tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84833035758833355852024-02-07T22:27:29.233-08:00Wenny Makes It!More than just historical clothing --there's a bit of everything going on here!Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.comBlogger330125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-84532701740712119952017-07-25T09:40:00.002-07:002018-04-06T08:18:41.594-07:00Sleeping in a Rice Bed? My favorite secondhand building materials place came through again, and most unexpectedly; we were shopping for a mailbox but couldn't pass by this four-poster bed frame. It was nicely carved and the price of $300 had been dropped to $150. We both stopped with an "Ooooh!" of admiration.<br />
<br />
We dithered for a while -- no, wait, that's not true.<b> I </b>dithered. Dave was ready to get it but left the final decision to me, as I'd be the one doing the work of refinishing it. I knew it was well worth the asking price; it was solid wood, mahogany probably. The finish was scraped and worn. With a little work, it would be a beautiful piece.<br />
<br />
But did I want to do that work?<br />
<br />
Then a clerk came by and told us all beds were on sale at 50% off the lowest marked price. So that meant the bed was selling for only $75. Load it up, boys -- we're taking it home.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhme5UeuxaVuc6IPKmH08JazphfcRfbkTovyqEWBE0QKjS5xmyXXSNSoDwcpVTkejH4jF_khUGyJ07cXyH_oCtvvy5zOudZQRMpOLP4Am75_I9lqyF545kD5sfAL29dvbfdJJvYzPU-jPuF/s1600/IMAG0189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhme5UeuxaVuc6IPKmH08JazphfcRfbkTovyqEWBE0QKjS5xmyXXSNSoDwcpVTkejH4jF_khUGyJ07cXyH_oCtvvy5zOudZQRMpOLP4Am75_I9lqyF545kD5sfAL29dvbfdJJvYzPU-jPuF/s640/IMAG0189.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It doesn't look too impressive here, in the garage with a shelf of horse blankets behind it, but that's because the corner posts are in sections and the upper halves are removed. See that nice inlay work around the edge? And those post are hand carved!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCdGDKN463R7gGRGZesGJ1BDO-q8m0rn8o8xf93aRV2EC_TnO6J2WKTeLYAIUJ2QYU-fwQA4bewq_-I6oIxmvtHMSCbVz2kAFMJ70778OyuW7R13iNkkTXMUF1HnIrYX47Zf0j-c6pLPl/s1600/IMAG0190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCdGDKN463R7gGRGZesGJ1BDO-q8m0rn8o8xf93aRV2EC_TnO6J2WKTeLYAIUJ2QYU-fwQA4bewq_-I6oIxmvtHMSCbVz2kAFMJ70778OyuW7R13iNkkTXMUF1HnIrYX47Zf0j-c6pLPl/s640/IMAG0190.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
Behold the hand carved post! If you are observant, this picture gives a clear indication of "not as old as you might think". I didn't see it at first, but once I learned more about our bed, it was obvious. See the black flecks spattered on the finish? That's called "flyspecking" and it's been a popular technique for the last 75 years or so to make an item look older. It's gross to think about, but somewhere in history, a carpenter thought, "All the stuff I'm building looks too new. If only I could make it look like it had been around for years with flies pooping on it. Then I bet people would buy it!" and that carpenter was right. You'll never look at your grandma's china cabinet the same way, will you?<br />
<br />
Fortunately for me, those flyspecks come right off with the old finish. Faux flyspecks are for chumps; I want the real thing! (Actually, no, I do <b>not</b> want any fly poop anywhere, <b>ever</b>.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeTFhHhifHiVGvlVNjCBlpPLk1KV76iqaAA04qGbrIGu8bSVV5CHdy5PrvZW9WV_Eu8RRQPpLGJjC18RuE1JAWxPKZiglGf3Vla7p_FIwD4_YyNTSWpfxOoa5cqfufSwLhv3-M22wimJ5/s1600/IMAG0191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeTFhHhifHiVGvlVNjCBlpPLk1KV76iqaAA04qGbrIGu8bSVV5CHdy5PrvZW9WV_Eu8RRQPpLGJjC18RuE1JAWxPKZiglGf3Vla7p_FIwD4_YyNTSWpfxOoa5cqfufSwLhv3-M22wimJ5/s640/IMAG0191.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's the before-and-after of stripping off the old finish. Once everything is naked, I'll use mahogany stain and a coat of tung oil to finish.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoeeMXnq0LCc2KoOCSsBt2p9h1ufKJ8h8p3hCIsWWCx2aoieqD8Pp7jpysHP7Rso8f_As3kJ9YOW8A8GmHJ-fZRYau9f6v4JAk16KrZuc8gQ-OH5PEbhuBzE1XpwsU5mOXyfooWkfqM9b/s1600/IMAG0192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoeeMXnq0LCc2KoOCSsBt2p9h1ufKJ8h8p3hCIsWWCx2aoieqD8Pp7jpysHP7Rso8f_As3kJ9YOW8A8GmHJ-fZRYau9f6v4JAk16KrZuc8gQ-OH5PEbhuBzE1XpwsU5mOXyfooWkfqM9b/s640/IMAG0192.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
The finials are a separate piece, which is nice since one of them had broken at a thin point and been clumsily and crookedly repaired with what felt like rubber cement. Yuck! I peeled and scraped off all the old glue --completely forgetting to take a "before" picture because I was in the zone. A little wood glue and some filler, sand when dry, and you'd never know there was a fracture.<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>So wait--</i> I can hear you asking, <i>What's this about a rice bed?</i><br />
<br />
Of course you know I was doing research on this bed as soon as we got it home. I looked up "bed with wheat carving" on Google, and learned that the carving actually portrays rice, not wheat. Rice was a popular crop in the southern states -- who knew? -- along with tobacco, and so rice became a common motif for furniture in the 1800s, most particularly on bed frames which were called "Rice Beds".<br />
<br />
Because of the flyspecking, I knew this bed wasn't from the 1800s, but Rice Beds are still made to this day. I looked at all kinds of pictures to find the exact pattern and style of ours, and I'm quite confident that ours was made in the 70s by <a href="http://www.councill.com/item?id=222">Councill. They are still in business</a> and have a reputation as one of the finest furniture makers in America. Ours doesn't look exactly like their latest catalog item, but it's a perfect match for ones I've found on furniture auction and resale sites. Original retail price: $5000 to $7000.<br />
<br />
Not a bad bargain for $75.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for the full "after" pictures. It'll be a while, but it'll be worth it!Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-37503901472094056762017-05-15T09:43:00.001-07:002017-05-15T09:43:37.949-07:00Leather Quickie!I have a stethoscope and veterinary thermometer in my grooming tote as part of my first aid kit. Up until last week, I kept my 'scope in a sock to keep it clean and somewhat protected. Then I got bored one night and in an amazingly short amount of time I made a nice little leather case -- and practiced my leather carving skills at the same time. It was so quick, I didn't get any in-process pictures taken, except one before I stitched the edges and one after.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBmQkYyYpaPHOEnYhewL792YDM1Bv1mUoQWWyKbxi9P6bLV-fYoHZur4gsiRBqQZ3GBM87VfHjNHSnS9rktQrdvC8ytCu0FeG_2ZeVC9501Uu_7xXyxBBaXkXMO0BXbE50xFWNVa6vwsZ/s1600/IMAG0047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBmQkYyYpaPHOEnYhewL792YDM1Bv1mUoQWWyKbxi9P6bLV-fYoHZur4gsiRBqQZ3GBM87VfHjNHSnS9rktQrdvC8ytCu0FeG_2ZeVC9501Uu_7xXyxBBaXkXMO0BXbE50xFWNVa6vwsZ/s640/IMAG0047.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before lacing around the edge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The whole project is just a square of leather folded over like a book, leaving one inch as a "spine". I cut in and tooled a commercial design of a flower and horse head, and then did a background of stamped basketweave and a half-round camo border. I left the back plain; no need to get overly ambitious. A few yards of 1/8" leather lacing made a nice finish for the raw edge, and also stitched in a heavy-duty zipper around the three sides.<br />
<br />
If I had wanted to get super fancy, I could have glued in a shearling lining, and some elastic loops or similar to hold my scope and thermometer in place, but I think it's perfectly acceptable the way it is. And much better than a sock.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIbSr7O5_WFvPNz_g0zvPOfaoSzAsdnJHxHFBy3q3kNbrQUcs3EP83OgdoFOe59O0zGYkFlbT_So3s2-rhuVtMfl5QxzGiS_BFO1u-mFbL4dGrJK-5oT7ZTmnRDLuz7FcKOLGwRIB3IyR/s1600/IMAG0048+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIbSr7O5_WFvPNz_g0zvPOfaoSzAsdnJHxHFBy3q3kNbrQUcs3EP83OgdoFOe59O0zGYkFlbT_So3s2-rhuVtMfl5QxzGiS_BFO1u-mFbL4dGrJK-5oT7ZTmnRDLuz7FcKOLGwRIB3IyR/s320/IMAG0048+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lacing completed. Oh my goodness, it's so blurry. Well. you get the idea, anyway.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-77799410741460930212017-03-26T21:23:00.000-07:002017-03-26T21:23:35.366-07:00Imp's BirthdayIt's not every year your horse turns 20, and I felt like Imp deserved more than just an extra carrot or apple on his big day (though of course he'll get those, too!) so I decided it was time to make a special gift -- and learn a new skill at the same time.<br />
<br />
I've been making stuff from leather for a few years, and I have a growing set of leather stamps that I've used to create designs on some of the things I make. But I've always admired the way some folks carve flowers, leaves, and other pictures on to leather -- Sheridan carving is one name for it. I watched a few videos on YouTube that made it look easy and I already had the tools, so I hauled out my box of leather pieces and made some beginner efforts.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6OoRB1GpWZrNKe49A9Gfe2J0mE5rjB7qHKAcuU7-5AmtrDKoHF5TZU3V-6rI7beZPXdQ8chzfS-a2uniMs6OplGpGG8v6CaYY_5zmUH8uG6Gl5bOFVTpLbfXIA8D94JTISk_GSDyByVJ/s1600/IMAG1179+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6OoRB1GpWZrNKe49A9Gfe2J0mE5rjB7qHKAcuU7-5AmtrDKoHF5TZU3V-6rI7beZPXdQ8chzfS-a2uniMs6OplGpGG8v6CaYY_5zmUH8uG6Gl5bOFVTpLbfXIA8D94JTISk_GSDyByVJ/s640/IMAG1179+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There on the left, you see my first scribbles and scratches. It was pretty ghastly. I tried sharpening my knife again --really well, this time, not just a few passes -- and it helped a little. By the next evening, with a little more practice, I managed the sample on the right. It;s a huge improvement, but still pretty awful compared to what it <i>should</i> be. But those guys in the YouTube videos have a couple decades of experience so I'm not gonna be too hard on myself. This is perfectly good for only a few hours practice.<br />
<br />
I picked out a design and some lettering and transferred it to my prepared leather. Cutting it in with my swivel knife took about an hour and my hand was cramped. I grip way too tight when I concentrate. I have real problems with spirals and tight corners, and this design was full of them, but I so liked the look of it that I decided I'd go for it. So here it is, all cut in. From a distance, it's not too shabby!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDugMWFSSYxyTJ6FdaUFJvfCcA4b7uJzOtGkz1skEG85pw9-GVEfbtVCsNIWQREDOks22R51BZzFXo7gsoabHTldkbAhMqDpfzJv8_i0KzcVTf0FXaevOwhKGM_wElhvzEItzE2T335zu/s1600/IMAG1180.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDugMWFSSYxyTJ6FdaUFJvfCcA4b7uJzOtGkz1skEG85pw9-GVEfbtVCsNIWQREDOks22R51BZzFXo7gsoabHTldkbAhMqDpfzJv8_i0KzcVTf0FXaevOwhKGM_wElhvzEItzE2T335zu/s640/IMAG1180.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Now, I have to bevel the edges to give it that look of depth. In the professional videos, the guy just scooted his beveler along between taps of his mallet, so smooth and easy and pretty. Mine hopped and bucked and went astray a few times, and again, I was probably gripping too tight and trying to hard to work it along. My beveling is the perfect match for the "wrong" example I saw in a book; all bumpy and uneven. Alas!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7K05c8Dlu5SxEf-9WI2zbDTpAjpvBYDLRWjyZvguoLhyphenhyphenkN3MOuqn1Emi0eGPoYYoC5DMfCfC8HKPuv-TW9-BlDRvGoypNdiJpzjfVzaNmCGq5m7EP8ta3karg6tsB3YdWmilxDgXsGi7/s1600/IMAG1181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7K05c8Dlu5SxEf-9WI2zbDTpAjpvBYDLRWjyZvguoLhyphenhyphenkN3MOuqn1Emi0eGPoYYoC5DMfCfC8HKPuv-TW9-BlDRvGoypNdiJpzjfVzaNmCGq5m7EP8ta3karg6tsB3YdWmilxDgXsGi7/s640/IMAG1181.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It took me about two hours to get the beveling done, and the shading around the letters. Doesn't that font look like it should say "Holy Bible"? But it's a very typical example and one of the only lettering templates I had in my collection. It looks awesome.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0YBf6FEtw4XTdC-AuHMTgYgMQp-Rs1yKqA4YKSWuViiyA_wseQqe95_zmUO_L5qwW-4sWw-HzYJW9LUFzuCz2Fee83GxWatnXzQenCwKb4-M547-S7L6r7DqBlHapKDigbbGGBgEKfng/s1600/IMAG1182.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0YBf6FEtw4XTdC-AuHMTgYgMQp-Rs1yKqA4YKSWuViiyA_wseQqe95_zmUO_L5qwW-4sWw-HzYJW9LUFzuCz2Fee83GxWatnXzQenCwKb4-M547-S7L6r7DqBlHapKDigbbGGBgEKfng/s640/IMAG1182.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
A little bit of shading and some various stamps used here and there, and I'm satisfied with my work. It's doesn't look too awful. In fact, from a barn aisle viewing distance of about five feet, it looks pretty darn good. Especially if you squint.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowbRVwfXHQUpL_hyphenhyphenHlnWUG5jIaJEXssqFN6IcZCf3QiKFmQpCQYa2nnfBzA8iolgJHRYUF9pWFXz6urwccUKJPxiWy6g2YwyjPZuV0u6CodidhT3jOoBWXIQgAlliBHrE07_4i46wZTrK/s1600/IMAG1183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowbRVwfXHQUpL_hyphenhyphenHlnWUG5jIaJEXssqFN6IcZCf3QiKFmQpCQYa2nnfBzA8iolgJHRYUF9pWFXz6urwccUKJPxiWy6g2YwyjPZuV0u6CodidhT3jOoBWXIQgAlliBHrE07_4i46wZTrK/s640/IMAG1183.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I painted Imp's name in black dye, and then put on a coat of "Light Brown" that turned out pretty darn dark. I should have maybe not done the second coat. Oh well. Rich dark color makes it look expensive and professional. Right? Sure.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xchWil8FZGqUQ3MUdFohnHCAXnGHQBHv0Lqqoolv6Ov6Sa22shy19mEHIHOd4CcyIKaGl96ZXiduTxkfhExFoA1HEKQxc1Q5Wj8CSYBRLFcctbDExXH2Gt7SAZ4cQwp_nwNW4gLR8pap/s1600/IMAG1185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xchWil8FZGqUQ3MUdFohnHCAXnGHQBHv0Lqqoolv6Ov6Sa22shy19mEHIHOd4CcyIKaGl96ZXiduTxkfhExFoA1HEKQxc1Q5Wj8CSYBRLFcctbDExXH2Gt7SAZ4cQwp_nwNW4gLR8pap/s640/IMAG1185.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Cut to fit and nailed to a scrap of cedar with some fancy upholstery tacks, and I've made pretty much the nicest stall sign I've ever seen. I'm sure Imp will give a snort of delight when I hang it on his stall tomorrow.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy 20th Birthday, Imp! </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-80980777040989430352017-02-05T19:07:00.003-08:002017-02-05T19:07:32.304-08:00A Clean Machine. Sort of. A quick wipe with a damp rag to take off the top layer of dust didn't go far to improving the old girl's looks, alas.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9veph0DNMsaJ_rb0vWfGlzYqtiJnqctmjfh6H1yUPpu2G7BVtKuGJzmUcC_VKOgeDhTx9-WoPa-TtD7PUqNk9xA_rtad_L0TyZUqUFkRRiWoVAND5BUaIdDyz18zlo9y0vc4fbSpo_gzc/s1600/white+rotary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9veph0DNMsaJ_rb0vWfGlzYqtiJnqctmjfh6H1yUPpu2G7BVtKuGJzmUcC_VKOgeDhTx9-WoPa-TtD7PUqNk9xA_rtad_L0TyZUqUFkRRiWoVAND5BUaIdDyz18zlo9y0vc4fbSpo_gzc/s640/white+rotary.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I was pretty sure that Gojo would melt away most of the dirt, though it meant being careful around the decorative decals. So I slathered that on and let it sit for about twenty minutes. Unfortunately, when I wiped it off, nothing had changed. There was a layer of dried gummy dirt that would not budge. I tried rubbing it with oil, I tried automotive bug and tar remover, I tried castile soap and a soft toothbrush, I tried 409 -- nothing was working! What was the deal? What <i>was </i>this stuff, and how was it resisting all the usual tried-and-true cleaning methods? Finally I tried straight 70% isopropyl alcohol -- rubbing alcohol from the supermarket. And it worked! It also wanted to take the decals off, so I had to work carefully around them, removing as much dirt as I could without stripping the gold and color from the decoration.<br />
<br />
