Adding to My Pattern Stash and I Get To Blame My Husband!

I have a pretty extensive pattern stash and love to find new additions to it when I get a chance. I admit to feeling guilt and anxiety when I contemplate adding to it. Do I really need another dress or skirt pattern? OF COURSE NOT!  Knowing this, I try to temper my purchases.  This past weekend, my husband suggested a day of resale shopping! We hit several stores just for the heck of it and in the last spot before heading home, I hit a mini-jackpot!

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When I entered the store, I asked if they had sewing patterns and where I could find them. The sales associate did not know what a sewing pattern was. DID NOT KNOW WHAT A SEWING PATTERN WAS!!! I explained it and he went to "see". I was skeptical they had any and was about to leave when my 3-year old had to use the restroom. After leaving the restroom, the associate found me to triumphantly reveal 2 baskets of patterns! They were $.50 each! Here are my finds:

Nope, I don't need a wedding dress. If I make it to Round 4 of the Sewing Bee, who knows what we will have to make!

Maybe I want to be Serena Williams for Halloween! Who am I kidding?! I am definitely built closer to Venus.

That jacket with those sleeves are so adorable and dig those pants!  

After the blouse challenge, I am open to making more.

I am in love with that tunic! I plan to make a hand-sewn version using my flower stencil.

I enjoy a turtleneck top.

Again, great pants and jackets!

Okay, I cannot explain this one!

I really like this simple halter dress. I love that it is a single piece front and not a separate bodice and skirt.

Again, wonderful pants and look at the contrast jacket in view C. I love the turned up cuffs!

Again. I cannot explain, but I think I like the blouse.

I really like the simple neckline that can be worn a few ways.

I have my doubts, but...

I am not a big fan of midriff tops as a rule. With a high waist maxi skirt, view B will be great.

Love those pants. wide legs, no cuff.

Cannot explain, I think I like the blue one...

Always need a simple knit dress with an obi belt.

Okay, so I can only defend some of these :) Others are pretty awesome right? Let me know what you think. Which do you think are keepers and which makes you say jeepers? 

Happy Sewing,
Bianca

Resale Store Connections and a New Dress Form

I love to treasure hunt at resale stores. My favorites are the small, personal, charity or church run stores. They usually have small personable staff, with management that  turns over little.  It is a great place to find vintage fabric, patterns and sewing notions.  I am always excited when I stumble upon a deal. Much of my adventures are hit or miss with a lot of hits. To minimize my misses, I have begun to established relationships with the managers. I ask them to give me a call if they get sewing items in their store.

Yesterday, I got a call from one of my contacts. This was the first time she called and I was so excited! She told me that she had an adjustable styrofoam dress-form to sell. I do not need one as B.I.R.A, my custom dress form, is still working great for me. I knew that to keep this connection, I had to check it out. Unless she was selling trash, I was pretty much going to buy whatever it was she had (I can turn down future items, but I wanted to be sure there would be a second call).

Lucky for me, the form was in great shape and a great price.

 This is the first time I have seen one like this.

 It is made of styrofoam with dials that adjust along the side.

It is segmented and because it is foam, pinnable. 

The tripod stand is awesome! It is so substantial. It will surely hold the weight of whatever she wears and the height is adjustable great for long dresses and skirts. I have been doing prom and bridesmaid dress alterations lately. Coincidentally, my clients' clothes have been the size of B.I.R.A or my plus size form. This one will come in handy for those garments that are not.
 

There are no identifying markings on it short of this sticker on the back. Do you readers know anything this form? I would love any information you can share.

Happy Sewing and Thrifting,
Bianca

Dye! Dye! Dye! New Life for Vintage Lingerie

You all know that I have a love for all things, Mod, Hippie and '60's and '70's retro.  Earlier this year, a friend who owns an estate sale company had a household of vintage clothing. She felt  the items "screamed my vibe". She was right and I purchased the whole lot. In the lot was a collection of vintage lingerie including, full and half slips, camisoles, house coats, and pant slips. These lovely items reminded me of special occasions as a young girl and getting dressed in slips and pantyhose before leaving the house.

In a day and time where celebrities are "forgetting" to wear underwear, one may think there is no longer a place for these gems of the past. I looked through the lacy, silky, sultry garments and saw that they still had much life in them. After living with these garments for a few months and deciding how to use them, I was struck with a flash of inspiration. I would revitalize them with fabric dye making them wearable as outerwear! The effect of the dye on the fabric increases the opacity reducing the visibility of the under garments beneath.

I am feeling under the weather and am anxious to share this latest project with you. I got one (kinda) good shot before I enlisted the help of a friend to model a sampling of the garments.
 

