I feel like such a costume-geek writing this post, but hopefully no one will mind! lol. The last few days I have been up to my elbows in twill, boning and gussets! After deciding, on the fly to make a fantasy costume (in this case, a faery) to wear to the Maryland Renaissance Faire this weekend, I have been feverishly working to try and get the main components of my costume made. The corset is probably the biggest, and most tricky of the few pieces I have to put together (I also have to fashion a set of wings and a few flower barrettes to tuck in my hair). After unsuccessfully trying to design my own corset, and finding that I really didn’t have the time to devote to fitting it properly, I traced a pattern from a late 19th century antique I have and went with that. (It did help that the original pretty much fits me perfectly.)

The costume isn’t terribly Renaissance Faire-ish, but I don’t really like how corsets from that period shape me, and I’ve been dying to make an hourglass corset for years. I scrounged some materials from my fabric stash for the corset including gorgeous silk twill that is making up the outer layer! It’s utterly divine, and makes the piece really look amazing! The busk I was a little nervous about at first, but it works beautifully considering I took it from an old corset I made years ago. Boning wise, I don’t have much metal boning in my stash (I just gave most of my historic costuming supplies away!), so I’m using a combination of scrounged metal from old corsets and my favorite alternative: zip ties from the hardware store.

The top edge is still unfinished; I’m going to bind with either silk twill or scraps of silk charmuese, and then there will be a ruffle of silk gauze along the edge, peeking out. The lacing I’m going to go for something fun and colorful, most likely: I’m thinking a sweet, light pink ribbon (with a cord underneath just in case; since lacing has been known to snap!) that ties into a big bow.

I can’t wait to finish it–I’m so excited! Now I just have to decide on the shape of my wings… (Here is some wing inspiration!)

In case you haven’t seen this on every other blog yet (hehe!), TOAST has their early autumn collection up… I am totally coveting the brown leather jacket!

Slightly different look, fashion-wise, but I think this dress (from Trashy Diva) would be fantastic for that tricky, transition period in late summer! Throw a sweet little shrug (check out that closure detail!!! eeep!) with it and voila!

Thank you all for your sweet words about my post Friday–I really appreciate it! Ends up, L. will have one more weekend here before heading south, and we are planning to have a fun, relaxing time at the Maryland Renaissance Faire with our younger sisters! We’re all getting quite excited about it! hehe. Despite the fact that I haven’t made a real, honest-to-goodness costume in years, I have been scheming about throwing together a little something magical for next weekend. I spent this morning doing some research into making fairy wings and tracing a pattern for a corset from an antique in my collection (hence, the photo at the beginning of this post!).

Now, the results of the survey (which readers are still welcome to take… I haven’t closed it yet!)! I was so thrilled that you all kindly took some time to answer the questions, offer suggestions–and encouragement! I love all your ideas and thoughts. One thing that really stood out in written comments, was that y’all would like the blog to be a little more personal, which I totally agree with! You favorite topics I regularly blog about were Retro/Vintage Style & Living, Sewing, and Fashion (links and inspiration wasn’t too far behind). Readers seem to really love Inspiration Friday as well, which is definitely something I’d love to expand and devote a bit more time to going forward (since it’s my favorite feature as well!).

The aspect I was looking most forward to from the survey was what topics/subjects you would love for me to write about more often! Thrifting/Flea Markets was by far the winner, but Fashion, Sewing, Retro/Vintage and How-To’s were also of big interest. Finally, two of the new features I mentioned stood out as winners: a revamped “Style Icons” (covering not just classic/retro fashion icons, but how to achieve the look), and Retro Recreation (how to incorporate the vintage lifestyle into the present). Charm School was second, which leads me to wonder if perhaps I don’t work Retro Recreation and Charm School into one? Anyway, all of these are ideas I’ve been rolling around in my imagination for a few months, and can’t wait to debut after the holidays!!

Respondents also mentioned they’d like me to blog more–which is so lovely of you to request! It’s delights me to no end that you like the direction this blog has gone and want more. I’m hoping that after the wedding and my move to Florida, to set up a more frequent blog schedule as well. We shall see!

