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.....

The Symco Shakedown Experience

Symco Shakedown #4 was bigger and better than ever!

I seriously need to consider taking the week before and after Symco off . I probably forgot about ten different things I was going to pack (which makes me think I should make a packing list for next year's shakedown NOW), but still had lots of fun. I was trying to finish a skirt for the pin up contest but ran out of time. Fortunately, my friend came to the rescue on Thursday and loaned me his mother's Mexican skirt from 1943!

 With the Buick packed to the gills we set off for Symco Thursday evening.

Our arrival at Symco Thresheree Grounds.

Let me just say in my defense I am packing for glamour camping or glamping. Which means a whole separate suitcase just for makeup and hair accessories.

Had to steal my vanity mirror from my Wildcat since I forgot my mirror!
Buick is a beauty too!

 I do believe Midnight Maniac and lots of other gals packed this way too, since there were loads of cute gals crawling the Thresheree grounds.

Our home away from home...next year a vintage camper I hope!

Friday evening calendar signing.

So what was new this year?

The fabulous Francesca Alfresca!

Well first off they had a burlesque show on Friday evening. It was my first time and I loved it!
My favorite performer was Francesca Alfresca. She had a cute balloon act and a sexy matador act.

The fashion designer in me LOVES this costume!

Maybe Daddy-O will be lucky enough to get his own private rendition some night. *wink*

Saturday was the big day. This year I accepted BoPeep's invitation to help with the pin up contest and it was a lot of fun. Those girls all brought their A-game this year!

The gorgeous gals all lined up for their time on stage.

My job was to keep the girls in line backstage...literally. Also to make sure they were looking their best before stepping out in front of the crowd.

Whew all done, now to get to work!

After the contest I went with a group of the calendar girls (including Miss Symco) to their photo shoot for the calendar. While trying to stay out of the photographer's way, I did my best to make sure they looked perfect. Some of the girls thanked me for helping out (the best compensation I could get). Those gals were beautiful on their own but with no mirrors available you want someone to make sure you makeup is perfect and your skirt is fluffed just right! My group of girls drew a big crowd everywhere we went.

A photo shoot in front of one of my favorite vintage campers. (Daddy-O was drooling over the Caddy too.)

Such fun, next year I will bring a survival bag. I got sunburned and only had a Mountain Dew (yuck!) until 3 in the afternoon. I took a short nap and then had some fun taking pics until the sun set.

Posing on Jerry's Ford after a meal, nap, and wardrobe change.

Then it was time for the bands.

Here is my one beef with the Shakedown. Too many great bands playing at the same time and no room to dance! Lil' Red and the Howlin' Wolves rocked the saloon Saturday night, and they even played "Johnny got a Boom-Boom" (yes!)  So to sum it all up, I am looking forward to the next Shakedown already, but need the time to catch up on my beauty rest.  I can't wait to see what next year brings!

PS.  Daddy-O was crowned Miss Symco (and got a sweet cut from Chuck the Barber), there were two flame throwing shows, bought some great vintage items, took pin up shots of my new friend Sam, and lots more that you missed out on if you didn't go to Symco!

Proud to sponsor...

...the Miss Symco Pin-Up Contest!

Be sure to set aside the weekend of August 10-11th to attend the Symco Shakedown Traditional Hot Rod Show in Symco, Wisconsin.  Don't be confused; it is not a rat rod, art car show. These are cars that would have been seen cruising the streets of America pre-1965.  'Traditional' is the key word here.

But the cars are really only half the story. The show grounds are known as Unionville, a reconstructed small town complete with general store, blacksmith, sawmill and operating saloon.  The saloon and dance hall will be thumping both days with rockabilly music. Two stages for your listening enjoyment, playing until 11pm both Friday and Saturday nights. The Miss Symco Pin-Up Contest will be held in the bandshell on Saturday morning at 10am. Mini-bike drags are scheduled in the dirt track immediately following the pin-up contest. Vintage engine raffle to be given away Saturday at 6pm. Also, vendors and swap meet will be running all day, both days. And last but not least, on-site camping is available.

Last year the pin-up contest was a blast!  Hosted by Lolita Haze, twenty-three contestants took the stage.  Our very own Wild Kat was lucky Number 7, complete with gorgeous Victory Rolls and handmade dress from a vintage Vogue pattern #8728 (more details here.)  I wasn't quite brave enough to take the stage, but Peachie and I played our parts behind the scenes. 

