I. S. Y. N. Real Life is like a Painting

Here's dude wearing a nifty T shirt from prettypennyclothing on etsy..... and visit our shop, we are located @ 5488 college ave. Oakland, Ca. 94618.

........and here's my painting.

Co-inky-dink? I.S.Y.N.*

Yeah I Know !
I guess that's why I titled the painting "vintage urban Beatnik guy watercolor painting".



*I shit you not

Havin' A Ball y'all....

I love making stuff...and having my big Sewing Room at funkoma vintage, "where the magic happens" (tm) allows me to churn out lovelies like this....now on the bod of The awesomeness of Jennifer Johnson...

I don't know about you, but I am real sick of winter...I have always disliked winter because it's cold, and I'm from California, nuff said.
But I'll say more. So, I'm setting out spring stuff in the shop already. I can't help it. I have billions of new things (er, vintage) and I think if I put them out there, Spring will come sooner.
I'm seeing the tops of little bulb leaves.....

And have I told you I have a Red vintage ruffly Tux shirt for the boys or girls whatevah.

A Tacoma Train T Shirt and Me !

The world is awash....in T shirts.....The world is choked with T shirts.....we must control them.....we must subdue and make them do what we say ! I love to cut them up into other stuff.....

So here we have a simple re-construct to do on 2 t shirts......I have a black T shirt I really like but for the silly mass-produced thingie in the middle of the chest. My Tacoma Train T shirt is one of my faves....so, let's combine the 2 ........

So first cut the center part out of the black one, and use that for the pattern for the white one......uh, measure well.....so that your insert will fit in the "original T"........



then sew the center part to the "original T"....careful pinning or even basting is essential here at this step.....ya wanna make sure your t shirts line up at the hemlines.....you will be cutting them to a nice pleasing shape.....and adding some lace.......



Ok, side inserts sewn in.........now is the time to make a pleasing curve for a neckline.....and the hem can be altered with the same treatment or more fun edgings...you know me....I'll be back with more fun stuff to torture the unsuspecting simple t shirt........
When you add some stretchy lingerie lace to a neckline, if it's a knit there is a simple rule.......
Measure the neckline without stretching, and cut your stretchy lace without stretching to be the same length but for 1 inch. In other words, cut the lace one inch shorter than your neckline measurement. This shortening of the lace will pull the neckline to lay flat against your body as it stretches along the neckline of the t shirt.
Begin pinning the lace at a shoulder seam....or at the center back of the neckline...whichever you choose, and pin the center of the lace to the center front of the t shirt's neckline, then evenly stretch and distribute the lace around the neckline. When you sew it, use a simple tiny zigzag, or if you have a fancy-schmancy machine with stretch stitches.....now is the time to Show Off!
Here we go.....Simple, reconstructed.....and it goes fast girlfriend.......

Thanks for coming down!

and seeing us on Wednesday.....the first of many many non-events/events we Broadway Babies......will plan for you in the months to come. Lots of folks came down to see us and spread a little cash in downtown T-Town.....
Big Props to Melanie.....the beautiful raven-haired Vanity owner !
Mel's not on our block (up on 6th) but she knows a good time when she sees one for sure.....
All of us in T-Town that sell the vintage and retro are a fresh conspiracy of sorts....We want to take over the world!

What's the RAIN doing here ????
Waaah.....I want my hot weather for Hot Rod A Ramaaaaaa..... Man dig these vids.....FAn -f'n-ing Tastic View of our beautiful little city.....


back to this:
Tacoma is an easy town to get around in....all the vintage and retro shops are within a few miles of each other. Julie's at Urban Xchange down on Pacific near the UWT......Cedar and Jim up at Rector's next to Jason Lee on 6th.......and the world's largest concentration of Vintage and Retro indie shops on one block !!

Since we opened ....thanks to my relentless blabbing (thanks Meghan!) and hard work (thanks Jennifer!)
we're making tons of people happy. Some drop in to see what's going on with the Rampart bldg.....some wanna know where's David? (up on 6th at Vintage Arts)
and some are just amazed at what is packed inside....
pics will arrive in next weeks post about the shop.....
more props to defunked......go read a fun blog about vintage T shirts.....you know we love 'em......

I'm Wearing My Dock Street T Shirt...

and TacomaMama........posts about the new menu......please don't ruin it.....
I was gonna wear my ONE and ONLY Exit 133 T shirt today.....but I haven't trashed it artistically yet.........Just saying....I'd show you a pic, but I'm shy....you'll have to see it yourself.....Dock st needs more good places to eat.....tho I am partial to Dock Street Landing.....bar and grill.....the T Shirt and the bar........

So What Tacoma-made or Tacoma-centric clothing choices did you make today??? Mall purchases don't count.....But purchases from small businesses do...and anything you shoplifted will also count towards your final score........(bonus points for dancing to Darrell Data...and signing up for his email list)

Ha Ha Murray Morgan Bridge T shirt...

Memories..from the corners of my mind....

whilst spending quality time with my cute husband, he found this for me:

I'll be adding this to my collection and I found a Dock St Bar tank top....with the silkscreen quite askew......I guess I'll have to pad one side more than the other to get the pelican to stand up straight..altho...maybe that's how one looks after spending time at the Dock !
I know that's how I stand....