Quick Share ~ Embroidery 101

This post from Kristin of Sew Techincolor is a wonderful guide if you are just getting started with your embroidery, plus she has some really pretty pieces that she’s stitched.  You can read all about it here:

Embroidery 101 {sort of}

In case you haven't noticed, I've been a bit obsessed with embroidery lately. :) And as I've been stitching, I've been thinking about the things I've learned since I first started.

When I was a kid, my grandma taught me the basics of embroidery (both of my grandmas embroidered and sewed, so I like to think I'm helping to carry on the tradition :). She gave me some embroidery floss and a hoop, and I worked on some of those little samplers that have the pattern printed on the fabric, and you just stitch over it. Apparently I didn't fall in love with it then, because I didn't embroider any more until just over two years ago.

Every once in a while I get emails from blog readers about my embroidery. They usually ask how I learned and if I have any books or websites to recommend. I do, and I'll share them at the bottom of this post. But for now, I give you...

8 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I First Learned Embroidery
{aka, the longest list title ever}…

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Kitties to make you LOL

And now to resume our weekly episodes of cuteness to make you squee and lol ~ I present to you:  Opera Cat!

Adorbs in a fur coat… I love it.  I also love this next one ~ it made me laugh so much!   ^ U ^

Hahahahaaaa!   Epic!

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Conquering the dreaded knit!

Oh my goodness you guys ~ I just had to share this post when it popped up in my feed reader!!   You might not know, but I have tried sewing with knits before and at the end of my little experiment I swore I wouldn’t touch them with a ten foot barge pole until I was a better seamstress. 

Well, this gem of a post by Lauren of LLadybird has stirred the itch and I am thinking that with her good advice in hand, I might try some knit sewing this year.  Knits are super comfortable and can look really cute as Lauren shows!  Check it out here ~

Conquering Knits: A Self-Help Guide

So you wanna sew some knits, huh? Maybe you picked up the Renfrew pattern and haven’t worked up the courage to slice into the pattern tissue yet. Or maybe you’ve been romanced & wooed by all the amazing printed knit fabrics out there. Or maybe you’re just ready for a new challenge that doesn’t involve zippers! Whatever you reason, it’s time to talk knits. Get a coffee and get comfy, this is gonna be a long ‘un.

First off, let me say something very important.

Knits are not scary or super difficult to work with!

I don’t know who is responsible for freaking out millions of sewers to be afraid of knit fabrics, but I wish I did know so I could stick some needles in his (or her!) face. Knit fabrics are actually MUCH easier to work with than a basic woven fabric. Yes, you have to pay special attention to the grain line, but aren’t you doing that anyway with your other sewing projects?  ; )  Yes, knits do curl up – but they don’t unravel! Yes, you have to use a special stitch & needle to keep your seams from getting too wavy and/or snapping – but what’s so scary about that?

Here is what is so awesome about knits. I made you a list….

xox,

bonita

P.S. ~ One tip that I picked up is to start with a knit fabric that doesn’t curl much at the edges.  That means that it’s less stretchy which also means that it’s easier to work with.  Works for me!  : D

Quick Share ~ The Cat and The Commode

…And while we are on the topic of cats ~ I just had to share this cute little post I found at Grey Horse Matters.  Enjoy!

How to clean a toilet

This was simply too much of a time saver not to share it with you.

1. Put both lids of the toilet up and add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl.

 

2. Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.

 

3. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close the lid.  You may need to stand on the lid.

 

4. The cat will self agitate and make ample suds.   Never mind the noises that come from the toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this.

 

5. Flush the toilet three or four times.  This provides a 'power-wash' and rinse'.

 

6. Have someone open the front door of your home.  Be sure that there are no people between the bathroom and the front door.

 

7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift the lid.

 

8. The cat will rocket out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom, and run outside where he will dry himself off.

 

9. Both the commode and the cat will be sparkling clean.

Sincerely,

The Dog

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Funny cats

Kitty's like O_O *runandhide!*

WHERE’S MY STRING???!

And just ‘cause it’s cute ~

*omnomnomnom* MINE!

One day, the cuteness shall be mine, all mine…  > x <   I’ve been asking for a kitty for a while, but I think we have to wait for a bit longer because of the dog and various things like that.  So I live vicariously through all the kitties on the internet.  And then I force you to watch *cough* show you some of my favourite videos of teh awhsome kittehz! 

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Kittiiiieeeeehhhhsssss!

