This is one of my favourite pictures ever! It was taken in 2005 on our very first trip to Scotland (almost exactly six years ago today!). This at the Loch Ness museum and that's Nessie herself in the background!
Happy Friday everyone!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Happy Birthday David!!!
Today is my sweetiepie's birthday! Here's wishing a wonderful birthday to the most amazing man!
This is one of my favourite pictures ever! It was taken in 2005 on our very first trip to Scotland (almost exactly six years ago today!). This at the Loch Ness museum and that's Nessie herself in the background!
Happy Friday everyone!
This is one of my favourite pictures ever! It was taken in 2005 on our very first trip to Scotland (almost exactly six years ago today!). This at the Loch Ness museum and that's Nessie herself in the background!
Happy Friday everyone!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
My 1932 gown...
I am super, super excited about this latest sewing project for the television theme over at the Sew Weekly. I knew right away that I wanted to make an outfit inspired by my absolute favorite TV show--Firefly. Firefly is what is called a Space Western--part Sci Fi, part Western. It aired in 2002 for 10 of 14 episodes but was cancelled. Due to the huge fan outcry because of the canceling of the show, a movie with the same characters was made called 'Serenity'. The TV show has almost reached cult status because there is still a huge fan following and the DVD sales of the show are still going strong.
David and I are big fans, we are part of the 'Edinburgh Browncoats' fanclub (there are similar fanclubs around the world). The TV show is fantastic. It features an amazing ensemble cast and you really feel connected to all the characters. Definitely check it out if you haven't already! I believe the Science Channel has been airing the episodes since March.
My outfit inspiration came from one of the characters named Inara Serra. She's always very regally dressed. Here are a few photos:
I decided to use the Vintage Fashion Library's reproduction pattern of the 1932 DuBarry 1082B pattern:
Isn't it dreamy? I absolutely love the shape of the back and the lines of the dress!! The character, Inara, dresses quite a bit in lovely shades of red and gold and uses Chinese and Indian print fabric and I thought that would be perfect for this gown. I found this amazing medium-weight Chinese silk at Edinburgh Fabrics and knew it would be a match made in heaven:
I love this fabric. It's a dream to sew with and I love the different colors reflected within the fabric itself. I used a gold crepe back satin for the border of the bodice.
I am quite happy with how it turned out:
I made a belt to match and found an amazing belt buckle (at the last moment) on Etsy from UK seller jemimajay on Etsy that I think goes perfectly with the fabric:
The building is beautiful! Check out the doors:
And of course, the back of the dress is my absolute favorite part:
This dress is pretty easy to put together! The bodice front actually reminds me a bit of the 1934 Wearing History gown I made for Valentine's Day. Both patterns have a gathered front bodice. The instructions for the border of the bodice have you sew it on the inside and then slipstitch to the outside (almost like the opposite of facing)!
There is no interfacing at all in the border and it stays put fairly well. You'll notice the pattern cover shows the dress with two dress clips--which would also look fantastic.
I'm going to try and make this pattern up as a blouse as well for the 1932 spot in my Sewing through the Decades Challenge goal and see how it works. I think for the blouse version I might use interfacing in the back 'v' section because I plan to use crepe back satin for both the main body of the blouse and for the contrast material. Don't you think it would look cute as a tuck-in blouse? I'll let you know how I get on with that!
It has been unseasonably warm in Scotland--the weather was actually perfect for wearing this dress outside. I'm planning to wear it tomorrow for David's birthday! We were thinking of revisiting the place we went on Valentine's day :)
And this amazing photo of the church:
And I just have to share this last photo so that you can see how sunny it was in Edinburgh! This is a photo from the Prince's Street Gardens with the fountain and the castle in the background--one of my absolute favorite views in the city!
David and I are big fans, we are part of the 'Edinburgh Browncoats' fanclub (there are similar fanclubs around the world). The TV show is fantastic. It features an amazing ensemble cast and you really feel connected to all the characters. Definitely check it out if you haven't already! I believe the Science Channel has been airing the episodes since March.
My outfit inspiration came from one of the characters named Inara Serra. She's always very regally dressed. Here are a few photos:
I decided to use the Vintage Fashion Library's reproduction pattern of the 1932 DuBarry 1082B pattern:
I am quite happy with how it turned out:
I made a belt to match and found an amazing belt buckle (at the last moment) on Etsy from UK seller jemimajay on Etsy that I think goes perfectly with the fabric:
David took some photos of me wearing the dress at St. Mary's Cathedral, which is apparently the largest ecclesiastical building in Scotland the only place that still maintains the daily choral tradition!
