Reshaping Vintage Hats...

I've had some requests on hat care after my last post. Solanah is probably the vintage hat queen, so I'll let her advice (via Queens of Vintage) speak for me!

- "All hats should be stored away from direct sunlight, not to say they should always be in hat boxes, but if there is a wall of shelf facing a window that brings in sunlight, avoid it and choose another location for your hats. Straw hats should be brushed regularly if they are not constantly in use. Take a baby brush (it has soft bristles) and gently brush away any dust collected."

- "All hats stored flat, such as in hat boxes should be stuffed in the crown with acid free tissue paper of unbleached muslin. This will keep its shape between wearing, and prevent any warping or bending that can damage the structure or design.”

- “If you have a misshapen hat, all you need to do is boil some water in a tea kettle until the water steams. Hold the hat a few inches over the spout at the warped spot. Hold for a few seconds then take it away and shape it with your fingers. Make sure not to let felt steam too long or it will shrink.” (I use a steam iron, simply because it makes stram faster and is easy to move around the hat. Either way is fine.)

Hope that helps!

Sewing Tutorial: Bunting!

Everyone loves bunting. You know, those little flags strung together that remind you of circuses, carnivals and other frivolous events? I know I do. So, let's make some.

Ta Da! It's like a circus in my living room. Excellent.

For Your Viewing Pleasure...

Some of you may have already seen this, but I love it. And the drawings are so cute!



Off to work!

30's - 40's Hair Tutorial...

So pincurls can be time consuming. You have to put them in, sleep on them, take them out in the morning...yes, they are the most authentic, longest lasting way to curl your hair for a vintage look, but sometimes, a girl's gotta get ready quick!

With this in mind, I present my first tutorial. It's in pictures, as I'm not clever enough to do the you tube thing yet. Photos are mostly taken with the timer, so pardon the extra "flashi-ness" of some of them. Just follow the steps, and you'll be on your way to cute vintage hair in under 20 minutes. (with practice!)

Tips:
Have everything laid out before you start.
Use a 'round" brush.
Wear a cotton glove to protect your fingers when you slide the curls off the iron.
Practice makes perfect!







TA DA!



Oh, and this is what I wore tonight. Funny story actually - This dress was a swap with a great old lady who runs a vintage museum in the middle of nowhere. I discovered the museum on a road trip and noticed she had a bolt of fabric that perfectly matched a 40's dress I had been given by another old lady who was given it by an old man who died. Whew!
Turns out that old man owned a factory that made the dresses in the 40's, had closed it down before the war, and kept only the samples of each dress. When I mentioned this, the old lady's eyes glazed over. She told me she had been trying to track those samples down, as she had only the bolts of fabric from the factory. I had 3 of the dresses, in different colours, so I suggested a swap. She agreed, and now we're both happy!