Independence Day

May I wish you the best and happiest Independence Day!

Since this is a vintage blog as well, my mind goes back to V-E Day and V-J Day; in my own hometown, I have read how the streets were jammed with a fabulous band playing all sorts of patriotic songs; jubilated people lined the sidewalks downtown, waving American flags, cheering and crying and hugging family members, and each other.

One story truly brings a smile to my face: a soldier pilot flew over the town where he knew his sweetheart was, and he zig-zagged in such a way that the smoke from his plane puffed this message: "Marry Me". The sweetheart below looked up and knew who it was; she was laughing a crying by the time he returned to land. They were married shortly after that.

I am also reminded of today's patriotism. The War on Terror which we still are battling. Let us continue to have such a fervency for patriotism that will not only be remembered on Independence Day, but will be remembered every day of the week.The sacrifices that our soldiers today are making; the separation from family and friends...

 I love America and what it was founded upon. Let us never lose that awesome unity.

Have a happy time with family, friends, and watching fireworks. (I do agree that fireworks are the best part of the day.)

The King's Speech: A Review

The King's Speech, a BBC production, is a film so splendidly done that I watched it three times in three days. I shan't give away details in the event you haven't seen it, but it can be rented from Netflix; you may sign up for a free month's trial, order the movie, and watch it at your leisure.

Set in the late 1930s and into the early 1940s, the wardrobe of each actor/actress was created for the time period. (And I simply adored Her Highness' blue hat in one scene!) Pacing was methodical, but perfect for the theme and storyline. Scenes flowed and offered their punches at the right moments.

Each actor and actress played their part(s) beautifully. It 'tis a film that will inspire, enlighten, and satisfy. Bravo! I should say the Queen of England would be proud of this film.

That's all I shall say. :)    .......... ooh, and Lizzie and Darcy meet in the most delightful way!

Second Dress -- Photos

The weather was blustery out, but was able to shoot some nice photos inside. This second dress was fairly simple to put together. Being my second mail order pattern to work with, it was a bit challenging, because mail order patterns did not come with enough instructions. The sleeves gave me the most fuss, but I think they turned out all right. There is still room for improvement, though! The only thing I would definitely change is the collar. It fits very snugly around my neck, which isn't desirable, but overall, I would make this dress again.

 

Dress     -- handmade by me; mid 1940s college style; mail order, ebay

Belt        -- handmade by me; vintage pass through buckle, auction find

Shoes     -- vintage woven canvas, thrifted (shown in another photo)

Earrings -- gift from sister

 

Second Dress -- Completed

Pleased to announce that my dress is complete! It only took me a week - and with another mail order pattern, this is very exciting progress. The weather is not allowing for nice pictures outside, so hopefully soon I will be able to get a few photos. Also, I need to get some photos of my clothes for the 30 for 30 challenge. I probably won't start it until this coming Monday. There are quite a few projects going on . . . .

Sew Along Dress -- Button Holes!

Ta da! My button holes are d o n e. I am really excited - I will be posting completed photos this weekend. My 1965 Kenmore Sewing Machine came to the rescue and the button-hole attachment the machine came with worked beautifully. (Although I have to whip stitch a few button holes; not sure what happened with the thread. When I seam ripped a line through the middle, the button holes looked awful. Eh, I'm sure that has happened to a few of you.) Considering my very first sewing project, I think all went well. Here are a few sneak peak photos of the button holes before they were opened. Please keep in mind that I have to remove one of the buttons and re-sew because it isn't exactly straight. Oops - eh - mistakes happen.

•  the pattern - 1949 - mail order

 aren't they beautiful??

 buttons finished w/ the button holes

lefty's slightly too close - must mend 

(already? the dress is fresh!) lol

sloppy button holes -- but they looked so pretty before I separated them! Not sure how to fix this problem.... I was so careful

A Shoe Find - 1940s WW2

Being blessed with a rather small foot, it is very hard to find shoes that fit properly. Either they are too long and narrow, too big, or simply don't fit. When people ask me what size I wear, I tell them: "Anywhere from a size 2 to a size 6, depending on the shoe." Really. The last wedding I was in I wore a size 2 shoe. :)

So when I go to garage sales, thrift stores, and other places, I hunt for shoes that might fit. Oh, there have been many pretty pair of shoes - downfall : just too big!

