Hardly Hawaii

It's been a funny old day; overcast yet warm and humid, with occasional outbursts of both sun and showers.

It's also been my last day as a volunteer; the next time I'm in the shop, I'll be an employee.

Although the weather was only very vaguely tropical, I thought a Hawaiian dress was appropriate. 

Originally, this was a maxi. It's unusual for me to shorten a full length frock, and I don't quite know why this one didn't feel right as a maxi. It's made from a substantial cotton fabric, so maybe it felt a little stiff and voluminous. Whatever the reason, it has been languishing unworn for ages in my should it stay or should it go now pile, so I finally made the decision to go for the chop.

I shortened the sleeves while I was at it, and I'm pleased with the makeover, I'll actually get some wear out of it now. That splashy floral print is too good to leave unseen.

  I have a backlog of vintage finds to list on Ebay. Somewhat belatedly, I've realised I am about to have a lot less time, so I'd better crack on with some selling.

1960s Mod dress

1970s floral/lace midi dress

1970s Trina Lewis white maxi dress

Lindy Bop dress, BNWT

1980s-does-50s red prom dress

1970s-does-30s black lace dress (showing the back view because it's so sexy)

American-made square dance red ruffled petticoat

1960s brown/lace maxi dress

1970s kimono-sleeved floral midi dress

Who says there's no vintage in charity shops these days?
(Yeah, I know Lindy Bop is repro but someone will like it, I'm sure.)

 Leather bags from the 1950-60s, including an Essell and Waldybag.

The above items are either currently or intended for sale, but the next batch are mine, all mine!

1960s Jaeger red wool coat

1960s black/lurex dress (requiring some work to repair)

1960s C&A striped jacket

Hawaiian parrot print cotton dress

Sheffield-made Viners cutlery 

1960s large June Rose Pyrex bowl

This beauty isn't going anywhere either;

 a gorgeous 1950s tapestry bag, accompanied by the fabric showing underneath and a handmade lavender-filled heart, all of which were gifts out of the blue from the lovely and talented Emma (who blogs at Painted Style). I'm thrilled! It's no secret that I love a vintage tapestry bag..

1960s Hawaiian dress - flea market

Chain belt, flower, bangles and necklace - charity shopped

Sandals - retail (sale) 

And to finish, some (blurry) photos from our family night out last Saturday. 

We went to the 60th birthday party of our friend and neighbour, Gustavo.

Thirteen years ago, we had just moved to the area and were looking for childcare for Claudia to enable me to return to work. Purely by chance, we stumbled across Norma, Gustavo's wife, who works as a childminder, and there began a fantastic relationship. We never had a moment's concern about childcare, and both Norma and Gus were incredibly kind and supportive when Nina was born and ended up in Intensive Care. They had Claudia and Owen to stay, and generally made a stressful time rather easier to bear.

They are originally from Chile, but came to Britain in the mid-Seventies. Gustavo was active in left-wing politics and fled to escape persecution and imprisonment (and probably torture) under the Pinochet regime. They left everything behind and came here with nothing but each other. He and Norma built a life from scratch, they have three great (grown-up) kids, and Gustavo remains as passionate as ever about education, inclusion and justice. Oh and he's a fabulous cook, musician and dancer too.

It occurred to me, as he was telling us of his continuing involvement in a campaign to secure compensation for victims of torture, that those who spout alarmist, hate-filled propaganda about the evils of immigration could learn a lot about generosity of spirit, hospitality and courage from this couple. 

I'm very proud to know them. And the party was brilliant!

xxxx

Is it normal...

to go out in your pyjamas, young lady?

A man shouted this at me today. Mind you, he was standing outside a pub with a drink in his hand at the time, and I suspect he'd probably been there a while.

He was wrong on all counts - I'm neither young, nor a lady, and this jumpsuit certainly isn't intended as nightwear. 

As to whether my dress sense is normal - well, who cares?

I made the jumpsuit from a vintage sheet and this 1967 pattern. 

It was surprisingly straightforward, although I had to take it in significantly and adjust the placement of the bust darts. As a piece of sewing, I'm really pleased with it; it's a great fit, the sleeves and zip are the neatest I have ever achieved, but I do wish I'd had a go at matching up the print.

