It All Falls Down

School is out again. Hoooooray! I've vowed to make the next term a less busy term. Too many full days of sitting doing homework. Blah!

My sweater is almost finished, I knit up all the pieces a while back and basted them, but have yet to do the final knit and single crochet. I'll have to look up videos on the crochet bit.

Today, however, I come with a problem. My hair doesn't seem to want to hold curl. It falls down much too easily and I mean from wet sets with concentrated setting lotion too!

The first one is not too long after the brush out. I was running late and so I didn't get to fully brush it, but it was sort of falling even then.

A couple hours later, post wind sweeping. My hair is falling down quite a bit more and getting some Charlie's Angels 70s sweep. The bottom bits have really fallen out.

Next morning, pre-brushing, a brush would only take it all out!

Suggestions anyone? I think my bottom layers are too long, but everything else falls out pretty fast too. These are done with pincurls at a relatively small size. I tried perm rods (maybe not small enough) but they didn't dry very fast. Can you use too much lottabody/setting lotion, which would cause your hair to become more heavy?

I should be studying but...

This post is dedicated to William Powell, oh, you are so handsome and full of wit and I'd rather watch you in films than study JavaScript right now.

Handsawing the night away

My partially finished canvas frame!

I love art classes, and working on art generally, but one of the big issues can be cost. I have a couple strays, but for our next project in class, we're going to need 3 canvases.

I'm not exactly swimming in money and I love a good project so I was searching Craigslist (online classifieds basically) and checking materials costs for stretching my own canvases. The most of expensive of these being canvas, but I found a great deal and bought an absolutely GIANT roll of it from a really lovely woman for very cheap because she was closing her studio. This meant, hoooooray, no worrying about canvas for a while!

I also sauntered down to the hardware store and picked up quite a few strips of 1x2's and quarter round.

There are these things called miter boxes which contain slots for a bunch of different angles, so you can saw within one of these slots and get, say, a 45 degree angle cut with much more ease than, how I'm doing it now! I am marking the angle and then just handsawing with wild abandon and I've definitely found there is some skill to the saw!

My frame looks a little Frankenstein's monster so far but I don't think anyone will notice once a canvas is stretched over it and I have the pride of having made it :)

Oh, and my knitting is coming along quite nicely too!

Painting Post

Slowly knitting through my sweater, well, actually I'm almost done with one side but, once again, school strikes terror in the heart of all my crafting.

In the mean time, I've been taking a painting course and it's been very challenging, but nice to have an allotted time in my schedule dedicated to art. I took oil painting lessons for quite a while when I was younger, probably from ages 10 - 13, somewhere in there and painted landscapes. I got sick of them and that's what my teacher specialized in, so at some point there came a very long stint without painting - I mean, until now!

I thought I'd share what I've made thus far! You can click on each to see them much larger:

This was in the first week, and it's my first time painting from observed forms, versus photographs.

And then this one is currently what I am working on, so it's still WIP (work in progress.) It's based on the idea of the word 'place' and mine is focused on a dream of a place once can just disappear into. The sky is still a bit funny, it got left behind for a while.

It's nice to get some stuff in the blog again and take a breather :)

-Nancy

1930s Three Hour Sweater Progress

I had been hesitant about my start with this sweater due to having a super busy week and being unsure of whether I should add on stitches to my sweater or not! The band was seeming kind of tight, and I ended up pulling it out and adding another four stitches for good measure. I think I tend to knit a little tight.

I'm about two hours in so, I don't see this being quite a three hour sweater - I think that's the consensus though anyway! I'm through the ribbing though and that took the longest.

Also, I already got oil paint on my knit cap! I get really messy when I'm painting, but I figure a little thinner will take it off?

Knitted Cap is Finished!

I finished my first knitted, wearable project! I'll be excited to try it out with a set in my hair as it doesn't cover too much of the head so it's more for style.

Anyway, I'm pile driving forward and onto my first sweater! I'm taking the worn path and going with the fan favorite of the Three Hour Sweater.

I'll be making it up in a green mistletoe colored yarn and I'm more than excited to start my first sweater! I could probably fill this post with SWEATER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and it'd get a little closer to my excitement.)

Oh yeah and if you're on Ravelry, add me! My user name is nancy-louise

Knitting Update!

