My Crafts that keep me so busy

[Vicki]

I finally got a few pictures to post and share with anyone who's interested in made in the USA products. I have a dear friend who after pondering this for 10 years or so has decided to open a Christmas Country Market and if it does well we will grow. I've posted some of my crafts in the past and can keep adding to this thread as I dive into more projects. As of right now my time is stretched thin with an opening date of 3 weeks away but I will get done as much as possible and I hope you all wish me well.

I plan on making fleece hoodies next with pixy pointed hoods and various color schemes. I do have a few pictures of the ones I made a couple of years ago and I have people requesting them now so I can make one a night. We'll see how that goes.

I still have hair sticks and will be posting more pictures of what I have now as well as more crafts to come given I have the time. I normally make a lot of herbal products too so as you can see it doesn't leave much room for posting as much right now.

These pouches and purses are crossbody style and are approximately 6 X 6 and 5 X 7 inches. The pouches are cushioned throughout and the purses have vinyl backing and insides. (I will be going to real leather on similar styles down the road) Hope you like them and I apologize for the photos not being great. Thanks!

 

[Vicki]

Music Pouch's in black and silver...

 

[Vicki]

This one is also crossbody or clutch style..

 

[Vicki]

Music Purse in Bright colors...

 

[Vicki]

Music in Browns...

 

[SusieSunshine]

They are wonderful! Thanks for showing them!

 

[Vicki]

Non Musical...

 

[Vicki]

Last picture although I have a few more purses...

 

[Vicki]

They are wonderful! Thanks for showing them!

Thanks Susie, really appreciate it. I wish I had a decent camera or maybe someone that could actually take decent pictures. That's not me!

 

[Vicki]

I tried. lol

 

[duchess47]

They are absolutely beautiful. Thank you for showing us.

 

[Vicki]

Thank you Dutchess! I really think they look better then the pictures but I might be biased. lol Seriously, is there any peticular one anyone likes? I'm just curious. I like and could use feedback.

 

[duchess47]

My favorites - the first one and the last one. A hundred years ago when I used to go to Officer's Clubs with hubby, either would have looked fabulous with what ever I wore, from cocktail to formal. I'd have used it with levis, silk and heels too.

 

[SusieSunshine]

Music in Browns...

The top one is my favorite.

 

[Vicki]

My favorites - the first one and the last one. A hundred years ago when I used to go to Officer's Clubs with hubby, either would have looked fabulous with what ever I wore, from cocktail to formal. I'd have used it with levis, silk and heels too.

I can picture that Dutchess. I bet you were stunning too!

 

[Vicki]

The top one is my favorite.

Got another one done last night. No picture yet but appreciate the feedback. Thank you Susie, you are full of sunshine.

 

[Babs]

They're beautiful and I like the first one also.

 

[AlaskaSue]

Wow, just found this thread and glad I did! This is some beautiful work - I'm in a Fbook group that makes all kinds of bags and purses but your work is unique and lovely! Thanks so much for sharing the pics, I can only imagine how awesome they are IRL

 

[Vicki]

They're beautiful and I like the first one also.

Wow, just found this thread and glad I did! This is some beautiful work - I'm in a Fbook group that makes all kinds of bags and purses but your work is unique and lovely! Thanks so much for sharing the pics, I can only imagine how awesome they are IRL

Thank you both so much. I would like to post a couple more pictures but right now I'm going through a family tragedy. See the corkboard. Thank you again, I'll be back.

 

[Faroe]

Those are so pretty. I keep meaning to make a few purses/jewlery pouches myself. The local thrift store has a monthly "Bag Day," when they allow you to stuff all the clothes you can into a standard paper grocery bag for $5. I buy all kinds of things just for the fabric, and occasionally find silk shirts, which would work well for little bags. I have gorgeous celery green silk floral which I want to make into a little draw string pouch, with a purple silk liner cut from another shirt.

Current project is neither, but soaking in the sink - I'm dying some old drab linen a dark brown. It is an already hemmed large square that I use to tie my hair back. Recently purchased some wide knit head bands, in a pkg. of two: one black and the other white. I'll never use the white head band as is, so I threw it into the dye vat along with the linen. Anyway, if the linen comes out ok (using a bottle of Rit that is several years old), I'm planning to embroider one corner of it in a Hungarian style Matyo flower motif (something fairly simple and easy).

