On the Flamingo Skirt & Pink Blouse

With warmer weather headed our way, it’s finally reaching the point where I’m able to start wearing more of the things I’ve sewn during the colder months. And one of my favorites (which I say about almost everything right after I finish it) would have to be this flamingo skirt I made in January.

I had been thinking about this project for quite some time, but was waiting for the perfect fabric. Needless to say, I jumped on this print the moment I saw it because it was just what I was looking for!

 

Once again I used my Simplicity 3773 pattern (seen previously here and here), which can probably be safely considered my go-to skirt pattern. Having never done an appliqué before I think I learned just about everything not to do when using one. I had sketched out my own flamingo design including distinct tail feathers. Just in case you’re wondering, it’s a bit hard to stitch around such small shapes on a sewing machine. I also decided that the beak should be a different color, bringing about the problem of how to attach it without creating a bulk. So my solution for that was to use fusible interfacing. Yes, interfacing, not fusible webbing which is what you would normally use to make it easier because it can be fused directly to the skirt. Next came sewing it on. This went well until I got to the afore mentioned tail feather section, changed the stitch size, finished the tail, and then continued to sew a few inches before realizing I hadn’t changed it back. By the time I was done I was tickled (flamingo) pink with the result, but decided that my original idea of two flamingos was not going to be carried out.

 

As for the blouse, it was made in February and was my first attempt at one. While I’m not entirely pleased with it, I did learn a lot. Originally it was just supposed to serve as a practice since I had quite a bit of magenta fabric left over from my shirtwaist dress that I had no specific plans for. As with the shirtwaist dress, the seams bunched when I ironed them (for no particular reason it seems, as I tried both a cooler iron setting and longer stitch length). The back also proved to be a little tight in fit, although this was probably due to a slight misinterpretation of the instructions and my having trimmed the seam allowance before noticing it. By the time I was finished I had put so much work into it that I decided I was definitely going to be wearing it even if it was shade of pink a tad bit brighter than I would have preferred to match with my skirt. Now having worn this outfit twice, though, I can say it’s one that will be making an appearance often. ♥

On “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”: A Book Review

Okay, so admittedly this really is a short story, but as it has been published on its own, I’m considering it suitable for a book review because otherwise this month’s review would be on either a children’s book or an American noir book, neither a genre I really want to write on at the moment. And with that, on to the review…

About the book...
Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1922, this is certainly an unusual story of aging. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” opens on the advent a birth, however it is no ordinary birth in that Benjamin Buttons is born an old man and for what reason no one knows. To further add to his unusual start in life, it is soon apparent that he is aging backwards, slowly growing younger and leading to a life filled with experiences both common and uncommon to the average being.

What I think…
As someone who has long been inclined to liking stories involving time travel, anomalies, and, overall, anything involving some sort of manipulation of time, for me this one falls into the category of being a rather good one. One of the main things that stands out about it is how thought provoking it is on the subject of aging. It really makes you think about the ageing process in general, and the way we perceive ourselves at each age, in addition to the way others perceive us.~~It would have been nice had this been turned into a novel, but at the same time I almost feel that were it any longer it would have lost the poignancy coming from its pace and the way that Benjamin reacts to ageing backwards.~~As far as comparing this to any of Fitzgerald’s other works, I can’t give any opinion as it’s been over four years since I readThe Great Gatsby and the other short story I read by him has completely escaped me at the moment.

To sum it all up...
While I like “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, I can see that it might not be a story for everyone. It is something that would probably be better suited for fans of Fitzgerald, fantasy lovers, and those who enjoy a quirky, yet touching, tale. ♥

On Searching For a Missing Shoe

Every once in awhile it seems as though a shoe escapes from a pair and when this happens one has to do a bit of searching to relocate it.

First one pokes about a bit under the bed with their foot hoping it really hasn’t removed itself all that far from the edge. Finding nothing, a false resignation sets in that one is mistaken and that perhaps the shoe really was not under the bed with its match, but is for some reason in another part of the house. After searching the entire house and failing to find it, one must admit that it indeed must be under the bed.

Upon this conclusion, one finds oneself down on hands and knees looking beneath the bed with a flashlight, revealing the shoe to have mysteriously made its way to a spot more than a bit out of a range easily reachable. While a broom handle could easily remedy the situation, the decision is made that a gallant effort to reach the shoe without it is in order first!

Lying on the floor and stretching one’s arm past the other shoes and the various odds and ends which have gathered over time, it becomes apparent that one’s arms are not quite so long as one believes them to be. From here a steady and careful process of inching forward occurs in great effort to grab the shoe, in addition to avoiding the embarrassing situation of becoming trapped under the bed. After what seems to be an infinite amount time passing, the shoe is at last reached and one reverses the inching process.

Finally, with shoe in hand, one emerges covered in dust bunnies, but is successful none-the-less. Now, if only one were able to find where the first shoe now is.♥

On What a Lot of Vintage Things!

While my intention for today’s post (and the last post, for that matter) was to write about searching for a missing shoe, this week has been filled with a number of vintage finds and I thought it would be fun to share them with my wonderful readers.

On Thursday I went to the antique store and then the thrift store. At the antique store I found only a somewhat unusual leaf and flower pin, but found a treasure trove awaiting me at the thrift store!

 

Next to the flower pin is my darling new old tiger pin ($2), which I saw shortly after walking in the thrift store. It was much too cute not to come home with me!

 

Having wanted a pair of white gloves for awhile I was quite pleased to find these ones by Hansen in perfect shape and size. I noticed the scarves (which never seem to be in the same place twice, they just float around the store) when I was in line to pay and thought that this cheerful watermelon hued one merited getting out of line.

After having found the gloves, I had wandered over to a counter where they had some vintage booklets in a basket and found this Learn How Book published by The Spool Cotton Company in 1941.  It is not in the best of shape with a detached and ripped cover, but it is filled with lovely pictures inside.

 

Found, but not pictured were a high waist red sweater with a back zipper and a blue and white cardigan, both which have a vintage-y look (you’ll be seeing them later), a large ziplock bag packed with lace, a few yards of pink textured cotton, and, just in time for the new Wearing History overall pattern, five yards of denim.

Over the course of the week, I also came across these wonderful books in our used book sale at work. The first bunch is from the California State Series (textbooks). The history ones were published in 1956 and the one on machines in 1967.

And to conclude my vintage finds for the week are these tiny cookbooks from 1959 with a plethora of delightfully odd recipes.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend! ♥