Fancy Hat Sunday

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Today is fancy hat Sunday via the Hometown Victory Girls so here is my contribution for this week.  My son likes to put this put on his sailor hat and cape and call himself barnacle boy and since he decided to be barnacle boy this morning I decided to just go with it.

Dreams of Skirts

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Well summer finally visited us in the Minnesota.  We had some 90 degree days that had me shuffle through my wardrobe look for some cool but classy (I was doing some workshops for my job this week).  I think every vintage loving girl needs to have an array of skirts to wear for all seasons but summer is when I really like to wear skirts.  I now have a bug to sew some skirts.  Here  are some options.

Dirndl

I love Gerties dirndl skirt above and I have a few border print fabrics I have been wanting to use so I have been looking at dirndl skirts as they work well with a border print.  There are lots of online tutorials on these skirts as your pattern is basically a rectangle at the length you want your skirt to hang plus hem.  Although one this I was wondering about with these skirts and border prints is the hem.  One tutorial I looked at recommended a 4" in hem to add weight which will help the skirt hand nicer.  With some of my border print fabrics.  I don't really have that much fabric to spare, In fact I may even have less than two inches.  Is there some way to add weight with out the excessive hem?

Oh and by the way Gertie has both an online tutorial for this skirt linked above to the source and one in her book if you have that also.

Aline

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Aline skirts were very popular in the 1940s. I like this 4 gore example above by Jitterbuggin.  I love these for work as well as pleasure they give you room to move around but don't have too with out the over abundance of fabric that sometimes can be too billowing depending on how active you need to be. Right now I feel like I have more time and fabric so I think I will do what I can to make my own this summer.

Circle Skirts

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Circle skirts are the classic skirt of the fifties.  I love the vintage Mexican circle skirts with their vibrant colors and beautiful art work.  While these can be found on ebay and etsy but they also are easy to make and you can make your own pattern easily.  

Pencil Skirts

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Pencil skirts are the ultimate in sexy skirts.  The one above is by the retro clothing company Mode Merr and if you aren't familiar with them you should definitely go check them out they do make some adorable vintage inspired clothes.  Pencil skirts seem more easily attainable as they are still popular today.  Patterns are very easy to find.  

Well that is my thought on skirts for now I know there other varieties of skirts out there but these are the ones I am the most fond of so I will stop here.  What are your favorite skirts?

Why Blog? Inspiration?

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thanks for the inspiration Snoodlebug

Why do we blog?  I love to read blogs but I am no great writer.  I admit that visuals are more my thing (ok I guess that is why I am a visual art teacher).  I often scan pictures before I read the blog, I know judge a book by its cover and all that.  So maybe the question is why haven't I blogged?  Busy, tired,  out of inspiration?  Well not really I am inspired all the time but taking the time to write is sometimes more than I can do.  This week I was inspired by the lovely Lisa at Snoodlebug.  She posted about why she hadn't blogged in while.  If you haven't seen her blog you should really check it out she did a great tutorial series on Hollywood hair that I highly recommend.

Another post that inspired me this week was from Gertie about summer shoes and practical vs impractical.  I have recently been suffering from both foot and ankle problems.  I sprained my ankle this spring which then brought on a bought of plantar fasciitis.   Which means that I need shoes with low heals and really good arch support.  doesn't that sound like I should be wearing orthopedic shoes.  And while I probably should I think there might be some cuter options out there.  I was looking as some Dansko's here are a couple that I liked.

Anyone have any other shoe suggestions for me?

Aloha from Maui Days 3 and 4

Aloha, sorry for the absence but life always seems to get busy and then my blogging slows down.

So back to my Hawaii trip.
Day 3 Tuesday: We decided to go to see the Iao needle in Iao Valley State Park.  So again we were still waking up way too early despite our best efforts to stay up until 9 pm (2 am at home) we still woke up at about 4 am.  So of course we were on the road early for to there when they open at  7 am.  We did get there on time but the gates into the state park were closed.  So we parked at a heritage garden at the right near the gates and walked around the gardens which were lovely and also outline some of the history of the more prominent immigrant groups in Hawaii.  Here are some of the pictures.

