Introducing Charlotte & The CSSA

 

I am so excited for the Circle Skirt Sew~Along being hosted by Casey of Elegant Musings.  I was one of the readers who voted for the skirt in the last sew~along; {the swing dress won out though} and I am so glad that Casey has decided to do it now because it is the perfect timing! 

And this is why….

My very own beautiful, much sort after, vintage Bernina 830 sewing machine has finally arrived!   I bought this pretty little thing off Ebay, after much anxiety and stress {I am just going put it out there ~ I HATE auctions on Ebay….  They always make me soooo nervous!  This time it was so bad Husband had to bid for me!!  >  < } it was packaged up and sent off to me.  Yay!  *does a dance*  \ > U < / 

It is my very great pleasure to introduce you to Charlotte, my long awaited sewing companion ~

Isn’t she gorgeous?  She’s got all her parts, feet, bobbins, cases, instruction manual, etc., and she purrs like a kitten.  I’ve only done test run, but boy, oh, boy am I ever so excited to tackle my first project on my first ever sewing machine!  Which {if I don’t get too ahead of myself and jump the gun} should be a tea party length, self drafted circle skirt in a pretty pink rose and black polka dot on a white cotton fabric. 

It’s nice and light and perfect for spring/summer which is coming up all too fast around here.  I am itching to start sewing some vintage inspired pieces for my summer wardrobe; I hope to complete at least one shirt dress to wear before the end of the year. It’s all super thrilling! 

Anyway, I shall keep you all updated with my progress with the Circle Skirt Sew~Along as I get on with it.  Wish me luck; I think I’ll need it!!

xox,

bonita

How to ~ Make a wrist rest

In conjunction with my Quick Share post about RSI yesterday, I thought I would put up a tutorial on how to create your own wrist rest.  You know, one of those thingys that you rest your arm/wrist on when you are using your mouse?  I have no idea if wrist rest is the proper term, but that’s what I’ve got so… Yeah.   Let’s begin!    *warning*  It’s a picture heavy post, but this is really easy to make and it doesn’t take that long.  Promise!  ^ u ^

Gather your materials:

~ A solid square/rectangular shape to use as the base.  This can be made out of wood, plastic, polystyrene, anything you have on hand.  I had a small wooden block 7cm long x 4cm wide x 3cm deep that I used

IMPORTANT EDIT ~ After using this for a while I realized the problem is not so much my wrist as the height of my chair!  I made my chair higher and now my wrist rest is too high, : (  so I have turned it into a pincushion.   You might want to make sure your chair is right before you start your project, and make your wrist rest much smaller ~ about 2cm or so. : )

~  Stuffing

~  Material to cover the block & stuffing

~  Thick cardboard

~  Felt

~  Glue Gun

~ Sewing Kit; needle, thread, scissors, ruler, material pencil/pen

~  Any decorations you want to add {sorry, this isn’t in the photo as I decided to add mine last minute!}

Step 1:  Use your block to measure a square of material.  Leave a good amount of excess so it can wrap around the block and the stuffing.

Step 2:  Use the block to measure a piece of thick cardboard.  This is going on the bottom later on, so cut it out and put it aside. 

Step 3:  Place stuffing in the middle of the material square with the block on top. 

Step 4:  Pin the edges of the material together and sew or glue according to your preference.

Step 5:  On the end of the block fold the top of the material down, then fold over the left side and then the right so that it crosses over neatly and makes a point. 

Step 6:  Pin your material in place and sew or glue the loose fabric to the bottom of the block{sorry, I forgot to get a photo of this!}.

Step 7:  Now we are going to use the cardboard and the felt to make a nice base for the wrist rest.  Place your felt against the long side of the block and measure how high up you want it to sit.  I decided on two centimetres for mine.

Step 8:  Using the piece of cardboard you cut out earlier, mark around it leaving a gap the width that you measured in step 7.  So I mark around my cardboard piece leaving 2cm on every side.  Then cut out the felt.

Step 9:  Now I decided to put scallops down the long edges of my felt to make it look pretty.  I free cut mine, but if you want to measure them for neater results you can mark little dots 1cm apart ~ this is the width of your scallops.  Make the marks 1cm in from the edge of the felt and that’s the depth. 

Step 10:  Cut out your scallops.  I folded the felt in half to make the job quicker.

Step 11:  Glue the cardboard onto the bottom of your wrist rest.  It should cover all the material you stitched/glued down and not stick out past the edges of the wrist rest.

Step 12:  Glue the wrist rest to the middle of your felt.

Step 13:  Glue the long edges to the sides of your wrist rest. 

Step 14:  Fold the ends of the long sides over the short edge. 

Step 15:  Glue the folds down so that it sits nice and flat. 

Step 16:  Glue on any extra decorations.  I decided to go with these ribbon roses, one on each end.  Now you’re all done!!  Enjoy your pretty new wrist rest and save your aching muscles. 
> w <  ~ ♥

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ 3 Important Things About RSI

So you may be asking why I am sharing a random post about Repetitive Strain Injury?  Well, there’s actually a really good reason for me to share this, and it’s really not that hard to guess.  Yup, I got me some good ol’ RSI.  I have found that a combination of intensive knitting and computer work is really doing a total number on my right wrist.  I think the major culprit in my case has been scrolling with my mouse wheel.  Just thinking about it now makes my wrist ache! 

I also thought that I might not be the only person out there suffering from this problem, so check out this post for some good tips on managing and preventing RSI.