So I've had about two knitting classes so far, and I have to say they've got me really excited! After the first class I practiced my stockinette stitch until I ran out of yarn and it all looked pretty uniform and, no numb fingers!!

There's my very first ribbing too! So many exclamations! I'm just very excited to be on the path to my first sweater :)

Right now I'm working on a grey wool hat that should be finished this Monday night. And then another project lurks around the corner...

It's really nice having handwork to do lately. I've been staring longingly at my sewing stuff, but I just don't seem to have the time. With knitting I can take it anywhere I go so it's inspired me to keep an eye out for portable sewing, etc. In fact, I have a 30s leather glove pattern I picked up just a while back and recently got the chamois to practice with (phew, it stinks and the box proudly proclaims it is tanned with 100% fish oil).

How is everyone's Winter going? I haven't even looked at blogs in what seems forever so I've got some catching up to do!

Back to School

Today will be the first day back to school for Winter term. I pretty much spent this break sleeping, counting patterns, being sick, and going to the gym.

I'll be taking more web development classes, painting, and a couple non-credit courses: KNITTING AND SWING DANCING!

I'm pretty excited for the painting and two aforementioned classes, but I hope I don't get lagged down by some of the web development courses, well, one in particular, Javascript.

I've been doing quite a bit of cardio lately, so I decided to make my phone useful and grab an app for working on running 10k. If that goes well I've got some half marathon training on my list. I've never been a runner, but I figure doesn't it just take training like anything else?

The only sewing I did over the break was sewing some patches on gi's (worn for Jiu Jitsu, looks similar to the karate gi for an idea of what I mean) for a friend's kids.

Dress Peek

Just a little peek at my dress. The yellow is a bit more vibrant than the picture shows, more like a deep mustard. Oh and I went with the ruffle! I'm pretty pleased with it. I think it looks pretty close to the pattern art.

School Comes to an End and Winter is on the Cusp

I finished with school for the term and I ended up with straight A's! I was working pretty diligently the last week or so with my web development courses.

Here's a link to what I was working on: Things Found Vintage

You may have taken the guess already but I'm thinking about making the leap to my own site and really revving up output and become more rounded with what I sell. That's a pretty rough layout, but it's where I'm headed. I was almost thinking of changing my shop's name to something a little more creative too - the current one is a bit dull. Maybe that's just me?

I have been working on my dress again! The super lightweight cotton I am using has been pretty finicky so there have been some breaks in between progress (to accomodate wailing and gnashing of teeth.) Thank goodness the sleeves are through with, I look forward to working with a stiffer, or at least thicker, fabric. I think I've been dragging my feet about finishing because I know I can't truly finish until I get a proper buckle for the dress. Does anyone else do this? And how don't I have more buckles with the ridiculous amount of random notions I have?

Since classes have been out I have been at the gym almost every day. I cut down quite a bit during finals... on everything else but school really and so I think a few pounds snuck up on me!

Remember those girdles I purchased? They were sent on the 23rd of last month but they haven't shown up yet. I'm still crossing my fingers because they were shipped out of England and they're having some real weather problems lately from what I hear. Portland is real similar when it snows everyone throws up their arms and runs around in panic until most the city's population just huddle inside.

I've been on a bit of a shopping binge and so I'll post a few pictures of my goodies too. I need to keep it down to window shopping for a while now... A lot of the purchases were worthwhile, and all good deals (I see a good deal and my hand just reaches for my wallet automatically.)

Speaking of buys, I got some sleeves for my patterns! I'm going through and besleeving them all, finally! I think it might take a while but this means I'll be able to move them around with a little less worry. I'm also trying to order them all by date. Then maybe I'll let you see my collection. Let's just say I got 500 sleeves and I'm not really sure it's enough...

Art Final

So, this is my last piece for my drawing class. I got really into gesture drawings, which was the last thing we were introduced to so I made my final to do with figures. I have mixed feelings about it so I took a picture of it hoping it might give me some separation from the piece.

Almost done with school!

Favorite Holiday Recipes

Oh Man

I've been so busy, and will be busier, until school ends, which is in the next week and a half. My dress had to be put on hold, and currently is almost done. It has one sleeve on it - which I suppose could be a fashion statement. Hmmm...

