Chair Project

My parents bought two matching rockers from Tell City in the seventies. This one was recovered several years ago by a professional reupholsterer. It's okay, but very dark and still quite Early American looking.



This one still has its original skirt. EXTREMELY Early American!



Here is the original chair with its skirt removed. It has been sanded.



Here is one chair primed. The white primer gives a hint of what they will look like painted white or another light color.



I liked the idea of a black and white toile on the back cushion and skirt, with a pink seat cushion, like the pretty little chair Kelly @ Much To Do With Nothing did. But I want to get away from the Early American look so I think a black and white, or brown and white Anthropologie type print would be better. Not quite to the point of choosing fabrics, though.

Wild Animals in My Closet!

When I put on my Easter shoes, they hurt my feet. So I took them back today and got these!

I don't need them. I don't even know what I will wear with them. But I love them!

I almost bought pink plaid peep toe pumps, but the plaids weren't placed the same on both shoes and I knew it would really bother me.

I have gone shoe crazy. Zebra stripes with pink heels! What do I wear with them?

Another Project?

This is a Felicity dress I started a LONG time ago and have never been able to finish. I am posting a picture of it here to see if it will shame me into working on it. I can't seem to think of a trim or color that would give it enough pizazz that someone would want it.

I'm at a standstill. At this point I would rather just finish it any old how. If you have any ideas for spicing it up let me know. If I could just get it hemmed and put the velcro in I'd be ecstatic. Then I could add something pretty or fluffy and be done!

I want to work on another dress, but won't let myself until I finish this one.

What's On Your Nightstand?

I saw this at vintage simple.

And here's my nightstand. I can show it only because I cleaned my room yesterday.



The book is "Lost Moon" by Jim Lovell. I'm reading it aloud to the boys.

The roses are from my boyfriend, just because he's like that.

There's my phone and an odd candle that I should probably throw away. And a lamp that I study by (or look at magazines by). An eyeglasses case from Goodwill - ha! Bible. The letter "T" paper weight. A highliter that I use to study. And that's my table. I don't know what it says about me except that "this little table is fairly neat right now, it must be a miracle!"

Scrapped

I decided to do some fun mindless things on this project, like cutting off the buttons,



...and ripping out the side seams...




Then I shaped up the armholes, using the pattern pieces from that vintage patern. As you can see, the original armholes are so huge that I couldn't really cut the curve of the new ones. I fudged on the angle so I could get at least part of the curve. I thought maybe I could fiddle with the seam allowances and make it work.




I pinned in one of the sleeves and tried it on. As you can see, the fudging I did took up all the fullness of the bodice. I didn't foresee that the different sleeve shapes would be such a problem. I could have added gussets or pieced the fabric to get the right amount for the new sleeve, but that started feeling like drudgery. I have officially scrapped this project. The light blue will make perfect doll aprons for Kirsten someday!

Lesson learned: You can't really adapt a man's sleeve to a woman's because, even though there is more fabric in the shirt, it has been cut AWAY more in the armhole.



Let's all cry together. Wah!

Thinking

I considered this shirt as fabric for a pleated ruffle. But it has no black in it. I, non-designer that I am, think that would be a problem in a dress with black buttons. I didn't buy it.

I didn't buy anything. The furniture room was practically empty except for this chair that had already been purchased and that this other lady really wanted and argued about for several minutes while I was there.

Give up, lady. Somebody else already bought it!

There were a couple of TV's and an ugly TV table. Bleah.

The other Goodwill in town is just as bleak. I think all the nouveau poor are buying things at Goodwill. I think the old poor should have priority.



It's hideous, isn't it? But it would make a good ruffle. heh

And here is a picture I uploaded by mistake, but it's kind of cute. From the night I took my boys bowling. One of the boys is not in the picture because he was... well, bowling.



I took an allergy pill and slept for a day and a half. I have not sewed or washed clothes or done any dishes. Just slept and studied.

More little stuff

Here is the pattern I got the sleeve from. I had to search through all my patterns to find one. I've gotten rid of a lot of patterns so this is THE only short sleeve I have. It's a fun, vintage pattern I probably bought at a garage sale.



I spent good money on buttons. But not much! I like the shank buttons. They're shiny and very black, like little eyes! They'll show up much better than matte buttons with holes. The seam binding is for the bottoms of the sleeves. I'm toying with the idea of a ruffle around the bottom, too.



And this is the lovely salad I had today. I tried to copy the one I ate at Chili's the other night and I think I did pretty well. I couldn't eat it fast enough!



I spent a good part of the day dealing with the Navy. They're not real welcoming to homeschooled kids. They're putting us through hoops. And I had to study today. So no sewing.

Little things

I ripped out the shoulder seams...



...and gathered the front sections.



And now I'm cutting new sleeves out of the old ones.

Amputation

I finally cut off the arms. Yay.




Next I will rip out the shoulder seams and gather the front sections a little to make them softer and more feminine. I think I have plenty of room since the shoulders are way too wide. I need to find a sleeve pattern and some black buttons.

Snow Day!

This project has been put on hold in view of the fact that it snowed here and that has been our major focus today!

But here are some idea dresses:

Oh, it's not a dress, but very cute! Just for fun.