I went thrifting the other day as usual, and scanned the shoe rack with my sister. She found some really neat shoes that looked like they were 1940s. We analyzed the bottoms and found the heels were nailed with teeny nails - a sure vintage sign. Then the colors! Oh so WW2! I checked out the sizes and they were a size 5.5; I sized them up with my foot and they appeared that they would fit my little ole foot! We found three more pair the same size, bought them - and at a very nice price, too! - took them home where I tried them on.

Every single pair fit as if they were tailor made ~ now, my sister and I are in the buying/selling/ebay business. Whatever we buy, we sell. But not these! I rarely find shoes I like and find shoes that fit. These are for keeps, except one pair because they are simply too narrow at the toes for my surprisingly big toes.

Enough gabbing for now -- here are the photos - enjoy them!

 early WW2 sandals - the heel caps need repaired

Oh my - these are so very Patriotic ~ I have a hat, and WW2 jacket to match these

photos of the outfit coming soon!

- early 40s - mid 50s Shoes -

Socialites made in Spain

I have dreamed of owning this shoe in the exact colors!

 made in Spain - o la la !

These will need the upper sole re-glued onto the sole 

- can't wear them until they are fixed

-- vtg early 40s sandals -- 

these will be for sale on ebay soon - they are perfect!

 vtg 40s sandals - reminds me of Claudette Colbert in the Japanese WW2 film

these are simply flawless and a favorite!

WW2 American Home Front

Retro 40s girl metal sign --  This is meant to be a joke -- on me!! I am working at it, though!!

It has been such fun to be able to find vintage WW2 items at auctions, ebay, thrift stores (although that is very rare), and other odd places. Here is a meager collection I wanted to show you. Please enjoy!

 A 1940s WW2 ladies hankie. Very Navy.
Perhaps her man gave it to her as a souvenir.
I tried to capture the details.

(It's not in the right photo frame - because it is made of silk, I needed to get in behind glass pretty quickly after being stored for so long. Still looking for the right frame!)

Vintage bits of 40s - 50s fabrics. Very darling, and may have been what ladies sewed with on the meager make-do-with-what-you-have home front.

A vintage thermometer for when the kiddies became sick and the town doctor had to be summoned. 

WW2 desk accessories: stapler, paper clip, V-Mail Reader magnifying glass, and desk organizer for holding letter-writing supplies - fascinating! (There are still some 40s supplies in the little compartments.)

 1940s WW2 letters and V-Mail from a soldier to his parents.

Those V-Mails are so tiny - no wonder families needed a magnifying glass!

1940s radio. Evening times were spent listening to the radio. Fibber McGee & Molly, The Shadow, Amos n Andy, among many others. (I apologize for the dust on this one! The corners are hard to maintain!)

Household Operations in WW2

During WW2, households functioned much differently than they do today. Rationing altered many lives but the women knew how to save and make do with what they had. There were many posters encouraging - "Use it Up, Wear it Out, Waste Not" - everyone to save and reuse everything. It's a wonder we can find our loved vintage items today!

What most people do not know about this business of rationing is that when Pearl Harbor was bombed, our military was not ready to go into a war zone; they did not have enough necessary equipment because their ships had been bombed and becuase their air force operations were fairly new, war considering. It was then that Americans banded together and war plants erected almost over night in major cities -- making airplanes, grenades, clothing for our soldiers, parachutes, etc. Now whether this is true or not, to me it makes sense. Why else would the government ration goods and foodstuffs? This was good, though, for the American people because never in history has there been such unity, such loyalty to one's country, such awe and respect for servicemen. (Thank you to all of our servicemen and women - and family members - who sacrificed and are sacrificing to keep our American freedom.)

Good Housekeeping and Betty Crocker (among others) kept women informed on the best ways to stretch food items, and to make every morsel account for something. These recipe books are designed nicely, and help the 1940s lady to prepare well-rounded meals for their family, school lunches for the kids, and even light snacks at night. I have yet to try a recipe, but I will soon!

