Pretty 1940s & 1950s Inspirations

Here are some pictures that have been tucked away in my fashion folder for future reference and inspiration!  I did the ol’ “click&save” so I do not know where some of the pictures came from, but they are not mine and if anyone does know the source, please let me know I will hyperlink to the original. 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed the 1940s & 1950s inspiration and the pretty accessories.  Have a great weekend!

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Restyle vintage trousers into shorts

This tutorial from Tasha of By Gum By Golly is a useful one to have tucked away in your bookmarks folder!  It’s easy to follow and she makes up the cutest pair of shorts, so check the post out here:

Tutorial: Restyle vintage trousers into shorts

Today I have a little tutorial for a fun idea that I claim no credit in inventing!

We're probably all familiar with the concept of cut off shorts. Many of us wore them when we were younger, and I saw a pair just yesterday. You know the kind. Often born out of a pair of jeans with ratty knees, cut off and left to fray unceremoniously…..

xox,

bonita

Stepping Out ~ Hipster

 

~* ♥ * ~  Okay; I know hipsters are supposed to be all ‘cool’ and not smiley, but I couldn’t resist breaking character for a bit…  : D   ~* ♥ * ~

Earrings  ~  Best&Less    Belt  ~  Thrifted     Blazer  ~  Thrifted    Top  ~  Thrifted  
Jeans  ~  Primark {UK}     Socks  ~  Thrifted      Shoes  ~  Reproductions from Amazon

~* ♥ * ~

For those readers that are new to my blog, I have been doing a fashion feature called “Stepping Out” where I take clothes from my wardrobe and mix them up into a style I would never normally wear! 

I like doing this because it challenges me to try something different, have a bit of fun with my style and think creatively to get the pieces I need.  And who knows, I might even find a new look!  Though I have to admit that so far, all I have done is confirmed how much I like my vintage inspired style.  > o <

So this is my version of hipster fashion.  No, I do not have the wayfarers, which to be sure, are a staple of ‘hipsterness’, but being my own interpretation of the style it doesn’t have to be perfect…  At least, that is what I reckon! 

~ Stepping Out Details ~

~ Differences to my normal style:   Well, I do wear jeans, but not that often, so the jeans are first.  Secondly, my hair ~ I have never worn a top not before in my life! 

~ Similarities to my normal style:  Saddle shoes!  These are new and I bought them to go specifically with my vintage style, so you will be seeing a lot more of them in the future.  > U < 

xox,

bonita

How to ~ Crochet a flower hair accessory

This is a simple tutorial on how to crochet a flower hair clip like the one above.  You might have noticed me wearing it in my hair in this outfit post:  Happy Feet ~ Outfit Thirty Eight.  Actually, it was pretty hard to miss being the subject of one whole photo all by itself!!!  *side eye*  Anyway, now you can make one just like it for yourself.  ^ w ^

I do not have my usual step by step photos as it mostly about following the pattern, so if you have any questions; please do not hesitate to ask .  : )

Materials List:

~  Wool  in two different colours {I used 2 ply cotton yarn in ivory & pink}
~  Crochet hook in the appropriate size for the ply of your wool 
~  Hair clip finding {I used a mini millinery barrette as the clip}
~  Needle for sewing the flower to the finding

Gauge:

I used a 1.75mm hook with my yarn.  For your standard 3-4 ply wool, a 2.00 - 3.25mm hook is recommended.  Hook & yarn chart.

Abbreviations:

ch – chain
sk – skip
sc - single crochet
dc – double crochet
sl st - slip stitch
* – repeat

The Pattern: 

~  Flower Centre  ~

Ch 21.
Row 1: *Dc, ch1, dc* in fifth ch from hook. *Ch1, sk1. Dc, ch 1, dc in next stitch* till the end (repeat 8 times).  You should end up with 9 double crochet V’s.  Ch 3 and turn.
Row 2: In first ch1 space between the double crochet V’s, dc 4 times. *Sl st in next ch1 space between the double crochet V’s. Dc 5 times* till the end (repeat 9 times).  Sl st in last stitch in row.

Step 1:  Fasten off and leave long tail for sewing. With the tail on the right side, roll the flower inwards (clockwise motion), placing the petals how you would like and sewing to hold it in place.