 

[Raggedyman]

Hey Vic
look - although I don't have any shoes that go with your work at the moment I would like to complement you on the incredible detail work.

next time I need to accessorize a new outfit I'll be looking back thru this thread!!

I wish you well with this!
best of the CHRISTmas season

RM

 

[Vicki]

Those are so pretty. I keep meaning to make a few purses/jewlery pouches myself. The local thrift store has a monthly "Bag Day," when they allow you to stuff all the clothes you can into a standard paper grocery bag for $5. I buy all kinds of things just for the fabric, and occasionally find silk shirts, which would work well for little bags. I have gorgeous celery green silk floral which I want to make into a little draw string pouch, with a purple silk liner cut from another shirt.

Current project is neither, but soaking in the sink - I'm dying some old drab linen a dark brown. It is an already hemmed large square that I use to tie my hair back. Recently purchased some wide knit head bands, in a pkg. of two: one black and the other white. I'll never use the white head band as is, so I threw it into the dye vat along with the linen. Anyway, if the linen comes out ok (using a bottle of Rit that is several years old), I'm planning to embroider one corner of it in a Hungarian style Matyo flower motif (something fairly simple and easy).

Gosh Faroe, I wish we were neighbors. You sound just like me. I do similar things and I'm constantly bleaching and dying materials. I can't sit for very long without being crafty in some way. To think that I'm slowing down as I get older and look back at all I used to do. It makes me wonder how in the heck did I do all those things. lol Seriously, we would be sparking even more grand ideas if we were ever in contact I'm sure. Please post pictures of your creations whenever you can. I'd love to see them.

Blessings'
Vicki

 

[Vicki]

Hey Vic
look - although I don't have any shoes that go with your work at the moment I would like to complement you on the incredible detail work.

next time I need to accessorize a new outfit I'll be looking back thru this thread!!

I wish you well with this!
best of the CHRISTmas season

RM

Well thank you RM so much. I do guy stuff too now and then. I used to make guys these camo squared pouches that could go on a belt or sling over their shoulders when they went out hunting. I also did some men's totes again in camo that were pretty nice. They sold anyway. I am going to retrieve all my crafts later today from the Christmas store I had them in so after I get straightened out again I'll get some more pictures up. I appreciate the well wishes! I do it more for the fun of it then trying to make $$ although the money helps.

Thanks!
Vicki

 

[Vicki]

Ok, I'm going to show you one I did late last summer. I was given a plus size dress in bright tie dyed colors and I tried it on. I am almostf 5'4 and this dress was almost a foot too long for me. The bodice was tight and not comfortable. The bottom of the dress was so heavy and full. I decided to cut the bodice off and make a skirt out of the rest. The material was so large that I ended up making a skirt out of half of the bottom. I looked at the material I had left and decided to reattach the bodice as a short dress or top. It's versatile as both. The dress is half way up the thigh so pool side would look awesome or wearing short leggings would look adorable. A scarf thrown over the shoulder when wearing the dress over the skirt would be romantic and perfect for dinner. I do not have pictures of when it was a dress orginally but it looks much different now. It sure would look sexy on someone. lol

Let me know what you think of my work. Thanks!

 

[Faroe]

Great job!
Love long tiered knit skirts - easy, comfortable, and flattering.

 

[sunny225]

Wow! You are very talented.
I love all the bags. And the dress and skirt are great too.
(I didn't even know this forum was here!)

 

[Vicki]

Great job!
Love long tiered knit skirts - easy, comfortable, and flattering.

Thanks Faroe, I love doing that kind of stuff.

Wow! You are very talented.
I love all the bags. And the dress and skirt are great too.
(I didn't even know this forum was here!)

Thanks Sunny. Please join in and add what you like. It helps to balance some fun and creativity against all the negative issues we're dealing with.

 

[Faroe]

Yes it does. I spend time every day on historical sewing sites just because it is a break from life. Learning new techniques helps too.

