Link Love ~ The Refashioned Boxy Blouse: One Size Fits All!

This super cute refashion from Sunni of A Fashionable Stitch looks like a darling 1950s blouse to me and even better ~ she give you instructions on how to make your own version!  This is a really simple project and looks great for beginners or someone who is short on time {*ahem*}.   Hop on over to the post and Sunni will breeze you through it in no time.   : D

the Button Up Refashion Swap

… I opted to make a box blouse, basically two rectangles sewn together with room left for your arms and head. Yup. It’s so easy, you might just chuckle. Seriously. Amy from Yellow Bird gave me the idea, which by the way, she’s made several and you should head on over to see them because then they’ll give you ideas for what to do if you want to make yourself one.

Now here’s the thing, I wanted to keep this simple. I wanted this project to be something you could really whip up in a jiffy and all without the use of a pattern. Something that WILL fit you, because box blouses fit everyone! Got it? Yeah. That’s exactly the idea. So let’s just start with the Box Blouse formula…

xox,

bonita

Clicky~Clack, my baby’s come back

Tortoiseshell Alice Band  ~  Sister gave it to me    Hearts for You Cardigan   ~  JayJays    Stitch Me Black Top ~ Thrifted   Red Red Beads  ~  Hong Kong, ‘08   Tie Up Belt  ~  Old fabric  Mad for Plaid Skirt  ~  Thrifted   Dotty-Spotty Tights  ~  Target   Deck Wedges  ~  Thrifted

~ * ♥ * ~

Golly, there’s an icy wind a’ blowing up from the south!  I had to forgo my coat for these pictures, but in reality, I really would have liked to be wearing it.  Still, my lovely thick tights helped to ward off the worst of the chill.

I found these the other day in Target and I was really stoked.  Most of the time the thicker, knit-type stockings are only in children's sizes; you don’t seem to find them much for women. These however, were full sized, plus had an added bonus of a cute dotted pattern.  This is a win for grey and gloomy winter days.  : )   It makes me happy.

What also makes me happy is the date planned for tonight with my ever handsome Husband!  I am excited as we are going to go to dinner and then to see ‘Brave’, the movie I mentioned I wanted to see.  He is so sweet as he planned this date, knowing I wanted to see it. I have the best man in the world! 
Love you sweetheart!  > 3 < ~ ♥ 

xox,

bonita

Wordless Wednesday ~ 3rd June Ed.

    

    

xox,

bonita

The Daily Diary ~ Pretty pieces and prose

First world blogger problems: when you have lots of little things to talk about, but nothing that is singularly post worthy?  What do you do dears? 

I am in this pickle, so what I have decided to do is start up a new feature called “The Daily Diary”.  This will not be a regular feature, but I plan on using it whenever the above situation occurs. 

I like to think of it like my diary on my blog ~ just a little conversation about daily happenings between you and me.

  …Starting with knitting!

    

I can’t believe I went out and spent $89.44AUD on wool for my next cardigan, but I did.  * _ *  I also find it hard to get over how expensive it is just to knit a cardigan!  Still, I reassure myself that I get a lot of fun out of knitting up my projects and while $90.00 is a lot of money, for a nice alpaca cardigan you’d pay about that much. 

Yup, you heard it correctly. the wool I am using is a 100% baby alpaca!  It’s so soft and I love how the creamy ivory colour allows the pretty cable detail to really shine.  I am making up the gorgeous pattern pictured below right ~ ‘The Sightseer’ from Clarks and Coat’s Bulky knits.  It’s so simple to do that I have knitted up 13 inches in three days!  w00t!  > u <

Next up in the list of lovelies floating through my house ~ this stunning giveaway prize that I won!  Remember I blogged about an awesome Pretty Broach Giveaway a while ago?   Well I was totally thrilled when I won; it’s a fabulous prize and it arrived on my doorstep just the other day. 

Sarah of Snövits äpple did a superb job handcrafting this darling little brooch for me and I love it!  Not to mention she included some lovely surprises for me ~ like the amazing vintage postcard {bottom left} that has a beautiful photograph of a girl and her horse on the front. 

