Christmas 2013 -Elfing Around the House

Elfing around the house!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  I can't believe it's over!

I've compiled a few photos taken during the Christmas season....

  Here's a photo of me taken earlier in December for the Advent of the Dress project on facebook.  A fabulous green 60s square dance dress trimmed in layers of white lace.  I paired it with black vintage cowboy boots but of course Lucy's derriere is in the way.

Here is a more sedate dress - 40s black crepe with wonderful collar and cuff details - sadly the photo isn't very clear and the dress is so damaged that it's not really wearable (it looks like someone stabbed the poor thing while it was folded - lots of 2" cuts).  The tiara style mink and velvet ring hat however is so easy to mix and match with vintage and contemporary clothing that it has gotten a lot of wear while it's still in my possession (It is for sale in my ebay shop)!

The Christmas season is hands down my favorite holiday.  I love being able to unwrap all of my favorite ornaments and decorations.  So many of them bring back wonderful memories.

Since we got Lucy we're sticking with a small table top tree!

My collection of Swarovski crystal snowflakes started years ago with this one - a gift from my mom.  Also shown - Holly, my 1960s Italian glass ornament and a darling Scandinavian wooden ornament of a cat and bird with their own tree (found with my mom at the bins)

A collection of English, German and American blue ornaments from the 1880s to the 1950s.

 The blue tree (above) has long been a favorite of mine.  I started the collection of antique blue ornaments when I was still living in Baltimore in the early 90s.  This was probably one of my first "grown-up" collections.  I lucked out finding the bottle brush/feather tree with the wide wooden base at Big Lots.  This collection and tree has moved with me all over the country and for years was the only tree I put up.

My grandparent's 1930s-40s chalkware nativity

Lucy and her gift

Poudre and his gift

Christmas dinner!!  We decided to eat in the kitchen as it was only three of us, and honestly, eating in the dining room would've meant I had to find a new home for my sewing machine!  Dinner consisted of a rib roast, scalloped potatoes (from scratch), asparagus and broccoli.  I started the tradition of the English Crackers years ago thinking the boys would get a kick out of them and now at 18 and 11 they still love them.  Our bottle of wine was a special treat - Opus One 2009!!

Cookies made by the 11 year old and I, home made rum cake and curried pecans for dessert.

Would you like the mink ring hat?  It is really fabulous, easy to wear and right now it's on sale (only $15.20)

Mink Ring Hat - Tiara Style

The Magnolia Collection on Ebay

Thanks for reading and of course I'd love to have you stop by my eBay shop - that's the link up there!  I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time....Happy Vintage Hunting!

Carrie

A Hat Inspires a Dress - how very old fashioned!

My birthday was in June and I asked Hubby James for a sewing machine.  I had gotten it into my head that because I don't fit into so many of the beautiful dresses I carry in the shop that it might be a smart idea to make my own based on vintage patterns.  Smart, right?  Well it didn't phase me a bit that I had exactly 8 sewing lessons when I was 12 - I jumped right in.......and the frustration began!

I've found I adore sewing and have been amassing vintage patterns and fabric for the last two months.  I've made about 5 dresses - only one complete.  The other four are in final stages but on each one there is something that has stumped me!  Thank God for  neighbor-friend, Jan,  who sews and has promised to stop by this weekend to help me finish them!

I found this reprinted pattern at the sewing store and am working on it in a fall colored crepe, but had also seen this fabric - which to me looked very 40s and for a week I kept thinking I should have purchased it.

It's a pretty pinkish purple with feathers of dark blue, green and black.  For whatever reason I didn't get the fabric....until....on my day off, I found this hat!  The vintage gods had smiled upon me!!

The same color and with a "feather" of iridescent beads in blues, greens and blacks!!!  The veil even has teeny tiny pearls on it!!

So of course I raced over to the sewing store and bought the fabric. All of it.  Not sure why I need eight yards....but when the stars align, you don't ask why, you just go with it!

Of course I'll probably need neighbor-friend Jan's help!!

I'll keep you posted, and will share some of the other dresses as I finish them.  We should also discuss at some point whether or not is odd that I'm buying vintage sheets to make into summer dresses - LOL!

Looking for a 40s dress with perfectly straight seams?  I've got a few in the shop including this beauty who is on sale for 30% off!

WWII Era Crepe Swing Dress

The Magnolia Collection

Thanks for reading and of course I'd love to have you stop by my ebay shop - that's the link up there!  I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time....Happy Vintage Hunting!

Carrie