The 3 Most Important Things Women {Anyone} Should Know About Repetitive Stress Injury

…Crafting and typing jobs are two high-risk activities for developing Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) also known as Repetitive Motion Injury (RMI).  As a Handmade Jewelry Designer and Small Business Owner, I participate in both of those activities practically all day long!…

xox,

bonita

Eco~Friendly Cleaner Recipes & Tricks

Let’s be clear here, I am not a trendy, hipster hippie.  I can’t claim to that my household practices are entirely green, eco~conscious and save~the~whale friendly, but I am aiming to slowly reduce the amount of chemicals I use in cleaning and maintaining the house.  I mostly want to do this because not only is it better for the environment, but also because I feel it’s healthier for my family and I. 

I have no idea how many chemicals are absorbed through my skin every day, what with all the hair products, cleansers, perfume, deodorant, moisturizers, and that’s not even including the days I wear makeup!   However, it’s not only health factor that I am considering; let’s also remember that eco~friendly cleaners have been around for a lot longer than today’s trend.  I personally believe it’s a major element of the “Make do and Mend” mentality, just upcycled under a different slogan of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. 

I don’t know about you, but for me, wearing vintage is more than just clothes, it’s also part of a deliberate effort on my side to get back to basics.   You could argue that stockings, garters, gloves, hats and all those necessary accessories for a authentic 1940s or 50s look is far from basic but that’s another post entirely! 

Anyway, the whole ‘getting back to basics’ motto I am running with means that I am going to get all eco~vintage on my cleaning routine.  Here are some awesome recipes from Pinterest that I plan on using, and I thought maybe you might find them useful as well.  

DIY Laundry Detergent

  

DIY Window cleaner ~ Mix together 2/3 parts white vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and 1/3 part water in a spray bottle.

 

DIY Dishwashing Liquid & Bath Fizzer

 

DIY Air Freshener

xox,

bonita

My Fur Confession ~ Outfit Forty Three

Twiggy Bird Faux Bakelite Broach  ~  Acorn & Will     Knit Top  ~  Thrifted    Bow Belt  ~  New Look{UK}   Pearl Bracelet  ~  made by me  Dotted Skirt  ~  Thrifted  Eyelet Lace Petticoat  ~  Thrifted   Shoes  ~  Payless  Vintage Fur  ~  Thrifted

~ * ♥ * ~

I might as well just jump straight in and address the massive elephant in the room….  Yes, that is a fur stole I am wearing in the last picture.  No, I didn’t inherit it.  I have a confession to make. 

*deepbreath* 

I am one of those sort~of~kind~of~really~doesn’t~mind~wearing~vintage~fur~please~don’t~shoot~me people.  Can I also say that I have been terrified of admitting this for months now?  I have been so reluctant to say anything because A. I know this is a hugely controversial topic and B. I really didn’t want to offend any of my lovely readers out there. 

But then I was thinking about the unique beauty of blogging communities ~ we don’t have the same ideas!  I mean that’s the whole point of blogging isn’t it?  To submit your own individual take on fashion, life, you name it, into the melting pot; to share ideas and create discussion.  So I want to share my take on fur and I hope that my blog can be a place where ideas and conversation can flow freely and respectfully. 

The nuts and bolts of it is that I do not have a problem with wearing vintage fur.  But I want to stress the word “vintage” because that is my criteria for this discussion.

Firstly, let’s be clear about this.  No, I don’t support modern fur trade. I don’t think that it’s necessary or, in most cases, humane.  

Why do I wear vintage fur then?  I have a few reasons.  One is that I think it’s wasteful not to use these items of clothing that have already been made.  Fur maybe distasteful to many, but there is no denying that it does the job of keeping you warm. In my mind that begs the question ~ why use more resources to create a warm coat or scarf when there are already pieces available for use?

Another reason is that personally I don’t have a problem with using animal by-products if done carefully and humanely.  I eat meat, wear leather shoes, and therefore, wear fur.  For me, this is a practical thing.  There is no point boycotting vintage fur in my mind unless I go the whole hog and boycott all animal by-products. 

Lastly, I find vintage furs beautiful.  This is the least important reason, and unless I had the stronger reasons like those I just went through, I wouldn’t use the fur regardless of how I feel about it’s aesthetic value.  But however small and insignificant, this reason is still an aspect as to why I wear vintage fur.  I  like how the furs help to give a sense of authenticity to my vintage look. 

And so, these reasons are why I wear vintage fur.  There.  I have done it.  I am ‘out of the closet’ as it were. 

Am I hesitating over publishing this post?  Yes.  Am I worried about backlash?  Trolls?  Losing followers?  Yes, yes, and yes.   Am I still going to put this post up?  Yes. {Well obviously or you wouldn’t be reading it!}  Am I hoping for responses?  Yes.  I want to facilitate respectful conversation ~ so please share your views; I want to hear them. 

xox,

bonita

P.S.  ~ Because I really want to see my blog remain a place of positive, friendly, and respectful conversation any flaming or nasty comments will be deleted.  : )  Share the love, not the hate. 

What my camera shows me

       

Some photographic adventures with the iPhone.  Instagram is seriously awesome sauce ~ it makes everything ten times prettier and I feel like I don’t have to stress about not having my DSLR on me all the time because this app is doing a fairly good job as a substitute! 

Mind you, there is definitely a slightly different technique required when you are using your phone camera.  Yes, you can still do your fine art photographic style, but framing, focus, lighting, and all that jazz is pretty iffy.  I tend to think of my phone like a polaroid camera; you have your limitations but you can still get some really good snaps with a bit of creative juggling!

In the mean time here are some more ‘serious’ pieces I’ve put in the Studio recently. 

You can click through on the photos to go to my studio and check out all the other pictures I have also put up.  Apparently I’ve been a real busy little beaver!  I didn’t even realize how many I had done until I started looking at which ones I wanted to share.  It’s good though; maybe one of these days I will get out of 2010 and start editing the photos I have taken this year….  -____-‘  Hopefully I can get fully caught up soon!! 

xox,

bonita