The greenish-brown nastiness I was taking off was something I had seen before -- smoke residue. I imagined the machine set up in a room with a wood-burning stove, a man with a pipe, a 1970's two-pack-a-day chainsmoker-- over a century, I suppose it was possible that this sort of gunk could accumulate.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wDWAN4J5nnt_wmnonVuV0AD6r6JCUoQuTcF1SRb4PSGNZmT1gBF6EmZXSYQiMIQrbJsRrGDaSp3L_dyfWWq3YiMNav6lx7NhexcHHY02UJk0n8f1dP8iSogAkneR9y5jBxv3NGtm-ZlX/s1600/white+rotary+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wDWAN4J5nnt_wmnonVuV0AD6r6JCUoQuTcF1SRb4PSGNZmT1gBF6EmZXSYQiMIQrbJsRrGDaSp3L_dyfWWq3YiMNav6lx7NhexcHHY02UJk0n8f1dP8iSogAkneR9y5jBxv3NGtm-ZlX/s640/white+rotary+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then I looked at the condition of the cabinet, with it's water-damaged veneer, rippled and cracking, and I thought maybe there was a house fire. This machine could tell some stories, I bet! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I stripped off the metal parts and scrubbed off the residue and rust as best I could. A little spritz of solvent degreaser on the works underneath and a wipe with a lint-free cloth got that cleaned up nicely. I oiled the parts and then added a dab of heavy duty silicone lubricant if things still seemed a bit tight. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlV09ZQ7JXm9JLVJTRynaj-JfrgkbMRLTlcdYKeAI51VErhaLjwQBjcpzTEEH57YJ7l8d6Cj2YTVtcEoLPn3XDDJ3Ysg79WZwuIT3aG-SZkoomjLZ_0Wyu__WKnVHkP7KyPbdDobr9L3Xk/s1600/white+rotary+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlV09ZQ7JXm9JLVJTRynaj-JfrgkbMRLTlcdYKeAI51VErhaLjwQBjcpzTEEH57YJ7l8d6Cj2YTVtcEoLPn3XDDJ3Ysg79WZwuIT3aG-SZkoomjLZ_0Wyu__WKnVHkP7KyPbdDobr9L3Xk/s640/white+rotary+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
She won't win any beauty contests. There's decal damage from wear (and I admit there's a place or two where I scrubbed a little too aggressively) and there are places where rust has damaged the finish, but she's clean, and once I give her a coat of carnuba wax, she'll look okay. She shows her age and history, and there's nothing wrong with that; she's earned it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVKNqlJJo1_xlH4u3CWZZQ8y_LHf9bPaJ4L0zV3nyL9Lua_tP6N-5lhwJ85vvhRne8jUlFuWOysLhKDKbs26kubENOKDC84wPx2aEtUGKNzHQhFW2n3TlE1uatZ1_i2-XjF8u1MxnyZCT/s1600/white+rotary+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVKNqlJJo1_xlH4u3CWZZQ8y_LHf9bPaJ4L0zV3nyL9Lua_tP6N-5lhwJ85vvhRne8jUlFuWOysLhKDKbs26kubENOKDC84wPx2aEtUGKNzHQhFW2n3TlE1uatZ1_i2-XjF8u1MxnyZCT/s640/white+rotary+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This is me, trying all kinds of crazy stuff to clean various parts. If you look in the middle of the machine there, right under the decals, you can see a metal part that's kinda rounded. That's a little device that helps set the thread tension. It was all wiggly-jiggly and loose, so I took it off to see what the issue was. I couldn't see any way to tighten it, so I got my owner's manual out. No info there. So I checked out <a href="http://treadleon.net/sewingmachineshop/removingwhitefaceplate/whitefaceplaste.html">a treadle website I knew was reputable</a>, and there I read the horrifying news: '<i>Don't disassemble the White tension system! This assembly rarely gives trouble and shouldn't be messed with. Reassembly and calibration requires a tool you don't have -- because you have to make it yourself.'</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Good heavens! Had I just wrecked this machine? I got up and walked away from my work to take a few deep breaths. <br />
<br />
Then I had a drink of water.<br />
<br />
Then I went to bed.<br />
<br />
By the next night, I had talked my courage back up. The part was obviously not working as intended even before I had taken it off. I had not broken the machine-- it had already been that way, and if I couldn't put it right, that was not my fault. But maybe I could fix it. I am nothing if not creative. Shoot, making a tool? That sounded right up my alley. I rolled up my sleeves and took off the face plate.<br />
<br />
I had to really read carefully to decipher what the author was describing, but once I got a good look at it, I could see immediately what the problem was, and it was just a matter of using a screwdriver and a needle-nose pliers to tuck a piece into place. I got the face plate back on and gave the handwheel a little turn. Nothing fell off, there were no screeching noises or clunks, and everything seemed to move as it should.<br />
<br />
Whew!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWi_nhiKWszpE6B-fkNayN6SGueVi5q5CSKOzg3-wOXre2N2qj4TrJTI1oRxNQvpX3Zq0kHB1uviwZxbf8rirX5qEfNKwGjGOYoM3TC3n6LPGqZZTAaxuTEcp_Bc-od9zRGOe45wm3AGzE/s1600/white+rotary+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWi_nhiKWszpE6B-fkNayN6SGueVi5q5CSKOzg3-wOXre2N2qj4TrJTI1oRxNQvpX3Zq0kHB1uviwZxbf8rirX5qEfNKwGjGOYoM3TC3n6LPGqZZTAaxuTEcp_Bc-od9zRGOe45wm3AGzE/s640/white+rotary+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It was time to put the machine back into the cabinet and she how she works. I cut a new belt from an old leather rein, made a few adjustments to get the length just right, and gave the handwheel a turn --<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Okay, I'm trying to load a video from my phone. I hope this works....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzc6H9wlHJsVLJzWDuLREcRZNMq-UDayrcDy4SpssO8_aOqRiUPhtac_Jl6BPYSmEdGOghid2VxgvissNYO' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
If the technology worked, you should be seeing a video of that beat up machine running swift and smooth, making the tiniest, evenest stitches ever. I didn't even have to adjust the tension (something I spent two days messing with on my New Home machine, Julia, when I got her) and I'm beyond pleased with the results. Hooray for not breaking the tension system!<br />
<br />
Now to get to work on refinishing the cabinet!Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-34722053152891594172017-01-06T09:49:00.000-08:002017-01-06T09:49:00.481-08:00A New BeginningAbout a month ago, I saw a treadle machine at my favorite thrift shop. It was in terrible shape: the head was black with filth and all the silver parts were rusty. The wood veneer on the cabinet was warped and rippled with water damage, and the whole thing had been sloppily painted over with cream-colored paint on the body and black paint sprinkled with glitter for the top. I ached for the noble, purposeful machine it once was, now reduced to a tatty has-been. Then I saw the price tag --$159.<br /><br />One hundred and fifty-nine dollars!<br /><br />I called over a clerk. "People buy something like this for two reasons; they want to use it for sewing, or for decoration. As it stands now, this piece is neither useful nor decorative without a lot of work. This machine in good condition might be worth what you're asking, but as it is? You're asking far too much." <br /><br />She was chewing gum. "I'll let the manager know," she said. <br /><br />As I walked away, I knew she wasn't going to say anything. I bet they get people saying things like that all the time. I've worked in retail. I'm sure I was coffee break conversation that day, greatly exaggerated to look foolish, duh duh duhhhh. <br /><br />I saw it sitting there-- sometimes open to show the grimy machine, sometimes closed-- for a few weeks before I tried again. I asked another clerk what happens to the furniture items that don't sell. Sometimes they get donated, sometimes hauled to the dump or recycling center. I saw a bleak future for the treadle. <br /><br />The day before Christmas, I saw that someone had tied a red ribbon on the spool spindle, and there was a tiny fake potted evergreen tree sitting on the open cabinet lid. Somehow this made me feel even worse about the machine's prospects. <br /><br />The best I could hope for was a half-price day, when all the tags of a certain color are marked down. But even that would only drop the price to $80-- still far too much. I collared another clerk and asked to speak to the manager of the day. (Yeah, I don't understand how that works, either, but hey, I don't work there, so...) She arrived, and I once again began my pitch about the two reasons, how age plus dirt does not equal value, the amount of work needed to make this thing useful or decorative. She was working hard at looking interested, I'll give her that. "Could I make an offer?" I asked. She shrugged. I handed her my business card. "If no one buys it and it's headed to the dump, I will pay $25. Please call me." <br /><br />"Yeah, okay." She pocketed my card and I left knowing she was not going to call me. I was just a weird lady who didn't want to pay full price for something.<br /><br />Sometimes the shop has 99 cent days, when all the tags of a certain color are marked down. It's the last effort to clear them out before they are culled. I wasn't sure if furniture was included in that sale, but I decided that was my opportunity. So I waited and checked and watched for that sale day.<br /><br />Then about a week ago, I stopped by the thrift shop to see if it was 99ยข day for green tags so I could spring that sorry-looking treadle. This guy comes over after watching me for a minute. "I've seen you here looking at this a couple times now," he says.<br /><br />"I'm keeping an eye on it," I explain. "I want it, but not at the asking price."<br /><br />He watches me open up the machine. "How much would you pay?" He asks.<br /><br />"I think $25 is fair, but that's way less than the tag."<br /><br />He turns over the tag. $159. "This tag? This tag is wrong." He takes out a sales pad. "That's supposed to say $59." He smiles. "Oh-- and green tags are half off. That makes it $29.50."<br /><br />"What." I am stunned.<br /><br />"Shall I write it up?" He winks at me.<br /><br />"Wow, that's--"<br /><br />"A neat way to start a new year? I agree."<br /><br />So I brought her home. <div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYr1c6pHVekZ6HSBK6ZtcGiyE99NkP8PF36e473VIfzKKSJNKZnhNrywK60He1YquV3FitZKvYh_-WUT638Kf50JHVVKp6258vLyKdwBN2QD3w1VmeBcPN1wUuTZTTwHfP0Hd7Tu2pSFM/s1600/IMAG0932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYr1c6pHVekZ6HSBK6ZtcGiyE99NkP8PF36e473VIfzKKSJNKZnhNrywK60He1YquV3FitZKvYh_-WUT638Kf50JHVVKp6258vLyKdwBN2QD3w1VmeBcPN1wUuTZTTwHfP0Hd7Tu2pSFM/s640/IMAG0932.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-7466043810946472522016-12-14T15:55:00.000-08:002016-12-21T14:14:38.138-08:00Silly Wintertime FunI'm a weirdo about my bears, I admit it. There's just something about hugging a good teddy bear that just soaks up all your worries and frets. Because they provide such a helpful service, I express my thanks in silly gifts for them.<br />
<br />
Hugh is a newer bear, but boy what a super bear he is. I found him at thrift (of course!) for only four dollars. I picked him up and was just putting him back down when he sighed unhappily. He has a working "growler" inside him! After my initial surprise, I was delighted. It wasn't long before he became my couch buddy.<br />
<br />
He has no tags, but he has a striking resemblance to a 1920's Steiff bear. With no button in his ear, it's hard to prove his pedigree, but his large size (24"), rare color, and outstanding condition including working growler make him quite a valuable bear to collectors. I just think he's a great guy, and don't really care about collector value.<br />
<br />
I got him a little fisherman sweater and that was very cute on him, but a few days ago I decided what he really needed was some sleepwear. It's winter, and that means hibernation, right? And because it was so quickly thought of, naturally I didn't take any in-process pictures. It was cold an rainy out and I was really just indulging in some "sewing therapy" to improve my mood. Anyway here's the results:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_MTU1a7Av_euj1zm-KX3PcaNBfruVdQdr8vJ3_cjBrWz0pXy4h_nfAElv3ENzKtease9y6YjN7_FOTmuAzI971DQDFdERj7w4PzrapiQ3R8AOL3yp1YlovsHf5EgyS8NewASZM_EbxFo/s1600/Hugh+nightshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_MTU1a7Av_euj1zm-KX3PcaNBfruVdQdr8vJ3_cjBrWz0pXy4h_nfAElv3ENzKtease9y6YjN7_FOTmuAzI971DQDFdERj7w4PzrapiQ3R8AOL3yp1YlovsHf5EgyS8NewASZM_EbxFo/s640/Hugh+nightshirt.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
The nightshirt is blue striped cotton with pink binding on the edges. A little pearl button and a yarn loop make the neck closure.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7rrYeFeCaY6GWElUiGCHu7oXaUf4MV5-rA4VsY4YkTPECZbXpLrgJ17d4SkmHeS9RV9di1bz0qHCYqet4vdqhSWvxg3gJvcNaz1KFaKtOU0bdi-313QAx1TCQ6QSLzbpktxltuqprkh5/s1600/Hugh+bathrobe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7rrYeFeCaY6GWElUiGCHu7oXaUf4MV5-rA4VsY4YkTPECZbXpLrgJ17d4SkmHeS9RV9di1bz0qHCYqet4vdqhSWvxg3gJvcNaz1KFaKtOU0bdi-313QAx1TCQ6QSLzbpktxltuqprkh5/s640/Hugh+bathrobe.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
Hugh's bathrobe is soft blue wool with a bit of grey and white twist yarn to make the piping and belt. His pocket holds a red and blue striped cotton handkerchief in case of sniffles.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6EzI2ZoSYAk29WKN0XmZ6iLhKeNZqsK4MtEYTZUplUwcFt6o8kbbeCQzvifVgEA-pOnMzTRzOs6VFkBk6AsZyp2o0GacyWmyTJPOoJwZMyS9h_TdelR0kH0-DqTNRVb-o9_KzlGULVSD/s1600/Hugh+smoking+cap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6EzI2ZoSYAk29WKN0XmZ6iLhKeNZqsK4MtEYTZUplUwcFt6o8kbbeCQzvifVgEA-pOnMzTRzOs6VFkBk6AsZyp2o0GacyWmyTJPOoJwZMyS9h_TdelR0kH0-DqTNRVb-o9_KzlGULVSD/s640/Hugh+smoking+cap.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The finishing touch is his Victorian-style smoking cap, made from a piece of wool leftover from the robe and a wide band of ribbon. A silver and pearl button and cotton floss tassel top it off with style.<br />
<br />
Now all he needs is a tiny pipe and some reading glasses and he's all set to spend the winter season in comfort.<br />
<br />
I'll have more things to share after the holidays when the recipients have gotten their gifts and I won't spoil anything by showing them here. Until then, I hope your days are merry and bright, and all good things come your way!Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-38695505926263211162016-10-28T21:02:00.002-07:002016-10-28T21:02:13.397-07:00Look at my chest! There's this great little shop on our west side that sells building materials and fixtures pulled from old construction. If you want old kitchen cabinets to put in your garage for storage, if you're looking for a mid-century formica table, or if you need a moth-eaten, horsehair stuffed velvet Victorian fainting couch, there's a good chance you'll find it there.<br />
<br />
Guess who loves going there.<br />
<br />
I'll give you three guesses.<br />
<br />
Me, me, and ME.<br />
<br />
It's where we found <a href="http://wennymakesit.blogspot.com/2015/10/let-there-be-light.html">that terrific chandelier</a> that we're so pleased about. We got our bathroom floor tile there. I got a complete socket wrench set for a dollar! And they always have some crazy thing that makes you tilt your head on one side and wonder where it came from, and where it'll end up -- like the twenty foot long marble bar from a hotel built in the 1890s. That thing was<i> gorgeous</i>. There was a note saying that a skunk had built a den in one of the cupboards at one time, which would explain the lingering aroma. It was only $500. I did a fair bit of covetous petting and cooing, but simply put, there's no place in our house that it would have fit, and of course we have no use for such a thing. It was pretty, though.<br />
<br />
I've been poking around there, hoping a piano stool will show up that I can use with my treadle. No luck so far, but last week we did find something. And it was marked down a lot, which was a big treat.<br />
<br />
We got a pretty waterfall-front cedar chest from the 1930s for only $25. Originally it was priced at $125, so we felt like we got a good deal.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qxm54oIAaAjypyecnpDfx-JQcHB2MdcMnJrtDRPjH0wP-H7MH0FN40M0BW5RK0Jk-CXR2Ewxl9rs4ZKng2hqHWnxi9P7ieILOJFwjkt-bSzcAeRVbabw43WaiYreYgl9sh12VkBynal3/s1600/IMAG0783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qxm54oIAaAjypyecnpDfx-JQcHB2MdcMnJrtDRPjH0wP-H7MH0FN40M0BW5RK0Jk-CXR2Ewxl9rs4ZKng2hqHWnxi9P7ieILOJFwjkt-bSzcAeRVbabw43WaiYreYgl9sh12VkBynal3/s640/IMAG0783.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Doesn't look like much, does it? But it's the perfect thing to put at the foot of our bed to hold spare sheets and blankets. Right now we're using a small wooden entryway bench that used to be our son's toybox. This is a nice upgrade. And it'll be even nicer once I've refinished it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It wasn't until we were loading it into the car and the bottom suddenly slid halfway out that we realized that part is a drawer! You can just see the two holes where a handle used to be. I ran a scrap of leather thong through it as a temporary handle. We were hoping to find a treasure map or envelope of valuable stock certificates taped to the underside, but no such luck. Alas! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The veneer is pulling up but I'm sure a little wood glue and a warm iron will fix that. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCKpo660DeK89mCfGGB2f7ZpDTJnvsqJHmWIdI6rgcw68rEdlIKwsOqFh3FKeyL6t2RdcSQmfKpEi1h3vwhqvE3LXvTO1cpH7I29I-nT_SvolJVTJGZyCPYhbL5z74b-bMGE_Xs1ICu8L/s1600/IMAG0813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCKpo660DeK89mCfGGB2f7ZpDTJnvsqJHmWIdI6rgcw68rEdlIKwsOqFh3FKeyL6t2RdcSQmfKpEi1h3vwhqvE3LXvTO1cpH7I29I-nT_SvolJVTJGZyCPYhbL5z74b-bMGE_Xs1ICu8L/s640/IMAG0813.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was worried there was damage to the top because it was all rough and scratched, but nope, just the finish crackling and flaking off. I did some scrubbing with refinisher and you can see a difference already. Left side cleaned, and right side old and icky. I have very bright lighting in my workshop, so all the warm wood tones are washed out in my pictures, but I hope you can see what I do -- this cheap little secondhand chest is going to clean up very nicely. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywnKXex_4aTTMV7CnzDhO7C4tN8oZNMExXM4gtEuW3Ibx4wEWwgfmBGcjVh-UUkdHjKj6TOKwPWfyzsd08WJ0rwHr-Ro0Ho45NeOavPB8Lofmony6wRATGEfbOQeE5hNK0YYdAVsD63cQ/s1600/IMAG0819+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywnKXex_4aTTMV7CnzDhO7C4tN8oZNMExXM4gtEuW3Ibx4wEWwgfmBGcjVh-UUkdHjKj6TOKwPWfyzsd08WJ0rwHr-Ro0Ho45NeOavPB8Lofmony6wRATGEfbOQeE5hNK0YYdAVsD63cQ/s640/IMAG0819+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