Wet cats make for lots of Lolz…. :D

There’s nothing better to brighten your days then funny cat antics! I laughed until the tears came….  ‘Nuff said.    ~(=^･ω･^)ﾉ

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ 1950s Vintage Makeup Tutorial

Vintage magazines are quite fascinating, and there’s nothing like the original thing to achieve a picture perfect look.  Jessica from Chronically Vintage shares this lovely step-by-step make up tutorial with us to help the vintage lovers achieve that 1950s look.

1950s step-by-step photo tutorial for applying eye make-up

It's a safe bet to say that the majority of us have at least a decent handle on how to apply eye makeup, especially given the emphasis on that particular facial feature that certain vintage looks call for (hello, cat's eye eyeliner!).

Some of us are old pros, others relatively confident in their abilities but not quite as resolute in their skills as they hope to be one day, whereas there is certainly a percentage of vintage make-up fans who are just starting out with learning how to apply old school cosmetic looks on themselves.

No matter where you fall on the spectrum, it's likely that you'll enjoy the instructional set of black and white photographs in today's post, which show the precise techniques used (on this model at least) back in 1950 to achieve a strikingly elegant, endlessly classic lined eye look….

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ A History of Handerkerchief

I do love finding out historical facts regarding all sorts of random things ~ it’s so much fun to know stuff like this, so I have here a post about the history of the handerkerchief by Lauren of Bobby Pin Blog.

Handkerchief History

"Historians credit Marie Antoinette with the invention of the pocket handkerchief. She was so broken up at leaving her home in Austria that she cried all the way to France and wiped her eyes with bits of lace torn from her dress and lingerie. Anticipating future tears, she made it a point always to have a piece of lace tucked in a pocket of her dress. This, say the historians, was how handkerchiefs were born."

That is such a cute and beautiful story. I would not expect anything less from a 1940s women's magazine. The romance that surrounded writing for women of the time is priceless, but it is of course a load of you-know-what….

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Beaded Scallop Collar DIY

I shared a tutorial on creating vintage styled collars here and now there is another one to try out from Megan of Design Diary.  : D

DIY beaded scallop edge detachable collar

As promised a few weeks ago, I’ve put together a pattern and some instructions for how you can create your own beaded scallop edge detachable collar (phew that’s a mouthful!!)

I honestly love this collar sooo much, and have not stopped wearing it since I made it – but, that being said, it is definitely a project requiring some time and commitment. It took me almost 12 hours to do all the beading – so just keep that in mind before you start.

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Ribbon Button Band Cardigan

This is a fantastic guest post tutorial from Tasha of By Gum By Golly found at Casey’s Elegant Musings is well worth a read ~ a fantastic vintage detail that is easy to add to your cardigans and looks pretty.  Tasha has done it again!! : D

Ribbon Button Band Cardigan Tutorial

Do I have a treat for you today! Tasha of By Gum By Golly (one of the best vintage fashion and sewing/knitting blogs, in my opinion!) has a fantastic tutorial for all you knitters (and sweater-refashioners) out there! This clever lady has figured out a great way to add a button band to a sweater. This is something that a lot of vintage knitting patterns specify, but the instructions are usually less than clear. Thank you Tasha for deciphering and sharing how to do this!–♥ Casey

Hi everyone! I’m Tasha and I blog over at By gum, by golly. I’m excited to be helping Casey out, and I’m here today to share a tutorial with you!

If you’re a vintage clothing aficionado like I am, you may have occasionally found a cardigan finished with grosgrain ribbon along the opening edges of the button bands….

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Stranded {Fair Isle} Knitting Tutorial

This is a great tutorial from Tasha of By Gum, By Golly! on how to get started with patterned/stranded/fair isle knitting.  It’s an excellent resource to have on hand. 

VKC: Getting started with stranded (fair isle) knitting

The very basics of stranded knitting

Stranded knitting refers to knitting with multiple colors in a single row, with the unused color carried or stranded along the back when it's not in use. Hence the name "stranding" or "stranded knitting". Usually, that's limited to two colors, but you may find 3 or more colors in some Icelandic and Scandinavian traditional patterns, for example, and occasionally in vintage patterns. Though it's most commonly done with two colors in a row, so that's what I'll focus on…

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ DIY Hat Stands

Mandi from Here's Looking At Me Kid has come up with a great tutorial that I thought was too cute not to share; so here you go! : D 

