Busy Busy Busy

So its been a long time since my last post.  Work and family has kept me very busy this fall.

So if recall this summer I was working and remodeling my sewing room ( Well with the help of the Mr) then we had severe rains and we took on water in the basement right where my room is.  I then decided to put the project on hold for a while as the next step was laying a tile floor and if it were to flood again it would all be for not. So we finally put in the floor (Armstrong tiles I think have a nice vintage feel to them and are quite appropriate for a basement).

I wanted to keep the room cheerful as it is a basement and while it has southern exposure it is still one pretty small so I choose pink for the walls.  Next task will be to move my sewing things back into the room.  I will try to put up some pictures as I get things moved back in.  As for the flooding I will just have to keep an eye on it when we get lots of rain it has only taken on water one other time since we bought our house over 6 years ago so I will be careful to keep items off the floor and out of harms way.

Tonight we carved pumpkins and tomorrow I will roast pumpkin seeds one of my favorite snacks. Happy Halloween.

Oh and just so you all know I have been reading and even occasionally commenting on others blogs even though I have found myself too busy to blog.  So keep up the great blogging all!!!

Kat Von D Make Up

Has anyone else tried the Kat Von D make up line at Sephora?  I so far have two eye liners and one lippy and I would have bought a few more eyeliners if Sephora wasn't sold out at the store.

So why do I like it.  So far it has had great staying power on both the lippy and the eyeliner.

Here are the three pieces that I have.

I have the the Painted Love Lippy in Underage Red love this true and bright red that wears well.

In Eyeliners I have two of the Autograph eyeliner which are both smudge proof.  The also come with their own sharpener in the cap, I love that.

I do not have the above color I instead have the Puro Amor (jet black) and Turbo Lover(eggplant with glitter)

What I would like to get is the tattoo (liquid liner) and the Autograph Liner Black Metal Love (black with glitter). Yes I know glitter is not very vintage but sometimes a girl just likes a little sparkle.

How about you have you tried any of this make up line?  What is some of your favorite make up?

All about me

OK still real busy so I decided this would get me posting its been going around to other blogs


A-Age:

Over 40 (enough said)

B-Bed size:

My husband is a bed HOG and insist on a king, honestly I would be ok with smaller.

C-Chore that you hate:

cleaning the cat box

D-Dogs:

Dog, cat, horse, I like animals.

E-Essential start to your day:

Nothing really I don't need the caffine jump start other need. Although I never feel normal till teeth are brushed.

F-Favourite Colour:

Pink, but also greens (pale) and blues really its like the dog question I like color.

G-Gold or silver:

Silver or white gold.

H-Height:

5'1" yep I am short

I-Instruments you play:

Nothing right now I played piano, french horn, and trombone when I was a kid but I don't think i remember much now but I really want a Ukulele and some lessons but not sure how I could find the time.

J-Job title:

Teacher

K-Kids:

Yes two boys Wyatt and Dalton (my posse)

L-Live:

Little Canada, MN

M-Mothers name:

Therese

N-Nicknames:

None in fact I hate it when people shorten my name to Sue and Suzie it Susan thank you.

O-Overnight hospital stays:

Just with the birth of my two boys.

P-Pet peeves:

Oh have a lot but they usually have to do with my job (things like kids spitting sunflower seeds on my classroom floor).

Q-Quote from a movie:

" I've got to do something about the way I look. I mean a girl just can't go to Sing Sing with a green face. "

Breakfast at Tiffanys

R-Right or left handed:

Right (but I am so far the odd ball in my family my husband is left my oldest son is left and so far it appears my 3 year old can't decide and has been writing or more accurately drawing with either)

S-Siblings:

One, sister but we are both busy so not close

T-Time you wake up:

6AM

U-Underwear:

I have been having a dilemma with this I have tried the more vintage higher waist ones and they are just not comfortable to me perhaps it is the brands I have tried (just run of the mill hanes cotton) I don't mind higher waisted if it sucks you in and has more elastic but the cotton ones just don't hold their shape.  I am open to suggestions.

V-Vegetable you hate:

not a fan of Sweet Potatoes or Fenal

W-What makes you run late:

My Kids or my wardrobe but I try not too.

X-X rays you've had:

I think just the normal teeth.

Y-Yummy food that you make:

I like to make pad thai or soups but having been trying not very successfully to lose weight so the noodles have been out lately.

Z-Zoo animal:

Bears of tigers

A Teachers work is never done

Sorry readers for the radio silence right now but my work is been very busy.  I am teaching two class that I have never taught before so I am just trying to get it all straight and well blogging has been left to the wayside right now.  I thought I would entertain you all with a few vintage teaching pictures.

ha look how orderly these pictures look, I don't think you see this in modern classrooms certainly don't see the students dressed so neatly.
 Take Care and Enjoy your Weekend.

Drum Roll Please

OK so I do my drawings old school (well this is a vintage blog isn't it?) with some numbers and a bowl..... And the winner of my 100 follower give away is the lovely Miss Kiki La Merr if you have not checked out her blog the Rockabilly View, I highly recommend it.  Kiki I sent you an email please send me your address and I will send out the apron post haste.  Thanks All.

