Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree...

I've had this dress for a couple of years....I'm fascinated by the fabric, the style, the cut...oh look at the rose...oh the sailor collar...hey, those seams are fancy!

The blue and green says early 60s to me...I remember the Blue and the Green combo really well. But late 50s, mid 50s or early 60s?? The emphasis on the bust....the wittled waist...the length....that's sexy !

Investigation was needed!

It has its original tags about the fabric.
I knew it was pre-fabric tag requirement ...that was 1960...and no care labels...that became mandatory in 1971.
there 's no printed tags inside, just the paper hangtag pinned to the sleeve.

Purchased at Zukor's dress shop in Seattle, 216 Pike St....also, pre-zip code......(zip became mandatory in 1962 as well as shortened state name....Wash became WA)

so this slim fitted dress pattern dated 1959, from etsy seller, SelvedgeShop , shows that style and length.....oh, the colors....blue. green. for the 2 dresses.....
the plot thickens.

and this one from 1962 ....The Worlds Fair in Seattle, the year my husband was born!
By '62, it's getting shorter...it's not so sexy...and dare I say....getting dowdy. and motherly. yes. The 50s was about catching the man, getting him married, and then having a few babies and a white picket fence. That's it. and then the 60s....the early 60s. pre-Twiggy. pre-Mod.
from etsy seller,SewUniqueClassique ....

 So we know....the approximate date......pre-62.


I opened the sales slip.......oh look !

12- 3 - 1960

well, hells bells. A gal bought this in the dress shop...and then never wore it.
Hey. don't let that happen again!
This dress is beautiful and sexy!

a size medium to large.
bust - 44",waist - 32",hips - 42",length - 44"
and blue and green. like sea glass......like the ocean....like...Camelot.......Jack  and Jackie Kennedy were about to take up residence in the White House come January 1961
bye bye Eisenhower....the young fresh new idealism was swept in..... a young vibrant President and his lovely wife and sweet little children........

........Maybe a striped-suited brand new 1960 Barbie Doll was wrapped  and waiting under the Christmas tree.....maybe a special dinner was planned for Hannukah.
Yeah, let's Party !
click this link for more 1960 hi-jinks!

Here's a song played at the Holiday party this dress never went to.......

a Mary Poppins moment--WWMW

Mary Poppins is an acid trip...flying thru the air, feeding children hallucinogenic drugs, and jumping into chalk pictures with bizarre friends.

my ostrich feather duster is so very edwardian in feeling...it made a cameo appearance in the last set of 24 listings for my etsy shop.
let's start with the black...WWMW...What Would Mary Wear?


this of course.....
that Bert is H.O.T.

this sold within 5 minutes of listing.....a black lace all in one.

goes together with wine....red red wine......

Bombshell fitted lbd...
the end of the 50s, and the beginning of the 60s with the lace and the bow on the back....

asymmetry in turquoise satin.......

another sexy granny chic style I love.......
just 'cause she has a doily on her chest..well, don't assume there's no Fire in the Furnace....

I adore this dress...I want it in my size.....

70s black velvet jacket, from Foxmoor, it still has its tags...

this is the Real Mary Poppins....

it's my small world.......

like other tiny people, I like tiny things.
tiny keys
tiny buttons
tiny thread
tiny tiny little things.

I like little works of art. a little world in the palm of your hand, because it is, really.

in thatyountvillegirl on etsy.

it started with trying to make something more masculine (I know) that wasn't beer, bacon or another.tie.

for a guy or gal, I don't care which, when they wanna add some snap to the outfit, the lapel, the hat, the bag....a PIN.

a brooch, too.

I also wanted it to be not-leather.

I started with the base...ultrasuede from the 70s. It's a synthetic that looks a lot like suede. tiny keys, tiny charms, cotton string, and no glue.
wool tweed or herringbone for the back. well, it feels so good.
The natural colors...and recycled from stuff that was tossed away.... from days long ago.
natural patina, natural rust....cotton string.
and each one has a tiny little fabric bag...so it's ready for a gift ...for yourself too!

the shop.

yes...a tiny sterling silver spoon.......

honey bee.

yes, right here.......

give thanks and make peace and pumpkin pies

I did!

Foodie Goodie

You would think they'd rhyme. But no.
They're cute tho....
Oh Christmas tree...o christmas tree...I'm a gonna eat you.......

from this post on Apartment Therapy......

Here's me...waiting for the Persimmons.....

I ate a billion of them when I lived in California because it is a State Law in the Golden State that every yard has to have a tree....so they were rather common....
but uncommonly delicious......

after 3 days stuck inside because of The Huge Snow of the Northwest (2" of snow)
I bundled up in layers and went to go buy some.........food.
I was out of Bloody Mary Mix.

70s Italian Waffle stompers, patagonia leggings, wool thi-hi socks, short black sweater dress, 70s Harris Tweed jacket, gray scarf and a cream mohair beret. striped mitts....made by me......these are my everyday, all day pair.

the original the stupendous the cashmere panties.......

when I started looking on the old internets for cashmere underwear made from recycled cashmere sweaters, I found nothing. Nothing. No one had done it by September 2009. I was first on the planet Earth to get them made and listed.....in my search, I found 3rd world factory made cashmere panties for women....I found one pair of 3rd world factory made cashmere bloomers....and I found baby's soakers made from old sweaters....I found cashmere blend panties....but no 100% cashmere panties, bloomers, knickers, drawers....from recycled.
so now, I find I'm being copied !
that means it was a fabulous Idea!

Here's a red pair.....and more will come in the next few days...and that ain't all that's in my head....

.
and a few pics of past projects.......

I yam what I yam...

but you are sweet........potato.

hey November, you were 70 degrees at the first of the month, remember? well, I do. I knew you'd be back to your old tricks...freezing me..and with ...snow?

This is late November....acorns..and dry leaves.

another November thing....waiting for my persimmons to ripen.  taps taps taps taps taps.......baking a pumpkin pie...(yes I did that today)

so here we are....Sweet potatoes in the can, and a real ripe Yam!

it is by magic

and my sewing........
another collection of vintage fabric trees.......
last year the set of 12 sold out within 2 days of listing and displaying in the store.....

the trunks are old wood spools of thread........this another project I designed....from the pattern....(ha) a triangle and the base, to thinking of the vintage spool as a tree trunk....oh sure.........someone else may have thought of it.....but I  haven't seen this anywhere else ..yet!
Just listed in my thatyountvillegirl etsy shop........

this set...I think I can get about 2 dozen floral evergreen trees from this bit of very old printed muslin.....The next sets will be of similar barkcloth, and other fabrics and other shapes......so they will all be listed in the next few days...before Thanksgiving day. The goal is to try to make about  4 dozen