What to Do Next?

 Well, I finished my second circle skirt, and actually wore it to church yesterday(I will post on it later, as I didn't get any pictures). Man, those things are addictive! I'm already considering making a third....in corduroy! But that's partially why I'm posting about it here, because I'm not sure that's what I want to do with the corduroy.

A really soft caramel corduroy. *Sigh* It seems so cuddly, and I like it so much that
I can't make up my mind what to make.

This corduroy was purchased while I was pregnant with my first son, and had been intended to be made into a vintage 1970s maternity jumper pattern. I actually made almost my entire maternity wardrobe from vintage patterns for this pregnancy, but somehow never got around to this one. So, the fall after he was born I had intended to make it into this mail order pattern, however, before I could get to it, I found out I was pregnant again. As we've lost two babies and had struggled with infertility in the past (we'd even been told we were miscarrying our first son by our fertility doctor early on), this was a most welcome blessing, but this skirt took a backseat to more maternity sewing, and again I made almost my entire maternity wardrobe from vintage patterns (summery this time). 

I've had this pattern for a while, and especially after my post on the cowgirl style of Dale Evans, I'm newly excited about making version A (the light colored one with the button pockets).
 Couldn't you just see Dale Evans wearing this?

But now that I've fallen so hard for circle skirts, I want a more cold weather appropriate version, and corduroy seems the obvious choice, but....Aghh! I can't decide!

I've been buying an extremely limited amount of fabric for the last year,  only buying some swimsuit material for my daughter at the beginning of summer and yesterday I bought some fabric for specific projects. I have an unbelievably huge stash and REALLY need to use it before buying any more. 

This is my trusty circle skirt pattern. Yes, I could do it without a pattern, but am too lazy to do the math. :P

This is where you come in. I can't promise I'll take your advice (I'm notoriously fickle), but would love your input on which I should make. 

So, please comment below which you'd make if given the chance?

Style Inspiration: Dale Evans Queen of the West

Dale Evans: Queen of the West circa 1950s.

I have always loved all things western. My maternal grandfather was born in 1907 and his family lived and worked on a cattle ranch. He lived a life like a movie. At five years old his own mother and father sent him to live in the bunkhouse with all the cowboys. I don't know why they would do this and I never knew my great-grandmother, but from all accounts she was not the most loving person. However, he said there was an old man who took care of him and taught him all about working with cattle. He even used to tell a story of when the great flu pandemic of 1918 hit, he was the only one who was well enough to go out and look after the cattle. So, at eleven years old, he rode out by himself in the snow, but passed out from the flu. He said his horse just took him right back home.

On their tv show in the fifties, which was obviously aimed towards children, she often wore this outfit. Even though it's cliche for western wear, I can't help but want to pair a circle skirt with boots now. Do you think I can pull it off? Hmm...

My dad and mom grew up watching cowboy movies, and my father wore boots, western shirts, and a cowboy hat when I was a kid. He worked as a musician, and I was sure at the time that he was a real singing cowboy. He is also of Native American descent (yeah, I know it doesn't show at all in me and my paleness and blonde hair). They both passed their love of western culture and cowboys on to me. My dad still loves to watch Gene Autry and Roy Rogers movies, and had half of his basement converted to look like a log cabin to display his collection of western memorabilia. He even has a large collection of "cowboy" guitars.

Ok, nothing supports her Queen of the West status more to me than this outfit, I only wish we could see her shoes more.  Gorgeous fur wrap? Check. Full skirt with crinoline? Check. Adorable tiny cowboy hat? Check. (By the way, isn't her hat way cuter than most cowboy hats for women available today?) Cowhide purse? Check. Oh my, Mrs. Rogers, oh my. 

Now I get to enjoy Roy Rogers movies with my own kids, and they love them, especially the Roy Rogers Show. I have to say that I also love watching them for the outfits Dale Evans wears. She goes from cowgirl cool, riding her horse Buttermilk at full speed pursuing the bad guys with her gun holstered on her hip, to cute and gorgeous aprons (she ran a restaurant on the show) and separates all with a decidedly fashionable fifties full skirt silhouette. I love that her wardrobe was feminine and practical with hints of western wear without always being over the top.

Even in casual/regular clothes, she looks so pretty. I would also love to find a pattern to make a sweater like this. Does anyone know of one, preferably free or cheap that looks similar? 

For the past two years my daughter has wanted to have a cowgirl theme for her birthdays. We don't have huge production parties, but a cowgirl theme for the cake, plates, and cups, and of course she dresses for the occasion, lol. She's also obsessed with having her own horse some day, and loves to play with toy horse sets. A great resource for buying kids toys with ranch sets for boys and girls that are very affordable is Tractor Supply Company (no I'm in no way affiliated with them, but would welcome free stuff from them anytime).

