I'm a Busy Girl

Hello my dears. I apologize for the lack of content lately. I'm now 9 weeks into my first semester back in college and just finished up midterms. I'm so ridiculously busy, between taking 14 credit hours at school, working 25 hours a week, and being a full time single mommy to my two munchkins that I've been neglecting the sewing and the blogging a bit while I'm trying to get the hang of this juggling thing.

I hope that you are all doing well. I've got a few projects on my table that are almost finished, and I've got a few things planned for the next few months. Now I've just got to find the time to get sewing!!

In the past month, I have dyed my hair a fantabulous shade of red. My thanks to RockNRoll Red from Manic Panic!!

I have drawn this super awesome teacup and saucer for my drawing class.

I have traded in my beloved Flock Tula for this rocking Betty Tula in Toddler size because the little rockstar is growing too fast!

 I have finished a simple navy blue circle skirt and a leopard print circle skirt recently. I have another one in a cute cherry print waiting for a zipper and a hem.

(Sorry for the crappy pictures, I just haven't had time to get proper ones.)

I joined up with the Dixie O'Dare sew-a-long, and hope to be starting on that soon. You can find out more about that by clicking the link.

I'm also working on a pretty green halter dress for my Halloween party at work, but I don't know if that one will get finished or not???!!?!? I'm going to try my best!

Thanks again for being my readers, and I really miss you all!!

Until next time!

New Look 6104

 Recently, I finished up New Look 6104. I actually completed two of these, one with sleeves and one without. The one with sleeves will be blogged at a later date when the complete project it's a part of is finished.

I've been focusing most of my efforts on separates lately, because I've discovered that is a huge gap in my wardrobe. Currently on my table is three more circle skirts. After I finish those and three more tops, I think I'll be able to put my attention to some fabulous dresses for next spring and summer. I need to get a jacket or coat made this year for winter, but I'm finding it really hard to think about the snow and cold that is coming, when we are still having wonderfully warm days.

Enough about me... here's the deets on what you're really here for. *winky face*

I had just a yard of this great yellow floral cotton in my stash and it was just big enough to get the sleeveless version of #newlook6104 out of. Luckily, I had some pink bias tape in my stash as well, and that was a perfect match so no facings needed on the arms or neckline.

I posted this picture of the buttons in my stash to one of my Facebook sewing groups, and there was a complete divide on whether these matched or not. I was hesitant after seeing the photograph, because in reality, I thought they were a lot closer in color. After some hemming and hawing I decided to just go for it and sew one on... lo and behold, they match tons better than I thought they would.

I love the pin-tuck detail on this top, this is my first time doing pin tucks, and they turned out really great. I think I'll be putting on lots more things!! Side note, the top button really isn't that uneven, I just didn't think to straighten it before I took the picture... oops.

Finally some pictures of me actually wearing the top. I've worn this top several times, and have had to restitch two of the buttons so far. It's a great shirt, and I wish I had a bold blue skirt to go with it. Maybe that's a project for next spring.

I tried to prevent the yellow from getting washed out in these pictures, because it really is a great buttery shade. Alas, when you are your own photographer, you take what you get sometimes. Plus, I don't have a fence around my yard, and I'm not brave enough yet to set up outside and get pictures.

I was feeling a bit sassy, when I was taking these. I finally got a day truly to myself. My children were with their grandmother and I was free to get these done... so... sassy pictures.

All in all, New Look 6104 is a great pattern, very easy to follow, sews up super quickly and I think it looks great.

There you have it!

Pattern: New Look 6104 - $2.50 from Wal-Mart

Fabric: Yellow floral quilting cotton from stash - $0

Trims/Notions: Button and bias tape from stash - $0

Not too bad for $2.50!! I couldn't get a better deal than that at the thrift store!

Until next time!

#VintageSecretSanta

I took part in Chronically Vintage's very first Secret Santa exchange this year! Jessica did a wonderful job hosting and everything was so very organized.

 

I just received my package on Saturday and let me tell you, I was blown away by the contents! I shared all of these on my instagram with the tag #vintagesecretsanta.

 

 

It turns out my Secret Santa was none other than the beautiful and oh so sweet Molly Maka from Milwaukee,Winconsin.

 

 

The first thing I came across in the box was this McCall 6916 from 1947!! It was wrapped and I had no clue what it would be! So exciting!

 

 

Then underneath the pattern, I unpacked this amazing woven sewing box! I don't know when it is from, but it is gorgeous, and will be forever among my favorite things in my sewing room!

 

 

When I opened the sewing box, there were more little treasures inside! There was a little baggie of these amazing Bakelite buttons!!!

 

Underneath the tray there were two baggies full of vintage salvedged buttons! I'm a nut about buttons and truly have several jars of them, but none that are vintage! I can't wait to organize these and see what I can do with them!

 

 

This wonderful apple cookie cutter was also in the box! I'm a huge collector of apples and I adore things like this.

 

So the piece de resistance was this pair of jeweled apple pins! I mean these things are the bees knees! I screamed with delight when I unwrapped them and I still can't believe how beautiful and well kept they are. I want to do some research and see if I can't find out a little more about them. The fact they are a matched pair of pins is so interesting to me. I haven't seen anything like them before.

 

So thank you so much Molly! You definitely went above and beyond and made an apple and button loving vintage girl very very happy! Thank you Jessica for hosting a wonderful event! I look forward to taking part in the years to come!

 

Me, In a Past Life

So there was a time in my life, during the end of the 1990's swing and big band revival, that you would find me, on many given nights, jumping and jiving my time away. I was an acrobatic swing dancer, complete with saddle shoes and rumba pants. I danced 5 out of 7 nights a week. I also taught lessons and got paid a fair amount on numerous occasions. I came across some pictures of a much younger me during one of these paid gigs. Forgive the quality as these are terrible scans of the originals. Digital cameras weren't what they are today and I believe these were taken on a 35mm.

 

 

I was quite a collector of vintage dresses that I could dance in and had way too many garter belts and baskets of stockings. Most of those dresses are now ripped in the armscythe from too many lifts and tosses and in desperate need of repair. They are also way too small for my post baby body. This little gingham dress was always one of my favorites. It had a metal zipper up the back and cute little cross stiching along the bottom of the skirt using the squares of the gingham.

 

I recently reconnected with my partner from those days, and it brought to mind better times. I miss this part of who I used to be. I miss the music, and the crowds. The dance-offs and the shim-sham. I miss the dresses, golly the dresses. I still have them tucked in a box in my basement. Which reminds me, I really need to get them out, repair them and pass them on to a new home.

 

There is a little window into me and who I am, and used to be. Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with me!