The Korean Garden

 Portuguese Garden

The Japanese Garden

The Chinese Garden

(there was also a Filipino Garden but my pictures of it didn't turn out that well no offense meant)

So after wandering around the Gardens (mostly by ourselves) we walked to the gate for the state park but it was still locked so I suggested to my husband that we just walk up instead of drive (I have to thank my trainer for all the incline walking she has had me doing).  We found that there was a rock slide blocking the road but it we walked around it and had the park completely to ourselves. It was just gorgeous.

Mr Living Vintage pointing out the Needle

We also went to a Laua that night.  I had lots of trouble doing my hair we had been on the beach and playing in the ocean after the needle and then I showered but the blow dryer in our room was useless (the tradewinds do more to dry your hair) and I didnt have much time to spare to get my hair ready with hot sticks so I sacrified the back and left it straight and dried and rolled the top.  Sorry I don't have any great laua photos but I did get some of Mr Living Vintage and myself.

Outfit: Vintage Deweese Dress

Day 4 Wednesday:  The Road to Hana is something you must do when on Maui.  It is a winding twisty road that takes you through a rainforest past multiple waterfalls, Bamboo forest, fruit and flower stands.   It was very picturesque and what you probably picture in your head when you think of Hawaii

Our first waterfall on the Road to Hana

This was right next to where we parked our car to see the 3 bears waterfall (shown below).

Aloha from Maui Days One and Two

Aloha Readers 

We have just returned from a week long vacation on Maui and I plan to give you all the details (hopefully I don't bore too many of you in the process).  So some of you may remember I had planned to go to Viva Las Vegas this year for spring break but my fabulous husband decided we should go to Maui instead so I sold my ticket to Vegas with my room reservation to the Lovely Julie at Fab Gabs Vintage (what a nice gal).  And off we went.

Day 1
We left for Maui on a Sunday and arrived around 2 in the afternoon their time.  Our time was about 7pm so we did our best to try to stay up until 9pm Island time ( 2 am our time).  I think we made it until 8:30.  We watched our first sunset on the beach (with whales jumping out in the distance) and I had a few Mai Tai's,  Mr Living Vintage preferred to stick with a few Guinness and got a few appetizers with this at the bar next door to our hotel and experienced the inevitable Maui sticker shock.  Everything on Maui has a big price tag they will tell you this before you go but until you see a box of chicken and biscuits with a $6 price tag it will not truly sink in.  We stayed at the Days In Ocean Front in Kehei while not a grand accommodation it was right on a great beach and had very comfortable beds and a mini fridge so we could avoid eating out bills.  Now don't get me wrong this was no luxury resort but like I said it was comfortable and inexpensive by Maui standards so I would recommend it for that.  If you are looking for something grand you may want to try something like the Weston (flamingos and jellyfish in the lobby) and complimentary hair picks (ladies that is fresh flowers for your hair) can be picked up in the lobby.  Needless to say I am guessing that it was at least  times more expensive that were we stayed. Sorry to say I didn't take a single picture the first day.  I know bad blogger.

Day 2
Mr Living Vintage and I slept in and woke up at 8 am well that is our own time so it was 3 am in Maui.  Yikes what do you do at 3am?  Well we made a plan for what to visit for the day went and go some breakfast at well not much is open this early so we went to McDonalds.   We then drove along the coast.  So at 6:45 we had gone as far as our road would take us with out hitting the unpaved your rental car company will be very angry if you go any farther area.  We looked at some  tide pools saw crabs and sea anemones  We talked with a Canadian couple were were also up at 3am like us and they told us were a good snorkeling area right by us was (we did go there but not this day).  I have to say the thing that surprised me the most at this point was the landscape.  unless if was groomed and watered this was the leeward side of the island and quite dry naturally.  But I have to say this was the one thing I didn't expect to see.