With the holidays coming up, I'm going be busy at work and a lot of my creative time is going to be spent working on super-secret gifts, so there may not be much to see here. I'll try to update as often as I can. Until then...<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for more pictures of my chest!Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-90313138398656225482016-10-19T10:16:00.000-07:002016-10-19T10:16:48.677-07:00Catch up! Catch up! A month! It's been a month since I updated! Would it make you feel better if I said it was because I was so busy doing awesome things, and I had pretty pictures to show you? I thought so. Here we go.<br />
<br />
First of all, Steamposium. We decided on a hunter/explorer theme for our outfits this year, and I'll admit there wasn't a lot of sewing involved with that; we mostly used clothing elements we already had, and I got two pith helmets at thrift. I made Dave a new cravat, though. I had the perfect scrap of fabric in my stash and he was very pleased with the result.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIo692y-Ly9kEX6gaXzIrS25xgejGOGrxA-8ZcJohtQQuMkRt85GffHsDZlMFn3vooZ2xWPZKwktOL_RGRuY_LoSfl9xFN1svZKR3BwXYSkj8yd4x9vOrGNLJC8LOqptKsPnMoiK0wMK2H/s1600/IMAG0646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIo692y-Ly9kEX6gaXzIrS25xgejGOGrxA-8ZcJohtQQuMkRt85GffHsDZlMFn3vooZ2xWPZKwktOL_RGRuY_LoSfl9xFN1svZKR3BwXYSkj8yd4x9vOrGNLJC8LOqptKsPnMoiK0wMK2H/s400/IMAG0646.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
I needed a proper exploring skirt that would stand up to travel and hard wear, protecting me as I slashed my way through jungle trails and whatnot. Simple cotton duckcloth was the perfect stuff, and I was pleased to remember an old piece that I could rework. The <a href="http://wennymakesit.blogspot.com/2011/08/more-viking.html">original dress is kind of embarrassing now,</a> but the fabric was spot-on and it's not like I was going to wear the lace-up canvas viking tent anywhere. All it took was cutting off the bodice area and making it the right skirt length. A simple waistband, belt loops, a few buttons (purely decorative) and kerblammers -- adventure skirt ahoy! I thought about putting some deep patch pockets on it, but then I'd load them up with things, and I'd look all lumpy. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcIVdLH0kjYgCKYKHn-xl5uBrAhIvWzC0nof-SvLMr6PjFHDYFMWiqz3T4TNCvKoeGgA-eLSCNejJorIluHae8951JUJTdcoy1mnNtpmltu1KWqZxjoDNQQs4rf0ybDE3auQW5BKCk1Nf/s1600/IMAG0695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcIVdLH0kjYgCKYKHn-xl5uBrAhIvWzC0nof-SvLMr6PjFHDYFMWiqz3T4TNCvKoeGgA-eLSCNejJorIluHae8951JUJTdcoy1mnNtpmltu1KWqZxjoDNQQs4rf0ybDE3auQW5BKCk1Nf/s400/IMAG0695.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have pretty jewels!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGq6AnZ0n0-z1aEk3DqAxlXAE6Lhnnk4USQWlzn7-Pd5vJx5YVB6k_ajEw3jfk0Zp2UqtkRswB6_vj9JzPlacqqyZS34yJu67nn5KPDPGSgwFSau0NjPf3QcLQ9KwfY8e4TOXtjYgZ0Brr/s1600/FB_IMG_1474840385412+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGq6AnZ0n0-z1aEk3DqAxlXAE6Lhnnk4USQWlzn7-Pd5vJx5YVB6k_ajEw3jfk0Zp2UqtkRswB6_vj9JzPlacqqyZS34yJu67nn5KPDPGSgwFSau0NjPf3QcLQ9KwfY8e4TOXtjYgZ0Brr/s640/FB_IMG_1474840385412+%25281%2529.jpg" width="360" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Why is there a canary in a cage on my belt? I thought perhaps my traveler had a mistaken notion that birds could sense danger. Perhaps she had heard about birds being taken into mines (where they alerted workers of dangerous gas by, well, dying) but had not understood exactly what the birds did or why. I named my feathery companion "Caruso" and occasionally would lift his cage, peer at him closely, then announce "He's good. We're okay."<br />
<br />
It would have been quite funny to have him wearing a tiny gas mask and with a sign tucked under his wing saying "You're fine!"<br />
<br />
I know you're wondering about the blue wig, right? That... did not turn out well. Like, at all. No matter how many times I rinsed and rinsed, it still insisted on turning my forehead and hands blue when I put it on. I finally scrapped my idea for it and just did my hair in a kind of rolled ponytail tucked thingy. No pictures because it wasn't awesome and I didn't feel right about myself. I mean, I had a good time anyway, but next time I need to give myself more time for Plan B Hair, I guess.<br />
<br />
But what had I <i>planned</i> to do with the blue wig? Well. I was thinking it could look sort of ocean-like, wavy and blue, right, and then I'd use a tiny wig I had to make an octopus to put on top like a bun.<br />
<a href="https://40.media.tumblr.com/3428cb3a79a32143743251255ba44e39/tumblr_nlslfvxKHy1qzfsnio1_r1_1280.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for octopus wig" border="0" height="148" src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/3428cb3a79a32143743251255ba44e39/tumblr_nlslfvxKHy1qzfsnio1_r1_1280.png" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
I had the idea in my head, but I wasn't sure if it would work. Then I saw this picture online and was like <i>Yes, I can do that!</i><br />
<br />
So I took my little wig and dyed it fuschia, and a wooden spool seemed about right, with two buttons, to make octopus eyes.<br />
<br />
The plan was going along just fine. It might not have looked exactly like the picture, thanks to my nascent hair styling skills, but it would have been all right, I think. But there was no dealing with the blue forehead and hands, not to mention it would probably transfer to my clothing and anything I leaned against (like Dave's shoulder) and oh, my neck and shoulders, too. Here's my start to an octopus, though. I've got his eyes set wrong, like a cat's. Oh well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJICROyjrvMlwVMWqntnVxOj6CU9U9serJBmNnex0theMMphEPJ82L1jb1FKHVH86M0zhBFC15Yk5nTJq-qWdO-d7gUscguA42hWjcA3iwhFMSvbyoR4SkOwo8pNI0g1IzpHxtP8Z76bD/s1600/IMAG0683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJICROyjrvMlwVMWqntnVxOj6CU9U9serJBmNnex0theMMphEPJ82L1jb1FKHVH86M0zhBFC15Yk5nTJq-qWdO-d7gUscguA42hWjcA3iwhFMSvbyoR4SkOwo8pNI0g1IzpHxtP8Z76bD/s400/IMAG0683.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
He looks kind of flat, compared to the inspiration picture. Well, this is how we create. Not everything works out.<br />
<br />
So that was Steamposium and we had a great time and I ate too many gummi peach candies and Dave got invited to pose for a steampunk calendar and they'll be in touch. I was not invited to be in the calendar. I blame this on my lack of hairstyling skills and not having a fancy mustache like Dave does. So I guess I'm okay with that. Lip hair is just more hair to style, argh.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
In other news, I finished -- or re-finished, as the case may be-- my treadle machine. The machine head is clean, and the cabinet is clean, with the old finish removed, and a new tung-oil finish rubbed in. She looks a treat! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMW1AX7BRfAEnbIuNX9GCo9mFWrFGOUTNg_zekl0fH-5OF72jVjtclm_xR_u0VGxNy8KQUw8R5hJP5mFDtue7CYpU2MdG3iGcQiXow-iLHBkDKL4eixymM9eHc31Ue7g-_RS07OVewNZ9E/s1600/IMAG0736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMW1AX7BRfAEnbIuNX9GCo9mFWrFGOUTNg_zekl0fH-5OF72jVjtclm_xR_u0VGxNy8KQUw8R5hJP5mFDtue7CYpU2MdG3iGcQiXow-iLHBkDKL4eixymM9eHc31Ue7g-_RS07OVewNZ9E/s640/IMAG0736.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I was going to replace the knobs, as two are missing the ring pulls and one doesn't match at all, but then I decided they were part of her history and needed to stay with her. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQsmT1wEmk_Z0y-7dCFaSx_am9KIrpvso0FDlcx-MzbvUmNtL29PvUrSyiGD6xOU8_0d0aXhgkP_SEMYo6p0xuLTBjgv2ocvIdpL3OL6VOquAinqoiS3JvygpmZBWcMdDmx9OdiZUGeZr/s1600/IMAG0730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQsmT1wEmk_Z0y-7dCFaSx_am9KIrpvso0FDlcx-MzbvUmNtL29PvUrSyiGD6xOU8_0d0aXhgkP_SEMYo6p0xuLTBjgv2ocvIdpL3OL6VOquAinqoiS3JvygpmZBWcMdDmx9OdiZUGeZr/s640/IMAG0730.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OvkAY4IOq-SyJsWIej1UwMhQokr4FVXV9qTRN0CDq4cQAKCjawPxVHS8dlzvjyzD9E7GE7f0BY71m-yfiA4anmhWJHCUvLf9i9SMR55t3U5349cmtgzh8WiQcqBeNlyjIqWDO-YYc7ZE/s1600/IMAG0732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OvkAY4IOq-SyJsWIej1UwMhQokr4FVXV9qTRN0CDq4cQAKCjawPxVHS8dlzvjyzD9E7GE7f0BY71m-yfiA4anmhWJHCUvLf9i9SMR55t3U5349cmtgzh8WiQcqBeNlyjIqWDO-YYc7ZE/s640/IMAG0732.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Shoot, I just looked at the time and I'm making myself late for work! I'll be back soon to tell you more about what I've been up to. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-34326252879396356502016-09-16T20:09:00.002-07:002016-09-16T20:09:32.209-07:00Wigged out!I spent my girlhood wearing holes in my <a href="http://www.searsarchives.com/brands/toughskins.htm">Toughskins</a>, not learning about hairdos, so I'm at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to making myself look fancy with curls and braids and those fluffy French-sounding hair roll things.<br />
<br />
I once had my hair professionally worked into an updo for a wedding. I was more bobby-pin than hair when I left that shop. My simple-looking updo was actually a framework of pins strategically placed and a thick coating of hairspray to hold everything in place. I dripped hairpins all night and I still managed to pull another 84 out of my hair that night back at the hotel. My hair is straight and fine and by golly, that's how it wants to stay!<br />
<br />
But you guys, Steamposium is coming up.<br />
<br />
Seattle's big steampunk event, host to just oodles of people who've lost hold of the handbrake on elaborate Victorian-esque fashion, with frills and ribbons and tulle, feathers and sequins and spangles -- outfits carefully constructed for maximum visual impact. And the hairstyles! Heaped up curls and all those other hair words I don't know because I was a tomboy. It's impressive to see!<br />
<br />
And I have my day outfit, and it includes a terrific hat (and you will see it in another post so I'm not going to talk about it here except for this once) so I don't have to worry about doing anything dramatic with my hair. Ponytail or bun at the back, hat on, done.<br />
<br />
But at night, there's the Masquerade Ball. And I wouldn't usually attend because it's so not my thing, dancing. But I found this great dress (which will be another part of that future post so I'm not gonna tell you more about it, either, except for this one thing) for $15 at thrift, and one thing led to another and suddenly I have to make difficult choices about the top of my head.<br />
<br />
Adding to the difficulty are my Personal Standards About Steampunk Outfits:<br />
1. No useless gears and cogs<br />
2. No corsets<br />
3. No goggles<br />
4. No fascinators (those wee little tophats or bits of fluff that end up on women's heads as decoration)<br />
<br />
Why? Because everyone has those things. They are ubiquitous and typical and show a tremendous lack of imagination.<br />
<br />
But because I shun miniature hats, and I lack basic hairstyle skills, my fine, straight hair runs a tremendous risk of ruining the elegant look of my evening attire.<br />
<br />
What's all this leading to?<br />
<br />
WIGS.<br />
<br />
There were bunches on display at the thrift shop (Halloween is coming) and I suddenly realized I could just <i>buy </i>fancy hair. I could get any length I wanted, any style, any color..! So I looked at the wigs and quickly realized that they were crap.<br />
<br />
Man am I fussy.<br />
<br />
But seriously, they were like twenty dollars and sparse -- there was nothing to them! I knew if I got one, I'd be trailing bits of shed plastic hair and it would look wrong and not at all elegant like I want. Alas!<br />
<br />
Then in one of the back bins I found an actual wig, a real one, like you'd buy in stylist shop and it was <i>four dollars</i>. And it was pink, but that didn't scare me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkyNnrfHUOfJ_cWs4D_Wzqgh8kjDEVJUZ0Nl-7iZzFA_fLAOFzGLQvHJPeKIh6b1gw7iC7mjIUTHZqhzVRGGeuNVA09Akm4UvZPQdRaV_ExdspvCaiqKQ04Jq7fz5ZF-v8GmVsMiwdca9/s1600/pink+wig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkyNnrfHUOfJ_cWs4D_Wzqgh8kjDEVJUZ0Nl-7iZzFA_fLAOFzGLQvHJPeKIh6b1gw7iC7mjIUTHZqhzVRGGeuNVA09Akm4UvZPQdRaV_ExdspvCaiqKQ04Jq7fz5ZF-v8GmVsMiwdca9/s640/pink+wig.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I didn't get a picture beforehand (of course) but this picture I found online is excruciatingly close.<br />
So I bought it and went home to see how it looked.<br />
<br />
Well, awful.<br />
<br />
Who looks good in pale pink hair? Super pale waifs like the plastic lady in the picture, I guess -- but not me. I looked ... well, let's not linger. It just wasn't a good look on me. Pink, oof. But that's why there's hair dye, my friends! Except a quick internet search assured me that hair dye does not work on wigs (unless they are human hair, which this is not) so I'd have to find another way.<br />
<br />
Know what I found? Alcohol ink. Scrapbookers apparently use it for ... something. It comes in brilliant shades, works fast, and stains like the dickens! And I found <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT6HNOGnPqY">an online tutorial that showed how you could put it all in a ziploc bag and squish it up. </a> So that looked nice and tidy and doable, and let's not lie -- fun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uBg717FXHm_WUnz6EidrJqzDQzQ2mRG8cRM3nAvNZ4GtJHyfSOsPvjTjqfuolMSRoNLAXjoolip2qyzR3IbIj2_8UJEuZ8vAUS-ZJiXvj1iRfoG_sCLR6YR7W0emK25zA7DuvlpXjSOx/s1600/IMAG0670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uBg717FXHm_WUnz6EidrJqzDQzQ2mRG8cRM3nAvNZ4GtJHyfSOsPvjTjqfuolMSRoNLAXjoolip2qyzR3IbIj2_8UJEuZ8vAUS-ZJiXvj1iRfoG_sCLR6YR7W0emK25zA7DuvlpXjSOx/s400/IMAG0670.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I bought a three pack of colors from Ranger/Adirondack Inks because it's what I could find, and used the one called "Stream" which is a nice ocean-y looking blue (which is important, but you'll find out why later on). I put the whole dang bottle of it (half an ounce!) into a plastic bag with maybe a quarter cup of water, tossed in the pink wing, and got to squishing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaV0wzRSKJ54TTOMxHJ1N4XgN5D6A7lXRTRCjaNke7-5EL8WPYj449tteUpleOUWSuqjoVal-zb3F4syTPBWC0Djx5qRtNm67XjHMlUN47WnLKTfSwavPTEDvuX60pjSxE8g4yGuph5nTw/s1600/IMAG0668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaV0wzRSKJ54TTOMxHJ1N4XgN5D6A7lXRTRCjaNke7-5EL8WPYj449tteUpleOUWSuqjoVal-zb3F4syTPBWC0Djx5qRtNm67XjHMlUN47WnLKTfSwavPTEDvuX60pjSxE8g4yGuph5nTw/s640/IMAG0668.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
See how none of it is on my hands? See how my utility sink is still marbled grey and white? Yeah. That won't last.<br />
<br />
In the tutorial, they advise leaving it for what, five or ten minutes? I let this thing stew for half an hour, squeezing and squashing it every few minutes to make sure everything was getting dye to it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIySj9zmWQuKA4kLmrHWvk7DkuMOZPOZdeI_4TUWMq7by2lE_r928UuhxnfFlOUPMYuB7RgMyfRwU5N5iyfoepCbkwJrmXigsqtn0f3PeOYeYAHImhX_iwg8P1pRLFq4u_rPk6lP9wHeP/s1600/IMAG0675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIySj9zmWQuKA4kLmrHWvk7DkuMOZPOZdeI_4TUWMq7by2lE_r928UuhxnfFlOUPMYuB7RgMyfRwU5N5iyfoepCbkwJrmXigsqtn0f3PeOYeYAHImhX_iwg8P1pRLFq4u_rPk6lP9wHeP/s640/IMAG0675.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
Results! The whole thing doesn't look terrible, and I don't mind the variations in tone, but I'd like the color overall to be more vivid. So tomorrow I'll go buy another bottle of ink and spray it on, full strength. Then I can style it and add the decoration -- which will be in that upcoming post I keep promising -- and if everything goes according to plan, I'll have a terrific hairdo for the ball!<br />
<br />
Stay tuned!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-36292526177575504922016-08-24T10:20:00.000-07:002016-08-24T10:20:11.357-07:00Julia's CabinetThe machine has been renamed "Julia" after it's original owner. This is the sort of thing you can do when you have people at the estate sale that can give further provenance when you go back and pester them.<br />
