Farm Life mailorder 8405

I found a pair of Keds classic white canvas tennis shoes at an estate sale this weekend - which I was looking for by the way. You know where this is going don't you. They needed a day dress to go with. Just sayin...
You think I have crafty attention deficient disorder? really?

I've had the fabric for a couple of years. It came from a box of fabric D found at an auction. It is similar in hand to feed-sack cloth.

My thought for the rick-rack trim was to add something a little more subtle this time. Maybe just add a little texture. Look closer, a little closer (you may have to click on the photo and make it larger) a little closer, there. What do you think? Maybe it's a little to subtle?
So do I go red or black and contrast?

2010 Edition

Working on:
New Edition Stone Free Farm bags
and...
a home improvement project.

The bags are the same as the ones found here, and here, except for the addition of the 2010 pocket.

The bags are a collaboration with this artist. She designed and hand pulled the screen print. The print was made on recycled canvas fabric, that at one time covered sofas. The handles are up-cycled from discarded handbags.

On the back of the bags we use vintage home dec fabric. They are all a little different, depending on the fabric I've found.

As for the home improvement project, I'm going to wait to share (wip).
It was necessary as my place was starting to look like the Shipman's. You know, the Shipman's.
Actually... I don't know them either. The family lived next door to my Nanny (grandmother) when she was growing up. The report is that their place was pretty trashy. In the years that followed, as a tool to enlist our help, she would refer to the now infamous Shipman's. As in, "This place is starting to look like the Shipman's"; which was a gross exaggeration on her part because; we did not dump trash in a pit dug in an unused room of our home, nor carelessly dump our no longer functioning bathroom fixtures into the yard and plant flowers in the bowl.
And so it goes... my sisters and I understand that to let yard maintenance go, is to surely end up like the Shipman's.

Disclaimer: If your last name is Shipman I am positive that the Shipman's I am referring to, are in no way related.

Simplicity 2410

A couple of fun things to do with vintage tablecloths. Serve cherry pie made in a cast iron skillet on top of them. Or...

cut up the stained ones and make a skirt.

This skirt is made using a modified version of Simplicity 2410. I lengthened and changed the shape of the gores. This is a fairly quick and straightforward sew.
I've seen several friends blog posts recently referring to piping. Here is my own little version.
Piping to match your project is so easy to make. When you make your own instead of relying on the ready made versions, you choose the fabric and you also get to choose the size of the cording.

Notice how I just used the word friend so casually? I am always amazed and inspired by this sharing community. There are so many talented people (and many I'm sure that I've never visited) doing the most amazing things. It means a lot that you've taken the time to come over and see what I'm up to. I enjoy your comments so much. In fact a couple of times I cracked up the whole day (you know who you are).

So my friends... a big virtual hug and I wish I could have you over for pie.

Still talkin' about pockets

I could stuff a lot of eggs in this pocket. In fact I might be able to fit in the entire hen.

Natalie Chanin corset tank with self-drafted western yoke

I have made several things inspired by the Alabama Stitch Book. When I looked back through my photos I only managed to come up with the circle wrap skirt and the western corset. I did not use the slow stitch method. On both of these occasions I stitched the applique by machine. I am a huge fan of stitching by hand. In fact I find myself gravitating toward a project that I can complete from the porch.
I feel a need to slow everything down just a bit, and breathe.

About pockets...

I put pockets in everything I make. In the past (for some insane reason) I sometimes skipped this step. Then you try to put your money/keys in your pocket and - oops no pocket. Then the only logical next step is to put it/them in your bra. Then you have to hand your 10 year old son the keys to open the car door. Apparently your lightning quick reflexes aren't what they used to be and he realizes where the keys just came from.
"I am so not touching those keys."
"You do realize that you were breastfed , right?"
Now he's claiming that he's scarred for life. I'm not sure if it's from the breastfeeding or handling the keys that had briefly hung out in my bra.

The skirt that this pocket belongs to is also here, and here.

Simplicity 2593

Lets see... day thirteen Me-Made-May. I'm going to try and catch up with all the other participants (it seems they are on day 17 - ooops). So this is the ensemble (I can never say that with a straight face) I wore on day 13.
I'm not sure it's necessary to show off this top, because if you have the pattern- it's on the envelope exactly like this. I was looking for a pattern to make a stripy top and when I saw this one already made up, perfection. I did not change a thing. The pattern is Simplicity 2593. A Cynthia Rowley pattern. I am going out on a limb here to highly recommend this pattern.

The skirt is Burda 8155. I made this skirt when I was searching for the perfect pencil skirt. Although I like this skirt, I actually found a pencil skirt pattern that I like even better.
This one.

is it just me or is this month flying by?

Day 14

This is the dress I did not wear today. Unless you count the million times I tried it on. Then I waded it up and jumped up and down on it. I didn't really jump on it, but I did hurl a couple of expletives in its general direction.
As I am breezing right through my Me-Made-May wardrobe , I thought that I would try to add to it. This dress has been hanging out in the back of my closet waiting for a refashion. I made sooo... many mistakes today. It should have been fairly simple.
I am walking away. Maybe tomorrow when I'm not so frustrated I'll work it out.