And this is sort of plain, but might help me figure some stuff out.



I love the black trim on this one.




And this one is adorable, but I'd have to cut up the entire shirt to make the ruffles!

The First Step

I meant to bring my camera to Goodwill, but I didn't know I was going until I got out of lab early. I went to see if they still had a headboard and footboard that I saw on Tuesday. They didn't. But they did have my chambray shirt:



If the boys weren't all outside having a snowball fight I would get someone to take a picture of it on me. You could see how long it is and decide whether you think it could be a dress or not.



And I got a lamp for one of the boys. It's cute, isn't it? $2.99. He can read with the overhead light off now.

So now I'm wanting to buy a really big man's chambray shirt and make a little dress out of it. The sleeves I could cut apart and make cap sleeves from. Slim it up on the sides and make the armholes smaller. I can leave the placket and collar intact, maybe, leaving some buttons unbuttoned. Cut off the tails and hem.

Well, now I'm thinking plaid or stripe. To really look like a man's shirt.

Just an idea.

I hung a gilt mirror over my black 60's dresser. It's too small, but I like the look. So now I'm on the hunt for a big, fancy mirror.

Typical Bargain Day

I discovered a consignment store on Thursday after class. It's brand new and they had a lot of nice things on sale. It looks like a good place to take things, too.

I replaced the black knitted bolero I lost. ALso found a short-sleeved BROWN one. I would love to just completely switch over to BROWN! (Is is possible to live without black, though? nah)

A pink and orange striped cashmere sweater!

A top that does not look good on me, but will on daughter. Hope we stay the same size. It sure is handy for shopping!

Should have bought the little leopard print bag.

Dang it!

Friends

I finally met daughter's new friend tonight. She's gorgeous. I wonder if she will let me dress her up, too?

Note to self: find cowboy boots and hat for someone to wear with a little sundress!

Another note to self: Go study!

Our First Photo Shoot

On today's visit to Goodwill I found a man's striped sweater that I fell in love with! Also, a purple plaid top that I have no idea what will match with.

Anyways, I was driving home and got this idea for an outfit. As soon as I walked in the door I started throwing clothes at daughter, saying, "Put them on quick. The light's going!"








And then I made her put on the men's sweater.






And then I found another funny little thing for her to try. (Where are these things coming from? she asks. I say, I keep things I have a feeling about, ha.)





I'm so excited to have a model. Thanks, daughter! Isn't she cute?

A Bowl and some Fashion

And then there were three...

Three children. Two bowls deep enough to cook oatmeal in the microwave without it boiling over and making a huge mess. Constant turmoil.

Can you tell which one I brought home from the resale shop yesterday?



This is a little outfit I put together this morning to take the kids to Sunday School. It was really cold, so I put the sweatshirt on over the tank top and it lost some of its charm. I'm sorry I don't have a picture of me actually wearing the outfit, but all my photographers were at Sunday School by the time I thought of it.

Raiders sweatshirt: Walmart circa 1980 something. Tank top: University coop. Cut off sweatpants: ???. Blue slippers: Christmas gift from my lovely daughter.

Simple Question

If you know someone who is a single mother, do you think you should try to help her or try to make her life harder?

You'd be surprised how many people choose the wrong answer.

Missing Sweaters

I must just leave sweaters lying around everywhere.

I have been noticing how many of my sweaters have disappeared in the last year or so. I used to have a black, lacy, crocheted bolero sweater that was so pretty and I wore it with everything.

I used to have another black sweater, a short sort of crossover with a double breasted band at the bottom.

There was also a natty little brown zip up hoodie with sleeves that covered my hands.

They're all gone now and I'm sad about it. No telling where I left them.

Yes, they all came from Goodwill. Well, okay, the black bolero might have been in a bag that someone gave me. I can't remember.

A Good Goodwill Story

I will not, I repeat - WILL NOT - allow myself to use the reading glasses from my purse while I'm at home. I don't want to get to class (or a restaurant with tiny print menus) and not have glasses. So imagine my chagrin when I opened my glasses case this morning and found it empty!

Goodwill Girl? Did you use your purse glasses at home?

Luckily we got out of lecture early and I had time before lab to race down to Goodwill and buy some more reading glasses for $1.99.

You just can't hardly beat that. I saw them next to the register on Tuesday. ha!

Goodwill to the rescue.

And now I have three pairs. One for the bathroom, I suppose. Such luxury!

I just checked out "Lost Moon" from the library. It is our next read-aloud book. Is Jim Lovell anyone else's hero?

Must convince myself to study today. I'm interested in anatomy, but I want to read what I want to read, not what we're having a quiz over. What a rebel!

Goodwill Trip

Hot Tempered Tunic - $1.20

Large boys' button-down - $2.15

Size 8 wedges - $2.99



Size 8 1/2 sandals - $3.99

Size 7 wedges - $3.99

Leather belt - $1.99

Old Navy bag, new with tags - $1.99

Victoria's Secret bag - $2.49

Size 6 cotton spandex skirt - $3.29

Size 8 cotton skirt - $2.50.

Extra small blouse, new with tags - $2.15.

Medium woven cotton tee - $4.29

Petite small Vera Wang - $1.65

Old Navy tee - $3.29