<br />
A lot of folks online at various treadle collector sites recommend using Howard's Restor-A-Finish to give an old wood cabinet a boost. The claim is that the stuff is a mild solvent and it softens the finish so it will spread around and fill in cracks, take out water rings, dullness, etc , and maybe on something less damaged, it does that. I got some at the hardware store and gave it a try, but the results were disappointing. Actually, I didn't see any difference at all. I'm sure I'll find a use for it eventually so it's going into my paint stash for now. Then it was back to the shop for some stripper specially made for antique finishes.<br />
<br />
Gloves and fine steel wool and scrubbing away over a century of dirty, discolored, cracked and crazed shellac-- this is what I call a good time! I love doing a project where the improvement is so quick and obvious, with a great result.<br />
<br />
So, just as a reminder: here's the sewing cabinet top before...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybIQ-FuH8rw7LIqtPst2Sg_-iNyoFN2Ei_QCLXkLMwdlq9h0o3V3EjLOWhPx1AyBitGSb8_tcCA2aVZcEzuc3IrBZYwjqLxYyOt_z3y3A6lRzXhTgHyqmroIaBfonev_11L4jv8ZJApbL/s1600/IMAG0595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybIQ-FuH8rw7LIqtPst2Sg_-iNyoFN2Ei_QCLXkLMwdlq9h0o3V3EjLOWhPx1AyBitGSb8_tcCA2aVZcEzuc3IrBZYwjqLxYyOt_z3y3A6lRzXhTgHyqmroIaBfonev_11L4jv8ZJApbL/s640/IMAG0595.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And here it is after stripping.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjRxjGErEw5uHUVMgYOBJsS-a751JhIl5oHbOzC-f8LVerCguH-QGfvtg6BZMFchLLEh5gh9be1gqRwyC-jQCDKRAHMGy1yVYaHlDu7g4ZmyNWIM5nCrSJZGnkAtGTw0_q9rqozjbfn7O/s1600/IMAG0604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjRxjGErEw5uHUVMgYOBJsS-a751JhIl5oHbOzC-f8LVerCguH-QGfvtg6BZMFchLLEh5gh9be1gqRwyC-jQCDKRAHMGy1yVYaHlDu7g4ZmyNWIM5nCrSJZGnkAtGTw0_q9rqozjbfn7O/s640/IMAG0604.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It's so light! Along the left edge of the top piece, the veneer has been damaged and chunks are missing, so it looks a kind of rough. I've read that filling it in with Plastic Wood or a similar product works, but I can't believe it would look nice. I'm thinking I'll just sand down the rough patch and leave it at that. At 144 years of age, she's going to have some scars and around here we call that <i>authenticity</i>. And see in the lower right hand corner there, there's a dotty discolored ring? It won't come up with stripper. I'm not sure what it's from, but all I know is, that's where I'd set a cup of coffee while sewing. Heat damage? Perhaps.<br />
<br />
I'm itching to rub some oil into the clean wood, but I'm holding off until I get the whole thing stripped. One thing at a time! Originally, I planned to just do the top and sewing surface, but the results are so dramatically lighter that it would look very strange, so it looks like I'm going forward with the whole piece.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nIkQcgfIzxTma8fKtZk972wW4I-qZ9ROaANiiWuxt6YQUoaAi8vI1PS_1NmwyCfwhb_flUrcvhR18Ky44BPHRPkdy2w7S0mOeFOMwqS-HL9kSzJngAaljlt9p-6KX6FJc07zckI1LIFi/s1600/IMAG0605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nIkQcgfIzxTma8fKtZk972wW4I-qZ9ROaANiiWuxt6YQUoaAi8vI1PS_1NmwyCfwhb_flUrcvhR18Ky44BPHRPkdy2w7S0mOeFOMwqS-HL9kSzJngAaljlt9p-6KX6FJc07zckI1LIFi/s640/IMAG0605.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Light top, dark body. See? It would be weird. But I'm excited to see the beauty emerge, so it will be worth the extra work.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLKh4AqzLyl3-MeIbuh0hX0nRAefSPyLSEqhSZHUJXO9Ikzj-_otY-yqCHXb9zO8OzN9AUWj-1dWutOFMPSApTKb9Iopa9kILOHKy04xUtWBOPqdps2bBEkqqZivrnoTmpr6MgL4LHor2/s1600/IMAG0608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLKh4AqzLyl3-MeIbuh0hX0nRAefSPyLSEqhSZHUJXO9Ikzj-_otY-yqCHXb9zO8OzN9AUWj-1dWutOFMPSApTKb9Iopa9kILOHKy04xUtWBOPqdps2bBEkqqZivrnoTmpr6MgL4LHor2/s640/IMAG0608.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Side of one of the drawers. This is what I mean by a "cracked and crazed" finish. Some restorers call this "alligator skin". After years of the wood expanding and contracting in heat and cold and damp conditions, the shellac breaks up. In some places, it flakes off if you rub it. Yeah, I couldn't leave her like this. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nSmrj_5212lR6v5CLHGX0pbKozfWEyqz9YmlkD_-677EDARqm96rjUFyJyenVDlhGlf9ze2SzsQAPe-0zRHqoMCSKjKYVJpBb9fWXk93BKJ431qJ4v52hBsk-qiaaBEB-gRkyOkdOLlh/s1600/IMAG0609.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nSmrj_5212lR6v5CLHGX0pbKozfWEyqz9YmlkD_-677EDARqm96rjUFyJyenVDlhGlf9ze2SzsQAPe-0zRHqoMCSKjKYVJpBb9fWXk93BKJ431qJ4v52hBsk-qiaaBEB-gRkyOkdOLlh/s640/IMAG0609.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
That carving is beautiful! It's hard to get in all the nooks and crannies to get all the old finish off, so I'm just doing the best I can with a toothbrush and my steel wool and leaving whatever is stubbornly resistant. The shellac comes up, but the darker color stays, and I"m okay with that. It adds dimension, and also 144 years, <i>authenticity, </i>etc. <br />
<br />
Okay, I gotta head to work. Stay tuned in the following weeks to see more of Julia and her cabinet. Then the sewing projects start!<br />
<br />Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-51820984538307483372016-08-21T18:35:00.002-07:002016-08-26T08:18:38.354-07:00Treadle Machine Magic! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love a good estate sale, and I'm even happier when it takes place in a house that I've always been curious to see the inside of. Our next door neighbor has been living in her home since the 1930s, and recently she decided to live with her daughter, so they held a huge estate sale and I got to go into the house and snoop around. It was a cute place, and nothing had been updated since forever, unfortunate decorating decisions and all. Coved doorways. Tall baseboards. Flocked wallpaper in pale blue. And the tiniest rooms ever. It was like a little playhouse, but for living in. I wanted to buy it and make it my new fort. As it's right next door, it couldn't be handier, and then all my sewing stuff and horse things would be out of Dave's way. I told Dave we should buy it and join the two houses with a breezeway, but he said no. So much for my architectural plans. Alas! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But there was one thing I wanted for my own, so I did a little bargaining and came away with this little beauty. I call her Julia after her original owner. Julia is a New Home treadle sewing machine, and according to her serial number plate, she was built in 1882. She's seen some serious use, but she has been reasonably maintained and still runs very nicely. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOW3ee7hjdh_BEiJEHkDhED1StSBs4lxsQZ1XvtO4NWDIj2jwZ8GJn5zKxnevf78yejc8Ey-2FhBAf4TJLlOyAXX2frO0GWJhPX8ozUMq_I1M3J95Noy_PdJZG5-lsm8B9C5JMrWXv6BB/s1600/IMAG0578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOW3ee7hjdh_BEiJEHkDhED1StSBs4lxsQZ1XvtO4NWDIj2jwZ8GJn5zKxnevf78yejc8Ey-2FhBAf4TJLlOyAXX2frO0GWJhPX8ozUMq_I1M3J95Noy_PdJZG5-lsm8B9C5JMrWXv6BB/s640/IMAG0578.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
She needs a serious clean. There is a grimy layer of oil, dust, and dirt on her that has built up over the years. Some things get dirty from being handled and used, and some get dirty from sitting and attracting dust. Julia has both in spades. Today is her spa day.<br />
<br />
I've removed her from her cabinet. She's resting on an old bathroom rug with a shower curtain over it to catch drips. I'm using a cleaner that gently melts away grime and oil but won't harm the decal decorations or finish. What is this amazing substance? <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Economy-Size-Hand-Cleaner-Cream/dp/B00009V3VV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471826196&sr=8-1&keywords=gojo+creme+hand+cleaner">Gojo</a>. It's a hand cleaner used by mechanics, but after seeing how well it works here, I'm going to be using it a lot more on parts and stuff. (If you buy some, be sure you get the kind <i>without pumice</i>.) EDIT: I've since learned that Gojo sometimes will damage the gold parts of the decals, leaving them silver-ish. A better cleaning recommendation is to use sewing machine oil to soften and lift grime. It won't damage anything.)<br />
<br />
So here are Julia's before pictures.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-gbd8gn26s9iUqBU20ZQ6cmBxfp5FI987sqCMzk13Emv3hnnCEfkSmkwDJm5p9czuDH1h5DbhUWwIV0-ezRJHaysELy787gKLrixHNZLxcfUYuVkv2C00xhTgWMEqx3gc7HsH21VkkmL/s1600/IMAG0582+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-gbd8gn26s9iUqBU20ZQ6cmBxfp5FI987sqCMzk13Emv3hnnCEfkSmkwDJm5p9czuDH1h5DbhUWwIV0-ezRJHaysELy787gKLrixHNZLxcfUYuVkv2C00xhTgWMEqx3gc7HsH21VkkmL/s640/IMAG0582+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I thought the floral scrollwork had mostly worn off, and that's why it was only dimly visible. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRat4K8YEr2U39ZDx5BT5f1Nr_VKUDIyghg-hhUMsUZdpxoiEbkxCYguFIyXEViC37he2baEdryNXzwxWJfs0CWzOGnV3mL20UfG2XBGZr5dE5LkuUBr1i3025ijsnrUVNFAR9lhtzQ7hs/s1600/IMAG0586+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRat4K8YEr2U39ZDx5BT5f1Nr_VKUDIyghg-hhUMsUZdpxoiEbkxCYguFIyXEViC37he2baEdryNXzwxWJfs0CWzOGnV3mL20UfG2XBGZr5dE5LkuUBr1i3025ijsnrUVNFAR9lhtzQ7hs/s640/IMAG0586+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I applied the Gojo with a one-inch paintbrush and let it sit for about twenty minutes. The stuff starts out as kind of a wobbly, custard-like cream but after it's applied, it melts like butter. In the areas where the grime was thickest, it would turn brown and puddle up. I'd wipe the goo away with a towel and reapply fresh Gojo. If a spot was particularly grungy, I'd gently scrub at it with a soft toothbrush. Here's Julia all gooped up with Gojo.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNHdojPN22bbugVfWWuHn_pAS6B6c4stXuMdBXTVrMp8iJvAlc6UAwpuFjC-dShYr7NKr_WJgqUwHo8lA-CllWWR8OeDkspDO67po2bozsmJOa5VorsCI7ljuQIOBtWc1kJKMvqAWovtm/s1600/IMAG0587+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNHdojPN22bbugVfWWuHn_pAS6B6c4stXuMdBXTVrMp8iJvAlc6UAwpuFjC-dShYr7NKr_WJgqUwHo8lA-CllWWR8OeDkspDO67po2bozsmJOa5VorsCI7ljuQIOBtWc1kJKMvqAWovtm/s640/IMAG0587+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Turns out the decal decorations weren't that worn at all (except in the stitching area, where they'd seen the most wear during sewing), and the Gojo melted away the grim to reveal beautiful colors and swirls I had no idea were there! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OpOOWWIyDTc6YUmv30H0Rg0OQoFwT8_wK0oz7OmS9uqXS6YX-DYClb71BnY8B7h7AyJ1g-fj040G1bve9J4wXnSGNyjwvpuRoqYdJn64JSDM30j2v6xYOStB9Gv0YTLLi3H0Oo9344gm/s1600/IMAG0594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OpOOWWIyDTc6YUmv30H0Rg0OQoFwT8_wK0oz7OmS9uqXS6YX-DYClb71BnY8B7h7AyJ1g-fj040G1bve9J4wXnSGNyjwvpuRoqYdJn64JSDM30j2v6xYOStB9Gv0YTLLi3H0Oo9344gm/s640/IMAG0594.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Look at her! Isn't she pretty? In some spots, especially near the little holes where you oil the works, there was a darker patina, and I decided to leave that rather than try to scrub it away with anything stronger and possibly damage the decals. After all, we can't expect her to look brand new at 144 years old. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFi2FFg6OKtIP_tFnk3oasqFOGtPKAx8p4oOXBV1s3gzx9kT39Ej5Tm-Fv0Y_0uMT513RmnfIK_W6k_Fs7FuWh-XKGiHCoVtWZVBGCxSn99DYxZYQjJPSPdQU43PjVWBjseV9i9MzhcS5w/s1600/IMAG0593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFi2FFg6OKtIP_tFnk3oasqFOGtPKAx8p4oOXBV1s3gzx9kT39Ej5Tm-Fv0Y_0uMT513RmnfIK_W6k_Fs7FuWh-XKGiHCoVtWZVBGCxSn99DYxZYQjJPSPdQU43PjVWBjseV9i9MzhcS5w/s640/IMAG0593.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xGzmSyznaA97rKsmtmdsXPwOezF6ZWc-AriDRUjzsBgIXYKdQMhtjkYY0YtrxTkaL3hyphenhyphen1N7wVMJ4yC47BXIvEJNgddw2wgkfjzDB9HQ8ANQRB2rAY4X6_Jbbhp0vMXXrfMBuiNN-Lh5A/s1600/IMAG0591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xGzmSyznaA97rKsmtmdsXPwOezF6ZWc-AriDRUjzsBgIXYKdQMhtjkYY0YtrxTkaL3hyphenhyphen1N7wVMJ4yC47BXIvEJNgddw2wgkfjzDB9HQ8ANQRB2rAY4X6_Jbbhp0vMXXrfMBuiNN-Lh5A/s640/IMAG0591.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Now that the machine itself is all clean, I'll re-oil it and set it aside while I work on the cabinet. That's going to be another post, so you can look forward to that, but here's a picture of what we're starting off with. Yup, it's pretty rough. But I'm hoping there's going to be a dandy "after" picture when I'm done!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsFFxBjCmDP18VSy0MPeiHv-v6KImsxl60yzT7hiZ3L4CwsJ1tZN16q4odKGrGqJPRhvbVKzrWIW32jH6ZtuNCrvYSp_8fdpM_2qOecobIF-vIfkjWxMv0jSKvJIX-Mfy0tOyIBx_8WLO/s1600/IMAG0595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsFFxBjCmDP18VSy0MPeiHv-v6KImsxl60yzT7hiZ3L4CwsJ1tZN16q4odKGrGqJPRhvbVKzrWIW32jH6ZtuNCrvYSp_8fdpM_2qOecobIF-vIfkjWxMv0jSKvJIX-Mfy0tOyIBx_8WLO/s640/IMAG0595.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-31990618375559740552016-08-17T10:17:00.000-07:002016-08-17T10:18:53.355-07:00Buckaroo StuffMy riding has taken a classic turn lately. I am working to train my horse (with the help of a very experienced teacher) to be a finished bridle horse. This takes careful handling, lots of work, a good amount of time, and also rekindles long-ago ten-year-old me's fantasies of becoming a cowboy.<br />
<br />
And if you're going to take the ride, you gotta have the look, right?<br />
<br />
First stop, the shirt. I got a pattern on sale a while back, and I was delighted to find it in my stash. Buckaroo Bobbins, by Simplicity, with a pattern for a shirt, vest, and coat. Don't care about the coat, but the shirt and vest were just what I wanted. Plus I'd found three yards of natural-tone shirt weight linen at the thrift shop for three bucks that would be perfect to make it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineuNWVMH8K4201fJofa7aY0zxKDC8dwPDFntP90WVhhfzIfpNlFKJ9CJGswFBqDLoYZbwcKUuhYKjj3m5a7G_1PxKVzW2zdYzuEX44na-iw7FZ3hM3XwAZqvzI5xvxrxQgUw4TywJYSIV/s1600/IMAG0521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineuNWVMH8K4201fJofa7aY0zxKDC8dwPDFntP90WVhhfzIfpNlFKJ9CJGswFBqDLoYZbwcKUuhYKjj3m5a7G_1PxKVzW2zdYzuEX44na-iw7FZ3hM3XwAZqvzI5xvxrxQgUw4TywJYSIV/s640/IMAG0521.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It's an easy pattern: front, back, two sleeves, cuffs, yoke, and collar. I hand stitched it, of course, so it took a few nights with the buttonholes being a cussing struggle as always. I really should practice those more often so I get good at them. As it is, I'm glad they're mostly hidden by the buttons. Hand sewing a project when the instructions are written for machine sewing is always a bit of a trick. The plan for attaching the neck and collar was very convoluted. I was able to do it, but the whole time I was thinking how I'd do it differently next time and it would be much easier. I got a small jar of buttons at thrift for two bucks that was a real bargain because they were old and made from natural shell, not plastic. So my shirt has beautiful carved shell buttons that have that warm pearly glow.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYdtOWg1hBcMJqeHVgqmJZqi_I2yMq4LWdMNUsdSMSBozjL7oJ2VRDHIb_LXr0u-DHX-g4ushopX0V3T_dcC4FOEOv1zM0RegTonhA0hpQepsUarQQqVurcyX-yw_BocKeAN4njzafEWR/s1600/IMAG0555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYdtOWg1hBcMJqeHVgqmJZqi_I2yMq4LWdMNUsdSMSBozjL7oJ2VRDHIb_LXr0u-DHX-g4ushopX0V3T_dcC4FOEOv1zM0RegTonhA0hpQepsUarQQqVurcyX-yw_BocKeAN4njzafEWR/s640/IMAG0555.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
The collar points are a little damp because I had made some sewing marks there that had to be dabbed away. I've got some red-brown wool that's going to be the vest, but I haven't started that yet.<br />
<br />
While digging through the patterns, I found one for gloves and thought I'd give that a shot. I had some scraps of pigskin I could use, so I cut out the pieces and set to work with a special leather gloving needle and some sinew. I used a fancy stitch to make it especially cool, and while it turned out, it was so much work that I decided I'd not make the other one. I may try again sometimes with a thinner leather to make a dress glove instead of a heavy work one, but dang, that's just a lot of hard pushing with the needle, and store-bought gloves are not that expensive. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIY6h166TGEsZrKTeNGSbZZanNlydMHcK0Eh-1b5n5EfpXrwnndJcuKDhBMdeUQs4jLV-13aX_lqAVoVSTCQxCHY9MfslhPJLCA_vkOFR8pcMCJWyZtQCyIYH8ojYv9M267Df2ab7KO4d/s1600/IMAG0487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIY6h166TGEsZrKTeNGSbZZanNlydMHcK0Eh-1b5n5EfpXrwnndJcuKDhBMdeUQs4jLV-13aX_lqAVoVSTCQxCHY9MfslhPJLCA_vkOFR8pcMCJWyZtQCyIYH8ojYv9M267Df2ab7KO4d/s640/IMAG0487.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mStWlYo705tPZpaxAKyLpdLvCy_CocbrPEUuIDqe81pF__YktjNy3bsLJIh393IOGLuIpad7UeH3XP05-T9WoTYy6XnCOwrmaPleTgwzjhIqfMxXmH0xybmdkquREkU8ovl62gJtFMY_/s1600/IMAG0498.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mStWlYo705tPZpaxAKyLpdLvCy_CocbrPEUuIDqe81pF__YktjNy3bsLJIh393IOGLuIpad7UeH3XP05-T9WoTYy6XnCOwrmaPleTgwzjhIqfMxXmH0xybmdkquREkU8ovl62gJtFMY_/s640/IMAG0498.jpg" width="360" /></a><br />
