So that was crap

If you will note the post below, it's crap as far as formatting. I'm sure that some of it is user error, but the preview is different than what I type and then the actual post is different that the preview. I'm scratching my head in confusion. Also, I couldn't highlight text to hyperlink it. Argh. Oh well. I have to say, I don't care enough to make it pretty. Sorry!

This post is separate from the previous just because it's not really related. Basically, to catch up on the past year - had a baby, changed jobs, moved in with in-laws. Fun times are had by all. Our stuff is scattered hither and yon between our bedroom, basement storage and a storage locker. My vintage stuff should all be in the house, mostly upstairs to avoid festering in the basement, but it's hard to tell. Space is at a premium and some things just can't avoid the basement. I can't find a lot of my fabric. I just can't remember where it was put. I have some lovely vintage tropical rayon with fun novelty coconut buttons.... where, oh where are you?! Time is precious now that my commute is over an hour one way and I have a child to spend time with. I'm aiming to use up vacation time at the end of the month and get started on some muslins for summer dresses. I have three dresses I want to tackle and all will need adjustments. I don't usually have the patience for a muslin, but when I plan on cutting up vintage fabric, I force myself to avoid costly, irreparable mistakes. Hopefully soon I will have some vintage sewing goodness to post!

I smell reenacting in the air...

Well folks, it's that time again. The Reading Airshow is only a month and a half away - let the unnecessary vintage buying spree begin. Every year around this time I'm driven to make all kinds of vintage buys. For the MAYBE three times I reenact, it's really idiotic. Come. Let me take you on a tour of my vintage gluttony.

I purchased this pattern from Grey Dog Vintage on Etsy. I couldn't resist the wrap style, the diamond inset and the waterfall like drape of the skirt. I know I have some rayon material that would be great for this pattern. Now if only I could find it....

Ah, the elusive hooded dress. I have a feeling that any hood from a two-bit modern pattern could be adjusted and sewn onto any old shirt dress. But do I bother to experiment with this much cheaper option? Not me! (Bought from www.betsyvintage.com)

Linen handbag and straw shoulder bag from Rue23 Vintage on Etsy. I am always looking for shoulder bags. It's so inconvenient trying carry a handbag around. I am still considering buying a purse pattern and making one! The straw bag will be perfect for this summer, no?

Sunglasses from Death By Vintage on Etsy. Can never have enough accessories. Never.

Lovely rayon fabric with bright green confetti shapes. I love lime/chartreuse greens. They are bright and happy and I'm a sucker for green and navy together. This will most likely end up as a blouse in some sort of blouse/pinafore/suit type of ensemble.

Reading always turns my eye towards sleeveless summer dresses. I'm a child of the cold and Reading is always god awful when it comes to heat and humidity. So here is this awesome dress pattern from 1942 purchased from New Vintage Lady on Etsy. It looks so casual and cool for summer and I am a huge sucker for open backs! There is some fabric on Etsy that I am eyeing up for this. Hopefully the stars align so that the fabric is still available when my funds are! Not pictured - a suit jacket pattern that can also be a blouse in a light weight fabric.

PDF of knit tank top with a faux front opening. Purchased from Vintage Visage on Etsy. I think I bought this because it was cheap. I don't think that this is an immediate project. Probably more for next year.

36 1/2 weeks.

On Thursday, I will have four weeks to go until my due date! It's weird the things you think about...oh there is the usual like wondering how nursing will go, will the cat get along with the baby, when do I start the baby on solid food and what do I feed it. Then there are the weird things like: I don't know how to take care of a penis; I've never had one. There can't be anything to it...it's just one more thing to clean, but there it is. Or: I wonder if the umbilical cord stump will look like the goat's ears before they fell off. Really, these things are nonsensical and have no bearing on properly caring for a child. I can't wait to not be pregnant. Minus the discomfort, it hasn't been all that unpleasant...but I'm anxious to see this little boy that's been growing inside of me. I'm nearly full term and I certainly don't want him to come before he's able to thrive on his own, but if he comes early....as long as he is healthy....I would NOT be disappointed.

