Criminal Negligence

I have been shamelessly neglecting my blog and Etsy shop recently. If they were my children, they would have been forcibly removed from my custody by the relevant authorities. I haven't stopped thrifting/aquiring goodies, I just haven't gotten around to sharing them or posting them for sale. I can't claim I have been super productive over the past couple weeks, I've mostly just been singing karaoke and going to open mic night. but as a result, I've met some truly good  people and have been inspired to make music for the first time in a couple years. I'll share more about the music stuff sometime later I'm sure, right now I just want to show off a few of the recent finds that will be making their way into in my shop this week...

    

And there is a ton more, lots of dresses and other lovelies. I just need to stay on top of listing everything. Oh, and please ignore the sound of crickets echoing loudly from this blog. I'm still around. I promise. 

xo

D

Did I mention I'm an Audio Engineer?

  

Or at least I'm trying to be. I think I'm pretty good at it, but I don't make a living recording. I just love it. Especially analog recording.

I wanted to share some pictures from a day in Control B. A little peak into my life beyond thrifting and crafts.

2 tracks of 10k tone, as played through the repro heads , pre-azimuth adjust. 

Adjusting repro gain

I was actually making a cassette that day. So I used this when I was done to judge how it would sound on a regular old boom box.

Since this blog is supposed to be about clothes and crafts I didn't want to get into too much gear talk but if you have questions about what I was working on let me know. And speaking of clothes...this is how I look on an average day at the studio...

Casual 

A Little Trim Makes a Time-Warp

A few moths ago, I found this plain old 90s sack dress at the thrift shop. I dug the impressionist nose-gay floral print, and there was something cool about the way it fit, but it was nothing special...     

On another thrift trip, a couple months later, I found a bag of old ribbons and notions that included some great faux-crochet (faux-chet?) trim. Today, I decided to put the two together... 

  

         

        

The end result is a little tie-back baby doll that I will totally wear...

 I like it much better now. I  feel like I opened a ribbon-lined worm-hole from 1993 to 1969. Now it's more granny/girly, more my style. It's also a little more flattering. I'm also considering shortening it a  bit. Why not complete the time-warp and make it a mini? But I'm a little torn. I sort of like the length. I think I'll wear it a couple times before I decide.

Anyways thats it. A little trim and some hand sewing can make a so-so dress a little more wearable. Actually,  some of you might think the dress was better before I go my hands on it. If so let me know. I can handle it. 

Thanks for reading,

XO

D

Oh and  PS, I added two new dresses to my Etsy Shop today. Go over there and check them out if you feel like it. 

Shop Update: Let the Vintage Dress Listing Begin!

The Prim and Proper Vintage Dress and The Sweet Heart Mini Dress

As I mentioned in my last post, I finally got a dress form to display the vintage dresses I have been amassing for my Etsy Shop. I started by listing  these two little beauts. I am still learning the ins and outs of my new camera so I want to spread the photos out. I feel like if I do them all  at once, I will end up needing to retake some of them.

I've decided to list at least 2 dresses at a time, once a week, for the next 2 months. I will be listing other things (belts, jewelry, handmade stuff, blouses) throughout the week, but Wednesday will be Vintage Dress Day.

If any of you have any advice on lighting / photographing clothing let me know. I need all the help I can get!

xo
D

Chicago Craft Social

Oh, hello. It feels like I haven't posted in a little while. I haven't been particularly busy, I've just been in a period of blog/shop limbo. I'd been shopping around for a new camera and a dress form. I felt like I couldn't do ANYTHING until they arrived. But they are here now, so limbo is officially over. Expect more posts and shop updates this week, for sure.

Now, just because I've been in limbo, doesn't mean I've been completely stagnant. This weekend I had a blast leading a ribbon embroidery project at the Chicago Craft Social....