Ah well - maybe next time.

Jumpsuit - surprisingly well-made by me

Hair flower, chain belt, bangles and platform sandals - charity shopped

Joanne, Sue and I were out this morning taking photos of statues for a project Sue is working on. Of course we fitted in a coffee and plenty of chat along the way.

We found war memorials in Dore and Gleadless;

a squat and grim-faced Queen Vic in Endcliffe Park;

The Spirit of the Woods and his accompanying imps and woodland creatures in the Botanical Gardens;

and the handsome yet rather sad bear in the Bear Pit.

There's Sue re-enacting a scene from Blow-Up.

He didn't seem to mind, he's used to the attention.

So that was a good start the week, unsolicited wardrobe commentary from a pissed-up stranger apart...

Hmm, what ridiculously abnormal item of clothing shall I make next? 

Taking my PJs over to Patti's for Visible Monday!

xxx

Sew Seventies

This Bank Holiday weekend has been delightful; all three kids have been away at Cub/Scout camp, so the adults have been out to play.

Leisurely lie-ins, browsing the charity shops and Record Collector in Broomhill, a lovely meal at Thyme Cafe, which never disappoints, watching films and over-indulging on wine - what better way to spend a child-free weekend? 

 

 

Oh, and some sewing too.

At last.

As you can see, I made the shorter version of this 1970s pattern with elbow-length sleeves, as I didn't have enough fabric for a maxi dress or long sleeves.

 

 

Mind you, it very nearly didn't get made at all; the pattern instructions were so confusing that I was ready to have a major tantrum, hurl the bloody thing in the bin, and give up.

I'm glad I persevered; the pattern is by far the most complicated I've attempted, and I managed to do things I haven't tried before, like gathering, inserting sleeves, and making the fitted bodice with square neckline front and back. It was the bodice paneling and facings which nearly defeated me; the diagrams on the pattern looked - to my untrained eye - nothing like the fabric pieces I had in front of me. So frustrating!

 

Now I've made the dress, I feel rather sad that I don't really love it. 

 

It's pretty enough, I just don't much like it on me. The gathered skirt adds bulk to my hips, the sleeves look too long (though I could shorten them), the crisp cotton fabric doesn't flow, and the puffed shoulders seem too much. Unfortunately, I chose the wrong fabric; this pattern required something softer with more drape. 

 

But here's what I do like.

 

I struggled to understand the instructions, but eventually, I worked it out. The fit is good. The sewing is neat. All the seams match up, the zip went in properly first time, and the back edges either side of the zip are in line. I also made a contrasting sash. 

 

It's a decent piece of sewing, and even if I don't wear it much, making this dress was an achievement. The fabric cost £2, the pattern £1, the cotton and zip were already in my sewing box, so all I've lost is £3 and some time, while gaining valuable skills.

Jess and Min agree. They both like to sit on the tissue paper pattern pieces. Always so helpful.

The kids came home this afternoon, very tired but having had a brilliant time.

This was how they set off - they looked a little grubbier on their return...

Dress made by me from a 1970s pattern

Flower, necklace, bangles, and 1960s straw bag - charity shopped

Sandals - retail (sale)

I'm determined to find time for more sewing once we're back to the routine of school and work, I really enjoy it when I get going (and get over my bad temper at not being sufficiently expert).

If I'm not too late, I'll pop over to Judith's Hat Attack with my hair flower, and join Patti and co for Visible Monday.

And I'll be catching up with your blogs soon, I promise; a couple of unplugged days and I am woefully behind!

xxx

As graceful as a swan

I've been giving my homemade dresses a whirl this week.

 

Formerly a 1960s sheet and a 1950s curtain respectively, I am happy to have been the agent of transformation. You can tell by my smug face.

 

 I'm also feeling pleased (and smug) about finding these unworn Clarks wedges in a charity shop, they cost just £1.49. 

