I Am Magical Dress

i am still not entirely sure about the mock-up of this "i am magical" dress. 

is it magical as in: i am in a circus...yay?!  or magical as in: i ate magic mushrooms and this is what i choose to wear today to prove it?!  or magical as in: life's too short to care what others think and i need to be colorful/magical sometimes....(ok, lots of the time!)?!

it is a VERY different look from the one shown in the book...

this is the book the pattern came from and yep,

that is the "i am magical" dress on the front.

and i love the version they show.

and another view.

my version is REALLY different, right.

I know.

the pattern had obvious measurement flaws right off the bat.

so i corrected those and decided to use an old indian bedspread fabric for the body and some odd crocheted/knit(?) pieces for the bodice front and the arms.

use what you have, i figured.

especially for the first go round.

and especially if you are feelin the magic...

i had some orange butcher paper so i used it to make the pattern.

my friend uses old wallpaper to trace out her patterns and if i come across some that is wide enough and isn't too brittle, i will too.

this is the back of the dress pattern piece

here is the dress/tunic without chest and arm pieces.

i rather like it just so.

in the construction of this, i found a few more flaws, or at least instructions that didn't account for the very "finished" way i like my garments to be.  a once turned hem just won't do...nor will a once turned neckline...

i guess i was just anxious to find a use for these odd crocheted/knit(?) pieces...and so here they are.

i guess i need to come to terms with this just being a mock-up and nothing more. 

it is what it is.

yes, i've tried it on.

and it is kinda cute.

maybe its all the colors that throw me off.

i feel kinda clownish...

or magical....

is it bad or is it ok?

be honest.

see.

i can't decide.

usually that means: not so much.  not so good.

i will forge ahead and try again. i made several notes on the pattern pieces so that i can make it better next time. 

i do like the cut and "style" of it so i am going to try making it totally opposite of the first attempt in some very opposite colorway and material. and make it as a dress, not a tunic.  gotta remember to cut it much longer next time...

here's to being magical, in all its shapes and forms,

xoxoxo

jennette

Pockets

you know me and pockets: gotta have em.

so i added some to this little vintagey prairie halter dress i plan to wear all summer.  this little shift is perfect for over the swim suit and back and forth to the beach, right.

put a bird on it.

the pocket fabric used to be my dinner napkins.

yep.  recycle your cloth napkins my friends and make them into pockets for your pocket obsession.

now my phone, sunglasses, lip balm and keys will be at my finger tips and that will make me très happy.

word.

making mother blessing invites with cards i dyed using hibiscus,

xoxox

jennette



For the Birds!

finished another bag and it's for sale!

this one is made from a buttery soft brown leather skirt and some vintage embroidery of a bird and cherries!

here is a process picture of skirt and pocket placement

this is what the lining of the outside pocket looks like

the crochet trim is original to the embroidery.

the bag lining is a vintage calico type print.

and the strap in repurposed from an old army duffel bag!

Smashing Rubbish

Studio & Vintage General Store

15922 Main St

Duvall, WA  98019

Autumn hours:

Wed-Sat noon-6

Sun noon-5

closed Mon & Tue

off to buy more interfacing,

xoxoxo

jennette

Vintage Sewing Cards

by Hazel

what do y'all know about these sewing cards?

the back

how old do you think they are?

bear

i have had some before that seemed just as old.

bear, back

I found these on Etsy but they are very cutesy...

mine seem older...

fish

are they mid-century?

fish, back

could they be turn of the last century?

crown

could they be Edwardian?

crown, back

could they be Victorian?

candle

i wonder how old Hazel was when she did these.

candle, back

did her mom help her?

bird house

or her big sister?

birdhouse, back

did she make them in school?

fishing

or by a cozy fire at home?

fishing, back

did you ever have sewing cards?

fish bucket

i don't remember having sewing cards.

fish bucket, back

i'm just curious.

girl

i just wonder.

girl, back

*****

working on some vintage tapestry bags when i have time to sew.  but mostly working in the yard to get it ready for our big music-fest birthday party in June.  we had a stage built!  and the gardens are starting to look fabulous.  finally.

xoxoxox

jennette

Peacock Bag

hi friends!  long time, no post! 

sorry for the bad photos here.  bad lighting.

this is a short, squat, square bag i made from an embroidered peacock runner.

close-up of the peacock embroidery.  there was on one on each end of the runner so i intended to make them into pockets on a bag.

this is the table runner

here is a photo of the inside of the bag.  i used a vintage floral to line the bag and a linen napkin for the inside pocket.

silly self-portrait of me sewing the bag

inside view

i placed the pockets on the end of the bag.  one on each end.  and used some of the left over fringe from the runner to go across the top of each pocket.  i just used some old canvas for the main bag body.

i used a woven fabric strap for the handle.  for some reason i always seem to find these at sales and now have quite a collection to keep using for straps.  you might remember i used one here for the oil painting tote bag.  anywho, this will be for sale soon.  either in my Etsy or down at the shop.  have at it!

off to a dear friends moving away party and trying not to cry,

xoxox

jennette



Corn Bag Cushion

here is the finished chaise lounge cushion i recovered for my friend Kathy.  it turned out even better then i had hoped and Kathy loves it!  i love it too! 

here is the original cushion:

the cover i made slips right over this and opens in the back for easy removal.

here is a close up of one of the vintage feed sacks i used.  I used three in all.  Kathy had bought them especially for this project and she gave me a cotton curtain panel to use for the back fabric.

here are the sacks layed out in the initial stages.

trying to show you the red double top stitching i did on the top to tie all the pieces together.  i will show you the overlapping "pocket opening" in the back.  it's just like you might see on a euro sham pillow:

so there you have it.  another cover up!  Kathy is using vintage ticking pillows to go around the back side of this, where your head, neck, and back would rest.  i bet it looks really good all together.

off to work on more painting bags.  i know i've said it a hundred times but i am trying to get several bags done so when i get back from Tucson i can list a bunch of stuff at once in my Etsy shop.  wish me luck.  fingers crossed.

xoxox

jennette