Vintage from a Barn Sale

I really love shopping. In fact, I find it most rewarding when I shop at things like estate sales, just because anything you find in a place like that automatically carries more weight...you had to dig for it! Here are some of my latest finds at a recent barn estate sale in Bloomfield. They can also be found on my etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/lxp3478.

The little things.

Way back when, in the times before the seventies, I have this opinion that life was not necessarily better..just more detail oriented. The thought comforts me. I guess this is because I myself am very detail oriented--not just in the way I do things,but also in the way I dress, decorate my home, and act.

I went to an estate sale yesterday in a barn, and was floored by how many little tidbits there were from this woman's life. Each dress I purchased had a matching bolero, often made out of delicate tulle or lace. Wedding dresses had crowns. Little purses had detachable clutches inside.

Whatever happened to the following details?

The perfect hat

Gloves.

The beautiful sweater guard.

The thank you note.

The well-fitted suit.

The peignoir/nightgown set.

The scarf.

The decanter set for liquor.

These days it feels like no one takes the time to dwell on the little pieces of appearance that make us feel and look special. I get that we're all busy, but maybe by taking that little extra second to dwell, we can use our time to inflect upon our own selves a little more. After all, one can't care for others until one cares for themselves.

Let's talk about my fear of skirts.

I recently purchased this really great Joel Dewberry fabric from an Etsy seller in two colors...the lime green and the dark pink.

Now, I was in love with this fabric, but honestly had no idea what to do with it. I really wanted to make something utterly cool, but it doesn't seem like this fabric would be all that great all over your body--as in, a full length dress. After a little bit of snooping, I found this skirt over at Bird and Bread:

(img courtesy Bird and Bread)

Isn't it sooooo cute? She did an amazing job sewing it, and I only wish I could replicate the effort. Unfortunately, I have this little problem. Ok, a big problem.

(I look really bad in pencil skirts.)

Even I get how defeatist this is, but it's totally true. I just can't find any styles that accommodate my curvy hips with my small waist. I'm not built like a stick...I can't help that. But, I can totally take a cue from the fabulous blogger above and sew my own, well-fitted skirt.

I looked for a long time. Vogue had a lot of high-waisted options that I really liked, but I finally settled on this pattern from the "project runway" line. It's kind of a tulip skirt sort of shape that I think will go really well.

The link to the pattern review is here.

The one that the reviewer made up looked a little poofy in the hips...but hopefully this will work for me. I've never worn the style, personally. Here goes nothing!

Ok people, let's talk strapless. Or: A PLEA TO DESIGNERS EVERYWHERE

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, EVERYONE GET OVER IT.

Thanks for letting me have that little rant. Now I feel like we can truly begin.

This all started this morning when, groggy as a pirate the night after a wedding (aren't I punny? pirates would drink grog...Ok, sorry) I clambered onto my email and saw the email from VoguePatterns proclaiming that the NEW PATTERNS WERE HERE. YAY! I'm kind of a (not so) secret pattern hoarder, so I decided to check things out. Well, surprise, surprise...I was more or less disappointed. Here's a selection.

Wow. Look at all those sheath dresses. YAWN.

And then, the kicker. I saw it hovering around the bottom...some sort of delicious floral-on-white. Nothing gets my attention like pink and red on white. Here's what it was on:

                                                   

STRAPLESS! Why??? Why has everything got to be strapless? Who came up with this idea? It's terrible!

In my expertise, there is a tiny boob-range of women who can wear strapless gowns. If you are flat chested, you are not in it. Also, if you have any chest to speak of, you are not in it. That leaves...oh, about 1.8% of women who look good in a strapless. So WHY IN THE WORLD do we see this stupid design EVERYWHERE? 

(how does this last one even stay up?! what if you have to stretch!?)

I get that there's a certain charm to showing off your beautiful shoulders and collarbones. However, the majority of women (even the ones who can make these bizarre things stay up) still spend more time hiking the bodice up and/or looking like the saggy boobed grannies of yore. These types of clothes always drag down your bust. Is that the charm--the almost falling off part? Can someone help me here?

