Gingham and Eyelet

My husband's daughter bought a sweet little pink gingham dress awhile back at a vintage store in Ventura, CA. She has been unable to wear it because she felt that it was too sheer. So she asked if I could help out. I said I could sew a layer into the skirt of the dress and that she could just wear a cami with it for the bodice, mostly because I wasn't too thrilled with pulling the dress apart to line it. So while in LA the other day I picked up some white eyelet. As I began pondering attaching it to the waistline I began to think maybe I should make it as a separate piece so that she could use it for other dresses...she loves to layer. So I gathered up the 3 yds, cut to sit an 1 1/2" longer then the dress, into a waistband (much like I did for the yellow eyelet skirt I made not too long ago). Super easy and now she has a petticoat to wear however she desires.

Dress with new layer.

Aren't the pin tucks such a sweet detail?

The petticoat on its own

The detail is great for that extra layer.

 What is most amazing sometimes is the label you find inside a thrifted dress.

Living close to the studios, this is not the first time I've seen their barcode in items that are in thrift stores. I've been in many of the large movie studios' warehouses, renting for theatres, and I always wonder "What could this item have been used for in the past?" I have to think this piece is quite old due to the fact it has a metal zipper and shows quite a bit of wear in the seams...I'm going to do some repairing to it before I give it back to his daughter. If only it could tell stories of where its been and who has worn it.

Well I hope my husband's daughter enjoys her new petticoat. She isn't aware of it yet, but I might be borrowing this dress from her in the future seeing as we are the same size(Score!).

Window of quiet

In our apartment complex they've been upgrading the apartments as people move out so there has been incessant noise for the past few months. Recently they started on the one right next door to us and its been driving me up the wall. This morning, for a change it was quiet, so i decided to make some Banana Nut Chocolate Chip Muffins and a latte to enjoy on my patio. Apparently I was fortunate enough to catch the window of quiet because just as I took the last sip of coffee the banging began again.

Fabric District, Downtown LA

Sometimes I forget how lucky I am to live so close to the Fabric District in Downtown Los Angeles. I always think it is just too much of a hassle to drive into LA to shop for fabric, but then once in awhile when I get there I remember what I love about the place. I also forget that I am so fortunate to live so close to a fabric district. I know many people only have a Joann's to shop at or a local fabric store, which tends to not carry as large a selection of apparel fabric as we wish they would. I have a hard time shopping for fabric online because I really love being able to touch the fabric before purchasing it. So I guess I thank my lucky stars that I live about 45 minutes from a fabric mecca.

Today a group of us headed into LA  to do some shopping. I was looking for some fabric for a few dresses that I have planned for the next few months. I was also looking for a few things to do an upcoming tutorial. Mostly I was going to get inspired, to come home and plan, and then return in a few weeks to get the specifics.

So I thought I'd share a little bit of our trip today.

9th St. store fronts

So much to take in.

Boxes and boxes of zippers everywhere.

Stores stuffed full

There was so much sequined fabric, I really want to use it for a dress!

Aisles and aisles of trim. AZI Payless

Fringe!! Perial Company

This place is packed with feathers. Perial Co.

 

And more feathers. Perial Co.

And in every store, walls of fabric. L.A. Alex Inc.

 Well that was our adventure. I have plans for a tutorial post, hopefully up by next week.

Here are the addresses for the stores listed above if you are in the area:

AZI Payless (beads & trim)
800 S. Maple Ave. Suite 104 & 105
Los Angeles, CA 90014

L.A. Alex Inc (fabric, mostly polyester but you can find some cotton in the mix)
416 East 9th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Perial Company (fringe, feathers, ribbon, trims, masks, beads, rhinestones, buckram hat bases)
908 S. Maple Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90015

The Old West

I'm a country girl at heart...I love my country music, southern cooking, a man in a cowboy hat and my cowboy boots. Oh and I love a shirt with fringe!
One of my favorite fashion icons for vintage country wear of the big screen is Dale Evans.

Roy and Dale Evans, how cute is she?!

Well the other day I did my best to channel Dale Evans

Shirt: H Bar C, thrifted
Skirt: thrifted
Boots: Corral's from Cavender's in Austin, TX

Off to work I go

 At work we decided to have a dress your favorite decade night. Now this, of course, is not a real stretch for me, but I did have a decision to make seeing as my wardrobe spans through a few decades. I decide on the 1940s, and mostly because of the fashion (although I don't wear too much from this decade). There was so much attention to detail, which I just love! Bound buttonholes, amazing darts, pockets, the fit of clothing, hats, gloves, shoes, hair, oh how my list can go on. What I also love about this decade, although it was due to a war, was women being put to work and wanting to do so much for their country. And although, after the war, women were put back in the home I believe this was a true turning point for women. Women went to work, learned what it felt like, and wanted more. So even though it took another full decade and then some to get back into the work force, the bug had bit them. So in honor of these honorable women who served for their country I choose to dress the part.

Coveralls: My Baby Jo
Shoes: Thrifted

Sky blue and lemons

I couldn't resist some lemon yellow eyelet that was on sale at Joann's the other day. I attempted to make a dress with it but wasn't really happy with the bodice. So I just did a gathered skirt and have plans to do a blouse using the yellow for trim. I think this is a much better plan since I will eventually have a skirt set with the option of using the two pieces separately...as I've done with the skirt for this post.

Deco Palm Fronds

I've been sitting on this fun cotton fabric for awhile that has a art deco feel to me...and kind of looks like Palm Fronds. Then last week I purchased a beautiful, pleated, olive green skirt from Raleigh Vintage on etsy. When I got the skirt I instantly thought of that fabric and how it would make a great blouse for the skirt. So I searched through my pattern box...and being so excited to get a new blouse I didn't want to deal with one that had buttons, so I decided to use the bodice from Vintage Vogue's reproduction pattern 2402. I'm really happy with the results. I'm also realizing this is a great way to do a "muslin" on a bodice for a dress before cutting it from fabric that I really care about. I got lucky and this fit me perfectly straight from the pattern. It was a really easy bodice to put together and quickly. I think now I need to make a fun hat that has the same movement as the design in the fabric.