Atchison is enjoying the cone-free life. Absolutely. Thoroughly.
He's a total camera ham. He is.
And he loves the changing of the bed linens. Snuggling into the clean laundry. What fun. Just ask him.
Look at that cute puppy face. Humor me. Please.
The last is my favorite. Yes indeedy. So. Be a good reader and oooh and aaahh over the little guy. All 65 pounds of him. You'll make me so happy. You will.
but maybe not. I've been sorting through boxes, paring down. Our house is nearly 1,000 feet smaller here — but right in the center of town, no more suburbia! — so some things must go. Fabric is especially hard to toss. It inspires hopes, dreams, possibilities, the future.
I picked this piece up more than a decade ago at a Houston estate sale. It's a barkclothy, lineny kind of thing. So pretty. I love the colors. Love the print. But. Would I actually wear a garment made from this? No. Still, I couldn't part with it. Or so I thought when I went to bed. Upon awakening, I changed my mind. Yes, I love it. But will I use it? No. So. It's going to Goodwill. Bye-bye, lovely fabric. Make someone else happy.
Do you have a hard time letting fabric leave your abode?
Ahhh . . . Valentine's Day is less than a month away. And you already have a dinner date with that dreamy veterinarian you met in October. You've pawed through your walk-in closet. Nothing seems right. Nothing sends a frisson up your spine.
You'll make something. Something glamorous. Something ever so special. Perhaps McCall 4476. It's from 1955. The dress has a luscious neckline, with a ladylike yet sexy dip in the back. And there's a coat as well, one that flares delightfully in the rear. Yes, definitely. That's the one. You'll use a fuschia doupioni. Line the coat in a floral charmeuse. Perhaps underline it for more body. And definitely horsehair braid in the hemline. You want it to really stand out. Structure. Shape. Bliss. Absolutely. And the dress . . . it will flare delightfully on the dance floor. It will. Oh, and won't this ensemble look smashing with those floral flats you saw on sale? Yes indeed.
And, yes, this dress is available at The Blue Gardenia, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling, and domestic shipping is free. We also ship abroad — happily — but there is a fee, although we charge less than the postal service charges us.
The details: McCall's 4476 Dress and Coat Ensemble Bust 36 Still in factory folds Copyright 1955 $65.
Rush on over to The Blue Gardenia. Fulfill your shopping urges. Now. This minute. Don't say no.
Ahhhh, the Golden Globe Awards. Such a welcome break from unpacking boxes cluttering our kitchen floor, dear readers.
My favorite gown of the night, the sleek 1950s inspired Versace worn by Angelina Jolie. Slim. Sleek. Sexy. Unexpected. (Weren't there a lot of boring gowns this year? I was yawning. I was.)
Natalie Portman wore a similar frock. Shared the side drape. Shared the red cuff. But. Something was off. Indeed. Loved the colors. Loved the idea. But the fabric seemed too stiff. The bustle a tad too big. The bodice fit like a crisp brown paper bag. It could have been absolutely dreamy. Oh, woe. Lanvin missed the train by a minute or two on this design.
Loved Tilda Swinton's periwinkle Haider Ackerman. Fabulous color. Creative design. Think of the boxes I could have unpacked in this.
And as an added bonus, the train would have swept the floor. Two chores in one. Oh, joy. But. Ms. Swinton's hair had me shaking my head. It looked like a lopsided powder puff. Don't you agree?
Totally crazy over the gown Michelle Williams graced. Bee-yoo-tee-ful. Simple. Elegant. And as comfortable as my yoga pants and tee. Designed by Jason Wu. What do you think of the headband? I think it's rather cute. Absolutely.
Nicole Kidman also chose a Versace creation. So gorgeous. So imaginative. Love this one. I am still saying "wow!"
Mary J. Blige was a pleasure for the eyes in her blush Michael Kors creation. So glamorous. She channeled old style Hollywood sophistication and sex appeal. Totally. And I am still drooling over those dazzling earrings. I am. It's not a pretty sight.
So. What gowns made you smile? And did you find any articularly frightful? Tell me. Please.
