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!}



beach belle sweater & new shoes{!}...

Hello dearies!

How are you all doing this fine last day of March?

Can you believe it's already nearly April?

We've had some very fine weather off & on around here,

& it makes me pull out my warm weather clothes a little prematurely.

Such as the outfit I'm wearing in this post.

The bright sunshine that day deceived me into thinking it was warmer than it actually was 

& I ended up leaving the house without a jacket.

Big mistake.

Especially since a movie night was planned that evening at Kels' house.

While I was able to brave the cold in the bright sunshine,

there was just no way I'd be able to once the sun had set.

So, I ended up borrowing a snuggly blankie for the ride home.

Zebra print, no less. Quite a sight I was, I'm sure!

 

~*~

 

I made this Raglan Sweater with Bow from the Debbie Bliss booklet Beach Belles.

This is my 2nd favorite DB booklet, following closely after her Land Girl booklet,
it has such a 1950s vibe. I just adore all 6 designs it contains.
This sweater was made with Amalfi yarn, a lovely blend of cotton, rayon, linen, & silk,
which is now discontinued. I think this may be the first time I've made a sweater in the same color illustrated in the pattern photos! I usually do my own thing, but I just loved this blue - so nautical. I especially like the boatneck & bow featured on this knit.

 



Outfit details:
 Sweater: Me made // Jeans:  LC Lauren Conrad from Kohls //
Shoes: Miss L Fire ~ Sundae Heels via eBay // Cherry Clip-on Earrings: Vintage find

Kels has this sweet little playhouse & I thought it so looked like one of those vintage beach huts seen on British beaches. (And, featured in the Beach Belles booklet!)
It makes the perfect background for these pics.

 



 

I had a lot of fun using the nautical stickers on PicMonkey to adorn my photos.

Every time I see an anchor the old hymn "We Have an Anchor" pops into my head.

So, all the while I was editing these pics

 

"We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love."

 

kept rambling around in my head. :)

 

~*~

 

I bet you all are just itching to see a close-up of my shoes!

Well, here ya go! ;)

Aren't they just the cutest thing.

Seriously the cutest pair of shoes I own.

Just look at those sweet little strawberries!

I think I need some strawberry print fabric to make a dress to match, don't you?

 



 

I've been having more success with my Victory Rolls!

I tried pulling my bangs back too, and it works smashingly!

I've been using Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Salt Spray in my hair before blow drying, & putting in my hot rollers. It really helps give my hair that needed texture for more "Victorious" Victory Rolls. (As Esther said in her comment on my VR post, which I found extremely hilarious.) ;)

I haven't tried it with a wet set yet. (Hey, that rhymes!)

I'll see how it works that way in the near future.

 



Come summertime you'll find me in Kels' hammock.

(Mostly because it's really hard to hoist yourself out of it once you're in.) :P

 



 

All I need now is nice cold glass of lemonade or sweet tea.

And, I'll just stare at my new shoes.

Just kidding. I'll knit.
 {And glance at my shoes at regular intervals.}

~*~

I've been working away on my suit for Easter.
I'm really excited about the way it's coming along!
 My vintage leaf sweater is just about to cross the finish line as well.
I can't wait to see how they look together. :D
We host my Dad's side of our family on Easter & I'm always in charge of the pies.
It's kind of my thing. ;) I plan on making a couple fresh strawberry, a peach,
& this adorable pie shared by Jessica on Chronically Vintage. :)
Yummies!

~*~

Have you jumped the gun with warm weather clothes?

Are you making preparations for an Easter celebration?

Which pie would you dig into first? :D

 

{Photos snapped by Kelsey. Edited by Moi.}

on a victory rolls roll...

Lately, I've been trying to put more effort into my hair.

Often, I'll just throw it up in a topknot & call it good.

(Usually, because I haven't left myself enough time in my daily beauty routine
to do anything more involved.)
I so love the "victory rolls" from the 1940's. I really wanted to try to replicate them. Easier said than done on my slippery, straight hair. (So, Aqua Net to the rescue!) ;)
These pictures are not even my best attempt, but I happened to have enough time to get out the camera & take a couple snaps, so they'll have to do. :)
 

I can't seem to get them to stand upright, but that's ok. I rather like them this way too.
I have discovered in subsequent attempts that they turn out better
if a take a bit more hair than I did in these.
 