Plus, I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I was to see the precious box the brooch was sent in.  I am keeping my bobby pins in it right now.  Lastly, but definitely not least, the brooch was careful wrapped in a delicate lace~edge linen handkerchief.  What a truly delightful package to receive!  Thank you Sarah, thank you Elsa!  ♥

  

I also had to include a snapshot of the gorgeous new handbag I brought from Oasap, and a sneak peek of the shirtwaist dress that I been working on for oh, ages now!  It’s finally almost finished, and I am so happy with how it’s turned out. : 3

   

Until next time ~

xox,

bonita

Link Love ~ Free 1954 Vintage Knitting Pattern

You all know my favourite thrifted red cardigan that I wore about three times in a row for outfit posts right? {It features here, here, and here ~ and probably else where, but I can’t seem to remember where. 
> o < }  Well, it starting to get a tad bit shabby, but thanks to Tasha of By gum, by golly! I can now knit myself a replacement.  It’s not quite the same, but the shape is very similar, and I think it looks super cute, so I can’t wait to try this as my spring knitting project! 

Yes, winter has not even come in full force down under and I am already thinking a season ahead.  Oh well, that’s what you have to do to plan your wardrobe right?  Visit Tasha’s blog to download the free .pdf.   ^ U ^

Vintage knitting pattern: 1954 Mother & Daughter Shrug

I don't know about you, but I have had shrugs and boleros on my mind lately!

As the weather finally seems to be staying nicer and I creep closer to rotating my closet (yay for seeing pretty spring and summer fashions that have been hidden away for months!), I've been thinking about what cover ups I like to pair with my not-too-cold weather clothes. I have a multitude of boxy cardigans, but lately I've been really wearing a couple of my favourite boleros the most. I love that they're just a bit less bulky and nip in at the waist, which is perfect with dresses. I really need more of them in my life!

So I thought what better time to share a vintage shrug knitting pattern?…

xox,

bonita

Wordless Wednesday ~ 2nd June Ed.

    

    

xox,

bonita

Sweet Doll

Polka-Dot Bow Clip ~  Some random pharmacy  Lacy Scallop Collar  ~   Made by Me, 2011   Lace Ribbon & Bouquet Brooch  ~  Made by Me, 2010   Classic Black Top  ~  Really old ~ don’t know   Rose Fakelit Bracelet  ~  Equip   Blue Bird Sky Skirt  ~  Thrifted   Eyelet Petticoat  ~  Thrifted   Checked Prep Socks  ~  Horseland; yup, they are my riding socks!  Penny Loafer Loafers  ~  FSW

~ * ♥ * ~

I love this new vintage hair style inspiration I found on Bobby Pin Blog the other day ~  I am guessing it’s from around the late 1940s – early 1950s; I don’t really know for sure, but I think that this glam photo of Betty Davis’s fluffy and simple side-do is gorgeous! 

Looking at the photo now, I can see there are a few things I missed the first time ~ like the side swept fringe is pinned further back than I initially thought, and it also has more volume.  Plus it looks like the opposite side {the right side} is pinned back as well. 

That’s ok though; I now have an excuse to try this style again.  Not that I really need one, as I think this hairdo is likely to become one of my staples.  I instantly loved the way that it looks on me, and it suits my hair perfectly!  Win!

xox,

bonita

Link Love ~ Simon’s Cat

Lol; so cute!!

Have you seen the gorgeously animated work of Simon Tofield?  Honestly, he does amazing little movies and his cartoons are super-duper!  Seriously a must-see for any cat lover ~ they are funny and cute all at once. ᵔᴗᵔ  Do take a look at his art, it’s fab! 

Simon's Cat

My kitty approves…  ~(=^･ω･^)ﾉ *waves* 

xox,

bonita

P.S.  ~  No, I don’t actually have a kitty yet.  I just like to pretend that I do.   > ω <

How To ~ Pretty-fy Bobby Pins

Hello my dears! I have another simple DIY tutorial for you that produces some very cute hair accessories so let’s get right to it shall we? 

Supplies needed:

• Clean bobby pins/hair grips ~ preferably new ones
• Pretty nail polishes in your choice of colour{s}  ~  I used Mode Cosmetics – Cool As {this polish had the best results}, Maybelline Express Finish – Passing By Pink, BYS Nail Enamel – 05 Light Purple, N.Y.C. Color – Lemon {this polish was the worst – way too runny, but I did manage to get it to work out in the end.} 
• Some cardboard or paper
  
  
      Step 1:  Arrange your bobby pins on the cardboard and make sure there is paper underneath them to catch any extra spills.
  
      Step 2:  Carefully paint along the top of the individual bobby pins using your nail polish.  Be careful not to put too much polish on the brush or it will puddle over the side of the bobby pins.
  
      Step 3:  Rinse and repeat as often as you like!
  
  Extra Tip:  It is better to use a thicker nail polish for this then a thin one, as you not only get better coverage, but it’s also easier to paint neatly so that you don’t get puddles of excess polish everywhere!
  
