In which I confess my shoe love while working on a house project

True confessions, Karen style: I like shoes. A lot.

Yesterday, I posted a photo on Instagram of my shoe collection. Which up until yesterday, had been (embarrassingly) mostly stacked on one another on the floor of my closet. So I finally bought a shoe organizer at Target and put it together yesterday afternoon.

I posted a photo once I filled it up with shoes, and then we went out to the side of our house to work on this:

With our house came two beds covered in lava rocks (insert huge groan here), one being inside our small yard (which we haven't dealt with yet, more groans), and one on the alley side of our house. It really was an eye sore... pieces of at least three types of weed barrier pulling up and showing, plastic garden edging that wasn't tucked in fully any longer, and covered in weeds. At least the one in the yard has some nice flowers in it.

We finally we came up with the idea of doing a couple of layers of cement blocks from Home Depot as a defining border. They match some that are in one of our flower beds in front of our house, and also act as a border so cars don't accidentally drive up on it in the winter when you can't see the alley for the bed because of snow. Then we'll add a bunch of mulch and plant a few shrubs. We're not going too crazy because we literally almost never see that side of the house, it's in the alley, and we have to send a hose all the way from the other side of the house to water it. We wanted simple.

I can happily say after last night, part two (part one was weeding) is now complete! Unfortunately I didn't get a before photo, but trust me, this is a vast improvement. I think this modest look will do our 1950s ranch proud.

By the way, it will eventually extend to that small stem wall sticking off the side of the house you see in the distance (between the day lilies, a peony you can't see, and a shrub in the front yard at the far end of the photo). We'll have to transplant one of the lilies as it's too close to the edge of the alley for us to get the stones in, so until fall we just made the little wall curve back around to the house instead of go straight, since there wasn't room. 

But back to shoes. While we were working on that, people were going bananas on Instagram over my shoes. I aired my dirty laundry (well, shoes) there, so I'm airing it here too. I rarely wear shoes out to the point where I have to get rid of a pair, so some of them I've had quite a long time. There's even two 40s pairs in there that my mom recently gave me, and she personally wore them in the 80s.

And my confession now:

I swear it didn't look like that much when they were in the closet. What can I say, I really freaking love shoes. And now you have proof.

I've always thought I had a much smaller wardrobe and less accessories than many bloggers I follow, but shoes are another story. I could get rid of all my jewelry, carry one purse forever more, cut my wardrobe in half (maybe not my knitted sweaters, heh heh), but so long as I had several pair of shoes, I'd be happy. :)

What do you love most in your wardrobe?

Finished: polka dot dirndl for summer

Glad you like my new eyeglasses! Of course, you'll see I'm wearing my vintage ones in this post. I go back and forth. ;) By the way, I've had a few requests for a tutorial on my hairstyle in that post. I may work something up but in the meantime, you can watch this first part of this Lisa Freemont Street video for a 40s scarf updo to evening glamour to get the gist!

I finished this skirt at least a month ago kind of slapdash-style, and it even went to the UK with me. It's a basic dirndl skirt using Simplicity 4496, from the 1940s (but undated).

The construction is pretty easy: it's basically two gathered rectangles and a waistband. In fact, Gertie did a tutorial on making your own gathered skirt from scratch several years ago if you're looking for a similar pattern.

I'm in the mood for these fun and flouncy skirts! More roomy and breezy than an a-line and easy to wear with a casual blouse. You can even dare to mix patterns like I did.

(Yes by the way, my blouse really does snap up the front that way, I'm not missing any.)

I do have a tip for my fellow short-waisted + busty friends out there: I find that you really need a good, uplifting bra when wearing this style of skirt (check out my old 40s bust silhouette post for tips—I need to actually add a couple of bra updates to that). Somehow with the gathers extending out at the waist instead of a plain flat front, it's really easy for your bust and your waist to creep closer together than you'd like, unless your girls are as high and proud as you can get them. That'll keep you from feeling dumpy in this style. Just sayin'.

The fabric I used was in my stash forever and it's a lightweight cotton blend, but I discovered something terrible: the damn polka dots are, I don't know, painted on? Not silk-screened. Or at least not silk-screened well. I managed to wash and dry the fabric fine, press the fabric fine, press the seams fine, press everything and its brother fine, but when I was pressing around my zipper I smeared a few #@$%^&% polka dots. Aaaargh! Fortunately it's subtle, I really had to try to get them to show up on a photo.

