Well hello my friends! Long time no see! In case you were wondering if the earth swallowed me up whole, it did not. Not quite, anyhow. Over the last month I was involved in a project at work that we've gone through each of the last few years which means pretty much working all hours I can manage for weeks leading up to the launch. I had no time for blogging, no time for knitting, no time for responding to emails, no ... Read more »
Finished: Wearing History Smooth Sailing corduroy trousers
Friends, I finally sewed my very first pair of trousers! Now, I've been talking about wanting to sew trousers for over a year. They are definitely a staple in my vintage wardrobe. Last summer I bought the pattern for the 1930s Smooth Sailing trousers and blouse from Wearing History but just could never work myself up to sew them. As you know, this last weekend I went on a blogger adventure, and bought several lovely ... Read more »
Weekend blogger meetup (& other recent activities)
Hello! Before I get started with documenting a little adventure I had this past weekend, I wanted to say a big, huge THANK YOU for all of the wonderful comments I received on my last post. Wow. It's so nice knowing you're not alone, and all of your personal stories have been so great to read, and I hope helpful to others, too! I've been extra busy the last week and my plans to respond to each comment on my post or by ... Read more »
Carry on
If you've been a regular to my blog for some time, you may have noticed I've done very little outfit-related posts this year. I admit it, I've had some style ennui. Seeing as this blog revolves around style in a lot of ways (though I've never considered myself a "fashion blogger" by a long shot), that's made blogging kind of difficult. I spent a long time trying to figure out what was bothering me. In the end, I think ... Read more »
Simple beauty of a steek in my fair isle knit
I sat down to do a post catching you up on our painting success after my retro fail living room post, but on the camera I found photos Mel and I took a couple of weeks ago when I was cutting the armhole and neckline steeks for my current fair isle project. So instead, I just wanted to share with you the beauty you can find (or at least I can find) in knitting photos. A simple, traditional task in a fair isle knit, ... Read more »
Our retro FAIL living room
I have a confession. But first, I wanted to thank you all so much for your delightful comments on my Knit it in Flag colors pullover! I was really tickled. I think it's going to be really great this autumn, and I think it needs a nice pair of wide-legged trousers to wear with it! Hopefully this autumn I'll be back in sewing mode, but right now I'm in knitting and decorating mode. :) Now, onto the confession. You're ... Read more »
Knit it in Flag Colors – finished Ravellenic Games project
Well hello my friends! I know, it's been awhile! I expected to share with you my progress on my project during the Ravellenic Games, Ravelry's knitting version of the Olympics that coincide with the Olympics. However, not only have I been caught up in watching the Olympics (London, you're doing an awesome job!), I had to change my project. I started off with fair isle legwarmers for autumn, but then couldn't watch the ... Read more »
Mid-century dining space for a cat
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 »