There are other ways to show off that chest without needing to resort to almost baring it. Busty ladies, why not try something like this? (Image from igigi.com...one of my fave designers)

And that goes for the rest of you too! Let's all shed the strapless like the dead weight it is, and bring back the boatneck, the cowl neck, the sweetheart neckline with long sleeves! Let's throw out the saggy boobage and celebrate cap sleeves!

Who's with me?!

And by the way, Vogue Patterns...THANKS FOR NOTHING!

What I did this weekend...

Was make some Marie Antoinette-inspired pumps with my mom. A regular 80's pump and some trim, earrings, and glue, and you've got a new shoe! Enjoy the preview. Check them all out in my shop tomorrow.

A Shameless Plug

Some of you may not know this, but I am a shop-o-holic. Oh, you did know? Then know this: I also am a sell-o-holic, and have an online Etsy store, where I sell many of my vintage finds. Please visit it:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/lxp3478

I have a lot of great things in there right now, including...

a purple plaid wool skirt

a leather shift dress

a woolen pleated grey skirt

AND RED POLKA DOT PANTS!

Now, I realize my taste is sometimes "too much" for the average consumer, but I guarantee you that if I could squeeze my giant rear into those pants, I would be sashaying down every street, lane, and boulevard in them, night and day. But, that's just me. A lot of the things in my shop I buy because they are UNIQUE, and that's just what I like to think other people want to be.

Give it a look! Let me know what you think!

In which I complete an apron and make the world's best sandwich!

I love the feeling of finishing a project! Sewing is great for this, because the end result isn't a model car or space ship or something, but actually a piece I can wear and/or use. Today, I finished my Valentine's Day Apron.

(I apologize for the terrible picture. I'm working on a tripod. Really.)

Super simple and actually made by following this tutorial over at One More Moore... Basically, a square of backing fabric + rectangles of fabric for ruffles + fabric for the band = apron.

Cool!

I had a little issue with my backing fabric, as after hemming it wasn't exactly wide enough to go around my hips. I have come to terms with this, as it's not really a protect your skirt kind of apron, more of a hosting apron...But, I love to dress up, and I don't have any pink aprons for V-Day, so this is perfect. The fabric is one I got off ebay with a radish fabric I love, but because this one is sheer I had no idea what to do with it...until now. The SO calls it "bacon n' pansies" because the little pink squares totally look like bacon. Ok, I'll buy it. 

It's a prototype, but I hope to make more. Some pointers for next time:

1. Check and RECHECK your ruffle rectangle measurements. I don't know if you can see, but I totally made the top 3 rectangles about 6 inches too short. Oops. I just figured they'd layer for some cascading ruffles, and it doesn't look too bad. Hmm.

2. Find a better backing fabric. I just used white for this, and it's not really all that pretty on the other side. I mean, no fabric will be, persay, but I could get one with a little polka dot or something...which is what the tutorial recommends anyway...Oh well...

In passing, I LOVE the fabric i used for the band. It's some sort of linen-look stretch type thing. Who knows what practical apparel applications this thing has, but it sure was nice to iron. 

Well, onto the sandwich. I don't have any real pictures of this, so I will just have to substitute. I made the world's best sandwich yesterday. 

Not even joking. For some reason, I rediscovered Price Rite the other day, which is like this cornucopia of food for really cheap. And, it's usually pretty good food! So I am in the meat section and I get this CRAZY idea. What if I get these really thin slices of beef and tenderize them, and then make a sandwich out of them?

So, I did. I got this meat, and I got some bread, and pickles, and stuff. And a tomato or two, though winter tomatoes are terrible--but it's just not a sandwich for me without a tomato. And here's what I did:

(except with meat.)

Yup, I pounded those suckers with a tenderizing hammer until they were paper thin. Then, I fried them in butter. Oh, horror of horrors! How will I ever live! Oh, stop it. I don't buy this butter is sin crap. Butter is so much better than any of that nasty processed stuff, and used in moderation is a good way to add NATURAL fats to your diet.