My sample project

My table mid-social

Super-fancy recycled fabric facsinator table

A finished fascinator

a duct-tape clutch

A craft social is and event where crafters get together to learn and make stuff. There were about 20 tables at this particular social, each featuring a different project. All supplies needed to make each project are provided, and everyone goes from table to table making as many things to take home as they can.

It was a really fun afternoon, but also kind of  hectic. I had a constant steam of eager embroidery students from 1 to 4 pm but it felt like the fastest 3 hours of my life. I started showing people how to make ribbon roses, and then BOOM, I look up and the whole day was over. The only bummer was that, as a project leader, I didn't get the chance to leave my table and try any of the other fun projects.

And now, to work on photos for my Etsy shop. I am so happy that I have my dress form. I can list all the vintage dresses I have hanging in my hall closest!

Thanks for reading,
xo,
D

My New Obsession: Side Combs

I came across a huge bag of multi-colored plastic side combs in the " ziploc-bags-full-of-random-collections-of-stuff " section of the thrift store. The combs were just hanging there, all ignored, between a bag of doll parts and another full of old phone chords and ac adapters. I'm still not sure what appealed to me about this bag of used hair accessories. Something inside me just knew I had to have them. And at a dollar a dozen what did I have to loose?

I don't argue with fate. So I took them  home and soaked them in rubbing alcohol overnight (I'm wierd not crazy). The next morning, I put one in my hair and instantly fell in love. I'm not quite sure how I lived without these things before now...




I  am so happy with my purchase. So many possibilities for cuteness.  For the look above, I added a little pink crochet trim to a blue pair (what doesn't look cuter with crochet trim?) and set my hair in rag curls for a 40s inspired 'do.

 

My crochet cuties and a small sampling of the secondhand combs that changed my life.

I think the moral of the story is: Don't be afraid of secondhand hair stuff. Almost anything can be cleaned. A secondary personal moral: I must be easily amused/inspired if a bag of plastic combs can make me so happy.

Thanks for reading,


xo
D

Knit Project: Color-Work Cropped Sweater

Yeah, I know, it's a little late in the season to be knitting a sweater. But this hand-spun alpaca was calling to me from my stash. Besides, it's still snowing outside and this little number will be a staple of my wardrobe next fall.

 Have a look...

I used intarsia and stranded color work to make the little floral motif. The jacquard daisy design is from  this color chart by Jessica Tromp. Her Site ( http://www.jessica-tromp.nl ) is full of free knitting charts and patterns. I have never met her or anything but I'm pretty sure she's an angel.

Obviously, this was my first time doing stranded color work. If you compare the bottom of the panel to the top you can tell my technique improved as I got the hang of it.






The shape of the sweater is based on  Elizabeth Zimmerman's  Norwegian yoke sweater with a couple of tweaks . I shortened the body and sleeves. Obviously, instead of increasing the sleeves gradually, I increased to the total number of stitches on the first row after the ribbing. I also took advantage of the natural stretch of knit fabric and used negative ease for a nice tight but comfortable fit.  I also improvised a little with the shoulder shaping because I wanted a boat neck.






So that's what I've been up to for the past week or so. There is something very comforting about knitting in front of a fire, and that's pretty much all I've been doing lately (I have a gas fireplace. That counts right?). Oh, I have also been working on my ribbon embroidery skills for an upcoming Craft Social event (more on that later.)


Anyone else out there have any interesting projects in the works? Feel free to link. I would love to check them out.


xo
D

Smart Thrifters Still "Look for the Union Label"

SOURCE

 I haven't really felt like posting lately. There is so much going on in the world right now: uprisings in the Middle East, unions fighting for their right to bargain collectively in the Midwest, the battle over the federal budget *sigh*. It makes posting pictures of what I'm wearing seem a little, I don't know, pointless?

 I have pretty strong opinions about what's happening, but this is a personal style/thrifting blog, and I'm no expert on politics. I don't want to argue the issues, or try to persuade my readers one way or the other. Instead, I want post about something vintage hounds (regardless of their political leanings) LOVE to find, and that's clothing bearing the the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) label.

