Sunday, December 12, 2010

What's new that's old & a Sale on Sunday

Sale! 15% Sunday. etsy! use this at checkout... Coupon Code... 15THANKS




Let's Get this Party Started !
yeah. yeah. yeah.

50s Tammis Keefe hanky



60s Manual Typewriter


60s Patch Boho Leather and Fur mini Coat

Sale! 15% Sunday. etsy! use this at checkout... Coupon Code... 15THANKS

40s vintage wool lady's suit




80s vintage Francine Browner goth romance jacket


Sale! 15% Sunday. etsy! use this at checkout... Coupon Code... 15THANKS



2 goldtone Gold Mesh vintage 80s necklaces




70s tooled hippie leather belt




80s black cowboy shirt with embroidered white roses

Sale! 15% Sunday. etsy! use this at checkout... Coupon Code... 15THANKS




70s Navy Pea Coat with brass buttons




70s vintage REI co-op poplin parka



70s vintage Levis 505 corduroy pants



60s mod Levis hopsack skinnies


Sale! 15% Sunday. etsy! use this at checkout... Coupon Code... 15THANKS


50s gabardine pleated slacks




70s vintage REI co-op down vest

Sale! 15% Sunday. etsy! use this at checkout... Coupon Code... 15THANKS


60s chiffon party dress...with rhinestones.
40" bust.




xs -s Sailor  Girl middy dress

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

What have I made for you lately?

wellllllllll.
gingerbread people ornaments made from burlap, with button eyes, and a hand embroidered ......Eat Me.
everyone loves that!

yes, thatyountvillegirl has a bad holiday attitude...........
this is another thing I searched around for on the interwebs to see if there were  already examples of  this design.....hand-made hand-embroidered gingerbread ornies....I saw a LOT of cute things.......




..................

tshirts...
gingerbread bunnies and cats.....awwwww!

gingerbread teddy bears...

and lots of fantastic gingerbread houses too..
YuM!


inspired by this....of course.....Alice and her eating problems.



I made this design from burlap...I like burlap.....a bit messy to work with.....
a lady....




I embroidered the words free hand.......if you want one that's custom...with a name or a date......email me......

Anyway, another iconic image, and/or ubiquitous thing...that I can warp for you

.....happy to do it!

Not humbug! more like....homebaked. real home baked.








Meanwhile, here's Thomas Keller's gingerbread cookie recipe......from EatMeDaily.http://www.eatmedaily.com/
(of course)
chow.........

Thomas Keller's Gingerbread cookies

•    3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
•    1 tablespoon baking powder
•    2 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
•    ½ teaspoon salt
•    3 tablespoons ground ginger
•    1 ¼ tablespoon ground cinnamon
•    ½ teaspoon cloves
•    ½ cup +  2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
•    1 ¼ cup dark brown sugar
•    1 ¼ cup molasses
•    2 eggs
•    2 ¼ Teaspoons vanilla extract
Icing:
•    2 cups powdered sugar
•    2 egg whites
•    1 teaspoon lemon juice
•    Food coloring.
Method:
1.    Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.
2.    Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and the sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy.
3.    Add the molasses and vanilla extract and mix to combine. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
4.    Add the eggs and mix on low speed for one minute.
5.    Add the dry ingredients in three parts, mixing just to combine after each addition.
6.    Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
7.    When the dough is thoroughly chilled, remove from the refrigerator and roll it out to ¼ of an inch.
8.    Cut into shapes using cookie cutters and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a non-stick liner.
9.    Bake at 325F for 12 to 18 minutes, depending on the size of the cookie.
10.    Cool the cookies on a rack.
11.    To make the icing, sift the sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the egg whites and lemon juice, and using the paddle attachment, start to mix on low speed then mix on medium speed until the mixture is smooth.
12.    If the icing is too thick, add a few drops of water. If it is too loose, add a little more powdered sugar.
13.    Divide the icing between small bowls and color as desired.
14.    Use your imagination to decorate the cookies!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

some shine on my shoulder

makes me happy....
Sometimes I want a purse to sit on my shoulder.....
Sometimes I want a cross-body style so I can use both hands to grab the goodies.


and I made little pouches too....but on with the show.......



So as much as I like hardware and little gadgets....


...I wanted to do something different for my line of tote bags and purses to make them adjustable.
So I did.



Instead of a metal slide thingie, I designed a different method to do the PrestO ChangeO.




It's a long strap that slides thru a sturdy loop, and then buttons...twice.
When you want a shoulder bag, unbutton, and slide the strap to the other side and rebutton....tuck the tiny bit of extra strap inside the little loop to hold it in place.




Viola!
or Wa-Laa!
I added a lot of pockets because ....we carry things, duh.
It closes with a small snippet tab and another vintage button.
Another feature I really like is....the wide 2" strap. It won't dig in as you carry things and tends to stay put better than a skinny strap........

And I used all vintage and recycled things....
And....I get to share a lot of my massive vintage button collection too.



Oh yeah, they're reversible.....and machine wash and hang to dry. Easy Peasy!!
This set is made of a road trip fabric and various vintage fabrics and lace....with faux suede and my signature swirly stitches.......



All together...this really makes me happy.
The next set of adjustable bags will be Harris tweed, woolens and lace...and always a few surprises...
Each one is unique...
and cute and sturdy...

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

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.......

Monday, November 29, 2010

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....