But I digress.

I also sprinkled them with paprika and salt, and once they were just barely cooked, drained them in some paper towels and put them between two slices of whole grain crusty bread with mayo, mustard, pickles, and a tomato.

Heaven.

I highly recommend this. Best thing is that I am still eating these sandwiches...unfortunately, the meat gets tough in the fridge, but I guess that's just my consequence.

Of eating butter, I mean.

Fashion trends I just can't stand, episode 1

Wearing your nice shoes...IN THE SNOW.

Ugh, call me a stickler, call me an old fashioned lame-o, but no REAL LADY wears her work shoes in the snow. 

I live in lovely Rochester, New York, which is a grand name for a place otherwise known as the basement of America. It is a little damp, it is a little dark, but you find a ton of really cool stuff here and it has a good vibe. Oh, and snow. Lots of snow. 

Just this morning I was suiting up for my long day and trying to decide what footwear to bring along to work, because the weather outside wasn't exactly frightful, but the remnants of snowstorm slush were there and I love my shoes too much to subject them to that. So, on went the nasty snow boots underneath my nice, expensive grey slacks, into a little baggie went my NotRated ankle booties with plaid foldover, and off I went.

On my way to class I see this really tall, thin girl with a lovely black coat on, which was perfectly suited to her and very long as well. There was a grey beret present. Nice. I was so intrigued by her sense of style in outerwear (as I generally am by well-dressed people) that I almost said something to her about it, but then my eyes got to her feet and there they were.

The cutest pair of velvet, black high heels with a bow on each delightful little toe.

Slogging through the salty mush.

Getting dirty.

Ladies, please. If you are going to spend money on nice shoes, especially the most heart breakingly wonderful pair of black velvet bow-on-the-toe ones, you need to also invest in a crummy pair of snow boots. I almost knelt to the ground and wept for these poor shoes and this poor girl, who will now have crusty and terrible salt stains all over her tootsies for the rest of forever. 

I don't care how busy you are. I don't care what style of dress you subscribe to. Say no to snow. If your shoes cost more than $20, and you like them enough to wear them in public, for God's sake take care of them.

Ok so you hate boots. 

 SHUELLA's are these fabulous little waterproof covers for your dress shoes. Awesome, they come in different colors. Not awesome: not insulated. But if you don't care about your toes turning black and falling off, then I guess it's ok. Plus they'll last you a while, and they look chic. I would totally pay to get these.

Whatever you do, do it fast. Your shoes will thank you. Now get out of here. I have some loving, gentle whispering to do into my shoe closet.

I have a problem, and it is called: I spend money.

Ok. Welcome to the first ever SEWING SUNDAY, hopefully a regular fixture on ye olde blogge. I couldn't really resist the temptation of discussing my purchases from the Vogue/McCalls/Butterick $3.99 pattern sales. I wasn't going to buy these patterns. I swear. Then, the devil took hold in the shape of this little suit:

...and that was it. I know, it's marked Advanced, and I still struggle with a pillowcase. I will save it for the FUTURE, when I am a level 57 sewing Jedi.  Just like I will be saving this dress along with it: 

...isn't it beautiful?
Well, on top of all of this, I decided to see what was up in the vintage and retro patterns section. No good, that's what. I ended up with these 4 from various areas:

...and if you look at the last one and wonder what happened to my sanity, I will tell you it flew out the window when I saw the incarnation of this dress and imagined myself lounging around in an expensive restaurant or something in it. 

I know. It's like the coolest thing ever. That, and those incredible hats. Next, I picked up a fall coat type pattern thing, because I secretly love these and I know that this pattern and I were made in heaven for each other. 

Finally, I purchased a vest pattern because the SO has been bugging me for a vest ever since he learned that i could sew. It sure looks dorky on these people, but we will make it look hipper. I swear.

And that's all, folks. Just had to share. Don't be like me, you will be broke in a very short amount of time. :(