a lovely vintage pattern.

Just look at this lovely pattern I saw on Etsy this morning:

 

Alot of 1940s patterns have a high neckline that isn't terribly flattering to those of us with a larger bustline.  This is a beautiful neckline though!  And I'm in total love with the peplum and the BOW!

I also found this Simplicity from 1980.  Isn't it very 1940-ish?  I know the 40s were a strong fashion influence in the 80s, I just haven't noticed it quite as strongly as in this pattern (which has a daintier print than most c. 1980 dresses; that may be helping the illusion):

Isn't this 1940s pattern very similar?  (albeit, much more charming):

Still, I'm guessing that the former is much easier to get your hands on than the latter, and in your size for a cheaper $$ too.  Something to think about.  (Personally, there's just something so perfect about 1930-1950's era pattern instructions and diagrams.  They are just so concise and beautiful!)

Today is my "Friday" and I'll be having an unexpected 4-day weekend to lie in my pj's and "rest".  Sewing probably won't be on the agenda (drat it) but I expect lots of  Netflix watching and ripple-crocheting to occur.  Doesn't it feel like I've been sick more than usual this fall/winter?  Ugh.  Let's just say my fanny bum is sore from this morning's visit with a needle.  (haha!  A kind British commenter pointed out I had made a shocking admission.  Slang is so funny!)

Off now to pitifully ask the kids to fold laundry and do the dishes. Bless Lu, she took care of this one.  (Kristine says no one ever died from a dirty kitchen/over-full laundry, but I'm suspicious of her sources.)

ps...I've been searching the internets tonight for an appropriate fabric for my sewalong top (I have bottom-weight fabric).  I think I'd like a silk or possibly a blend in a print, and I mostly have solids.  I love love love this:

but can't find anything else I'm dying to have from Fabric Mart (I know, shocking, right?)  I hate to order just one thing.  If you've seen something especially lovely you think would work, give a girl a shout-out!  Here's my top pattern for the sewalong in case you need a reminder:

ripple-y tuesday.

1. Ripple or not..., 2. more ripple, 3. Rainbow Bright, 4. baby ripple, 5. Completed ripple blanket, 6. Slow growth, 7. Finished!, 8. Crochet ripple blanket - finished!, 9. crochet ripples, African flower, leaf

I'm slower at crocheting than I am at finishing a skirt.  But, it's cold and I'm really in love with these ripple crochet blankets.  So I started one last night!  Stay tuned for 5 or 6 years and maybe you'll see it finished.  So far, I'm about 1/3 of the way across the first row of ripples.

I'm using the free pattern found HERE at Attic24.


Still waiting on my vintage patterns to arrive so I can muslin for the Vintage Sewalong.  I've been really enjoying seeing what everyone has planned over at the sewalong blog!

Happy Tuesday!

goals for '11

It's a fresh, shiny new year and a perfect time to think about Life Goals. I think about these alot. Must be OLD AGE. ;)

Things I will be concentrating on in 2011...

1. Pay off my credit card. That's probably too personal to share with the world, huh? But it's my goal for this year! Pay that silly thing off. It's doable; I can do it!

2. Bake more bread. And cookies/treats. I love homemade bread AND by making it I know exactly what's going into it. Ditto cookies and things. (Plus, I have a bread machine, which makes homemade bread so much easier to manage!)

3. Plant a bigger garden. Last year I started my little patch with tomatoes and lettuce and squash. I'd like to add a few things this year. Green beans? Corn?

4. Become more self-sustaining. (#2 and #3 are a big part of this.) If you've been reading very long, you know I'm struggling a bit with the throwaway mentality that has taken over our world. Ultimately, I want to be debt-free, grow my own food or purchase from local farms, and shed excess "stuff".

5. Spend with good conscience. For me, this means I want to invest in high quality, lasting products. It is also important to me to purchase Made in the USA, to support the workers here at home. If it's not made in the US, I'm going to purchase quality imported items (like my sweet, sweet car!) My neighbors to the north, (Oh Canada!) and in Europe and Australia have wonderful, quality items waiting for me to use and love. Oh jeez, I'm sure there are wonderful, amazing products indigenous to EVERY country, so I don't mean to leave one out. Basically I'm trying to eliminate mass-production from my life, and support fair labor practices.

6. Thrift more. In keeping with #5, there are so many wonderful, usable, beautiful, vintage products that are more suited to my taste and lifestyle, than what is currently being manufactured (in poor countries with even poorer labor practices!)

