Quant-essential 60s

I love it when this happens.

I have an overwhelming sens eof curiosity, and it leads me to do strange things. Like the time the ex came in the living room and asked what I was doing. "Translating obituaries from Polish," I said. He just looked at me, shook his head and walked out. I told you I do weird things.

So I play this game sometimes, called Match the Vogue Dress with the pattern. I go to a website -- usually ebay -- search for Vogue Paris Original or Vogue Couturier in the clothing category, then find a dress with one of those tags in it. Then I got searching, to see if I can spot the pattern that matches with the dress. I like a challenge, and it's fun!

So tonight, I found this set. Tres amazing, yes? Gold brocade, in time for the holidays. An opera coat, no less. Well, I took one look at it and knew that I'd seen that pattern before. Yep. It's Vogue Paris Original 1897, by Yves St Laurent, in his post-Mondrian days. I haven't gone so far as to pinpoint the exact year yet (because I'm lazy) but it's Stepford Wife era, if you look at the hair in the illustrations. And if I have a rib or two removed, I might just buy it.

The Queen of Hats

If you love hats, you should know about Lilly Dache -- she was a legend in her time.

Nurses

I love this photo. I think it's from the 1890s, from what I can see of the sleeves and the Gibson girl hair. Can you imagine working in starched whites like this, in the days before air conditioning?

The interesting thing about this photograph is the nurses' caps. Nurse caps are unique to the school from which the nurse graduated, so most likely, not all of these young women graduated together. I suspect that the woman in the darker blouse, third from the left in the back, is at a higher level than the others -- charge nurse, head nurse, or whatever the title was back then -- because of the difference in her uniform. Her cap, of course, would be unique to her school, but her blouse and cuffs are different than the others, too.

Keep in mind that these were the days of nurses in servitude. It wasn't that many years ago when nurses had to rise when a doctor came into the room. Physicians also left their shoes on hospital units, for the nurses to shine. To see these girls so relaxed and seemingly friendly is something unusual to see. Enjoy.

Happy October!

Sorry I've been MIA lately. Long story, but the crux of it is that my house is almost ready to go on the market, and trying to get organized for a move after 18 years of living in the same house is.....well......a challenge at best. Add 30-40,000 sewing patterns to the mix and it becomes almost surreal. :-)

So here we are in October, so I thought I'd show you some great Halloween looks. I love fall (my asthma doesn't), but Halloween is not my favorite holiday. I call it the holiday to punish uncreative parents, because I always had a real challenge coming up with costumes for my two sons and one daughter that would pass their muster.

Not that I'd want my daughter wearing this one, then OR now. It's a little too grown up for a little girl today, and a bit more revealing that my blood pressure can take for my now 20 year old daughter. (Not that I have any say so with her anymore......). That being said, it's a cute concept. It'd be great if you wanted to be Jeannie, from "I Dream of Jeannie." Or Princess Jasmine. It's Butterick 5053, from 1949. Alas, I can't find a copy online.

Who'da Thunk?

The Indianapolis area has long been the Sahara desert of fabric shops. Sure, you can find Joann Fabric, but they just have 1) fleece and 2) quilting cotton. Not exactly interesting stuff. You can see Hobby Lobby, but they're not much better. Calico Corner is ok for quilting cotton, but where is our version of Vogue Fabric? I mean, I went to Chicago to the Vogue Fabric store, and if I hadn't had a deadline to meet, I might still be there. That place is uh-maz-ing.

And so it was that I forayed out into the north side of Indianapolis, to find The French Seam. I had come across them on Facebook a couple of months ago, and had meant to go visit the store, but never had the time. I don't go up that way often, so you know it had to be important to me. Did I mention my aversion to the north side?

Well, it was well worth the trip. Part of why I wanted to go was because I read that they had vintage Vogue patterns for sale. Now that's not someone one sees every day, especially here. I mean, to be able to see and touch the patterns? That's kind of like taking a chocoholic to Hershey, PA. They actually had four books of vintage patterns, mostly Vogues, and they dated back to the 30s. Some of the other patterns were even older. They had some seriously beautiful stuff -- lots of 40s Vogue Couturiers, some Madame Gres, Desses, Christian Dior, Nina Ricci, and much more. Let's just say it was a good thing they were in plastic sleeves, because I may've drooled a little bit. OK, not, but they have some beautiful patterns, and I bought this one. Isn't it amazing?

Add to that that they have some wonderful fabrics -- and not just cotton, and I don't remember seeing any fleece. Did you know that Jay McCarroll has designed some cotton fabric? Well, I didn't, and some of them are beautiful. But there are plenty of other pretty fabrics and interesting patterns (no run of the mill stuff here), many of which simply demand you to stop and touch them, and get the creative juices flowing. They also have lots of interesting notions -- check out othe Italian buttons, and some of the other ones that are seriously large enough to hold a small appetizer on. And the best thing was, my dad -- an artist in crewel -- needed a needle threader, and they were not only happy to find him one, but also showed him how to use it. I haven't checked with him to see how he likes the newfangled design of the one he bought, but I did appreciate them showing it to us. I may have to go back and get one for myself.....

Check out their website to see what all they offer -- there's no online store, but they do have their contests and their events listed. I love their contest ideas. Talk about jogging the creativity button! And they plan to offer sewing classes in the not too distant future. I may just have to clear my calendar for that one.

If you want to visit, they are located in the Clearwater Shoppes, on 82nd St. They are located across the street from Babies R Us, on the south side of East 82nd Street. The actual address is 3909 E 82nd Street. And if you are a knitter, there is also a knitting store in the same strip mall. I wonder if they have room for a vintage pattern store.....................

Anywho, go see them. They are friendly, the displays are beautiful, the prices are right, and it's a breath of fresh air to the Indianapolis sewing community. Vive The French Seam!

If the shoe fits

then you can wear some of these cute 1941 shoes. Don't you love the photo? Remember when people dressed to the nines to get on an airline flight?

::sigh::

I was born too late.