[ a simple summer top I made over the weekend. ]
Believe it or not, this blouse started out life as something very different: one of Sailor Husband’s old uniform shirts! One of his uniforms was getting phased out and replaced, and I snatched the shirts up for reuse when he was getting rid of them. After all they were cotton, the fabric had a nice hand, and they were the lovely chambray blue I adore (and seems to have caught on popularity-wise this year). I have three of them, but used just two for this project (had to cut around stains and such, otherwise I think I could have used just one!). I love recycling things, as you all already know, and this was a really fun project to take something from “blah” to more of a feminine piece!
[ I used a soft rayon seam tape to encase the elastic in at the waist. ]
The design was inspired by a blouse I spotted on Francesca’s Flickr (if there ever was a girl I have a “girl crush” on, it’s Francesca! I adore her style and all the vintage she finds!). I made the pattern using the basic blouse block drafted from Design-It-Yourself Clothes (a Christmas gift from my parents), which had been in my to-do pile for a long time! It’s a very simple design: tucks along the front neckline, the waist cinched with elastic (this helps keep things neat and tidy when tucked into slacks or a skirt), and simple button straps. Pretty easy!
I really love the buttons; they’re the ones I crocheted earlier this spring and wrote about here. It gives the top a little bit of texture visually, but keeps with the quiet simplicity. I like details like that: subtle but gives the garment a bit more “umph”, if you know what I mean.
[ close up of the neckline tucking and those crocheted buttons! ]
So now I have added another (much needed) breezy summer piece to my wardrobe! I’m pretty excited about this one, only because it seems like something I could be tempted to make again (I rarely go back and make patterns again–have you noticed that? I think once I do something, I get it out of my system and am ready to move on!). Maybe with some pretty calico print? Hmm… might have to search the thrift stores for something appropriate.
June 30, 2010 ·
27 lovely thoughts
posted in casey's musings,sewing
· tags: 2010 sewing, sewing
Apologies for lack of email replies and posts! My silly computer decided to be inconsiderate and go on the fritz (again). So I’m only just catching up with things now that it’s all fixed! I had a sewing post planned for today, but can’t find a link I need, so hopefully that will go up tomorrow…
[ red tights! and silly poses! ]
Lately I’ve been on an early 60s French film kick. For some reason, despite a brief foray into foreign films several years ago, I managed to never watch any of Jean Luc Goddard’s films, which I know are considered the holy grail of 60s French cinema. So thanks to canceling my cable and getting Netflix instead, I’ve been watching all the Goddard films I can get. Which means I’m mildly obsessed with the early 60s right now; a period I haven’t really given much thought to in awhile. So thanks to the wonderful world of the internet, here are some screencaps from one of the films I recently watched: A Woman is a Woman (or Une Femme Est Une Femme if we want to be correct) from 1961. (Thanks to Anja for hooking me up with where to find some good film stills!)
[ I love the tam with the pompom. ]
[ gorgeous hairstyle and that classic 60s tailored coat! ]
[ so theatrical, yet I adore the fur collar so much! ]
[ I love this whole outfit. I could kick myself for getting rid of a plaid skirt I had just like this! ]
[ cute and classic (and there is that blue eyeshadow). ]
[ I love the "sausage curl" pigtails! ]
If you haven’t seen this film, but like foreign movies that have a bit of a flair for the silly, you’ll love this. Besides the adorable Anna Karina and cute early 60s clothes, there is a scene involving using book titles to insult someone (rather than speaking) that is not-to-be-missed! I’ve seen a couple other Goddard films in recent weeks, but what are your favorites (or perhaps, your favorite foreign film)?
[ all stills from here. ]
June 29, 2010 ·
27 lovely thoughts
posted in casey's musings,fashion in film
· tags: film, inspiration
[ finally, a picture of me jumping that actually looks half believable! ]
This is from a couple weekends ago, and is somewhat different from my usual outfit posts. It was super hot and humid that weekend (still is…), and I wanted to be comfortable! So shorts and a breezy top were in order to stay cool. The thing is, I’m not a plain tshirt and shorts kinda gal; so layering necklaces and the hat was a way to jazz the look up a bit. This is the debut of the pearl collar I’ve had for a couple years! I bought it at the DC Big Flea the summer before I got married (so yeah–two years ago already! Time flies!), from a really sweet lady selling so many pretty accessories and other vintage goods. I don’t know why I haven’t worn it before: maybe because it was in a box–out of sight, out of mind? Even though they’re traditionally worn with a sweater or dress, it makes a great necklace in a pinch!
[ looking slightly mischievous. ]
- camisole top: made by me
- shorts: made by me
- hat: San Diego
- pearl collar & long chain necklace: vintage
- seahorse necklace: Target
- seashell earrings: made by me (recognize those from yesterday?)
- brown leather bag: thrifted
- sandals: Wal Mart
[ the sane, non-jumping view. ]
Apologies that this is so short, but I’ve got a super busy day ahead of me! Including some thrifting adventures… I have been so bad the past year about consistently thrifting, but lately I’ve been trying to visit at least one every week. I try not to get my hopes up or get excited about the prospect of yet-to-be-discovered treasures, but I can’t help it! lol. Hope you’re having a splendid Friday!
June 25, 2010 ·
38 lovely thoughts
posted in casey's musings,outfits + wardrobe
· tags: outfits
[ earrings made with two long shells and random pearls and beads. ]
I’m a bit nautical-crazy lately, it would seem. Between the rope belt I made*, the seahorse necklace procured at Target, and the seashell jewelry I’ve been working on, I dare say that all things ocean-related have become a bit of a preoccupation! The jewelry making started after we visited the beach while my sister was visiting. We were actually hunting for shark’s teeth, but I’m rubbish at that, so I stared gathering shells instead! I found some really gorgeous specimens–far better and more delicate than anything I ever found on the Mid Atlantic beaches.
So far I’ve made a necklace and set of earrings, using just bits and pieces that I had lying around (beads from old necklaces, chain from thrifted pieces). As with most of my jewelry making projects, I referred to my favorite book on the subject: Bead Simple. Without that book I would have never figured out how to make jewelry properly! I think I really need to get some more beads to add to my stash though; I have been using these pearls for ages, and I’m getting kind of tired of 75% of my self-made jewelry having pearls. lol. Maybe I can find some neat necklaces to take apart at the thrift store? Hmm…
[ a necklace with a bit of a surprise! isn't the shell beautiful? I've never seen anything quite this pretty on the beach before! ]
Some tips on making jewelry with shells that I picked up along the way… Although most recommend using a Dremel tool to drill holes (and this would be useful for thicker shells), I used a bead reamer (found at JoAnns), which worked perfectly. For those not familiar with it (I had no idea what it was beforehand!), it’s an awl-like tool that has a rough point used to smooth the inside of beads. With a little gentle pressure, I found it worked in a pinch. I also did a little research and it seems that spray finish works great for keeping the shells nice and shiny and protecting them. I still haven’t done this with mine, but need to so they don’t discolor (or break as easily, I suspect).
*Thank you everyone so much for the feedback on the rope belt I’ve been posting about! I’m really tickled you all liked it. I would like to do a tutorial on how I made it, as it’s pretty simple and requires few tools (plus I want to remake it anyway). So I’m adding that to my Tutorials to Write list, and hopefully it won’t be too long!
June 24, 2010 ·
11 lovely thoughts
posted in casey's musings,creativity
· tags: creativity, jewelry
