Fixing up my grandmother's robe

I have not done many refashions. I am fighting quite the battle in my sewing studio's closet and I have been focusing more on sewing that fabric lump/hump. But since it is cold out, I could really use everything and anything to stay warm. This week, I will give a bonus post and that is this robe!

This is my grandmother's robe. She recently had to move into a group home with supervised care and my family went through her house. I have gotten some fabulous things from her. Soon to be a sewing machine, yeah!! This robe is sooooo old. Very retro and vintage. I have no recollections of her wearing this robe so I am guessing that it is SOOOOOOO old.  Just wow.

It needs some help. But inside it is quilted, which means warm.

Another issue is the lace is stained. And I used all of my restoration tricks to fix and these stains never came out. Interesting. So off goes the lace!

I sewed it all back together b/c the lace was between the robe and the facing. There were some other issues I had to fix- buttons, etc.

Those got all fixed. Now I can wear the robe! It is still groovy and very flower power but I don't care. I feel as if now my grandmother is here with me even though she is thousands of miles away. And taking off the lace changes the feel of the robe.Here's the recap.

Here's to keeping it in the family!
Cheers,
Lauren

The peacock feather 40s inspired top

I have this peacock feather fabric that I purchased  just because I love peacock items... I actually did not have a plan-LOL imagine that!!

I did not know what I wanted to make with it until I saw this simplicity pattern

I love the retro feeling of this blouse! LOVE! I followed the pattern. I got confused with the side invisible zipper, which I have never done before. I actually ran out of fabric and found it online and had to wait for that. OMG it was crazy. This took a while... another story

I added a button- I use a toothpick- great technique. I went for a blue button- to mimic the eye of the peacock feathers.

Now an issue I had was with the zipper-it was white and I had some issues with the side zip. It showed from the fabric.

I stumbled on the solution- use a green sharpie! 

Done now it blends in with the fabric. 

Here is the blouse done being sewn! Love! 

Got to include the bad weirdly out of focus shot. 

Yes the cherry blossoms are in bloom here in DC. They are right outside my window. Enjoy! 

I would probably sew the pattern again. I think I would maybe not do the side zipper and take out of the waist darts. I love the retro feel. And had I not had side zipper this would have been a quick and easy sew.

xoxoxo,
Lauren

Vintage Christmas Stuffed Ornaments

In my fabric stash I had these 2 types of sewing ornaments. Both vintage since they don't make things like this anymore. I kind of wanted to make them to put on the tree. Kind of reminds me of some of the ornaments my mom had for our tree growing up.

I cut all of them out. Pieced together. And sewed. The bottom ones were easy to sew. However the top pictures of the vintage people the pattern did NOT match up.It was bad but I did my best!

I clipped the curves. Turned them right side out. And ready to stuff. I used an old pillow for the stuffing.

Now what I forgot was they need hangers to be hung on the tree. D'oh! But I found this thread

So I used a needle and made a loop with the thread on one of the sides that I didn't care for.

Here it is done

Here are all the ornaments. Yes there was a LOT of ornaments! Like 26!

Now I didn't put them on my tree. I will save them for next year!

xoxoxo,
Lauren