Grow Your Blog and repairing a vintage baby quilt

It is blog-hopping time again with Vicki at 2 Bags Full.  

via phantomzucchini

To count myself worthy of this mainly fabric arts group, I complete at least one hand sewn project a year. This year's project was repairing my daughter's 25-year old baby blanket.  When she first brought it to me, I thought, "This thing should be thrown out."  It seemed it had sentimental value to her. Both sides of her vintage baby quilt were ripped from stem to stern and there were small holes and tears throughout. 

The floral print was a $1.50 remnant from the local thrift shop.  I made the patches and appliques by ironing in seams and trimming the corners then hand stitching to the fabric.

Pattern of the Day from 1967 

My recent thrift shop rescues - Madame ($5) and Fern ($2.50).

The Madame Alexander doll just required some bluing to brighten the dress.

Fern was embellished with a doll skirt and costume bracelet around her neck.

The week's thrift shop finds totaled less than $20 for 4 dinner plates in my stoneware pattern, an black and white orchid pot, and a Charter Club cashmere *sings the word* sweater and a scarf.

I am looking forward to visiting the others participating in this event.

Can I get a thrift, thrift?

I couldn't pass up this Norleans ceramic girl with puppy, how could I?  She is sporting a platinum-hair ponytail!

Thrift Town thrift shopping scored a Charter Club cashmere sweater ($9.99), and some $1.99 t-shirts.  

A major blog hopping event is coming up this January.  You have until January 17th to sign up with Vicki at 2 Bags Full.  There are a number of crafters, fabric artisans, quilters, photographers, all around neat people to meet and greet.  

 

There is a writing challenge in January too, over at A lil hoo haa. 



So there will be no weekends for the challenge, just Monday-Friday. That means the dates will be:

• January 5-9
• January 12-16
• January 19-23
• January 26-30

P.J. is calling for theme ideas, I might just have to throw out some weird ones, just for kicks and giggles. 


My Countdown to Kitschmas begins December 1, an amalgamation of Christmas kitsch!

Grow Your Blog hop

Since many that link up with vicki-2bagsfull for this hop are accomplished artisans in the fiber arts realm, I admit I am sewing challenged.  I have a sewing machine but it sits unused, I prefer hand stitchery, even though it is time-consuming.  This is my second year participating, link to last year's grow-your-blog-hop-and-fridays-frock.

My readers know that I delight in posting images from 60's publications.  This little Sew It and Wear It (pub. 1966) was in the discard pile of a rural library.

I can just hear the peals of laughter from the more accomplished of you out there.  Stay with me, there is more fabric art eye candy to follow.

The next two images are from the BHG Patchwork & Quilting 1977 publication.  The patchwork curtain appeals to me as hippy cute.

And on to more complex sewing projects - images from The McCall's Book of Quilts (1975).

This Bear Paw quilt is on my "wish" list.

Sunshine and Shadow (or Trip Around the World/Grandma's Dream) Amish Quilt

Radiant Sunburst (description states "A challenge for the expert seamstress only!")

I won't be tackling this one any time soon ...

Can I have the farmhouse in the background too?  

Don't hesitate to check out the other (nearly 600) Grow Your Blog participants.  

Baby Doll Mugshots and upcoming events

The first BD mugshot post of the year showcases baby dolls from the Tacoma Washington Goodwill store offered through shopgoodwill.com.  I highlight these dollies because each of them appeal to me, there is a story there, a history that could be told.

I have been thrift shopping but the majority of my finds have been in preparation for 2014 fashion or Countdown to Kitschmas posts.  With Christmas items at 75% off in the thrift shops, treasures can be found for next to nothing!  I pack up my new finds with ornaments from year's past and delight in their discovery again at year end.  

The upcoming blog hop this month is with Vicki at 2bagsfull.blogspot.com.  Signups are open until January 15th - still time to join in!  

I have also been preparing posts for the blogging from a-to-zchallenge in April 2014.  It will be my second year of participating and Year Five for the blog challenge.  Signups for that event begin on January 27th.

Having started a new job at the new year, I am closer to the State Capitol in the heart of Sacramento.  I hope to utilize the amazing scenery around the Capitol for fashion posts.

Do tell, what posts/hops/events do you have planned for 2014?

Halloween Tea Party with Fanciful Twist

Joining Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist for her ~

Things have not been going as planned for the past couple of days.  I can't find my camera, my cell phone has lost all power.  I had taken this shot of Muffy Vanderbear dressed in a handmade dress.  For some reason, Muffy creeped me out.  WHAT?  Yes, it's true - see for yourself ...

To apologize for my lack of inventiveness and nomination as Team Captain for #teamlame, I offer this consolation prize.

Upcoming blog event that is signing up participants now is with Vicki at 2bagsfull.blogspot.com.  Last year, she had 400 bloggers participate.  I gained sooo many follower from this event.  The majority that link up are in the fabric arts realm.  Do check it out!



