My Super Cutesy Heart Top

Hi Everyone!

I made another version of Simplicity 1693!  This time I made View C.  The first time I made a floral, sleeveless View F.

Last time, I felt like I needed a very slight FBA with this pattern.  So this time, I cut the size 10 and added a 3/8" FBA (3/4" total). This helped add a little ease at the bust and balance the hem so it didn't hike up in the front.  I'm noticing hiking in some of the things I've been making.  Damn my boobs!

So I'm really stoked with the top.....with the exception of a few things.   I spent a long time lining up the hearts at CB and I missed it by 1/8."  That pissed me off.  It just shifted when I was cutting.  The other thing that is sad is the fabric itself.  I bought it at the swapmeet for $1.50yd.  It's a really nice stretch poly crepe.  Sadly, there are spots on my fabric.  The black bled out into the white leaving weird, grey blotches.  I didn't notice until I was pressing during construction.  Everyone who has seen the top said they didn't notice until I pointed them out.  I'm still going to wear it anyways and hopefully over time, the black will completely bleed into white creating a nice light grey. Hahaha.

I bound the neckline with packaged bias tape and overlocked the seams.

The bottom hem and sleeve hems are narrow hemmed.  I'm very proud of the hems actually.  They turned out very nice.

Well that's it.  See my full review at PatternReview.

 More pics below.  Oh, and the Boyfriend and I made the sewing pattern flower.  We made a bunch when we started watching Homeland a few months ago.  We never got into the show, but we have a bunch of flowers decorating our apartment.  Win!

Fun Times with the Silhouette!

I mentioned a while back that The Boyfriend bought me the Silhouette for my birthday in 2013.  Here is one of the projects I made with it.

The first actual project I made with the machine was a silhouette portrait (how appropriate, no?) of the Boyfriend and Abraham Lincoln.  I was inspired by the portraits made at Disneyland.  If you didn't know, there are cast members in this one shop on Main Street who hand-cut your portrait in a matter of minutes.  It's novel, but not cheap.  One of the examples on the wall of the store is of Abe.  We were initially going to pay for a portrait with The Boyfriend and Lincoln, but I though it would be more challenging and fun to do it myself.  I know, it's weird, but that's how I roll.

 I used my mad photoshop skills to turn the Boyfriend's profile image into a black silhouette.  I combined that image with a rad clipart file of Honest Abe.  Working in the Silhouette software is not easy.  I'm so used to Photoshop and Illustrator that the software doesn't make sense to me.  And there aren't great instructions out there.  So many tutorials, but a lot of work to watch and try to apply to my own projects.  I'm much more into designing my own things, than downloading from the Silhouette Store.   Here it is:

I surprised the Boyfriend with this on his birthday.  

Not wanting to waste paper, I also decided it would be cute to get a portrait of Pearl.  It was a bit of a challenge to get Pearl to sit still long enough to snap a photo of her from the side. 

 I snapped this picture with my iPhone in my left hand and a treat held up high in my right hand.  

She's such a sport....

(Both frames were found at an Antique Flea Market.  The Boyfriend's frame was $2 and the bow frame was only $1!!!)

Nifty Flea Market / Yard Sale Finds

Look at this cool sh*t!

I go the numerous antique flea markets / swapmeets a couple times a month.  Sometimes I find really cheap vintage patterns, awesome notions, and on rare occasions I get fabric.  Then there are those times you find really cool things.  Like these brass duck pattern weights!

Well, the original purpose was place holders on a dinner table, but they are super heavy and a great size to fit in the corners of pattern pieces.  I use these in combination with metal washers I bought at the hardware store.

The ducks are my new favorite...and if I ever have a big Duck Dynasty themed dinner party, I have the perfect addition to the table.


(The fabric was made into a blouse for myself.  To be blogged about later when I get around to taking photos.)

A Weekend-Only Picnic Skirt

Weekend-only, you ask?  Well, the reason is because I got a job!  I'm officially an Assistant Technical Designer and this skirt is just too short to wear to work.  I've had a full week of training on just the company info, hard and soft lines.   This week I start job-specific training.  Last week was so great and I'm so thankful the company put so much time and effort into training.  I feel so lucky to have found this job.

Yay!  Back to the skirt.  I saw Tilly's skirt and thought it was really cute, but never intended to make it until I went to the swapmeet and found almost the exact fabric (for $1.50/yd. I might add).  Yes, I know I could have made it with different fabric, but it really wasn't on my list of things to do.  I followed the instructions for the most part because I honestly didn't want to have to think.  Hehe.  I omitted the pockets because I wanted to draft them a little differently from the instructions, but didn't want to take the time.  I started the skirt last Sunday night, the day before my first day of work.  Being the moron that I am, I decided to not make a paper pattern, which caused me some trouble.  I accidentally cut the skirt too short, hence the skimpiness.  It is totally wearable, but I can't bend over too far.  :)

The buttons are from an estate sale find.  I do love them.

Thanks to my newest followers! I'm so sorry for the neglect of the blog.  Thanks Cynthia and Danielle! 

Vintage Hat Pattern Vogue 6121

My mom and I found this cute 1960's head scarf pattern at the flea market today.  It was such a good deal that we didn't even bother to open it up to check for all the pieces and instructions.  Well, we should have because the instructions are missing :( Views A and B seam pretty self explanatory from the pattern pieces, but Views C and D confuse me.  I think I could figure it out, but my mom could not and she was hoping to make a hat/scarf today :)  Bummer, huh?