But I can forgive the stupid smeary polka dots because the pockets are so cute. I liked the look of the super deep patch pockets on View 2 but didn't have enough fabric for them, so instead I took the slash pockets from the Sewaholic Cambie pattern and added them to this skirt. (By the way, this was my inspiration to do the same type of thing on my Refashioners skirt!)

On a gathered skirt like this they stick out to the sides in a very cute manner.

 Kind of like the original pattern artwork!

The only slightly awkward thing about adding the Cambie slash pockets was that I also wanted a lapped side zipper, like I put in pretty much everything. Things around the pocket opening and the zipper lap can get funky if you do that combo, but it's possible if you hand pick the zipper and your fabric isn't too thick... I wouldn't go heavier than medium-weight cotton.

I actually should have omitted the first 'pick' on the pocket as it closes off the very bottom of the open edge of the pocket as you can see below, but it's no big deal.

I topped off the waistband with a beautiful vintage button. I was going to handwork the buttonhole but after the smeared polka dot episode, meh. I didn't bother.

I'm going to live in this skirt this summer. Well this and several siblings of it that don't yet exist but will. I'm loving dirndls right now. Patterns, novelty prints, plain... I better get sewing!

What will you be living in this summer?

1940s dirndl skirt: made by me

1950s H Bar C western shirt: somewhere or other

Bakelite bangles and earrings: miscellaneous

hair flower: Ruth Nore Designs

bow flats: Mel by Melissa

New spectacles

No, it's not vacation photos yet. Soon, I promise!

Now you may recall sometime in May, I mentioned that I got new eyeglasses. A few astute readers noticed I was wearing them in my last post. And if you follow me on Instagram, they're not new to you at all, as I've been sporting them in photos for awhile. But this is the first time I'm introducing them on the blog.

Meet my new specs!

I've been wearing vintage eyewear from the 1950s for years, much longer than I've been a daily vintage clothing wearer. So I was looking for a pair of glasses for when I wanted something other than my 50s specs. And while my wardrobe often leans more 40s, I think 50s glasses will always be my main love. They are just. so. awesome.

But! I wanted a more 40s-looking pair as a change of pace. So I went with modern glasses that have a pretty 40s feel, with the round lenses and keyhole bridge. I ordered them online from Classic Specs (this pair here), and I'm quite pleased. I have a strong prescription so I need high index lenses, and these were hundreds of dollars cheaper than I've sometimes had to pay for eyeglasses (even bringing in my own vintage frames), including anti-reflective coating. I was very pleased with the quality of the frames and lenses. It's a gamble ordering glasses online, but if you find a place with a good return policy, you're not out anything if you're unhappy with the results!

Today, I'm wearing them with a dress I made this time last year. I was kind of meh about actually wearing it last summer as I felt it was a little too cutesy and young for me, but I'm not currently minding it. Age is just a number, right?

Lately, I've been sporting this Rita Hayworth-inspired updo a lot, though mine is never nearly as glamorous as hers or other vintage gals, as my patience for hairstyles is admittedly quite small. In fact I noticed uncurled sections on the back of my head in these photos, counteracting the lovely wave I achieved in my bangs. So just look at the front of my head, deal?

Regardless, I'm planning to wear this style a lot to beat the upcoming heat this summer. And what a great way to show off hair flowers! I'm going bananas for hair flowers right now, so expect to see them adorning my noggin a lot in the upcoming months.

I'm wearing my new Lime Crime lipstick in Retrofuturist, too. To me it has a slight pink undertone when worn without a lip liner, though I usually opt for orange-reds or blue-based reds. But with a liner (how I'm wearing it here) it's more the true red they say it is. I'm pretty pleased with the wearability and creaminess, so it's already gone into my regular rotation of reds.

It's hard to get used to seeing such a change in eyewear style on my face, and especially odd to me that they aren't vintage specs for the first time in so long, but I'm enjoying them!

outfit details:

eyeglasses: Classic Specs

1940s dress: made by me

hair flowers: here and there

Bakelite earrings: Etsy

Bakelite & fakelite bangles: here and there

shoes: Lotta From Stockholm
lipstick: Retrofuturist by Lime Crime 

My guest post today on The Refashioners!