      Step 4: Double coat your bobby pins to cover up any see-through spots.  When you are happy with how they look, very carefully move any bobby pins that are sitting in puddles of polish so that they don’t stick when dried and ruin the paint job.

Allow your bobby pins to dry over night and then enjoy wearing your new pretties in your hair!  ᵔᴗᵔ  ~ ♥

xox,

bonita

A-Not-Quite Wordless Wednesday ~ June Ed.

We celebrated my little man’s first birthday this weekend.  I can’t believe how incredibly fast this last year has flown by!! It’s amazing to look back and reflect on how much Theodore has grown and changed over that time.  Back before he was born it seemed so hard to picture the happy, joyful little boy that he’s become.  Happy birthday my darling son ~  we love you.  ᵔᴗᵔ  ~ ♥

xox,

bonita

The Thank You Giveaway Winners!

Hello my dears!  I am sorry it has taken me so long to announce the winners of the Thank You giveaway; life and my little boy’s first birthday just happened to get in the way.  > O <  Nevertheless, here are the lucky winners!

The Follower’s giveaway winner: Kat! @goodbyekitty2005

The Open giveaway winner:  Daneva!  @tednampa7Nu

And finally, the winner of the Mystery giveaway ~  Jessica from Chronically Vintage!!

Congratulations Kat, Daneva and Jessica!  And thank you to all who entered, I hope you all had a good time. 

Will the winners please contact me and email me their postal addresses so that I can send out the prize parcels as soon as possible? 

You can find me at bonita@bdotdepictions.com

Thank you and have great day lovelies!

xox,

bonita

Link Love ~ A Darling 1940’s Head Scarf

There’s another awesome guest post over at The Girl with the Star Spangled Heart ~ this time by Brittany of Va-Voom Vintage.  I adore this precious DIY she has for us, so do stop over and have a look.  : 3   

How to Sew a 1940's Hair Scarf

Hello everyone! This is Brittany from Va-Voom Vintage here, to show you how to sew a 1940's hair scarf.  I am so excited to be a part of the guest blogging series while Stephanie is on vacation!

Many months ago, I found a little pink 40's hair scarf at an antique mall. It's so sweet that I was determined to make a few more in different colors.  I wear my head scarves to keep my hair out of the way while I clean, to protect my pin curls while I sleep and to wear as a fashion accessory.

This is a great project to use some of that scrap fabric in your stash. You can use pieces of vintage sheets, feed sack, table cloths and other household  linens. Today's tutorial uses shirring. Shirring is very easy to do and looks fantastic!…

xox,

bonita

Pick Me Up Before Sundown

The Blue Danube Cardigan ~  Made by Me ‘12, Pattern: The Sweetheart   Baby Owl Doily Brooch  ~  Made by Me ‘12, using this free pattern from Goodknits  The Pick Me Up Plaid Dress  ~  eBay.com  Gladys Owl Brooch  ~  Acorn & Will   Plaited Leather Belt  ~  Thrifted     Grey-Beige Stockings  ~  ??    Mary Contrary Heel  ~  New Look, UK

~ * ♥ * ~

This new-to-me dress is what I wore when the Husband and I went out on a date to see The Avengers.  The movie made me even more keen to see Captain America because Rogers {Steven Rogers, a.k.a Captain America, that is} looks awfully smart in his 1940s leather jacket and vintage style!   I keep on wondering what other lovely 1940s costuming that movie has in store for me, so it is currently on the top of my ‘To Watch’ list, although Brave is close behind.  It looks like fun, and I adore Celtic lore, music, and dance.  Must be that Gaelic Scots blood running wild again! 

Of course, talking about Scottish love brings me in full circle to my darling plaid dress.  Out of all the mad eBaying I have been doing recently, this dress is really the only winter appropriate vintage I have picked up. Mind you, it’s not actually that great for staving off the cold as the fabric is only thin cotton, but I love the muted colours, and I really felt like a proper bonnie wee lassie all geared up in my tights and tartan.  : D  

Now I just have to restrain myself from collecting more plaid clothing ~ at least for a little while.  My dress budget is well and truly used up for the next month or so!  Any and all shopping will be strictly of the window variety for the time being.

Which leads me to wonder ~ does window shopping work for you?  I find that it can when I am on a shopping ban, but I have to be careful not to find anything that I absolutely love or that ban often gets broken!  So tell me, what shopping ban methods work for you?

xox,

bonita

Wordless Wednesday ~ 3rd May Ed.

    

    

xox,

bonita