Finishing Projects

Ella with her finished bag!

 It's such a gratifying experience to finish a project.    I usually start them and slowly work through each project and eventually get to the end.  Not so easy though.  It's easy to get frustrated or bored.  Like my friend Pauletta, avid sewer, knitter and practicing Buddhist,  told me, it's a mediation in patience.  These girls have started that practice and are reaping the rewards!

The Dark Angel Commeth!  Cate finishes her Halloween Costume

Maya in her Mustard Butterfly Blouse!

Sasha with her monster!

Finished Monster Kleenex Holder

 

Suspect Walks into Jail Office

Interesting things come in vintage pattern envelopes....

Headline:  "Suspect Walks Into Jail Office"
Copy reads: "A dapper young fellow, wearing blue corduroy trousers and a dark sweater, walked into the sheriff's office Monday and addressed Chief Deputy Sheriff George Beckstead thus:
"I am Jack Bunce, 22. My address doesn't matter. You want me for a burglary."
And it's just as well that he did, for deputy sheriffs were preparing to jail him within a few hours as a suspect in the burglary of the Texas Oil company service station at Thirty-third South and State streets last Tuesday.
Mr. Beckstead said Bunce admitted taking eight tires from the service station and selling...."

________________________________________________________________________________

Goes to show, you never know what you get with vintage stuff.  This was so much fun to receive after a frenzied Etsy and Ebay splurge where I purchased four vintage 1930's patterns for my daughter and myself.  This pattern is a homemade additional collar pattern for the young girl's dress.  Here are a few more images of the pattern and the dress I'm now working on. 

Dress in progress

Pattern envelope and instructions

Newspaper collar pattern

Work in progress.....

More on the dress itself later.

Parent and Child Sewing Workshop

Working together!

Gratia and Dad Ethan

Proud Grandpa

 Admittedly, when asked to create a Mother / Daughter sewing class, I cringed just a little bit.  Often I hear from parents that it's hard to teach their kids something new.

Well, I kept getting requests.  Honestly, I thought the parents just want an excuse to have some fun.  Keeping my mind open, I put the word out and was surprised at the response.

Ok, so what happened next was even more surprising.  I had one mom say that she wasn't interested, but her husband might be.  That blew me away.  In today's day and age, I don't get too many male students.  It was very exciting.  This was going to be interesting and I would have to change the name.

 A darling family joined us our first week.  It was Father and son with daughter and grand daughter. How sweet to see the men taking such interest in their girls.  Even better was the story from Alden and Gratia's grandfather.  He told me that he bought a machine for his wife, the girl's grandmother, when she got pregnant and then taught himself to sew.  He went on to make her first maternity dress, then taught his son to sew.  What a family legacy and how special of them to share this skill with future generations.

In reality, the kids and parents learn and work together.   What fun we can all have.  I can't wait for the next one....

Patchwork mittens for Gratia

ironing is fun!

don't forget to giggle!  Andrea and Sabina

Andrea and Pari

Sabina and her stuffed guinea pig!

Gratia with her mittens and pillow case

Andrea and Pari with their cat pillow ready to stuff with fluff!

Going to the Gatsby Summer Afternoon

 Such a fun way to spend a Summer afternoon.  The Dunsmuir house in Oakland, provides and elegant background for this special day brought to us by the Art Deco Society.   Every year folks dress up in Art Deco Attire (circa 1915-1940) and come out for this Event.  Whether you like vintage clothing, vintage cars, a great picnic or croquet, you will be in for a treat.

There were many amazing picnics, but this year it was all about the clothes for me.  My friend Joy Johnson found two fabulous matching dresses for myself and my daughter (see below photo), so we were able to dress up and compliment each other. Such a thrill for a mom personally obsessed with American Girl dolls as well as sewing and times gone by.  We were so lucky that the dresses fit and we fit in beautifully.  I'm already thinking about what we'll wear next year.

 

Darling table with a lovely setting!

I was watching these two impeccably dresses ladies about all day.  Their dresses were fabulous.  I'm   not sure if they were vintage or if they made them.  In either regard - gorgeous 1930's.

Here are our dresses - Just needing a few minor repairs.

 Also Ella Schwartz above, posing on one of the cars.

 This ensemble was made from a pattern that belonged to the model's grandmother.  So cute!  Love the hat.