<br />
I bought some new spurs for myself and decided that some fancy straps were in order. I chose a style called "dovewing" that looked attractive, and designed a stamping pattern similar to a pair of straps made in Miles City back in the 1800s. Here's my trial one after being cut and stamped, but not dyed yet. The size was fine, but after trying it on, I decided I didn't like the shape as much as I thought I would.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyKqN8lRqnclVfav9LPkD6Nq1xVs8ssvlLGzRFX-jm8ST_cJ4F8VW9NPpUFiXE-GMJLXdgsJIUqEx9XPC8ZMfGIWQobgQhiitY7Wh66_8UNVc0069xe8gBAWMf8zN9y4fkRca9ZNh8km2/s1600/IMAG0538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyKqN8lRqnclVfav9LPkD6Nq1xVs8ssvlLGzRFX-jm8ST_cJ4F8VW9NPpUFiXE-GMJLXdgsJIUqEx9XPC8ZMfGIWQobgQhiitY7Wh66_8UNVc0069xe8gBAWMf8zN9y4fkRca9ZNh8km2/s640/IMAG0538.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
So I made some more traditional buckle straps that were narrower, and still managed to incorporate the flower design in the center. Here they are, all done. I wore them riding that night and felt pretty sharp.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pXuirT3hQAZNYJEzLJ0fshS4V9BxeXgrhkmkzD6l1pdQlRxcISbrJhE7XXFbBebJg2CpnH216ubg2xFMGz9_4As75oM0rcO8kRuYpD7oFptdkypD4-XpZ8Mp1HdE8gPDw_US3SyjV5G_/s1600/IMAG0557.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pXuirT3hQAZNYJEzLJ0fshS4V9BxeXgrhkmkzD6l1pdQlRxcISbrJhE7XXFbBebJg2CpnH216ubg2xFMGz9_4As75oM0rcO8kRuYpD7oFptdkypD4-XpZ8Mp1HdE8gPDw_US3SyjV5G_/s640/IMAG0557.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
So you can see I'm still busy as ever, making stuff. I'm just not so likely to be at the computer writing about it! And now I gotta head to work, and there's two horses waiting for me to ride them tonight, so I'll see y'all later. Happy Trails!<br />
<br />Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-65264917045482770782016-07-04T09:51:00.000-07:002016-07-04T09:51:07.374-07:00I promise I'm not dead.I know, I know -- it's been a while. Things have been busy and all the usual excuses. But I <i>am</i> still making stuff, honest, and when I come back from vacation next week, I'll make time to write a post to update y'all on my recent activities. Til then, a little peek at some leatherworking stuff I've done in the last week or so:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMYShkuTt7AEpI9qMgw6m0TSPRv9HL6Xs0J_RTliMny8GkhqcwY7uH_lU8c564kaM3ag3jpUge8LuzIuZfD44GP9XxTFErdllDINB0Fqt9pDz_0q_HBKVWAT6ab_3kRDmnGoQLjoOwFxf/s1600/IMAG0461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMYShkuTt7AEpI9qMgw6m0TSPRv9HL6Xs0J_RTliMny8GkhqcwY7uH_lU8c564kaM3ag3jpUge8LuzIuZfD44GP9XxTFErdllDINB0Fqt9pDz_0q_HBKVWAT6ab_3kRDmnGoQLjoOwFxf/s400/IMAG0461.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
A simple cuff bracelet for a small gift exchange...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5oBmVgdXKL1g6BAzYBuFu6zNjHJXXDAFrCwhOfvykw6reE1xhY5KvSddBV9vpsuOwmP8H3LOyBQxKCWORrHYujSVU6DRrz1nKxnVcM8P0-NlAlPw_5cU3ItE1Ikaw9XBvDNfTcGcHSix/s1600/IMAG0462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5oBmVgdXKL1g6BAzYBuFu6zNjHJXXDAFrCwhOfvykw6reE1xhY5KvSddBV9vpsuOwmP8H3LOyBQxKCWORrHYujSVU6DRrz1nKxnVcM8P0-NlAlPw_5cU3ItE1Ikaw9XBvDNfTcGcHSix/s400/IMAG0462.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And an experiment in braiding around a core with eight strands-- a new skill which isn't as difficult as I thought it would be!<br />
<br />
When I come back, I'm sure to have lots to show you, and we can celebrate five years of "Wenny Makes It!"<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
See you after vacation! </div>
Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-35444654337582748292016-04-29T10:08:00.000-07:002016-04-29T10:08:58.567-07:00Back in the Saddle, Again.Ahhh, springtime. When a young girl's fancy turns to thoughts of --saddles?<br />
<br />
Yep. At least, if that girl is me. I've spent the last two months working my tushy off, and the only way I managed to get through it without losing my happy smile is I promised myself a really nice treat at the end of it all. I had a certain dollar amount in mind, and then a generous tip became involved, so I kinda splurged a little and got myself a sweet vintage Bona Allen saddle that was at the secondhand tack shop. I dickered them down on the price. You know how you look at a price and then counter with something super low, knowing they won't take it and then you can always go up a little? Well, they took it, right off! Guess this old-fashioned rig had been hanging around for a while and the seller was happy to have an offer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcQkd99t2nqnb7jokEc5HYZWgV_acyxhUWOF5W6hfrFFknTW_582RxWs9J1sBhWTL1j-5LcPMjVKd-nPfxVhpslhjiaxRpX_UpS5VUSjcMYXGfitJ0d1nIWP-Ny0eKIzQjSB-PskVu3iO/s1600/IMAG0226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcQkd99t2nqnb7jokEc5HYZWgV_acyxhUWOF5W6hfrFFknTW_582RxWs9J1sBhWTL1j-5LcPMjVKd-nPfxVhpslhjiaxRpX_UpS5VUSjcMYXGfitJ0d1nIWP-Ny0eKIzQjSB-PskVu3iO/s640/IMAG0226.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
I can't quite decode the serial number, but this saddle was made somewhere between 1963 and 1974. I'm leaning more towards '74 because the style is very like my '79 Circle Y. Saddlemaking goes through trends just like any other fashion, and like bell bottom jeans, this one just has that 70's vibe.<br />
<br />
It's in very nice shape, so all it really needs is a good clean and condition (done!) and some detail work. Like that silver spiral lacing along the edges -- that's damaged in some spots, so I've ordered new and will replace it where needed. You can't see it well in the picture, but the lacing goes all down the back edge of the fenders (the leg parts between seat and stirrup). I've never seen a saddle with that before. That's where it's in the worst condition, so once that's fixed, it'll look proper dazzling!<br />
<br />
Someone had put on a nylon seatbelt-like material latigo and off-billet. (The things that hold the cinch in place to keep the saddle on the horse when riding.) I see a lot of folks using these, and they're perfectly safe, I'm sure, but I personally don't care for the look. I had a leather latigo on hand, and making an off-billet was easy: just two layers of leather stitched together with a few holes punched in. The stitching takes a while because I do it by hand. It's not difficult, but it's tedious. I watched tv. This took up the season opener of Game of Thrones and all of Jurassic World.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyVx7meds1dREzbMFIbk6GWxZZmJF7P8-HU-1x9I0RbN12UuTjEquTp7iRk5pnX9XS1RCOY8NYCGINzwJCOtjn-TKUKh-COHLSExhh4KkLUzCbET55Jp0GNcfe2SsggjCEOnDP31xwzig/s1600/IMAG0229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyVx7meds1dREzbMFIbk6GWxZZmJF7P8-HU-1x9I0RbN12UuTjEquTp7iRk5pnX9XS1RCOY8NYCGINzwJCOtjn-TKUKh-COHLSExhh4KkLUzCbET55Jp0GNcfe2SsggjCEOnDP31xwzig/s640/IMAG0229.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I didn't want to have to switch over all my accessories every time I need to change saddles, so I needed a breastcollar to go with this saddle as well. I had an old tatty fleece-lined one that I got in a box of stuff at a yard sale. It was so nasty; the fleece was hard and full of dirt, and nothing I did seemed to help. Just picking it up made a dry dirty dustcloud puff up. *cough cough* I cut the stitches and tore off the fleece. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyZZiOLy27uW6px8BE3uSMDcc8HNmywdgSBclRWUPHrIlvCOTG_1z4iXa_XzdLYVlwUccLMoKSo62Qnf_0HwzLe74PH_fO1eOxGU9zgpc7jUPQa62c2wyHo8bZFPkkW0aMn0snlDPrird/s1600/IMAG0231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyZZiOLy27uW6px8BE3uSMDcc8HNmywdgSBclRWUPHrIlvCOTG_1z4iXa_XzdLYVlwUccLMoKSo62Qnf_0HwzLe74PH_fO1eOxGU9zgpc7jUPQa62c2wyHo8bZFPkkW0aMn0snlDPrird/s640/IMAG0231.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8x4dPo3vP8F560Hy53q3gwxCPSKiFha1vHsKQkh0bKLExLLndw6osAT5AH0OJ2kDez5SP4qpZW88_GF2XrT3wPG0oyRdmME27ImC3Z4E9ol6X9Nr-Njxf_DXP0M6TT0HotsaDL0zDHq6/s1600/IMAG0233+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8x4dPo3vP8F560Hy53q3gwxCPSKiFha1vHsKQkh0bKLExLLndw6osAT5AH0OJ2kDez5SP4qpZW88_GF2XrT3wPG0oyRdmME27ImC3Z4E9ol6X9Nr-Njxf_DXP0M6TT0HotsaDL0zDHq6/s640/IMAG0233+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I thought replacing it with new stuff, but fleece absorbs a lot of sweat, and takes a while to dry. Once wet, it keeps moisture on the leather, so even washing is a problem -- especially in a humid place like the Pacific Northwest where tackroom dampness is a constant battle. But I couldn't leave it with the rough side exposed, or it would chafe the horse. A smooth leather lining was the answer. After cleaning and conditioning, I laid it out and used it as a pattern to cut new lining pieces. More stitching for me! </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2h7G635ll5wtX9a7KLDPcCKGxSrF2FzUFJGhF1EEinFIUkI0I70UVBJpBOpN_Jp7gbSdIigyCQw3MlOXUYCGkBpsCTMC45R2kEfHUPOXxf7QJrSRJOQrAuP1mkfe1TPl8S8E5n9P93RPE/s1600/IMAG0237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2h7G635ll5wtX9a7KLDPcCKGxSrF2FzUFJGhF1EEinFIUkI0I70UVBJpBOpN_Jp7gbSdIigyCQw3MlOXUYCGkBpsCTMC45R2kEfHUPOXxf7QJrSRJOQrAuP1mkfe1TPl8S8E5n9P93RPE/s640/IMAG0237.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once I get this all sewed on and dyed to match, I'll remake the center medallion and it'll be ready to ride. </div>
Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-88315669258066400532016-04-12T19:30:00.000-07:002016-04-12T19:30:13.311-07:00Not-So-Creepy Baby. There's a saying, "Never apologize for your art." And I think I'm going to lead with that because from the reactions I've gotten so far, my latest project is a little controversial. A lot of people find these dolls creepy.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm not sorry I made it. Not one bit. <span class="">It turned out beautifully, and it's a gift for a good friend who will enjoy it; anyone else's opinion does not matter. She told me a while back that she wanted a reborn baby doll -- one of those ones that artists make look like a real baby. I've been keeping an eye out for one at my usual sources with little success (at least, not at an affordable price) and suddenly it hit me: I have skills. Maybe I could make one myself. I mean, it's worth a try. I can do things. I looked up some how-to videos on YouTube and got a little creeped out but not dissuaded. I decided to give it a shot. </span></div>
<div>
<span class=""><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="">So without further ado, let's meet the primary materials: </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg9rB2vBSbSAkqXYGpLnjoCc3CcQMHv0wTR2q2wFBtGecgP5mDa-ro1xwVel2XLLRwzxHeG5TpNXXFCIBNae0GYlJFwv2TOZzi8SwyszMNjIq73YIDZEzUHka3wOFwjKJnEDAQ10uAj68/s1600/gwill+baby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg9rB2vBSbSAkqXYGpLnjoCc3CcQMHv0wTR2q2wFBtGecgP5mDa-ro1xwVel2XLLRwzxHeG5TpNXXFCIBNae0GYlJFwv2TOZzi8SwyszMNjIq73YIDZEzUHka3wOFwjKJnEDAQ10uAj68/s640/gwill+baby.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="">Okay, this is a vinyl baby doll made by Berjusa. I got it from an online auction at a very nice price because -- well, look at it. That baby has seen some serious playtime. It was soiled, the stitching had several mends, and it was stuffed with chunks of foam that made me wonder what they'd been soaking up over the years. My first order of business was to detach the limbs and head, empty the stuffing into the trash, and carefully take apart the pieces of the body so I could use them as a pattern to make a new one. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3du_EzcjPHG71TyR8ze74bGaml2hRV_ur_-uFEZGPhEs39mOOmWVRLC-y01_CEbIH9u2RDWgcovmlCOuQHMpdjuhxeSn0lRW7jeEu3p5CcGkU9Q7WaEMkCAKk2Bq7CltZpv-3aqMUjzR/s1600/IMAG0131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3du_EzcjPHG71TyR8ze74bGaml2hRV_ur_-uFEZGPhEs39mOOmWVRLC-y01_CEbIH9u2RDWgcovmlCOuQHMpdjuhxeSn0lRW7jeEu3p5CcGkU9Q7WaEMkCAKk2Bq7CltZpv-3aqMUjzR/s640/IMAG0131.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="">Top: icky unwashed baby arm. Bottom: baby arm freshly scrubbed with baking soda and peppermint soap. What a difference! </span></div>
<div>
<span class=""><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="">After scrubbing, the baby's skin tone was a little orange-y. I needed to neutralize some of that orange to give it a more natural appearance. I read a lot of online tips about painting the insides of the limbs with lavender paint, but what I ended up doing -- and what worked really well! -- was using blue tinted hair dye. I started out putting just a tiny bit in lots of water and pouring it into the parts, but I soon realized a faster, better way was to just dunk the parts right in. count to five, rinse, and bam -- no more orange. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1F8bQ3zFzo87k83JoxwwewAhNv_JHJTmjsNl5dzalmmKYwv4NfjvwJPM2hDEH_JDv-bi3k2sodbMUWGfJLMUGq7n6faykj4HinUp7_GSk_p8Z6S_4t3Qy_EM6FNvOBaYMByAFJVGkaUNS/s1600/IMAG0150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1F8bQ3zFzo87k83JoxwwewAhNv_JHJTmjsNl5dzalmmKYwv4NfjvwJPM2hDEH_JDv-bi3k2sodbMUWGfJLMUGq7n6faykj4HinUp7_GSk_p8Z6S_4t3Qy_EM6FNvOBaYMByAFJVGkaUNS/s640/IMAG0150.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The kitchen table gets lots of natural light. <span class="">Perfect place to work - and Dave was gone to Emerald City Comic Con, so I didn't have any interruptions like horrified screaming.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqEDJb_zXbBwSVtqW5SeV11HpfKHhS82Mbr1oj33b8NETD76IBsLBetY0LfizAwlHTLafgjZgE4VBzAhwuk1tL6pPlKzlQxeIejmNP_YTVm5uUKV8tH2qHTE6_A92YVyhFrQ_YiG2iQNb/s1600/IMAG0151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqEDJb_zXbBwSVtqW5SeV11HpfKHhS82Mbr1oj33b8NETD76IBsLBetY0LfizAwlHTLafgjZgE4VBzAhwuk1tL6pPlKzlQxeIejmNP_YTVm5uUKV8tH2qHTE6_A92YVyhFrQ_YiG2iQNb/s640/IMAG0151.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="">Here's the clean, neutralized head. I'm glad that the eyes are shut, because painting something that watches me would be a bit unsettling.</span></div>
<div>
<span class=""><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="">I used acrylic paints, sponges, and a big fluffy brush to put some more lifelike color on the vinyl parts. I could go into details, but a girl's gotta have some secrets and if you just google "diy reborn doll" you'll see all the same videos I did and know what to do. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cP63GOtDpYUN9zvrS64uteSQfWcbLBU73-VruUarMCWLS8pW-E63YRKEb0_BuZj_7X6oLchBG0mcHGRik7nbTqDQXLnvG3uU4WxZjKnz2hsIjAsMCteCpDnk_30cnhVzo3B3ntLNWhB6/s1600/IMAG0153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cP63GOtDpYUN9zvrS64uteSQfWcbLBU73-VruUarMCWLS8pW-E63YRKEb0_BuZj_7X6oLchBG0mcHGRik7nbTqDQXLnvG3uU4WxZjKnz2hsIjAsMCteCpDnk_30cnhVzo3B3ntLNWhB6/s640/IMAG0153.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And here's the head after painting to a more natural-looking (hopefully) mottled flesh appearance. I think I did a pretty good job. If it weren't for that plastic stick coming out of the neck, I'd think this was a picture of a real baby.<br />
<br />
