A little over a month ago the Alameda Vintage Fashion Faire started posting information about their upcoming event running from March 20-22 at Michaan’s Auctions. The theme this time is “Tropicanaversary, Celebrating 10 years”. What a fun theme and so many era’s to choose from, when deciding one’s outfit for such an event, and to enter the contest on Friday. The Sewing Room is giving a way a $50 certificate to one of the lucky winners.
Read moreBeads & Velvet Reimagined from a Funky Vintage Upcycle
Hello There! It’s been a while. My mother had been very ill and then passed away in March. That is the reason for my absence here. It’s been a time for both grieving as well as endless amounts of sorting and figuring out of #allthethings in relation to my mom’s transition. Thank you for your patience!
These are the last photos my mom took of me, and of my projects. It was in early January. I had intended for this to be a Christmas Tea outfit, and then a New Years outfit. But alas, neither ended up working out. So goes life! Some times are less sparkly than others….
Read moreFor Tips for Becoming a Flawless Flapper - Getting ready for the Art Deco Preservation Ball
The Art Deco Society of California reached out to me to write a piece that might inspire you to attend the Art Deco Preservation Ball, which is coming up in a few weeks on March 19th at the City Club in San Francisco. The Ball is always a fabulous event and lots of fun. I’ve attended year’s past and have such lovely memories of dancing, people watching and dressing up, which is my favorite part because it helps me feel like I’m living in another era, if only for just a little while.
Read moreThe 2021 Make it With Wool Contest - and my 1930's Tweedy Ensemble
Last November I entered the 2021 California Make it With Wool Contest. The Contest promotes the use of wool as a textile and is supported by the National Wool Industry. For me the California contest is local, here in the San Francisco Bay Area, so it’s fairly easy to attend and participate. I used a fabric I was gifted last year, at the 2020 Contest. It was a beautiful piece of wool in a black and tan tweedy check. Lucky me! We were able to choose our favorites and I chose this one because I knew it would coordinate with pieces I already owned. It felt especially nice to use it in the same contest the following year.
Read morePeg Board - Organizing with Pegboarder & MADD TOOLS
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The “STUFF” in the shop overfloweth. Out of every little corner there is some tool or trim that needs to find a place to live and we have so much right now. I was in the middle of pondering ways to organize all that I have when Pegboarder reached out to me in collaboration. The request came just in time and I accepted the challenge.
Read moreSewing a 1930's Dress for a Cemetery Picnic
photo - https://www.mementomoda.com/
I stumped when told about our Picnic Inspiration for October - Gothic Cemetery - and our picnic was to be located in a cemetery. The Mountain View Cemetery in Piedmont, to be specific. My daughter Emma had lots of suggestions, but when she told me I should dress like I was going to a funeral, it just clicked.
Read morePerfect for a Picnic - Sewing 1950's Style for Everyday
A couple of weeks ago, I had a weekend picnic event that I had been invited to attend. The theme was “Posh/Glam 1950’s New York City”. Discussions with friends Led to talk of Mrs. Maisel and big full skirts. Not really my era, but I remembered that pedal pushers were quite popular and so were dolman sleeved blouses. I also realized that I could make these things for my every day wardrobe instead of making something over the top for just one event.
Read moreMaking a One Hour Dress - Evening Style
At Gatsby, I heard that the Art Deco Society would be holding the Preservation Ball this year in November. A thrilling discovery as it had been cancelled twice last year due to COVID19. With a look toward this Fall Event, I thought to make my own “One Hour Dress”. My friend Jone wore a version of this dress to Gatsby and it was created with so much ease that I thought it would be perfect done up in fancy fabric.
Read moreCreating a 1930's Ensemble for the Gatsby Summer Afternoon
Wow! I can’t believe it actually happened! Gatsby Summer Afternoon was in full swing last Sunday and it was so much fun. There was a collective feeling of joy throughout the event and I couldn’t have had a better time.
Read morePattern Review - Wearing History 1930's Day or Evening Blouse Pattern
Straight from the Unfinished Objects post and over the Finish Line! This little Summer Staple has hit my closet. Boy, am I excited, because it’s HOT right now. Let’s jump right into the pattern review.
Read more1930's Capsule Wardrobe - Sewing Separates
You might remember, from the Fall, when I started working on my capsule wardrobe. At the time, I was able to sew two dresses, a velvet bag and trimmed two hats….
