Wonder fabric Wednesday

A nice bit of vintage fabric eye-candy from this weekend's bric-a-brac shop rummage...

Big, billowy blouson

This is my latest Burda Style make. Big and billowy and easy to wear.

 There's a yoke and pleats in the back - perfect for spontaneous outbursts of kitchen dancing...

... and the sleeves are as big as the wings of a bat.

There's a story behind these sleeves, which are made from 3 orange-like segments (for extra volume, of course). For one hairy moment I thought I'd run out of material, but thank goodness for highly patterned vintage fabric. What you can't see in these photos is that each sleeve now 'features' an impromptu patchwork section. Gotta love a 'feature'!

The love and hate of dressmaking

This dress and I have a history. The fabric and I first met in a Margate bric-a-brac shop just after Christmas. We thought we'd get on well. Then I noticed the pattern in the February issue of Burda style. We introduced ourselves over a cup of tea and decided to give it a go. The dress progressed, friendship blossomed. All was going so well. Until, dress completed, we had a major argument during the first proper fitting when it became apparent that instead of being a lovely, low-fuss, 60s inspired shift, she was actually a big brown swirly sack. With pockets. And frilly sleeves. 

Feet were stamped, nasty words were said, we decided to never speak to each other again. 

Then, after a good night's sleep and a bit of perspective, I decided to be the bigger person (after all, I was actually the person in this relationship). We talked it out and  realised that instead of making alterations, the only thing to do was to take the whole dress apart, cut it out in the next size down, and then, finally stitch it back together again. 

Two nights later, dress finally finished,  the relationship was well on its way to being mended. It's been hard work, but I feel I've grown as a person, while the dress has, well, become a smaller but better dress.

In the end, it was worth it.

Extra Quick 'N Easy - Butterick 3286

I found this pattern during a marvellous bit of box-rummaging at Oxford's Thursday market earlier in the year. I'd been thinking about drafting a simple top pattern, but not quite getting round to it, for ages. This pattern did the job, just at the right time. Who can resist a pattern that declares itself to be, not just Easy, but Extra Quick too - so much so that there's not even time for a proper "and". Don't you just love a 'n?

I decided to go for the scooped neck version to begin with, and true to the billing I was able to cut the fabric out in the amount of time it took my 3 year old to notice I was doing something else vaguely interesting while she was watching Dora the Explorer.

The sewing was simple too - easily completed in one evening, and best of all... I really do like the result. The bust darts are super low and long - they start at about waist height and go up sharply towards the bust apex. This gives that distinctive boxy shape of the mid 60s but with just the right amount of flattering shaping. I used some vintage lightweight fabric that was donated to me years ago by a teacher who'd discovered a sizable stash in an old school cupboard. Next tie I might try something with slightly more drape, but all in all - thumbs up to the Extra Quick 'N Easy. Lemon squeezy.

I decided to go with the garden reflection/drainpipe combo look - edgy stuff 'eh?

Stash flash

I've been re-stocking my vintage fabric stash over the past week or so. Would you like to take a peek? Here are some of my lovely new fabric friends. Aren't they pretty?

Baby's got a brand new bag

Little E was looking somewhat squished in her sleeping bag last week. It occured to me it might have something to do with the 0-6 month old label- baaad mummy!

Once the guilt subsided, I was quite glad for the excuse to make a new one, as all the shop bought bags we have are creamy, beigy blah blah colour or adorned with irritating smug bunnies. So, out came a 70s bed spread, a flannel sheet and a bit of bias binding.

I used this great pattern from Small Dream Factory as my template and then worked out how to fit it all together as I went along.

Esther is now snug as a bug which-is-cosy-but-has-lots-of-room in its cocoon, and  wakes up to look at her purple and pink toes with glee. Gooood mummy!

This week I will mostly be stroking the latest additions to my vintage fabric stash...

 

A good time in Thame

Yesterday was the inaugural "Day-trip Tuesday" - a new fortnightly, or thereabouts, event dreamt up to keep two vintage and textile loving mums and their babies entertained while baby yoga classes are taking a summer break. Of course, it's also part of a selfless plan to support the local economies of Oxfordshire charity shops (we're all about giving something back!).

Our first destination was Thame, and if every trip is as "successful" as this one, I may well need to clear out a couple of cupboards!

First spot was this adorable pinafore skirt - Freya waved goodbye this morning looking like the most perfect little Heidi ever. She won't look like that when I pick her up, but at least I tried! I'm definitely going to use this skirt as pattern for other versions - it would look fab in a light courdory for autumn/winter.

The next find was this summer dressing gown - much more glam than the drab grey maternity one I've been using. [Note to self:  avoid self portraits in a dressing gown at all costs! Mostly you will look like a total poser or a terrifyingly hideous 'Readers Wife'. This not so great shot, was the last of 36 and that look in my eyes is one of desperation!]

