I mentioned the other day on Facebook that I was going to start going through my sewing to-do pile.  I can’t help but collect pretty vintage things that need repair or alterations, or start and stop sewing projects.  But then I end up with many garments (things that languish at the bottom of my fabric stash for months, years even) that could be rather fetching when done–eep, if they ever do!  It’s a bad habit I’m trying to break; alas, it’s difficult since I get so excited by new ideas and outfits.

Please excuse the crappiness of these photos.  Taking pictures of one’s self can be quite the challenge and it’s something I haven’t taken the time to master.  I’m for sure making the goofiest faces in these so I must continue to bombard you with headless images.  (Oh, but don’t you love this bag?  It was a bargain and a birthday gift to myself last year!)

First up: this $5 1960s blouse.

I don’t like long sleeved blouses and there was a stain near one cuff anyway so I just chopped the sleeves off to create short ones.  The hems stuck out in a funny way so I threaded some 1/4″ elastic through them.  I thought about changing the buttons and maybe even widening the neckline but that’s a lot of work and I think it looks OK as is, especially if I leave the top button undone. (I don’t like tight necklines; I feel too closed up!)  The rows of lace and eyelet are the best parts.

Now the skirt:  I started to make this before Christmas, from vintage Simplicity pattern #7869 (View 5, specifically):

It’s of fine wale red corduroy.  I didn’t finish it in time for the holidays because, ha, I gained some weight and could not zip it up!  (Yes, before the sugar cookies and turkey and such.)  Shame-faced, I tucked it away only to find it again while reorganizing my fabric stash.  (Which is something I have to do periodically as it can get quite messy and chaotic in there.)  Thankfully I’ve lost that extra cushion around my middle and was delighted to find that the skirt fit; all I had to do was hem it.  The hips seem a bit big now and I wish I had clipped and notched the seams of the waistband  a lot more (especially in the front) since the thickness of the fabric is creating a ridge that is a little too obvious for my liking.  Oh well, not all my projects need to turn out perfectly and at least it’s wearable!  (I was, however, able to install the zipper in one take which is pretty darn fantastic as that’s one of my least favorite things to do and it’s always a headache for me.)

I do like how the vintage ivory and gold buttons look against the red:

It’s a bit like Christmas in the spring!

I have been checking my mailbox at least twice a day for the past 4 days, waiting for this to arrive.  (OK, not yesterday as it was Sunday–and Easter!–though I was thinking how I looked forward to Monday, of all days, to check the mailbox again.)  I don’t know, I just get that way about things sometimes.

PICTORIAL PRINTED PATTERNS (#5802).  Yes, it is quite small in size, even for me.  But I think I’ll just need to widen it in the bodice to make it work.  And yes, I can see it is a girls’ pattern, but I am young at heart, right?  This can totally translate into a pretty grown-up dress, even for a grown-up who has just discovered–just this morning, actually–even more grey hairs whilst tying up said hair in a ponytail.  (Yes, I have hair enough to do that now; with my bangs cut short it looks a little bit like the one sported by Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face–if you don’t mind me making such a comparison!)  Anyway, made up in some voile this dress would be so perfect for spring/summer.  And since it’s a ’20s-style dress (1925 to be exact), the construction should be relatively easy with no closures and such.  (Listed under notions: Thread–that’s it!  No zippers or snaps or buttons to mess with.  Yay!)

Oh, I have to share with you some of the text, one of my favorite things about vintage patterns.  The description reads as follows…

GIRLS’ AND JUNIORS’ FROCK.  A bouffant skirt, made in three horizontal, gathered sections, lends a party-like air to this frock.  [Goodie!  I like parties.]  It may be made sleeveless with the cape collar [!] or with puffed sleeves which carry out the quaint feeling.  [Hee hee.]  Ribbon is suggested for the neck bow and tie-belt.  [Okie-dokie, got it.]

Oh also, suggested materials is always a fun read…

MATERIALS SUITABLE

1.  Taffeta, Organdy, Batiste

2. Organdy, Taffeta, Dimity

3. Georgette, Cottons

Celanese, rayon, Bemberg or A.B.C. Fabrics in some of the above materials.

(I do believe the numbers are referencing the views, or versions, this pattern comes in.  I’m not entirely sure what the last line is referencing but I’ve included it nonetheless.)

You will not be surprised to learn this pattern has moved up in my queue of new frock to-dos!  I really hope this is a simple as it seems in my sewing fantasy.  Wouldn’t it be lovely in Georgette as well, perhaps with the bodice and first tier in one (light) color, then the second tier in a darker shade and the last tier even darker than that?  Sort of like faux-ombre, or perhaps like the gradual change in color that happens in the petals of a rose?

My dear landlord just dropped off a generous bag of Easter chocolates covered in adorable foil wrappers.  I’ve noticed other chocolates from Germany are often dressed up in a similar fashion, disguised as ladybugs and mushrooms; so cute!  My favorite is the happy chick in the middle with her cartoon eyes and red bow tie.

Even though I have some work to do I really hope to catch up on my sewing tomorrow or Sunday.  If I go too long without it I start to feel a little batty!  Do you get like that too?

Anyway, if you celebrate, Happy Easter to you!  Otherwise have a most lovely spring (or autumn) weekend.

Oh…and Happy Earth Day!

Yellow flowers for Monday.

One more to-do checked off my list: re-vamping my ho-hum navy blue clogs with a little acrylic paint.   (OMG, was that a pun?  Vamp?)  When I first bought these clogs I was excited about them; navy shoes make me think of librarians and somehow I find that “librarian-ish” is a good characteristic when it comes to fashion.  But unadorned they were a bit too dark and Plain Jane for me (especially compared to my bright yellow patent leather ones).  I was bored of them and even thought about giving them away.

I love painted clogs, the folksy-ness of them.  So I did a quick little sketch on paper to plan and hopefully prevent any royal mess-ups but I wasn’t too particular with how the flowers would turn out; they didn’t need to be perfect.  Once I got started it went quickly.  Now my shoes are very spring-y, cheerful and ho-hum no more!

I’ve already worn them 3 times since I painted them last week; time well spent.

This post concludes Poppytalk’s Spring Colours Week.  It makes me a wee bit sad to see this end; it’s been rather enjoyable to poke around the house and find things to snap, organized by color.  Plus there have been so many beautiful images posted.  Thanks to Jan and everyone at Poppytalk Handmade for coming up with such a splendid idea!

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

For Poppytalk’s Spring Colours Week. This one was a bit trickier as I don’t have a lot of lavender/lilac things. (Which is odd, I guess, because I find the color so bewitching and violets are my favorite candy flavor.)  Again, more art supplies, dresses and things printed on paper.

For Poppytalk’s Spring Colours Week. (Do you notice a common theme throughout these posts so far, regarding one photo from each?)

For Poppytalk’s Spring Colours Week.

Some of my favorite things, in green, for Poppytalk’s Spring Colours Week.  I hope to post each day this week.

Happy Monday to You!

UPDATE: “To Thine Own Self” giclee print in now available in le shop: To Thine Own Self 8×10 Giclee Print.  (Also on Etsy.)