Okay, that binky? Magnets. Super-strong magnets. <span class="">You cut off the rubber sucky part of the binky and glue one magnet there, and then you put some glue on another magnet and drop it in the baby's head. Hold the binky where you want it, and the magnet in the head will attach itself to the proper place inside. Then just let it sit for a day so the glue can cure, and you have a cute accessory. If I'd have been thinking fast, I'd have put a magnet in the baby's hand, too, so it would look like it was sucking its fist. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="">But it was too late for fist-magnets, because the arms and legs were full of pale tan aquarium gravel. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDMOrNsXsQzoTQ_7YBInDbJKfZsNPbexdsSaLVS4WAwVtJNEoB_BUi-3fZkr14ZxIIHA5a9NlKq5_klVT8K973deKQEcVLDLh67Nq0xhv9pSA-WX6h_NXQNYL1Kp8KP-vVVxCLB5NFbPv/s1600/IMAG0154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDMOrNsXsQzoTQ_7YBInDbJKfZsNPbexdsSaLVS4WAwVtJNEoB_BUi-3fZkr14ZxIIHA5a9NlKq5_klVT8K973deKQEcVLDLh67Nq0xhv9pSA-WX6h_NXQNYL1Kp8KP-vVVxCLB5NFbPv/s640/IMAG0154.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I just used a kitchen funnel to dump it in there, and then glued circles of cardboard over the openings. That duct tape you see is just holding the cardboard in place til the glue dries. Gives the pieces a nice realistic weight and solidity. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="">These arms and legs had been sewn to the cloth body. Usually there is a thin ridge for zipties, but not for this doll. I had to sew them to the new body. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class=""><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUul2W6neP17dWuKS43qE5z_rWt35Mg4fV2B2ehnYkogN9ChM9QD4ODhfLlDOTRpd9lDGPFCyfCqxCVBhk_lUlUeR3ZaSjQKeCUquvbOTHCvoZJiHJbJhU2gFOJph09NrVUFdP7BxOCj1t/s1600/IMAG0159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUul2W6neP17dWuKS43qE5z_rWt35Mg4fV2B2ehnYkogN9ChM9QD4ODhfLlDOTRpd9lDGPFCyfCqxCVBhk_lUlUeR3ZaSjQKeCUquvbOTHCvoZJiHJbJhU2gFOJph09NrVUFdP7BxOCj1t/s640/IMAG0159.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="">For the body I cut pieces from a pale tan oxford cloth shirt. Strong and lightweight, just perfect. I stitched the arms and legs using the same stitching holes, adding a touch of glue to the inside hems for extra strength. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class=""><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I used a bag of marbles to add weight to the baby's body. To keep the marbles quiet, I stitched long tubes of fleece fabric. I'd drop in a marble, tie it with a piece of thread, drop in another marble, tie it off, and so on. I ended up with a long, intestinal-looking rope that was soft and heavy and didn't rattle or clink one bit. Perfect! I coiled it inside the baby's body and then padded around it with polyfill stuffing. A sock full of gravel and more polyfill cushioning went into the head, giving the baby a total weight of about six pounds. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A trip to the thrift shop later, I had a gender-neutral sleeper suit, a cute ducky hat, and a blanket. I puffed a tiny amount of baby powder onto the body to give the doll just the right scent, dressed it all up, and it's all ready to go to my friend for her birthday. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaoxOkZrPFgYvhmW-fsBBg8lD-gtXUn_wLFyY9darJX476Q1ttQzxaerh_F3z_FPER73b83E1cHGc0xNOFJ83ptI8Mvq0p_sBl_9S_Ji8Cq5a7QxAFnN1ml0-AKw-8P_8BF9huWXnkh8D/s1600/IMAG0160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaoxOkZrPFgYvhmW-fsBBg8lD-gtXUn_wLFyY9darJX476Q1ttQzxaerh_F3z_FPER73b83E1cHGc0xNOFJ83ptI8Mvq0p_sBl_9S_Ji8Cq5a7QxAFnN1ml0-AKw-8P_8BF9huWXnkh8D/s640/IMAG0160.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="">I hope she likes it. </span><span class="">It was something different and interesting to make, and I have to admit that buying baby stuff was fun. Everything was so cute and tiny! And not a bit creepy.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-20432166719421990442016-02-29T10:47:00.001-08:002016-02-29T10:47:43.259-08:00Meet Linus!I've dipped back into historical sewing, but in a different sort of way. When I got this American Girl "Kaya" doll, I knew two things right away: not a girl, and not going to wear the commercially available fringe-and-feathers stereotypical nonsense. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So meet Linus Charbonneau, an eleven year old boy of Metis heritage living in North Dakota in 1982. He likes playing basketball and racing slot cars with his older brother Leon.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMmp5e8QMNP0aJJi5KTVAk5zrfOA1mW4FljjI6r_P3zNEi7gsF1tF95bwgYR22kK3XT7bE258IyojyU4u9-1h12YMqdRiBsD2k0VDFWq7lf_kKyqomH_nd8rE9ioWA1fVxQaPmZPQE5Fd/s1600/IMAG0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMmp5e8QMNP0aJJi5KTVAk5zrfOA1mW4FljjI6r_P3zNEi7gsF1tF95bwgYR22kK3XT7bE258IyojyU4u9-1h12YMqdRiBsD2k0VDFWq7lf_kKyqomH_nd8rE9ioWA1fVxQaPmZPQE5Fd/s640/IMAG0013.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
During the height of the North American fur trade, many French trappers and fur traders took native women as wives. The women served as important social go-betweens, guides, and translators for the newcomers to the native population, and the resulting mixed-heritage generation is now recognized as the Metis. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Linus is wearing some typical regalia of his French and Chippewa heritage. It's modern, but based on traditional clothing from earlier generations. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqE7FmI4fjJQN5Zg1JSAkTvs0HJpm0KEzI68WnFgNTQ3pzWEhqAFvZEvD5zLwyQmKpYdAZU4POARRt8lJRcjyIbqwFmYqLi3lfw0akxjTWWrV4eeBjn1aAGGD7lCDX2Nog1Dqk3sXWRXP/s1600/IMAG0064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqE7FmI4fjJQN5Zg1JSAkTvs0HJpm0KEzI68WnFgNTQ3pzWEhqAFvZEvD5zLwyQmKpYdAZU4POARRt8lJRcjyIbqwFmYqLi3lfw0akxjTWWrV4eeBjn1aAGGD7lCDX2Nog1Dqk3sXWRXP/s640/IMAG0064.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The red wool coat is called a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capote_(garment)">"capote"</a>. They are constructed from a single Hudson Bay Company blanket. Red and black ones like this were popular, and also cream-colored ones with wide multicolored stripes. Length also varied, from shorter hip-length jackets on down to mid-calf or more. Linus's coat is quite long, but it gives him plenty of room to grow. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Capote were usually worn tied shut around the waist with a wide woven sash. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceinture_fl%C3%A9ch%C3%A9e">The sash is probably the most recognized article of Metis clothing</a>: brightly colored, intricate, and useful. Folded over and tied around the waist, it was a perfect pocket to stash small necessaries, and a single thread was occasionally pulled from the long fringes at the ends to use for quick mends. I haven't made a sash yet because I'm still learning fingerweaving, so that will have to wait for now. I want to do it justice! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoEH4cYJ7xADOQVsGCy04dBJFf6U2lE9Q1Yt52QErEBusMgd_ATUDb-yNgj-PHouMuCa3QPmHN7iyWNvIAIFPOcocAQKxay6gjRcKl-owstOrseR1Tqa3LKMvN8EtReUI553-i30-4bme/s1600/IMAG0067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoEH4cYJ7xADOQVsGCy04dBJFf6U2lE9Q1Yt52QErEBusMgd_ATUDb-yNgj-PHouMuCa3QPmHN7iyWNvIAIFPOcocAQKxay6gjRcKl-owstOrseR1Tqa3LKMvN8EtReUI553-i30-4bme/s640/IMAG0067.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At the back is a generous hood, with a black tassel. The tassel was decorative, but also useful to tuck into the sash to keep the hood from flapping around while it was down. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkqGschShkOoGqfX1Vws-d4dt9exKRdm__-4duHO9yXwPJh9qnQ9ETzcJOD7tDbPJcbA1I2z93pXbA98VSuAdGHSvG_S9dvH4LxjSPdub703I_XlPb95diTxajsOsnlIWxm9rvVs3e3Pg/s1600/IMAG0066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkqGschShkOoGqfX1Vws-d4dt9exKRdm__-4duHO9yXwPJh9qnQ9ETzcJOD7tDbPJcbA1I2z93pXbA98VSuAdGHSvG_S9dvH4LxjSPdub703I_XlPb95diTxajsOsnlIWxm9rvVs3e3Pg/s640/IMAG0066.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
French traders carried lots of silk ribbon. It was light to carry, colorful, and popular in trade. One of the ways native people used it was as decoration on shirts and jackets. Today ribbon shirts are a part of many tribes' powwow regalia. Linus is wearing a blue cotton calico with shell buttons. The blue ribbons represent the Metis people, and the yellow represents prosperity. The Metis are well-known for their<a href="http://www.ameriquefrancaise.org/en/article-476/Floral_Beadwork:_A_M%C3%A9tis_Cultural_Heritage_to_Rediscover_.html"> exceptional beadwork</a>, so Linus has a small beaded flower at his collar.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRS1TitfVCJ9w4tMKoUi3EznHzjTIkJaK4JRrGEukyzSmfU84Hri38h0fgRDabBP-JcF-0nWIVUFTL6SPQ0At6jGs3wkcOZVHnjfwrKi5WuTShAEJLxunA8kfjgHCEzwFKV9SCLg0d2SL/s1600/IMAG0069+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRS1TitfVCJ9w4tMKoUi3EznHzjTIkJaK4JRrGEukyzSmfU84Hri38h0fgRDabBP-JcF-0nWIVUFTL6SPQ0At6jGs3wkcOZVHnjfwrKi5WuTShAEJLxunA8kfjgHCEzwFKV9SCLg0d2SL/s640/IMAG0069+%25281%2529.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Beading was often done on fabric which was then sewn onto garments. This way it could be removed when the garment became worn, and put onto something new. This is the very first beading I have ever done, and I'll admit it's not the greatest. It's also on a small scale, so those beads should be about 1/3 the size they are, but jeepers, I'm new at this! Someday I can re-do them properly in tiny wee beads, and then it will be easy to take off the fabric and replace it with glorious, beautiful, in-scale work. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYzCDC8gqcTqB-soaxhkQ5zrFgfIITUocxU4Xmd08PgxzXDRV8Ugxo0xnodYDOX5gScJD21oajoTmuMdsvajYOKfHJbLYMz8g0ha-oZqubJz1s3j0uLq9AD57wkDURV-fZDaPQwqovrzZ/s1600/IMAG0070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYzCDC8gqcTqB-soaxhkQ5zrFgfIITUocxU4Xmd08PgxzXDRV8Ugxo0xnodYDOX5gScJD21oajoTmuMdsvajYOKfHJbLYMz8g0ha-oZqubJz1s3j0uLq9AD57wkDURV-fZDaPQwqovrzZ/s320/IMAG0070.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's a close-up on my nascent bead work. I think it's pretty, though not a patch on what real Metis work looks like, of course. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All in all, I learned a lot while designing this outfit. Metis history is fascinating and it was interesting to see how the French and native cultures blended together. I still have moccasins, that sash, and a bag to make in the future, so you may see more of Linus later on. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now go make something! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-59518301110223281142016-02-19T10:45:00.001-08:002016-02-23T09:33:16.580-08:00Sorry, not sorry?Sometimes I look at my blog now, as compared to previous years, and I think, "What the heck happened?"<br />
<br />
I mean, when I started out, this was going to be all about me hand sewing reproduction garments, discussing my methods and techniques, and posting brag pictures of my beautiful wool. linen, and silk clothing. I was going to find similarly creative people so we could learn from each other. Maybe get some custom orders. At least gain the sort of status where I could show up at a con or event and have maybe one or two people say "Oh, hey! I read your blog!"<br />
<br />
Then horses showed up and leatherwork and restoration got interesting for me. <i>Should I really do this post about the saddle?</i> I asked myself. <i>It's not like the stuff I usually do. </i>But I did, because hey, they certainly have worked leather throughout history. Maybe this saddle isn't as historical as all that, but if you do leather for historical times, some of the sewing techniques and cleaning methods would be applicable.<br />
<br />
Steampunk stuff. Fixing beat up old trunks. Doll stuff.<br />
<br />
It's diverted quite a way from my original intent. My stats page shows me people are still reading about the same as always, with the most popular post being the one with the steampunk plague doctor's mask. It<i> is </i>pretty cool, but I know the main reason it gets so many hits is because someone linked it on Pinterest and shared my old technique of marking off stitching holes in leather with a fork. That and my rambling post about the St Birgitta's cap are my two big hits, far and away.<br />
<br />
When I started here four years ago, I thought about naming this "The Wennaisance" because how clever is that, but as a more avid 14th century girl, I decided that was a bit off-base. I went with "Wenny Makes It" because it was easy to remember, I could not think of anything else quickly, and I wanted to get started. And I'm glad I did. Whenever I get hung up on how far I've strayed from the original middle-ages intent I started with, I just remind myself that four years is a long time for an active mind to stick purely to one thing. I make a lot of stuff. It's all valid here.<br />
<br />
Sometimes I feel like I'm disappointing my original readers. Maybe they see I've updated and think "Oh, I wonder if she's sewing a new gown?" and then they look and... "Nope, it's something about buying rope at a boat shop. *sigh* What a weirdo."<br />
<br />
So if you're one of those, all I can tell you is to stick around. With all the stuff I find to interest me, you can pretty much bet that it won't be boring. And I still have some lovely wools and linens that need to be made into clothing. and a bunch of ideas.<br />
<br />Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-57401428730100064282016-02-08T10:30:00.002-08:002016-02-08T10:30:28.821-08:00No Dress for the TomboyI've entered a gift exchange on a AG collectors posting board. After filling out a form detailing my general likes, dislikes, and the sorts of things I'd like to receive, I was given the information of another person, a $35 spending limit, and four weeks to ship them my gift.<br />
<br />
I was terrifically excited while waiting to get my giftee's name, so I jumped the gun a little and started work on a beautiful, glorious, complicated outfit. <i>I know, </i>I thought<i>, I'll make this amazing dress and undergarments and a hat and they'll be so completely blown away!</i> I had this cute fabric that was pale yellow with tiny navy blue stars on it, and a new pattern I'd just gotten and wanted to try out for a dress styled after one from the 1850s and I was just raring to go.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhUekNkzQPC4ReFcfvElj_AcBs_TkWlfE26co4iKuSgqm_QobDR-C5M680IjBVolkQ1ditCLBOTyW9aWrfMFgsem8C_8y7QrhET18mgliB3WIswc25uTI5tlWuUdfGI4y0LPjyJFQQVBI/s1600/IMG_20160201_224219_167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhUekNkzQPC4ReFcfvElj_AcBs_TkWlfE26co4iKuSgqm_QobDR-C5M680IjBVolkQ1ditCLBOTyW9aWrfMFgsem8C_8y7QrhET18mgliB3WIswc25uTI5tlWuUdfGI4y0LPjyJFQQVBI/s400/IMG_20160201_224219_167.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The bodice and sleeves are lined with cream-colored silky fabric. I hate doing linings on regular human-sized clothes, and let me tell you, it isn't any more fun on wee little dolly things, but it really makes a nice finish and looks impressive.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HDetd6ez7zaUUxgf31nBoop-pwt2OutNPIlNc98HJmfNDZkDozsSSDNT4NckK0CQrRakMOVQQqd7zm-ZaIM1dVJhyphenhyphenXAGNlkDCkm0gh7QCEqQ-iT9elzF_P2ohlmyxenezf1uEDFSiHfV/s1600/IMG_20160202_234605_467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HDetd6ez7zaUUxgf31nBoop-pwt2OutNPIlNc98HJmfNDZkDozsSSDNT4NckK0CQrRakMOVQQqd7zm-ZaIM1dVJhyphenhyphenXAGNlkDCkm0gh7QCEqQ-iT9elzF_P2ohlmyxenezf1uEDFSiHfV/s640/IMG_20160202_234605_467.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
The pintucks, the two-part sleeves, the lining-- it was not an easy dress to make, but look how gorgeous! And entirely stitched by hand with silk thread; why, it's a work of ART.<br />
<br />
I knew my giftee was going to be blown away when she opened this. And I was ready to add a petticoat and a wrap made of navy blue raw silk with a fringe, and, and, and...<br />
<br />
...and then I got my giftee assignment and she was not interested in fancy dresses. Her doll is a tomboy.<br />
<br />
Dozens of doll people in this exchange, any of whom would drool unabashedly on this starry frock I had made, and I get the one who says her doll likes to tinker with car engines.<br />
<br />
<i>Challenge accepted. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I set the silk and pintucks aside and pulled out some brown wrapping paper. I was going to make a pattern for mechanic's coveralls.<br />
<br />
They're really just pants and a shirt connected at the waistband -- just like how a dress is really just a blouse and skirt connected. I did some quick sketching and measuring, came up with a pattern I thought would work, and whipped up a quick toile to check it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSEpR-zn5RV8VmB-D88I6mVjMGWqbBJNtnhKiRIrihiawMLyw6agXHJ7FHlJPPDFdwEABIX3nNh_GgNxkUjpQMCG6xq23v-pEExYVryZE0BfAsES3_AdA-rtftUWtU4SQKhBwzIjROa2w/s1600/IMAG0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSEpR-zn5RV8VmB-D88I6mVjMGWqbBJNtnhKiRIrihiawMLyw6agXHJ7FHlJPPDFdwEABIX3nNh_GgNxkUjpQMCG6xq23v-pEExYVryZE0BfAsES3_AdA-rtftUWtU4SQKhBwzIjROa2w/s400/IMAG0009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Once I was sure it would fit and look right, I cut my pieces from an old work shirt. Blue stripes were perfect for that mechanic look, and the doll's name on a bit of iron-on patch to make a nametag added just the right touch. (They still need finishing on the collar and cuffs, but I had to get this post up while I had time!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0rhn4cPDxRMgMPULkOgZrJ7MgZuDpOIEQcoPK1VzsIelmyTelDzlJbTA5-uoFwyCZ5lp7gHIg2I_Tel2lRxdAar0ISpSTd9TreKoXBmPQU7P2oaFjVfRBmpLv4HJH2-0yWa3Y1wVBwnj/s1600/IMAG0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0rhn4cPDxRMgMPULkOgZrJ7MgZuDpOIEQcoPK1VzsIelmyTelDzlJbTA5-uoFwyCZ5lp7gHIg2I_Tel2lRxdAar0ISpSTd9TreKoXBmPQU7P2oaFjVfRBmpLv4HJH2-0yWa3Y1wVBwnj/s640/IMAG0006.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
