A Touch of Vintage Asian Inspiration

It's been ages since I've posted!  After a very busy winter and spring (I've added professional sign maker to my resume) I'm finally feeling like my feet are under me.  Managing two businesses, from home, can be overwhelming but I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Today's outfit is a sundress in lime green with dots of white and black with black shoulder straps and trim at the neckline.  It is home sewn by yours truly from a 1955 pattern.  It is not well sewn - there are a few wonky seams and a strange little gap under the arm!  I like it though and will use the pattern again and see if I can improve on the next one.

The skirt of the dress is fantastic - a full circle.  Note to self: sew fishing weights into the hem.  I actually flashed the entire parking lot of Kroger grocery store this afternoon when a gust of wind took me by surprise.  Sadly I was not wearing a crin which would've looked a heck of a lot sexier than the plain white slip I wore.  I was laughing so hard - first the back flew up over my shoulders and as I reached back to settle it the front flew up in face, I was a sight.  To all of my fellow shoppers - you're welcome for the comic relief I provided.

The sweater is magnificent - 1950s lambswool lined in silk crepe with the most amazing beading.  Asian characters (wish I knew what it said), a rickshaw on front and a fab pagoda on the back.  I purchased it from the lovely Nicole of Bombshell Shocked.  

The earrings are from the every-so stylish Melanie at Vintage Fashion Boutique.  Celadon (they aren't quite as yellow in real life as they look in the pic) painted metal Buddhas dangle from pagoda studs.  1950s clip ons at their finest.  I love them and bought them specifically to wear with this sweater.  I do have a growing collection of asian inspired vintage jewelry - I'll have to post some more photos!

Household note - I haven't had the time to sew anything since last fall so I'm really hoping to carve out some time and space to make a new dress.  Better news from the garden though - I realized today that the enormous flowering shrub that appeared a few years ago is an elderberry plant!!  I have already found a recipe for elderberry jelly.........and wine!  Yep - I'm going to try my hand at wine making.  Sadly the recipe says you should wait a year before drinking it - I'm sure that won't happen in this house.  We'll be too curious to wait that long.

Elderberry flowers

If you're looking to add a little Asian style to your vintage wardrobe here's a great swim suit from my shop.

Link here

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 - leave a comment!

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