A perfect outfit! I love a thick waist band on a high waisted skirt, and this combined with a peasant top, chunky necklace and hair flower is perfection in understated and tasteful simplicity. 

My son also loves to play cowboy, and when at a family reunion for my mother in law's family this summer, found a cowboy hat, put it on, and told everyone he was Roy Rogers. The Roy Rogers show is a great show for little boys. They love the adventure, the violence is to a bare minimum, and there's always a lesson taught by Roy and Dale.

If you have your own comic book named after  you, then you can pretty much label yourself queen, too. A simple plaid shirt tucked in a high waisted skirt always says western, but isn't so blatant, especially if it's worn without boots. 

I do wear cowboy boots with skirts in the colder season, and actually should be getting some use out of them soon, but I think it requires a couple of things. Your boots must be really comfortable. So go to a large western store and try lots on, and buy a good pair, yes, I spent a lot on mine, but they're worth it. You also have to where them with confidence, as well. You WILL NOT look like everyone else if you're wearing cowboy boots, and you have to be okay with that. Add to the mix decidedly vintage pieces and you'll look even more different, but it can look amazing, so try boots with lots of outfits. 

If I ever have to work on a ranch, I would like to dress like this. I love that it's plain and simple, practical yet feminine. 

I am NOT a rhinestone kind of cowgirl. I do not wear a lot of jewelry or sparkly things ever. So, if I wear western it's more likely to be kitschy western than sequins and rhinestones. My boots are plain deerskin, and one neutral color. I don't go in for most modern western wear, and find it to be more than a little tacky and sometimes downright ugly and dare I say sleazy (a cowgirl doesn't mean a bikini with hat and boots).

This is Roy and Dale with four of their six children in the late fifties. Aren't they an adorable family? Their story of loss and adoption are truly inspirational, and Dale wrote a book about their daughter who died called Angel Unaware. They were amazing people on and off screen. 

And don't they make the cutest couple ever?

The sleeves and floppy bow at the neck are awesome, but the horseshoe pattern makes this top amazing for me. 

I had always wondered what colors they were wearing since most pictures of them are in black and white. What vibrant hues black and white photography and movies must be hiding!

I love everything about Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, and I think she epitomized class, glamour, beauty, and everything lovely about being a cowgirl. Long live the Queen of the West!

What is your western inspiration?

The Almost, But Not Quite Shirt

So, we went on a little vacation last week and I thought it would present the perfect opportunity for me to wear a new blouse I had been working on. The only problem was it's going to need more work. *sigh*

I used this vintage blouse pattern and some vintage fabric I'd gotten for a dollar, but only after cutting out and sewing up part of it, did I realize that one of the facing pieces and the sleeve pieces were missing. Thankfully I found another pattern I had that's sleeves were almost identical and I was able to draft the facings.

I'm making the version in the middle in a plaid, but want to make the drawstring version as well.

Then I sewed and sewed and sewed to try to finish it before we left. It was almost done, and then I tried it on. The pocket, even though I put it where the pattern said to isn't centered, but too close to the left sleeve. So, that will have to be taken off and repositioned. I think I will also let out the hem a little as I'm long waisted and put in side vents. There is still some hand sewing to do, but there was no way I could get it done in time. Hopefully I can finish it this week, but there's nothing more annoying than being so excited to wear something new and finding such silly mistakes.

So, do you ever do rush sewing for an event or trip? How do you keep from getting in too big a hurry and having to unpick stitches?

An Autumn Circle Skirt

The hem really is straight, I promise, it's just the way I'm standing.

What says autumn? How about a circle skirt? No, well, to quote Mr. Darling, "A man's entitled to his own opinion."

I definitely do think more about separates when the weather starts to cool off, and I want to make a nice wool or corduroy circle skirt this fall. However, they take an unnaturally large amount of fabric! So, before I dig into the stash, or bank account, and use some more expensive material, I decided to test out this pattern on some $1/yard cotton print. Sure it won't be very warm in a couple of months, but the colors made me think more of autumn than summer, and I thought it looked well with this deep purple tee. 

Do you ever wish you could look like a pattern illustration? Maybe it's just me.

I used this vintage McCall's pattern, and would love to try a solid version with trimmings like in the picture some day. It was super easy to sew up, but crazy to hem by hand. The bottom of a circle skirt seems to go on forever, and I had to shorten it about 6-8 inches. Now, I know I'm short, but sheesh, I had no idea how short, and I hemmed it to hit me right below the knee. 

Insane amount of hemming on this, but next time I'll know to make it shorter, and that will help.

Here's a close up of the print. It has green roses (I know, weird, huh?) with brown leaves and little purple  flowers  scattered amongst them. 

There are several things I like about circle skirts. I think they are super flattering on a lot of figures, and they can be dressed up or down, made for summer or winter, use prints or solids, expensive or cheap fabric, and look ultra feminine, but one of the best parts is that they're good for twirling!

