, now dvd storage.
Topped with 2 vintage typewriters; thrift store purchases, Brownie camera on laquered trays: thrifted and thrifted. Artwork from a display props sale, thrifted lamp and shade, thrifted lawnchair and suitcase.

Nothing cost more than 15 dollars. Not too shabby.

The Champagne Bucket Challenge

My Mother in Law had two champagne buckets!Lovely silver, very classically ornate, totally too huge to store in a normal sized house.

She asked me what she should do with them. And this is what I suggested. She said "Will you take one of them?" and I did.
Basically I think what makes this work is the juxtaposition of the modern looking succulent container garden with the classic bucket. It works best in our cabin-y house. I love the tarnish. But if you are a more straightforwardly "feminine" decorator, a bushy flowering plant would be great too.

It is always interesting to come up with ways to use "heirlooms" or even cool thrifted items in ways they were not intended. It is my favorite reason for scouring the home mags. If you have some cool reuse ideas ... please do share!

Here is what I did with the bucket:

Just:

• fill the bottom of the bucket with wadded paper to support the pot.
• line the bucket with a plastic bag to protect the bucket
• insert a plant in a pot just barely smaller than the bucket and tuck in the plastic bag.

tah-dah!

Now the birthday season ring giveaway:
This is not for the twiggy of finger. It is a size 8 or maybe a teeny bit bigger.
It is a handblown glass cocktail ring made by artist Karen Carston.. currently residing in Seattle. It is really one of my favorite things ( I have a couple of these that I wear all the time.)
This one is a bit too big for me and has languished in the jewelry box. It needs a home where it will be worn!
Leave me a comment and I will draw a name on Monday.
I love this ring .. it looks like an ocean wave.


Gratuitous Kitten photo...Because I am obsessed with the guy.

Back to Life.. Back to Reality...

Yesterday was the first day back to school.

Yesterday I accomplished:

Deep cleaning my bedroom to get ready for a photo shoot in there.
That included scrubbing the floors. Hands and Knees style.

I canned 5 quarts of whole peeled tomatoes, my first batch, ever




I made a pillow cover and valence for my son's room out of thrifted mod animal fabric.




I worked on my next outfit for New Vintage

I started on and nearly finished a collage for my bedroom.



I finally got some overdue mail out.

I signed up for the "organic veggie box"

I filled out a ton of stuff for school

I worked on my next video


I am so relieved it is "Back to School"..
I feel like my old self again.

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!)

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!

housewiffery in the key of brown

There was a trip to the thrift store:




There was the application of the fantastic raw materials from the thrift store..
( cork lined drawers? how luxurious!)



Then there was the cleaning up of two messes. I used the old sales binder my husband needed cleared out ( and had been lying on the ground for 3 days.. waiting..) to house all the loose recipies I had unearthed in one of the drawers that are now lined with cork. Serendipitous? No?



Because the sun is out, there were finally photos taken of my mini mushroom farm,




and its crop.




Brown made me happy this week.

Gung Hay Fat Choy

Happy Year of the Piggie Everybody. As part of my resolution for the Other New Year, I decided I wanted to throw more parties.



Here is the party I have been planning.



Our Menu was:

Ginger Martinis, shrimp wraps, wonton wrapper chips and edamame, ( Japanese... I know.. but tasty.)

General Tsaos Chicken, Salmon in black bean sauce, Sesame Broccoli, Garlic Beans, Hoisin Tofu with Cabbage

Tea, tangerines, and fortune cookies



( I made these for the kids.. they are boxes I stuffed these with "snaps", confetti and a candy pig. They were inspired by some I saw at Castle In The Air where you can take a class in how to make them , it is one of my favorite places in Berkeley... and Ulla teaches classes there too..)

I did a sit down dinner for 19.. and I was a mad stir-frying fool. Almost didn't make it.



Had so much fun planning and had fun with the guests too.. But neglected to think of the chaos that would be created by having 4 dishes that had to be stir fried at the last minute in those kinds of quantities. But I had helpful guests, with a good senses of humour so we all ate, drank ginger martinis and were very happy.

Next time: Dinner will either be make ahead... or delivered!

And I am already thinking of the next shin dig..

Perhaps a garden party???? (With ALL the food prepared in advance.)

Anyone want to come?