Fresh Dresses and Boudoir wear for late May

Oh spring....with summer around the bend...the time to wear a pretty print....grass green, summer ocean blue, black as night, bright as the noon day sun, and the hissing of summer lawns....let us not forget.......Summer daisies, and summer not....

Vintage Sundress  Colorblock Mini dress M, by Andrea Jovine...


and look, is that Alice, and is she in Wonderland.......vintage 80s Blue Tea Length Wedding Jessica McClintock M

Vintage  Dress Red roses floral sundress xs - s , just add milkshake....and rock and roll.

Vintage 1960s dress Green Garden floral shift like a Lilly Pulitzer....whether you're in Palm Beach, or Backyard Beach this summer.....

Vintage Mexican Lace Halter  Dress  M , pretty pink flowers, and lots of white ribbon....

Kaftan Vintage 1970s maxi dress hippie boho M L ....no words needed. It is What it is.....

Turquoise Polka Dot Vintage dress  Ruffled sundress  xs - s . pretty and demure.

 and coming soon......
Prettiest vintage Pink Lace Peignoir and Nightgown.....

Olga....black lace, wide sweep............

Olga 92280, M soft and silky black.....

70s Vintage lace and silky nylon nightgown.....

60s ruffle butt panties.....

vintage 70s silky sheer black itty bitty black bikini panties......

Memorial Day Remembering the Ladies

The ladies?

In May 1942 the WAAC (Women's Auxiliary Army Corps) was begun as an "auxiliary" branch of the Army.  Then the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) was formed in July  1942, and about 2 months later, September 1942, the WAFS  (Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron ) was formed. Then in November 1942 the SPARS ( a contraction of the Coast Guard motto: Semper Paratus and its English translation, Always Ready, and also refers to a spar in nautical usage.), the Women's Reserve was formed.


One of the most wonderful vintage military things I've ever found is this 1940s wartime Navy WAVES jacket. As you know, I grew up near the California Veterans Home near Yountville. One of the veterans that influenced me was a darling woman named Naomi. That's NAA- OH - ME, as she used to remind us all.

She was always well-dressed, her short hair was always just beauty-parlor fresh, and her make-up was immaculate. When she lived in the Veterans Home, she had to have been about 60-something...not old, but not young!
She always wore perfume and she spoke with the vocabulary of a college graduate, a woman who was accustomed to being treated with respect. Naomi was a nurse in the WAR. She would call for a cab and most often my Dad, but sometimes my Mom, would go and pick her up, and I always begged to go along. I adored Naomi.
We'd deliver her to the diner where the Greyhound Bus stopped. Often we'd stay for a root beer float, and sit with Naomi until her bus arrived and left. She went to Los Angeles to visit family 2 or 3 times  a year. I always wanted to know more about her, but this is it.

My WAVES officers jacket is labeled JACQUES. I haven't yet found any information about her.

From US Military photo archives, this great picture of women enlisting in the services in 1943. I love the fashion!

The wonderful WAVES uniforms were designed by the Parisian couturier, Mainbocher, and was meant to mimic the male officer's uniforms. Instead of the black and gold stripes, the women were outfitted in navy-blue serge. They were issued a raincoat that was belted like a trench coat, and also a dress coat, double-breasted with brass buttons, as shown in my pictures. They had a white-topped hat with a matching muffler and gloves. There was a dark blue shirt for winter work, another shirt made from blue broadcloth, and a white shirt with a black satin neckerchief for dress. The Waves uniform had a fitted short service-dress-blue jacket and a knee-length gored skirt.


 Here, though, are 2 pictures of WAVES released 2 - 23- 44, from Moffet Field, U.S. Naval Air Station in the Bay Area of California. We see Captain McAfee returning from a blimp ride. Notice the bare legs. The men wear pants! Look at the long coat with brass buttons, the cross-body black leather purse.

This picture shows Capt. McAfee being interviewed by Yeoman 3rd Class Jean McBride. No mention of the other WAVE in the background, smiling. Perhaps that's my JACQUES.

Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor, November 7, 1941, Jacqueline Cochran, one of the most well-known aviators of that time, tried to interest the Army Air Corps in women pilots who would be trained to fly military aircraft within the United States. Finally on Sept. 10, 1942, Nancy Harkness Love, with the support of the U.S. Air Transport Command, organized 25 women pilots into the WAFS.
The purpose of the WAFS was to deliver planes from the factory to military bases. On Aug. 5, 1943, the WAFS and WFTD (Women’s Flying Training Detachment ) merged into the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots (WASP). The history of the WASP

There's certainly many wonderful sad and evocative songs from the Big Band era, and the years of World War 2....but this one by Vera Lynn never fails to make me tear up....just a bit...after all these years...every time I hear it....Lynn's song in the final scene of Kubrick's 1964 film Dr. Strangelove, and was also used in the closing scenes of the 1986 BBC television serial The Singing Detective....and I love that series and Michael Gambon. oh  yes. Songs by the Ink Spots were in it too...songs of my little childhood.





More about the WAVES.......
The WAVES became a war division of the U.S. Navy, and was entirely women. From July 30, 1942, the "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service", was officially the U.S. Naval Reserve (Women's Reserve), but the nickname of the WAVES stuck through the 1970s.

Eleanor Roosevelt, the WWII First Lady, convinced Congress to authorize the women's involvement in the Navy. Mildred McAfee, President of Wellesley College, was the first female commissioned officer in U.S. Navy history, and the first director of the WAVES. This was only two months after the WAAC (Women's Auxiliary Army Corps) was begun. The WAAC was an "auxiliary" organization, serving with the Army, but the WAVES was an official part of the Navy, and held the same rank, the same pay, were subject to military discipline, and held the same ratings as male personnel.


Then in July 1943, a year later after formation, WAAC became the Women's Army Corps (WAC) and then achieved military status similar to that of the WAVES. The first year, the WAVES grew to 27,000,and most did clerical work, but some took positions in the aviation community, Judge Advocate General's Corps, medical professions, communications, intelligence, storekeeper, science and technology. African-American women were not allowed to enlist until November 1944.

Although part of the "real Military", WAVES could not serve aboard combat ships or aircraft, but served in the continental United States duty until late in World War II, they were sent to some U.S. possessions, and Hawaii. Finally, in June 1948, the Women's Armed Services Integration Act was passed and finally, women gained permanent status in the armed services.

Winnebago stuff, Gunne Sax, Burlap definitions

well my little gas guzzler Home is now sporting some fine curtains....Burlap and vintage fabric (of course)....

 I made undercurtains of burlap! Burlap! I love burlap!! see below to see more Burlap ! I think they're the perfect textury touch and they are Burlap !
and we ate dinner at the dinette the other evening....
The tree curtains are made of a 70s acrylic momie...a rather lightweight barkcloth, that was most often used for dresses, men's shirts, and halter tops...It's bright! and it's tree trunks and branches....in oh so 70s brown and orange and green....

mmmm....dinner !  organic broccoli, vegetarian corn dogs, garden salad, baked potatoes....and a martini to wash it down....

When the nasty nasty mini blinds were still up, I clothespinned the fabric in place to see if  I really liked the fabric, and the colors....and I do!

I used the selvage of the burlap panels to sew stretch wide lace to make a top casing. I also sewed a line around 3 edges to I could fringe the sides and hem....I love burlap fringe !!  I hung them up and they were too stiff........so I washed them. Warning !!! They Shed fibers!!
Oh well.  I hung them up again, fringed the edges, and bingo!! I really love them. This is about the 5th time I've made curtains of burlap.....

Look at that!
Trees!
I bought it about a year ago, and I had no idea what I was gonna do with it......because the rule is "The lady with the most fabric when she dies, wins!"

It could have become a ...tote bag, skirt, pillow.....but curtains for the Winnie is the right choice.
(If you want to see the beginnings of the re-do of my Winnebago, click the ----> Winnebago posts.)
This is what I mean, when I say "the recycled life". Winnie is recycled, and so much of what is here is re-used...thrift store, yard sales and stuff I've had for decades....

 I look at this fabric and I am reminded of the deep redwood forests of Northern California. That totally suits me fine.
Like I said,"When decorating, I'm trying to make Ralph Lauren cry.....
 and referencing a California cabin in the woods on the Marin coast, and a bit of classic 70s stuff....the kind of things I had when my kids were little...."

I've noticed looking around the blogosphere that birch trees and birch tree wallpaper is very popular right now....and I love love love birch ...it's on my Top Ten Trees I Love....but I adore this ...and you know me, I like to do my own thing, and not follow fads.


this neat vintage  fabric is from etsy seller vintagesistersoup

I also made little valances....one over the sink.....and one over the door....(pictures coming soon)

....the other thing I've noticed when I go looking for RV related topics is that many folks are painting their  trailer and RV interiors white........so, I get it. It can be dark and claustrophobic in there, but I adore the faux bois, so I won't be painting it white. I am thinking of doing something with the refrigerator door......but we'll see.