AFTERNOON UPDATE!  Camera found, cell phone charged, I am sharing my collection of Halloween "smalls."  I have been microsizing my holiday collections, these particular items I have had for many years.  This first collection is the monster series, I believe were kids meals toys perhaps some time in the early 90s.

The next group I bought retail at a deep discount post-Halloween.  I love each one of them.

Gallop back around for my Countdown to Kitschmas beginning December 1st!  

Day 11 - Come up with 10 post ideas - I've listed hops and challenges.

Day 11 - Come up with 10 post ideas.  While I have never been at a loss as to what to post, something always comes to mind.  Most hops have a theme.  Only once have I been kicked off of a blog hop for "not following the rules."  I especially like the writing and photography challenges.  I have also found unique link ins such as:

No. 1:  The upcoming Mad Tea Party post with Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist on July 13th.

No. 2:  Le Mysterieux Carnival.  This group is quiescent all year long with the exception of October or All Hallows Eve.

Those two sites require some creative photography and highlight some truly inspired bloggers.

I also keep an eye out for blog hops, in particular hops that I have not participated in before.  If you just hop around with the same group of people, you will never encounter new blogs and potential new readers.

No. 3:  I'll be joining a no-rules blog hop monday-mingle with Tough Cookie Mommy.

No. 4:  I glommed onto sarahsblogoffun.com - this gal has THREE blog hops coming up.  One this month for the new and timid blog hopper.



No. 5:  No-rules blog hops are the best.  There is one every weekend at Sincerely, Paula



No. 6:  Low pressure participation hops such as Unknown Mami

The idea is that you enjoy your city (or suburb or town), take pictures, and then share them with your bloggy friends and family.

If your “Sunday” happens on a Friday, that’s fine, just post the pictures on Sunday. If you live in a suburb instead of a city, I don’t care; I still want to see it. If it’s raining and you’re stuck inside, take a picture of the view outside your home. You can even cheat and take pictures one Sunday and post them the next Sunday.

No. 7:  At the beginning of the year Vicki-2bagsfull will host the Grow Your Blog hop - tons of participants!

No. 8:  How could I forget the annual http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/?  That is the best challenge of all and is scheduled every April.  Those posts practically write themselves *chorkles to self.*

No. 9:  I am thinking Nicky and Mike, the duo behind We Work For Cheese, will be hosting some type of month-long writing or photography challenge (fingers crossed). 

No. 10:  When all else fails, there is Pinterest.  What I mean is that bloggers cross-post on Pinterest any challenges or events.  It never hurts to look there for inspiration.  As long as you don't get sucked into looking at all the pretty pictures (guilty as charged).

The Traveling Yellow Skirt has arrived in Sacramento, California.

YES!  I have waited patiently (and no so patiently) for the skirt to be sent my way ... I have been thrift shopping and image collecting to prepare for this post.  To be included with the likes of the previous TYS wearers is an honor (as I hold a fashion award and wipe away imaginery tears).

This is a skirt that DEMANDS bold pieces and accessories, it is a whole lotta skirt.  Without further ado, I present The Traveling Yellow Skirt ~

The first image was captured along the riverfront walkway with Sacramento's tower bridge in the background.  I had so much fun with this photo shoot.  Does it come across that I am happy to be alive?  I hope so, because that was my thought at that moment.

This second image is my fashion mag shot - I love the lighting, the outfit, and the industrial background with a touch of elegance.

Outfit details

Fio green acrylic ruffled sweater (thrifted)

Insane Clown Posse belt (thrifted)

Traveling Yellow Skirt (via Melanie at Bag and a Beret)

I added the pink flower with camo background (a nod to my blog moniker, Thrift Shop Commando), salvaged from a poorly constructed garment.

There is even a TYS Barbie!

Look what landed in a recent issue of Harper's Bazaar.  Right on trend and an iteration of the TYS (Alla Kostromichova by Erik Madigan Heck).

A nod to those previous skirt wearers ~ the instigator of TYSFS, Melanie of Bag and a Beret.  M'kay so I cheated a little, this is not the post of her wearing the skirt but I just ADORE this image.



The fashionistas, in order of appearance, Sarah, brainchild of the TYSFS, at Misfits Vintage (Australia)



Helga Von Trollop (New Zealand)



Edie Pop Factory Mom (Italy)

H O W    I T    W O R K S

1. Request the skirt by email to the current skirt-holder, who will announce its next stop.
2. If you like, alter the skirt with paint, sewing, markers or other means. Please try not to shorten the skirt much because the length is part of its charm, and please maintain the skirt's flexible sizing. 
3. Post a photo of yourself in or with the skirt as real wear or inspirational wear and I shall post a photo here too as part of a Global Compilation (GC).
4. If you are REALLY inspired, post a short video clip of you twirling or dancing in the skirt so "Just Bad Enough," my art project band with Sandra, can include it in a "music video" GC.
5. Announce who the next skirt-holder will be on your blog. If you do not receive any requests, it will be time for the skirt to fly home to Melane at Bag and A Beret.