Best twirling picture I could get :(

I also wore this with a vintage brooch, brown cloth ballet flats with tiny bows on them, and a carved fake ivory and gold bracelet, but I had already taken off the bracelet and shoes for the pictures. 

Vintage brooch from eBay. Once again it's a cluster of something or another.

I actually have already gotten compliments while wearing my newest skirt, so am planning another cotton one in the print below. I know it's also a thin cotton, but it takes so little time to sew up a circle skirt, and I already have blouses/tops that will easily match it. Besides the weather in Tennessee will not be getting very cold for a while still. Yup, I can always reason my way into it. 

It's actually not so orangey in person, but more of a coral color. 

About three or four years ago our local Walmart announced they would no longer be selling fabric, and would be almost completely eliminating their craft section. Of course this was only after they had come to town a couple years prior and ran the two other fabric and craft stores out of business. *Grrr* However, I had the last laugh as they sold off some of their stock for $1 or less per yard, but you had to buy it in five yard lengths. My mom and I practically bought everything they had. I think we've both went through a surprisingly large amount of it already, but we both still have some. Sure some of it's really cheap stuff, but it works well for a lot of projects and for making muslins (something I'm bad for not doing anyway). 

So, what are you adding to your fall wardrobe?

Fall For Cotton Project Finished!

 I finished the blouse I was making for Fall for Cotton! I wish I had time for another project before the end of this sew along, but alas, there won't be enough time for anything else, at least for anything that I can post. I would also like to make the other versions of this blouse, and possibly another of this version, but I will try to steer her towards some more practical solids. 

It really came together pretty easily, even the buttons holes are okay. (I hate making button holes, must use bound buttonholes next time!)

The front.

The back.

I know I could've made something so much more glamorous or fabulous, but my little girl thinks this shirt is all that and more. Plus, I finished my first sew along on time! Yay! Now I'm not afraid to join another sew along. Hmm...do you know of any sew alongs coming up?

Outfit Post: 3 of a Kind

Another Sunday, another part of my meagre vintage collection gets an outing. This time it's a purple vintage dress from the 80s that could kind of pass for late 40s or 50s. 

I was still getting over a cold when these pictures were taken, so they're definitely not perfect, and somehow I forgot to get an actual full body shot. (Who does an outfit post without a full shot of the outfit? Obviously me.) I'm blaming it on the fact that mucous was clogging my brain. 

My 3 little ducks brooch. I have 3 kids, so this kind of stuff really appeals to me right now (I also have a 3 little chicks brooch and a 3 little bluebirds brooch). What would happen if we had a fourth child? I would still wear the brooch, but I guess I'd be on the lookout for things with four. What if we should have even more...? Hmm. Dozen eggs brooch?

My 3 little babes necklace. I really wasn't in the mood for lots of accessorizing, but I did wear one of my favorite necklaces. My husband got me this after the birth of our daughter (with only the little girl pendant then), and has added to it after each son. I really enjoy wearing it, but it doesn't get worn often because little hands tend to pull a bit too hard for the gold chain. However, this dress hides it a little more, so actually no hands saw it enough to be tempted to pull on it!

The 3 features that made me want to bid for this dress on eBay in the first place.

I see a lot of dresses on eBay that I like and that would fit me, but for budget reasons and practicality, I have to be selective. (I'd go crazy on there though if I had the money!) So, something has to really strike my fancy, fill a wardrobe void, and be so affordable (*ahem* cheap) that I cannot pass it up. How could anyone not be in need of more shirtdresses? And because this is an 80s version, it was very cheap (I don't remember the exact amount, but under $10). When I saw the cute collar, tucks, and cuffed sleeves on this dress, I couldn't say no. Should you ever say no to cuffed sleeves or tucks or smart collars? Those three things, and I was sold, even though it was in a color I don't usually prefer.

I have a search for 1950s dresses saved to my eBay account, which means they will send me periodic emails showing me new results that match my saved searches. If you didn't know this was a feature and you're looking for anything specific, especially on a regular basis, you really should use this. It just saves so much time. It's under the advanced search tab button thingy (how'd ya like that for technical terminology?). I don't know if there's a limit to how many searches you can have at one time. I currently only have two saved.

The 3 bonuses to love with this dress. 

Shiny, skinny, patent fake leather belt in white? Yes please. I seriously don't have enough belts, and this will go with so many other things. I realize it's not very autumnish, but it's still warm here, and it went so perfectly with this dress that I couldn't refuse it. Why is it a bonus? Because I got this with another eBay purchase as a bonus. I had ordered two vintage sundresses (They were under $10 each, too, hee, hee.) from this one seller, and they threw in the belt for free! Yay!