Please pardon the grumpy look on my face in this second picture. I'm not very good at serious faces. I always end up looking a bit angry. ha!


Ugh, my bangs...

I'm never quite sure what to do with them.

I go back & forth between having bangs cut in & then growing them back out.

I've looked at vintage ways to wear bangs on Pinterest

& generally they're just those bumper bangs.

I've tried them before & just don't really care for them on me.

 

***

Here are some of my inspirations found via good ol' Pinterest.

They are all from my pretty board.

 

Oh, I so love this first photo.

The rolls are not over the top, and they don't look devil horns or Mickey Mouse ears.

(Definitely not the look I'd be going for.)

I also like the way the rest of her hair is rolled back.

It's much like Sam's from Foyle's War.

(Which we've been watching & thoroughly enjoying! Per Kathryn & Lily's recommendation.)

 



{Image Source}

 

 Ooo, just look at all those curls in this next photo!

So very lovely.

 

{Image Source}

The photo below seems like a good way to hide unwanted bangs.
Just sweep them back with the rest of the quiff  and plaster them with hair spray.
This is next on my to-try list.
 

{Image Source}

 

Below is a good photo tutorial. My friend, Gussi, sent me this pin. In the message she sent with it she remarked that we should have a vintage hair day. Um, yeah! I bet I could get at least a couple of my sisters to go along with that scheme too. (I'm talking to YOU, Kelsey!) We could go get milkshakes, or get our pics taken in a photo booth, or something cute like that! Who's with me?! haha 

In the summertime, in the little town I live near, they have free concerts in the park on Friday evenings. They play mostly Big Band or Swing music. It would be such a blast to attend those sporting victory rolls and pretty frocks. It's mostly old folks who attend, and I'm quite sure they would get a big kick out it at least. ^_^



{Image Source}

 

Oh, I just love this with the scarf! Very Rosie the Riveter, no?
This is a fun style to wear whilst gardening or cleaning!


{Image Source}



Last, but not least,

I've really been enjoying listening to the charming music of The Secret Sisters.

They have a very vintage country sound. While I usually am not fond, at all, of modern country. (There are a very few exceptions.) I do like a lot of old country, and I absolutely love bluegrass. I guess I'm just a hillbilly at heart. ;)

These gals sing, in lovely harmony,

some of the mid-century country standards my Dad has always favored.

(From whom, I'm sure, I got my love for this sort of music.)

Their albums are offered on vinyl too!

So, I will shortly be adding them to my growing record collection.

But now, let me draw your attention to these gals' hair.

Let me tell you, their hair is a constant source of inspiration.

{Photo Source}



Just watch a few of their videos on YouTube & you'll see what I'm talking about.

{Might I recommend Tennessee Me, House of Gold, & In the Sweet By & By?}

 

***

In order to maintain my new blogging schedule this post had to be a little bit slap dash. I'm really hoping it doesn't seem so! Last week was super busy, and I wasn't able to plan/photograph an outfit or project. The past couple outfit posts worked out to where I could have my sister snap some pics while I was visiting her on our usual coffee klatch day. This is my plan for the foreseeable future, but I needed to watch my 2-year-old nephew Jack all that day this week. {So that his Momma could take the older two kiddos on a homeschooling field trip.} When you get James (Kels' 2-year-old) & Jack together there is just no sneaking away to snap pics. Not unless you want mass chaos to ensue. They get that pack mentality when they're together so constant supervision is required.  ;)

 

My family & I went to a fish fry at my dear friend Debbie's lovely home on Saturday. I had made a couple pies to bring, but neglected to take any pics of them. Ah well, they probably would only have made you all hungry anyway. Really I've just spared you all temptation. You're welcome. ;)

She made the most excellent homemade mac & cheese. Here is the recipe she used.

I can wait to try it at home!

 

On the knitting front: I have finally broken down & ordered the Wonderland Heather needed to complete my Victory Jumper, but I've just got the sleeves left of my Vintage Leaf Sweater so I'd like to finish it first. Mostly because it's a rather slow going pattern, and I'm afraid if I stop I won't start again. I know myself too well. Since the Victory Jumper goes along at such a chipper speed it won't take long at all to complete. 

 

***

Do you like to do your hair with a vintage vibe?

 

How do you feel about bangs?

 

What is your favorite {or least favorite} sort of music?