Anyway, thank you all so much again! Now for the lucky winner of the earring giveaway! The winner is…

(Congrats! I’ve emailed you for your mailing info!)

Now, after all this babble about survey results, is this week’s Vintage Monday feature! I have lately (along the majority of the blogging world, it seems!) have been craving cooler days, cardigans, and pretty new shoes! So what better way to be inspired than with some vintage fashions from September 1947?

Have a lovely evening, my friends!

Firstly, thank you all so much for taking the poll!!! I’m just so tickled by all your encouragement and ideas. I’ll dissect it a bit further next week…

I’ve written and rewritten this post several times… not sure how much to say, what not to say. But it’s a part of my life right now, and may explain why posting has been so sporadic the past couple of weeks. This weekend is L.’s last visiting home (most likely) before he moves to Florida to a new command he’s stationed with. We’re facing a three month separation until the wedding in November. Which I know isn’t as long or difficult as some couples go through, but it doesn’t make the parting any easier for either of us. This week has been particularly tough as the full weight has sunk in since we finished packing up his things at his parent’s house. All week I’ve been struggling to not let the loneliness settle over me. I keep comforting myself with the November wedding to look forward to, and our daily phone conversations (which is nice considering when he’s been out to sea for long periods, we only have sporadic emails). But… it breaks my heard to have him leave.

I know this doesn’t really go with the overriding, “happy” jive of this blog. I sometimes wonder how I sound, always blogging about things that aren’t weighty. Part of me does that because I’m an intensely private person when it comes to my family, and everyone has problems and bad days–why spread the gloom?! lol. (I like spreading joy!) If my mood seems less than usual over the next few weeks, I hope you will understand.

In other news… the photo above shows what I’ve been doing in my spare moments the past few days. I unearthed a bunch of yarn I bought earlier this year and never used, so I’m trying to knit a simple sweater from a vintage pattern booklet (thrifted two or so years ago!). However, I don’t think I have quite enough yarn, now that I’m this far… *sigh* lol! But I’ve been spending a few, enjoyable evenings curled up with my knitting and TCM’s “Summer Stars” marathons. Perfect.

 I love looking at these photos in the online Disfarmer gallery [ source ]
 fantastic, 50s hairstyle inspiration
 I love this colorful, laid-back apartment
 get your dose of autumn-appropriate fashion ideas from Lia Molly
 another binder-covering tutorial (this time with fabric!) [ source ]
 Super Kawaii Mama shows how to achieve a chic and simple 60s style bouffant

Have a splendid weekend, my dears and don’t forget you have until Sunday evening to enter the giveaway!!!

I’ve recently been piling up quick how-to’s and really need to post them. So I decided to start doing one a month, and seeing how it goes! I hope you enjoy this one–it’s lots of fun. You can also download the handy-dandy .pdf file if you’d like to print it off and keep it close to your craft table. (And be sure to scroll to the bottom for a giveaway!)

Supplies
      2 large beads (I recycled mine from an old necklace)
      4 smaller round beads (contrasting or same color as the big beads)
      2 gold rings (approx. ½” across) or chain links
      2 gold long drop earring wires
      2 gold headpins
      gold jump rings, various sizes

I’ve worn these out a couple times since I made them, and always get loads of compliments! I like how distinctive they are, and rather longish (so perfect for dates when I need to dress up a bit!), and the weight of the glass beads. I feel quite elegant in them.

I’ve been wondering a bit what you, as readers, enjoy or dislike about my blogging. I have some plans for features and a change in what I blog about beginning in January 2009 (I know–it’s a way off, but I feel like my life won’t even begin to approach normal until after the wedding and holidays!). So if you wouldn’t mind taking a few moments to respond to the survey, I’d really appreciate it! (Please be honest–it won’t hurt my feelings!) And if you have any additional thoughts, feel free to comment with them. All comments will be entered in a drawing for a pair of these earrings!! (So incentive to respond! lol!) Just reply to the poll and leave a comment on this post between now and Sunday evening, and I’ll draw a winning name between Monday.

Have a lovely Wednesday, my friends!