My newest toys

My new patterns have arrived (does a little happy dance)!

Welcome Simplicity patterns 2978 and 1701!

I got them off of eBay.  The seller "the-attic-addict"  has a lovely collection of patterns for sale and for descent prices.  The seller also contacted me when a delay on his end caused the patterns to not be sent in a timely manner.  He then refunded my shipping-his offering not me asking.  I will definitely be shopping his collection in the future!

When I had been feeling desperate to find this pattern in a larger size and complete, I had shopped around. I found the same little girls pattern on etsy for $25.  I wasn't that desperate for it, I guess.  But it does help me find alternative places for pattern hunting.  

My biggest lucky find-to-date was stopping in my favorite thrift shop and finding a stash of 35 patterns at thirty nine cents each!  Lets just say they pad my collection very nicely.

But wait there's more!

I have been called the Queen of Craigslist by my neighbor. I think it's cute.  I'll take the compliment, but I will not wear the title. 

Anyways, I found a paper roll dispenser and paper roll for only $20 (does another little happy dance)! I had been looking and waiting and my patience has paid off.  When I worked and learned in our collage's costume shop we had a very similar thing that we would make patterns from.  When I left, I was expecting the same thing in fabric stores.  I was sorely mistaken.  The only thing positive I can say about the pattern paper sold at fabric stores it that it has a one-inch square grid on it.  

So, now I have a paper roll with dispenser and I have already used it to make copies of  Simplicity 1701 for Thing 3's dress.  Next to make a copy and alterations on my other Simplicity Dress 2978.  

If all goes well, I hope to use these fabrics for the dress (small swatches, I know).  

I plan to make the dress with the collar and sleeves.

P.S. No camping this weekend :)

~Me

Where do I get my ideas?

Everywhere.  Serious.  But if I am looking to make something more specific, then I start idea shopping.

In the past, that was looking at magazines and lots of pictures.  I am a visual gal.  I need pictures.  Now with web browsers and wonderful Google (my heart will break if they turn out to be evil someday) I browse for images there. Or I will search out specific places such as Modcloth, Simplicity, McCalls (and their affiliates), Fabric.com. The list goes on and on.

Sometimes it is the fabric that catches me eye, or a particular piece of accessory.  Sometimes there is a need to be filled and I begin with the basics of that need and look for ideas to elaborate upon it. Sometimes, someone's idea spurs another idea and then occasionally things pop into my head.

But that is for crafting and sewing.  It can be slightly different with writing stories or anything else that requires a creative process.  For me, inspiration is everywhere.  It depends on what I am looking for and what I am open to receive.

~Me

Once upon a little house on a prairie,

What seems like forever now, but was probably only a year ago, I started in on two prairie dresses for my nieces as holiday gifts. I used a McCall's 4547 prairie dress and bonnet pattern for girls.

I found the fabrics I wanted to use and got to work then stopped.  I was stumped.  The pattern pieces for the bodice were weird.  And the instructions, at the time, were not reading well.

I put it in my proverbial "back burner" to deal with later. Well, later came and I finally figured it out (read, reread, read it again, grab fabric, read, turn fabric over, read again...light bulb goes on)

But then I found this blue fabric at S. R. Harris http://www.srharrisfabric.com and I knew I had to make my own dress for Thing 3.

I asked her to face the wall, I guess it needed support.

Her lovely doll she named Applejack.  Why yes, we do watch My Little Pony, Friendship is Magic!

Her dress is an altered pattern for an 18 inch doll. (Will post later)

I like her toes peeking out.

The Bonnet's back view.  I had only enough fabric to make the one bonnet.  Maybe I have a scrap for a swatch and that is it.  Sorry, Applejack, no matching bonnet for you..

A sleepy Applejack from all that hard work.

So, here are some older, completed projects I warned you might appear.  My apologies it came up so late as this post was suppose to be for yesterday but sleep took me.  I hope the innate cuteness of this all helps make up for that.  

P.S. Weekend posting probably won't happen; hard to camp and post sewing things at the same time.

~Me

Oddly, what I am not?

Part of my background in theatre is costume design.  From hair, to outfit, shoes to hair and make-up- a whole package if you will.

During those times I obsessed, fabric-less, I searched for accessories and fantasized about the finished total product. What would my hairstyle be, shoe style, to have a cute hat or just pull my hair back with a scarf?