And of course, the back of the dress is my absolute favorite part:
This dress is pretty easy to put together! The bodice front actually reminds me a bit of the 1934 Wearing History gown I made for Valentine's Day. Both patterns have a gathered front bodice. The instructions for the border of the bodice have you sew it on the inside and then slipstitch to the outside (almost like the opposite of facing)!
I'm going to try and make this pattern up as a blouse as well for the 1932 spot in my Sewing through the Decades Challenge goal and see how it works. I think for the blouse version I might use interfacing in the back 'v' section because I plan to use crepe back satin for both the main body of the blouse and for the contrast material. Don't you think it would look cute as a tuck-in blouse? I'll let you know how I get on with that!
It has been unseasonably warm in Scotland--the weather was actually perfect for wearing this dress outside. I'm planning to wear it tomorrow for David's birthday! We were thinking of revisiting the place we went on Valentine's day :)
The flowers are all in bloom and Edinburgh looks so lovely! Check out this amazing photo David took of the flowers:
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Notions
I just got the most lovely package in the mail all the way from Australia from Amanda over at the Sewing Circle:
There was a group of us on the Sewing Circle that were so inspired by the Common Thread Project. For those who may not have seen it, Mena over at Sew Weekly started the Common Thread Project by sending 5 yards of lace to 8 amazing seamstresses to see how they used it! Check out their projects: there is the totally adorable pajamas made by Mena, the wonderful and awe-inspiring 1930's blouse made by Lauren, the awesome secretary blouse made by Sarai, the elegant and romantic 1918 blouse made by Casey, the va-va-voom beautiful dress made by Sunni, the fun and sunny dress made by Tasia, and the feminine and beautiful 1940's dress made by Charlotte.
So a few of us wanted in on the fun when Kat who blogs over at Macskakat had the lovely idea of organising our own travelling notions swap! Anyone who wanted to participate just sent Kat their address and she randomly selected someone for each of us to send a packet full of notions to! It was SO MUCH FUN! It's really nice receiving something in the mail from across the world! Our project now is to incorporate these new notions into our upcoming projects and document it!
Well, Amanda went beyond that and sent me two bonus goodies: the 1940's home notes magazine and this lovely pattern:
Isn't that so beautiful! Amanda wrote a sweet letter to accompany the package that really touched my heart! Thanks so much Amanda!!
Oh and check out these buttons...I LOVE these tiny thistle buttons:
If you haven't already, definitely check out the Sewing Circle. It's so much fun and allows for much more interaction with fellow sewers than blogging usually allows.
Speaking of interaction, I'm also gearing up for the biggest UK sewing blogger meet-up that will be in London in the middle of May. A big group from the Sewing Circle (from around the UK) will be meeting and going to the V&A exhibit AND we are planning to meet up with Karen from Did you Make That and more sewing bloggers for a The Goldhawk Road Fabric Fandango! Ack! So much excitement! No idea how many of us there will be but it will be big! Plus, the ladies from the Sewing Circle are all planning on making outfits for the meet-up in the colours of red, white and blue (not necessarily all three together) for the occasion. These are definitely my kind of people--we are going to have sooooo much fun!
Lastly, a tiny (and I mean tiny because this picture is small! haha) sneak peek into what I've been working on this week for the 'Television' challenge over at the Sew Weekly. I've coincided this week's Sew Weekly challenge with filling the gap for 1932 in my Sewing Through the Decades goal:
And that's the back of a dress (I know it might look like something else but I'm not that creative or daring, yet)! :)
So a few of us wanted in on the fun when Kat who blogs over at Macskakat had the lovely idea of organising our own travelling notions swap! Anyone who wanted to participate just sent Kat their address and she randomly selected someone for each of us to send a packet full of notions to! It was SO MUCH FUN! It's really nice receiving something in the mail from across the world! Our project now is to incorporate these new notions into our upcoming projects and document it!
Well, Amanda went beyond that and sent me two bonus goodies: the 1940's home notes magazine and this lovely pattern:
Oh and check out these buttons...I LOVE these tiny thistle buttons:
If you haven't already, definitely check out the Sewing Circle. It's so much fun and allows for much more interaction with fellow sewers than blogging usually allows.