It's chic. It's sophisticated. It's in a highly desired size — Bust 36. And it can be yours for a steal during The Blue Gardenia's Take the Left Turn at Albuquerque sale.
The fine print: Buy three or more patterns, get 35% off your total order! Isn't that exciting? I think so. But hurry. The sale ends this weekend. Don't let this opportunity to save on counted, checked, archived patterns get away. And we take American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Paypal and Visa. All to make you happy. All to make it easy. For you, dear readers.
And we do ship abroad as well. Happily, in fact. We charge less than the USPS charges us. Isn't that grand? I think so. I do.
I'm waiting. Waiting for the washing machine repairman to arrive and do his job. So. What better thing to do than share some pictures of Atchison and his cone. Isn't he the cutest? A regular cat's meow?
Don't worry. He's fine. He simply underwent that male dog rite of passage. Yes. He was neutered. I think it was tougher on His Bertness than it was for the little guy. (Yes, that is our moving and packing chaos behind Atchison.)
So, dear readers, what do you say? I wonder if I spend too much time. I spent hours on this one.
(The pattern is for sale at The Blue Gardenia. In case you decide you just can't live without it. And it is a gorgeous style.) Love it. I do.
I eagerly await your responses. Breathlessly.
You're wondering— I know you are — about our annual end-of-year sale. The bad news: We didn't have it. We were in Prescott packing. We were. Box after box.
But.
There is good news: The Blue Gardenia is having a Take the Left Turn at Albuquerque sale instead. So here's the scoop:
And what a trip it's been. So far.
I hope you have missed me, dear readers. Been pining for me, refusing to take nourishment, dampening those tissues, wondering where, oh where might she be. Et cetera.
His Bertness and I have moved to Albuquerque. Isn't that exciting? I think so. Our house has vigas. Sure, they are rotting, and the landlord is planning to remove them. (Pass the Puffs, please.)
So. In a nutshell: It took us almost a month to find a house that met our basic requirements. (And basic, they are. The vigas were delicious lagniappe.) We moved in last Wednesday. So excited were we. Pillows in our own home to rest our heads upon, instead of pillows in a B&B or a motel.
Thursday morning, during a storm here with hurricane-force winds, I heard two pops, peeked through the blinds to see the cause, and saw two flashes of fire come from two power lines attached to our home. Attached, that is, once upon a time. A neighbor's tree had fallen and hit the lines, setting them free.
Firemen came. The electricity company. An electrician. We had no power. None at all. We moved back into a motel. Returned home Saturday. Cleaned a lot. Unpacked a little. Grew fond of our cute 1950s bungalow. Today, a Roto-Rooter tech is at our little home. But. That's another story.
I think I am going to love ABQ. I do.
And, yes, The Blue Gardenia is up and running. So, shop, dears. Shop. Shop. Shop. Make me even happier. And yourselves, too. You work hard. You deserve a treat.
You have a weakness for big sleeves. Huge. Really. You don't mean big enough to hide a chihuahua. You mean big enough to tuck your Scottie inside. And McCall 3771 gets your juices flowing. Totally. It's got stupendously full sleeves — and a hood. How delightful is that? It adds that perfect soupcon of mystery. You love it. You do. This 1940 pattern (one that this patternphile hasn't seen before) has a hint of Joan Crawford blended with a bit of Myrna Loy. Might as well channel the great ones. Might as well. Yes indeedy.
The details: McCall 3771 Two-Piece Day or Evening Dresses Bust 38 Complete; skirt trimmed, extensions present $125.
Oh. This one is a beauty. You're salivating already. And you haven't even chosen a fabric yet.
Where to find this fabulous pattern? Why, at The Blue Gardenia, of course, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling, and domestic shipping is free. (And, yes, we happily ship abroad — either Global Priority or Express — for less than USPS charges us. Isn't that grand? I think so.)
Well, dear readers, there's been a slight hitch in my sewing plans. My feet misjudged the steps, and I took a tumble. Ouch ouch ouch. Ouch! I tore some ligaments, and I'll be staying off my left leg the next two weeks. (As much as possible, anyway.) Doctor's orders. And all that.
I did pull some spools of thread today. Which one do you think looks best? Do tell.
