Hello!
Still busy creating and preparing for our upcoming show that is happening THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY in Fallbrook/Rainbow, CA! Here’s another sneak peek at some of the fun vintage finds I’m bringing. I have a whole album of preview images up on my Facebook page.
Please visit The Vintage Marketplace on Facebook for more information about this show and the dealers who will be present.
I hope to see you there!
The Vintage Marketplace is less than a week away! Next Friday and Saturday, the 7th and 8th of September, in Fallbrook/Rainbow, CA. you’ll find my husband and I as vendors at one of the top 25 romantic style markets in the USA.
We’ve been busy, busy, busy preparing for the show! Besides bringing some awesome vintage finds, here’s some things in the works right now:
Repainting this vintage candleholder. The paint was peeling so it gets a makeover.
Crafting felt flowers an making them into hair flowers and brooches.
Making more booth decor (don’t worry, they’re not vintage patterns)
Painting furniture. This little side table is darling and has drop leafs.
Crafting more brooches and hair flowers from vintage papers.
Soaking antique crocheted bedspreads in OxyClean and Fels-Naptha. These will be decorating my booth and afterwards find a home with me.
And, of course, they met approval even before their soak. Kitties are quick to approve of textiles.
Another fun preview post of things I’m preparing and bringing to The Vintage Marketplace. It starts one week from today! September 7th & 8th in Fallbrook, CA
Packages of vintage jewelry findings
Handmade paper flower brooches from vintage papers
Packages of vintage sewing and craft ephemera
And yesterday my cousin came over and helped me get started on more booth decorations.
Tissue paper flowers (don’t worry, they’re not made from vintage patterns)
Pinwheels with button accents
And, of course, my trusty helper had to give his approval of the decorations.
The Vintage Marketplace is a vintage decor, shabby chic, cottage/romantic style, and handcraft artisan market. It was recently voted one of the top 25 romantic style flea markets in the USA in Romantic Homes magazine! Hope to see some of you there!
But not dogs in corsets 
I haven’t shared images from old periodicals in a long while, and I must confess the reason. As some of you know, I got really sick a while back. Part of that was due to new sinus problems. And you know what gets me pretty badly now? Mold. I have a hard time handling my dear old paper collections and even old patterns. Part of that is why I’ve decided to start the Resto-Vival patterns- handing new paper is much easier for me now that I’ve accumilated the sensitivity- so I’d like to get some of my treasured old patterns transferred over and shared. Ah, my, how the Lord has a sense of humour- let’s give the girl with the vintage patterns and magazines a sensitivity to them In any case, I’ve been needing to wear a face mask to help keep my reaction down when dealing with old paper, and finally got up the gumption to give it a try and scan in a few images. Seemed to work well!
My mom loaned me some of her old magazines a while back. These are from Good Housekeeping magazine, November 1909 issue. I thought the illustrations were rather lovely.
Luckily these days our manner of dealing with bad dogs has changed, but the informal sketchy nature of these illustrations from a short story are rather pretty and fun with the orange accent color. They are by Reginald Birch.
Hope you’re having a lovely Wednesday!
Thanks to my good friend, Beth, I have pictures to share of this project!
This was another dress I made for Costume College this year. The theme of the evening on Thursday night was “Carmen Miranda,” but when I was watching You Were Never Lovelier a month or so before Costume College I knew I needed the fringey dress that his lead singer of Xavier Cugat’s band wore in one of the opening numbers. It just so happens to be on YouTube, so here it is (and now the song will be stuck in my head all day).
The dress and strap were made of fabrics in the stash. The fringe was bought on Etsy. I had an interesting time coming up with the pattern- it actually started life as two seperate patterns (one mid 1930s, one mid 1940), which were combined, draped, and completely altered to make it work to be similar to this design.
Here’s Beth and I at the party.
And, of course, since it was Carmen Miranda themed, I needed to add a turban! Stephanie posted a great image of Carmen Miranda with a butterfly turban, so I knew I needed one! It was made by draping swimwear fabric on a foam head block, then creating rings of quilt batting and covering them with the same fabric. The pointy bits were sewn to that shape then I added millinery wire to make them stand up. The glittery butterflies came from Ebay.
That wraps up all the projects I made for this year’s Costume College 
Many thanks again to Beth for the pictures!
The Vintage Marketplace is coming upon us quickly again! We’ll be back on September 7th and 8th with lots of lovely antique and vintage goodies, including some of my Wearing History patterns. Here’s a little preview of some of the lovely things I’ve been collecting for our booth:
The Vintage Marketplace is a romantic, cottage, and shabby chic style marktplace and was recently rated one of the Top 25 Romantic-Style Flea Markets in the USA by “Romantic Homes” magazine! You can find antiques, handcraft artisans, and vintage decor at this market. It’s in the little town of Rainbow (Fallbrook area), California. Admission is $5. If you’re in the Southern California area, I hope to see you there! You can find out more information about the show and the dealers who will be present on The Vintage Marketplace Facebook Page.
*In reply to some inquiries, the images posted online here and on my facebook page are previews of items that will be for sale at the marketplace and aren’t for sale online at this time. Sorry!
It’s not even close to cool enough for my to start thinking about knitting or crochet, but my fingers were itching for a project so I picked up my tatting again!
