Treasures from mi Abuelita - Part One

Mi Abuelita died years ago. I miss her so much. I talk about her a lot because she is still a part of my life. When I went home for Thanksgiving this year. I was given a box of her costume jewels. I am so proud to be able to wear these! As I looked through them I had many memories of her wearing them. I also think that she MADE a lot of them. If she likes something like a button on an old dress, she would glue it to an earring back...or fasten a necklace. I found out that we were so much alike in more ways than I ever knew!

My favorite is this necklace. It's a single necklace, just like I have seen 50s TV moms wear. I adore it!
You can see Martini looking at me back there. He is my shadow.

This is just a small sample of what is in that box. I have another box that I will show you next time.

The pink and yellow box is something she made. It is a pin and earrings made from steak bones that she glued and painted! How awesome! The rose pins and earrings she also made.

The sweater clip has the image of the Virgin Mary in blue.

Las perlas son muy bonitas

She has a bunch of these beaded rope necklaces. All colors!

I found out how Mema saved EVERYTHING when I inherited her sewing machine and table. I use the zips and buttons she collected all the time. She also saved her broken jewelry in this cute pink sewing box.

There are so many pretty, shiny things in here. Some I will make into hair barrettes, and flowers, and the rest I think I will glue onto a wooden keepsake box. It will be super cool!

 

I think some pieces are vintage. They look old for sure and the stones look glass.

 I have lots of work to do. Mi Abuelita no estuvo aguejeros en las orejas. I hate clip ons! I have to alter all of these with posts. I glue them on. 

Last week I had a bad week, and was feeling really dissapointed and alone. When I went to bed, I had a dream with my Mema in it. I was talking to her and she knew how sad I was. She took my hand and wove her fingers in between mine. She said "I will be your partner, Susie" She then told me to get out her jewelry box. She was glad that I had it; she told me that that our link was the jewelry, and whenever I wore her jewelry she would be close to me. I would not be alone.

Thanks Mema, I love you!

Hope you had fun looking!

STAY GLAM!

In Progress!

Workin on the 1940s evening dress! Here is the dress so far. I just had to finish out the year with a formal dress! It's a gold taffeta xoxoxoxo

Project Gossip! Tell me what you think about my next dresses! (Fabric and Pattern Show and Tell)

Leave me your comments!
Do you guys remember having Show and Tell in school. I liked that!

Finished Project: The Day of the Dead Los Novios" Dress- Mid 50s Inspired

Alexander Henry Fabric, of course! It's called Los Novios, which means "the couples" in Spanish. Que Bonita! Me encantan las cosas de el dia del los muertos!

It literally has every color in the rainbow. I can wear ANYTHING with it. This is a 50's ish Advance Pattern.

As you can see, the back plunges quite low. Que Sexi, no?
I have decided that I am going to get sewing scissors tattooed next to the pin cushion...

I almost did a hot pink pocket. But I liked the black better. The are effing huge pockets. The design is pretty.

I needed to twirl around! YAY!

I made this flower. The center piece is a 50s rhinestone brooch that belonged to mi Abuelita. Te gusta?
It's another beautiful neckline, too! I call it a portrait type.

I like it without the belt better. Maybe I should just stop wearing that damn belt....

 

Material: cotton 6 yards

Pattern: 50 Advance size 40, graded up to a 52

Design Details: fitted, sleavless bodice with a drop shoulder, portrait neckline, and plunging back neckline: full skirt with two front pockets

Construction Time: 10 hours including a test bodice and pattern drafting

Closure: none needed fits over the head, but I put in a side zip anyway.

STAY GLAM!

Finished Project: Halloween Pinup Dress- Late 50s Inspired

 
I forget which on-line fabric store I first spotted this print. It's another discontinued Alexander Henry Print. GOD I LOVE THAT COMPANY.
This is the same pattern as the other double collar dress I posted. I wore this for a Halloween Ball in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. I had a cute little feather hat with a veil. This dress is PURE awesome, and I will be wearing it to band shows for sure. Like MINISTRY says: Every Day is Halloween!

sin cinturon

Funny story about that hair bow. It came off of it's clip. I was gluing it onto another clip. Like a complete dumbass, After I glued it, I held it up to my hair...with glue not solid yet. Si! I actually glued the bow to mi cabello! Que tonta! I  had to pull my hair out!

con cinturon

Do you like it better with belt or without belt?

Now that I see both, I think I might like no belt better...

The original pattern has cuff sleeves. I made scallop sleeves instead. It was part of my master plan to nail down making those tricky bastards. I like the look!

Oh yea....Have you ever bought buttons, then ran out, went back to buy more and they were out at the store! Ay Dios Mio! I improvise! Buy a set of buttons that are complimentary, and then alternate button types! Then tell people it's part of your design! LOL SUCKAS!

I hope you like it! I do!

Sewing Instruction Video! Tips and Tricks I used for the most recent dress!

Finished Project: Last Chica Verde Dress! Late 50's Inspired

I won this fabric from J and O fabrics retro contest! Well, I bought it with the gift card I won. I had my eye on it for some time. Cute, no? All those glamour girls! The color is lime green for the background.

The pattern I used is like this one:

I am too lazy to take a picture of the actual pattern, but you get the idea. It's a scoop neck with scallops. The sleeves are also scalloped. I am having scalloped potatoes for dinner RIGHT now. Is that weird...who knows...but it IS yummy irony.

Dress Details:
Material: Cotton, about 7 yards
Closure: Side zip
Fit: fitted bodice and full skirt with scallop neck and sleeve, kimono sleeve
Sewing Time: about 20 hours of work including pattern drafts, and tests

taaaadaaaaa! SMUG FACTORY, no?

of course you can do an interview....

I make these photo ladies LOOK good

 

I was contemplating doing a quick video on my you tube channel with tips for doing these scallops. I wore this for Thanksgiving and my mum was going LOCA for mi vestido nuevo. She thought it was so hard to sew. Well, it maybe was a pain in the ass, but I actually enjoyed it! haha! 

This is also, for you extra good notice-ers out there, a kimono sleeve (aka not a set in sleeve) pattern. This was no small task for me to do! I have big ham-hock arms. I say that lovingly. No, really I do. They just don't fit in RTW clothes so well. So I had to make 1 or 2 tests before I got the size right. Worth it right> Now I made a kimono sleeve sloper that I can expand my designs with! 

I have at LEAST two more vestidos to show this month! Stay tuned!

Note: I want to give kisses to all my amiguitos who regularly comment here on blogger, and my subscribers on you tube! You guys and how great you all are: you are the reasons why I continue to post here every month! I love all the stories of inspiration, and frustration, and humor that you all send me! I am just another sewing nerd without the love of my readers, so......te amo!