This is a sweet cottage style RV....lots of fabrics, lots of white paint, and so very cute....

Here's the original source, an RV blog that needs translation !


and now ....BURLAP. Burlap is bur·lap/ˈbərlap/ Noun: Coarse canvas woven from jute, hemp, or a similar fiber, used esp. for sacking. Lighter material of a similar kind used in dressmaking and furnishing. Synonyms: sackcloth - sacking - bagging.

 Origin: 1685–95; earlier borelap, equivalent to bore ( l ) coarse cloth. from Old French burel (see bureau ) + lap. burlap 1690s, probably from M.E. borel "coarse cloth," from O.Fr. burel ; or Du. boeren "coarse," perhaps confused with boer "peasant." The second element, -lap, meant "piece of cloth." Definition of Bureau: Origin: 1710–20; < French: desk, office, originally a kind of cloth (used to cover desks, etc.), Anglo-French, Old French burel, equivalent to bur- (probably < *būra, variant of Late Latin burra wool, fluff; compare bourrée ) + -el noun suffix. More info »Dictionary.com - Answers.com - Merriam-Webster - The Free Dictionary

 ...and also see Hessian cloth at wikipedia.
So,yeah, fabric used to cover a chest or desk, from Middle English and Old French. Coarse cloth. And yes it is! That's what I like about it...simple and basic. also let us not forget gunny sack. From which I am sure, Jessica McClintock took the name Gunne Sax.
Just after The First Depression, and WWII, after 16 loooong years of poverty and make do.....folks had been mighty accustomed to making clothes from that which was discarded...you know recycled and repurposed.......such as flour sacks and gunny sacks....such as this....

 Hi Marilyn! Nice dress made from a very itchy gunny sack!



here's a gal who made her own burlap curtains.....her inspiration was Ballard Designs....here's her tutorial....Way Cool....

here's one of my favorite things of all time....a 70s vintage jacket made from....burlap. yup. I wear this all the time.

made by Campus Casuals, of California....
of course, and I do love the rips in the jacket....
I blogged about this jacket before......go here to read all about why burlap was used, and who might have bought this jacket originally........

Bike and burlap pin I made and a burlap heart with custom calligraphy.....

so not only do I make lots of things from burlap.....I also use a huge coffee bean sack for the rug in my photo area....

you've seen this a billion times....

this 60s dress is available here.....

Little Miss Sew N. Sew

Sometimes I find things that are destroyed.....and I have to figure my valuable time to put it back together, or not, and what to charge for it when I list it.
Well, I always think about what to charge.....and here's a story....
Of Redemption....Of Capitalism spelled with a small C. This turned out very well.....what started as a  wreck of a vintage dress......here's the end result....
I'm never intimidated by a project to put something back together, a garment or purse or hat, and even shoes, sometimes, even when someone has wrecked it, ruined it, and Gawd! made a Halloween costume from a pink 1950s vintage ruffly OTT Prom dress.
I have to figure my hours....because this is my work. This is what I do. Thank the heavenly stars that you value vintage and the handmade. Have I told you lately how much I appreciate your good taste?

Thanks to mom, I learned to sew when I was about 9, and once I figured out I could Make My Own Clothes, I grabbed on to that Magical Thing and it might be the one thing that's followed me, year in year out over my entire life. Oh that's not true. Gardening has a stronger hold....I'll put a garden in anywhere....

and here is where it started.....It took me all day to fix it, and then the expense of a dry cleaning ...so....roll  back up and feast your eyes!!

It had been ripped and several rows of ruffles were hanging on for dear life...the shoulders had holes poked in them, and black lace and rayon fringe had been tied on for straps....must have been going for some kind of Prostitute from Mars....you know, the young ladies like to dress like sluts.

