Victory is mine!

Victory is mine! Here it finally is my first crocheted beanie. I ended up making it for myself instead of for my niece to be, but I don't mind.

I found the pattern here on Etsy, and it's really easy and fast. 

I also bought these big chunky bamboo crochet needles on Etsy. You can find them here, together with lots of other nice things. The leather name tags are not only sweet but also practical, they make the needles easier to work with

Victorian reproduction purse

Lately I have been working on this victorian chatelaine purse. The silver purse frame is a family heirloom from around 1860. And the french jet bead appliques are vintage/antique.

The appliques needed to be restored to their former glory and that is exactly what I did, bead by bead.

I never knew how to make this type of purse, so I was very happy to find this helpful article about by Madame Mercantile.

Quite a while ago I promised you all a picture of me wearing my purple woollen 50's style dress. Yesterday we finally got around to taking a picture. 

It's not a great picture I was really tired and was having a bad headache when the picture was taken, but I didn't want to make you even longer.

After 2 or so, no kidding, failed attempts at making a babyhat with crochet. All hat turned out too big, I guess I still need to learn a lot, especially how to read the descriptions. I decided to make these nailbound and felted baby booties instead and finished them just in time to give them as a gift yesterday.

The pink wool has been dyed with cocheneal.

Vintage style birthday presents and other things.

I can't believe that is almost a month since my last post. I've been really busy with my two (still!) sick men and keeping our household running. Two weeks ago was my husbands birthday and I got him this nice antique silverplated pocketwatch from around 1919. It has a crack in the dial which is a pity but it runs nicely  and I like the simple and functional design.

My son gave him this really cool Edwardian compass watch fob.

And good friends and fellow victorian re-enactors: Mark, Wieze en Max gave him a watch chain. Needless to say that Remko was very happy.

In turn we bougth Max a vintage style birthday present as well.

A 1920's stick pin/tie pin with adorable glass cameo.

Just goes to show that Ebay and Etsy's are dangerous places to be.

I have done more that just spending money. I am still trying to learn how to crochet, the biggest problem for me is getting the edges of my work straight. This turned in to a case for my son his iPod. The idea is very popular at school but teaching crochet is harder dan I thougth.

I've also knitted a lacey spring scarf. 

Crochet

The childeren at school asked about maybe doing some crochet but I had to admit I couldn't. I had bought some zpagetti yarn a long time ago and figured that it was about time that I learned. I am still running a fever and have very little energy but I am getting bored. So I really need to do something to keep my sanity.

 Zpagetti is fun because it's easy, you only need to know the basics, and it's fast. Both these bags I have made in one day! And my nalebinding experience helped me to adjust the patterns of the bags.

Flu time

What  does a vintage girl do when she has the flu?

Watch old movies for inspiration! ;-) This one was How to Steel a Million Dollars with Peter O'Toole and Audrey Hepburn. The purple dress is finished by the way, but I got sick before I had a chance to get a picture of me wearing it.

Purple Progress!

The dress still needs to be hemmed and the zipper sewn in, but I'd like to alter the neckline a little first. The dress is a mix of two patterns. It has the bodice of Butterick B5556, but the neckline and skirt of Butterick B5605. It doesn't look like much on a clothes hanger, I wouldn't look at it twice if it was hanging in a store, but I am really happy about how it looks when I am wearing it.

Steampunk confession; back to the drawing board.

Sometimes I start on a costume but I just can't be bothered to finish it. It doesn't happen often, but if it does it's a clear sign that I am not on the right track. This is the case with my steampunk outfit, remember the beige cotton Edwardian Walking Skirt and the white cotton Edwardian blouse? I found out that I really love the Edwardian style, on someone else that is....

This was the kind of look I was aiming at, available at steampunkemporium

I just doesn't feel like me, it frankly isn't divaesque enough to really appeal to me or  inspire me. With our first chance to do steampunk coming up fast I need to come up with a plan even faster! As I love my victorian bustle outfit it will be most  likely something like that. I have plenty ideas but it's hard to stick to one.

The next problem is not having much time right now. My son goes to school for only half days because he suffers from lyme disease, he has been sick for over 7 months now. And two weeks ago my husband suffered a knee injury so he's been home since then as well. Both my men need plenty of love, care and doctor's/hospital visits. So there hasn't been much time left for costuming. Hopefully things will get better soon.

Progress on my 50's style purple woollen dress is therefore slow but I got really lucky. The bodice did fit the skirt without any problems. As the are both from different patterns, but from the same pattern range (butterick retro 50's style), I had hope it would work. Currently I am working on the lining.

The steampunk outfit not only has to be easy and fast but also affordable. So'll be probably use an existing costume or at least a pattern and fabric I've already own and steampunk it with some bought steampunk "brassy" bits. The infamous "just glue some gears on it and call it steampunk" start.

But at least it's a start !