Liebster Blog Award

Liebster Blog Award

I was picked for a blog award! That means that there is at least someone out there that reads my blog LOL (J/K, I know there are a few of you and you are great). Okay, so I realize that this is kind of like a chain letter that keeps making its way around the Internet, but hey I get to show some love to some of the smaller blogs that I read, so I am good with it. Sarah from Sewin; Steady has picked me as one of her five recipients whom she's passing this award on to. Thank you, Sue (sorry about stealing your graphic and directions, but you described it so well)!

"The origins of the Liebster Blog Award are somewhat unclear but the general consensus is that it means favourite or dearest to showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers."

And it comes with the following ‘rules’:

1 - thank your liebster blog award presenter on your blog.
2 - link back to the blogger who presented the award to you.
3 - copy/paste the blog award on your blog.
4 - present the liebster blog award to 5 blogs (with 200 followers or less).
5 - let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment.

Now I read tons of blogs (you can see some that I have linked in the sidebar). I never paid attention before at how many people read those blogs though. So I went through and clicked each one through to the site (yes, I am one of THOSE people that only read the blog through google reader (unless pinning something to pinterest or they don't post the whole thing there and the article is interesting)- I recently upgraded from IE rss feed reader). It was fairly interesting figuring out how many followers that some of my favorite blogs had. Blogs that I really love had anywhere from a few followers to nearly 2k followers!

There isn't a really good way to see how many followers a blog has. For my picks, I just went with only blogs that had followers/members listed (most of these were google members). I do realize that it doesn't give a totally accurate count of followers, but that is what I went with, it is the only thing I had, sorry. I also ruled out any blogs that haven't posted since the new year. now I know that things happen and blogs get behind (mine surely does!), but I wanted to give my readers something fairly new to look at and give them an idea if they would like to follow that blog too. I also ruled out Sue because she gave me this award (Sorry Sue :)

Anyway, without further ado. My winners are...

(in no particular order)

http://thecatsandtheberries.blogspot.com/

So funny and she is adorable. I like that when I read her blog I can hear her accent in my mind hehe.

http://misskatie-littleredsquirrel.blogspot.com/

This one had me really surprised that I could include her, I can't believe that she doesn't have more followers (it must be a mistake). I love her look!

http://subversivelesbiananarchicknitter.blogspot.com/

She has so many lovely vintage knitting patterns. I just like to dream that I will be able to make something as lovely as some of the ones she has made.

http://kalandrajane.blogspot.com/

I love her blog, but you also have to check out her hats for sale, they are amazing.

http://willowhomestead.blogspot.com/

This is how I would love to live. On a farm and still doing my vintage stuff. I really miss the farm now that I have moved to town. Maybe I will get back to the farm some day (not looking too good for the near future though, so I will have to settle on just reading about it)

So there you go. Also, just to let you know, I was given some vintage pieces that I am really excited about and can't wait to share with you. A post about that shouldn't be too awful long to follow (if all goes well)

The plan...

So, if I want to get anything accomplished, I need to have a plan. What follows is my attempt to start such a plan for making myself a vintage wardrobe that I can wear daily.

Step 1. What does a basic wardrobe consist of?

From Tuppence Ha'penny's blog this is what a basic vintage wardrobe should consist of.

The Essentials:

• Pencil skirt in a neutral colour.
• Full skirt - for maximum versatility choose either a solid colour or a monochromatic plaid/check.
• Print cotton shirtwaist dress.
• Background dress
• Bombshell dress or Day-to-night dress (rayon crepe is a good day-to-night fabric). A dressier cocktail or evening frock can follow later.
• Demure blouse or two - silk, rayon or cotton. Choosing one with a bit of interest - e.g. a novelty print, or embroidery, or lace trim - will make sure that every outfit has a bit of flair.
• Fitted sweater in any colour of the rainbow.
• One or two fitted wool cardigans.
• One or two pairs of shoes that will go with everything (black, navy or brown are best) and comfortable to wear all day.
• Flouncy petticoat.  

