My day off.

Today I had my first day off in the middle of the week in along time. I was torn between cleaning the house from top to bottom, and going into Stavanger and doing some much desired window shopping.
It's not hard to guess which idea won out in the end. I rode the bus in and spent the most of the afternoon curled up outside of Sjokoladepiken, a great chocolate shop/ cafe with a great book and some rich hot cocoa.

Bras, Aprons, Headaches and muscle Pain

Please forgive the massive gap between posts. Between my work schedule, a neurotic aversion to finishing things, a jacked up arm muscle, and the ultimate time waster, StumbleUpon (I love you, Stumble, but I want my life back!) I have been too busy (lazy) to post.

So here is what I've been working on:
Thanks to the awesome stash of the lovely PhoebeDelia's Mercantile (a.k.a. Mom) I acquired (begged and begged for) this amazing hand painted 1920-1930's silk bra.

I will eventually restore the sweet little beauty but first I wanted to make a pattern from it. It didn't go so well. Apparently I have a mental block (I'm stupid) against taking a piece of fabric containing a dart and making a pattern from it. I tried a few things and thought I was in the free and clear but instead I just made it too wide and had to end up adding two overlapping side darts.

Let's all keep in mind that Slut-Jane II's bosoms are much bigger than mine so this thing is pinned on at every end. What, you didn't name your dress form something inappropriate? Bet you will now.

Have you heard about Etsy?

If you haven't heard about Etsy, then you need to. Not only did I have a successful shop there before we moved overseas, but my mother sill does (And regularly posts things that I can't live without!).
I thought that I would follow the Adjustable Belt Tutorial with a few places that you can find some of these great buckles, as well as great vintage and modern notions.
Lets start with the buckles:
This 1930's Bakelite and rhinestone buckle is in a great new shop on etsy called Seams Forever.

Here's a great rhinestone geometric buckle for only $9 in another etsy shop, Boylerpf who also has some amazing vintage jewelry.

And from my mom's shop, Phoebe Delia's Mercantile, the prefect ribbon to make belts with. I have tons of this myself (God bless those care packages) as it's great for sewing (I use mine for belts, bows, ruffles and other embellishments) and it easily dyes any color.

On a similar note, I just got two large boxes in the mail from Mom, and they were brimming with vintage patterns from the 1930's, yards and yards of lace in every color, fabric (silk charmeuse, oh my!) and a few delightful vintage undergarments for pattern making and wearing.
{Sigh}
Jackpot.

Adjustable Belt Tutorial

Today's post is on belts. When shopping for belts, I always have to choose if I'll be wearing it at the waist or the hips, as few belts will fit me in both places well. On a dressmaking project a few months ago, I sought an editing eye from Mike to see if a belt was needed to complete the look. We both agreed a belt would look better, but we disagreed on where the belt should sit. I wanted it high up on my (mostly nonexistent) waist, and he thought it would look better on the hips. Since I was making the belt myself and was planning on using a 2 piece vintage belt buckle, I came up with a way to make the belt so I could wear it however the mood struck.

My fist adjustable belt.

Fluff 2000

So my darlings, I am currently working on a tutorial to show you how to make an adjustable belt with a 2 piece buckle but while I'm editing my photos, I wanted to give you something that will hopefully make you giggle as much as I did.

Enjoy.

Reasons Not to Feel Stupid

One of my blogosphere heroines, the intrepid Gertie of Gertie's New Blog For Better Sewing, asked a very interesting question today on her blog. She asked if the Mad Men phenomenon had changed the way we dressed, citing examples of clothing companies labeling certain looks as Mad Men inspired to boost sales.

Mad Men's lovely Joan Harris (Christina Hendricks).

I mean, honestly, who doesn't want to look like that? But let's face it, some of us feel rather self conscious walking around in a full vintage getup. (Do I look like that crazy lady in Walmart with smudged lipstick who looks like a 40's hooker in drag?)

Sorry, I just had to.

Next?

I ordered more fabric. I know, I know, I was so proud of myself for not adding to my stash for so long and using only what I have (and I have a lot) but hear me out. Everything I have is either so nice that I'm afraid to use it, like four yards of raspberry silk charmeuse, or just one yard of something-or-other {blah} that I can only make little projects from.
So I bought a bunch of rayon satin (never worked with it before but it was on sale) in this lovely rose color:

I'll be making my recently arrived Advance 8229 out of this, and some lovely lace that my lovely mother is being kind enough to send me.