Fortunate Finds: Danger Points in Your Home, June 1942

Today is the last day of June (where does the time go?).  I have been going through some of my papers and found this edition of the Los Angeles Times Home section from June 14, 1942 that I picked up at an estate sale last year:

One of the articles in the insert is "Danger Points in Your Home" that features a cute series of educational cartoons:

There were many, many written tips in this article that we've all heard before.  But here's a familiar one for you sewists and crafters out there:  "Put your scissors or knife down before walking to another room; avoid carrying pencils, thumbtacks, collar buttons, and pins in your mouth"!   Guilty as charged.

Madison Avenue Monday: Italian Ices

From Vogue Knitting, Spring/Summer 1967

Craft Update: Simplicity 2936 in progress

Just a quick little update.  A couple of months ago I found this cute little pattern at my last visit to the big box craft store that I thought would be perfect for summer blouses:

I am making view F in the topmost left corner, with ruffled sleeves and collar.  As I have a full bust, I have learned that in blouse patterns I am probably always going to have to add to the bust line, as most patterns are designed for a B size cup.   I am still learning slowly to fit patterns though in everything I have to have my sewing instructor help me out.  As you can see, we slashed the original pattern (my instructor does not like to trace off patterns) and added width at the bust line and to the sides:

We weren't very neat about it were we?

Having done this for the first time I'd like to learn how to do an actual full bust adjustment because by doing it this way we had to make two small bust darts to get rid of some of the extra fullness near the armholes, and because the sleeves are raglan style we had to add width and length to the sleeves because the armscye was larger.  This meant we had to make two muslins of the sleeves alone because they ended up being too full!  All-in-all, it takes a great deal of time to fit a pattern in class because I only get a fraction of my instructor's time in sewing class, and we've been working on this for 6 weeks. 

As I've only sewed the front to back bodice at this point I decided not to unveil it just yet.  But here's a peek at the bodice so you can see the fabric:

It's a bit like a dotted swiss and is somewhat sheer.  It cost all of $1 per yard - I've mentioned this before - at the FIDM Scholarship Store!  That's my kind of deal.

I'll be working on this more in the coming weeks now that the worst is over and hope to have it finished soon.

Have a great weekend, filled with crafting,

Vintage Thingies Thursday: Rosey Grier's Needlepoint for Men

Father's Day is almost here, and what better way to celebrate than why commemorating those crafty men out there. For this Vintage Thingies Thursday, I bring you Rosey Grier's Needlepoint for Men, published in 1973:

Some of you may remember that Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier played football for both the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Rams in the 1960s and later he began a successful acting career.

This is a fortunate find from a used bookshop, and I just couldn't put it down. I don't think that there is another book like it in existence! How could someone just give this rare little gem up? It is signed by Rosey himself:

A couple of photos of Rosey in action:

 

Surrounded by a few completed projects.  I like the frog pillow:

The caption says, "Me, with most of my menagerie.  I may be too old to sleep
with a panda, but I sure can needlepoint one."  Too cute.

An example of one of the easy needlepoint designs in the book for the guy into sports (and by the way, enlarge the photo and you can print it out and use it too!):

 

A photo of Rosey with a finished commissioned canvas:

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Vintage Thingies Thursday.  Be sure to visit the other participants at Coloradolady's blog.  And a happy early Father's Day to all the dads out there, including my own, who played poker with Rosey a few times and told me that he's a really nice guy!

Madison Avenue Monday: Ribbon Becomes You

From Vogue Knitting Book, Spring-Summer 1961

Summer Giveaway from Dizzy Little Kingdom & Serendipity Vintage

Thought I'd do a little giveaway with the wonderful Deanna of Dizzy Little Kingdom blog!  I was given a quilting book and as I don't think I'll ever have the patience to quilt I thought it should go to a new home. 

We are giving away a set of fat quarters from Mark Lapinski's Home collection:

 

 
and the book 100 Best Full-Size Quilt Block & Borders which you will love if you are a quilter:

To enter, just leave a comment at Dizzy Little Kingdom by Wednesday, June 16th at 6 p.m. Pacific Time. And while you're there, won't you take a look at Deanna's handmade art dolls  and some of her amazing quilts?

Good luck!

A Step-Saving Kitchen from 1949

I've been floating around the web looking for 1930s and 1940s kitchen color schemes (due to my new swedish weaving/huck embroidery kitchen towel fascination) and I came across this charming video for a U-shaped kitchen designed by the Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics:



I love some of the ideas in the design (and I love the Bakelite radio installed by the telephone)!  Did you know that you need at least 36 inches of counter space to mix bread dough properly?

As for storage, I like the idea of standing racks for baking pans above the counter rather than below, and the storage bins above and at counter height are brilliant for saving counter space.  Though I do think there are some flaws in the design.  For example, storing items above a stove is only asking for heat-damage or loss of flavor/nutrients. 

What do you think of the step-saving kitchen?

Madison Avenue Monday: If You're Ready for This Much Fashion...

...then you'll be able to sail a boat with these pants!  (But I love 'em anyway).

From Needlecraft, Spring-Summer 1973

My New Obsession

Swedish weaving...a.k.a. huck embroidery....

Can you believe I learned how to do this yesterday?  It is so EASY and yet looks so complex.  I'm copying the design off of a 1940s/1950s era kitchen towel.  Leave some comments if you'd like to see how it's done and I'll devise a tutorial.