 

 

 

I am trying to be judicious about buying things to sell, since I already have a lot of items waiting to be listed on Ebay, but I couldn't resist this dress when I saw it in the local hospice charity shop;

 

 

a beautiful 1950s Peggy French Couture velvet dress, sadly too small for me. All the beading and embroidery is intact, and the dress is in great condition. There are just some small spots where the nap of the velvet looked a little flat, but a brush has sorted that out.

 

Not just any old brush, of course - a 1960s Swanbrush, which can usefully double as a table decoration. 

 

It was a gift from Vix, and I love it; removing lint and fluffing up velvet has never been so much fun.

 

 

 

Dress - made it myself

Cardigan, tights, shoes and bangles - charity shopped

Carpet bag - gift

 

 

Dress - made it myself

Cardigan, belt, bangles and necklace - charity shopped

Vinyl bag - flea market

Boots - retail (sale)

 

 

 

 I took advantage of the beautifully sunny weather yesterday, and strolled through Endcliffe Park to meet an old friend. The sun and shadow play was lovely, as was the company. How good to be able to sit outside, catching up, drinking coffee, watching the world and its dog go by.

 

Tonight I am at our PTA's AGM (sorry about all those initials...) We have a new headteacher at school, so it will be interesting to see if that changes the dynamics of our group at all. How groups/teams operate is endlessly fascinating to me, I think it's the ex-mental health professional in me.

And on Saturday, I'll be heading down to London with my mate Claire to see Before The Dawn, Kate Bush's stage show. To say I am looking forward to it is an understatement. Kate Bush falls in the category of musical genius for me, and having been a fan since her 1978 debut, I am delighted to have the opportunity to see her perform live. 

 

 

 

Hope everyone has a brillaint weekend!

xxxx

I was into yin and yang and Hatha yoga, ginseng and caraway seeds, and being a non-smoker

So far, I'm liking this week, despite the madly unpredictable weather, sewing conundrums, a dodgy haircut, and a cat who chose to be sick on the kitchen work surface.

 Delightful.

But I am rising above such tribulations, because these have arrived;

and I am just as excited as can be.

  

 
I am practicing my interpretive dance as we speak, inspired by Pamela Stephenson and Noel Fielding, and of course, La Bush herself.

                 

   

 In other news, look what Goody sent all the way from Omaha, Nebraska.

Tattoo tights!

And Dr Pepper sweets for the kids. She wasn't convinced they'd go down well, but they did.

Owen's just hamming it up for the camera, honest.

Look at his hair; it needed a cut, but he'd been growing it so his pesky double crown didn't create a sticky-up tuft. Off we went to the barber's, where I asked him to keep the length, but thin it out, and tidy it up a bit.

Which isn't quite how it panned out...

Any passing resemblance to Paul Weller, circa 1979, is entirely accidental.

Or indeed Paul Weller, 2014.

Oh well, I'll just get the boy a suit and he can embrace his inner Mod.

I've got a refashioning dilemma; perhaps you can help?

I needed to take in the bodice of this gorgeous 1960-70s maxi dress, and decided I would do it properly and remove the sleeves first. Then I thought I would shorten them. Then I wondered about leaving the dress sleeveless. 

What do you think? Sleeve (elbow length? shorter?) or no sleeve?

Love these shoes!

Desigual t-shirt, 1970s platforms, belt, necklace and bangles - charity shopped

Patchwork maxi skirt - gift from Emma Kate

The tote bag was a handmade gift from my friend Sue's delightful teenage daughter.

She was keen to start sewing, so I guided her through making a skirt from a vintage pattern, and then showed her how to make a reversible tote bag. I know - the notion that I can teach anyone about sewing is a bit of a joke, but skill is relative, isn't it? She used some of my vintage fabric to make a bag for herself, but then made this one for me with fabric from her mum's stash.

Isn't that lovely? She's done a great job too. 

Charlie is quite le chat sportif. 

Anyone for Swingball or scootering?

  

Wills was watching from a safe height; her expression of infinite disdain speaks volumes.

Look at this wonderful mural, on an end terrace house just near our corner shop.

I think it's beautiful.

Great tits.

Oh stop sniggering at the back. 

Smug face? 

Might be.

I'm going to see Kate Bush!

xxxx