So much for growing out my bangs. I cut them and gave the rest of my head a trim. It was a few months over do.  My hair was getting pretty ratty. 

I have been cutting it myself  for about 4 years. I've made an awful mess of it a few times, but now I can't stand the idea of someone else cutting it. I have a certain way I like it and I don't know how to explain it to someone else

the outfit:

lace shrug: thrifted 1$

dress: thrifted 4.50$

panty hose: drug store, 5$ and some change

Shoes: thrifted 3$

white cherries and chain necklace: thrifted 2$

vintage locket and tiny assemblage pendant by Wrens and Roses: 16.50

Thirft Score/ Shop Update: Shoes and Brooches and Dresses Oh my

As promised, here are just a few of the things I found thrifting this weekend...



Cute right? I also found some animal print canvas oxfords (which already sold) and some cute little beige, low heeled wedges.




I don't know what it is about brooches. I love them and I always seem to find them. The bow and book brooch is fantastic. the book opens like a locket, revealing a secret place to hide precious mementos.

And finally the dresses..





Not bad right? I also found some blouses and a couple skirts that I am going to keep for myself. I'm sure you'll see them  in a future outfit post.

Oh and by the way It may be a while before the dresses are listed in my shop. I have a hall closet full of vintage dresses that I want to sell, but  no way to display/photograph them properly. I' m saving up for a dress form  though, so stayed tuned. Meanwhile,I'm still  trying to get the hang of photographing  my smaller objects. I have gotten better at it but I still have a long way to go. Sigh, taking pictures of my merchandise is the hardest part.

Anywhoo, thanks for reading. Have a great weekend.

xo
D.

If it's not Love

This afternoon my sweetie and I went on a little coffe date and this is what I wore. Everything is thrifted except the tights. I found the shoes this weekend for three dollars. They are 90s-does-70s-does-40s, chunky, crushed-velvet covered glory.  Here's a closer look:

How do you feel about chunky heels?. I am really digging them right now. 

I made a pretty good haul this weekend at the thrift store. I will be photographing and sharing some of it with you in the next couple days. Until then, here are a couple of scarves and an old simplicity pattern from Village Discount. I was so happy to find the pattern. It's un-cut and my size! The scarves are just pretty.

Well, now I must go. We are going to order in sushi and watch some movies on Netfix. Nothing too crazy, just a cozy Valentine's Day at home. Have a great evening.

xo
D.

Memories of Skinny Lizzy

I mentioned my Grandmother in the previous post . I wanted to share a little more about her. Her name was Elizabeth O'Malley (aka Gramma Betty, aka Skinny Lizzy). Her mother and father came from Galway, Ireland but she grew up in Manhattan. They lived in the basement of a building on the Lower East Side where her father was the super intendant. He was hit by a street car and killed when she was still pretty young. I'm not sure what her family did to make ends meet after that, but she told me she worked as a typist after school to pay for her high school tuition.

Her graduation photo. She was born in 1924 so I am assuming this is about 1942

These "Useful Birds of America" trading cards belonged to her. They were made from the late 19th century through the 20s so she must have been pretty young when she started collecting  them. Some of them may have even been her mother's.

"For the good of all, do not destroy the birds"

Another Handmade Collar, This One Crocheted

crochet collar by Wrens and Roses
earrings by Wrens and Roses
necklace: was my grandmother's, religious medal
top: thrifted
skirt: thrifted/vintage
tights: target
shoes: thrifted

So , as you can see, I made another lacy, detachable collar last week. This one is crocheted and much simpler than the knit one. It was also a lot easier to make. What do you think? I like this one much better.

I feel strange today. I put on my Grandma's old religious medal and now I miss her a lot. She raised me as a child and was pretty much my best friend all through elementary school. Towards the end, she kind of lost her wits. It was hard to watch because she was such an intelligent woman. Maybe I'll post a bit more about her later. For now, I am going to have more tea and toast in her honor

xo
D.