Button bonus round for $500, Alex. Even with zoom on the pictures of this dress on eBay, I couldn't see the detail of the buttons. I knew they were white with silver around them, but I actually thought the silvery or grey in the middle was thread. It's not, and I wish I had gotten a better close up for you here. It's actually a 3D little silver bow on each. How cute is that?

The third bonus? Pockets!!!! I could kick myself every time I've sewn a dress or skirt and not added pockets, and seriously no one should make skirts or dresses without them, in my opinion. (I should've used them on my wedding dress, too.) Pockets. Pockets. Pockets. Has there been a greater invention in clothing outside of buttons or zippers?

As you may have noticed these were all headless pictures in this post, but that was due to my cold. However, I will consent to one very small shot of my face in black and white (so as not to gross y'all out or anything). Baggy eyes, red eyes, red nose, red upper lip, and obligatory mouth breathing. Thank God this cold is leaving! (I say this as my husband now coughs in bed. Poor, poor, thing!)

Hope you're in better health, and may all your skirts or dresses have pockets!

What do you look for when purchasing clothes on eBay?

Outfit Post: Birthday Party at a Park

Once again, I have fuzzy pictures that I took myself in my kitchen after everyone else went to bed. So sorry about that, but that's seriously the only time I can do it (husband's working a lot of overtime and odd shifts).

Tired, but trying to smile. Behind me are the curtains I made for the French doors in our kitchen,
and the make shift paper towel holder, otherwise known as a chair, ha, ha.

This week has been interesting to say the least. The baby's had a stomach virus, I've got a cold, and the 5 and 2 year olds now have the sniffles and had a sleepover with Mamaw and Papaw. So, with all this going on, we also had been invited to a birthday party of one of Shelby's friends and our neighbors. (It's actually kind of neat how my neighbor and I have been pregnant together each time delivering within a month or less of each other, even before we knew one another! She tells me to let her know right away if I get pregnant, lol.)

 So, to take a trip to Walmart (Ugh!) and to go to a birthday party at the park while I'm still getting over a cold, you would think I would be in sweats or something. But I've found that if I put on something a little nicer looking, but just as comfortable, I feel a whole lot better without much effort. I didn't look as great as I could have, but didn't look like I'd been fighting the tissues and couch for the last few days.

The best picture I could get of my brooch. Can you tell me if it's a strawberry or grapes?

The only vintage item I'm wearing is the brooch. Which is either a strawberry or grapes with fake pearls. I purchased it at a local antique mall years ago, and it's one of my favorites. The only other jewelry I'm wearing is my wedding rings (which aren't in the picture below; kneading bread dough is best done sans rings), but that was for practicality, because the park we were going to is very woodsy, and I didn't want to lose anything. Plus, it was all I could do to pull myself this together while sick.

I absolutely love the little elephants! Now I need an elephant brooch to go with them.....hmm. 

The skirt is a circle skirt I bought at a Charlotte Russe about ten years ago, and I've always loved it. It's white and has little black dot flowers printed on it with a border of, I assume Indian men, and elephants. It's actually easy to match it with solid color tops.

The shirt is a deep purple Old Navy t-shirt I bought at least five years ago. It's actually held up pretty well. I have the same shirt in coral, turquoise, and grey as well. The only thing I don't like about these t-shirts is how much they stretch out (as you can kind of see from the pictures). They end up looking a little sloppy after only a few hours of wearing them.

Another tired looking shot, but you can also see some of our homeschooling stuff and artwork on the wall, lol. 

I only wore a little tinted moisturizer with lip balm and my hair was three days out from a pin curl set, which after playing at the park a couple of hours looked kind of blah. But, I think it was fine for where I was going and for chasing a 2 year old away from the giant river on one side of the playground, the woods on another, and the creek you had to cross to get to the playground. Seriously, who thought putting a playground without a fence there was a good idea?

Sorry I didn't get a shot of my shoes, but they are some of my favorites, so I'll try to get them another time. They are a kind of Mary Jane style ballet flat in black with a frog embroidered on one foot and a gold crown on the other foot. I call them my Frog Prince shoes. They are super comfy, I can run in them for short distances chasing people, and they look a little nicer than tennis shoes in my opinion. They were made by Camper, and I've had them for about 13 years. Yup, I hold onto shoes I like until they literally fall apart. When they finally give out, I don't know what I'll do, but I may have to have a service for them.

I only regret one thing, not wearing a sweater or jacket! I didn't even bring any for the kids and the party was at five o'clock in the afternoon. Usually this time of year it's still pretty warm, but fall decided to show up a little this afternoon, and we froze. I know, I know, temperatures in the low 70s are warm for a lot of places, but here in the shade the low 70s felt like the low 50s. But I'm glad, because I LOVE  fall!

What are your tips for looking put together when you're a hurry or don't feel well?