Showing posts with label Vintage books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vintage books. Show all posts

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Saving lives and making sweet shoes since the 1880's

Thank you again for all of your lovely comments on my last post, I was smitten by all of the sweet and thoughtful responses. Also I just wanted to point out I have yet to make anything out of those paticular patterns but do not worry, now that I have my handy sewing book to reference I will be diving in to more difficult patterns very soon.

I stumbled upon these beauts via one of my favorite blogs Letters from the Home Front, its so fascinating to own a piece of history, especially from an organization dedicated to saving lives since 1881 like the Red Cross.


1940's Velvet Red Cross Peep Toes $58 Adelinesattic


1940's White Satin Red Cross Peep Toes $38 tigerluxe


1940's Red Cross First Aid Text-Book, 1st Edition $9 TheFancyLamb


WWI Red Cross Pin $4 PassingItOn

Sewing Made Easy, really? Yes!!!!


Sewing Made Easy 1959, yet to be made vintage patterns from my collection.

I love to sew and I am not to shabby but I am self taught, everything I know about sewing I have learned on my own (well there was that week in 8th grade Home Ec where we sewed a snake, weird huh?). Over the years I have been collecting patterns well not really more like hoarding patterns, but any who these gorgeous patterns seldomly get used and that is so very very wrong. Shame on me!


A few of my favorite patterns from my collection.
 
Self taught has made me a master at tailoring ready made, making wicked awesome pencil skirts, sewing my own designs (like my halloween costume) and whipping up accessories but horrible at understanding written directions and terminology amongst a few other important details. So when it comes to getting ready to make most dress patterns and especially suits I am scared out of my wits.


Gosh, I really cant wait to make these.

All my problems have been solved, well in away. Today I stumbled upon something I have been needing for way to long, but did not have the extra pocket cash to pick up via the internet. This book is entitled Sewing Made Easy and that is exactly what it does.


A few more favorites.

My first sewing book and its from 1959 perfect for all of my vintage patterns, best dollar I ever spent! I am no longer scared to make a fancy dress but excited, if I have any questions I can just refer to my new lil sewing bible! Over 400 pages covering all the basics and then some, along with lovely how to's, like slip covers for furniture, curtains, hats, slippers, belts (which I have included a picture of below for you to save or use as inspiration) and turning two ugly dress' into one gorgeous dress.


Click to enlarge. The first is my favorite, using a mans watch chain to make a belt how bad ass is that for a 1950's housewife!!!!

I hope all of you guys have an amazing Veterans Day and even better sewing adventures.


Friday, November 6, 2009

Thrifting a winter wardrobe, mmmm.........pumpkin pie!


Having lived in Southern California my whole life where you could practically wear flip flops all year, resulted in a very lacking fall/winter wardrobe. Texas is a whole differnent story from CA, it gets really really chilly. Yay a valid reason for me to go thrifting.

My first stop was my favorite goodwill down the street from my house. This is not just your ordinary goodwill its a discount center, its the place unsold goodwill items go to die. Alot of the stuff is broken, empty or missing almost every component but now and then I find a gem or 2 or like today, 5 gems for a steal of a price.

I did quite well today, found an adorable brown and orange plaid pencil skirt (pictured top left), 1950's jacket w/ fake fur collar (top right), two pieces of floral fabric perfect for blouses, two records at 49 cents each, and a late 1950's book entitled Immortals of the Screen all for under $6. While at the goodwill a nice lady recommended a thrift store down the street, on my way I found a church rummage sale but didnt find anything at all. The thrift store turned out to be quite a fine, great selection and tons of vintage. Resisting the urge to look around I only browsed the sweaters, since I had already picked up a few things at the goodwill that wont keep me warm this winter. I ended up buying 3 sweaters; a short sleeved number which makes me think of eating pumpkin pie everytime I look at it......mmm, a long sleeve green Jantzen sweater and a white long sleeve zip up.

This book is a treasure trove of photographs and screen shots from so many stars of the early 1900's to late 1950's. Some of the stars covered in this book are Gary Cooper, Errol Flynn, Marilyn Monroe, Jean Harlow, Marion Davies and Will Rogers, just to name a few.

Is it not the best when you find exactly what you intended on buying as well as a few bonuses?
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