It's Give Away Time

OK readers sorry it took me so long to do my 100 follower giveaway.  So per your interest I am this adorable vintage apron (which I was sorely tempted to keep for myself).  I love the red gingham and the details on this are lovely and let me tell you the craftsmanship on this is excellent.

So if you would like to win here are the rules.

1. You must be a follower of this blog.

2.  Leave a comment below by September 10th.

Thats it, Good luck and thanks for following my blog!! Susan

Wanda Gag

Wanda Hazel Gag was born in New Ulm Minnesota in 1893.  She was an illustrator and children s book author.  I first became familiar with the Ms Gag when I spotted this book at a garage sale a few years ago.  I was struck but the colors and loved the illustrations within as well.  I was recently reading this with my son and decided to find out more about Ms Gag and I am glad I did as I didn't even know she hailed from Minnesota.

I think she is quite stylish in her bobbed hair and apparently she was quite the free thinker in the 20s.  She was a feminist advocate of free love.

  Daughter of Bohemian artists she too started practicing art at a young age and became well know not just for her children's books but also her lithographs.  I love the lithograph below, called progress. It is for sale but the price is a bit steep for me. You can check it and others like it out here

Her most well know book is Millions of Cats which won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1958 and the Newbury Honor Award.  I have yet to read this one but I will try to check it out of the library tomorrow.

I hope to post that giveaway by Monday readers so check back and I hope you all a fabulous weekend.

A Rare Outfit Post

Yes I do rarely do this as I am never very satisfied with my own appearance but I really love this dress.  I bought it this summer from atomik*vintage on Ebay.  It is not a swirl but is very like one as it is a wrap with the closure in the back (my personal favorite style right now).   Love the blue hounds tooth print (I suppose a close up of fabric would have been nice, bad blogger) with the bright yellow flowers so cheerful.  I have to say I was a bit nervous about wearing this one as instead of a button closure at the top like a Swirl this dress a three snaps on the back.  I was concerned that if it pulled enough the snaps might give way but I wore it all day Saturday with out it coming unhitched.  I wish I could say I was going to wear this dress back to work tomorrow but I can't I will be back in my boring old work garb.  Hope you all had a fabulous weekend. I also hope that if you are out on the east coast that you safe and dry.  

Oh and one final question.  I wanted to do a give away but have been indecisive about what I wanted to do I have considered a pattern (not vintage but a reproduction of a retro butterick) or a vintage apron?  Please comment with your opinions or what you would be more interested in.  Thanks again, Susan

Reading my old friend its been a while.

So you haven't seem many post from me lately as I have rediscovered my old friend reading.  Well honestly I always read but it has been a while since I have found a book that I really fancy.  Right now I am working on Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day by Winfred Watson.  I have also been feeling a tab bit melancholy as my summer is coming to an end on Monday and in the current climate at work I am truly dreading returning and well Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day is simply hitting the right spot.   I have found reading a great escape as there is no question about doing it right or wrong you just do it (unlike putting in an invisible zipper or canning tomatoes).  Have any of you been reading anything enjoyable lately.

D-Day

OK not that D Day but the one Elvis Presley died on.  I know there are lots of people in Memphis today celebrating the life of this talented man.

Fresh Water Fishing Museum

Well I have been on vacation trying to get the most out of the end of my summer.  I took my two boys to my in-laws cabin for almost a full week.  It has been just the three of us except for the weekend when my husband came up.  While he was up we decided to try a little day trip and went to the Fresh Water Fishing Museum in Hayward Wisconsin.  Here are some pictures of our trip but please excuse my hair as I am up north and well I haven't been setting my hair as I spend a lot of time in our around the lake with the kids and it has seemed pointless I was completely lacking hair spray for any type of victory rolls etc...

So in this first picture you can see part of the museum the large Musky which you can go in and stand on the balcony, you can also fish for sun fish right under the musky.  I was really liking the man behind me's  conical asian hat.  I wore my nautical Betty Page shorts and a peasant blouse for the occasion I thought a nautical theme would work well even though it is hard to see here.

Here we are up on the balcony of the fish's mouth.

The grounds of the museum are filled with different types of larger than life fiber glass fish sculpture.  The one above is a sunfish that my 3 year old is busy reeling in.

The boys really enjoyed the all fish play ground.  Ok well I did too.

There was much more than shown here including big foots and a motor boat graveyard which I was surprised I found pretty cool seeing old vintage models of boats and motors. If you are ever in the area it is  worth a visit.

http://www.freshwater-fishing.org/index.php

I also have been thinking over a way to celebrate my hundred followers with a give away I just haven't come up with the right idea for what to give away but it will come some so stick with me dear readers. Take care and enjoy the rest of your summers.

Putting Up Food

I have been interested in canning for years but have been a bit afraid to try it on my own.  I have searched for someone to teach me and have not been able to find a soul that was interested.  This year I looked at a video on the Ball websight and decided I could do it myself.  Here is the video about how easy it can be (although I think they make it look much easier and less messy).