And then there is jewelry...I guess that one will hit me when the time is right.  Nothing has struck my fancy yet... except shoes and purses.

Now this is going to seem odd, and my husband would argue otherwise, but I am not a shoe person.  I do not own more than ten shoes, boots, sandals etc. A lot of that has to do with the fact that I need special shoes and they are expensive.  Dansko expensive.  But I found these and think they would fit the bill in so any ways.

A summery sandal, a bold red to match the accent in the fabric and it is a Dansko shoe to give me the foot support I need.

I will be the first to tell you, I am NOT a purse woman.  This cute bag at Modcloth

http://www.modcloth.com/shop/small-bags-clutches/caught-the-love-bug-bag is adorable and ...
What?  I said I wasn't a purse woman.  They annoy me in general but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate cuteness when I see it.  Besides, the reviews say it's tiny, a date night purse.  Not at all appropriate for a busy mom with stuff needs.  Wouldn't it make a cute accessory if it was bigger?

With the busy day, I'm surprised I was able to get anything written today.  It is a goal of mine to write daily.

~Me

When inspiration hits and won't leave you alone

My current project is a 1956 retro dress (Butterick pattern 5603) with a caplet of matching fabric from 1952 (Butterick pattern 4927) and for the most part, why yes, I'm obsessing over it.

Butterick pattern 5603- View A-the yellow dress

Butterick pattern-View C -caplet (with minor alterations)

It all started one fateful day....(cue dreamy harp music)

I happen to be lucky and catch one of those wonderful pattern sales at Hancock Fabrics.  The sale that had all the Butterick patterns for ninety-nine cents!  I went overboard and purchased all the retro ones and then a few more.

I happen to be a pattern junkie.  I mix and match pieces to make what I need and love having them around for inspiration. I took a pile of patterns with me to the grandparents house a few weekends back to cut out.

(Having them ready to go when inspiration hits is a lot nicer than having to slow down to cut out tissue paper-I tend to rip them more.)

Anyways, between cutting and surfing the web I found this fabric:

"Charms" by Patty Reed Design tm C Laurie Campbell La-di-draw, Inc. for Fabric Traditions. N.T.T. Inc.

Somewhere the idea stared to form to make a retro dress out of this cute lady bug fabric. The vibrant yellow with tiny little white flowers screamed summer, where the red lady bugs and simple matching red trim would be a striking accent.

A few days after that and I discovered an original vintage girl's pattern that would compliment my pattern beautifully.  There was only one problem, it was an incomplete pattern, the essential collar piece was missing.  Alas, after being diligent and repeated searches on eBay, another seller with a complete pattern was listed.  It's finally in the mail.

Simplicity 1701

A half a week later (from when I found the fabric and inspiration hit me); I had make it.  I had to get the fabric.  NOW!

That night I told my partner I needed the fabric and immediately left for the fabric stores. There was very little time to spare for their closing times were approaching fast and the weather was something wet and cold.

The beginning of the dress went together rather fast. I got stuck on the hidden or invisible zipper since it had been a while.  I went to YouTube and checked out the shortest "How-to" on the subject and discovered that they make special presser feet for hidden zippers.  I was off to my local Sewing Machine Repair man ASAP...which means with little kids, when that program is over.

Now I am stuck on the neckline as I find it difficult to fit my own body.  Another upcoming project is a paper-tape double of myself or dress form. It should do the trick.

I will post more on the dress soon.

~Me

One project at a time...or so I keep telling myself

My hope and goal is to take my creations and share them here.  I probably will use old completed projects to share from time to time as I will be working on the current one.  I want to limit myself to one project at a time...or so I keep telling myself.

There is some cute fabric at a store I need to go to today and I know what dress I want to make.  I need to finish my current dress, but I keep thinking what if that fabric runs out? When will that sale end?

I will never find it again (cue dramatic music).

Plus I am still waiting for the pattern to arrive via snail mail and I will need to alter it also I still have yet to start on the matching outfit for Thing 3 or locating a missing shirt pattern among the hundreds...

Sew much to do, sew little time

~Me

A Toast to Earth Day

I hate throwing things away that could be given a second chance (much to my partners frustration).