I am also adding what Glamourous Housewife listed in her basic wardrobe.

Step 2. Assess what I have/need from the list.

Puff sleeve or 3/4 sleeve T-shirts ? Demure blouses.

- I do have two cute puff sleeve work shirts for when I'm on the job. I have to wear company logo shirts so it's important I have work shirts and non work shirts if I want to wear a vintage inspired look all the time.

I do have 2 vintage shirts, one light yellow button back and one reproduction polka dot.

But having both yellow based shirts mean they don't exactly match everything (why glamourous housewife wanted black bottoms in the suggested list).

Button back blouse

horrible picture I know, but my favorit shirt, see close up for detail

(I am having a horrible time trying to place the pictures in this post and I don't feel like editing the HTML right now to fix it, sorry)

So I'm thinking I need some tops that actually go with the bottoms I have. So slight need there.

White vintage blouse. Definitely in need of one of those. I will also need a white work blouse as well (shirt orders should be coming up before too long).

Vintage sweater. I have a purple nubby sweater. It is really cute, won't go with everything, but will work with blue jean capris and grey skirt. I guess I could handle having another vintage sweater in a color that would go well with my other skirts. Any color ideas? I will add that to my knitting list.

I have a red work sweater that isn't vintage, but will work for now. That is if I have anything to wear with red.

1-2 cardigans. I have a dark maroon cardigan that is cut correctly and will work great. I also have a collection of cardigans that I got cheap at Gabriel Brothers that I will need to refashion using Casey of Elegant Musings tutorial. I do have work cardigans as well.

(no pictures, sorry. But you know what cardigans look like. I have cream, light blue, grey, and light colors. No reds, leapard, etc.)

I will stick with the black dress for now because I do already own a nice vintage black dress, though it looks much better on that dress form then it does on me. The cut it really odd and makes me look like I have a baby pooch, even when I am looking pretty good. Perhaps it will look great once I lose a little weight.

I also have a pink bombshell/cocktail dress and a wool bombshell dress.

No shirt waist dress.

Pencil skirt, now that I have covered. I have a rust colored, a grey (a little too small at the moment but lovely), a brown, and a black one (the black one isn't vintage and is more of a pinup look).

Not mine, but you get the idea. Mine is vintage and I love the lining.

This is more rust colored than salmon as it look in pic. This one is actually mine :)

Close up of my brown pencil skirt pocket detail

Again not mine, but you get the idea. It is high waisted and goes to my knees (really tight though)

Full skirt. I have a creamy vintage a line skirt that I'll stick in that category. I also have the summery circle skirt I made when I first started this blog.

Not, mine and not actually very close but it is the right color and shape. Mine is plain except for two front pockets that have lace on the tops of them (so cute) I really need to take a picture of it.

Wide legged sailor pants and black wide legged pants. Im not sure why glamourous housewife has both on here. I don't have any but I think one pair will do.

Black Capri pants. I already have a pair of Capri jeans that are cute, not vintage, but they could play the part until I get something better.

not mine, but gives an idea

A fitted waist jacket. I don't have anything of that sort yet.

Flats... I'm not big on flats. I have active wear shoes (for hiking or exercising) and heels, I don't really have an in-between style. I will consider it though and be on the look out since I'm not going to be able to make shoes :)

Retro heels. I bought an awesome pair while in Florida for a business trip, but after wearing them all day my feet were horribly blistered. So I have decided they are too small. I have a habit of buying cute shoes via eBay or wherever that are "my size" to realize that no they are not. I have quite the collection building of shoes that don't fit.

I do have several cute pairs of peep toe sandals for summer, not retro but cure and in several colors (black check, blue check, and yellow check- the yellow ones can be seen in the circle skirt picture). And a pair of basic black vintage heels for all the rest of the time (you can see in the pink cocktail dress picture). I also have a pair of brown vintage dress boots (not 40s and 50s vintage, but still workable) No pictures though.

