Felt Baby Booties

Nothing is sweeter than baby booties except perhaps the feet that go in them. 

Recently Peachie and her husband celebrated the first birthday of their little girl, Lucy.  While there is no lack of adorable clothing patterns out there, I decided to try my hand at booties.  After a quick stroll through pinterest, I found a very nice pattern from Heather Bailey.  Not only does her website offer tons of great crafting ideas, but I found her Bitty Bootie tutorial the easiest to follow.  But if you know me, I didn't really follow it...so here's what resulted. 

 

I did use her pattern which couldn't have been simpler. 

Because Lucy is already cruising, I used nubby, gripper fabric for the soles of the booties in addition to a layer of felt.  After cutting out the pieces, I sewed on the pink hearts and joined the back heel of the upper.  Then I added the pink stripe over the back seam.

I sewed, right sides together, the upper to the sole (both felt and gripper fabric together), all the way around and turned it right side out.  Lastly the white heart button was attached.  

Booties can be as simple or elaborate as you wish (just take a gander at pinterest).  The possibilities for embellishments are endless.  Embroidery could be added around the top edge, such as the classic buttonhole stitching, or ribbon lacings with bows on the toes.  A cotton or flannel print could be used for the inside sole.  My daughter suggested attaching jingle bells which is Grandma's tried and true method of keeping tabs on roving toddlers.  The best part is that these booties were quick to sew and new pairs can easily be made as those little piggies grow.  Many happy trails Lucy!

Vintage Baby Bowtie Quilt: Part Three

Here it is!

 The quilt was finished! 

Beautiful!

BoPeep sewed her beautiful bowtie blocks together and added a border to balance it.  She machine quilted around each bowtie and the center embroidery.  Then it was delivered it to me to finish.

Some finishing touches included hemming the binding by hand

and embroidering a dedication label.

The back is just as stunning as the front.

We used a soft chambray for the binding and backing.

I added glittery wrapping....

Glitter makes everything grand!

...then sent it off to Lucy with love!

 Lucy and her quilt.

Vintage Baby Bowtie Quilt: Part One

Last year we were delighted to hear  the news that our very own Peachie was expecting! So around the holidays Bo Peep and I started planning. We worked our way through adorable baby quilt ideas on Pinterest, animals in hot rods, and vintage quilt blocks. Deciding upon color, size, and design requires a bit of thought. Eliminating some choices, such as color, no pink as requested by the Mommy-to-be, helped the process. Our "theme" would be child ( as opposed to baby) and hotrods, since this is a large part of the parents-to-be lifestyle.

 Materials on hand also factor in the design. Digging through our fabric stashes revealed reds and soon we were envisioning a monochromatic quilt with a beautiful redwork centerpiece. 

Division of labor would be a little tricky since Bo Peep and I live some distance apart. We decided embroidery would be my department while Bo Peep manned the quilt blocks.

So I set to work.....

Inspired by a 40's children's record, I sketched up a design and transferred it.

I choose pearlized cotton floss in a classic red.
 This floss is not divided and there for is more substantial for a design of a larger size.
 

Satin stitches of varying widths create interest and depth.

Redwork dates from 1880's to the 1920's. Red was used (and sometimes blue) on muslin as it was available in a sturdy cotton. Other colors were only available in silks. No DMC floss in those days!

The centerpiece was finished! Time to send it off to Bo Peep.....

Lady Day

Last year we took two glamping trips, and while they were both fun, my heart longed for a little camper I could call my own. A tent really doesn't bother me, however it is a lot of setup work and most of our camping trips are limited to a two day weekend.
My goal for spring 2013- find us a camper!  I did not even have to seek one out, it came to me. A relative had a 1970 Shasta 1400 series that they were going to fix up as a hunting shack but decided they would rather sell it. In comes a girl in need of a camper, and we were soon parking a camper in our snow covered driveway.

I must admit it was not love at first sight, after all I had my heart set on an older model, but she had "good bones" and lots of potential. Diamonds in the rough are right up this designer's alley.

 Walls had already been removed and replaced when she came to us.

Cold weather does not motivate me, but with a deadline of June 1st I suited up and got to work.

 Daddy-O started some demolition, but before going too far I stopped him to survey the progress. The ceiling had some water damage and despite the replacement of the vent, it was unsightly. So out goes the ceiling! We also had to replace some of the wall paneling that was already missing. The yellow houndstooth check flooring was the only original piece I was sure was staying.

A trip to the antique store proved fateful. This headboard came home with me for under $20 and was soon to become my back rest.

 

Daddy-O worked on framing out the back wall, which had no support, and replacing some water damaged wood. My job was to fill in the spaces with insulation.

The paneling in the kitchen will stay, but needs some paint as I am not loving the dark wood.

Cupboard doors off for sanding, priming, and painting.

The first piece of paneling goes up! Exciting!

 Daddy-O worked hard and got most of the paneling up, neglecting his Caddy, in the background.

BoPeep came over to help me pick paint colors, since I had too many ideas rolling around in my head. We discussed chandeliers, hammer handle walls, pop art, and pinstriping. I love entertaining her with my artistic ideas!
I decide up on a pale yellow and aqua to tone down the gold yellows in the headboard and counter.
So much sanding and priming made me think I might never see color, but alas one rainy day I put on my headphones and set to  work getting some paint on the walls. By this time Daddy-O was getting nervous that it would be finished for glamping.

 But my son and I were not worried....yet.

