My Daily Sew Update

I'm fairly pleased with how my experiment for March went, even though I missed a few days here and there. I'm planning on continuing with My Daily Sew updates, but I'll just be shooting for several times a week rather than every day! I'll try to snap a pic of any project I happen to be working on that day. The short and sweet posts definitely help me stay on track!

Today, I found a new fabric organizational tool, pants hangers! They're great for my larger amounts of fabric which can be hard to fold neatly. I found the idea on Pinterest, got a couple pants hangers, and love it. I'll be getting more for sure for the rest of my fabric!

Apron Pinspiration

I've been neglecting my booth at Austin Gift Company, and need to make some stock to take over soon! Specifically I need to make some aprons, so I'm trying to find some inspiration via Pinterest for a new-ish retro design. Here are some of my favorite finds so far!

Pinspiration Tuesday - Rain Bonnets

Running a bit late with my Monday post, mostly due to preparations for the trip! So as I was planning for the trip to Scotland and trying to anticipate appropriate attire for lots of rainy days, it was recommended to me by an online Scottish friend that I pick up a "rain mate." I had to google...and then fell in love! Also known as a rain bonnet, it's just a plastic little head covering to wear in the rain, and it used to be something ladies carried around in their purses to pop on when needed!

I'm always amazed when adorable and functional items like these suddenly disappear from cultural awareness. I mean, sure, ladies don't generally have to worry about pin-curled hair, and I don't really need this in Texas (when it rains here you can't really walk around in it, as it's usually torrential rain or nothing, so a plastic bonnet won't do much!) But I just love the concept, especially as it makes big bulky dripping wet umbrellas less of a necessity.  I went looking for any place I might find one, and I may even end up making something similar to take with me. I'll be sure to share what I end up doing! In the meantime, here are some lovely examples, both vintage and modern. :-)

 

The style above used to come in these tiny adorable boxes!!!

 

 

Here's a modern reincarnation! If I'd had time I would have ordered one, but no such luck!

 

Pinspiration Monday - Tartan Fashions

So, in just a couple weeks I'll be heading to Glasgow, Scotland to compete in the Worlds with Silver Thistle Pipes and Drums! Clearly, this means I have tartan on the mind. ;-) So here are some fun tartan fashions I found while browsing Pinterest!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pinspiration Monday - Patriotic Vintage

The 4th of July will be upon us soon! I love old images and postcards and just generally fun patriotic stuff, so I'm sharing some of it here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pinspiration Monday - Project Inspiration

Lately I've been collecting some lovely pins that have elements I'd love to incorporate into future projects. Here are a few of my faves!

This flower placement is just divine!

 

Love the idea of a tulle maxi dress!

 

Yeah so...toile. Need I say more?

 

 

And more toile, aaahhh!

 

Dita, gorgeous as always, love this minty lace overlay!

 

Pinspiration Monday - Fabric and Pattern Pairings

I thought it would be fun to go through my pattern stash and my fabric stash and make some potential pairings! I love dreaming about what I could make next, and I really need to make a habit of using up more in my fabric stash. I even made a new board to be able to pin my pairings! Here are some of my favorites (apparently I gravitate towards blue!):

Vintage Vogue 8811

McCall's 6953

Vintage Vogue 2267

Retro Butterick 4792

I especially need to use up these fabrics I bought in France! You know when you feel like you have to find just the right way to use up a fabric, so you end up not using it at all? Yeah, that's what keeps happening with these fabrics, but I know I need to just push through and go for it! Hopefully these ideas will help me get there.

Retro Butterick 5880

Retro Butterick 5209

Vintage Simplicity 2154 (blouse)

And finally, here's one pairing I've already started on (mentioned in my last Instagram post)! Hoping to finish it this week.

Vintage Vogue 8728

Pinspiration Monday - Retro Swimwear

I love that retro swimsuits have become popular, especially because it means more choice for (adorable) one pieces! For a long time, it felt like anyone who wanted a one piece was an oddball!

Crocheted swimsuit, anyone?

Even with this resurgence, though, I still have a difficult time with swimsuits. After learning to sew and fit myself, I realized one of my problems is I have quite a long torso. This, coupled with a large bust in need of much support, makes finding a great one piece extremely difficult because even if padding and support is there, it ends up too low on me to do any good.

Another problem is many of the retro styles I love have halter necks, which, with the weight of the girls, tends to put a lot of stress on my neck, and still doesn't provide great support. It's a shame, though, because they're so adorable!

This has me considering making my own, which for some reason sounds terrifying!

I've seen so many fabulous versions of this Bombshell Swimsuit Pattern from Closet Case Files, but I still question if I could create enough support. (And oddly enough I'm really drawn to view B, but I know that's the least supportive!) At the very least I could properly fit my long torso, and easily switch the halter straps to shoulder straps (criss crossed, maybe?) so it's worth a try, right? We'll see if I find the courage!

Pinspiration Monday - Vintage Full Slips

Slips are something that seem to have fallen out of fashion almost completely! When I was a kid, we wore half slips fairly often. But I've been looking at full slips lately, which is something I never really had the chance to wear. What's the point of a full slip?  I admit, I love layers and I just feel comfortable in more than one layer! I usually line at least the bodice of my dresses, but it would be nice to have the option to make a quick and easy unlined dress when the mood strikes. So I've been checking out various patterns for full slips, some of them are just gorgeous!

Love that striped version!!