Sew what?

Hello again! I am sorry for my long absence. I bring to you a sewing post, as promised.

I found this fantastic vintage inspired fabric. It reminds me of parasols or umbrellas. I have been longing for the days of spring. With it just snowing another 5 inches of snow last night, I guess I am going to have to wait a bit longer. ugh. This new skirt lifts my spirits though. Can't wait to wear it outdoors!

I decided to mix three different patterns instead of just winging it like I normally do. I figured I'd be a little rusty, and I might as well use a guide. I am happy to report all went pretty smoothly. Well, I guess you can see for yourself.

The only little snafu I had, was I didn't buy enough fabric. I forget that it takes 3-3.5 yards to make circle skirts. Luckily, when I went back to the store they still had the same bolt out, so I just had them cut me the same amount. Now if I want to make a bolero, I now have enough for that too. You can't really tell from the photos, but this skirt has a pocket. Almost every dress or skirt I sew has pockets. For me I am a women that finds them a necessity. I hope you agree. 

I made another circle skirt today, just needs to be hemmed. I also cut out two different tops out of that same fabric. I can't wait till I have some time to finish them. I will share those pieces too, when they are finished!
Hope you all have a great rest of your week. This is how I will be spending the rest of my evening.
 Au Revoir!

light side

Just wanted to do a quick outfit post. Thought that would help lighten the mood a bit. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I will be sewing up a storm!

Powder blue, flower cardigan- Salvation Army
Brown wool skirt- Tatters
Shoes- Steve Madden


 Next post will be about my latest sewing endeavorers.
Until then, Au Revoir!

Death and Taxes

With a heavy heart I had to lay my grandmother to rest on today. She passed mid-day on March 2nd. This fall/winter season has been a rough one for my family. We laid my uncle to rest the week before Thanksgiving, now my grandmother and my other grandmother just entered hospice care. From my experience hospice care isn't a long road. Unfortunately, this is not going to be an uplifting post, but this blog is about my life and this is a big thing(s) that is happening currently in my life.

My mother's mother who passed last week suffered from chronic depression. Her doctors never really figured out the best mix of meds, which is heart wrenching to think about.  The only memories from my childhood are of her in almost a catatonic state, blinded by her sorrow.  She had such a hard life, which makes honoring her memory very difficult. I have had death in my life from such a young age with three schoolmates, two very close dying. One in elementary and the other in high school. Those deaths have really molded how I deal with crisis and death to this day. I am a "calls it like I sees it girl", which makes my grandmother's death so difficult.  I want to be authentic but at the same time I don't have very happy memories to share. It tears me up inside to say that aloud, however, it is the cold hard truth.  I guess my favorite memories are of meeting with my grandmother's brothers and talking about family. When my mother and I clean out my grandma's apartment 6 months ago, we found all of grandma's photo albums. That started, for me, the quest to know more about my genealogy. I have learned so many wonderful things I never knew. Then when I would visit grandma I could ask her more about them. Who so-in-so was and what their business was. Sometimes she would play along and sometimes she would get cranky and say "I thought I told you that already, aren't you writing this down? I'm old, I don't like to repeat myself" I always smile and chuckle to myself. She was an old kook!

Here are some old photos I found from her and my grandfather's wedding day. They are so wonderfully 50's I can barely contain myself. Please Excuse the numbers on the photos, these are their original proof. I haven't had time to edit them on photo shop yet.

I was given a dress of her's a couple of years ago. I decided to wear that dress to her funeral. It is made of 100% felt. It has pockets too! Everybody at the funeral just loved it. They all thought it was wonderful that I would honor her by wearing a terrific outfit. She was know to be a fashion plate back in there prime. This dress was also the insperation for one of my dresses for my fashion back in September. My grandmother liked my felt dress better and was flattered that I would make something inspired by something of hers, and to top it off she was able to see it. Her's is the green one and the one I made the black one.

I promise my next few blogs will be a little more upbeat. February was a rough month, but it is over and it is time for spring and a re-birth of all things living! Until then, I bid you au revoir.

Lovely Saturday

When one of your favorite vintage stores has a two day 50% off sale, it tends to be a cause for celebration! This year it snuck up on me, I usually have the dates on my calender and budget to spend a pretty penny. This year I was driving to work when I happened to see the sign in the window, thank goodness. Luckily, I had a short work day and headed directly there after I closed up shop.  I didn't want a repeat of the previous year, where a girl with my same measurements beat me to a whole rack of dresses. Literally, she took 30 some dresses in the fitting rooms and bought everyone. I ended up taking myself out for whiskey old fashions instead with my unspent cash. I was bound and determined to not let that happen again. If you are ever in the Minneapolis area I highly recommend checking Tatters out. It is ridiculously reasonable.

I only got a few pictures because it was nuts in there. I ended up getting two great staple wool skirts, one it black/charcoal and a mahogany one. We still have 2-3 more weeks of winter, so I will at least get to wear them a couple times.

Later that night, I met up with a few of my pals to see Al's Rockabilly Quartet play a few sets at a local bowling alley. My permanent dance partner was feeling a little under the weather, so I left him on the couch watching movies and drinking hot toddys.  Sometimes, I love just a night out with the pals. One of my favorite fill in dance partners was there, minus his wife, so lucky for me I got quite a bit of dancing in. Of course, typical me, I brought my camera and it never left my hand bag. However, I did get a quick photo before bed of my new skirt and favorite broach.

Before I go, I just wanted to let you all know two things. The first, the sewing room is clean!!! Secondly, I started sewing again. YAY! Not with the same gusto as before, but at least it is a start. Baby steps, I'll get there again hopefully, but for now I am just glad to "be back in the saddle again". Look for sewing posts in the future.

Au Revoir