 An aqua stripe was added to tie it in with the kitchen and  I stained the ceiling natural to break up the color. Some where in my hours of painting I was inspired. My vision for this camper was always a place that felt feminine, breezy and relaxing like a trip back in time to a hot summer day in the 40's listening to some Billie Holiday. Ahh my happy place...that's it! I shall name her "Lady Day".

I can not tell you how excited I was to get all the cupboards put back. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel!

However with HVG Glamping less than one week away I was suddenly feeling a knot in my stomach. A three day memorial Day weekend was to the rescue as Daddy-O built me a bench seat across the back, and I added some last minute decorating.

 Curtains were found last minute at Goodwill and they were a perfect fit! The headboard went in as well.

 

A vintage mirror with Lily of the Valley etching caught my eye at the antique store, and now I had the perfect place to put it/excuse to buy it!

 

 

Check the tires and lights, we're ready to go to Wildcat Mountain for HVG Glamping!

To be continued.....

Help! 911 My crinoline is in need of repair!

Okay so this may not be a real emergency but it's still a real issue. Perhaps you are able to snag a crinoline for $5, but the elastic has seen better days and the top portion has some snags/holes? This may still be wearable but putting it through the washing machine? Not so sure about that one. On a trip to the not so local fabric store I grabbed some swimsuit lining, elastic, and lace trim.

 My crinoline was previously trimmed with a velour ribbon, but decided trying to marry new white materials and vintage cream calls for some lace. First I carefully cut around the edges to make myself a "pattern piece" and removed the elastic. I kept the velour ribbon intact so as not to undo any gathering aka make more work for myself. Lay out the "pattern piece" and cut one piece on the fold, leaving a seam allowance.

I bought a slightly larger, soft backed elastic to eliminate any discomfort /rolling. There are a number of ways to put this back together.
 I decided upon this order, 1. attach elastic  2. sew french seam on side seam of lining material
 3. attach lining to tulle, right sides together, and

 4. attach lace trim.

Done!

Now to finish that skirt I started for Symco, to wear over my "new" crinoline.
Happy sewing gals!

How could I leave out Ralph Lauren?!

In my giddiness over the Louis Vuitton Fall Collection, I totally forgot about the gorgeous 1920s-inspired, plaid, hunting party that is Ralph Lauren of Fall 2012!!

Those riding pants!  Those Katherine Hepburn trousers!  Leopard paired with argyle!  I've been laying awake these past few nights completely reinventing my previously planned sewing projects.  Do I really want to make that 1940s suit and skirt per the pattern?  Without tweaking it at all?  Really, Girls, I think I'm turning a corner here.  Authentic, full-on vintage is *gasp* losing it's appeal.  There I said it.  Maybe it's just a passing fancy, but my winter sewing projects will tell the tale!

PS.  I found another image of my sunglasses, but these were from the Spring/Summer line. 

Fall Fashion 2012

I am probably the wrong girl to be writing this post because I have no formal training in fashion or design (unlike Wild Kat).  But I just received my September Vogue magazine *squee!* and consequently you have to suffer through my interpretation of the Fall 2012 Fashion Trends.

Let's just start with the one that first caught my eye...Louis Vuitton.  It's like Downton Abbey had a love child with Tim Burton.  Those crazy over-sized hats! 

But I love the long, dress coats with the 1920s styling - large lapels on a deep neckline, minimal shaping at the waist, fabulous tapestry prints embellished with over-the-top bling.

Not digging on the furry, yak-hair bags though.

Could this style be incorporated into real-life streetwear?  Is she wearing welding goggles?  Could a plaid (?) pants suit make it down the canned soup isle without the stock boy clicking off a few pics on his camera phone?

Continuing in the fantastical is Marc Jacobs fall line.  Perhaps a bit more Pilgrim-inspired if you judge solely on those buckled shoes, but again the hats harken to the 1910s.  And notice the fitted waist and emphasis on the hips.  I read somewhere that peplums are big this year (no pun intended). Also, the Twilight series is still wielding a significant hold over fashion, continuing to make the whole Victorian vampire look popular.  Which means porcelain complexions and full red lips won't be going away anytime soon.

Michael Kors' line is definitely more ready-to-wear.  This has more of a 1940s vibe - longer hemlines with square, straight cuts through the shoulders.  Notice the shoes are all ankle strap, T-strap or peeptoes.  And that plaid coat with the fur collar just calls to me!  Nothing says 'Fall' like plaid and being the wool-freak that I am, I have an ample supply of wool plaid yardage.

Michael Kors eveningwear reaches back to both the 1920s with the gold, flapper dress and then the 1930s with that silver, floor length dress.  While both of these are gorgeous, I do not have neither the courage to sew with such whack-a-do bias cut pieces nor the balls to wear said garment in the event that I actually finish putting it together.  I will gaze from afar.


But let's get back to that plaid coat...

...I've had a piece of wool set aside for a couple years now, destined to become a full-skirted coat.  Last summer I picked up a wide, faux-fur collar that will pair with it beautifully.  Burberry's fall collection above confirms that this is the winter I sew up that coat.  Princess seams and bows on the belts are just too fun to pass up!

And to top off my 916-page Vogue magazine, I found my 1940s sunglasses in the Michael Kors Collection!

This post doesn't do justice or even scratch the surface of the Fall 2012 fashion trends.  But flipping through the pages of Vogue or scrolling down the Google image search, you'll see many classic elements from the last century.  It makes me want to throw a little Tim Burton at my Grandma's 1950s patterns and see what comes out!