So here is some interesting things about canning:

• Canning started in 18th century France when Napoleon Bonaparte was looking for a way to keep his army fed and offer a cash prize to anyone who could come up with a reliable method for preserving food.
• The prize was won by Nicholas Appert thought it could be preserved like whine in glass jars.
• The Mason jar was invented in 1858 and had the first reusable screw on lid.

Finally here is my first batch of Pickles hopefully they will be as good as they look.

Do you any of you can? Does anyone have any good recipes or advice for a novice canner?

Mason City and Clear Lake Iowa Trip

So this weekend I went on an adventure.  I got into my 59 Chevy wagon and went down to Mason City and Clear Lake Iowa (only a two and half hour drive from us).  Unfortunately it was a hot weekend and my wagon does not have air conditioning so it was quite a hot journey and while I did try to search out some antique stores on the drive they led me nowhere but lost on dirt roads by corn fields and cow pastures.  So on I went to Mason City.  The purpose of this trip was to meet up with some other vintage loving indivuals from the Midwest (and the Netherlands) that I know from the forum the Fedora Lounge .  If you have never visited the Fedora Lounge I highly recommend it as it was actually what led me to the blogging world.  I found the fedora lounge about a year  ago when I was looking for more information about vintage hair styling.  I found that and whole lot more information to fuel my love of all things vintage.  Now on the lounge I personally prefer to area for ladies called the powder room but after this trip will be investigating other areas more as I have made more friends outside the powder room.

Here I am by my car in Mason City wearing by the way my Swirl dress I had just on in the mail as I was leaving for my trip.  It was very hot this weekend in Iowa so I couldn't stand have my hair on my neck so I also am sporting a new snood in the pictures as well.

The first stop we made was in Clear Lake at the Surf Ballroom.  If you are not familiar with the Surf this was the last concert that Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper played before their ill fated plane crash. The ballroom originally built in 1933 burned in 1947 and was rebuilt in 1948.  This is a wonderfully preserved old ballroom with most of its authentic features still in place.  I tried to take some pictures for you on the inside but silly me I did not have my camera only my cell phone and it was not well it enough to do it justice but if some of my friends send me some of their pictures of the inside I will be sure to post them.

  The final picture is inside the dressing room (which is surprisingly small by modern standards) and our group picture.  We got lots of questions about what event we were in town for or if we were in a play.

I found clear lake to be a great little town with an old main street that while many building not still in their original function are still standing and many have been turned into antique stores which is what we were doing there antiquing.  The photo was of a local theatre that looks like it used to be the opera house in town.  Mason City also has some great attractions like Frank Lloyd Wright walking tour but it was really too hot for it this weekend so we chose the air conditioned antique malls of clear lake instead.  Overall it was a fantastic weekend and I hope to visit this area again in the future when the weather is perhaps more favorable.

Things Made, Things Found, Things Not Forgotten

OK so earlier this year I committed to a make a month and then never said another word about it on my blog.  I also committed to The New vintage ladies Make Do and Mend which I did say one thing about in a post but have been quiet about.   Another reader recently suggested I post my wash cloths (very beginning knitting projects) but OK here we go all that has been made lost and forgotten all in one blog.

Ok so this is my purple peasant blouse made months ago then lost I found it just last week in a bag of my sons I must have put it in there to transport and then forgot about it hence the wrinkles.  It is a bit on the large size it was made from Advance 4091 size 18. The 18 says it has a 36 bust but let me tell you that bust is anything but a 36 and therefore is very generous on me so I am now drafting a new pattern for a peasant blouse today.  Oh and also that skirt is one of my repairs I fixed the hook and eye on it.  Its straight up 70's but it has a 40's feel to it so I like it.

This is another dress repair.  I call this my ruffled wrap dress.  It fell apart on me at the Back to the 50's car show in June while I was wearing it!!!! Luckily I was sitting down when the wrap pulled out and I had a change of clothes with me and was near a restroom.  So above just one of the repairs I needed to make to the tie and side seem of this dress.

So as you can see I sewed up the side seam reattaching the wrap tie and also replaced the inside tie with the white ribbon as that came about in the laundry also.  So New Vintage Lady I have been busy.

The pillows I made with some Ikea Fabric from my stash so  I think they qualify for the New Vintage Ladies challenge of using a fabric you already have. I learned how to make french seams on these babies.  I made them through a craftsy class with Dianna Rupp.  I decided to take her class as I would classify myself as an advanced Beginner in the sewing world and only really started sewing a few years ago.  Now while I did take a class or two when I started nobody really taught me how to use my machine properly and this class was excellent for that.  My next craftsy.com class is sewing a saron dress with Gretchen from Gerties Blog for Better Sewing.  I have a feeling I will be taking my sweat time on that one.

Finally here are the said wash cloths. As I said these are very beginner knitting you can see the first on I made the ill shapen one with all the holes then the smaller ones beside it. Then I learned to purl and make a stockinette stitch and added knit stitches to keep them from rolling.

So readers thats is that.  More later I hope.  Have a great weekend everyone.