DIY: Easy and Colorful Hat Stands

 
   Ever since my 2010 New Year's resolution to wear more hats, my home has become a veritable dumping ground for colorful hats of all shapes and sizes. I do hang some on the wall, and others are kept in hatboxes, but I really thought it was high time some of my pretty hats received proper stands all their own. After checking online and in local antique stores to see what sort of hat stands were available, I was struck with the thrifty idea of making my own…

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Belt Up

What can I say?  Charlotte of Tuppence Ha’penny Vintage has come up with another really useful post in the form of ads for vintage belts.  Who knew that bow belts and leopard prints where perfectly vintage?!  I sure didn’t so, check out these awesome illustrations… 

Belt Up

I am, as you may have noticed, a big fan of belts. They can often be had for small money in charity shops, and are a great way to add interest and ring the changes in an outfit. Happily, interesting belts are also perfectly vintage, as these scans (mainly from the Sears catalogue) show. I love seeing the variety of belts available through the years!

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Sesame Street does “G” as in…

…This calls for more glitter!! > U <

…Glee Club!  Or in this case ~ the “G” Club. > 3 <

I don’t know how many of you watch the show, I myself have only seen the first season and I must confess I find the program a little silly; I mean, do they really have to keep on making clichéd, stupid mistakes over and over again?  

That being said, somehow the whole thing is still rather addictive and I love the music!  I did find this spoof really amusing, so watch and enjoy.  ᵔᴗᵔ

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ History of Fashion Through Dance

Fun fashion & dance!

I found this quirky video through Beta Boutique Vintage ~ and it’s seriously so cute that I just had to share!  I love the early fashions/dances obviously, but it’s interesting to see how it all evolves.   My only complaint is that they change costume a little too fast to get a real sense of the clothes, but the outfits you see are super, and the dances are amusing so it’s well worth a watch!  Enjoy ~

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Top 5 Nail Tips

Jaci from You’ve Got Nail is very knowledgeable and has gorgeous nails so when she gives out her 5 top tips for keeping your nails in tip~top shape you know I am going to sit up and listen!  My personal favourite piece of advice is to stop using your nails as tools, i.e. don’t pick at sticky tape, your other nails, use them like a screw driver….  Okay, so the last two crimes are my very own, { –___-‘ } so that just goes to show how badly I treat them.  Well, no longer!   For more tips please check out the rest of her post. 

Top 5 Nail Tips

One of the most common questions I get asked about my manicures is how I maintain my nails.  What tools do I use?  What techniques do I employ?  What secret witches brew do I use to get my cuticles soft.


Really, I have no secrets.  I’ve just found methods and techniques that work for me.  Today, I will be sharing with you guys my Top 5 Nail Tips for keeping your nails looking their very best...

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ A Homemade Beauty Day

Lisa from Snoodlebug is one of the lovely Vintage Mafia ladies and she also has some nifty beauty tips.  I like her post on how to make your own pore cleansing facial mask.  Simple, but effective!  Pop over to her blog to check it out.  ^ U ^

A homemade beauty day

…Now it is time to get rid of the make up and give my hard working skin a bit of pep.  I don't have any face masks ot anything in so I decided to make my own.  Most commercial products these days lay claim to being enriched with honey or various plant extracts - so why not go straight for the store cupboard or the garden for your skincare? Also, being a vintage gal I love the "making do" aspect of home made skincare…

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

Quick Share ~ National Thrift Shop Day

So apparently there is a National Thrift Shop Day and I totally missed out on it!  *sadface*   Because of the epic fail on my part I bring you Kaylah from The Dainty Squid’s lovely thrifting finds that she posted in honour of N.T.S.D. {hmm, I like the sound of that ~ *sings* “NTSD, NTSD, NTSDDDDDD.”  > . >}.  Check it out ~

National Thrift Shop Day 

August 17th (today!!) is National Thrift Shop day! To celebrate I'm going to share my top thrift purchases! I've found lots of fantastic things over the years but these seem to stand out in my head the most….

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ DIY Vinyl Record Purse

For all you handy dandy vintage aficionados out there I have a fantastic tutorial from Charlotte of Tuppence Ha’penny Vintage on how to make your very own vinyl record purse.  It’s such a cute handbag and she even did a vinyl record hat tutorial as well, so if you want a matching hat and purse skedaddle over to her blog and take a look!

How to Make a Vinyl Record Purse

So you've got your record hat, what do you need to complete your outfit? A record handbag, of course!…

xox,

bonita