~  Flower Petals  ~

Ch 48
Row 1:  Sk 1 ch, sc in next ch and across, ch 3, turn
Row 2: *Sk 1 sc, 2 dc in next sc, sk next sc, 1 dc in next sc, continue from * across, ch 3 turn
Row 3: *2 dc, ch1, 2 dc in space between 2 dc, dc in next dc, continue from * across, ch 3 turn
Row 4: *3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in ch space, dc in next dc, continue from * across, ch 3 turn
Row 5: *8 dc in ch space, dc in next dc, continue from * across – finish off with sl st leaving a long tail to sew the clip on.

Step 2:  Take flower centre and roll the outside petals around it, sewing the petals in place with the rest of the flower centre’s tail.

Step 3:  Using the flower petals’ long tail sew the hair clip finding onto the back of the flower. 

Step 4:   Wear and enjoy your crochet flower hair clip.  ^ U ^

xox,

bonita

Made it!!

So I managed to create something every day for the 30 Days of Creativity Challenge.  I am soooo surprised and happy that I did it!   I seriously had my doubts, because as you already know, Theodore arrived on Day 3 of the 30 Days.  

Having a new baby sure made it even more challenging than it already was, but I did do it!  Okay, I will admit I posted a lot of the stuff the day after I made it, and some times I had to do a catch up and do two or three things in one day, but I still did it and that’s what counts in the end. 
^  U  ^    Here are some more of my projects ~

~* ♥ * ~  Resin daisies glued onto disc earring findings  ~* ♥ * ~

~* ♥ * ~  Nail Art using Konad plates m59 & m71  ~* ♥ * ~

~* ♥ * ~  Pearl beads threaded onto jewellery wire, finished with an ivory bow  ~* ♥ * ~

And last but not least ~ the Day 30 project….

I made it!  Yay!

xox,

bonita

P.S.  ~  If you want to see all of my 30 Days of Creativity projects I have pictures up on Pinterest.  You can find them here.

Quick Share ~ 1940s scarf tricks

I really like some of the scarf styles that Blanka of Minor Swing of O'Sullivan's Girl shows in the gorgeous 1940s illustrations she posted.   Take a look for some summer time inspiration. 

1940s scarf tricks

Almost everyone wears scarf in winter, the smart girls wear it in summer as well.  ;) Scarf is ideal piece of wardrobe especially when you spend your holiday by the seaside... but for you who aren't lucky ones (as me - and I don't regret it - I love the style how I spend my holiday), you can wear it at your cottage or when you go on some nice trip when it's hot and sunny day...

xox,

bonita

Happy Feet ~ Outfit Thirty Eight

Crochet Flower Hair Clip  {made by me}   Daisy Earrings   {made by me}  
Flower Bracelet  {Equip}        Black&White Short Sleeved Cardigan  {Tempt}   
Pink Top  {Thirfted}   Skirt  {Tightrope}  Stockings  {Valley Girl}   Peep toe Shoes  {Thrifted}

 ~* ♥ * ~

Can you tell that I am enjoying the slow return of my waist much?   ^  U  ^    I must say it is a lot fun to be able to wear my clothes properly again as well as wearing clothes I haven’t touched for over ten months!  

Two things I would like to note about this outfit are:  One, when I thrifted the pink top I really did not think that I would get as much wear out of it as I have!  In fact out of the tops I thrifted that day {four in total}  I think I have worn that one the most, with the red one coming in second.  The grey I haven’t touched and neither have I worn the blouse.  Mind you, I am waiting for the right moment to wear the blouse.  I was thinking a circle skirt, but I do not have any of those yet {I simply must sew some up soon!} and now that I think of it, I think that I do have a skirt that would work.  Hmmm… 

There you go ~ my next outfit post is already in the making!

Two {yes, there is more after that long rant!} ~ I must say how incredibly happy these shoes make me.  In fact, whenever I wear them I have happy feet.  Pink + flowers + a cute heel that is not~too~tall~not~too~short~just~right = j'adore!!

I have so many black shoes from my monochromic wardrobe days {just about everything was black, white or shades of grey.  I owned a few purple tops but they were the only colour I had!}, but I think that I really like shoes that are different colours.   I still like my black shoes, but these are just so FUN! 

What do you say ~ basic black is best or contrasting colour for cuteness? 

xox,

bonita

Ruby Red ~ Outfit Thirty Seven

 

Accessories  ~  Felt Hair Flower  {Reject Shop}   Pearl Earrings  {Equip} 
Pearl Bracelet  {BdotDepictions; made by me}  Vintage 50s Handbag  {Esty}
Top  {Thrifted}   Belt  {I pulled it off another skirt}  Skirt  {Thrifted}  Stockings  {too old; I cannot remember}   Shoes  {Some random stall}

~* ♥ * ~

I wore this outfit on Saturday, not for any particular reason, which is one of the best reasons for dressing up I think!  