Does anyone have a copy of this pattern and could scan the instructions for me? I'd be forever grateful and the good karma fairies will make a visit I'm sure :)  The wonderful pattern site Blue Gardenia has a copy of the pattern in mint condition, but it is too pricey for me.  

I also got this sweet children's book "Love is a Special Way of Feeling"

I love the illustrations in it

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.  It's back to sketching for me..... :(

Dress Form!

Creative post title, right?

Look what my parents bought me for x-mas next year?

A PGM Industry Pro dress form!  We found her at one of my favorite swapmeets/antique fairs for less than 1/2 the price they sell for new.  She's in great condition with the exception of a little dirt.  It looks like maybe some dark purple fabric transferred on to her too.

She's close to my measurements and has collapsible shoulders.  I'm excited that I can work on a project for me and not have to try it on every two seconds.  I can drape on her too!

She doesn't have a name yet.  I can't think of anything I like.  She's just "dress form" for now.

Anyways, I was really wondering if anyone could give suggestions for cleaning her.  We vacuumed the linen and then took a Mr. Clean Eraser to her, but dirt didn't come off.  I'm afraid of wetting the linen and being too abrasive because when we got a little rougher in the cleaning, the fabric seemed to start to stretch out of place.  Any other suggestions?

purple boobage.

see the dirt? ^

Thanks to Nikki, my newest Follower.  I've been going through my vintage pattern stash to see what I want to giveaway!

Pearl rides in the laundry basket when I haul it up and down the stairs. 

Vintage Awesomeness!

Just a few things I thought I would share with you all.  A hodgepodge of vintage goodness.

Really old shoe clips and some buttons.  I love the shoe clips, but haven't worn them yet.  I realized I don't have the right shoes to put them on!  Also bought these buttons to go for a coat if I ever make one.  I have some nice winter white fabric that I think they will go nicely with.

Got these patterns about 3 weeks ago in the Boyfriend's size.  It is so hard finding vintage shirt patterns in his size.  Both are intact and in decent condition.

My parents brought this home for me one day when I was on vacation.  It is an old fashion illustration I think from the 1950's I'm guessing from a department store called Hartfield.  It is really cute.  I think the cherub in the center is a little strange, but I think it was common back then.  My fashion illustration teacher would have a fit over the big heads and tiny feet!

Finally a Nylon shirt in great condition.  Check out the lace!  It's really cute on, but I can't figure out what to wear with it.  Any suggestions?

That's all for now.  Still waiting on the pattern giveaway, but I think I'm going to give in and just host the giveaway even without the 75 followers.  I'm super happy I have 73 people reading my posts! 

My New Favorite Pressing Tool

I love my new sleeve board.  It's the best $4 swapmeet purchase ever!

Perfect timing that I bought it on Saturday right before I worked on my bodice and sleeve sloper for school.  In class we drafted a bodice front and back using the dressform measurements and then after class I drafted the sleeve.  Our assignment was to complete the drafts and sew up muslins of our sloper (or block).  I used the sleeve board to iron those narrow sloper sleeves and to press and shape the armsyce seam.  It was wonderful!

Slip the sleeve on the board.

Position armsyce seam around curved edge and press.

Great for pressing seams open!

I don't know how I ever lived without one.

You can buy one here:

Heavy-duty Ironing Board




By the way, here is the sloper on my mom's dressform.  It was not made for this form so the fit isn't perfect, but I know it will be perfect on the FIDM forms.

Pattern Score

Just got back from one of the local swapmeet/flea markets and look what I scored:

It's in perfect condition and close to my size too!  I really want to make it...one of these days....when I have time....maybe after I graduate....hehe.  Fabric suggestions anyone?

I found it online in two places for $20.00 and $23.00.   I'm very proud of my cheap find.

Also, we got a box of maybe 20 1960s-1970's patterns for $5.  I was shocked. Some are very cute!  I think I might smell a giveaway on the horizon.  Probably when I reach 75 followers.  

And finally, THANK YOU to my newest followers!  Steph Davis, my wonderful Boyfriend (hehe), and  Debbie Cook of Stitches and Seams.  One of the first sewing blogs I discovered.  :)  Have you seen the Ren. Faire costume she made for her son's friend?  Its freakin' amazing!  Thank you ladies and gentleman.  

Sacramento Antique Faire

Last Sunday the Boyfriend, Pearl, and I went to the Sacramento Antique Faire.  Pearl and I had a great time...the Boyfriend...not so much.  He gets bored and really wanted to be watching the World Cup instead.


I got some great stuff though!  All sewing related!


Here is the vintage pattern I bought.

It was complete, but used. I love the neckline and the gored skirt.  I didn't realize the skirt had so many pieces. I just love all the little details.  Miss Zella (the owner of the pattern) must have been a tall woman because she lengthened some of the pieces. :(  Since its already chopped into, I don't feel bad using the pattern).  

WTF are "12 inch Dress Placket slide fasteners" or "Neckline Type slide fasteners?"  They are listed as notions on the bottom of the pattern.  

With the pattern I got a grocery list:

A super cute birthday card (from "Secret Love," who I think is Zella's mom):

And a very important letter from Zella's mother.  This is what it says:

I also bought some basic grey bias tape, some green polka dot and red polka dot bias tape and cute red and white vintage lace. The red polka dot bias tape is M.I.A. I think it could be in my car or in the Boyfriend's room somewhere.  It was my favorite notion find so hopefully it will turn up soon. 

The Boyfriend left the Faire with an Irish song book for $1.  Every song in it is very depressing.

It was a great morning!