All the contestants looked great, but only the top twelve were featured in a Miss Symco Pin-Up Calendar.

First place went to Sweet Pea.  She is featured on this year's promotional card and will be returning to crown Miss Symco 2012.  This year we have thirty girls registered to compete; a few familiar faces from last year and a whole new cast of beautiful women eager to get a shot at that calendar! 

So if traditional hot rods, rockabilly music or pin-up girls sound like a good way to spend a weekend, get yourself over to the Symco Shakedown!  And be sure to stop by and say hello to the Hometown Victory Girls!

Check out facebook for both the Symco Shakedown and Miss Symco Pin-Up Contest pages.

HVG Picnic

Last Sunday the Hometown Victory Girls hosted a vintage picnic in the park.  My husband, Hank, loaded up our grill on the back of his 1950 Chevy, and we were off.  The weather was perfect!  Meeting everyone at the park, the children said their distracted hello's before we set them loose on the playground.  Tables were pulled together in the shade, and the girls popped the wine bottle.  If there's a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon, I'd like to hear it!

Your hostesses ~ BoPeep, Peachie & Wild Kat

We unfurled the tablecloth (repro cherry print from MODA) and oohed when Peachie unveiled her layer cake.  Made-from-scratch yellow cake with buttercream frosting, orange rosettes on top with basketweave around the sides.  Who does this for a picnic?!  To find out a little more about the three of us, check out the 'Members' tab at the top.

You'll find a few more photos on our facebook page.

I am disappointed that I didn't get a photo of all the picnic baskets!  I stock mine with plasticware, handi-wipes and a little cooler bag (you know the ones that come in diaper bags for holding your baby bottles?  they're perfect for string cheese and beef jerky).  Then it's ready to go for car shows and impromptu fishing excursions with Dad.  Well, Wild Kat and I brought the standard issue baskets (I have two more of these packed with fabric in my sewing room) while Peachie and the others had the ever-fashionable hamper style, stocked with dinnerware that was held in place with little leather straps and buckles.  So classy.

The guys got the grill going right away, serving up hamburgers, brats and lamb chops.  A few snickering jokes were made about 'having enough meat to go around,' but in fact, they were slightly outnumbered.

Stopping just long enough to eat, the kids parked on a blanket for a while.

Between all the eating, we talked about the upcoming must-attend car shows (Hunnert Car HeadsUp and the Meltdown Drags).  Discussed how to wear seemingly too large flowers in your hair.  And handed out Band-aids to the children. 

We filled our plates, changed places at the table, and filled our plates again.

There were a few more snickering jokes made, but not necessarily about meat.  Seems someone was having a good time creating nicknames...

The kids were worn out by the end of the day.  One had been buried in sand, the other went through three Band-aids, and yet another had a bloody nose (only discovered by Mom as he swooped down on the table looking for more cookies).  

All said and done, it was a good day.  I'm feeling like this could be the start to a beautiful tradition!

Trading your car-what's a girl to do?

At the Symco Shakedown I met a guy who coveted my Buick Wildcat, and wanted to trade for a Pontiac Chieftan that he had. Not having the mental car library that my husband does, I was not sure about this, so we exchanged numbers and went our ways. When we got home we got out the Cars of the 50's book and looked up the '53 Pontiac Chieftan. I was still not too impressed. I then received a phone call from the owner of the Chieftan who told me he could email me photos of the Pontiac.

1953 Pontiac Chieftan

 When I saw them I started to get that tingly feeling when you start falling in love (with a material object). I mean it was white with a cream interior, one of my favorites, and an older model than mine, but now I'm just getting ahead of myself since I haven't even driven or seen the Pontiac yet.  And so, as it often does life gets busy and it was a little while before we managed to meet to discover each other's cars. I was on the fence about trading, my car needed more work than his but being a convertible had a smaller number of models manufactured. Plus, the Wildcat is my baby, I've had it for eight years. I could drive the Pontiac more since it wouldn't be just a fair weather driver, but my Wildcat has a more powerful engine. I think when it came down to it, test drive and all, it was just an emotional attachment. I told him I needed a little time to think about it and promised him an answer soon.
As it turned out he contacted me the same evening and said he had changed his mind. I was relieved that I no longer had to make this decision and could continue my love affair with my imperfect Wildcat.
Happy motoring!

