Four Things Meme or whatever (PS I'm Not Dead)

Hey remember like nine years ago when I said I'd be posting a gift guide?

This holiday season turned into a nightmare for me, so here I am, months later without a gift guide. But I do have a blog tag thing.  I found this over on Chronically Vintage!

Four Places I've Lived

(still looks the same)

Eureka, CA

Portland, OR

Eureka, CA

Portland, OR

I've bounced back and forth a few times.

Four Jobs I've Had

appropriately miserable sales associate at Hot Topic

 mildly miserable barista at Starbucks

even more miserable photo specialist at Walgreens

resident grump at bookstore 

Four Foods I Don't Eat

mayonnaise

spicy foods

tomatoes

salmon

Four Favorite Foods

Biscoff spread

tacos

cheese

ice cream (let's be real)

Four Movies I've Watched More than Once

Monty Python and the Holy Grain

Blazing Saddles

Star Wars

Marie Antoinette (the Kirsten Dunst one)

Four TV Shows I watch

Parks and Recreation

30Rock

Broad City

Empire

Four Celebrity Crushes

Dita Von Teese's cat Aleister Von Teese

 Brian Wilson circa 1964

Andy Dwyer

 JFK? I don't know

Four Pet Peeves

 (PLEASE, park this directly in front of fire exit)

people using open mouthed cups outside of a restaurant/home environment

people who talk on the phone when at a register

people who use giant strollers for one child

people

Four Things I Wish I Could Do

not be annoyed by people

be better at pretending to be chipper

move to another state

have a therapy chinchilla

Four Subjects I Studied in School

er, the ususal

english

math

science

getting out of PE

Four Things Located Near Me Now

embroidered portrait of Robert Goulet

cat

sewing machine

empty applesauce container

Four Things I'm Looking Forward to

 

seeing Noel Fielding in April

 the leak in my ceiling being fixed

SNOOTYCAM being fixed!!!

honestly, eating dinner

 

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another one fighting the good fight

I'm in the middle of making up some gift guides that I'll be posting on thanksgiving-ish, but I just had to pop in and say how blown away I am by Pinup Girl Clothing. I've been aware of them for a long time, and have seen their stuff featured on a fair number of vintage and retro blogs, but as they're pretty far out of my price range and not reeeeeally my style, I haven't poked around on the site in several years.  When I did used to look at them (when I was in high school, so a good while ago), their plus size selection was pretty minimal, and what was offered in higher sizing was often displayed like this:

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As is most common with sites that are not catering exclusively to plus sizes. Which is all fine and good, but I have no idea how that's actually going to look on me. I don't look anything like that mannequin, nor do I look like the typical alternative, a straight sized model, or the token "plus" model who is something like a size 10.  Today, I wound up on their site through another blogger and found this:

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WHABAM. Actual plus sized models with non-"ideal" plus sized features- and she's not the only one.  Modcloth made recent waves with their extended sizing and no photoshop pledge, and while they do a great job of utilizing larger sized models, they do have a tendency to be the same shape, or worse, only display a garment on a dressform.  One of the issues I have with the still burgeoning body acceptance movement is that we still get hung up on a "ideal" plus sized body- typically curvy bust and hips with a small waist and flat stomach. If you're going for total body acceptance, it shouldn't fall into the pattern of idealizing one body type, or only allowing one type represent the whole. I am very impressed with Pinup Girl Couture for really putting their money where their mouth is.

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I had heard in passing about their #coutureforeverybody campaign, and being a cranky sue, I assumed it was just a PR move. However, the above three photos are essentially the same dress on totally differently shaped women.  Anyone who has shopped online for clothing knows how much of a pain in the ass it is to try and guess what something is going to look like on themselves versus on the model, regardless of size.  The fact that Pinup Girl Clothing actually lists what size the models is wearing is a nice way to judge (especially since places like Modcloth don't even list measurements other than length. I still do not understand that at all.)

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Anyway, I just had to drop in and rant about how happy this whole company makes me just because they have bothered to cater to larger sizes (which is still rare), and actually do it right. It makes me want to stand in the street yelling LOOK HOW GOOD THEY LOOK AHHHHH

Pattern Review: McCall's 1925 Coat

behold! my terrible photoshop skills!

