Thrift Store Thursday May 22 2014

I couldn't stop thinking about all the vintage patterns I left behind at the thrift store. I already sold two of them, so I think that qualifies as a good investment. Here's what I picked up this go round.

Extra Carefree! McCalls 3875, 1973

Simplicity 8500, 1960's

Simplicity 6276, 1965, w/4 blouse options that don't fit me

Simplicity 8503, 1969, Reversible! You guys!!!!

McCalls 8247, 1966, your whole work wardrobe, until you marry Mr.Draper

Simplicity 5664, 1964, aaah for petites 5'1" and under. I'm beginning to understand

simplicity 5701, 1964, One for Betty, One for Jane, and one for Joan if she totally lost her boobs

Simplicity 2831, 1960's, For when all your coworkers are pregnant and you're not

Thriftstore Thursday May 15

It's the Ides of May and it is hot.hot.hot here in Santa Cruz. I found a somewhat frumpy, but well made Liz Claiborne dress in the thrift store.

If someone could please tell me why blogger makes some pictures horizontal, even though I uploaded them vertically, I would be very happy to have that information. In the meantime everybody lean to the right.

The fabric itself is a linen/rayon blend that is quite lovely.

Since there is no seamline up the front or back of the skirt, I may have enough to make a cute little wiggle skirt out of it.

or
A cute little hawaiian number like this one from Polyvore

There's a pattern for a dress similar to this in Gertie's Book for Better Sewing, which I already have in my hot little hands.

Thriftless Thursday

Thrifting was a bit of a bust this week. I have so many project plates spinning, that I'm too distracted to focus on any of them. So, in lieu of giving you Thrift Shop Thursday, I will give you a little throwback. This was a a distressed bridesmaid's dress I made for a friend is a steampunk wedding. Based on the photo's she showed me, I went less Victorian and more generally distressed.Here are some thrift finds, and what I made them into.

Vaguely corsety seamed corset top

I fogot to take a picure of the jacket before dismantling it, but this was a cotton jacket with lots of cool piping

I handsewed the cotton jacket pieces to emphasize the seams

I really liked the serged rosettes on this tshirt top

I distressed and hand sewed a whole slew of different fabrics from thrifted garments into a tutu

Flowers made from petals that I made from melting acetate over a flame

I did add some little steampunky hardware pieces to the flowers but you can't really see them

Side, duh

Front finished

My favorite part, the back

100% Thrifted and one of the most enjoyable projects I've done.

Thrift Store Thursday Throwback

For today's Thrift Store Thursday, I'd like to show you a little something I made from a thrift store find.

A beautiful, very historically correct water pistol

Spraypainted a matte black

Rubbed with a few different colors of Rub n Buff

Add some bits n bobs and Voila! a steampunk pistol

A few other thing I made and strung together on a thrift store belt, using curtain rings to attach

Everything on my body is thrifted

And that is your Thrift Shop Thursday Throwback Tutorial, or TSTTT. Catchy no?