Hello my friends, it's been some time! We're back from our long trip to the UK. Lots of fun was had, I even got to meet a handful of amazing blogger friends, and pictures of our trip will happen soon once we've settled back in (and taken care of a few remaining bathroom remodel-related things). But most importantly today, pushing through the jet lag, I have something fun to share!

Remember how I told you I was selected by the lovely and talented refashioner Portia to participate in her 2013 Refashioners project? Well she kicked off two weeks of guest post refashions yesterday. If you haven't seen yesterday's post showing what Karen from Did You Make That? refashioned, you had better go take a look, it's pretty amazing (oh and she was one of the wonderful people I got to meet on my vacation!).

Today, my refashion is up on Portia's blog! Just what did I do? I took a huge men's flannel button-down, long-sleeved, collared shirt and turned it into a vintage-inspired skirt! (All in the midst of the bathroom remodel, which I can't even believe on hindsight!)

I haven't done a lot of refashioning in my time, so this project really was a challenge. But I'm pleased as punch with the results and seriously want to start scouring thrift stores for similar shirts because I love this skirt. If you haven't dabbled in refashioning yet, I hope this makes you give it another look. It sure made me!

Want to learn more? Pop on over to Portia's blog and read all about my refashioned skirt today. And be sure to follow her blog to see all the other refashions coming up over the next two weeks!

In just a few short days...

... we'll be leaving for the UK! And so I'm packing.

(Pay no mind to the wall color, we haven't painted our bedroom yet after a year in the house!)

And despite my best intentions, I've not been able to keep up with the blogosphere, what with the bathroom remodel still going on and a long vacation looming in just a few days. I'll post occasional pictures on Instagram while we're gone and check email, but otherwise I'll be pretty disconnected. As it probably should be on a good holiday, I think!

When we're back I'll have lots to share, and I'm brimming with ideas for posts this summer (and I will finally have the time to dedicate to them!). In the meantime, be well, play nice with one another, and save a few stories for me for when I'm back home.

See you in early June!

History is riding on my back: not-quite-Me-Made-May blouse & skirt

Thanks for all the nice comments about my last handmade outfit post! ♥

If you haven't noticed, there hasn't been a peep on here about Me Made May. Here's the deal. I've wanted to participate in MMM for the two years and thought finally, I'm ready to do this challenge! But then the bathroom remodel came up, so it seemed a bit silly to dress in me-made clothing in the middle of a construction zone. Plus, we'll be in the UK for the last week of May which was going to make documenting the end of it difficult, anyway. Alas. At least I've been sneaking in some me-made here and there but it's kind of a bummer. I'll just have to to set the bar high for myself next year!

So today you get a sewn outfit post from a little bit ago (before I got new specs, which you haven't seen yet... tease!). It's yet another one based on patterns I've previously sewn. Because I'm trying to close some wardrobe gaps with me-made clothing, turning to patterns I've sewn before with success is an easy and fast way to fill it with staples I know I'll love. But the results still feel very different, so I'm not bored. (And hopefully you aren't, either!)

The skirt is New York Patterns 1730, a bias-cut pattern from the 1940s. Nothing fancy, not even pockets. Just a basic navy twill skirt. Something I really needed as evidenced by the fact that I've already worn in tons since finishing it a couple of weeks ago!

I sewed this pattern first last year, making a green (and equally plain) version. What I didn't remember when I pulled out the pattern is the hack-job I did last year with the pattern pieces. Good grief. I had modified the seam allowance for a lapped zipper (which needs at least a 5/8" seam allowance, not the 1/2" many of my vintage patterns use), but I did something like forget to add 1/8" to one side seam only. I needed to tidy things up, so in the process, I also removed 1" from the waistband for a better fit. And now my re-drafted pieces are just right. Yay for a perfect a-line skirt pattern!