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I had to remove all that crap, and then I hand sewed the holes closed (not too bad), replaced the busted zipper (of course) with a matching era-appropriate 50s pink long metal zipper, then I hand sewed the rows and rows and rows of net and lace ruffles back together. It turned out so pretty! Then I dropped it off at Morrell's Cleaners and they worked a miracle on the stains. Then I listed it on ebay, and it sold for well over a 100. bucks. These days, I'd list it for 350. Because it's worth it!
this project was from 2002 or 2003....
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Now.....Long before the economy crashed into the drink, people asked me for discounts. Most of the time they are fair. But once in awhile they are just brain-dead and quite insulting.
This is  how I price a vintage widget...That is the question. If it's a dress, I look at a comparable price on a new Nordstrom dress of like kind, then drop the price by about 50%, because it's used.
I start the comparison and research with new items that are perceived to be quality.....excellent fabric, attention to detail, and a design that is worthy of wearing again......all of these factors influence my pricing decisions.
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Often, I sell something that is a great everyday dress....I think vintage should be reused and reworn....it's far past the time to buy everything new. Thank goodness it's now mainstream to recycle and reuse and rewear...  I choose things that are cute, are useful, are decorative, are classic, or so weird or bizzarre! that they simply must be worn, used, displayed...again!

Have you bought a new dress lately? If it's quality, and not from Hot Topic, H&M or Sears, it is pricey. Is it made in the USA? Or where in the heck did it come from? I take pride to offer quality items, that are probably made in a 1st World Country.
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With pricing, if the item is rare, pink, or a bust size over 40, the price goes up. Because, it's worth more to more people. I spend about 60 hours a week on my vintage buy and sell business. It Is A Business. I have to find it, clean it, remove stains and stinky stuff, iron it, steam it,  store it, photograph it, list it, pack it when you buy it, buy all the packing supplies, pay postage, get it to the PO, do all the bookkeeping and taxes... go shopping again, and pray I find something excellent! You pay for my time to go shopping, to find awesome stuff, and to provide it to the World Wide Web, so you can shop from the comfort of your work desk, or late at night...and never have to brave the mall or the stinky thrift store.
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You also pay for the trust you have in me....I'm reliable and not out to rip you off...I'm here to offer good stuff....I'm here to recycle and make neat stuff....
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So yeah, you can guess what I think about the movie Pretty in Pink costume department taking a  50s pink dress! (I'm sure it was fake, but hey!), and turning it into this Flash-In-The-Pan UGLEY 80s crappy dress. Love Iona (Annie Potts!!!) and the rest of the wardrobe in the movie IS FANTASTIC !!! It's packed full of amazing vintage....yes VINTAGE. and um, James Spader.

Conversational and a face in the crowd

floral fabrics are pretty, and pretty common, and I love them...but conversational prints are my favorite prints.
I especially like ones that have words...I like to read and write....so, yeah.
This is a tiny peek at my collection....I have ones with watches, ships, books, anchors, keys, sailor tattoos, men's pants and suspenders, and a big collection of prints with little kids....

here's a neat link to  AllPeopleQuilt, with a History of Conversational Prints..... 
Conversationals are also known as Novelty prints...this is to let you know it isn't a geometric, an abstract, a stripe, a check, a plaid....or a floral......I do love the florals, and I try to make skirts with 'em when ever I can, and if it's a vintage piece...Oh Boy....
Not a conversational, unless you like to talk to flowers..... here's one with marigolds! I know it's a floral, but what a floral!
fat full African multi-petalled marigolds! I wore this the other day when it was warm and sunny, with a sleeveless denim shirt and a 40s vintage beaded belt.

here's a print of hand written and stamped letters to exotic international destinations....most of them are written by Smith New York 12 NY USA. and...L. Perry S.Paul Minn, and are going via Par Avion, Air Mail.... to
Djakarta Indonesia Paris, France.  Lima, Peru. Scattered around are stamps from Hawaii, France, Indonesia, Hong Kong....it's so darling....

and then, my 4th of July fave....a 60s shirtdress with bits of the Declaration of Independence....Liberty Bells and drums and Ben Franklin-style calligraphy.....

Here's a sailing print...with ships in bottles, tags, suitcase tags, medals, rope, chain, sailors knots....

a 70s sailing and boat theme..........

 The men folk get in on the fun too !!
 vintage boxer shorts....with hearts on.........

 an 80s Jams World California shirt.....

a 50s vintage Jamaica history of Pirates and rum !

and another favorite......a steampunk 70s Art Nouveau print of vintage bicycles and lovely ladies.....I really love any Art Nouveau print I come across ....I had passels of these when they were new in the 70s!

and a whole dress of little anchors...and a skirt of perma-pleats......

and here's another fave...an Alligator print by Nicole Miller...she is a very personal favorite, both for her prints, and her fashion design.
....and who doesn't mind looking at my vintage Porsche.......

a face in the crowd.......