I had mentioned wanting to learn tatting several times, and last year, my mom picked me up this Learn to Tat book and dvd set. She had learned from her grandmother but didn’t remember much. The book and dvd were all I really needed- it was nice seeing it in motion with the dvd- I don’t think I would have understood it otherwise! I forgot all about learning this last year, then was itching for a little project to keep my hands busy in the evenings, so remembered it again. I had tried crocheting lace but I admit I like tatting much better- for some reason I “get” it more.
Of course, being me, I went straight from the beginner project to a reprint of an 1868 pattern in Frances Grimble’s Reconstruction Era Fashions book. We’ll see how far I actually get…
Announcing the newest Wearing History Resto-Vival Pattern!
This is Loretta- an early 1930s day and evening dress. A great pattern with a variety of options, this pattern gives a great depression-era look and the clever ability to combine the same basic pattern pieces into a variety of looks by using different cutting lines. Great for both daytime and evening, the skirt has three different length options- from full length to slightly above ankle, to daytime length. The original pattern had a 1931 dated newspaper inside, which confirms my suspicion that this was most likely fashionable from 1930-1932, though, of course, like our chic depression-era sisters, we can easily make it go into the mid 1930s depending on how it’s made up and accessorized.
This Resto-Vival pattern is available in size 32″ bust or 36″ bust. You can visit my website for more information and purchase your own copy.
I’ve got my daytime version all cut out, just have to find the time to put it together! Can’t wait to share when I’m done
Hello!
One of my weaknesses is pretty little antique china. I don’t know much about it, but when I see them at thrift stores or estate sales I love admiring them and occasionally adopting them. I was having fun looking up some makers marks and thought I’d share a few little snapshots of two of my favorite thrifted china finds.
This petite little teacup is my very favorite one I’ve ever found! It’s got a lovely pearlized finish and little blue bubbles. I call it my “mermaid teacup.” It was made by Limoges and an internet source dates the mark from between 1892-1907. I’m not really sure I believe it’s that old, but regardless, I really love it!
My most recent find was a set of nine little plates in this pattern. I thought they looked rather Arts and Crafts, and loved the color pattern. I just looked up the mark (W A Pickard) and it ends up they were made between 1912 and 1918, so I was actually correct! I just love these. I need to come up with an excuse for a little tea party so they can be used.
Does anyone else love these old china pieces? Tell me about your favorite find
I also wanted to say thank you so much to everyone who commented on my Costume College project posts! I was so thankful for your encouraging and complimentary comments I still have lots of photos to go through from the event itself so hopefully will be uploading some of those soon.
I’m happy to announce that the Cordelia 1910s Skirt Pattern is now available for purchase on my website!
You may remember I announced this pattern earlier this year. Well, some things happened, and I wasn’t able to get to it. But it’s now been released in the original pattern size of 28″ waist. The original posting was updated a while ago with the reason for the change.
This pattern introduces a new line of patterns for Wearing History, though some of the old favorites are now finding their home under this new classification. Since I do both new patterns and what have been termed “reproduction” patterns, it was decided to clarify the difference for my customers and we now have two different lines. ”Wearing History Signature Styles” are patterns which are based on original sources or period illustrations with hand or computer drawn illustrations and step by step instructions, cutting charts for modern fabric lengths, improved fit (for some, though some are still based on a vintage block), and multi-size. ”Resto-Vival” patterns are what were previously called “reproductions.” To be honest, I’ve never felt very comforatable with that title. If you’ve worked with my patterns you may notice they’re a bit different than original sewing patterns, and in my mind a “reproduction” means that it’s 100% unchanged from the original source material. We’ve got a new description of what exactly “Resto-Vival” patterns are, to help clarify:
About Wearing History Resto-Vival™ Patterns
Resto-Vival™ Patterns are original historic patterns that have been restored and revived. Original patterns are usually available only in single sizes, precut from tissue paper and totally unprinted, with details like grainlines and darts indicated only by small perforations. Resto-Vival™ patterns are printed on sturdy bond paper instead of tissue and clearly marked with drawn and labeled markings. These markings aid the modern sewer in understanding the markings of the original pattern and the construction of the garment. Resto-Vival™ patterns follow the period shapes of the original patterns, maintaining the historical accuracy of the completed garment. Original period instructions are included. These instructions are text only (unless otherwise noted) and fairly minimal, especially compared to instructions for modern patterns. At least an intermediate knowledge of dressmaking and a good familiarity with pattern construction is suggested. You may choose to have a modern or period sewing book handy to help with basic construction methods that the pattern instructions do not cover in detail. Also, fitting a muslin mockup is strongly recommended, as all garments were meant to be worn over period foundation garments or corsetry.
I’m very, VERY excited about the new Resto-Vival patterns! I have LOTS more Resto-Vival patterns on the way, including one I’m just about finishing up on. Most of the Resto-Vival patterns will be single size, with the possibility for more sizes in the future based on demand and style. And we’re going to go a bit earlier in time period with these, too, as I have original patterns back to the 1880s that I’m excited about bringing to new light- over time I’ll be bringing them out so others can enjoy these fashion history treasures.
I hope you’re as excited about these new patterns as I am! And I hope you love the Cordelia skirt!