I get a bit carried away with books I Must Have, but this gets somewhat expensive, so in an effort to control my habit, I’ve been requesting and borrowing many more books from our library… great thing is, I have these wishlists all over the place, and slowly I borrow and read the books, so see if they belong here in our home..

With all my sewing fun times, I’ve been so tempted to get more and more books about fashion and sewing…

So, this book, Fashion; A Visual History from Reghency and Romance to Retro and Revolution by N J Stevenson.  And, no surprise, I Love It.

Here are some teasers, see what’s inside… 1920s.

Some of my most favourite outfits and designers. 1930s…

1940s…

And from my favourite era, 1950s..

and more.

and, yes, more still.

Into the 1960s now, I actually have a gingham stash, and well, seeing this, I’m hoping there’s enough for a shift dress!

Love the red dress too!

1960s sci fi, see?  Pretty much my all time best fashion era.

Chic.

Dior and Chanel would probably be my all time favourite designers, though really so different.  Can you have too many red dresses?  I think not.

And finally, the 1980s…

Look!  I have company, well, the quiet, just-standing-behind-you-here-while-you-sew kind of company!

I’ve been dreaming of having a dress form to work with now I’m making all these dresses, so I’m very excited, just need some time together and to pad her out a bit, sizing-wise she’s close but a bit skinny, probably on account of not having any children, heh.

Just have to share the best op shop find I’ve had in a while.  In the rough old hat basket with caps and beanies tossed in, I saw with amazement four beautiful vintage hats in apparently perfect condition!  When I took a closer look I found they were stuffed with sheet music – oh my god!  I know, what’s that all about?

Anyhow, I have a big head, and most often the loveliest old hats just don’t fit.  So, I was pretty happy that one fitted, this one, it’s navy blue with a ribbon of twisted or woven nylon around.

So I took them to the counter, and tried to pretend that I wasn’t that excited, and she sold them to me for $5 each, one is a pretty blue paisley style print that is a great little (though oversized) sun hat for Luna, a brown faux fur hat and another really lovely aqua cap style hat that I gave a friend.

She offered to take the paper out, but I thought they needed to be together, turns out they came from a theatre company, the sheet music seems to be all church songs.  How about that?

This one is mine!  When starting a new project I always have a few to giveaway to friends and of course something for myself.

I rally enjoyed working these out, a raided my fabric stash, which includes some beautiful vintage and retro fabrics, especially some sweet soft gingham.

Nice huh?

This gingham was from my nana’s stash, she made clothes for some ragdolls I still have out of it.

These are extra special, I have used some vintage duotone embroidery thread, also from a family stash…  Do you remember this post about raiding some of my tins?  There is only a limited range using this good stuff, can’t bear to use it all up…

This is my vintage rose fabric, soft and SO lovely.  Perfect for spring, and more embroidery.

I’ll be at Kraftbomb at the end of the month, come and grab yourself one there!

And this pattern, unused and very sweet.  I have been looking out for some simple vintage dress patterns lately, I have plans to make one this year.  I also found a dress, it’s pretty stylish and home made by the looks, photo to come it does need a wash!

It was a fun morning out, very hot, so many beautiful things to look at and dream about taking home.  It was much more than textiles too, with costume vintage jewelry, heaps of hat boxes and haberdashery.  Patterns and other random antique and vintage articles like traveling cases, lasts for shoes, hat blocks, bags and accessories for every occasion and books.  Hanging out for the next one!

I am really so excited!  That’s all I’m saying.  Besides the deets of course.

It’s from 10 am – 5 pm, Alexandra Park Raceway, corner Greenlane & Manukau Roads, Epsom.  Genuine vintage
* Fabrics
* Clothing
* Hats
* Linen
* Accessories
* Trims
* Buttons
* Lace
* Books
etc
General admission: $5.00, door sales only.

Wohoo.

If only I’d had a chance to whip up this blue number…

And some fuzzy photos of my lovely snuggly Sea Horses and Scallops.

Come and say hello, take home something lovely and have a delicious cupcake at Kraftbomb, in the Grey Lynn Community Centre, 11am – 2pm. x

Only five more sleeps til the Auckland Art and Craft Market!  Wohoo!  You’ve probably heard the adds on the radio and seen posters up around town, so you’ve been saving up and planning your shopping list for AGES.  We’ll I’ve been planning for agaes too and I have some sweet treats lovely Scallop Snuggly softies and new Sea Horses too, as well as gifts for craftsy peeps!

So.. if you need to know the details, visit the website, or look here!

Saturday 11th June 2011
11am to 3pm
Aotea Centre, THE EDGE
Auckland Central
Gold coin entry donation

Did you see all the artist interviews?  I have been reading them too, here’s my one…

I know!  It’s very exciting!  Just two weeks away, the Auckland Art and Craft Fair will be spreading the craftsy goodness around for you guys who are lucky enough to be in the city.  You can read my artist’s interview here.

Saturday 11th June 2011
11am to 3pm
Aotea Centre, THE EDGE
Auckland Central
Gold coin entry donation

See you there!  x

I started this ages ago, I wanted to practice some proper crochet stitches and I have a huge pile of this pink wool, that I’ve dying to use to make something wearable, like a top or something, but that will take me about a year I’m sure!  So I had to work on a smaller scale…

I’ll probably make some more ’cause I love crocheting and don’t like following patterns, I’ll just have to crack into some other yarns in my stash.  I rescued the buttons from an old red vinyl jacket that I had worn to death, I enjoy combining red and pink so this was the perfect match!

Some more photos, and this is just so easy, just crochet a rectangle as long and wide as you like, add button holes and buttons and then you’re done.  Oh and I was experimenting with increasing and decreasing, so it tapers in and then out again.

See?  Nice buttons huh.