But what's a mechanic without her tools? So I set off to find some tiny crescent wrenches (thank you, Home Depot!) and then cut a scrap of oiled leather to make a tool kit. Flannel pockets hold the wrenches and two screwdrivers neatly in place, and the whole thing rolls up. Two buckled straps hold it shut, and there's a comfortable rolled leather handle to carry it all.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTrS_afpL4A8mTaizolujhxGk-zSn4zt4n27pnsdc4FpIarDMesrpaheLH7lR5ZGE2ChrIYK-7UcbWoDwojz-UocoZS5P02kFM5LqSOdf87rspD35NsSs-wHnptfI9o5dhxjKK5lDUlsh/s1600/IMAG0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTrS_afpL4A8mTaizolujhxGk-zSn4zt4n27pnsdc4FpIarDMesrpaheLH7lR5ZGE2ChrIYK-7UcbWoDwojz-UocoZS5P02kFM5LqSOdf87rspD35NsSs-wHnptfI9o5dhxjKK5lDUlsh/s640/IMAG0008.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRW_WiXmdP0OOezvWzAxz1jt1ROGXIrnGVu73cb5hnDJpBE2EK92BR88sVG-rsOR4yGcxYVip68e4n3YcMPjlC3rRY-zDQxubjuVHbiyd0_h5zxcj8eU3WjVHW4ORtHJX9_8Hu4h9Nn9M/s1600/IMAG0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRW_WiXmdP0OOezvWzAxz1jt1ROGXIrnGVu73cb5hnDJpBE2EK92BR88sVG-rsOR4yGcxYVip68e4n3YcMPjlC3rRY-zDQxubjuVHbiyd0_h5zxcj8eU3WjVHW4ORtHJX9_8Hu4h9Nn9M/s640/IMAG0007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Look at that cute thing. That is a totally legitimate set of tiny, real tools. I bet I hear the squeals of delight all the way at my house when she opens this up. When we receive our exchange gifts, we're supposed to post pictures of them on the collectors forum so everyone can see what we got. I know it's prideful, but I'm really looking forward to reading what everyone thinks of my handsewn coveralls and tool kit.<br />
<br />
I wonder what my gifter will send me?<br />
<br />Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-35192630211055869342016-01-22T10:36:00.001-08:002016-01-22T10:36:32.040-08:00Quickie: buttons!Guess who was lucky enough to find a string of Victorian-era metal buttons at the thrift shop? There's about three dozen of them in a few different styles. They're about half an inch wide and so pretty. And look at that awesome price!<br />
<br />
Now to come up with a project to put them on...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-XB8lCqwAVA6z6WGpLaIeQeX4LKfH9omuGL5z8SvauZL0ULvBwSMX2qbS7NjdtN4B5H8GxJYPSlRKQCxFp4vAhkFbASkEFWspnsDzAM2dBKxhv3pL4mdEI5qw1QNqwszP2UThF57_xvW/s1600/IMAG3031.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-XB8lCqwAVA6z6WGpLaIeQeX4LKfH9omuGL5z8SvauZL0ULvBwSMX2qbS7NjdtN4B5H8GxJYPSlRKQCxFp4vAhkFbASkEFWspnsDzAM2dBKxhv3pL4mdEI5qw1QNqwszP2UThF57_xvW/s640/IMAG3031.jpg" width="640" /></a>Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-31778866922599312072016-01-09T17:39:00.001-08:002016-01-09T17:39:56.182-08:00New Year, New StuffOh man, I made so much stuff for Christmas that I wanted to show off, but I couldn't until after the holidays! Now that I'm less busy and everyone is enjoying their gifts, I can share what I made with you all.<br />
<br />
First there was a quilt I made for my mother-in-law. I've never made a quilt before, but I got her this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Remember-Me-Women-Friendship-Quilts/dp/0844226505">book about pioneer friendship quilts</a> and thought it would be nice to try my hand at one for her. It's entirely machine sewn. If I'd had more time, I'd have liked to have done it by hand, like most of my other projects, but time was a factor and I think it turned out just fine. (The binding around the edge was done by hand, so that makes me feel better.) The whole thing is about two feet square; just a little thing you might put on the coffeetable or the back of a cozy chair for a touch of color.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3vPXPCJmsqSAILgiVJOJhKgL_KjCHbs2ZkoNS3wVKB5BNfK2kr7Gy2KFWntAuNTqs0GRW_vZmI4iHAsa7Yb19ajuXfwDhicAmbRupcnA0G-2NmCQpuYNkcwEum5mDNyNvndKXj8sfzSO/s1600/IMAG2942+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3vPXPCJmsqSAILgiVJOJhKgL_KjCHbs2ZkoNS3wVKB5BNfK2kr7Gy2KFWntAuNTqs0GRW_vZmI4iHAsa7Yb19ajuXfwDhicAmbRupcnA0G-2NmCQpuYNkcwEum5mDNyNvndKXj8sfzSO/s640/IMAG2942+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I made my boy a strap for his bass guitar, and stamped it with a pattern I based off of one in my files. I have a folder on my computer where I stash pictures of vintage leatherwork. It's so neat the way you can take a handful of plain-looking stamps and work them together to make beautiful patterns. Even if I don't have <i>exactly</i> the same stamps, I try out a few similar ones until I come up with something I like.<br />
<br />
You can see a few test patterns on scraps here with the inspiration picture and a close-up of my interpretation. I dyed it a nice medium brown but didn't get a picture because I was busy getting things wrapped and put under the tree. It turned out beautifully. I was so pleased.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvhbvQMGEV-fquJVCcTVUiOWQ8sN3M-rAm_SSqxfv3fW1rwvLgTKhSiYNhG3nBVfub8w9TQBE4HA6chdbZwLEhfHl5D-Q-VlA0ssxHY9kYxYbY0vnjR-JcBnBSpiCStzktAplLG-ktQRN/s1600/IMAG2944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvhbvQMGEV-fquJVCcTVUiOWQ8sN3M-rAm_SSqxfv3fW1rwvLgTKhSiYNhG3nBVfub8w9TQBE4HA6chdbZwLEhfHl5D-Q-VlA0ssxHY9kYxYbY0vnjR-JcBnBSpiCStzktAplLG-ktQRN/s640/IMAG2944.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctIjDtVP1pM8igtUbq_xb4xQff9lZJ4HDwKKQ9B1dUOAitqlz4Cohm25XPZKIHDroCWvIb7WC-ZyaudTnpLCZBQw9D2uZuF1ucWZjIDv-wd9_GIG6JP7PUi6B-IScVhNlsTvzI0d-pReT/s1600/IMAG2946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctIjDtVP1pM8igtUbq_xb4xQff9lZJ4HDwKKQ9B1dUOAitqlz4Cohm25XPZKIHDroCWvIb7WC-ZyaudTnpLCZBQw9D2uZuF1ucWZjIDv-wd9_GIG6JP7PUi6B-IScVhNlsTvzI0d-pReT/s640/IMAG2946.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry it's a little blurry. Or is it? Where'd I leave my glasses, darn it...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Everyone is a child at Christmas, and needs a toy to play with. Dave wanted a replica Colt so I ordered him one from <a href="http://www.westernemporium.com/western.php">Western Emporium</a>. (That's a fun place to click around; lots of things to look at. Go ahead, take a look. I'll wait.... Back? Okay, so like I was saying...) I wanted to make him a holster to go with it, but didn't have a pattern. I contacted a friend in France who does saddle restorations, Alain Eon, and asked him if he had a pattern he'd share for this specific make of pistol. He sent it straightaway and I made a few adjustments, came up with a pleasing design for the edge, and whipped this up. It was a tense time, waiting for the gun to show up so I could be sure that I had made the holster to fit just right. It came in the mail with less than 36 hours to Christmas morning. I slipped it into the holster and breathed a sigh of relief -- perfect fit! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmhyCArepw1l43Fr005Zv2PzqBza9ZjB-odX4UOCoEHSJvY5L4i5AfNe0H7jRdhsToTDs5IYwgK5fstAWrrgKscwz1olFHxouGrii3aCkQpj5RlFIj9-xcQ4vC7ZQxGiTkW2k0Hz4s9NA/s1600/IMAG2955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmhyCArepw1l43Fr005Zv2PzqBza9ZjB-odX4UOCoEHSJvY5L4i5AfNe0H7jRdhsToTDs5IYwgK5fstAWrrgKscwz1olFHxouGrii3aCkQpj5RlFIj9-xcQ4vC7ZQxGiTkW2k0Hz4s9NA/s640/IMAG2955.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After the holidays, we went to a gun show. Not my usual thing, but I figured there might be some old gun belts or something there for me to look at. I found a sorry-looking magazine case for only three dollars that I picked up because sometimes it's handy to have little boxes on your belt to hold things like a compass, lip balm, dog bags, and keys. After a clean and condition, they look great! </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOufYTkoW0o6FCRxkIoUhqYP4oC61v0Ax4BRRKQf77hraFi_ew6lh0tLrneZAD7CB2UyZyMAfM96rtb5xJfchlKA3yJ91lKngmLrzmwaVfhLDfbhjCUVm3bL4krJJlJU9Wyh1IsL4SUov/s1600/IMAG2993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOufYTkoW0o6FCRxkIoUhqYP4oC61v0Ax4BRRKQf77hraFi_ew6lh0tLrneZAD7CB2UyZyMAfM96rtb5xJfchlKA3yJ91lKngmLrzmwaVfhLDfbhjCUVm3bL4krJJlJU9Wyh1IsL4SUov/s640/IMAG2993.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: aww, sad!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsBDsWAsHhss84Fx26ucPwAxZjM3LTex4BdyEQPMke0qFnAS-9ooFpOOh0a8eIPhrMJr1V_qkBpIa7-AZbvFym_GfmlXEZI4wo46UIXAWVGPXU_c2i3yiEBQh0vbPEbDpXAtQFJHCd_HQ/s1600/IMAG2999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsBDsWAsHhss84Fx26ucPwAxZjM3LTex4BdyEQPMke0qFnAS-9ooFpOOh0a8eIPhrMJr1V_qkBpIa7-AZbvFym_GfmlXEZI4wo46UIXAWVGPXU_c2i3yiEBQh0vbPEbDpXAtQFJHCd_HQ/s640/IMAG2999.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: ooh, pretty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmhyCArepw1l43Fr005Zv2PzqBza9ZjB-odX4UOCoEHSJvY5L4i5AfNe0H7jRdhsToTDs5IYwgK5fstAWrrgKscwz1olFHxouGrii3aCkQpj5RlFIj9-xcQ4vC7ZQxGiTkW2k0Hz4s9NA/s1600/IMAG2955.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><br />
Can't think of anything else I've done right now. Sure I'll think of more things later. Until then, I hope your new year is a happy one, and you make lots of awesome things in it!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-90286971850207018642015-12-10T17:38:00.000-08:002015-12-10T17:38:15.798-08:00Look out -- hot stuff!Dave's birthday happened again, like it does every year. To mark the occasion, I made him a special gift, like I do because he just makes things look so good. Check this out:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiGHVR-S3b5Fm_ocH2A1V-dgzjLZxAwUmMrvn-S_Y_T-1vS1nnvn7nWC8F1JG5fahH2N2CcdU8Wred23dyPSq_Kdz6LQeHqfgvFna0Sf_o31pSc17U632F3bWehhTmnrGQkDLzxlJ8G1M/s1600/IMAG2917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiGHVR-S3b5Fm_ocH2A1V-dgzjLZxAwUmMrvn-S_Y_T-1vS1nnvn7nWC8F1JG5fahH2N2CcdU8Wred23dyPSq_Kdz6LQeHqfgvFna0Sf_o31pSc17U632F3bWehhTmnrGQkDLzxlJ8G1M/s640/IMAG2917.jpg" width="362" /></a></div>
<br />
Is that a manly man, or what? I made his smoking jacket out of a bolt of cotton/wool blend I got at the thrift shop for seven dollars. I had intended to use some grey wool that I had been saving to make myself something, but when I saw this, I knew the color would suit him much better. <br />
<br />
The coat is lined with the same pink and burgandy satin-y fabric I used for <a href="http://wennymakesit.blogspot.com/2013/10/steamcon-2013.html">my candybox skirt</a>. I wish I had thought to have him flip back the tails so you could see it. Another time, perhaps.<br />
<br />
The fastenings on the front, the "frogs", I made myself --and you can, too! They're not terribly difficult, once you get the hang of them. I used black paracord and they look just fine. Don't spend a fortune on tacky pre-made ones at the shop! <a href="http://qiaoprince.blogspot.com/2014/01/making-snail-frog-closure-tutorial.html">Tie a few up for yourself and dazzle your friends. </a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQU6_GEYRf0JbxwtBp1b0VrDdFmwduOdf68ZHmIN-i-QU_deAiU0phTm8k1cBQDoK8nl38f9MkZlFXIrUMzFaX2SHrDlInHDvlWLMvK7SpgPQX8z9vWAz0j5IG70uHbEFvU1uva43Js-8w/s1600/IMAG2918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQU6_GEYRf0JbxwtBp1b0VrDdFmwduOdf68ZHmIN-i-QU_deAiU0phTm8k1cBQDoK8nl38f9MkZlFXIrUMzFaX2SHrDlInHDvlWLMvK7SpgPQX8z9vWAz0j5IG70uHbEFvU1uva43Js-8w/s640/IMAG2918.jpg" width="361" /></a></div>
<br />
The fez was just kind of a silly thing I tried out with some leftover red bulky yarn, but Dave loves it and I have to admit he makes it look quite splendid. It's warm, too. We really need to buy a drafty old house to make it worthwhile having these cozy things.<br />
<br />
Maybe not.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoMd8Oaq91xptIjHPjuEGxMS6jnLTLG4zCCBj_MCvFCaVijwU-mfknLGRfjhQx8-8nIZwMYmkYJ_xGepCSb0JpcDap0HQayDRFxf0K7X1gkehOjr79sKzyLPeu2GGF7z4-e-_m4VrRq5X/s1600/IMAG2922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoMd8Oaq91xptIjHPjuEGxMS6jnLTLG4zCCBj_MCvFCaVijwU-mfknLGRfjhQx8-8nIZwMYmkYJ_xGepCSb0JpcDap0HQayDRFxf0K7X1gkehOjr79sKzyLPeu2GGF7z4-e-_m4VrRq5X/s640/IMAG2922.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Dave rarely smokes his pipe, but it certainly goes with the outfit. "All you need is a spaniel and a moose head above the fireplace!" I said.<br />
<br />
Now Dave is worried I'll find us a moose head some where. Oooh, that would be awesome, wouldn't it? I could make it a matching fez!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqCPLDEYdEY5e8f3kLYK2f4Oqc97BcVUHcAF3RWhG5pSiklOuDUcT_UrtJLkIFTgV_8YkjasPNvMe5-iT9vuSCYNg12D9X45FHaiwntsSS9U_VqmRCdkf1WuA7SOc2BmN1Sa2NHDPwau1/s1600/Moose_Hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqCPLDEYdEY5e8f3kLYK2f4Oqc97BcVUHcAF3RWhG5pSiklOuDUcT_UrtJLkIFTgV_8YkjasPNvMe5-iT9vuSCYNg12D9X45FHaiwntsSS9U_VqmRCdkf1WuA7SOc2BmN1Sa2NHDPwau1/s400/Moose_Hat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
...close enough.</div>
Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-18279562304757648212015-11-30T10:11:00.000-08:002015-11-30T10:11:16.338-08:00The Rest of the Barrel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've been keeping you waiting for so long on this final entry. I'm sorry about that. I hope it's worth the wait. Besides the dolls and clothing, there was vintage children's clothing ranging from toddler to age four!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The things I liked best were the light-as-air linen baby gowns. They hadn't held up particularly well over the years, but the exquisite handiwork was astonishing -- especially when compared to modern sturdy cotton baby clothes. Look at this one: seam joins are all by embroidered join work, and the smocking and wee embroidered flowers -- oh, so dainty!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc96c_DYejtF3cWf7XYvAZ36Xf4c8TNNHN8754T2vqokG9IH47vp9VArpTrcEZi473QTztQQrlesWaoQa42u1CsO7hx-pMv3RwTxBYRTbgWQtm_BQAPfoVttC5vaol9j_SaEmhDLSDxhgm/s1600/IMAG2700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc96c_DYejtF3cWf7XYvAZ36Xf4c8TNNHN8754T2vqokG9IH47vp9VArpTrcEZi473QTztQQrlesWaoQa42u1CsO7hx-pMv3RwTxBYRTbgWQtm_BQAPfoVttC5vaol9j_SaEmhDLSDxhgm/s640/IMAG2700.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And this one with the pintucks and pulled-thread work, decorative finished edge, and impossibly tiny buttons. See the little label that reads "Hand Made"? How much would you pay for something like this today, I wonder? I tried to find old catalog pages on Google to determine the approximate original price, with no success. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPm2xOBTsU0RMroRQa0eYe4MFla_Ve362rQ0y03L3Pfc6MvmOaMtIfQC8jaVwqoAsOrnEm_g_HybeS1iPxEKtWyhsqQ1cFGLOoMGzmHhwCzfbfL6arfd1Qc6TTSY4j4g5k32VadbXLw7k/s1600/IMAG2701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPm2xOBTsU0RMroRQa0eYe4MFla_Ve362rQ0y03L3Pfc6MvmOaMtIfQC8jaVwqoAsOrnEm_g_HybeS1iPxEKtWyhsqQ1cFGLOoMGzmHhwCzfbfL6arfd1Qc6TTSY4j4g5k32VadbXLw7k/s640/IMAG2701.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>"This was a dress I made for Elizabeth when she was 4 or 5. It was very becoming -- made her eyes look bluer." </i><br />
Elizabeth was hard on her dresses; this one was patched in several places. The hem had been made very wide so it could be let down, and it had been -- about three times! Look at all that smocking.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_1993950174"></span><span id="goog_1993950175"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9636SugNuq_lGeS1Ql2DEIsoooqjGE2-YeTsPTdu8x0Q0tjqR5Vwc0omtlvrIN-5n_C8aRiwfaFVJnvzHWrPhzmj8Jsyzrb8Rgjxh1dR45wvplrbrY4K_b9086JUhXgkc8qHorva3rFdI/s1600/IMAG2707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9636SugNuq_lGeS1Ql2DEIsoooqjGE2-YeTsPTdu8x0Q0tjqR5Vwc0omtlvrIN-5n_C8aRiwfaFVJnvzHWrPhzmj8Jsyzrb8Rgjxh1dR45wvplrbrY4K_b9086JUhXgkc8qHorva3rFdI/s640/IMAG2707.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Each dress had a little note pinned to it with a personal comment.<br />
<br />
<i>"This dress Ruth Grove gave Carolyn for her 4th birthday. This color was very becoming."</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOAQQB0LKK8AfRMobxgePzXyi1jQl9lBzqaPa9j83ODAotkBCs2XwXNNM0cODk4KOvsyuegHAp7pxv4XV3twRF8-ioTyEO6F0dWjSasjhv4BEKLTrG3rBdeU4m4awV2NX4nZzTOjJsr_N/s1600/IMAG2742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOAQQB0LKK8AfRMobxgePzXyi1jQl9lBzqaPa9j83ODAotkBCs2XwXNNM0cODk4KOvsyuegHAp7pxv4XV3twRF8-ioTyEO6F0dWjSasjhv4BEKLTrG3rBdeU4m4awV2NX4nZzTOjJsr_N/s640/IMAG2742.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>"I made this dress when Carolyn was about 3 yrs old. She always looked so cute in it."</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdzKOE8-HxU1DiDuKty3rEuGA9xclTQmH2Og50FNavTcZBj4aE14sBK7XehwFmMFTWos-R85hjDLGwN2ktX7KJuBlQbdbd-EHfQTrNOgs9k0ZXDYEmG7Ob7eh1OzeZ-Gt3StDi9cKOhBB/s1600/IMAG2743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdzKOE8-HxU1DiDuKty3rEuGA9xclTQmH2Og50FNavTcZBj4aE14sBK7XehwFmMFTWos-R85hjDLGwN2ktX7KJuBlQbdbd-EHfQTrNOgs9k0ZXDYEmG7Ob7eh1OzeZ-Gt3StDi9cKOhBB/s640/IMAG2743.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I could go on and on with those, but how much smocking does one blog need?<br />
<br />
Now, hands up if you know who Shirley Temple was!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeFQQbckk9SIE-5AXaQR-JRZLMb_t7eXaV6fu89N0dVxdk5XP9HlDZlk9XqBcbFhXW4gn1kc-PHyZzIWIQIvif7T4X9S2ghPQ_uLfYgOVnpwV-E6KeOCb18AJbP4UsEHnE7pg6adti6Rw/s1600/shirley+temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeFQQbckk9SIE-5AXaQR-JRZLMb_t7eXaV6fu89N0dVxdk5XP9HlDZlk9XqBcbFhXW4gn1kc-PHyZzIWIQIvif7T4X9S2ghPQ_uLfYgOVnpwV-E6KeOCb18AJbP4UsEHnE7pg6adti6Rw/s320/shirley+temple.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