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McCall's 7259 Archive Collection Coat circa 1925

 

Pattern Description: Archive Collection: Misses Coat and Detachable Cape and Collar 

 Pattern Sizing: 14-22 

 Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes!  

Were the instructions easy to follow? Very, plus there were some basic steps that are usually left out of Simplicity and Butterick patterns that would be extra helpful for beginners, like how to handle ease in fitting a sleeve, ect.  

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? Very easy to follow, and I didn't have to cut of a massive amount of fabric for the bottom length like I usually do in almost all patterns.  

Fabric Used: red poly (I'm assuming), textured jacquard type fabric with small amount of stretch I found at Joanns. I originally wanted to make it out of navy blue wool, but when I went in, they had taken out their already very small wool section. Or at least, I couldn't find it after wandering up and down all the apparel fabric aisles like nine times. Anyway, I found this in the seasonal area. It's supposed to be some "tribal" or "southwestern" print or something, but I think it looks vaguely like some Egyptian revival prints that fit in well with the era of the pattern. I would have liked to make the cape as well, but there were only four yards on the bolt. It's lined in a blue, sort of floral patterned poly lining fabric.

 Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: None.

 Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes! It came together quickly for a jacket, and didn't need any altering to work for me. I'd make it out of a heavier fabric like the wool I originally wanted to make it out of.

 Conclusion: McCall's has really seemed to step up their game recently with their line of vintage Archive patterns. I used to shy away from McCall's patterns, but this pattern has renewed my interest in their designs. 

Full disclosure: My overhead light burned out and I had to position my dress form in front of the window to get any type of light at all... and this washed out monstrosity of a set of photos is the result.  Add to the fact that in order to get positioned in front of the window, I had to take the pictures facing the messiest part of my room, as opposed to up against the door like I normally would, I tried to photoshop the background out to save you from having to see this.

Please remember that literally everything I own save bathroom toiletries, food, my one cooking pot and weird collection of mugs is in this room, which doesn't have a closet. But that doesn't explain why the fan is so dusty.

The pattern includes a detachable faux fur collar, but I'm hesitant to actually try and sew with fur. Here it is with my collar, which would work a little bit better if it were longer, but I still like it.

again, one room. no closet.

 On another note, I attempted to photograph my halloween costume (which I never got any photos of when I was wearing it, unfortunately) today, but due to the shitty lighting, I couldn't get any to come out. I will try again later.

ain't nobody got time for holographic sequins

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I have been so busy, I've totally neglected blogging. Halloween is 11 days away (with only two days off for me, and on both of my weekend days coming up, I have appointments)  and I am starting to zero in on finishing the jazz bat as time runs out. I had to abandon the Pizza Rat costume- I just didn't have time, and wanted to spend the money it would take on embellishments for the bat costume. 

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Today, I finished the basic parts of the hat and cape, leaving only detail work left. It's been a bear trying to gather materials semi-last minute. I thought I'd be able to go to goodwill and find a giant stretch velvet dress to use as hat and belt material, seeing as I don't think I've ever set foot in a goodwill without seeing a giant stretch velvet dress, but they had nothing. Not even the giant stretch velvet pants I also always see. I ended up having to get a smaller skirt (I scoured the store and only found two things that were stretch velvet, and one didn't have a price tag), so I'm unable to make the belt the way I originally planned. It also seems that no one within reasonable busing distance carries regular silver sequins. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE.

i went to target and there was not a single fake crow in sight

It's in the high 70s- low 80s this week, and I'm not happy about it. Summer needs to die already. No one wants you here!

Fall is in full swing elsewhere, by which I mean Spirit stores are open for business. Halloween is 33 days away... and I'm having a costume crisis. I've started with my Jazz Bat costume, have planned it, have spent some money on it, have pretty much finished the top- then Pizza Rat happened.  I don't know how to explain it, but Pizza Rat is the truest essence of my soul. I'm a trash animal who loves cast off pizza and hustles for said pizza. Pizza Rat is me!

My age old Halloween struggle between historical costume and funny costume continues this year.

