Late summer picnic

This weekend, I had my little picnic at the beautiful Balboa Park. Darling friend, and fellow blogger Janey of Atomic Redhead attended, as well as her friend, and my new acquaintance, Christine of Smitten.

We had a lovely time chitchatting, and making each other laugh. Because of that, I have no photos of us relaxing next to the botanical gardens, or spinning in our dresses.  A couple of my guy friends showed up dressed snazzy, but we all were too busy having fun to capture the moments on film.

Incidentally, Janey, Christine, and I all wore nice pastel shades.

Outfit Details
1950's (???)Dress- Buffalo Exchange
Hat- Flashbacks
Shoes- "borrowed" from grandma

I will most certainly be planning some other get-together again, maybe sometime in November. I had fun with this, and I'm sure others will as well.

Have any of you had a picnic this summer? (or this winter for those of you in the southern hemisphere?)

Where are your favorite places for get-togethers?

WWII Pin Inspired Giveaway!

Hello everyone, I'm giving away an adorable WWII inspired pin set

I picked this up at SDCC this year, and it was created by my friend Dan Bois, who's a local San Diegian, and artist.



I grabbed one for myself, and another to giveaway, as I figured some of you'd appreciate the adorable vector art!

We have Fifinella, A United States Army Corps logo, Curtiss Propellers logs, an a cute mechanic pin-up.


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck to those who enter!!

Mid-year resolution check in

Hello All! 

Once again, my blogging mojo has been quite low. I've had ideas buzz about, but I am unable to curate them to put them to fruition.

Yes, I know you shouldn't start a post with an apology, but as this is a resolution check in, I figured I'd let it slide.

So, remember when I made a 2016 Goals list? Lets see how I fared on them!

Blogging

- Post more/write posts in advance/vlog.
I am now mulling new ideas for the blog, and possibly some future vlogs!! I hope to at the very least post once a week. Two times if I'm really good about it!

So, I did piss-poor on this, mostly due to school being a thing in the spring time. But with summer still in full swing, I can afford more time to this.

-Consider sponsorships.
I keep thinking about it. I might do some for a short time, and if any one who's done them before has any advice, do let me know!

So, that didn't happen...YET! I'm still mulling them about.

- Try to do a tutorial/freebie each month.
A friend keeps suggesting I do tutorials, because they are fun and helpful. I agree with them! I think one a month is a very attainable goal, so I shall try my darnest.

I have a couple more tutorials in mind. I'll try to have one up next month. Are there any you'd like to see?

-Organize a blogger meet-up.
I know there are other vintage loving people in my city! But the only 'get togethers' I see aside from Tiki Oasis are flea-markets from what I can see. So I talked it over with a friend and she suggested I do a meet-up. I've never done a meet-up before, so any advice would be terribly welcomed.

GUESS WHO ORGANIZED HER FIRST VINTAGE PICNIC?! If you're in San Diego, love and wear vintage clothes, and want to have a picnic, direct yourself here. I a terribly excited to be doing this!

Personal

- Exercise more.
I get stressed out a lot. When I exercise I feel better. I just need to exercise a lot more!

I exercise more or less every day now! I have tiny little bicep muscles trying to be super awesome, and that makes me feel good.

-Meet more people.
I'm a surprisingly shy and quiet person. I'd like to meet more people and make friends and acquaintances!

Last year I participated in a twitter chat ran by some vintage lovers. It was awesome! A friend of mine who I made through that realized it needs to happen again, as it's been a while.

So, a bit short notice for you dear readers, but Sara and I are hosting a vintage Twitter chat on July 28th, at 7pm EST/4pm PST

The topic is Women of WWII, and we would love it if you stopped by!
Our handles are @tinyangrycrafts and @iliveinmylab and the hashtag will be #vintagechatWe recommend you use TweetDeck to keep up!

-Make the best damn collection that I can.
I have to make a clothing collection featuring 3-5 garments in the spring for my schools student run fashion show (If you are local to me, I'm going to be convincing you to go. You've been warned). I need to up all the skills I've learned in school to make a bad ass collection. I'll need a cheering squad.

DONE!

-Go to more events.
I want to go to the LA Air Raid, thanks to Saras convincing I might try to make it out there! And there are a couple blog-worthy events local to me, so I'll attempt to attend!

Yeah, still finding some events I can make it to. Any suggestions to ones in San Diego/LA?

I think I did good on these! Save for one which culminated with me graduating, I will continue to see how everything goes till the end of the year!