<br />
That's right! "America's Sweetheart", Temple was a film and television actress, singer, dancer, and Hollywood's number one box office star from 1935 through 1938. Mothers nationwide wanted their little girls to look like Shirley, and her fashion line of dresses was very popular. There were two "Shirley Temple" dresses in the barrel that had been washed so many times it was hard to read their labels, but they had managed to stick to their accessories: the first one here has a vest that fastens at the front with two heavy round brass buttons on a cotton cord. If this had been my childhood dress, I assure you those buttons would have been lost the first time I wore the outfit out of the house.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZS_9iyNlVdWHtYBB28VTY4H_WGA30T199d5WfKTVjmpr8HaWBXqRgv1l-eYIC4hDsiq9-HlJxw44_A_A-dr-sECDsTGwmKaoSMQyXFkIzr_Vm9ggSLevQfduXeVJcc_BK80wCdT8mpSL/s1600/IMAG2735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZS_9iyNlVdWHtYBB28VTY4H_WGA30T199d5WfKTVjmpr8HaWBXqRgv1l-eYIC4hDsiq9-HlJxw44_A_A-dr-sECDsTGwmKaoSMQyXFkIzr_Vm9ggSLevQfduXeVJcc_BK80wCdT8mpSL/s640/IMAG2735.jpg" width="361" /></a></div>
<br />
The second dress has applique flowers around the buttonholes, a matching pocket square, and a Shirley Temple medal pinned to the pocket.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9hj8ywIVinVKV2RcqNEFBN_XRXEUG8tYlKSMPOLYBofa9L545mKEYXLG45dZeL8PpgV2BdUOTi3PRh0GEk5fNdlxmiumRFxsAGOQKbNwrJ1iiTkPWzC2vAf9kl1r9ZrpIuGxeFS64N9g/s1600/IMAG2736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9hj8ywIVinVKV2RcqNEFBN_XRXEUG8tYlKSMPOLYBofa9L545mKEYXLG45dZeL8PpgV2BdUOTi3PRh0GEk5fNdlxmiumRFxsAGOQKbNwrJ1iiTkPWzC2vAf9kl1r9ZrpIuGxeFS64N9g/s640/IMAG2736.jpg" width="361" /></a></div>
<br />
I couldn't find a pin like it on the internet anywhere to determine its value, and I sold it along with both dresses to a dealer for $40. Just my luck if it's incredibly rare and worth hundreds -- or even thousands, haha. Ah well, it'll make someone happy and in another generation, no one will remember who Shirley Temple was.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4rtKEapTd3JD050RaBTVVd2wenWDS9dOUnLFzmcRU9KSoeFgdoqZnVr576iMm3rSHdvXRTTqOxvo7UYJKSta2-38z6ICgZNynWPfZ5XfBrgLjM8GyZ6zV5vKyxIDWsOSR1PYG5lR7G1K/s1600/IMAG2737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4rtKEapTd3JD050RaBTVVd2wenWDS9dOUnLFzmcRU9KSoeFgdoqZnVr576iMm3rSHdvXRTTqOxvo7UYJKSta2-38z6ICgZNynWPfZ5XfBrgLjM8GyZ6zV5vKyxIDWsOSR1PYG5lR7G1K/s640/IMAG2737.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
As you look at the pictures, you'll see these aren't museum pieces. Most were in pretty poor condition -- not because of the way they'd been stored, though that was certainly no help, but because they'd been so loved and worn and played in and torn and mended. Purely sentimental keepers, which is what made the pinned notes so nice. I contacted a few local museums to see if they wanted any of the pieces, but condition was a factor and so the answer was no. Antique dealers told me the same thing: vintage clothing only has value if it can be worn or displayed, and buyers don't want holes, stains, and patches.<br />
<br />
Finally I called up a friend who does art with vintage things, and she took the items off my hands to use for ... well, <i>something</i>. So away went the little stack of dresses, washed and folded and with their little notes pinned to their fronts.<br />
<br />
Next time, back to stuff I've made! Stay tuned for that. See you then!Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-60022556370716616842015-10-15T21:06:00.001-07:002015-10-15T21:06:50.453-07:00The '30's Girls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOh2BN5yl75tpNY66xY9uitWv6jnK_MYVw_UEtq0pPLdOMu7HZlNf5mS9jamib9vO7AZ6q8cOZFh_5URRlEW5x2ZzARFmrUR_97s6LnYvX3q68pk94x6G4Igaqz0TWcqNJKtUNehE0zaZ6/s1600/IMAG2748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOh2BN5yl75tpNY66xY9uitWv6jnK_MYVw_UEtq0pPLdOMu7HZlNf5mS9jamib9vO7AZ6q8cOZFh_5URRlEW5x2ZzARFmrUR_97s6LnYvX3q68pk94x6G4Igaqz0TWcqNJKtUNehE0zaZ6/s640/IMAG2748.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They cleaned up pretty nicely! Here are Elizabeth, Sally, Jane, and Elizabeth. (Names came with them from the manufacturers.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Elizabeths are Madame Alexander dolls with "Princess Elizabeth" stamped on the back of their necks. Their blonde plaits are standard, so I was careful to re-braid them after giving their hair a much-needed spritz of conditioner and a bit of a brush to get all the stray bits back in place. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sally is a Petite brand doll and the back of her neck and back have stamps ("Petite Sally") that say so. Her tin eyes are rusty which gives her a bit of a frightening look (Dave says "CREEPY DOLL!" and scoots away whenever he sees me working with her) and her hair was one big mat -- with a braid stuck on with a single rusty bobbypin. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJbj0Gzlxi5ebxgQxF8rHZnmWt-ufcSLALMut_F4_TkuRCehx7t3-RpKLQBPQLH4weCcgJJF0af9DZNPoWOwmQaFn4XH8A4eZ_7VUkoJyK7i8RTVLIyUtk6Mq9NzB7LpvfmUJMA1XTc6v/s1600/IMAG2717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJbj0Gzlxi5ebxgQxF8rHZnmWt-ufcSLALMut_F4_TkuRCehx7t3-RpKLQBPQLH4weCcgJJF0af9DZNPoWOwmQaFn4XH8A4eZ_7VUkoJyK7i8RTVLIyUtk6Mq9NzB7LpvfmUJMA1XTc6v/s640/IMAG2717.jpg" width="362" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Oh, girl. Let me get my brush.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FvV4ra9un3VnPQt1GuDL7Ca7wXeu8CBw1QKLhcve82an19UdMKcHQ3M_rwIQm9ebDsLJ6277WMZ4v92B2Hc2AuGh-jWwiMm9mZohSMV8jzxCVJX2OEZsxCIasZdCC6zNgWWMHmk2sX9E/s1600/IMAG2731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FvV4ra9un3VnPQt1GuDL7Ca7wXeu8CBw1QKLhcve82an19UdMKcHQ3M_rwIQm9ebDsLJ6277WMZ4v92B2Hc2AuGh-jWwiMm9mZohSMV8jzxCVJX2OEZsxCIasZdCC6zNgWWMHmk2sX9E/s640/IMAG2731.jpg" width="362" /></a></div>
<br />
Braid Spray, folks. The stuff is a miracle. Composition dolls shouldn't get wet, so I couldn't wash her hair like I wanted to -- and also I figured her wig would come off! -- but I spritzed on some Braid Spray and as soon as I started brushing, Sally's dull grey-yellow hair turned golden and soft, and fluffed up like a baby chick! I left her braid off so she's got a sweet blond bob. I'll put the braid in with her clothes and if a buyer wants to restore her further, they'll have it. I think she looks just as cute without it.<br />
<br />
And yes, she's wearing a pink bathrobe because she's having a spa day. She's 80-some years old; I think she deserves some comforts in her life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Jane, in the pink plaid and molded hair, is a Horsman doll. There's no mark on her, but apparently that's the way they made them that year. She's the only one with eyes that don't make me itch, and she has a very sweet face. Unfortunately, she's missing half of her right foot, but we can't have everything. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So now you've seen the dolls and some of their outfits that came in the barrel. There's one more blog post I'll be doing that will cover the rest of the barrel's contents. I promise you it's not dolls or doll-related. Stay tuned!</div>
Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-45488994154168379702015-10-13T20:36:00.000-07:002015-10-13T20:36:39.867-07:00Barrels: not just for monkeys anymore!A friend contacted me with a question: would I be interested in his mother's dolls from the 1930-40s? They were taking up space in a storage unit and he'd be glad to have them in the hands of someone who would appreciate them. I said I didn't know much about doll value, but I'd take a look. Because there's nothing I like better than rummaging through boxes of old stuff, it's true. So we drove over to the unit and there was a literal barrel that held treasure once we got the lid pried off.<br />
<br />
There was more in the barrel than just dolls, and I'd like to spread them out in a couple of posts so things don't get too long-winded around here.<br />
<br />
Too late, you say? Hush, you. Let's look at the doll stuff first.<br />
<br />
What is it about tiny clothes? They're just so darn cute! Imagine if you tripped on a stone in the pathway in a forest, and landed flat on your face in the dirt. You turn your face to the side and start to get up, and that's when you see the tiny door in the side of a fallen log.<br />
<br />
"That certainly is unusual," you might think (or maybe not, depending on your acquaintance with wee folk), and scooting closer on your belly, you open the tiny door. Peek inside, then, and observe the home of a woodland elf: a miniature table, set with an equally miniature mug and plate; a hearth rug that would fit in the palm of your hand; and on the bed, laid out as if ready for a special occasion, some wee outfits knit in wool...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OzG374g3jM7Eut5BUcFQgOvCbbiXSpB5rOPqRHteYLFQqZUVLRj62vDAymtEQqVgl5gEVqtlQm3Dkf3csuMKZwJ8X7NzTuwpxgfLqbFmfY7iZzT6jjkuF-RQs48lJPWuV-3rNxZFR2ik/s1600/IMAG2702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OzG374g3jM7Eut5BUcFQgOvCbbiXSpB5rOPqRHteYLFQqZUVLRj62vDAymtEQqVgl5gEVqtlQm3Dkf3csuMKZwJ8X7NzTuwpxgfLqbFmfY7iZzT6jjkuF-RQs48lJPWuV-3rNxZFR2ik/s640/IMAG2702.jpg" width="362" /></a></div>
<br />
To give you an idea of scale, that red jacket is about four inches tall (10 cm). And don't you just love the tails on the blue coat? There were four dolls in the barrel, and none of them were tiny enough to fit these clothes, so they<i> must</i> be for an elf.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLLW8oVh_KqfKjJ3c7O9ycvAMt3CSD7L7E7n1iuzuZbsDh3r2VNLR0Uy7JBmBUXAfaP9aKEgRuhHvv4mLVOzyLdTboqLklA1UDf7mnD_vA__JHnQCsgxK_XrxvgJOPafd3lIstGwkpYMJ/s1600/IMAG2713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLLW8oVh_KqfKjJ3c7O9ycvAMt3CSD7L7E7n1iuzuZbsDh3r2VNLR0Uy7JBmBUXAfaP9aKEgRuhHvv4mLVOzyLdTboqLklA1UDf7mnD_vA__JHnQCsgxK_XrxvgJOPafd3lIstGwkpYMJ/s640/IMAG2713.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I really wish these socks were big enough to fit one of my dolls, but alas, they are made for someone bigger than our elf, and daintier in foot than my girls. I love how they open down the front. I wonder if they were meant to be turned down and cuffed like a boot? Maybe? They're the only wee socks in the bunch, about three inches long (8 cm), and I'm keeping them just because they're so stinking cute I can hardly stand it. Can you imagine the slender needles used to knit these? What intricacy!<br />
<br />
There were many handmade dresses, and once they're washed and pressed, I'll take some pictures of them, too. I thought this commercially-made dress was interesting, though. It's a Madame Alexander and besides the usual delightful attention to detail that is the hallmark of that company's vintage items, it has a feature that I've never seen before: The underpants are attached to the dress!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFRlu-JY0KaR7v11vkT6LuUidVI-8hf-RUGEOFeYEDLkwaZvd5Cq9l7yCBhiEE1MUmm8rkKjHEFWhmjeHORr81ik_1dqCg3O5Q8HbeDeKM3MRmHEReNzKv-QtoxiyCqMqOQmslUFkwnDf/s1600/IMAG2708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFRlu-JY0KaR7v11vkT6LuUidVI-8hf-RUGEOFeYEDLkwaZvd5Cq9l7yCBhiEE1MUmm8rkKjHEFWhmjeHORr81ik_1dqCg3O5Q8HbeDeKM3MRmHEReNzKv-QtoxiyCqMqOQmslUFkwnDf/s640/IMAG2708.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jPFvcOGfqkovCjidU0nY4vpsI6I6Hec1jGg7MCtVZ4DySoCTWqsMW5Ci8dR3NfgDn0NFVC6DR4nrisuPopqCQxpPIkwjmemK3UDytqPRtE0nkJ2ZFDt9YW9A3wBqGgE9i5QzrG_ix3Bk/s1600/IMAG2711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jPFvcOGfqkovCjidU0nY4vpsI6I6Hec1jGg7MCtVZ4DySoCTWqsMW5Ci8dR3NfgDn0NFVC6DR4nrisuPopqCQxpPIkwjmemK3UDytqPRtE0nkJ2ZFDt9YW9A3wBqGgE9i5QzrG_ix3Bk/s640/IMAG2711.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
That's a way to keep your bloomers from falling down! Look at the detailing on the cuffs, and the rickrack decorating the neckline. Too cute! Too, too cute!<br />
<br />
But the sweetest things I found in the doll clothes were these:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdU_KG2gAklili8Kq5jrtsQo1HmlVko79iomWWkABvnsNNKyT1YiIo7P-yIq_LrAPcAjtDKcah27_ONPdXTikcfGdxY6vH9SP30sYbbhvoDHTQuZgNQgwpVZIVWpWTDgobbcXCyBaoInm/s1600/IMAG2699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdU_KG2gAklili8Kq5jrtsQo1HmlVko79iomWWkABvnsNNKyT1YiIo7P-yIq_LrAPcAjtDKcah27_ONPdXTikcfGdxY6vH9SP30sYbbhvoDHTQuZgNQgwpVZIVWpWTDgobbcXCyBaoInm/s640/IMAG2699.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
At first I thought they were just scraps, but on closer inspection, I realized they were a little girl's handiwork. Wobbly white stitches on a folded-over hem of blue cotton made a little cloak and a hood that ties on with a bit of ribbon. Absolutely precious. This is what I'm talking about, you guys, about little girls learning to sew! This is where it all starts!<br />
<br />
And here she learns how to manage a mistake:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YxSNv14X4_b0axOFBqhOaYbGjhqihftkIQtlyKgPViYFUOMJiYTt-YQZ3f62HSby7uI-s2cNIVtQa8d1P29lBB2KOY8druCpdmXlYA8uDdkrXuSQiw8GtJfmk2pPjHOo_YvSsNXSEnNj/s1600/IMAG2714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YxSNv14X4_b0axOFBqhOaYbGjhqihftkIQtlyKgPViYFUOMJiYTt-YQZ3f62HSby7uI-s2cNIVtQa8d1P29lBB2KOY8druCpdmXlYA8uDdkrXuSQiw8GtJfmk2pPjHOo_YvSsNXSEnNj/s640/IMAG2714.jpg" width="362" /></a></div>
<br />
"Mama, I made the neck too big!" And she just put in some shoulder straps and pretended like she meant for it to look that way! I love that one buttonhole is done, and the other two are marked but not started. Buttonholes are yucky, kid; I agree.<br />
<br />
Pictures of the dolls? I haven't taken any because those ladies look pretty wretched. Once I get their clothes tidy and on them nicely, I'll take a group shot. I've always thought that vintage dolls have kind of a creepy look to them, so I won't be keeping them. Except for a few things I'm keeping because they work for my dolls or are just too adorable (socks!), I'm going to help my friend find a buyer for these items.<br />
<br />
I have to go put some more Woolite in the machine and send another load of tiny things through a delicate cycle. I'll show you more things from the barrel next time!Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8483303575883335585.post-50547549281956449452015-10-12T09:48:00.001-07:002015-10-12T09:48:58.460-07:00Dr Who Sonic Screwdriver, a post with no dolls at all. Except in this title. Oh, darn it. For years friends have been going on about Dr Who and how great it is, and I tried a few episodes and just could not get into it. I've always had trouble with time travel in books and movies because of the paradox and everything. It's so hard to keep track. Then Dave started watching episodes of the 9th Doctor, and I figured it was worth another shot. I mean, when so many people have raved about a show, there has to be something to it.<br />
<br />
David Tennant as the tenth Doctor sold me. I was never a huge fan of his companion Rose, but I liked Martha, and once Donna appeared, I was hooked.<br />
<br />
The local chain bookstore had some Dr Who merch on their sale table, so we picked up a<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Who-Personalize-Screwdriver-Combinations/dp/B0056EO5IS"> customizable sonic screwdriver kit</a> for half price. I snapped together the pieces I liked into a kind of steampunky screwdriver, but it didn't feel like <i>mine</i> until I took it into my workshop and added a red leather wrap to the handle, and used Rub-n-Buff to bring all the different metal colors to a more match-y union.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKt3bAtjuTq5PUA8iLjry3zdDM7Q3H-I0VjaJv63ej-0ry1GsnjDA52sKyqJLsFLXU_A8WKfFvc0BAmsx-6UOKL1SwpJkzvieFTTD-oMlypxoS7mUKND5oXa9TK_xciFXMoLTEnduQg61/s1600/IMAG2643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKt3bAtjuTq5PUA8iLjry3zdDM7Q3H-I0VjaJv63ej-0ry1GsnjDA52sKyqJLsFLXU_A8WKfFvc0BAmsx-6UOKL1SwpJkzvieFTTD-oMlypxoS7mUKND5oXa9TK_xciFXMoLTEnduQg61/s640/IMAG2643.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There's a little flippity tab that I can press to make nine different scanning sounds. My favorite is number four, which sounds like an engine winding up, coughing, and failing. The blue parts at the end light up and flash, which is very fun in a dark house at night. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We went to the <a href="http://www.empmuseum.org/at-the-museum/current-exhibits/fantasy-worlds-of-myth-and-magic.aspx">EMP in Seattle to see the science fiction exhibits</a> and it amused me to take my screwdriver out to "scan" things. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm such a geek. </div>
Wennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07615245473375110976noreply@blogger.com0