Black leather purse, yea that's not on the top of my list. I have a super cute vintage blue and red wicker vintage purse that goes with almost everything. When that doesn't go, I have a black vintage dress purse and a vintage gold compact purse (wristlet). Again no pictures.

A petticoat, I think I have one around here somewhere from my wedding, might have to dig it up.

Step 3.

What is left that is needed then?

So from this list what did I determine I need...

At least one non-yellow based vintage shirt (that will go well with rust, grey, cream, and brown or as many of those as possible)

One vintage white blouse, one work white blouse.

Another vintage sweater for me to knit.

Wide leg trousers

A shirt waist dress

Capris

Fitted waist jacket ( I'm not really as concerned as much with this right away, maybe I should be? What do you think?)

Flats (if I find a cute pair)

Step 3. What patterns/ fabric do I need to buy?

I have a free circlet shirt pattern that is cute and will go with my circle skirt and capris well. My circle skirt would look best paired with a light blue top I am thinking. NOTE: This is no longer free but avalible for purchase.

I think the scalloped sorbetto (also a free pattern) would make another great blouse.

The sencha (purchase through collette) would make a nice third top.

And because it seems so fast and easy I think I will throw in a wrap top from this tutorial for good measure.

Cardigans won't need anything more than buttons for the refashion.

I have tons of vintage sweater knitting patterns pinned. There are so many lovely ones. It would be hard to decide.  I figure I will do one that has a knit a long

Wide legged trousers. I've seen several sew bloggers make some great trousers, but I think I'm going to hold off on these for the moment until I have more experience. But here is the pattern and sew a long I plan on following when I do go there.

A shirt waist dress. Pattern suggestions(preferably pdf)?

Capris/ cropped pants. I think the clover will be good for this. It says beginner and has a sew a long to go with it. It won't be my first project, but I think I'll tackle it before the trousers. But I am not really thinking black. Im not really big on black, what other color would be complimentary of my yellow based tops?

That is it for their lists. But here is what I think I need to add to my wardrobe.

Bow belt from this tutorial, to go with my wool plaid dress which has funky fake pockets that are cut in half by a belt which really doesn't work if there isn't a belt. I am thinking black, brown, or blue wool.

A play suit, I have a vintage inspired bathing suit (which I'm still not used to the fit on), but would like something to wear walking around down at the beach or on a hot summer day. Anyone have any good suggestions on an pattern (preferably pdf)?

So, I have had lots of questions for you ladies. I highlighted them to make them eaiser to find for you and so I wouldn't be reiterating myself again.

 I think that would be a good start. I have a list of other things is like to make (even some that stash bust), but I need to focus on these things first of I want a wearable wardrobe.

Sew Grateful Week

 Debi from My Happy Sewing Place came up with this wonderful idea of having a sew grateful week. Now, I can't really participate fully because, I only have a new subscribers so a giveaway would be kind of sad.

from http://handmaderyangosling.tumblr.com/

And I am not at any point where I can do a tutorial, I am still trying to figure out how to do things myself!!

But I did want to mention it because I am Sew Grateful for the online crafting community that I have just discovered this year. It has been a huge help to me and not only to my crafting skills (though it has helped a lot there too!!), but it has helped me feel like there are people out there who have similar interests as me and that I get along with.

Though it is pretty sad that I have referred to a blogger that has no clue I exist as my friend when explaining something they said to someone. Is there a good word for someone who's blog you read? Because I bring up bloggers in everyday conversation quite frequently and it gets annoying saying "a lady whose blog I read" and unless the person I am talking to is my husband I can't refer to the blogger my their name/alas because they will ask who is that and I will have to say it anyway (my hubby however is pretty familiar with a bunch of you :)

Anyway, I really wanted to say thank you. Your blogs mean a lot to me. I have started following many more blogs than the ones listed on my site, I will eventually get to adding you all to my page.

Thanks Again and head over to My Happy Sewing Place for a list of tons of giveaways!