Do any of you have a special (or hated :0 ) memory from family members or even a personal story of the growing up times during WW2? Being an avid researcher particularly of WW2 America on the home front, I would relish your story! All and any information will greatly help and enhance my WW2 mid-western home front trilogy that I have been writing for the past 12  years. Thanks for stopping by!!

WW2 in Pictures

From my Wall Collection (I told you I had a wall dedicated to vintage photos!) -- an unknown soldier; a July 1943 field training manual that is in pretty good condition considering where it had traveled; a Jumbo postcard from the VA in Michigan, to Mr. and Mrs. McFarland from son. Son was convalescing and writes that he "still has to keep his leg in an oven." 

 From the 1950s - a navy fleet - the name is on the back of the photo, but I can't recall it now.

 My best collection of WW2 related items: two postage stamps, a 1910s ring; a 1920s pin pack awarded for excellent penmanship; a tiny Red Cross pin; a Service pin (not sure if this was worn by family members who had men serving); several Junior Red Cross collar clips; an unusual "I Gave War Chest 1944" clip; two V for Victory metal buttons; fascinating Aviator's wings; a perfect 1941 American flag brooch (my latest treasure!); and there is a 1930s wrestling ticket.

WW2 Red Cross bandages and a large cloth with a cloth Red Cross emblem. I don't know what the large cloth is for. It's hemmed on all sides. The most unusual piece I have found yet!

What do you treasure? I'd be interested to know!

1940s Photo Collection

 A theme of mine: vintage photos in wood and/or gold frames. One part of my wall is dedicated to vintage photographs, letters, and postcards. This sweet photo of three sisters or friends found its way to my collection through a large lot of photos I bought at a garage sale a few summers ago. I couldn't let this photo go anywhere else but my wall! The nostalgic era-bygone, this is so 1940s!! Look at the poufy hairstyles and the lovely outfits. They look as if they're having a grand time.

The second photo is a collection from my grandfather and his family and some friends. My grandfather served in the U.S. Navy in Japan and California during 1948-1950s. He is seen on the left driving a fancy car through California streets (oval frame); among others: my great-great grandmother in the black hat (small frame); a bomb testing site (far right); and the others are random photos of family and friends.

Do you have any old photos you decorate with? I'd love to hear about them!

Dress Making Part 2

All right. I'm back to the fabric drawing board. My green fabric, although very pretty, is too thick for this type of dress. I had an inkling that it was, but I was so happy to have found green fabric that I didn't want to face the facts of the thickness of fabric.... sigh.... Here are a few more fabric selections.

 I am thinking that this will come acros as  too "grandma-ish" and perhaps look like it should be an apron! This fabric is hard to find  coordinating skirt fabric because the "brown" in the fabric isn't really brown nor is it purple. Almost like a taupe, but do not want a lighter skirt color. Any suggestions?

Does this look too '70s? I want the fabric choice to be '40s-style but without large floral patterns. I do not have enough of this fabric to make a skirt, so it would have to be the bodice. Let me know what you think of this fabric.

This fabric is a soft cotton feel. Looks like flannel but it is not. The tiny dark centers of the flowers are blue, so i could have a blue skirt.









I am still not sure if these three fabric choices are the best for the pattern I am trying to make. I am in love with the first option, however, trying to find a coordinate a n d buttons to match will be difficult. If anyone has a place they shop for nice vintage-repro or even '40s dated fabric, let me know -- I would appreciate it so very much! Have a marvelous rest of the Sunday.

Vintage Dress Making

I am preparing to make my first dress from a vintage 40s pattern. This Anne Adams pattern looks very simple. The pattern requires 6 buttons across the shoulders and 4 buttons down the side of the dress. Across the shoulders, I would like to use the yellow geometric buttons, but can't decide which buttons to use down the side. Which buttons do you think look best with this lovely 50s-60s green fabric? (Fabric is true to its color in the first six photos; almost an olive green.)

 1949 Anne Adams Pattern

 Green Fabric and Buttons to Choose From

 Geometric/Thumbprint Yellow Buttons Across the Shoulders/Side

 Clear Swirl Buttons Down the Side/Across Shoulders

 Perhaps a unique collection down the side?

 Yet another collection down the side?

 I wonder if this is too "rough" looking?

 Tiny buttons down the side...does it work?

Woven leather/type buttons down the side: Brown & Black