Currently working on a tiered skirt in gingham. I'll dye it black once all the sewing is finished, but the small even checks make seam matching and hand sewing in straight lines easy. This one also had a lot of piecing, since they look slimmer on the body when the tiers are of-set on the sides. I've probably got about 80 hours at least into it, and have about twenty more to go. They take forever, and this one got a little out of hand with the excess yardage at the hem. My most successful one of the same design was made with less yardage, and I had to be a bit skimpy on the gathers, but actually turned out better that way. I'll follow that one as a pattern more closely next time. This one was put away for almost a year out of frustration, but at this point, there is light at the end of the tunnel, or at least there will be when I get done with the endless hem.

Will be getting some black light weight cotton at WM later this week - I want to do a few petticoats in black. I have several in the standard historically accurate white, but I find the hems get dingy. Makes more sense to me to match it all - black stockings, black lace up narrow boots, dark skirt, with black underpinnings. Looking forward to just making simple two-panel petticoats cartridge pleated at the waist onto a twill tape...so simple, and for some reason, I LOVE cartridge pleating a ridiculous amount of yardage into a relatively tiny waistband. The 1840's, 50's dome shape skirt looks fantastic worn with a corset, even if one's laced waist measurement isn't all that small. I can only get 3-4 inches off my waist on a *good* day, and going down to 28/29" inch circumference isn't anything to write home about. My corset models are modern, in my experience the historically accurate ones don't tend to reduce that much.

 

[Vicki]

Facinating stuff Faroe. I'm sitting here trying to figure out what my next project will be. Lot's of thoughts going through my head. I did put back together "again" my music studio but one more piece has to be carried in the house before I can really set it up. I might dabble with my guitars for a bit after that.

On the other hand everyone I talk to lately is sick with upper respiratory issues and I have been wanting to make new candles. I made up a batch of Four Thieves essential oils and I could make Four Thieves candles and pass them out to my friends and loved ones. A practical and helpful gift but, I've already given them enough this year.

So, like you I keep looking over the material and other items I'd like to sew. I just haven't decided what I feel like doing next. I think I'm supposed to just relax for alittle while and then dig in. Please post some pictures when you can faroe, we'd love to see what your working on.

Here's a better picture maybe of the purses.

 

[Faroe]

So pretty! You could go out on the town every night with that collection.

Finally finished the hem. It is a 2 1/2" wide band that encases the turned-under edge. The slight added extra weight improves the drape, and makes that area sturdier (I walk everywhere, and my hems tend to wear thin.) Turns out it measures 160" around. Stupid. Tiered ruffles can and do get out of hand fast, if you aren't paying attention. Ball gowns would have spread wider in the heyday, but then, there is always an extreme. I prefer peasant/working-class clothing of almost any era, anyway. I still need to encase some ruffle seams on the inside, but the skirt will be done soon.

Looking forward to making the next skirt. Really want an Edwardian/Giboson Girl inspired outfit, but that will have to wait until Spring.

 

[Vicki]

So pretty! You could go out on the town every night with that collection.

Finally finished the hem. It is a 2 1/2" wide band that encases the turned-under edge. The slight added extra weight improves the drape, and makes that area sturdier (I walk everywhere, and my hems tend to wear thin.) Turns out it measures 160" around. Stupid. Tiered ruffles can and do get out of hand fast, if you aren't paying attention. Ball gowns would have spread wider in the heyday, but then, there is always an extreme. I prefer peasant/working-class clothing of almost any era, anyway. I still need to encase some ruffle seams on the inside, but the skirt will be done soon.

Looking forward to making the next skirt. Really want an Edwardian/Giboson Girl inspired outfit, but that will have to wait until Spring.

My Grandmother was a Gidson girl and I remember the look very well. I carry a bit of that style myself. I had to laugh thinking could you imagine those full updo's again in contrast to the flat hair of today. Wow. I will have to check out the various ways they did their hair then. I remember my Grandmother saying they would get perms and just let them grow out and then they would pile the curls on top of their heads. Easy elegance.

I've been doing lot's of mending this last week or so but I am itching to make some new clothes myself. Pictures Faroe, we want pictures!

 

[Faroe]

My Grandmother was a Gidson girl and I remember the look very well. I carry a bit of that style myself. I had to laugh thinking could you imagine those full updo's again in contrast to the flat hair of today. Wow. I will have to check out the various ways they did their hair then. I remember my Grandmother saying they would get perms and just let them grow out and then they would pile the curls on top of their heads. Easy elegance.

