Cryin’ at the Discotech ~ Outfit Fifty Eight

Bow Hair Clip  ~  ??     Aqua and Pink Flower Sprinkle Dress  ~  Ebay   Stag Broach  ~  Acorn and Will    Rose Bracelet  ~  Diva   Lacy Party Socks  ~  Best&Less{I added the lace to the existing ruffle}   Tuxedo T-bar Heels   ~  Payless 

~ * ♥ * ~

I like this dress, but unfortunately I think it’s far too 70’s for me to feel comfortable wearing it that much.  I bought it off Ebay and I can’t remember what era I thought it was from, but I probably wouldn’t have got it if I had of realised it was from 1970-something. 

However, I have plans to fix that problem.  The main issue for me is the sleeves.  I just don’t like the loose, bloomer-type sleeve that much and it really doesn’t work for me with this dress.  I also want to change the collar, so I am going to commit that terrible crime that I rant against and chop up vintage.   Mind you, I hardly count the 70s as vintage – it’s more retro to me, which is not really my cup of tea.

Still, what do you think about upcycling/remaking vintage clothes?  In my case, I’m sort of downcycling the dress to look more old fashioned, but I am not sure that’s a good enough excuse!  Particularly as I have been known to get really hoppin’ mad when I see gorgeous 40s or 50s frocks getting chopped off at the same, barely-there length that most retail wear seems to be at these days.  Warning – rant ahead/   I mean, since when is an oversized shirt classified as a dress?  Why would you bother to cut the dress up to look like something modern and off the racks?  What’s the point?  Is it just so that you can say that you wear vintage?  How does that even count when the only thing left that looks even remotely vintage any more is the fabric and even that’s in tatters??   *sigh*  /end rant….

I guess the reason I feel so strongly about this is that hems don’t actually need to be cut to be taken up, and all these once-gorgeous, “remade” dresses will only get worn for as long as vintage is in fashion, then tossed out in the rubbish heap.  Whereas if they were left mostly intact, they could probably get passed onto someone who doesn’t care what’s in fashion but just wants to wear a pretty, well-made frock.  

But all that said, I will still make over the sleeves on my dress, because hopefully I’ll end up wearing it more often then what I have been!  Especially as I do like the bright, cheery aqua and pink colours of the fabric.  I think it makes it a lovely spring/Easter dress ~ don’t you?  Also, yay or nay to making over vintage?  Feel free to tell me that I am completely wrong and there is nothing better than modernized vintage; I’ll be happy to agree to disagree.  ; )

xox,

bonita

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

Queen of Hearts ~ Outfit Fifty Seven

*Warning*  Picture heavy post.

You know when you just find the perfect spot for the perfect outfit and you have one of those perfect shoots that turn out far too many good photos to pick from?  Well, here’s one of mine.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you!  > ω <

Red Flower Clip  ~  Made by me     Knit Top  ~  Thrifted     Vintage Apple Broach  ~  Love Vintage Show     Red Rose Belt  ~  Dotti     Circle Skirt   ~   Made by me     Glitter Shoes  ~   Restricted via Modcloth

~ * ♥ * ~

I actually wore this outfit on Sunday, and didn’t realize how perfect it was for Valentine’s Day until I was working on my blog post.  So even though Husband and I are not doing anything special to celebrate on Valentine’s Day, here is my outfit celebrating V Day none the less!  Yay for ticking the good blogger boxes!

We actually had our ‘special’ date this last Friday night, with a baby sitter and all.  He took me on a “blind” date; where I had no idea what we were doing, or where we were going{or what to wear!!! 
O . O’}.  It was super fabulous though, as he surprised me with tickets to see Justice Crew which are a local{ish ~ if you count Sydney as local!} hip hop dance crew ~ some of whom I knew from before they were ‘famous’.   : P 

I met the boys in person when they came to the dance studio I was at one night after class.  I got to chat to them and watch them practise which was really cool.  Of course, they would have no bloomin’ idea who I am, but I am totally psyched that they have made it to the ‘big time’ and I got see them on tour! 

Oh and speaking of psyched ~ how fabulous are my glitter shoes!!!  I squee’ed over them in the haul video I posted here: What I got in the mail but seriously, in reality, wearing them is even more fun.  If that is possible!  > U <  ~ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

They make me so happy every time I slip them on my feet because they are always sparkling and glittering like crazy which so. totally. rocks.

“All things that shimmer, and sparkle and glitter/  blingtastic, fantastic; there’s nothing prettier/  Shiny and gleaming, it catches my eye/  for inside this girl’s just another magpie…”   This little ditty is sung to the tune of “My Favourite Things” from The Sound of Music naturally…. 

And to top it all off ~ I couldn’t resist sharing this photo of my gorgeous boy.  If it is possible to be made even more happy while wearing glittery, sparkling shoes, then the sight of his darling smile is just the thing to do it…. 

The only thing that could top it would be this:

Yup, that’s the Husband, my super-duper photographer up a light pole.  My family is seriously the best thing to celebrate on Valentine’s Day ~ I love them so much I swear I’m gonna pop sometimes!