Speaking of interaction, I'm also gearing up for the biggest UK sewing blogger meet-up that will be in London in the middle of May. A big group from the Sewing Circle (from around the UK) will be meeting and going to the V&A exhibit AND we are planning to meet up with Karen from Did you Make That and more sewing bloggers for a The Goldhawk Road Fabric Fandango! Ack! So much excitement! No idea how many of us there will be but it will be big! Plus, the ladies from the Sewing Circle are all planning on making outfits for the meet-up in the colours of red, white and blue (not necessarily all three together) for the occasion. These are definitely my kind of people--we are going to have sooooo much fun!
Lastly, a tiny (and I mean tiny because this picture is small! haha) sneak peek into what I've been working on this week for the 'Television' challenge over at the Sew Weekly. I've coincided this week's Sew Weekly challenge with filling the gap for 1932 in my Sewing Through the Decades goal:
Monday, April 18, 2011
Mission McCall Mondays
I have a big goal. I absolutely love Vintage Pattern Wiki--it's heaven for anyone who loves patterns. I've been wanting to see if I can update the Wiki so that it's complete for all McCall patterns from mid 1936-1940! Crazy eh? I have a few source documents and I figure between my own source pictures, the vintage pattern sellers that regularly contribute to the Vintage Pattern Wiki and all of my readers that we might be able to come up with the images for all of these patterns? How AMAZING would that be? Freely accessible to everyone!
So that's my goal and the start of a new feature on my blog called 'Mission McCall Mondays'. It's going to take a couple of years. I'm planning to tackle about 10 patterns a week. I've decided to randomly start with McCall pattern numbers 9000 and go to 4000 (it skips numbers 1000-2999 I believe) AND kaumagraph transfer patterns from numbers 500 to 900. I'll upload the ten patterns each week to the Vintage Pattern Wiki and see if we can get a complete pattern listing for these years!
Whose in? There are likely to be many patterns I will be missing. If you have a picture of the pattern (from a McCall magazine or Style News or other magazine) or if you have the pattern cover, either upload it into Vintage Pattern Wiki or send me the photo and I'll upload it for you! I'll keep a running list of the patterns that I'm missing. Even if you see it for sale, let me know and I can contact the seller to see if we can upload the image into the Vintage Pattern Wiki! Oh, I'm super excited!
So this week's patterns are McCall Kaumagraph Transfer Patterns #500-510. Here's what I was able to pull together:
This is McCall 500 a nightgown for girls in sizes 6-14. It has an adorable flower to embroider on the neck yoke. Here's a close-up of the pattern:
McCall 501 is also a little girl's pajamas this time in a top/bottom ensemble:
Here's a close-up. I love how it is almost a mirror image of McCall 500!
Next up is McCall 506, which is also an apron. This time with applique trim:
Here's a close-up. I'm loving the cherry print border and the ruffled waist and pleats!
That's all the ones I have for this week. I'm missing McCall 502, 503, 505, 507, 508, 509 & 510. I think these are all from 1936. Do you have any of these patterns? OR the images? If so, and you'd like to add them to the Vintage Pattern Wiki, just email a picture to me at: myhappysewingplace[at]googlemail[dot]com.
Up next week is McCall 9000-9010!
So that's my goal and the start of a new feature on my blog called 'Mission McCall Mondays'. It's going to take a couple of years. I'm planning to tackle about 10 patterns a week. I've decided to randomly start with McCall pattern numbers 9000 and go to 4000 (it skips numbers 1000-2999 I believe) AND kaumagraph transfer patterns from numbers 500 to 900. I'll upload the ten patterns each week to the Vintage Pattern Wiki and see if we can get a complete pattern listing for these years!
Whose in? There are likely to be many patterns I will be missing. If you have a picture of the pattern (from a McCall magazine or Style News or other magazine) or if you have the pattern cover, either upload it into Vintage Pattern Wiki or send me the photo and I'll upload it for you! I'll keep a running list of the patterns that I'm missing. Even if you see it for sale, let me know and I can contact the seller to see if we can upload the image into the Vintage Pattern Wiki! Oh, I'm super excited!
So this week's patterns are McCall Kaumagraph Transfer Patterns #500-510. Here's what I was able to pull together:
McCall 501 is also a little girl's pajamas this time in a top/bottom ensemble:
Here's a close-up. I love how it is almost a mirror image of McCall 500!
The next pattern is already in the Vintage Pattern Wiki and it's McCall 504:
I absolutely adore this apron! The embroidered pockets almost look like tulips!!
Next up is McCall 506, which is also an apron. This time with applique trim:
Here's a close-up. I'm loving the cherry print border and the ruffled waist and pleats!
Up next week is McCall 9000-9010!
