Monday, September 30, 2013

Steampunk Roller Derby - Part 1

Remember how I JUST said an update will have to wait? Well, I forgot I had a post written and was waiting to post it. Go me!

So, I had been planning on making a pair of bloomer shorts for the Steampunk Roller Derby Outfit for TeslaCon. I already have a pair of pants I picked up at the thrift store just for this purpose, and I will still make them. But last night I saw a skirt on Etsy that was just a big mix of satin, lace, ribbon, & doilies and it inspired me.
It kinda looked like this, but this is not the skirt I saw, I can't remember how I came across it in the first place :)  Ooooh, look at these cool spats the seller has too! OK, I'm getting distract..... ooh sparkly!  This is pretty.  Adding this seller to favorites, she has lots of stuff I like! Actually surprised that wasn't the shop where I found the other skirt.
Tomorrow is 50% day at the thrift store near my work so I'm going there with a plan of raiding the lace curtain sheers, place mats, doilies, table runners, & prom dresses. Then 'll need to pick up some tea when I go to the store so I can do a natural dye on them. I'm not necessarily looking for all cream pieces, I'll probably pick up a few of different colors for a little splash here and there. Not sure if I'm going to put it on an elastic waistband  or a normal one. I just hope this thing comes out like what I'm imagining.

2 thrift stores provide some supplies: 1 large, beige, circular table cloth with a lace edge; 2 lace curtain valances (won't use both but thought 1 could be made into a stand-alone skirt); 5 doilies, 1 handkerchief; & 2 belts.


A close up of the doilies and a handkerchief:

This large doily is a great color:

Then I found these 2 belts. The dark brown sequin one is more of a sash-type belt. Love the belt buckle on the gold one.

Next up, I will put my college education to work and do some natural dying with tea and coffee. Stay tuned.

Where have I been?

I promise to update when all the Halloween  stuff is finished - I just can't take the time to write a full post right now..... 4 weeks to go and too many things to finish.

Monday, September 9, 2013

1930s Shoes!!!

So this past week, I had the task of  going through my grandmother's photo albums to find pictures of her for her memorial service. Album after album of old photos where I only knew a fraction of who was in them. Then my mom plops an album on the bed that came out the bedside table. I'm going through it and thinking something just doesn't seem right for it being my grandmother. I come across this.....


and I wonder.... could this be my grandmother and her sisters???? She was born in 1925 and was the oldest of 4 daughters. That little girl in the dark jacket looks to be about 6 or 7, right? Then I think... is THAT my great graandmother?? I knew her when I was younger but all the pictures I had ever seen of her were from the 1950s-1980s. Was it another relative?? I HAD to know!!! Well, I guess my grandmother decided on a rather sad way of getting me the answers I needed. She passed away on Wednesday, September 4th.  I was 2 hours into a 12 hour drive from Alabama to Ohio when my mom called and told me to turn around. I had gone home to see her for what I knew would be the last time. So, another 2 hours later I enter the house and find her youngest sister (not pictured because she wasn't born yet) sitting on the couch. After doing all the sad stuff, I grabbed that album and sat down next to Aunt Linda ... the last remaining person who could confirm or deny my suspicions and identify all the pictures. And she said, yes, that was her mother! Eureka!!! I'm so in love with this picture of her!!! The hat! The coat!

                                         THE SHOES!!!!!!!


AAAHH She's just the perfect picture of the 30s!!! Of course internet costuming dork that I am I think, "American Duchess has something similar to this." Well, hers are 1920s "23 Skidoo" - but maybe Myra's shoes were a favorite pair that she still wore.. who knows.The album turned out to belong to my great grandmother: Myra Blanche Campbell Merideth Bunch. I was able to figure this out by the way my grandmother had signed some pictures and then 2 Mother's Day cards in the back signed the same way. Such an amazing find (more later on the other things unearthed in the house as we went through cupboards and closets).

Now, American Duchess is offering a 1930s shoe... "The Claremont"!! Super cute.