I hope all of you can also share this special holiday with friends and family that you love.  Do have a fabulous day everyone!!   ᵔᴗᵔ  ~ ♥

xox,

bonita

The Next Dress ~ Plotting, planning and scheming!

Start with one vintage pattern ~ Advance 9785.

Add a dash of floral fabric ~

And one excited me…

And you have my next dress project in the wings!

It wasn’t long after finishing my last dress{The On My Way Dress} that I began to wish I had another project to do.  Then I was digging through my stash trying to find fabric and a pattern that went together before I knew it.   The McCall’s I sewed up last time was obviously my first choice for a pattern, being the easiest and newest of all my patterns{most of which are vintage} but I simply could not find a fabric that worked for what I had in mind.  So I picked the biggest length of fabric that I cared the least about, a vintage pattern that seemed easy enough for me figure out using logic and decided to go to town!

 

This is my attempt at draping the fabric on Elizabeth, my dress form, to figure out whether this stripy flower pattern will work.  I only found out while tracing the pattern that the bodice is cut on the bias whereas the skirt is cut on the straight grain…  I think it will look alright, but it’s going to take some really careful cutting to match this up nicely!   : S   Eeek!  Scary stuff!  So tell me, am I being stupid tackling stripes and bias at the same time?  Keep in mind that I have never matched patterns before and I have only sewn one dress to date! 

That’s another thing ~ is it easier to start pattern matching with small or large patterns?  I sort of feel large might be easier, but I could be so wrong about that, it’s not even funny….  : \   On the other hand ~ how cute is Veiw 2 with the chevron bodice?  I am planning to do View 1 with the long sleeves as I felt this fabric has a more autumn/winterish feel to it, and Veiw 2 gives me a fairly good idea of how this might look in the end.

Oh, I am so excited to start sewing this up ~ I have to do the muslin next and after a tricky FBA that didn’t seem to work, I wonder how it will turn out….  Don’t worry, I’ll let you know if it’s a win or a fail!

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

Tea for Me ~ for You Too? ~ Outfit Fifty Six

 

Crochet Rose Hair Clip  ~  Made by me   Floral Shirtwaist Dress  ~  Etsy  Bracelet  ~  Diva    Bow Flats  ~  Tightrope

~ * ♥ * ~

Don’t you just love the paint splatters on the floor and my chair?   One of the joys of owning your own house I guess ~ it takes so long to get everything in perfect order!   I haven’t even come close to finishing the decor, but I find that half the fun is hunting down the perfect things for your house one by one. 

And of course, Pinterest is a never ending source of inspiration! 

I just love the furniture and old books in this photo! 

A cabinet full of gorgeous chinaware and lovely lace doilies?  Yes please!  One day my collection will be as pretty as this I hope.  : 3 

xox,

bonita

P.S. ~ If you haven’t got on to Pinterest yet, but want too, let me know and I’ll invite you.  It’s time sucking in the worst way, but so much fun. > u <

What I got in the mail

 

More mail ~ yay!

Aaaaaannnnd it’s another haul video.  I keep getting exciting parcels on my doorstep so I just have to share.  ^ u ^

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Run Rabbit, Run, Run, Run!

The sheep chasing rabbit called Champis

It seems like this blog is deteriorating, or perhaps improving, depending on your point of view, into a place of pretty clothes and cute animals….  Well, I have no complaints about that!  This latest video is super cute if you ask me; a rabbit that likes to herd/chase sheep.  It’s so precious.  > ω <

xox,

bonita

To Bee In Pink ~ Outfit Fifty Five

Hair Bow ~  Some dollar store    Hazy Daisy Earrings  ~  Acorn and Will; Hazy Daisy Earrings   Broach ~  Acorn and Will; Hazy Daisy Broach    Lilac Polish  ~  BYS – 05 Light Purple    Pink Cardigan  ~  SES Dress ~  Thrifted   Belt  ~  New Look; UK    Shoes  ~  Too old to remember

~ * ♥ * ~

This is one of my easy, just throw it on outfits ~ I love that I feel like I can be a little more ‘rough and tumble’ with this dress.  That’s the problem about buying precious vintage clothes!  I do worry about ruining them when I am wearing them, so I tend to be more careful where and how I wear them.

In a way, it’s a good thing because my pretty dresses will last longer that way, but on the flip side sometimes it makes getting dressed a bit difficult because I don’t know what to wear!   Sometimes I just don’t feel like wearing ‘fussy’ outfits.  So I put on this lovely pale yellow number and we are good to go…

I think the idea of saving certain items of clothing for certain types of events is quite an old fashioned idea, and I like it, but sometimes I do wish for the convenience of ready to wear where you just don’t care!  Or maybe it is because I actually love my clothes more now and want to keep them forever?  It is an interesting dilemma.