Read moreMaking an 18th Century Bergere and Cap
It’s always exciting to get to the stage in the costume making where I get to make a coordinating hat. And this project was no exception. I decided on a Bergere, which is French for Shepherdess, because, well, Bo Peep! I jest. But really, I do love the whole 18th century shepherdess look. I really chose this style because it was very popular in the 18th Century and it is very pretty as well as easy to wear. The style is also the base hat for two hats in the American Duchess guide to 18th Century Dressmaking which is where I got my inspiration for my 18th Century Italian Gown.
Read more5 ways to REUSE incomplete Sewing patterns
Bella Cosa Art on Etsy -
Have you ever purchased a pattern at a charity shop, yard sale or even online, then open to find it missing pieces. A lot of people give me old patterns, most of which I find new homes for. However, there are a large amount that are incomplete. I can't sell those on Etsy and I don't really want to chuck them. Some have fantastic vintage imagery contained inside and outside. With this in mind, I set out to find some fun examples of what one can do with these mini pieces of graphic fashion art. So here you go:
Read moreAll Hail the Housewife - Creating a Pattern for A Sewing Roll-Up
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For my birthday I received a sewing kit from my dear friend Erika. The sewing kit was for a sewing kit, which is kind of a funny thing to say. And in actually it was labelled as an 18th Century Housewife. The kit was a collaboration between Sewstine, one of my favorite 18th Century Costumers and master embroiderers and The Lady Detalle who is also a costumer and jewelry designer. Both have shops on Etsy, which is were Erika purchased my gift.
Read moreMaking a 1780's Italian Gown - Part 1
Ever since I was a wee little girl, and while reading The Real Mother Goose, I have loved the “Bo-Peep” look of the 1780’s. I definitely did not equate the look to the Era at the time (because I was a child), but in retrospect, realized that was exactly what I loved about the book. Those dresses are the prettiest!
Read moreUFO's At Home - The Truth is in Here!
My Home and all the UFO’s are making me feel like I’m living in the X-Files of Project-land. Over the last year, it’s been a bit hard to keep my focus and I seem to get distracted with new ideas and projects at every turn. I’ve not finished much of anything lately, so I thought I would give you all a taste of the UnFinished Objects (aka projects) that are currently in the queue at HOME. These do not include the projects at my SHOP, some of which are mine and also some left behind by students. I’ll leave those for another post. Oh, and there are also those imagined (but un-started) projects lingering in the tubs of fabric - Ha! another post perhaps. In the meantime, this is what I have currently underway.
Read moreMy Childhood Doll Collection - From my Attic onto New Homes
I’ve been on a decluttering kick due to a recent course I’m taking. It’s supposed to be an emotional and also a mindset decluttering, but I find it much easier to declutter stuff. So I started in the attic.
Our attic is filled with so much stuff - from old suitcases (we had 6 for 3 people and I got rid of two) to artwork, to bins and bins of Emma’s artwork and classwork from the last 17 years, as well. There were several bins of christmas ornaments and I decluttered at least one box of those. And among the boxes and boxes of stuff, was a box full of my childhood dolls. The box has been up in the attic for at least 10 years I think, or more, after my mom, gave my dolls back to me after having stored them for eons, herself. Emma had no real interest in the dolls so up in the attic they went.
Read moreSewing my Own Bras
You know when it’s TIME, right? Things are looking a little rough around the edges, elastics are getting stretched out and the color has become just a touch on the dingy side. Well, that time arrived for me not so long ago, so I ordered supplies from our Bra Instructor Linda Sepeda, and set my self up to make some pretty new bras.
Read moreSewing Victorian Corsets - Prepping for Dicken's Faire ?
In January or February of 2020 I made it my goal to create Dicken’s Fair outfits for myself, my daughter, her friend and her friend’s mother. We all LOVE going to the Great Dicken’s Christmas Fair together every year and I was determined to go in costume with each of them in costume as well. It’s just so much more fun, in costume. Who knew at the time, that our plans would be derailed by a certain global pandemic.
So, of course, I started with the underpinnings. What one wears beneath the clothing helps create the silhouette and make the look more authentic. I had previously made myself victorian drawers and a shift, that I wore under my 1830’s costume, so the next thing would be a corset.
Read moreMaking My Own Vintage Inspired Panties
A few years ago, I copied my favorite underwear so I would have my own pattern. I just loved the vintage styling of the knickers from What Katie Did, but really wanted some that matched the bras I make for myself. Now, every time I need new undies, I can make them myself. I love it! Such an upgrade to have fancy panties at my fingertips. Yay!
So in perusing my drawers, recently, I decided to make some more. I scrounged through my collection of bra and panty making supplies and found that I had just enough supplies to make two pair to go coordinate with two different bras. I have a taupe colored Natori bra that I love and a taupe and brown bra that I made a few years ago. So excited, was I, to find I could make undies to match.
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