Full Slip with Jersey Wrap

 Meet Cheri!

   

Full Slip dress with  Wrap Cardigan

Full Slip Dress with Denim Shirt

Camisole and Half Slip and Denim Jacket

Camisole and Half Slip and Denim Jacket

Maxi Skirt with Camisole as a scarf. 

I really love the one of a kind nature of each of these items. In making these, I felt like Christmas morning as a child. It was so thrilling to untie, unroll, and untwist each one piece not knowing what patterns would emerge. Some were  just as planned, others exceeded my hopes.

If you want to rock these items from the closet of a naughty Granny, you can! I have listed many of these gems in my Etsy store. Please stop by and take a look at them. I will be adding more to the store as I photograph them. Be sure to add the store to your favorites so you do not miss them.

Happy Sewing,
Bianca

Thrifty Thursday

I enjoy shopping for fabric and patterns at resale stores and estate sales. I always feel like I am giving new life to a sewing project for someone who has passed on. The patterns are different than the current fads and the printed fabrics are usually fun. This week I have purchased some real gems.

I am a sucker for a maxi dress!

I like the bodice details here. I like the top and view A in the maxi length without the gathered panel.

Love, love, love the maxi length and those gathered pockets are too cute!

I was on the fence about this one, but I can work with it.

Now, the fabrics!
The first three fabrics can from a local resale store. The other fabrics are from an estate sale and yardages range from 2-5 1/2 yards. I give a special thank you to Rhonda and Donna at Blue Willow Estate Sales for giving me a heads up on this sale. They are great, know what I like and educate me on treasures to be found. 

Embroidered Eyelet knit

Printed linen

Batik

Houndstooth double Knit.

Floral knit

Polyester knit that would work well as a DVF wrap dress.

Rayon print I envision as a tunic with an detailed neckline...

I do not usually sew border prints. This should be fun!

Fun Print

Funny, I did not notice the stripes until I took this photo.

No plan for this beauty yet, but I love the bold flowers.

I see the irony of all this fabric accumulation on my part. I do not have enough time to make them. I can hope that when my fabric stash is being fawned over at a sale, it will be with fondness for the very old lady who did not have time to sew them all.

Happy Sewing,
Bianca

Tuesday Thrifty Treasures: Retro Fabric and Antique Machines

In my home Tuesdays are  days with no plans. We usually have nowhere to go and are in no hurry to get there. The kids can sleep as late as they want and I pray for a cup of coffee before they wake. In the history of this family, that has happened exactly zero times :) 

Today, the kids were fed and dressed by 7:30 a.m. and asking, "What are we going to do today?"  On days like today making rounds at local resale stores is always a good adventure. The kids like the driving, looking a "new" things and the promise of choosing one thing for themselves. 

We made the rounds and I scored some awesome finds. First up we have fabric, fabric and more fabric. I have been on the hunt for Dutch Wax that can be purchased locally, but I have not had much luck. Today, I found a 1.5 yard panel with two drums on it. Would I be able to use for a pencil skirt? Not sure about having a drum on my bum. For $2, I had to buy it and figure its use later. (I try not to do this. I like to have a clear purpose when I buy, but I made an exception this time).

I scored 2.5 yards of this textured polyester. It has no selvedge information, but I get the feeling it is a 1970's hold over. I have few Vogue dress patterns from the era that would look great in this.

Little Miss is always ready to chime in on what is the "most beautiful fabric in the whole wide world". Her choice today was this cotton print that is perfect for mother, daughter, dolly outfits.

Not to be outdone, Mr. Man made a selection for comfort over style. His selection was a heavy weight charcoal grey jersey knit. It feels wonderful! There are at least three yards of 54 inch fabric! I think it may even be an organic bamboo knit, but I do not know why anyone would donate that.  Hubby bought me a new stencil recently and this is the perfect foundation for some hand-stitching.

Okay, I may be accused of burying the lead here, but I never posted about another antique sewing machine I bought while thrifting. This machine is an electric Singer from the 1940's. I think it is a 201 housed in its' original cabinet. I was advised in this post to buy one of these for sewing leather. I am enthusiastically excited to have found this one.
It looks pretty grungy as is, but I have read that these workhorses clean up nicely. The machine turns on, but the motor does not run. I have a contact who does restorations on these machines. I will call him and see what he can do. I would appreciate any information on this machine my readers may have.

The cabinet is original, but painted now.

The little drawer still has the key!

The lettering is in good shape.

I am sure this will clean up nicely.

The day started with me wanting just 5 more minutes of sleep and me feeling like never wanting to leave the comfort of my bed. In cannot wait for a few minutes in my sewing room. I cannot wait to put my treasures to use.

Happy Thrifting,
Bianca