Looker

I was recently talking with a dance friend, swooning about how another dance friend just gave her a dress, and then the following weekend I had the same blissfully benevolent fashion experience. Check out this new-to-me Stop Staring dress. It fits perfectly, is a very flattering cut, the fabric has a nice stretch to it, and its circle skirt is light and twirly. It could pass for 1940s or '50s. I am so excited to wear it!

Polka

With chillier weather I withdraw to my sewing machine, so lately I've been tending to my pile of clothing items to alter. At the top of the pile I have been tweaking and embellishing this dress. In the original condition it looked awkwardly short on me, so I am adding the black eyelet sleeves and coordinating trim on the hem to balance it out. I also removed the red sash from the back and added on the collar rickrack. Dances await!

More Tea Towels

Here are some more goodies from my tea towel making rampage! These were ordered as fat quarters of Linen Cotton Canvas Ultra from my shop, and then I finished the edges with mitered corners. The designs pictured are Pantone, Buttons, Greenery Machinery, Maritime Yarn, and Seamstress Fruit. These and several others are now available for sale at The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum!

Mr. Mustard

My Mr. Mustard design is up for voting in Spoonflower's Year of the Dog challenge!

Recent Thrift: Polka-dot Shorts

This pair of Telluride Clothing Co. shorts was $5 at Value Village. They are like a polka-dot sky!

Quick Tip: DIY Painted Hanger

Since I often display garments on my walls I like to have them on pretty hangers. I painted this simple wooden hanger with polka dots on one side and floral on the other. The floral was freehanded, but the polka dots can be easily made by dipping the end of a dowel in paint and using it as a stamp. You'd be surprised by how these functionally pretty, reversible hangers brighten up your storage. 

Summer Lounging

 The glorious days of summer are starting to slip away, but they still provide some quality relaxation time. Here are several photos, originally from various vintage Vogue magazines, that I gathered from Pinterest. They capture these passing days very glamorously!

(This photo is from My Vintage Vogue. The site has an excellent gallery of restored photos.) 

Savour that sunshine!