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle was taught to me by my grandfather before it was the thing to do.  So, I wanted to share something I do sewing-wise that follow those principals.

I didn't have to look far.

The back story is this:

I was given a Harry and Davids box full of chocolate truffles around the Holidays from my partner.  It was a random surprise as he 1-doesn't want to encourage too many sugary foods and 2-he doesn't do surprises-he forgets (his words, not mine).

To keep it hidden from the kids, I kept it by my sewing machine and when it was empty I wanted to find another use for this very cute, very sturdy box.

It became my mini-thread recycle can.  It sits next to my sewing machine and I fill it with random pieces of thread that I cut as I sew.  Over time as I have had to empty it, it becomes a time capsule with the various snippets of past projects.  I save the thread pieces and use them as filler for various doll beds or pin cushions; giving what would become landfill anther chance at life.

~Me

My Rainy Sunday afternoon completion (about) time

A long time ago on Pinterest.com I discovered the perfect thread and bobbin solution to my sewing room.

I would post the link but it is buried under too many "likes" and not enough "Pins" to locate it at present.

I asked my partner to make it since he loves to work with wood, and find any excuse to visit the local Menard's or Home Depot.  He made it, hung it on the wall and there is sat unfinished.  I still needed to add the finishing touch; front nails to hold the bobbins.

So on this rainy day, I grabbed the hammer and nails and went to work.

I also grabbed a few other things to help me along.

I took the yardstick and marked with permanent marker where I needed the nails to be placed.

Then I taped the yardstick to the from of the shelf needing nails.

Nail as needed (and a re-polish).

Viola!  My thread is displayed beautifully and is exceedingly functional.  I can find a color and bobbin instantly.  Now if I could only find where I put the rest of my thread.  The reds and warm colors are on vacation from the looks of it.

~Me

Welcome to my little bit of the spider's web

A few days ago the thought "She's So Modish" came to mind and I knew I had to do something with it.  A few days later I modified it to "She's Sew Modish since it this blog will be mainly about me sewing the retro, vintage  and historic clothing I love.

A little about me...

1- I love chocolate but prefer fresh-in-season Strawberries.
2- I am a self proclaimed Fiber-Arts-Junkie
3- I have a Thing 1, Thing 2 and a Thing 3 I stay home and care for
4- is my favorite number
5- I love to swim and I am afraid of diving head first. So I took diving lessons to get over it.
6- It kind of worked.
7- I love historic costuming
8- Jane Austen (need I say more)
9- I grew up with dogs and didn't like cats
10- I now have 2 cats and miss dogs
11- I like chocolate but not in my waffles. I prefer blueberries.
12- I am a list girl.  I have been since I was young.  I have found the evidence.
13- I am a Midwest weather junkie. I am fascinated by blizzards and severe weather
14- I have a tornado spotters licence
15- I am in the process of growing a native butterfly garden
16- Monarch (butterflies) Rule!
17- Tasha Tudor
18- I don't care for purses
19- I believe in Pluto, the Planet!
20- I love Bubble Baths
21- Tea Time? Why yes! Thank you.
22- Mahna Mahna
23- Do Do Do Do
24- I am a morning person
25- Only if I get enough sleep
26- I don't do coffee
27- I like to write stories
28- I have dozens of ideas in my head
29- I have only one finished I tried to publish (I need to send it to more than 1 publisher)
30- I love Books
31- I remember the day I finally stopped stalling and read Harry Potter.
32- Or the events leading up to finding the book "Alanna: The First Adventure" by Tamora Pierce
33- I got to meet Tamora Pierce
34- I love Music
35- I was a music major in college first
36- Then I changed it to Theatre
37- I sing, play a self taught Piano, flute and a Celtic lap harp
38- I have traveled to Canada, England, Scotland, Germany and Switzerland
39- Ich kann ein bischin Deutch spechen.
40- I love sunsets
41- I don't have any tattoos...yet
42- I like riding a bike, it makes me feel what flying a broom must be like
43- I don't like waste
44- I love Halloween
45- I ran my first mile in 10 minutes at age 31
46- Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale
47- "Beauty" from Robin McKinley is awesome (read it someday)
48- I like camping in forests
49- I make pumpkin pie from fresh pumpkins
50- I love learning new skills

There is more, but it is late. Thanks for stopping and I hope to see you around again.


~Me