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 <

On My Way ~ Outfit Fifty Four

 

Flower Clip ~ A gift from my sister   Floral Wayfarers ~  Dotti    Earrings  ~  Forever New  The On My Way Dress ~ Made by me   Jade Bracelet  ~  Hong Kong    Belt  ~  Thrifted    Beige Wedges  ~  Big W

~ * ♥ * ~

Unfortunately, the sun was so bright it rather washed out all the extra stuff I wanted to capture ~ the cute buttons, how the belt matches the fabric print perfectly{yes, there is a pattern.  It’s just hard to see it}, or the darling rhinestone earrings I wore.  However, it was a lovely excuse to wear my sunglasses because I pretty much couldn’t see a thing without them on.  > <  All the sewing details of the dress are coming soon so I can show you all the close up details and rave about the geeky, stitchery stuff! 

I am so excited about my new dress, I really can’t say how thrilled I am that I finished it.  Actually, I am rather itching to start another project now, I keep wanting to plan it out in my head.  I don’t know that I won’t start something soon now that I come to think of it!  So much fun!  I also got the sweetest compliments whilst wearing it ~ I was told my outfit looked great, and that I looked great and well, I was so happy to hear that.  Imagine!  I can make my own clothes and other people think they look good!  Wow!

Well, I do have to say that if I can do it, anyone can.  Give it a try, you might be surprised!  Happy sewing everyone.  ᵔᴗᵔ

xox,

bonita

A Versatile Award

 

Lookit what I found lying around in my Google Reader!  Lil’ ol’ me has been given the Versatile Blogger Award!  w00t!

~ * The rules of the award are as follows * ~

1. Thank and link the blogger who awarded you.
2. Share seven random facts about yourself.
3. Spread the love by passing the award to five other bloggers, and be sure to let them know.

So, first up, thank you Bunny for passing on this award to Depict This!  Bunny Moreno, from The Musings and Adventures of Pinup Mama, is a darling “Vintage Mama and Homemaker Extraordinaire” like myself.    Do yourself a favour and check out her blog, she is super sweet and nice. : )

~ *  Seven Random Facts About Me  * ~

1.  Despite loving just about everything from the 1940s and 1950s, I actually really, really, really dislike the furniture and decor from that period. I think it is UGLY…  I much prefer decor and furniture from the 1800s or early 1900s.  You know, all polished, carved wood, cast iron, brass, gilt overlay and that kind of stuff.  Mmm, pretty.   

2.  I am going to steal one idea from Bunny and say ~ I always eat my desserts with a small spoon, but my breakfast with a large spoon.  How random is that?  What’s even stranger is that the Husband does the opposite to me and we both think that the other is the weird one….

3.  We all know that I am a shoeholic, but what you might not know it that I am simply a collectorholic in general.  In fact, if I am not careful I will end up on that tv show hoarders one of these days…  Not because my collections are messy and everywhere, just because I collect, well, just about everything!  Stamps, books, shoes, hats, handbags, gloves, pearl jewellery, vintage jewellery, patterns, fabric, wool, art supplies, teapots, teacups, old silver spoons, silverware, sea shells, postcards, funny shaped salt and pepper shakers ~ you get the picture right?

4.  Whenever I watch BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, or read my Regency romance novels {Georgette Heyer is a fantastic authoress if you are looking for something to read besides Jane Austin}, I ALWAYS, without fail, start speaking like someone from that period, faux British accent and all.  > . >’

5.  I hated being pregnant.  Like, really truly hated.  But I absolutely love being a mother and wouldn’t trade it for the world!

6.  I like doing crosswords and have a few sitting on my desk that I work on bit by bit.  I think it’s a writing thing, but I love words and learning new one through crosswords is so fun!

7.  Lastly, for the grand finale{as contributed by the Husband}:  I don’t like honey.  He thinks it’s the craziest thing ever, but it’s true. I don’t much like overly sweet things anyway and honey is pretty much at the top of the list.  Although I will have a Honey-Lemon-Ginger drink as it is the perfect thing for chasing away colds and sore throats.

~ *  Passing the award on to * ~

1.  Esme and the Laneway:  This lovely lady is always inspiring me with her gorgeous style and colours. Her vintage outfits vary from modern-ish, to very traditional, but they are always sweet.   

2.  Give Me Bows:  Elyse has the prettiest frocks to wear and bows!!  Lots and lots of bows; so naturally I adore her blog!  Okay, so I might have an ineesy-wincy girl crush happening here… ᵔᴗᵔ

3.  Land Girl 1980:  Land Girl has a great sense of humour, and some great in depth posts.  Also, if you like book reviews, you can check some out on her blog. 

4.  Annie Pancake and The Time Machine:  Annie is cute, gorgeous and a lovely vintage gal.  She has great style and some really helpful tips on her blog, plus some awesome videos to watch.   

5.  Scathingly Brilliant:  I love Kate Gabrielle’s style, it’s really sweet and romantic, plus she’s a great artist, and she has cats!  A gal after my own heart in pastels and pretty dresses. 

I hope everyone has a great day like I am having!  ~(=^･ω･^)ﾉ  *waves*

xox,

bonita   

Quick Share ~ Squirrel eats a lemon

*eeek* So cute!

When life hands you lemons…. Pass them onto a squirrel and watch the cuteness ensue!   * 3 *  *squeee*  So totally adorable. : D

xox,

bonita

The Nail Art Times

 

~ *  Enjoying the BYS Matte Aqua nail polish & the best application technique I have ever seen!  This is with no clean up whatsoever!! I blogged about it here: Nail Art ~ Blue Lagoon * ~

~ * Chickadee manicure with Prêt-A-Polish in C'est La Vie using Konad Plate m11 * ~

~ * My latest polish haul ~ four BYS polishes. L to R: 05 Light Purple, 03 Gold Glitter, 02 French Pink, 10 Silver Glitter.  Totally unimaginative names, really cute colours!

BYS are well known in the nail world for having a great lacquer at a fantastic price.  For instance, these polishes were $4.00 AUD each; I brought all four for the price of one bottle of Revlon nail lacquer.  Sweet!  Plus, don’t you just LOVE the leopard print lids??  I usually pass on leopard print, it’s not my style, but I am LOVING these.  I had to buy them as soon as I spotted them.  * ~

~ * The Gold Glitter in action ~ I would have to say that it’s no where near as impressive as I would have liked, but the three different sizes of glitter is nice and I think that if you layered it over another colour, this polish would really pop. * ~

xox,

bonita