I still haven't gotten those girdles either - I'll be posting about my experience with them whenever they arrive.

While the gust of school winds blow by, I have some filler for you all.

I present for my discerning audience; the LEOPOTARD!

Hello Nineteen-fifty-fourrrrr

You can click for a much larger view. And I think you'll want to.

According to the inflation calculator, it'd currently cost $137.81!

Sorry Peggy, I don't think you'll see the Leopotard under the tree this year

Black Friday Sale!

There will be a Black Friday Sale at my Etsy shop, Things Found Vintage (Hooray!)

I sell mostly vintage sewing patterns, some clothing, and miscellaneous - I'll be adding some more stuff and PDF's for the sale too. I hope to add an e-book version of It's Fun to Make a Hat - a great 40's millinery guide with lots of illustrations, which includes two hat patterns in it!

The sale starts at 12 am Pacific Time. Use the discount code BLOGGYFRIDAY to get 15% off. Make sure to use this one, as the one posted on my shop's page is only for 10% off.

Happy Holidays everyone!

PS: I hope to debut my yellow dress on Thanksgiving. I'm crossing my fingers. Once it is done there will be an outfit post! (Double Hooray!)

Bound and Girdled

As I unabashedly enter the world of womanhood, I realize, a girl needs some good foundation wear right?

Well, I've had some minimal vintage lingerie in the past, but never a girdle! I've committed myself to the idea of glamorous undergarments and had to share my excitement about these little beauties I just won on the Bay!

Caprice brand girdle

I think this is adorable and love old lingerie in the salmon pink semi sheers. I think the chevron is real cute too.

Chantelle French girdle

Okay, so I definitely am looking forward to this one a little more. I love the Art Deco shapes on front and the button attached garters. Plus, I'm a sucker for black lingerie.

Of course I had to go for both, I'm calling it a taste tester.

Longline bras, you are next! (And then maybe a beautiful, flowing peignoir and a vanity to lounge at haha)

Muay Thai, Good Day!

Tonight at the end of practice (70 right kicks, 35 switch, I don't know how many knees, etc...), I did 129 high power strikes in 3 minutes! 6 more than last time! That includes kicks (low, medium, and high,) knees, punches, and elbows. Not bad for a lack of striking classes lately!

I also sold three patterns and made a lot of progress on my etching.

I thought I'd share my

VICTORY DAY!!!

Trying to Keep Beautiful Fabrics From Fading

I have a few very vintage fabrics that don't have very stable coloring. Even little drops of water from my iron cause the dye to spread :(

Does anyone have any personal experience / advice on how to wash these fabrics so their dyes don't run all over the place? I know of the vinegar trick but I am looking for others!

Thanks so much you guys!

Also Jean Claude Van Damme is planning on fighting early next year (!!!!)

I leave you with this gem

Art Post

Etching of a Greek Goddess (In Progress)

close-up

I've been taking drawing this term mainly because drawing was always pretty much a large avoidance for me. I am trying to get back into art like I used to be and I figured I should confront drawing at some point. (Not to say there hasn't been any dragging of feet about it...) I suppose this isn't necessarily a drawing anymore as I am etching with a knife for the values, but I don't have much experience with shading or any of this and I'm pretty pleased with it so far, so I thought I'd share my progress on it.

De-Stress-Dress

Hollywood 1384 and fabric!

The end of the school term is closing in and I'm trying to de-stress by making sure I keep productive on non-school type projects too.

So here is the dress I'm starting on. I'm not sure whether I'll be ruffling (same color) or bowing.

Do you favor one or the other?

A short post

I am updating from my phone so this won't be the longest post, but I thought I'd pop in for a little update!
I've just started on another dress, which you'll soon see peeps of.
And today I went tried out going to a rock climbing gym for the first time! I attempted the bouldering rocks, attempted - they were hard. And I successfully made it to the top of the 40 ft wall on a medium difficulty (the easier ones were taken so I had to be brave haha.)
I think it may become a weekly thing. It is fun and difficult, plus they had some old cheap climbing shoes there and Fridays are half off for students!
Oh, and I didn't forget about BOTW (Bruise of the Week) but wondered if the placement was appropriate for a blogging lady to reveal(!) I think I may move along the route of finding bruises that look like something - say the Virgin Mary or a peace sign?
Anyone started a new project?