Liebster blog awards

So I've been nominated not once, but TWICE for a Liebster blog award. Who feels popular and special? Me! I do!

My first nomination was courtesy of my blogger buddy Haute Rockabilly Fashionista, from whom I was possibly separated at birth :) And then if that wasn't enough, the gorgeous Hollie over at We'll Meet Again sent me one too! And I'm glad she did because she alerted me to her dreamworthy little blog too. Thank you so much my dears!

Ok, so the rules for the bestowing of this award are as follows:

1. Thank the person who nominated you
2. Link back to the blogger who nominated you
3. Copy and paste the blog award on to your blog
4. Nominate and pass on the award to five other bloggers who have less than 200 followers
5. Let them know the happy tidings by posting on their blog.

Here are five other award-deserving blogs.

Ghosts and Garters Vintage. Lovely Heather Jean always has a craft project or three up her sleeve and she's a very talented photographer. I always love seeing what she's created next.

Sew Something Vintage. I've only just discovered this blog but from what I've seen, I will want to see more. The old sewing patterns make my fingers itch.

mabel time. Mabel has a bunch of cats, gorgeous hair, and always gets her makeup perfect.


Grandmothers Pearls. Elsa is a stunning model who does 1930's glamour like I don't know what. 


Contantly Alice. How can I go past a girl with a pin up plan? Jane, Marilyn, Rita, Bettie... it's a little slice of pin up heaven.

1974 Simplicity flares

 
My inspiration for these came from this print.

It's a print of a 1930's French advertisement for cigarettes. I've had it for years and continually resolve to have it framed and then fail to do so. I like the outfit on the left best, and I only recently discovered she may actually be wearing a skirt, not trousers. When it was inspiring me, I thought they were trousers. I'd actually like to make her jacket too. ANYWAY. Here is my version.

 

And here is the pattern I used, which is indeed from 1974.

  

I love that the envelope back boasts about the 'new' narrow shoulder look of the jacket. I did make the jacket years ago, in bright blue corduroy.

  

I'm nicknaming them the Diet Flares, because the waist is so FREAKING TIGHT I really couldn't eat a lot today. Maybe I could call them Soup Flares? "Souper" Flares? Hur hur. Meh, whatever.

 

Mumsie

Mother's Day is this Sunday and I'm getting in early because it's also my mother's birthday this week. Besides everything else I've learned from her, she showed me how to use a sewing machine, thus creating a life-long passion. Here are some of her own sewn creations.

My quilt. Everyone in the family gets a quilt at some stage. Mine was a 21st birthday present, although it took so long to make, I think I got it for my 23rd. I requested black and purple, which is what I got.

 

 

I will never lack for lavender thingies so my clothes smell nice and moths are kept at bay.

 My bed runner (yes, I stood on the bed to get the entire thing in frame... )

 And matching cushions (there are two, but they're identical)

 

 

My Christmas wall hanging, which stays up all year long

 Complete with angels

And happy little wise men!

There are also some Christmas tree decorations but they're all crammed into a bag somewhere...

 She also makes bags and various accessories.

 This one has a flower clasp

 and lovely contrast lining

Mum also makes a LOT of things for craft stalls, charities, aid organisations, people on low income, etc. This includes clothing, knitted blankets, toys, children's quilts, and so on... A lot of these things are just donated or sold for a token price at church sales. These are some little stuffed animals for a church craft stall in a few months time.

 

 I love this elephant.

 

And finally, the woman herself. My mumsie,

Aged 3 or 4 (check out those blonde curls!)

Aged 12, and, according to the back of the photo, wearing a STORE-BOUGHT SILK DRESS. Very exciting for a gal whose own mother made pretty much everything she wore. (Seriously. I'm from a long line of sewists.) She's with her sister here.

 

This is my favourite photograph of her. Aged 24. Great hair style.

 

This weirdo kept following her around on her wedding day. Oh, wait...

 Why, who could that be?

 

 Happy birthday and Mother's Day, Mumsie.

 

xxx with love from yor dorter.

Vintage Reserve heels

I actually own these. Yes, can you believe it? A REAL person, owns REAL vintage shoes

AND the original box. From 1950- something.

  

I bought these shoes from ModCloth. The following description is taken directly from the ModCloth website:

"Grow your wardrobe with a glamorous piece that you can cherish for years to come by adopting this stunning pair of never-been-worn vintage shoes from the stock of Joseph La Rose. Once a fashion legend across the southern US, La Rose inspired generations of footwear designers and shoe-loving ladies, including some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, with bright shades, sophisticated flair, and swoon-worthy styles he’d sell in his stores. Proof that polished style never goes out of fashion, this fabulous '50s pump in light blue flaunts an elegant slingback shape with a decorative rhinestone-studded buckle at the peep toe. Though they have never been owned, slight wear and imperfections are to be expected, and minor repairs may be necessary."

Here are the ModCloth pictures

And here are mine.

 

I usually wear the following shoe sizes: USA8.5, UK6, AUS7 in heels... 8US/AU7 in flats.

I bought these in a USA8N and they are a tiny bit tight. A half size up would bring them to perfection. However, I did pretty well for guess-work. My friend Miss Tallulah Porkchop (I couldn't find the exact post, but this one is pretty cool) bought a pair and I was able to try them on for size, which allowed me to be fairly accurate in my sizing.

I think they're pale green, rather than blue. What do you think? I bought them to go with my birthday party dress, which is purple, on the assumption that they were blue (plus I just LOVE the style). 

 

  

I'll wear them ASAP, I promise. In the meantime, have you met HRF (not HRT as I originally wrote, that's quite a different friend! Sorry about that my dear), Haute Rockabilly Fashionista? Apparently I've inspired her here with my slight leopard print obsession, as seen here in her latest Friday Fashion post. Leopard = heaven. I'm sooo going as her date to the next VLV.

Pan Am dress dreams come true

A while ago I mentioned I would try to make this dress from Pan Am, or die trying:

 

 

  

And now I've found this dress from Bernie Dexter on ModCloth.

Damn you ModCloth.

  

  

I'm feeling great pressure to buy this dress.

With a cherry on top

I feel like I should be working in a 50's diner and serving up ice cream sundaes with extra whipped cream when I wear this shirt (that's not very specific is it?)

 

I received this little delight in a parcel of fabulousness from Sister Sarah last week.

 

 

There was even a bonus necklace! The beads are actually much prettier than they look here.

 

But yeah, the shirt was way too big. 

 

  

 Quick interruption while my boyfriend comes round for a snuggle!

 

  

  

ANYWAY. Back to the shirt.

I took about 5 inches off the waist first. It has darts and it's stretchy, so it's really easy to take in. I also pulled the sleeves off at the side seams and narrowed both the sleeve and side seams.

 

I extended the darts up the back because it was still boofing out behind the underarms.

 

Then I took the trim off the sleeves, chopped the sleeves into a cap, and sewed the trim back on, gathering the lower edge of the sleeve into the trim.

  

  

So now I have this awesome retro shirt and I believe it NEEDS a red circle skirt to go with it. In wool, with a poodle applique, such as McCalls 6101:

Looks like I'll be needing some bobby socks too.

Who's happy?