Showing posts with label make do & mend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label make do & mend. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

in my Easter bonnet...

I hope you all enjoyed a splendid Easter!
I sure did.
It was such a beautiful day with highs in the mid 60s and gloriously bright sunshine.
(Perfect weather in my estimation.)
We attended church in the morning, of course, and heard a wonderful sermon on the latter part of the 5th chapter of John. We've been working our way through the gospel of John for a couple months. Then we returned home for a delicious Easter luncheon of ham, cheesy taters, salads, asparagus, & Hawaiian rolls. (I love those sweet things.)
Oh, and pie, but we'll talk about that later.
After dessert we had a little egg hunt for the kiddos. I had fun filling the eggs with candy the night before, making sure to sample each different kind of candy for quality control. ;)
Each wee one received a special egg that contained a couple Bible verses {1 Peter 2:24 & John 3:16} just a little reminder of the reason for our celebration.
 
~*~
 
I actually completed my Easter ensemble a few days before.
 {Which is kind of a big deal for me.} ;)
No staying up late feverishly knitting or sewing to finish the night before the big day, my normal modus operandi.
I'm so pleased with how my outfit turned out.
I thought I'd share it with you dear ones. :)
 

 
Outfit details:
 Suit: Thrifted // Sweater: Me made // Hat: Antique Store Find // Shoes: Miss L Fire via eBay // Earrings: LC Lauren Conrad at Kohls // Brooch: 1986 Hallmark from Mom :)
(I wish I would've gotten a closeup of the brooch. It's a basket full of eggs & a bunny!)
 
 
I did decide to wear my new vintage hat even though it is black.
{Which Mom said is against The Rules, but she said I probably could get away with it. Thankfully the fashion police never nabbed me. Phew!} ;)
I wore it slightly back on my head in the 1940s style to frame my Victory Rolls. Although I think it may actually be from the 50s and meant to sit right on top of your head. Oh well, I can wear it like that too.
I don't really know hats very well...
In any case, it was loads of fun to wear an "Easter bonnet." :D
 

 
This lovely lavender Pendleton wool suit my sister, Beth, thifted for me needed a slight makeover.
I just love "Before & After" pics and I assume everyone else does too, so here ya go!
 

{Kitty just had to be in the picture.}

I had to cut four inches off the bottom of the jacket to make it fit my 5 foot 1 inch frame and to make it fit the look I was going for.
With the cut off fabric I made these sweet bows!
{I kind of have a thing for bows...}
Since I cut those four inches off the pockets were only a couple inches deep, which I thought looked a little silly. The bows were a good solution to cover this up & add some cuteness! I also shortened the sleeves by an inch. I had planned to shorten the skirt by an inch or so as well, but decided against it. It was so beautifully and professionally finished I thought it a shame to take that all apart for a meager inch adjustment. A tailor I am not. I actually loathe alterations. {I prefer to make things from scratch.} I really don't like to do alterations for other people. {Terrified to do so actually.} I don't care what my linings look like, but others probably would, so...
 

 
I'm really pleased with how my Vintage Leaf Sweater turned out! I think it deserves its own blog post at some future date. :D This is the sort of sweater that you must put on before doing your hair. Since there are no buttons at the neck it can be a bit of a tight squeeze.
It's such a beautiful shade of blue, isn't it? It has the faintest tinge of aqua.
 
 
 I don't think I'll make it again though. Well, at least not for a good while. The "leaf" part of the pattern just didn't flow easily. I usually can memorize lace patterns after repeating them a few times. This one just refused to be committed to memory, therefore I had to look at the directions continually instead of just glancing at them every so often like I prefer. I still think that's just the dearest little collar though! I can always use it on something else, or just knit this sweater in plain stockinette stitch or do cables. Ooo, the wheels are turning now! The sleeves are a great length too. I'll definitely employ them in another knit as well!
 
