I almost forgot to mention...

I have a new repro pattern.

I have always been on the hunt for good after five type dresses in larger sizes. You can find day dresses, and even some gowns, but a dress that can work as a cocktail dress? Not an easy discovery.

I knew this would fit the bill. Its a 48 bust and just a great neckline. I have it in the pipeline to make up myself.

Dancin' dancin' dancin'

This past Thursday, I went to a friend's birthday party at Lindy Groove.

They have dancing every Thursday, and a basic dance lesson, which I attended. It was fun, and Ive made a serious decision to learn Lindy Hop.

Although I have a lot of friends who dance, I cant seem to find any who want to teach, so I guess I have to take lessons. Im fine with that. I dont want to half ass it anyway. I really want to learn as much as I can, get a foundation, and see where I go from there.

I was happy, I got asked to dace 5 times, after my wimpy lesson. I still dont know anything, but Im very eager to learn. Yay, an interest in a new hobby.

The dress I wore I made from navy cotton seersucker. The pattern was a late 30s one, and I actually have it reproed in my etsy store.


It was a hit, and I got a lot of compliments. It was also light enough that I didnt get real hot.

I had so much fun. I cant wait to get the cash together to take lessons!
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Hattie Goodness Conclusion

Finished the cloche.



I do like it, and i like the fit too. Now my hair has someplace to go in the back. Yay!
Ive posted complete pictures on NVL.
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Hattie Goodness

Listening to Mark Lanegan as I type this.


Ive almost finished with my cloche for the depression picnic later this month. Im using a rather stiff linen for the outside and lining, but because the colors were so stark, I interfaced the hat with a cotton to keep the blue bright, and the cream crisp.

With this cloche, as opposed to the others I have done, I raised the back quite a bit, almost making it bonnet like. That way my hair can squish out the back and wont hinder my neck movements. I also curved the sides down more, tear drop like.


Ive seen that look on so many other hats, I wanted to try it.


I kept the pleats, I do like them so, but with the band, I also did some pleats, and some hand stitching in blue.


I was going to sew it in a matching thread of the cream color, but I think the blue stitching is a nice touch.


I may add a flower to it. I haven't decided yet. Ill finish it tomorrow, early.
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What to wear to Cicada

This Sunday night was fun. A gang of us were going to the Cicada Club to see Jonathan Stout & his Campus 5. It was fun, and there were even a few guest singers. Here is a pic of one who appeared to channel Nat King Cole.

Of course it is always about what you are going to wear.

I made this dress last year out of a great blue rayon.

I adore it but Im not too keen on the sleeve treatment. Also, the darts in the back were a bit too snug. So, I decided to rework this dress in order to wear it.

I took out two darts in the back, and thought that I would have to alter the skirt to compensate for the extra fabric but the stretch was subtle enough that I didnt have to.

I decided to add some open sleeves to the dress. It didnt take too long to do. Now I really adore the dress. Its amazing how some simple fixes can really make something likable again.

At the Cicada, I got a lot of compliments on it, and even a woman who wanted to take some pictures of me to use in a painting. There was a great bartender there tonight and she made me a Manhattan that really hit me at the end of the night. It was fantastic.

At the end of the evening, after the band had begun to pack up, we managed to get to the Oviatt penthouse to see the original suite. Ive been there before, and I adore the bathroom. Its amazing. Here are some pictures of the penthouse and some of the details.

It was a great weekend, and my apartment is destroyed from all the clothes! I got an email today that I was invited to a birthday party at LindyGroove. I dont think I have time to get a present, its this Thursday! I might go. They offer a free beginner class at the start of the night. Its been a New Years resolution to learn to swing dance, so this might be a good start!

We shall see!

Ladies Undies

Its a Tom Waits kind of morning.

I must be on an underwear kick. I made anther pair of panties from my repro pattern.


Because I rarely buy thread to color coordinate any project, I have a very limited color allotment. To compensate, I generally match by value, instead of general colors.


To overlock the coral fabric, I used three different colors that the eye will blend. I learned that trick in art school. I do it all the time and works great.


More pictures can be seen on NVL.
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Depression Era Expo

Today was a fun day. I went to the Santa Monica Vintage Expo with some of my vintage friends. I knew I would be going for a few days, and having been last year, I knew it was going to be cold. My entire thought process on what I was going to wear was 'I want to be comfortable and warm'.

I didn't have a solid era in mind, more a feeling. I did want to make the outfit mid 30s in feeling, but looking at my criteria, comfortable and warm, my options were limited.

I went through 3 outfits, finally choosing a wool tweed skirt I made, a rayon blouse I made from a modern SImplicity repo pattern, some 20's cotton lace stockings I got a few years back, my good ole 40's shoes, a tan wool button up I got at the thrift store 5 years ago (love that sweater), my NRA MOP pin that was a gift, and the 20's inspired cloche in my etsy store.

I was very comfy and warm. I was also surprised by the compliments on my outfit. Someone even said, "Wow, you look very depression era today." YES!!!!!! I got a lot of compliments on my cloche, even a designer pulling me aside and saying I should sell them. Good idea!

There was a lot of 80s stuff at the expo this year, and tons of 20s stuff priced too high for the average person to buy. I did see one silk shawl from the late 20s that was in beautiful condition. The seller was even asking a fair price for it, but alas, I am not 'depression era' in look only. I even helped my friend Jen 'approve' a lovely lawn dress from the 30s for the depression era picnic later in the month.

She bought her dress from the Woodland Farms Antiques booth. I was able to tell the lovely lady how much I and some of my friends adore her online store. She is a real nice lady.

After a lot of fun looking and running into a lot of vintage folks, a gang of us went to the bowling alley behind the expo hall and had lunch. It was fun.

Then, a small group of us went for a cocktail at Tiki-Ti.

Where I discovered Jen was a hard core regular there,over 10 years, and even had her own cocoanut cup. Very classy.

It was a fun day, and Im tired. But now I have to get ready for tomorrow. Im going to the Cicada Club.

Oh the fun life of a vintage gal.