Prickly Pear Cactus

Yes that is right it is not all tropics and lushness and the invasive Panini Cactus is there. 

 Next we went to the Up Country to visit the Kula Botanical Garden.  We got here right when the garden opened so for the most part we had it all to ourselves to explore.  Here are some of the pictures I took here.  (Oh and the very first photo in this post was taken here as well).

Mr Living Vintage Favorite A Bottle Brush Plant 

(picture does not do it justice)

Pin Cushion Protea from Australia

One of my favorites Protea Flower of South Africa

Kangaroo Paws from Australia 

I took this picture for my 5 year son as I knew he would love this plant and he does!!!

After the botanical garden we went to Fabric Mart.  I will post pictures later of what I bought.  If you are unfamiliar with fabric mart you should really check it out it is a great online supplier of Hawaiian fabrics and I was so excited to see they had an outlet on Maui.  I practiced lots of restraint and only bought 15 yards of fabric. Fabric Mart Websight

We went back to our room and napped, went to the beach, ate some dinner bought at the local foodland (grocery store) to save some money finally when to watch the sunset.  You have excuse my hair I forgot my end wraps for my hot sticks so the result was not as desired.  We ended the night with drinks at the bar again.

Happy Easter

Mahalo and Aloha

Susan

Confessions of a Pinaholic

Pin #1 source

Pinterest Board #2 Vintage Inspired Gladrags
This was the second board I made when I realized pinterest was a great outlet for all my online shopping desires.  I pin instead of buy but if I do feel I have the money later I can go back to my pins and see if items are still available.  Below you find my opinions on the items and companies.  I am not paid to do this I just thought I would share my thoughts after all that's what blogs are for!!

Pin # 1 is a pair of Dungaree Dolls from Freddie's of Pinewood.  If you are not familiar with Freddie's you really need to go visit them online they have fabulous reproduction denims that can be difficult to find.  I love this particular sop because it looks like it was taken in the doorway of a silver streak trailer which is the trailer that we have and well I just think they are adorable!!!  I have these now as well as a few pairs of Jeans.  I will say that being a short gal the jeans don't work very well on my figure but the Dungaree Dolls fit great.  That being said the quality has been great so I do recommend them for a gal with a longer torso than mine.

Pin # 2 Source

Pin # 2 is the Elsie dress from Revamp Vintage.  How can you not love this dress!!!!  I do not have any Revamp items at this time so if someone wants to speak to the quality or their experiences with this company please do so in the comments.

 Pin # 3 Source

Pin #3 is the Bernie Dexter Halter Dress in Polka Dot.  Great for fun in the Sun.  I do no have any Bernie Dexter dresses yet but I do have a jacket that I just love.  The quality is great.

Pin #4 Source

Pin #4 Heyday 40s style trousers.  How do I love Heyday I don't know if I can express it enough I have trousers, dress and a jacket and all are worn and loved.  I think this may be one of my favorite companies.  Hit the source button the check them out.

Pin # 5 Source

Pin #5 Corslette Top by Whirling Turban sorry this is not the exact same picture that I have on my board but the picure I had was of the same top minus the lovely Bernie Dexter modeling the top perhaps I wll have to add this one also.  If you love vintage Whirling Turban is right up your alley.  I was married in a Whirling Turban dress and have several others as well as 2 corslette tops and I love them.  I can't say enough good things about this company well worth the prices.

Happy Presidents Day

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I hope you all are getting a well deserved day off for Presidents Day.  My family decided it would be a good weekend for a trip to the cabin in Wisconsin.  Sorry I didn't bring my camera so no pictures all are having a good time snowshoeing, ice fishing and well the new dog and old cat seem to be working out some of their differences in this new environment.  Have a great day everyone.