On the Jazz Bat costume front, I found a really ugly modern tunic pattern, Butterick 6173, that totally works for this two-piece look:  

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I didn't want it to be plain, and in black I think smaller details would be lost, so I ended up doing the hem in mock vandyke points, which are basically pointy scallops. I had originally intended to just hem the points up, but the fabric frays terribly, so I had to butcher together a lining/facing  type thing.

 The neckline is a little deeper than I wanted, so I found a trim at Joanns that is supposed to look like hair, I guess (???) but is really just a fine fringe. It made me think of the fuzzy ruff that some bats have at the neck. I'm refraining from doing anything dramatic with the sleeves, since I have a cape to function as the wings.  I'm not quite sure what to do for the skirt portion. At this point, with Pizza Rat looming on the horizon, I may just use the black velvet skirt I wore last year.  It's not as column-y as I would like, but it would work in a  pinch.

What the hell do you know about surfing, Major? You're from goddamned New Jersey!

I watched Apocalypse Now for the first time last night (where have I been), then dreamed that Hannibal got a re-boot on FX, but with Kevin Spacey playing every part, Nutty Professor-style. It was weird.


At the request of a co-worker, I've taken pictures of my brooch collection! A few years ago, I decided I needed a "thing", like how some people's thing is red lipstick, or whatever. I guess I decided that thing would be pins... but only because I can't wear floor length furs and chain-smoke Benson & Hedges.  For photo taking purposes, I grouped them to themes.  I guess theme-ing things could also be one of my "things".

Nautical

 The top two were recent gifts from my friend Michelle, the flags were from ebay (99 cents!) and the bottom whale I got several years ago as part of a craft swap on Craftster.org.

 Birds

I was originally going to say, 'the top owl with red eyes', but then realized they both have red eyes. Anyway, the top left was from a flea market, the top right was on a hat from Red Light that turned out to actually be a hat with a whimsy pinned to it with this owl. Three for one! The seagull was from an estate sale and the sparrow is from Naked City probably seven years ago.

 Victory Pins

All are from Ebay, though the ribbon was a birthday gift. The bottom V has the opening line from Beethoven's 5th, which rhythmically matched the Morse Code signal for "V".  Eagle-eyed readers may remember I have another victory brooch, but I'm so leery of breaking it (again), I didn't want to take it outside. 

 Music?

I got the George Harrison button off Ebay for a Beatle-maniac Halloween costume a few years ago when I worked for JC Penney and couldn't wear my Drunk Uncle costume to work. It was the first thing I ever bought off Ebay!  The Bruce pin was my mom's (Bruce Springsteen, of course), and I got the bicentennial Lafayette pin for my birthday, though also from Ebay. Ok, so Lafayette wasn't a musician, but whatever. He didn't fit in anywhere else. Also, it was his birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday!

 Grandma-centric

 I got all of these indirectly from my grandmother via my grandpa after he passed away a few years ago. I got the blue and white rhinestone one first a while back, and the other three recently after we got a few more things from my uncle. The top right is mother of pearl, and I think the top left is celluloid.  In actuality, I'm not sure if the ones other than the blue and white were my grandma's or my great-grandma's, as the box I got them in was mostly of my great-grandmother's stuff.

Miscellaneous Shapes with Fake Pearls

Art Deco style bar pin was from a flea market, the round pin was from a friend's junk bag I think... and I have no idea where the bottom one is from. Maybe my mom. I do know that it's old Avon.

 Large and Rhinestone-y

The top one was from the demi-parure I got for the wedding I attended a few months ago, from ebay. The bottom sword was a gift... and I just noticed there's a rhinestone missing! Damn! I'll have to get a replacement!

 things with four legs

Archibald the shoulder tiger, from ebay and the previously mentioned wedding, red scottie dog was a gift several years ago, and the rat was made by the bride from the aforementioned wedding! I got it from Found on Fremont in Portland, but she has an etsy shop as well!

 Running out of Themes

Banjo was from a flea market (damn, I miss going to those! Working on Sundays is the worst!), the "R" was from Antique Alley in Portland several years ago, and the DEM Donkey was from my friend's space at Found on Fremont (she also has an etsy)

Cameos and other Round Things

Cameo on the right came from the same craft swap as the whale in the very first photo, the second cameo came from my dad, I think. The Louis XVI cameo was from an etsy shop years ago that I can't remember the name of.