The bridesmaids purses and hats

These little purses afforded me much needed breaks from sewing the dresses and were quickly satisfying! :D I made up my own patterns for them, but exhaustion and running out of time worked havoc with the last one, so I looked to Craftster for it's replacement.

Please take a moment to let them introduce themselves.

"Hi! I'm the most tailored!"

"Hello! I'm chic with pleats and a little color!"

"ciao, sono una figura di divertimento" (In english, that's "Hello, I'm a fun shape!")

*giggle* "I'm the favorite!" *blush*

"I'm last. That's just life, I guess." (This is also the only one that wasn't completed. The embellishment was only pinned on during the whole thing!)

I used tulle, ribbon roses, satin bows and my imagination to embellish them. We finally put the last few stitches on the hats the morning of the wedding. It was so worth it!

Some had little pockets. Only one had a zipper closure.

Every girl had at least one jewelry pouch. I made these because there was one in each of the vintage purses that my grandmother lent us for parties. The snaps were a breeze once the hammer finally made it's way back to the house after some very efficient hands whisked it off! :)

The hats were TW's idea, but I created a pattern that would work and set Annie on making them.

They really added to the vintage look that the bride wanted!


Many, many thanks to my younger sister for so patiently helping me fashion the ribbon roses! Yep, all 38 of them; there was painstaking small stitches to wrap the ends up, too! Also thanks to Mother for finding us the instructions and the rest of my sisters for moral support and advice. We giggled a lot late one night working on them!

We did not carry our purses during the ceremony, but it was nice knowing that these cute little things were waiting with family for us and they looked very good with our bouquets on the bridal table!

Note: I do intend to eventually post pictures of the bridesmaids dresses, but I don't have the professional pictures yet and I want to wait for them! There are a few shots that I'm hoping the photographer caught!

Vintage Style Blouse

I altered this cute dress pattern to make a blouse. I'd already made a muslin for a now almost finished dress, so I knew it would fit (perfectly, too, in my opinion!). I couldn't pass up this perfectly darling fabric when I saw it. With only 1 1/4 yds, I knew I'd have to be careful with the pattern choice. This was the perfect one!


Results: The ghost of a vintage pattern updated for the empire waist fashions of today!

The right side of the fabric was too bright for me, so I have the wrong side out; it's so much more pretty that way! It's lined with white muslin, but is still lightweight and perfect for the unbearable heat I'm anticipating this summer.

The finished aprons

Designed by Yours Truly.

Birthday gift for a special friend

My first ever crocheted doily!





EXTRA BONUS!!!
Here's the birthday card! From this tutorial.

Refashioned shirt

I made this shirt a few years ago, but rarely wore it because I didn't like it 100%! My sister altered it some, but then she didn't wear it. Finally, I decided to alter it again! This time I completely ripped the sleeves off because they didn't fit correctly, changed the neckline and replaced the zipper in the side. Because it's a woven, it has to be just perfect in order to get it over the head with ease; I think I've accomplished that! I added full sleeves from another pattern and gathered them into a band at the bottom, then folded the excess an attached a button.

Here's a before shot:

Here's hoping I'll wear it now!

Friday Food

A special sneak peek!

I was informed that a certain little girl has been haunting my blog for pictures of the bridesmaids dresses. This post is dedicated to her! *cheering and clapping*




*smile*

Friday Fashion

*insert creative title here*

When I saw this skirt panel at the fabric store, I couldn't resist it! Who could?! I made it up at the end of January, but I'm just now getting around to taking and posting pictures. *grin* When I discovered that it wouldn't be quite as long as I like my shorter skirts, I decided to add a ruffle from some pink fabric in my stash.



I sewed pink bias tape along the seamline and waistline. This is the first time I've done that and I love it!



Brown bias tape for the ruffle seamline.




It twirls perfectly.



My sister said it's so Boden. My grandmother wanted to put her shades on when she saw it. Teehee!

A purse for Spring!

I made up my own pattern for this. I'm not completely happy with the way it turned out (I wish I had applied interfacing to the outside pieces!) and I'll definitely make some changes next time. Oh well. I used just scraps from my stash and I'm quite excited about the possibilities of making more!