7. Sew one vintage pattern per month. You didn't think I was going to leave out sewing did you??

8. Buy quality fabrics. Natural fibers are my favorite; I'd like to purchase and use more wool. Wool has always frightened me, but I'm going to bite the bullet and learn some essential care techniques (dry cleaning isn't my friend). I would like to thrift for fabrics too. SO MANY quality fabrics to be had in the thrift stores! I'm excited to repurpose garments this year!

9. Fill my closet and chest of drawers with beautiful, handmade clothes. Ultimately, I would like my entire wardrobe to be handmade. I'm going to be my very own couturier. I would like to master: pants (I'm super close on this one!), button front tops in a variety of styles; pencil skirts; lingerie - slips especially.

10. Spend quality time with my kids. I do this now, but as they get older, it's easier for them to hole up in their rooms. Family movie night and family game nights have always been favorites of ours; I need to be more conscious and include these in our week.

Bonus goal...Bust the stash! I almost forgot this one. I seriously need to clear out some stash, especially quilting cottons. I might be making more quilty-type things. Which is good. I love patchwork!

Now, for those sewing goals, here are new contenders for the vintage sewalong 2011:

I don't know the number on this one but it should be here in a day or two. I LOVE the dress with matching coat!


And I had such marvelous luck with my last 40s pant (from pj's) pattern, I've just bought this one and can't wait to try it. (This will probably be my first entry in the Sewalong. BONUS...I think they qualify for my Hepburn/Hepburn sewalong too! They are very Katherine):


And in the blouse category, these are darling. I love the variations:


I'll probably be making both of those as my first entry, as an "outfit".

In parting, I'd like to share a photo of my beloved Jessie, an Appaloosa my dad bought me when I was 17. She passed away yesterday afternoon. I'm only comforted by the fact that she had a long, happy, hay-filled life and her passing was easy and quick. God go with you over the rainbow bridge, Jessie.

new things.

Well. You are all such amazing well-wishers that this sweet little thing came home with me today:


And at a fantastic price. I was sort of incredulous the entire time I was signing the papers. It's so much fun to drive too! Almost makes up for the fact that I'll be making a car payment for a while (but not as long as I feared!) I seriously love it. It's such a "me" vehicle.

Another really fun new thing is this adorable bag my sister made me for Christmas:


Such cute colors and mixy prints! You know how I love red and turquoise.

Yesterday I really wanted to sew, but didn't have alot of energy. I decided to work (a bit early) on a New Year's resolution...bust the stash! I used up two pieces of matching cotton print that I have had for...well, let's just say a long time. I decided they would make adorable pillowcases:


Really easy to make pillowcases. Tear two rectangles (I used a ready-made pillowcase for the length and used the entire width of fabric). Next, tear 4 full-width strips for ruffles (3" wide). I seamed and then roll-hemmed the ruffle strips, gathered up by hand, and attached to the cases.

I forgot to do french seams, which is how I normally do a pillowcase, so the insides of these are stitched and serged. That's ok though, my pillows won't mind! I love the faux-patchwork fabric. I have about a bajillion other pieces suitable for pillowcases left.

Next up is the rest of my New Year's resolutions. Mostly sewing related, of course!

Happy New Year!!!

pinterest.

I stumbled across a new site the other day and applied for an invite. It's called Pinterest.

It's sort of ingenious; A place to bookmark your favorite photos from all over the web, and organize them onto inspiration "boards". Then, you can tag them, make notes and comments, others can repin them to their boards...and Pinterest credits the image and links it back to the original site! Fabulous!

Here's a quick snapshot of a few of my boards (um, I think I have 8 or 9 now, but not all are "filled" yet. I just keep thinking of things to add and they won't go in the already created ones!)

My Pinterest

Do any of you have a pinterest? I'd love to know so I can "follow" you! I've been meandering around in others' boards this week too, but mostly I've been trying to remember my favorite photos and projects on the web, so I can share them in one place!

All in all, a perfect Christmas vacay distraction.

I sort of needed it too. My car broke down last week, and what I originally hoped to be an inexpensive repair, turned into a likely very expensive repair, and then, finally into a NONREPAIRABLE repair. Yes, my car is D-E-D. I just paid it off in May, so it's only about 6 years old, 70K miles. Isn't that the most ridiculous thing you ever heard?

I'm pretty sad about it, not because I loved the car, but because now I have to buy a car. That puts a 3-5 year kink in my "life plan". And I was just beginning to see light and fluffy bunnies at the end of the tunnel.

Sigh.