My dear readers, we're finally getting to the point where we're thinking about decorating projects in the house! I think we're settled in enough now (it'll be 4 months this week) that we can actually start to contemplate things like painting, curtains, and all the dozens of other little household projects around our 1955 ranch. One issue that needs to be resolved in our kitchen is a place for our cat, Dinah, to eat. ... Read more »
Twin purses
Hi everyone! Yes, it's been rather quiet around here. My mom and step-dad have been in town. We've had a full house pretty much all of July!Yesterday, my mom and I worked on a sewing project together. Neither of us could even recall when was the last time we did that. I was probably in high school!Here's a couple of snapshots she took of our work in the basement.You can see our new dinette table that I'll be using in my ... Read more »
Coronation Knits winner…
We have a winner for the Coronation Knits giveaway! Anthea of Sewing ♥ Vintage ♥ Knitting, congratulations, you're lucky number 25 and getting a copy of Susan Crawford's new book! Look for an email from me soon. And thanks to everyone for entering. Have a fabulous weekend! ... Read more »
Made and Making No. 4
Happy Friday! I know I never did post a Made and Making last Friday, but I was just too busy with my dad in town. So today's rendition wraps up a couple of weeks. There's a lot that went on in the Golly Ranch House that I'll talk about soon (small but important projects like replacing receptacles, and finding some interesting tidbits on prior wall treatments and tile in the house), but for now you'll get a couple of small ... Read more »
Coronation Knits giveaway & interview with Susan Crawford!
Hello all! Sorry things have been so quiet on my end, as I mentioned in my last post my dad is in town visiting. He's wrapping up his visit soon and then my schedule will be a bit more normal... well, until my mom and step-dad come for a visit next week, ha ha! And after that it will be more normal. ;) In the meantime, thanks so much for all your wonderful comments on my apple picking dress! Coronation Knits Blog ... Read more »
Finished project: 1944 Apple picking dress
While my dad is in town, I lined up this post. My apologies if I'm a little scarce while he's here, I'm not going to be online much this week! Now, let's go apple picking! After all, I have the most perfectly applelicious dress for it. Can you tell I'm a little excited by my overzealous grin up there? (And yikes, what's with the 5 pounds of luggage under my eyes?) Yes, I'm pleased as punch with this dress. ... Read more »
Made and Making No. 3
Happy Friday! I didn't have much creative time this week, but I did finish off one sewing project and start another. Could I finally be on a roll? {all images link to Flickr for full size} Clockwise from upper left 1. My latest sewing project. I've been thinking the last week or so about what I'm in the mood to be wearing lately, and it's coming down to lots of separates! My green skirt ... Read more »
Finished project: bias-cut green skirt
I have a new favorite skirt! Okay yes, it's not that exciting. But I've needed at least one (okay several) good, basic skirt for ages, and finally I sat down to change that. I can't tell you how many times I look into my closet, pick a blouse, then look at my skirts and think, "I'll wear this blouse with... what?" I sewed this bias-cut skirt from New York Pattern Creation 1730, which is probably from the early ... Read more »
Made and Making No. 2
Happy Friday! Here's the second installment of my new Made and Making series. Gosh there's been a lot of sewing this week, which is very unfortunate for the knitting project I'm really supposed to be working on! {all images link to Flickr for full size} Clockwise from upper left 1. Dress in progress. And it doesn't fit on my dress form! But before you worry, it's only because apparently ... Read more »
Last weekend’s vintage finds
Hello everyone! I'm glad you enjoyed my tutorial on how to make a feedsack hair bow. It's such a quick and easy project, you better let me know if you make one! Last Sunday was our one year wedding anniversary. Our plan initially was going to involve a walk around the nature preserve where we got married, but come the day of, we just weren't in the mood. Isn't that terrible? lol We keep missing the vintage fairs this ... Read more »
Make a hair bow out of 1930s feedsack fabric
Today I'm sharing a tutorial I hope you'll really enjoy: how to make a hair bow out of vintage feedsack fabric, with instructions to make your own pattern pieces, too. This is what I alluded to in my kickoff Made and Making post on Friday. By the way, thanks for all the positive comments on my new round-up series! Sorry there's a long back-story with this one... I hatched an idea born out of recent bad hair days: I ... Read more »
Made and Making No.1
Some of my favorite posts in blogland are round-ups of goings on in people's lives, especially when accompanied by photos. I've been meaning to start a weekly series for ages, so I can document all the little things in my own week. Finally I was able to plan it out! I'm going to call my new weekly round-up series "Made and Making", and aim for Friday postings. I'll share snapshots from my week that relate to things ... Read more »
Participating in Coronation Knits blog tour, just announced!
I'm so excited to announce this today! I've been keeping it under wraps for awhile now and it's been quite difficult, let me tell you! First (and not the part under wraps), as those of you vintage knitters out there may already know, Susan Crawford of A Stitch in Time series fame has just published Coronation Knits. It's a fabulous book of 14 knitting patterns inspired by Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee and the young ... Read more »
Giveaway winner
Whoops, I was supposed to draw the winner for the giveaway yesterday! So let's get on with it, shall we.The winner of both sewing patterns is Rebekah of St. Gemma's Art and Needlework!And I suggest you check out her blog, one of her recent posts is on how to find the straight grain of fabric without the selvage...super helpful, as I know I've definitely puzzled over fabric with no selvage any longer.Congrats, Rebekah! ... Read more »
Finished project: No-more-sewing-slump dress
I mentioned it in my giveaway post (one last day to enter!), but I finished the dress I was working on that finally kicked the sewing slump out of me. Yee haw! This pattern is a 1940s house dress, Simplicity 4660. You can see my copy is in really rough shape, but I couldn't resist it when I was searching for inspiration on Etsy a couple of weeks ago. No one really wears house dresses anymore, so who cares if I wear ... Read more »
Summery sewing patterns giveaway!
Happy Friday! First and foremost, let me say thanks for the encouragement on my tips on getting over a crafting slump. I know I've personally kept these tips in mind all week, and I'm pleased to say I just finished up the dress I mentioned in the post (photos soon once it warms back up, we're going through a chilly spell). And also many many thanks on all the wonderful comments about my new pullover! (In fact, it's so ... Read more »