Here's a shot of the front. I forgot to get a picture of the side, but you can barely tell that the sides and bottom are the solid brown.



A pocket for a pen and one for a compact, a small wallet or whatever fits best. I used up a little piece of pink rick rack that I've had around for several months now. *happy smile*



A cell phone slot on the other end. The lining is the same as the strap and top border.

I've gotten into the habit of not showing anyone my progress as I go along on a project. I just surprise them with the finished product! It's great fun and gives me more incentive to finish things quickly!

~Kyna

Project Salvage - A Retro Jumper!

This is word-for-word from the sewing forum I frequent - sorry if you came here looking for "something more"! ;)

My little sister made this skirt awhile ago, but it was too small so it was boxed away with the rest of her unfinished projects. Last week during a drastic purge, she let it go. Guess who took it?!

Originally I planned to turn it into a shorter summer skirt for myself, but a brainstorm took place and I went to work. Viola! In one afternoon, I had completed (all but the hem) this retro jumper for my twelve-year-old sister!

I didn't use any patterns (I only glanced at one - does that count?). I chopped 9” off the bottom to use for the waistband and bib. I used the pre-cut waistband for the straps and I had to add the bib so that they would be long enough. Leftover scraps from an apron for the lining and two buttons from my stash completed the project.

Enough talk – onto the pictures now!







It's projects like these that keep me sewing!

~Kyna

Life these days

.sharing the table with school.

.pre-shrinking dupioni silk. a precise, time-consuming process.

.making darts.

.caffeine to keep my energy up.

.calculations and more calculations.

.pins in fabric.



.trying not to be sick of that color.

.getting faster and faster.

.giggle fest with my sisters because we are too tired.

All of this means that the bridesmaids dresses are slowing taking shape and getting done. Repeat, slowly. I am gaining lots of experience during this time.

Crochet hook holder

After six unsuccessful attempts to crochet one of these, I gave up and sewed one. I'm not complaining too much though, because I think it goes much better with my handwork totebag and it's far more glamorous! ;)


I didn't use a pattern, but I've seen a few on other blogs. Only scraps were used in this project and I must say I'm starting to love making things with only scraps. I can be so creative! I have more hooks than just these, but I wanted them to blend together in the pictures; I need to get all the same color hooks from now on! And here we have it all rolled up:

Finally done!

I started both of these before Christmas, but finished them just this week. *facepalm* It is a relief to have them finally done.


^Is the one that I showed unfinished in this post. And here is the back of it:





This one is the second favorite of the three I made. I used scraps from a beautiful fabric for the back and lace that I got from my grandmother. It makes it quite old fashioned-ish looking.




Taken from Country Christmas Crafts by Better Homes and Gardens.

Recent acquisitions

I've been antiquing with my grandmother and discovered these treasures. I won't say how much I paid for each, but believe me, it was a very good price! I'm really looking forward to making all of them. I know I never will, but I can dream, can't I? I sincerely hope to make all the vintage patterns I have acquired, but who has that much time and as I add more and more to "my collection", my hopes to be able to make them all diminish more and more. *smile*

McCalls 2169 - 1957 - Size 4 - Little girls dress and pinafore. All pieces included. Originally $0.45


Hollywood 1546 - Six years - Girls one piece frock with bolero and pantie. blouse and bodice patterns missing. *tear* I think this is from about the same time, but I'm not sure. Perhaps it's earlier as it was originally only $0.15.



This afghan magazine is from 1954, in "good enough" condition and enticing me to make some. Below I have posted two of my favorites, but there is many more to make. In the second picture, the lady reminds me of Irene Dunne.







I do believe this is the greatest find of all - Aprons magazine from 1945! All of the pictures below are from it and a view of all the opposite sides. Now to decide which to start with when I have the time! *dream* The pattern pieces are inside the back cover, they just need to be enlarged.



While it is not frilly, I think the far right one would make a fabulous apron for messy jobs; it is number 19 in the reverse views.


"Many hands make light work", especially when they are all wearing gorgeous aprons!


"Hmm, it tastes perfect".


"Did you hear about...?"


Cinderella, perhaps?


Domestic Diva has it under control







P.S. None of these are for sale and I have no plans to sell them in the future. ;)