Wouldn't it be delightful to have a maid by your side?  And doubly special if her hair was an exact match to her dress. 

Looking forward to my next Gatsby!
Toodloo!

Alameda Wine Tour

Recently my friend Desiree Salas, a fellow designer, mentioned to me that she thought we should organize an Alameda wine tour. "What a fantastic idea!" I thought to myself with a Mimosa in one and and a (flat head) screwdriver in the other.   You see, she had come over to help me build my daughter's bedroom furniture.  We got to talking and one thing let to another....so last weekend Desiree and I set out to taste wines and spirits at 3 of Alameda's best Wineries.

First Stop - Rosenblum Cellars - We met up with Desiree's friend Lilian and enjoyed the sunshine out on their lovely patio.  Rosenblum is right on the estuary next to the Ferry Terminal.  The weather was breezy but nice so we sat and talked quite a while before going in to taste.

Here we are - Ready to go (from left to right - Lilian, Myself & Desiree)!
Our flight started out with a white and we moved on to several Zinfindels.  I've never been a fan of the Zin variety, but I tried it and was pleasantly surprised. 
After about an hour of tasting, we moved outside to have some snacks - Cheese, crackers, nuts, fruit and Soda - Perfect.

We bid Adieu to Lilian (She's from Switzerland originally) and walked to our next winery, deep in the navy base - Rock Wall Winery.  It was about a 20 minute walk from one place to the next and the wind started picking up.
We got inside and were ready for our next flight.  It was hard to choose.  Flights cost between $5-$15 which seemed very reasonable.  We both ended up picking the $5 flight which had more whites.  Now we needed chocolate and they accommodated us supremely.  The truffles were out of this world.
10 minutes late for our next pouring, we had to skate out of Rock Wall without finishing our flight.

Racing through the heavy downpour (how did that happen?) we made it to St. George spirits just in time to meet Maria Janeff, owner of Calliope.  All wet and ready to drink, we joined my neighbor and excellent spirit adviser- Emily Winston, who poured our flights for us.  I have to say, St. George was my favorite - Hanger One Vodka and Absinthe as well as Pear and Raspberry liqueurs.

My Favorite being the Budda's Hand infused vodka.  What a special treat.  I'm ready for more!
Such fun to hang out with friends.  Come join us next time and let us know your favorite Alameda or Bay Area Winery!

Budda's Hand!

Alameda Style: Your Home is Your Sanctuary

This is the first installment of my Interview with Style series.  Taken from an article I wrote for Alameda Patch:

 Interior Designer - Kelley Flynn


In 2010, Kelley won the Best of Oakland reader's choice award for Professional Who Can Make Your Home Look Like A Million Dollars, and she works wonders with personal space. She's  not only concerned with each person's style and how your house will look, but also with how it will feel. Kelley really addresses the spiritual nature of our domestic existence.

 

What Do You Do? I specialize in residential interior decorating, design and color consulting.
How long have you been doing this work? I’ve had my business for five years, but I've been in the architecture and design world my whole career. I grew up with design. My father was an industrial designer.
In five words or less, describe your style. Modern, elegant and simple with a calming effect.
Do you have a style philosophy? I personally like a mix of old and new. Old things immediately give a room patina and history and a story. But I am always informed by my modernist sensibility.
People need a respite when they go home. They need that sanctuary, that space that refuels them or calms them down. Whatever it is for them. We live such hectic lives that we are not aware sometimes and we don’t take the time to do simple little things.
It’s like the analogy of cooking or the slow food movement. We have to ask, “What’s really important in our lives?” Interior design provides that backdrop for what’s really important: To be able to slow down, to notice that beautiful flower sitting there or that beautiful painting or special object or whatever it is that gives you pleasure. If you can create an environment of pleasure, then your senses are slowed down a little bit.
What do you think Alamedans need to know? They can mix sophisticated elements with vintage in a stylish and family-friendly way.

What possession to you cherish most? My Waterman fountain pen with a gold tip and my Japanese scissors.
What is your favorite style secret? Knocking around the antique and consignment stores here in town.
What do you like best about Alameda? The community, the small-town feel, the people.

Do you have a cherished item you won't give up if you redecorate?

Vintage Remodeled Wedding Gown - Part 2

Well, it's done and listed on Esty. 
Here is the before photo:

and here are some after photos:

Voila!