~*~
 
One of my sweet nephews, Jack, had the cutest little outfit on.
He was just too cute not to include in this post.
I wish I would've gotten pictures of all my dear nieces & nephews. Ah well, there's always next year I guess. I meant to photograph the egg hunt too. Bah!
 

Auntie will resort to tickling to entice wee ones to smile in pictures. :} With a face like that it's pretty easy to forgive him for getting into & devouring your chocolate stash while he's supposed to be taking a nap in your room. True story. When confronted and asked whether he ate all Aunt Shell's chocolate he replies: "Uh-huh! Mmm yum yum!" {He still pretty much only speaks Caveman.}
That's his Momma, my beautiful sister Beth, in the lovely rose print dress. (She's the one who got me this suit!)

~*~

 Oh, I said something about pie, right?
Here it is!
 
 
Lattice topped peach, coconut cream, & that one smothered in whipped cream is strawberry!
Yummy!
 
~*~
 
What did you do for Easter?
 
Do you wear many hats?
{If so, any guesses what era mine is from?}
 
Want a slice of pie?
{Oops! Never mind, they're all gone, sorry!}
 
{Photos by Mom, Beth, & me!}


Friday, March 6, 2015

1940's feedsack peasant blouse & knit peplum jacket...

 Some outfits I wear feature one or two articles of clothing that I made.
(While some don't feature one stitch of me-made!)
This particular ensemble is completely made by moi!
Well, apart from the shoes.
(Laura Ashley from Bergners, I think.)


 
I think my knit peplum jacket goes quite well with this 1940's look.
The pattern is designed by Debbie Bliss and called the Edwardian Jacket.
I made this a few months back.
I bought the yarn at a local yarn store on my birthday last year!
They were having a super good sale so I got a super deal.
(Happy birthday to me!)
;)
I actually wore this jacket with my Beatrix Potter costume.
You can just see it in the last photo of that post.
 

The yarn is an oh-so-soft Merino wool & cashmere blend.
I just love the color. It's called pale mauve,
but I think of it more as a pale orchid.

 
Under my cuddly jacket I'm wearing this peasant blouse I made from a vintage feedsack.
 

I purchased both the pattern & the feedsack from Lilia at Pantry Door.

 I also bought 3 of this delicious feedsack!

 
Soon to be a 1940's style dress.
(Hopefully this Spring!)

But I digress...


The blouse is quite short, and doesn't really like to stay tucked in.
No directing traffic or assisting a plane in landing in this outfit. No, Sir-ee!
I may eventually add a band of fabric to the bottom just to help it behave itself.
The skirt I made from a remnant of black flannel I bought at Joann Fabrics.
It had the ruffle on there ready made!
There was just enough to fit comfortably around my *ahem* bum with just a 1/4" seam.
It is only very lightly gathered onto a yoke-type waistband.
While it's perhaps not exactly what I had envisioned when planning a skirt to go with this blouse,
I think it goes quite well and is rather flattering, though I say it myself. ;)

***
I haven't placed that yarn order yet to finish up my Victory Jumper.
I just know as soon as I do & receive my "order shipped" email
I'll remember there was something else I needed to order too!
(Does anyone else do that, or is that just me?)
In the meantime here is what I've started.


I need to make a couple baby sweaters for gifts too.
This beautiful light blue tweed yarn was just begging to be made into this lovely sweater.
Isn't that little collar the dearest little thing?

{Photos of me snapped by my sister Kelsey}

Saturday, May 24, 2014

room re-do...

Having recently rearranged my room
I thought I'd share my favorite bits.
Here is Donna Sue sporting a "new" farm chic frock.
I found it at a coffee shop (of all places!)
Pinned to her frock is this cute tchotchke:
a brooch of mason jars (How cute is that?!)
A gift from my maternal grandma. :)


I left my top shelf pretty much the same.
(Cuz I liked it! :D )
The bottom shelf I did farm themed for the summer. 
My collection of vintage farmy children's books are displayed in a vintage Purina chick feeder!
I scored that sweet thing on a recently antiquing day trip with a dear friend.