How are your mid-year goals? 
Will you participate in #vintagechat?

On the mend again

No, I'm not sick. I'm referring to the one thing in everyone who wears vintage has somewhere in their home. A mending pile.

I put all the things I need to fix up in an extra Buffalo Exchange bag. Thankfully its a nice size, and super portable, so I can zone out watching Netlflix as I work on things.

There are a couple of my me-mades in there, as I love wearing them a lot, haha.

The bagged items are stockings, I have a couple that need reinforcement, and thankfully I purchased a darning egg ages ago. I have a lot of embroidery thread, and will darn up a couple things, such as that small jacket.

I really like mending up my clothing items, it's proof I really enjoy and will take care of the clothing I spent a lot of time on.


Sometime down the line, I'll post up a mending tutorial, is there any particular thing you'd like to see?

Do you mend your clothing? If so, how big is your mending pile?

Tutorial: Vintage Style Shoulder Pads

Often times in a 40's pattern, you'll see you need shoulder pads. It will usually tell you to purchase one, create one, or create one from a handy little tutorial in the instruction sheet.
100% of the time, you need stuffing.

Now, I don't have any stuffing like what is described; in sheets. So I played around with scraps I had,  and got something to work just as well.

You will need:

Graduating in a DuBarry suit

Hello everyone!

Loads of changes in one little blog post.

First, I graduated on May 14th! That day is also my grandmas birthday, so I think that was the best birthday present I could of gave her.

In the days before my graduation, and after my schools fashion show, I decided to make a suit.

Or as the back of the DuBarry 5411 envelope calls it, a 'two piece dress'. My grandma also referred to it as such, which was cute.

I popped to JoAnns, got some fabric and notions, then set to work.

I made some shoulder pads!! 

I finished the night before I graduated, and when I tried the outfit on, I got a BUNCH of compliments from family. Day of, I got asked 'where did you buy that?!' "Oh,  made it!" 'Oh of course you made it, you're a fashion major.'

Today I took some cute photos because it's the end of May Grey here in SD.

Oh yeah, I cut my hair.

Sewing Details

Fabric: Polyester suiting

Pattern: DuBarry 5411 purchased from Janey a while ago.

Year: 1942

Notions: Covered Buttons, bias tape, muslin.

How historically accurate is it? Ignoring the fabric choice, very accurate!

Any tricky parts to the pattern? None.

Did you change anything? How the shoulder pads were made. Tutorial forthcoming.

Time to complete: 4 days

First worn:May 14, 2016

Total cost: I wanna say $32 in total. I'm gonna say the pattern was $10. $22 for fabric and notions.

Notes: It was rather fun making this. Though, when I make it again, I'm gonna accommodate for a larger bust and hip.

Suit- Me-Made
Gloves- Estate Sale
Hat- StutterinMama
Shoes- Thrifted
Socks- Target
Bakelite- Various


I had a lot of fun making this suit. It's super cute, and despite being a synthetic and in a 'fall' color, I'm gonna wear this a couple more time this summer, I'm sure. My grandma is very amused by it, and said I look like a Girl Scout.

Have any of you sewn a cute suit or two-piece dress lately?

Do you have any DuBarry Patterns?

Pretty Pink Purchases

Sometimes you just gotta get some cute things to make a place more yours.

I noticed a theme in some of my recent purchases. A lot of pink things!

Everything but the Hand Food came from Daiso! It all makes me smile so much when I see them!

Easter Fashions from Calling All Girls

A while back, my friend Megan and I hit up a sale at a vintage shop called 'Frock You! Vintage' They had a bunch of vendors from other places, and I lucked out finding someone who sold magazines. Sadly, I didn't get her card, but the magazine is called 'Calling All Girls'.

It was a magazine for teenage girls, which gave them tips on growing up, dating, getting a job, all the latest fashions, and things the average teenage girl in the 40's needed to know.

I lucked out and got the March 1946 issue, which shows some spring and Easter fashions.

Do any of you have any teen-age magazines from this era?

Would you wear a brim hat?

February Update

I posted up a little Vlog to talk about my February

And here are some of the darling gifts from Janey

I am just in love with this parasol. I need to re-vamp my Waitress Tiana costume, and come up with an adorable Disneybound as well.

The amount of love and attention to detail Janey puts into these parasols is impeccable. When I get more cash, I'm going to commission another from her!

I was surprised when I received a text asking if I wanted a vintage train case with 'stickers or no stickers' I gleefully responded 'with stickers!' And was given this gorgeous Samsonite case.