Friday, April 15, 2011
My 1944 'Almost Easter' Dress
This week's theme over at the Sew Weekly was drawing inspiration from a childhood photo to recreate an outfit.
This is the photo I chose:
Heeheehee.... I'm totally glammed up! Check out those white gloves! And matching headband! I love that funny look on my face!!
I wanted to capture the dressed-up Easter feeling of the photo above. I particularly wanted something that had an interesting sleeve detail (check out those puffed sleeves in my childhood photo!), something light pink and something I could wear with lovely white gloves.
McCall 5676 from 1944 fit the bill perfectly:
I used version A as my guide and did it up without the lace trim and without pockets. I was originally going to do version B's sleeves but ended up going with A (to use some of the fabric details).
I've been eyeing the broderie anglaise at the local fabric shop for awhile. It's so beautiful and I love fabric with a border. I was, however, concerned that it was so sheer. I also don't tend to wear pastels, so I wasn't sure how it would work but when Mena announced the theme for this week, I decided to go for it!
It was really fun trying to piece it all together and to use bits of the broderie anglaise for different elements of the dress.
I used the scallop of the broderie anglaise for the hem and the sleeves of the dress. This was very nice as it meant I didn't have to hem either of them!! Of course the downside was matching up the pattern and also figuring out how much length I needed for the dress and translating that into how I made up the skirt (i.e. taking up more into the waist in front than in the back for my bum which affects the length of the dress!)
I also made self-covered buttons with the three-leaf clover design that was in the border of the fabric. I really like how they came out!
Happy almost Easter everyone!
This is the photo I chose:
I wanted to capture the dressed-up Easter feeling of the photo above. I particularly wanted something that had an interesting sleeve detail (check out those puffed sleeves in my childhood photo!), something light pink and something I could wear with lovely white gloves.
McCall 5676 from 1944 fit the bill perfectly:
I used version A as my guide and did it up without the lace trim and without pockets. I was originally going to do version B's sleeves but ended up going with A (to use some of the fabric details).
I've been eyeing the broderie anglaise at the local fabric shop for awhile. It's so beautiful and I love fabric with a border. I was, however, concerned that it was so sheer. I also don't tend to wear pastels, so I wasn't sure how it would work but when Mena announced the theme for this week, I decided to go for it!
It was really fun trying to piece it all together and to use bits of the broderie anglaise for different elements of the dress.
I used the scallop of the broderie anglaise for the hem and the sleeves of the dress. This was very nice as it meant I didn't have to hem either of them!! Of course the downside was matching up the pattern and also figuring out how much length I needed for the dress and translating that into how I made up the skirt (i.e. taking up more into the waist in front than in the back for my bum which affects the length of the dress!)
I also made self-covered buttons with the three-leaf clover design that was in the border of the fabric. I really like how they came out!
Happy almost Easter everyone!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Giveaway winner AND my 1941 apron
Thanks everyone for such nice comments about the EvaDress competition! It's so much fun to share good news with all of you!
Thanks also to everyone who entered the giveaway...I wish I could give each and every one of you the pattern of your choice (as I would love to see them all made up!)
So without further ado...onto the winner...
The winner of the giveaway is Seersucker Sally! YAY! Congrats! If you're not already following Seersucker Sally's blog, you really must go and have a look! She made the loveliest blue swing dress as part of Casey's swing dress sew-along. Congrats--can't wait to see what you make up with the EvaDress pattern. Just send me an email (myhappysewingplace[at]googlemail[dot]com) and we'll get it all sorted!
I also finished my 1941 apron!! I made it from a lovely polka dot cotton fabric:
It's from McCall 917 and I must say, I really adore this pattern. Everything from the ruffled sleeves to the adorable pockets, to the t-bar and bow back!
Here's a photo of the bow in the back!
Instead of just narrowly hemming the bow in the back, I faced it with some black linen material (actually the same black linen material used to make the Burda dress I am wearing underneath the apron--pictures of that coming soon--I want to take some photos of the dress outside too!) I did this because the back side of this polka dot material is white and I knew parts of the back side of the bow would show once it was all tied up and I thought it would look much better with the black background (I would have used the polka dot material--but I didn't have enough!)
Here's a picture of the arm ruffle....I did the same thing with the arm ruffles because I knew the underside would show. The instructions said to just hem the edges of the arm ruffle, but like the back bow, I wanted a more 'finished' look. I didn't want my hems and the backside of the material to show! So I also faced the shoulder ruffles.