Clear, sunny skies, 70 degrees means perfect weather for being outside and no sweating all over my vintage clothes. Today the Americans "liberated" the town of Nouveu Oxford (New Oxford is a tiny PA town between Hanover and Gettysburg).

German officer talking to the "mayor" Bob Buker organizes the convoy and works with New Oxford to allow the convoy to come in and "liberate" the town. I was pleased that I could still fit into something at almost 20 weeks pregnant!

Surprises all around

Two Sundays ago I found out I was pregnant. I did not one but three home pregnancy tests because I didn't want to believe it. The first thing I thought afterwards was that I wanted a drink but figured that it would be irresponsible to down a fifth of vodka when I knew that I was pregnant. My second thought was that I was glad I bought some vintage maternity patterns a few months back. And my third thought was that I had no idea where we were going to put a baby. Sure we have a two bedroom apartment but the 2nd bedroom consists of the following:

• All of Brian's army gear
  
• All of my reenacting stuff - hats, clothes, shoes, suitcases, purses, accessories....all of it
• All of my sewing and knitting stuff - patterns, fabric, pins, needles, yarn, sewing machine, buttons, zippers, EVERYTHING
• Books galore
• Random electronics like our printer, modem, etc
• Seasonal clothes

Considering that nine months goes by really fast, I decided to start cleaning out the closet yesterday. I figure that I don't really need an armoir for the baby. Does the baby care? No. Do I care? No, it's just one more thing I would have to spend non-existant money on. Just get me a slew of baby hangers and I can keep all the clothes in the closet. I'll probably get some of that modular organization stuff to store shoes, blankets, bedding, etc. On my trek through the closet I found FOUR - count them FOUR- pairs of vintage shoes that I don't remember buying. How pathetic is that? They all fit too!

Black slingbacks. Sorry for the blurry photo. Brown Wedges, sold in Philadelphia.

Black suede Red Cross shoes, though there is a disclaimer that they have nothing to do with the Internaional Red Cross.

Not sure if these are really lizard or embossed leather. Probably embossed but that's fine. I really like them. And they fit.

I felt a bit foolish when I found all these shoes.

Project updates: Simplicity 4431 and 3371

Another shirt dress...typical. Wide waistband with gathers at the waist in front and back and at the shoulder. There are two pleats at either side of center. It just needs buttons, which I somehow don't have in my stash, hemmed, and all the basting threads pulled out. The pattern was missing the sleeve but I just substituted another one.

Ths is one hot mess. I soaked the fabric which refused to come clean but there was enough that I could cut around most of the brown spots. There is one brown line on the back of the shirt but I can live with it if it doesn't come out. I wasn't sure about matching the stripes on the darts. I sorta kinda tried. It still needs a belt to cinch in the waist. As you can see it's more of a tunic. I also have to hem the left sleeve, which is why it is sticking out further than the right. There will also be a ribbon at the neck so it won't be as cleavage-tastic as it is right now. It's really easy to construct but I have a feeling that it won't look so good on me.

Green

I had a serious green fetish about two summers ago. I suppose it's never really gone away because I still find myself attracted to predominately green things. So, despite my assertions that I love red, I find that my closet is seriously lacking in anything remotely red. Here are some of my favorites on Etsy:

Ostrich and green velvet wedges. $85 from Thrush. According to the measurements on the seller's site, they seem to be a fairly wide vintage size 5. You have no idea how tempted I am to pick these up. 1. A wide size 5; 2. two tone green and tan; 3. love the way the straps cross in the front.

Celluloid palm tree pin. $15 from vintageclothiers. I've had a real thing for tropical themes leading into summer.

Glass bangles. $29.99 from BleuFleur. I adore these shades of jade green all marbled together. There's something very art deco about these shades.

Minty green apple earrings from pastelpetals. $12. Sweet and feminine.

Watercolor mesh scarf from editionbw. $60.