How about you? Do you have special frocks or other items of clothing that you only wear when the conditions are just right, or do you just wear whatever you feel like?   I tell you what though ~ although I would really love an ‘all vintage/vintage reproduction’ wardrobe, like a certain Ms. Von Tease, I doubt that will ever fully happen.  I don’t think that I will manage get rid of all of my ready to wear stuff, simply because it is so handy to have around for those messy days!  > u <

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

My Dress And Me ~ Stitching Stories

Happy days!  I get to share with you the details of my very first me made dress!  Yes, it’s a shirtwaist ~ er, of sorts {you’ll see why  say that in a bit}, it’s got an A-line skirt, a self –drafted Peter Pan collar, cute buttons and pockets; and oh!  I should stop talking and just SHOW you. 

I started out with the McCall’s M4769, in view C.  Because I have never sewn a dress and have no idea how to do a tissue fit or anything I decide to trace the pattern pieces and then do the Full Bust Adjustment I knew I would need from the measurements on the back!  I found that this FBA tutorial on Sew L.A. Blog was EXTREMELY helpful, and I could actually understand what I needed to do. Yay for comprehension!

  

I did a muslin out of butcher’s paper to check that I was on the right track…

 

Then a fabric muslin to double check.  It seemed to fit tolerably well, though to be honest, I probably wouldn’t have been able to tell if didn’t!

I didn’t take any photos of the construction process, unfortunately I was too focused on the garment and getting in finished ~ I had an end of 2011 deadline, so I was all guns blazing!  The fabric I was using was a pale baby blue with cute little three colour flower/teardrop things with with white diagonal lines.

Thankfully I was paying enough attention to notice as I cut out the first piece of skirt that the back skirt piece and the back bodice were “upside down” on the fabric and the pattern would have been going the wrong way!  A reshuffle of pattern pieces, and the disaster was adverted *whew* so that all the pieces were going the right way and would match.  After I finished cutting out, the dress seemed to come together quite easily.

My first sleeves set in really quickly, which was a pleasant surprise for me ~ but I think I was helped because I adjusted the sleeves so that they were puffed{using this tutorial} rather than a plain cap sleeve, so that meant I could have gathers to my heart’s content up the top of the sleeve and smooth out the underside so that it matched the arm scythe nicely.

  

I changed the button closure to a zip for ease of breastfeeding access by sewing the zip to the left hand front placket and then to the inside edge of the right hand front placket so that they overlapped and hid the zipper.  I also sewed two invisible snaps to hold the placket shut on the top of the bodice, and a hook and eye at the waist because all the vintage dresses have them so it seem right to do that!  I sewed the skirt shut so that the placket overlapped and couldn’t fly apart, as the zip was only 16” long.

 

Then I ran into my waterloo ~ the collar.  Of course I hadn’t been able to leave well enough alone, and had adjusted the shirtwaist collar into a Peter Pan collar.  {That’s why I am not sure if this dress technically counts as a shirtwaist at all!}  This changed the whole front of the bodice and the construction of the collar which meant I skipped steps 42 to 48 on the pattern instructions and just had to wing it.  I think if I had ever attached a Peter Pan collar before I might have been fine, but as it was, there was almost a meltdown of nuclear proportions, with a ton of seam ripping, fraying fabric and some holes as well as - well, swearing.   It did finally go on{although I had to mend it before I wore it as I somehow missed a bit and there was a hole already!}, and even looks quite alright for a totally made-up-as-I-went-along attachment.  The collar turned out to be quite deep which I also really love, even though it was a total fluke!

 

When I tried the dress on the bodice ended up being too large at the back, so I pinched out 2cm of fabric from the middle with a dart and made a belated Sway Back adjustment.  Of course I had already attached the bodice to the skirt by the time I figured that out, but it still worked out ok. 

 

The thing I love the most about this outfit is that the belt I am wearing with this dress is thrifted, but it matches it perfectly and is such a nice contrast that I am not sure I am even going to bother with the same fabric belt I was thinking of making earlier.  To finish off the dress I did a blind hem, which is a nice touch I like to do, popped my new pretty on and did an outfit shoot ~ On My Way.

Here is a sneak peak of The On My Way Dress in all it’s glory ~

And that my friends, is the saga of my first sewing foray into Dressland, of which I hope there will be many more tales to follow! 

~ Project Details ~

Year: Modern, 2005 styled by me to look 1940s
Pattern: McCall’s M4769
Fabric: About 2.9 yards/2.6 meters of thrifted cotton{?} doona cover {$9.00}
Notions: One zipper {$? ~ I think $5.00}, three buttons {$6.90}
Time to complete: About a week on and off ~ maybe 15 hours all up?
Make/Wear again? Yes! Now that I have a perfect fitting bodice, I am dreaming of all sorts of ways to mix it up.  I think I want at least two more of these dresses; I am planning to add a full circle skirt for a 50s shirtwaist dress, and another version with gathers at the shoulders for a really 1940s look and tulip sleeves.
Total Cost:  $20.90

I would totally recommend this pattern for beginners who want to sew a dress. I am a total beginner, and I did it, so you can know for sure that it’s a pretty easy pattern.  : 3

xox,

bonita

P.S.  ~ Yes, I named my dress.  I just couldn’t resist ~ it’s fun.  > u <