I think I may need to stop sewing this pattern on the bias, though. I don't really think it's adding anything to a non-striped version of this skirt, so I think it would be fine on-grain. Kind of like Colette Ginger which can be cut either way... speaking of, maybe I'll give that pattern a whirl for a change of pace the next time I want an a-line skirt. Anyway, both times I've sewn this on the bias I've has issues with lining up the lapped zipper due to one or another piece stretching (I didn't remember that from last time until later, otherwise I would have tried to stay stitch the side seams). At the point I realized there was going to be a pucker at the top of my zipper, I had already ripped out the side seam once which resulted in distorting the length of one piece slightly, so I was concerned another time would cause more problems than it would fix. So I just left it.

For all of you who said during my jacket project that I'm so meticulous ... not always so, my friends! I'm a perfectionist in some places, but not in others. I'm still going to wear this skirt. A lot. What can I say. I'll probably wear it enough that I'll wear it out and need to sew another one, anyway. (How's that for rationalizing.)

By the way I do still plan on doing a tutorial on my take on a vintage seam binding hem for gored or a-line skirts/dresses (skirts that have fullness at the hem, i.e. not straight skirts). I'm hoping to do that in June. It takes a little time but it's almost fool-proof. I know because prior to using this method I did my hems using a lot of stupid hard ways that were equally time-consuming but not as effective!

The blouse is yet another McCall 4820 from 1942, are you tired of seeing this yet? Sorry! Really, after sewing this up three times, the only thing I have to talk about is the fabric, since I made no changes to this from the last one.

I used vintage cotton yardage I picked up at some point, and I barely had enough to squeeze out the blouse. To see if I could make it fit, I had to lay it out on the basement floor with all pieces doubled where needed—although I'm still in fear that employing this method will someday leave me with two left or two right fronts if I forget and flip over a piece the wrong way. (The stuff of my sewing nightmares. Please tell me you have them too?)

It had a similar texture and weave to feedsack, but it didn't have the telltale holes along the edge where it would have been seamed and was a little softer, so I'm not sure exactly what it was, other than very pretty.

Now here's the truth: it wasn't in 100% perfect condition. There were some manufacturing issues and blips and blobs, and the fabric felt a little worn after pre-washing (although maybe it was just softer).

I had to question myself why I'd sew a blouse with imperfect 50- or 60-year-old fabric. Would I do that with new fabric? No. So why would I do it with vintage fabric?

I'm really not sure I have a clear answer. But it's something I've been thinking about, as I've done this a couple of times now.

Vintage is just so special. Be it clothing, housewares, jewelry, books and accessories, or raw materials like fabric and buttons. I'm not telling you something you don't already know, of course, as many of you have your own love affair with vintage!

Vintage involves so many interesting layers. History, stories, memories, research and sleuthing, to name a few. When it's related to clothing it adds more to the mix. Wonderful shapes and styles, colors, patterns, textures. When it's recreating vintage with my own hands it adds even more layers. Slowing down and appreciating things. Connecting with a community, current and past. Having pride in my skills and joy in creating something with my own hands. Taking something I love (fabric, buttons, notions) and making it into something I love more (better than the sum of its parts).

A love of vintage often necessitates the nurturing and repair of delicate things (and they're only getting more delicate as the years go by). Anyone with more than a handful of vintage clothing or linens in their closet has probably repaired many things in their day, or bought previously-repaired pieces. And we proudly still wear or use those items as long as it's feasible. I guess in my own way, I've extended this to vintage raw materials, too.

So I sewed a blouse with imperfect vintage fabric that I fell in love with. I mean really, isn't that print fabulous? A beautiful bright blue and white floral on the perfect shade of tomato red. To me, it was something special. It was worth turning into something even better. And even with its faults, I decided it was worth it to me to use it as-is, in a garment no less.

What can I say, vintage patterned fabric is one of my favorite things. And it's kind of a magical, authentic combination when it's used to sew up a vintage pattern. I figure I'll try to find and use as much of it as I can while I still can... because that well is going to eventually run dry. Someday textiles that comes out of attics, closets and basements will either no longer be usable... or just plain won't exist any more.

Maybe this all means the blouse isn't perfect. Maybe it won't last as long as the first version sewn with modern fabric. But nothing will last forever, anyway! So I'll give it all the love I can and know that it was better for this wonderful fabric to see the light of day than sit on a shelf.

And when I wear it, I'll know yet another little piece of history is riding on my back. And I'll enjoy it as long as I can. :)