I also really adore the pockets on this apron, which have their very own ruffles:
Can I invite you in for a cup of tea? These apron definitely makes me want to host a large dinner party or bake a loaf of bread....
Or whip up a souffle:
Or drink some wine! HA! That's my favorite part of cooking anyways ;-)
Cheers everyone! Hope your week is off to a great start!!
Thanks also to everyone who entered the giveaway...I wish I could give each and every one of you the pattern of your choice (as I would love to see them all made up!)
So without further ado...onto the winner...
The winner of the giveaway is Seersucker Sally! YAY! Congrats! If you're not already following Seersucker Sally's blog, you really must go and have a look! She made the loveliest blue swing dress as part of Casey's swing dress sew-along. Congrats--can't wait to see what you make up with the EvaDress pattern. Just send me an email (myhappysewingplace[at]googlemail[dot]com) and we'll get it all sorted!
I also finished my 1941 apron!! I made it from a lovely polka dot cotton fabric:
It's from McCall 917 and I must say, I really adore this pattern. Everything from the ruffled sleeves to the adorable pockets, to the t-bar and bow back!
Here's a photo of the bow in the back!
Here's a picture of the arm ruffle....I did the same thing with the arm ruffles because I knew the underside would show. The instructions said to just hem the edges of the arm ruffle, but like the back bow, I wanted a more 'finished' look. I didn't want my hems and the backside of the material to show! So I also faced the shoulder ruffles.
I also really adore the pockets on this apron, which have their very own ruffles:
Can I invite you in for a cup of tea? These apron definitely makes me want to host a large dinner party or bake a loaf of bread....
Or drink some wine! HA! That's my favorite part of cooking anyways ;-)
Cheers everyone! Hope your week is off to a great start!!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The best gift ever for a vintage fashion lover...
Earlier this month my long anticipated birthday present from my parents arrived (even though my birthday was in January, it took awhile shipping from the States).
They got me a 1940's Montgomery Ward's catalogue and get this, it has the fabric samples in it!!!! After ooohing and ahhing...I still can't put it down!
It doesn't have a year written on it but by looking at the styles and this inside ad, I'm guessing it's from around 1943:
Here are a few of my favorite outfits and their corresponding fabrics:
This suit is made from Julliard's 100% Virgin Wool. The wool is amazingly thin and supple:
I've seen lots of similar patterns to this spring suit-style dress but with the black and white photo is hard to imagine how colorful this really is:
These are the fabric samples for the skirt....I am loving the vibrancy of the color in these rayon crepes. I can't decide which is my favorite....
These dresses are made out of linen-look rayon fabrics:
Stripes! I love this striped spring suit!
ackkk....I really want this fabric! I can never find the perfect striped fabric for the 1940's look at my local fabric store...
This is one of my favorite dresses in the entire catalogue:
And here's an up-close picture of the amazingly beautiful rayon crepe!
My second favorite print from the entire catalogue:
Love, love, love this fabric! I think the navy and white one is my favorite!
I am definitely in heaven! I would so love to make one of these dresses with similar fabric! Which is your favorite?
Also, just a heads up that there is a whole month of LOVELY pincushion giveaways at the Sew Weekly. Check out this cutie--today's giveaway:
They got me a 1940's Montgomery Ward's catalogue and get this, it has the fabric samples in it!!!! After ooohing and ahhing...I still can't put it down!
It doesn't have a year written on it but by looking at the styles and this inside ad, I'm guessing it's from around 1943:
Here are a few of my favorite outfits and their corresponding fabrics:
This suit is made from Julliard's 100% Virgin Wool. The wool is amazingly thin and supple:
I've seen lots of similar patterns to this spring suit-style dress but with the black and white photo is hard to imagine how colorful this really is:
These dresses are made out of linen-look rayon fabrics:
Stripes! I love this striped spring suit!
ackkk....I really want this fabric! I can never find the perfect striped fabric for the 1940's look at my local fabric store...
This is one of my favorite dresses in the entire catalogue:
And here's an up-close picture of the amazingly beautiful rayon crepe!
My second favorite print from the entire catalogue:
Love, love, love this fabric! I think the navy and white one is my favorite!
I am definitely in heaven! I would so love to make one of these dresses with similar fabric! Which is your favorite?
Also, just a heads up that there is a whole month of LOVELY pincushion giveaways at the Sew Weekly. Check out this cutie--today's giveaway:
Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway for the EvaDress pattern of your choice! Go to this page and leave a comment! The giveaway closes tomorrow (Thursday) at midnight EST!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