I was also gifted the Sleepy Hollow comic, but I've yet to read it, since it's break I have free time!

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd have such a sweet selfless friend such as Janey. I can't wait till we next hang out! <3 br="">

And here is the progress for my cardigan.

Are any of you working on any projects?

Do you have an amazing friend?

Any new vintage acquisitions? 

Vintage instructional films

Something I've been amusing myself with lately have been vintage instructional films. Most I'd see when I'd sneak and watch MST3K as a kid, but I figure as I've gotten older, I can appreciate them for what they were.

They're surprisingly interesting, from a historical standpoint, and many can offer some helpful tips on caring for ones body and hair, and even saving money. Granted you ignore a lot of the blatant sexism in some of them.


Body Care and Grooming

Good Grooming for Girls

Your Thrift Habits

I was annoyed I couldn't find a pair of Simplicity pattern videos (Not Pattern for Smartness) from the early 60's I believe. So, have this supermarket checker video.

How to be an effective supermarket checker

Do any of you have any videos that amuse you lately?
 Do any of you remember these videos?

What I'm up to

This month started off fairly relaxed, but as life does its thing, it began to be a bit more busy.

I started back to school last week, and I'm scribbling up a nice time management planner, in addition to my little mini planner where I keep in my due dates for assignments.

I might have mentioned before I'm taking a millinery course. It's 'flat pattern' millinery, and in the class, we will learn to either make a pillbox hat, or a sailor hat in eight weeks.

I'm thinking a sailor hat with a tilted up brim. But as of writing, I'm scouring online sources, and some of the free patterns Tanith listed. 


The other course I'm taking is called Advanced Pattern Design, also called 'Collections' by people in the department. I'll essentially be designing a 3-5 garment line to showcase at our schools end of year fashion show. (If you're local to me, I will hound you to purchase tickets, you've been warned.)

I have to turn this book into my newest best friend, and keep a nice little bookelet of inspiration. And screech a lot because this class will be a time and energy suck.


After x-mas, I decided to start knitting up the Datemaker Cardigan. 

I stopped at the armhole shaping, because I got confused and messed up in pattern somewhere. So I put in a lifeline, and knit up to a certain point. 

But as I fanned this out for photos, It seems I have messed up in pattern towards the beginning of the knitting. So, I'll rip it back, and start a new. If anyone has any tips on keeping in pattern during the armhole shaping, do let me know. The written directions were quite confusing to me.


And to keep myself content and happily amused, I play a bit of Animal Crossing: New Leaf

This is still tiding me over until I am able to afford Happy Home Designer.


What are you all up to?
Are any of you taking any courses?
Do you play video games to relax?

Review: Besame Cake Mascara

Back in September, Besame Cosmetics was at Dapper Day. Sadly, I was not. Each Dapper Day, they do a little scavenger hunt, and this time they did a 'digital version' The winners got to choose some items, and luckily I won! I chose the new Black Cake Cake Mascara.

I was intrigued! Mascara, not in a tube?! I had to try it, for science, of course.

Now, at the time I got some mascara spoolies from my last visit to Sephora, and used them for this demonstration. They worked great!

It was interesting to use water to activate the cake mascara, but it went very well. Just wet the brush, wiggle it back and forth on the cake, and apply to the lashes as usual.

(If that video doesn't work, here is the Instagram link)

I applied the mascara, and also used it to darken my eyebrows. My mom loved it, and asked if I was wearing false lashes!

During the December holidays, there was a sale on the mascara brushes, and lip brushes. I splurged a bit on the cute brushes. The mascara spooly one I've yet to use, but I used the eyeliner one. 

It takes me a lot to get the makeup to show on my skin, so there are a lot of layers involved. It's a smidge annoying, but I guess that's all part of the self-pampering ritual. Makes me feel a bit like an Old Hollywood Starlet, haha!

All in all. I love this mascara, but I am a bit annoyed with the container being cardboard. I understand it's now 100% biodegradable, but I can't just throw it in my purse and say, touch up my brows or liner without something happening, or something gross getting into it. If I correctly recall, the original Besame cake mascara was in a little plastic package, more reminiscent of the original ones of the 30's. But, as being green and environmentally friendly is happening with more companies, I understand the change.

Have any of you used the cake mascara?

Do you think you'd add it to your vanity table?

Thank you for reading!

Note- I received the cake mascara free from Besame, and I purchased the brushes with my own money. I am receiving no compensation from Besame Cosmetics for this review. I have used affiliate links in this post.