A favorite photo of my dear Grandma Lou, seated on a hay mound in 1938.
Oh, how I miss her.
I used to clean for her every week. She had THE BEST stories.


This sweet photo is not of a relative of mine.
It just makes me smile every time I see it.
It kinda reminds me of my daddy & me!

Sweet mornin' sunshine!
Have I ever told y'all I love vintage linens? ;)
(The sheets are actually Simply Shabby Chic, but oh so vintage-y!)
My bedside "table" - a child's chair with stack-o-books.
The first sweet rose of the year.
Isn't it sweet!
Wish I could attach the smell for ya!
Hope you're enjoying this fine weather as much as I!
^_^

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

fabulous forties fair isle...

 
 This sweater is the most ambitious fair isle project that I've ever attempted.
I'm very pleased with the results!
The pattern is from the Fall/Winter 2009 issue of Debbie Bliss Knitting magazine.
In case you haven't noticed Debbie Bliss is my very favorite knitwear designer.
I especially love the vintage style designs she favors.
This one ticks all the boxes for me.
1940s : Yep.
Pretty color palette (Ash grey & dreamy pastels) : Uh-huh.
British: Yeah, did I mention she's an English designer?
Wooly goodness: You better believe it. I used Knit Picks' Palette Wool
(Have I ever told you how much I adore natural fibers? *Especially wool & cotton* Why bother taking the time to make something if you're not gonna do it the old fashioned way!?) 
 I just love the sweet peter pan collar.
(Probably my favorite of all the collars.)
With the fair isle motif to boot!
 
 And...
What is a new sweater without a new skirt to go with it?
I had some grey corduroy in my stash that fit the bill.
 
 
 

 Here it is from the back - cute little pleats!
At first I was afraid of the puffy sleeves...
(since I have rather beefy arms & wide shoulders)
but I decided just to own it & wear it loud and proud!
:P 
A big thanks to my sister Aimee for taking most of the pics.
It's really hard to take them yourself! :D
 
***
Oh, and one last thing. Anyone who may be thinking of enquiring:
NO. I will not knit you one. ;)
hee hee
 
Tootle-oo!
Miss Michelle ^_^ 


Friday, January 31, 2014

what i've been up to...

Here are a few things that've been keeping me busy:
Call me crazy, but I love ironing. Especially when it's a beautiful vintage sheet. 

 

I recently hit the jackpot on vintage linens at my favorite thrift store!
I recovered a little foot stool which I also found at my favorite thrift store.


Before

Got it for $1! Woo-hoo!

This beautiful fabric was a vintage curtain that I bought at a garage sale.

Here it is in situ. Please pardon the mess! :D

Made for a custom order. All in PINK! :D

My fair isle sweater is coming right along!



What have you been up to?


Thursday, January 9, 2014

i heart january

Why, you ask?
Well, I like being snowed in.
I don't have an outside job. So I CAN stay in if I need to. And I'm a homebody. So I like to. :)
When you're "stuck" at home you finally have time for all the fiddly bits that need done.

~Cleaning out messy area's (ahem the sewing room)
Sorry no pics of that. It still doesn't look THAT great. But it is at least organised.

~Sewing heart shaped patches on the knees of your nieces favorite pair long johns janes.


She'll be pleased as Punch about these!


I also made myself a tunic length pj shirt of the same fabric as Abbey's knee patches.
Sorry, no pics of that either...

 While cleaning out the sewing room I came across these old quilt squares that I've been meaning to sew into a pillow for quite some time now. So I did! :)

Another great thing about January is you really get to enjoy your non-Christmas-y-but-still-wintery decor.

Tea & cottages. So cozy. Hey, just like being snowed in! :D
Stay warm!
Love, Michelle ^_^