A spot of vintage chintz to add to the fabric stash - a work-related find to make this trip feel less indulgent!

Lastly, a set of 4 dinner plates and 1 side plate at the bargain price 50p each - I've been looking for plates I like for ages as we were down to 2 pitiful cracked white ones from Matalan. These brown lovelies fit in pefectly with our 70s kitchen accessories theme - and even tie in nicely with my prized Orla Kiely butter dish, so everything's golden in the kitchen department!

My fellow shopping friend snapped up an amazing wall clock with a fab 60s/70s face on a leather "wrist-strap". Sounds horrendous, but truly it is a thing of vintage wonderment! 

So, altogether a pretty good morning's work! Our next trip is planned for Witney.. stay tuned for more vintage delights (I hope!)

Some days just work out nicely...

 First, a completed order, all lined up and ready to hand deliver to Shop at The Old Fire Station:

 ... a quick stop off at the sweetie shop for a burst of colour therapy and a weekend treat for my 3 favourite under 5s (all for the grand total of £1.09).

 ... then some unexpected charity shop treasure. Well okay, maybe pink jelly shoes don't count as treasure, but the five fab vintage curtains definitely do!

  ... and finally, look what the postman bought me. Mobile phone begone! I'm keeping time with a little help from the 70s now.

Vintage Flea Market Finds

Last weekend was a real winner- Saturday was spent feeding ducks, waving at trains, playing in sand and eating icecreams the size of our heads.

 On Sunday, I made a solo voyage to Bethnal Green for the Vintage Furniture Flea market from Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair.

Ooh, what a haul!  I found the perfect 70s lamp that we've been wanting for ages - complete with original shade - a fab rug and a set of 3 italian mugs. Here they are, proudly displayed in our home after successfully surviving a trip across London on the tube and a bus ride back to Oxford!

On the textile front, my vintage fabric stock was boosted with these 3 little beauties... 

and lastly, Freya now has a funky "pinny" for playing, cooking and mealtime fun...

Some of the vendors that particularly caught my eye were (clockwise from top):

• E.W. Moore & Son Ltd who specialise in vintage wallpaper
• Oh so Retro! Some fab homewares
• Your Vintage Life - Gorgeous homewares and textiles - including my new blue fabric above which was being sold on the roll. I met the very helpful Kate.
• Etcetera - Based in Margate, the lovely Shelly and her partner have a frequent spot at Spitalfields market and were very kind to me! I bought the German lamp from them and was so pleased that  my fab new lamp came from such lovely people!

If you're close to London I'd really recommend a visit to the next market - just the right size, reasonable prices and lots of lovely vendors - not to mention some delicious homemade cakes!

The 'Aminal' duvet

Take one vintage sheet, add a metre and a half of vintage children's fabric and what do you have? One very happy little girl with a brand new duvet and pillowcase. Counting all the different 'aminals' is our new favourite bedtime game.

Vintage fabric inspiration

January was a good month for finding vintage fabric. Here are some of the latest additions to my stash. A good chunk was found in Frocks ‘n’ Stock in Margate, a vintage shop run by the Pilgrim's Hospice - definitely worth a visit if you're down that way.

Latest additions to the fabric stash

More vintage fabric has come my way recently and this time, ebay was not involved!

Our local swap shop turned up tops with this funky curtain and groovy towel. I'm keeping the towel for it's original towelly purpose, but no doubt the curtain will make it's way to a bag...

Another fabulous curtain was donated to me at my last farmer's market - perfect for the summer!

Work in progress

Remember my vintage fabric haul from last week? Well, I couldn't resist and have already got stuck in. Thought I'd try some larger sized cosmetic bags/wash bags. They're lined with vinyl which is the first time I've sewn with plastic. Just like leather, it's not as scary as I'd feared. So, it's wipe clean all the way from now (only kidding).

Paaarp! (tee-hee!)

I'd love to be all clever and make up some fantastically believable April Fool's Day story, but I tend to be more on the receiving end of those kind of japes - gullible, moi? - so, I'm afraid this is about as clever as I get...

And moving on...

I recently went on a fabric bidding frenzy, not expecting to be quite so successful! So, I'm now the proud owner of more vintage fabric than is probably healthy for one woman to possess. These my friends, are just some of the highlights:

What a find!

oh oh oh - I've just discovered the most AMAZING online vintage shop - H is for Home.

It's got all I lust after most in the world: vintage crockery...



funky alarm clocks...


and lots and lots of lovely textiles...


I'm so excited that I've had to take emergency measures and stick my credit card in a bowl of water in the freezer!