Wild Kat in her '64 Wildcat

Labor Day Rummaging

I have a tendency to find something no matter where or when I rummage so I didn't hit the streets big time this year.  But this weekend was, after all, the last big hurray for rummagers.  And I was physically driving by...how could I resist when I knew this was my last chance?!

I found a good selection of scraps dating from the 1940-50s to add to that vintage scrap quilt I'm collecting for (because I really need another one).  A pretty blue border print to do a summer skirt.  And a black on pink rayon dot that would make a smashing 1940s dress!

Always a sucker for chrome, I picked up this GE Power Spray iron.  Clean face plate, cord free of puppy chews and all the bells and whistles that 1970 had to offer for $1.

Speaking of 1970, I could not pass up this nylon nightie made by Regency Lingerie.  Not my typical first choice for sleepwear, but the print alone begs to be worn! 

Lately I've been drawn towards the 1930-40s FireKing pieces and was ecstatic when I came across these beauties.  All of these are small cereal bowl size and marked either FireKing, Anchor Hocking or GlasBake.  The coloring is in excellent condition without scratches or wear.  And who doesn't need a 6inch grater for a quarter?

A nice wool work shirt for me...

...and a nice wool work jacket for the husband.

And in case the above mentioned husband should be looking for something to do, I found this book from Better Homes and Gardens, dated 1970.  Complete instructions on everything from power tools to refinishing furniture!

And finally my last treasure (which gets me almost as excited as the nightie) is this All Purpose Travel Light, a teensy little trouble light that plugs into the cigarette lighter.  I almost put it back when I noticed the Ford emblem on the box which is the same emblem on my 1950 Ford Shoebox.  How cool is that?!

So perhaps I did myself an injustice when I avoided rummage sales all summer, but now I know for next year!

Symco Shakedown 2011

This years Symco Shakedown was the best yet! It went better all around, the weather was nice, camping was fun, the bands were great and the pin up contest was a blast! This year I planned a little better too. The kids came with us camping Thursday night then went to Grandma's for the other half of the weekend. Sometimes it's just too much for the little ones, as we found out last year when our youngest got sick.  Also we get to dance to the bands at night with out them, you know that fun stuff you used to do before kids? If you haven't found out yet I didn't make it in the pin up contest. Three very lovely gals got into the top three, and nine more into the calendar. The contest flew by pretty fast as nerves will do that to you, but I still had lots of fun and met lots of new great gals!

Strikng a pose with my cute goodie bag post show.

But alas all good things come to an end. We packed it up Sunday morning, said good-bye to our friends, and headed home. As much as wish I could live at Symco Shakedown, I can't, so it's back to my reality.

Today's picking from the garden.

Right now that means harvesting and preserving food from the garden, back to school shopping, and all the other general housewife duties. The red manicure is already chipped. However, it will be great to pop some fresh basil into my pasta from my garden not the store, or eat some sweet corn in the middle of winter. I think the rewards out weigh the labor. I am trying to take it all in before fall is here. If I look back at how much my life has changed since the last Shakedown it is pretty astounding, I have made new friends that enjoy the retro lifestyle, learned how to dance, tried lots of new recipes, and got back into sewing. All in all, not bad. I wonder what's in store for the next Symco Shakedown? I don't know, but I can't wait.

Where has all the chrome gone?

The custom hotrod trend of past years has been to shave off all the door handles, side trim, headlight benzels and hood ornaments.  Pair that with the traditional hotrod look of black suede in recent years, and what are we left with?

Rows of cars that blend into the pavement.  Yes, the white walled tires, scallops and pinstriping help to spruce things up, but really think about it.  Think of all the styling that we've willingly yanked off and left to mold in the corner of the garage.



Now admittedly some hood ornaments and badges should never have been put there in the first place (ahem, 1950 Fords, you heard me), but I would like to suggest that some of the car's character is lost in the fervent efforts of the owner to give it more character.
 

 

So humor me as I bring you some photo-graphical evidence of the beautiful chrome of yesteryear.  Well, actually it's from last summer, here in Wisconsin.

Chrome, in all it's blinding glory.  Bumpers wrapping around fenders.  Side trim reaching from wheel well to wheel well.  Hood ornaments that attempt to fly off the hood itself!  Ahhh, I can't get enough of chrome!!