I know. You thought I'd wadded my muslin. Tossed it. Lost my courage and decided to never sew again. Wrong!
I was scared. Terrified, in fact. I decided I simply couldn't use the silk brocade. I knew trying to match the dots on the center front seam would leave me hairless. So. I found a cotton I'd bought more than a decade ago. I'm not sure how it will look on me, dear readers. I'm not. Such a big print. The poppies are the size of apples. But. The colors are so vibrant.
This layout is different. Getting the fabric on grain took hours. Hours. Really.
You can see my first effort didn't quite work. But. DId I give up? No. I kept pulling. Tugging. Patting. Ever so gently. I used cans of beans and books to hold the fabric in place.
At last, I managed to get the cotton on grain. I think. I've cut the bodice. The facings. Next, the skirt. Then . . . gulp . . . I'll turn the machine on. And stitch. Oh my.
Any tips on thread color, sewistas? So many colors in this fabric. Share your opinions, please. I beg you.
I'm all atingle with excitement. Why, you ask? Because. Because The Blue Gardenia is awash in new vintage pattern additions. So many. So fabulous.
Shall I tempt you with a few of my favorites? Was that a yes? I heard a yes. I did. Indeed.
So. Let's go.
New York 167: So slinky. So Jean Harlow. So 1930s. Wear it at night with black velvet pants. Wear it for day with jeans and boots. Love this one. I do.
Vogue S-4263: Myrna Loy. Lana Turner. Channel the glimmering stars as you glide down the red carpet in this sophisticated number. Make it in a cherry wool crepe for day. Try a soft silk crepe for evening. In emerald, I think. You'll be stunning. And your fans will be picking themselves up off the floor.
Vogue Paris Original 2382: Nina Ricci did us all a ginormous favor when she unleashed this powerful wrap coat dress from her creative mind. For the ultimate '70s chic, make the midi version in mauve worsted wool. Can you say gorgeous? Yes. You can. And you'll be strong, too, when you don this.
Vogue 7883: So versatile. So beautiful. So comfortable. Make this one in denim for easy weekends. Whip it up in shantung for those special nights. And it's easy-to-make? So says Vogue. How wonderful is that?
Butterick 4133: Now this, this is a hostess gown. Imagine greeting your guests, air kisses for each one, as the scintillating chatter rings throughout your refined flat. Oh, they will be talking for days. Weeks. Months. You'll be the new Perle Mesta.
All of these smashing vintage patterns can be yours. Just drop by The Blue Gardenia, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling, and domestic shipping is free. (And, yes, we happily ship abroad — either Global Priority or Express — for less than USPS charges us. Isn't that grand? I think so.)
Ahhhh. Cinnamon, that Mission Impossible provocateur. So lovely. So sexy. So bold with her fashion choices. Take, for instance, this number. So sixties. So daring. If one described it — without the picture — one might think it would overpower a slim blonde. One might. There are the ruffles. So abundant. The print. So striking. And yet, she looks lovely. So chic. So comfortable.
If you want to emulate this look, I suggest Simplicity 7956, copyright 1968. Make it sleeveless unless you are unhappy with your upper arms, as so many women are — including this blogger. Of course, I suspect your upper arms are quite attractive, and you have no reason to get caught up in expectations that our biceps and triceps be as toned as Michele Obama's. (Yes, I wish mine looked like hers . . . alas, they do not. I'm not that dedicated to the gym. All I have the self-discipline to achieve on that front is a couple of 3-lb. dumbbell sessions twice a week. One day, perhaps I'll go up to 5 lbs. One day. Perhaps.)
And wouldn't Gorgeous Fabrics Big Leaves Cotton be perfect? I think so. It's a mere $12 per yard. It's a black, white and brown print. Love it. Love it. Love it.
And, of course, this beauty can be yours. Just drop by The Blue Gardenia, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling, and domestic shipping is free. But you knew all that, didn't you? Of course you did. (And, yes, we do ship abroad. Absolutely. With enthusiasm. Shipping fees do apply.) Oh, and lest I forget, it's available in Bust 32 1/2 or 38, for a mere $26. A bargain for so much style.
(And this Barbara Bain poster can be yours as well. Just check out Allposters.)