I've been doing lot's of mending this last week or so but I am itching to make some new clothes myself. Pictures Faroe, we want pictures!

You can find videos on how to re-create the traditional hairstyles. (There is an esp. good one for this hair by a British former model who usually does make-up vidoes - I wish I could remember her name!) The tinted fashion plates, advertisements, high society portraits, and Gibson's actual drawings are lovely, yet most women probably just placed the bun on top of the head. I'm sure hair extensions were available, but not sure how much they were used by the average person. Street scenes and pics of women at the market or at work show much less hair under the hatpin secured straw boater(?), and old street photos show the average hat was smaller too. As a kid, I LOVED the My Fair Lady look - hobble skirt with a flared train in the back, parasol, and huge, ginormous ostrich plume festooned hat. Used to draw versions of that all the time. That one is of course a bit earlier, but the Gibson Girl still has the same romance, just in something a bit more practical; the dark skirt and light blouse "shirt-waist" being sort of the jeans and t-shirt of her time.

Gibson translates well for "stealth" historical dressing in contemporary society (even the "messy" bun). I love all-around full heavy gathers, but my neighbors sometimes look at me weird if I'm out in a BIG skirt. Heck, I'm just walking the dogs, or getting groceries, maybe WallMart - not like I'm on my way to a job interview.

Pics at some point...it is actually a New Year's Resolution to catch up with how everyone else does things. I don't own a camera that I know how to hook up (need some sort of cord, too). I am ENTIRELY tech. illiterate.

 

[Vicki]

I searched for the Britian Model's video but never did find it. I did however think of you when I did my hair tonight. haha.. I had done so many numerous errands yesterday to beat the cold here today that when I got home from all of it I forgot to take my felt head band off. The kind with ear flaps. I must of pushed the ear flaps up and it felt like a headband so I left it on. It wasn't that warm in the house either. I did take it off when I went to bed but when I woke up this morning, my hair was sticking out all over. lol I spritzed it down alittle with water and then pulled it all back and twirled it enough to stick one of my sticks in it. It lasted all day and it actually looked romantic. Kind of along the lines of the Gibson hair styles. I went out to a late lunch with a friend and I had quite a few looks but they didn't look at me like I looked bad.

Anyway, I took a nap when I got home and had to fix my hair again after a 2 hour rest. I just pulled the stick out, ran my fingers through it again and back it went into the same twisted top perfect for a stick. After a few minutes I realized I missed a small chunk so I took another stick and stuck that in. It was perfect. A fitting look for that style.

I seriously thought of cutting it but now I think I'll let it grow just a little bit more and put a soft perm in it. That'll make it easier yet. I love talking fashion with you. Thanks!

 

[Faroe]

I have wire for hair, and can NOT brush it smooth, but have been trying to accomplish some more refined up-do's. Current daily, is a center part, and braid down the back that gets twisted into a nautillis bun *sort of* at the back. I've been securing that with a two prong black acrylic fork. After loosing a gorgeous walnut (hand made by an old man in Canada selling on Etsy) two prong fork, I now secure the fork with tiny black rubber elastics that you can find in the hair section at WM for 98 cents a pkg. I wrap the elastic around the end of one of the tines, so the fork won't slip out (it does't go on any hair, it just grips the end of the fork). Would work for sticks too, and might be a good suggestion for any of your stick wearers who worry that their Houdini hair will spit out the stick, and they will loose it.

We had a good pecan harvest this year, so I was able to order a few fun things. One is The Dressmaker's Guide by Elizabeth Stuart Clark. She does Civil War re-enactments. I wish she included more patterns and info. on men's clothing in this book. You have to buy those separately. Well, little by little. Nothing is sexier than a man in historic working class clothing.

Anyway, also bought a bunch more fabric from various sources, and a special treat: fine high thread count Czech linen for a shift, and a *pattern* to go with it by Larkin & Smith. Larkin's patterns are basically how-to historic accounts detailing the way 18th century clothing was sewn, so you can make the piece as accurate and beautiful as possible. I have her 18th Cent. stays pattern (which I've only made a mock-up of, so far), and it is fantastic.