I am loving my new liquid eyeliner ~ it’s Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner in Deep Black.  It’s a Japanese brand eyeliner and it lasts really well as long as I do not rub the sides of my eyes.  I have a habit of doing that apparently so I end up with one eye winged and the other not!

Hmmm… Other news?  Nothing much has actually been happening.  Most days it is the same old feed, wake, sleep, nappie, cry, burp, sit on the couch routine.  All the days are rather blurring together at the moment.  I am not sure if they will ever settle into some sort of a routine, but I do so hope so.  

I am also hoping to be back on my horse next weekend and I am really looking forwards to that!! 

xox,

bonita

How to ~ Create a pin cushion out of a teacup

All the credit for this fantastic DIY goes to Sophie of Sophie Makes Things.   She had a wonderful idea that worked so beautifully that I had to try it myself!  I am not going to do a proper tutorial because you should go and check Sophie’s tutorial out here:

D.I.Y - Teacup Pin Cushion!

This was my Day One project for the 30 Days of Creativity Challenge  and I thought I would show you some pictures of what I did and, of course, the end results!   ^ ω ^  ~ ♥

Recipe for one cute pin cushion!

Step 1:  Beg, borrow or steal one pretty teacup and saucer.

 

 

 

 

Step 2:  Have fun with a glue gun!

Cup stuck to saucer?  Good, now you can move on…

 

Step 3:  Stuffing explosion!  A teacup volcano has erupted.

Step 4:  ‘Measure’ your material to fit your stuffing ~ this was rather an estimation on my part.

 

 

 

Step 5:  Put stuffing in material square and make it round.

 

 

 

 

Step 6:  Finish your fabric dumpling  *nomnom*

 

 

 

 

 

Step 7:  Apply more glue ~ you can never have enough….  > < 

 

 

 

 

And……

Tada!!!

You now have a pin cushion teacup to keep your needle mouse company.   > ω <    Is it not lovely?  I have it sitting on my desk next to my computer; just in case, you know, I need to ever sew a key back on my keyboard or some such thing…. 

Let me know if you make one of these too ~ we can have a teacup pin cushion party!  : D

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ How to use Modern Clothes to get a Vintage Look

I really liked this guest post at Retro Chick by Laurie from Retro Reporter.  It has some great tips on getting a vintage look with modern clothes.  Now I know that to some vintage lovers if it is not the real deal then it is no good, but to me, it is about the look, not just the authenticity.

Would I love to have a purely vintage wardrobe?  Sure!  Would I love to only buy vintage or vintage repo?  Absolutely!  Unfortunately, this is not possible for me {budget!!} and I know that there are a lot of vintage lovers in the same position that I am. 

That being the case, posts like this one are exceeding helpful, so read right on if you want to find out about styling modern clothes to look vintage.

How to use Modern Clothes to get a Vintage Look

I don’t know if it’s the recent resurgence in the vintage look lately, but I’ve found it rather easy to get a retro look without vintage pieces. If you are fortunate enough to be able to wear vintage or repro all the time, then I’m jealous. Here are some tips for those of us who can’t…

xox,

bonita

Day 22 of 30… It’s a long road.

I thought I would do an update on how I am going with the 30 Days of Creativity challenge. 

So far it’s been pretty fun. I have gotten some projects done that I have been wanting to do for a while and I have also done a few things that I haven’t been planning/that were not on my list.

Yes, being the chronic list maker that I am, I made a list of thirty {Well, really twenty~nine, as the last one sort of does not count.  You’ll see what I mean in a moment.} things that I could do for the 30 Days. 

I think that there are a lot of fun things to do and I have only written down a few ideas.  I do not think that I will actually get to do everything as I have only crossed off a few things and I have repeated a few others, but that’s okay.  So far it has been really cool to participate in this challenge ~ it is my first time to be involved in anything like it, and I am really enjoying it!

Here are some pictures of finished projects:

~* ♥ * ~  Amigurumi Bunny Broach  ~* ♥ * ~

~* ♥ * ~  Crocheted rainbow baby mittens for Theodore  ~* ♥ * ~

~* ♥ * ~   Weekly manicure and nail deco: Mode Cosmetics Polish in Runway  ~* ♥ * ~

xox,

bonita

P.S.  ~  If you want to see all of my 30 Days of Creativity projects I have pictures up on Pinterest.  You can find them here.