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