apron wings

new blog

Hello Friends,

As a full time student and single mom the "fancy" typepad was getting a little expensive so I downgraded to the free account and set up a blogger as well: http://emilybusha.blogspot.com/ 

 

 

Built By You 3835

I made this pattern using Built By Wendy for Simplicity 3835. It has become an old standby, I love this pattern. It is easy to make and always flattering and comfortable. I love Built By Wendy patterns and suggest her books as well. I will probably still be making this shirt in 10 years. As always Iengthened this pattern for my torso.

I picked up the plaid at a church rummage sale this summer, it definately has an 1980s menswear feel to it but it super thin and comfy. I don't know if I have talked about my love of plaid on here but I do love plaid. I can't get enough of thin cotton plaids.

Simplicity 2725

I made this top using Simplicity 2725. I used a vintage cotton print that I picked up at an estate sale a number of years ago. I found a whole box of vintage fabric shoved under a table in the basement and they gave it to me for 3 bucks--this is why I always dig around at estate sales!

I decided to keep this top pretty simple. The pattern allows for jabots, ruffles, and collars but I just loved the print to much too distract from it. This was an easy project but I'm not in love with it by any means. It is not very flattering--the armhole combined with the dart is really dowdy. I can only wear this top as shell under a cardigan, without the cardigan I look about 20 pounds heavier. I made a few adjustments to the pattern. I eliminated the zipper and just left a sort-of keyhole opening with a hook and eye. I eliminated the armhole facing in favor of bias tape and of course I had to lengthen it for my super long torso. So after adjustments and with the knowledge that it can only be worn as a shell I would make this again.

an education

I am currently enjoying the tail end of my summer break before my senior year at ISU. I am working on my Bachelors Degree in Costume Design and I thought I'd share a few of my class projects from my last 2 semesters.

 

This is my final project in a construction class last fall. We had to create a period-piece bodice of our choice. I chose the Belle Epoch. This was my first experience draping and creating a pattern using a sloper.

 This past spring I took a course in Tailoring. One of the most difficult skills I have ever tried to learn. I would love to master this skill but I need years not weeks. This jacket is still not finished,it still needs buttons, hand bound button holes, and (obviously) a good steam and lint roll. I used this Vogue pattern but did not use the instructions because we had to use old school tailoring techniques. I'm definately gonna finish this jacket when I get back to school and can get a little help from my instructor. I ended up having all the fabric on hand for this project, the wool was a hand me down from my grandma and I had the lining in my stash already--I love when this happens!
  

For my final in Tailoring we had to make a corset. In my Costume History class and in the Tailoring lecture on corsets we learned about the unpleasant side effects of wearing a corset. I won't go into to detail but it wouldn't take you long to look it up and you would be horrified. Many costumes require corsets and they don't have to be worn in harmful ways so corset making is a necessary skill for the costume designer. Because this corset had to fit us and we had creative control I decided to make mine a little funny. I dyed it a coral-red and I hand painted some sad faced organs on the front with the word Be Kind to Your Insides.

I am excited every day by the amazing things I get to learn and the people I encounter along the way. Today I am leaving for the sunny state of California for Costume College to hopefully gain a little more knowledge and a few more skills!!!

to have and to hold

I found this sweet little bride and groom at an estate sale the other say for a few bucks and thought they were too stinkin cute to pass up. I couldn't get over his little pin stripe trousers and tail coat and she's super cute too. I haven't decided if I will keep them, gift them, or sell them yet. These would be super sweet on top of someone wedding cake!

So I sez - sez I

I picked these beauties up at an estate sale the other day. If you've ever seen my apartment you know that I love to hang stuff on my walls and I've been searching high and low for the perfect pictures for my kitchen/dining room. I realize now that I haven't posted about my kitchen/dining room (which also doubles as my sewing room) yet but it is black, white, turquoise, and accents of red. I managed to find an amazing 1940s enameled table that my dad helped me fix up and I am completely in love with it. I cannot wait to get these up on the walls!

adding to the stash

I'm always looking for vintage fabric and linens but I'm also trying hard to keep my fabric stash under control. Here are a few pieces that I just couldn't walk away from this summer.

This last one I picked up at a church rummage sale for 50 cents. When I got it home and unfolded it I could see the designers name on the selvage--Peter Max! I could sell it but I really love it.

a look inside

I really had to mull over this next rummage sale find, it's pretty darn adorable and matches my living room.

Click on the pictures to get an idea of how cute this puzzle really is!

This is what really sold it:

kitschmas in july

More kitschy christmas finds from the same yard sale I found the ornaments from my last post at. These are super cute storybook themed ones that I absolutely adore!

Jack Be Nimble

Little Miss Muffet

Humpty Dumpty

Little Boy Blue

Old King Cole??

???Gretel???

 Elf

At 2 different sales I found these Vintage Elf on the Shelf guys

And these super cute, possibly vintage, definitely hand made felt ornaments

it might be a small world

I love decorating for christmas and I especially love kitschy vintage ornaments. I picked these up at a yard sale a while ago and I love them. They look they might belong to some sort of "It's a Small World" collection but I'm not sure. They are prettyy amazing and I think they would be super cute as wedding cake toppers--if you know a mountie...who is marrying a dutch woman.