 

[Flippper]

Wow Vicki, those are AWESOME! I haven't been in here for a few years (eek, has it been that long?!) and yours was the first thread I hit, and what a great surprise. I had no idea you did such beautiful work.

If you need a nice way to photograph, you can do it on the cheap like I did and buy some butcher paper, cut a long strip of it, tape it to the underside of your cupboard, let it drape down along the back and then across the counter to the edge. Then tape two more pieces to the underside along each side of the long strip so it forms a boxish shape. This mimicks a light box, I took a couple of lamps, removed the shades and put them at the edge of the box to force light in and let it bounce off all the white. If you put your gorgeous pouches in there, propped up on a clear base or even a little box covered in white paper, you'll get a well lit photo with little to no 'noise'. If you have a window that allows natural sunlight in, that helps give it a warmer feel too.

Or you can buy a light box on amazon for about $30.

Keep up the great work, I can't wait to see more!

 

[Flippper]

Faroe, go to www.trulyvictorian.com and join their forum, the owner and her sister make gorgeous patterns for period clothing, focusing mostly on the victorian era but have others as well. I think she said she use to work for Hollywood costume designers. The forum features photos from members the world around who have used her patterns to make their own individual look and style clothing. There are also question and answer areas if someone is stuck on a problem. I bought a bunch of her patterns about 7 years ago but haven't used them yet, I needed to get some bones for the corset pattern, they're about $50, I kept hoping I'd lose weight before I decided to start sewing them. The patterns and resulting pieces turn out items fit for museums.

 

[Faroe]

Faroe, go to www.trulyvictorian.com and join their forum, the owner and her sister make gorgeous patterns for period clothing, focusing mostly on the victorian era but have others as well. I think she said she use to work for Hollywood costume designers. The forum features photos from members the world around who have used her patterns to make their own individual look and style clothing. There are also question and answer areas if someone is stuck on a problem. I bought a bunch of her patterns about 7 years ago but haven't used them yet, I needed to get some bones for the corset pattern, they're about $50, I kept hoping I'd lose weight before I decided to start sewing them. The patterns and resulting pieces turn out items fit for museums.

Yeah, their patterns are highly recommended. I would love to get the Pagoda blouse pattern at some point. I'd actually like to make it lace up the front resembling a Medieval style bodice, and edge the neck and sleeve in broad borders of Celtic embroidery - not very CW, any more, but it would look so pretty.

I came very close to placing a large order for corset making supplies this month, but a few other priorities nudged that out. The shopping cart was getting up to $300, and that was just for the basics - not a cheap hobby to get into. For now, I'll remain within the boundaries of 18th century stays for which I already have most the much more limited necessities stocked. Way cheaper from that era: no spiral steel boning, pricey metal split busks, no grommets, nor pricey grommet setting tools, and coutil is even more expensive than most linen. I already have the recommend linens, tapes. threads, Larkin's pattern, and the reed caning for "bones." I have plenty of modern corsets, anyway, which are adequate for my purposes.

Have some wool and books still due to come in - all but one order got delayed for various reasons. Well, that is the blow-out pecan harvest fun money budget buy for this year.

 

[Vicki]

I just finished this little purse and have already cut out two more similar as I loved it so much. Thought I'd share some pictures of it and see if you guys approve.

The flap can fold easily into the purse itself to leave it open and you'll see by one picture the purse can go absolutely flat or open to a decent width with the double paneled sides. This was handsewn more then machine sewn but it was worth it.

My Blue Music Pouch Crossbody

 

[Faroe]

Charming!

I just finished a few sewing projects, and have spent the last three days knitting a sock - slow going... was fine until I ziged when I should have zaged on a little back detail, and had to rip a bunch out. Oh well, they will get finished at some point (mostly) mistake-free.

 

[Vicki]

Thank you Faroe. I'm 3/4's finished with another like the last one only in a pale pink with the same turquoise but silver instead of gold. I might get good at this if I keep it up.

I'm glad I'm not the only one puttering along on sewing crafts. It certainly relaxes me and that I need pretty much all the time. I'm really going to try harder on these pictures but geez Louise, it's not something I'm fond of doing so.. yeah, crappy pictures.