First Lady in a Corset

Ya'll, Michelle Obama is just so fierce.
Via Mrs. O:
Red Carpet Fashion Awards reports that Mrs. O wore a simple black sleeveless Azzedine Alaia Micheal Kors gown, with a Peter Soronen corset, accessorized with multiple strands of necklaces by Loree Rodkin, and simple diamond stud earrings.

A corset folks. This woman is fearless when it comes to fashion and what a First Lady should or should not wear.
Here is another picture lightened up so you can see the back detail...and no I do not know what Hasselfuck is trying to do, but I assume that Barbara is warning Mrs. O to not get get them wet and never feed after midnight.

Free Range Kids

I avoid blogs and sites that are focused on raising kids since we are pretty much done.
The Boy is 17 and our relationship is undergoing a subtle change so I'm not really looking for advice any more. He is turning out pretty well and even with his various learning disabilities we are getting a good vibe on how he will be able to navigate adult life and his ideas of what constitute success and happiness.
Except when my our parenting style and beliefs are validated by others. We decided a long time ago that you cannot protect your kids from everything, that harsh dictatorial discipline (you know who you are in my family) does not help kids learn about life or make help make them happy/successful adults, that they need freedom to grow and should be allowed to make their own choices within a sane structure.
So, of course, I am now loving Free Range Kids.

Basically the writer (who is the "horrible mom" who allowed her 9 yr old (gasp!) ride the subway alone...I ask you how do they ever learn to do this shit if you never let them?) pretty much sums up how I think kids should be raised:

Do you ever let your kid ride a bike to the library? Walk alone to school? Take a bus, solo? Or are you thinking about it? If so, you are raising a Free Range Kid! At Free Range, we believe in safe kids. We believe in helmets, car seats and safety belts. We do NOT believe that every time school age children go outside, they need a security detail. Most of us grew up Free Range and lived to tell the tale. Our kids deserve no less. This site dedicated to sane parenting. Share your stories, tell your tips and maybe one day I will try to collect them in a book. Meantime, let's try to help our kids embrace life! (And maybe even clear the table.)

Sane parenting.
Awesome, and she has collected them into a book called, what else?, Free Range Kids.
I've added the site to the blog roll and suggest my more "intense" parenting readers might want to buy the book and relax.

Chief Monorail

Tiparillo Skank©

I just realized that it has been way too long since we have peeked at The Girl Can't Help It blog and see what Kim is up to because with Kim, you know it will be crazy awesome.
I was right.
Look, it is those dirty vintage Tiparillo ads. When I was a kid, I just knew that there was something naughty about these.
I was right.
(come on, why not just say it! "should a gentleman offer his penis to a dental hygienist who obviously has an oral fixation?")


You've come a long way baby.....but I would still like to be a "Tiparillo skank"©.
(copyrighted to Kim)

Vintage Mall Site Updates

There are a number of online "malls" that have sprung up in the last few years each with varying degrees of success.
Some of them work very well, have good search engines, lots of traffic and are easy to use for the vintage clothing seller.
Some not so much.
Luckily when I decided to leave eBay behind almost 3 years ago I took a chance with a new venture called MainStreet Mall.
So far it has been a very good fit for me and my inventory.

Yesterday one of the owners announced a new way to sell on Mainstreet Vintage....free "mini" stores.

The MSMO site owners are pleased to announce the launch of FREE "mini-stores" on the Main Street Vintage (MSV) vintage clothing and accessories mall. The mini-stores are similar in features and function to regular stores on the site but are completely free for as long as the seller wishes to keep them. There is no monthly rental (our only regular fee) and no listing fees or final sales commissions. The only limitation is that only 10 simultaneous listings are supported.

If you've been thinking of trying the site this is a great way to get involved. If you only have a few things to list this may be all you ever need. You can upgrade your account to a paid store with unlimited listings at any time.

Here is a link to Mainstreet Vintage.
Go here to sign up.
Go here for more information on being a seller on MSMO.
Go here to discuss MSMO on their public discussion forums.

Watching

Not much time left, but this first pattern has been on my list all week.
Vintage Vogue S-4795
This pattern I added last night.
Modes Royale 1543

Last, but NOT least, this Charles James pattern for The Weekly American.
I have NEVER seen a Charles James sewing pattern.
Just lovely, but auction ended a few weeks ago and sold for $124.

One Last Picture

Fang listening to some critter moving around underground.
She followed it around for awhile sniffing, then standing real still while looking right at the ground.
I kept expecting her to start digging, but she never did....last week she brought a dead mole into the house that she has killed for me.
Good doggie.

May Day

Lovely weather, even Nico and Fang posed for me.
I just put in the Variegated Siberian Bugloss, very happy with it and I think I'll pick another one from the nursery next week.
This year we are trying going our veggies in containers to see how that works for us. In hindsight the choice not to go with raised beds was a mistake, but now we can't afford to do it, so hopefully the containers will allow us to grow veggies without having to deal with, what my husband calls, the "cursed earth" we have. I'll save the old veggie garden for sunflowers, zinnias, onions and garlic.
The honeysuckle is just beginning to bloom, this weekend the place will smell wonderful.

Shop Like An Heiress

Dior Cocktail Dress, ca 1950

The Newport Restoration Foundation which was founded by Doris Duke has just opened an exhibit of a portion of her extensive couture collection.

"Shop Like an Heiress: Buying Fashion in the 20th Century is a celebration of fashion and shopping through the experience of Doris Duke. Miss Duke's closet represents a wide selection of international designers and shopping destinations. The exhibit explores how she shopped for her wardrobe from French couture houses to American department stores in search of stylish, chic clothes that established her as one of the best dressed in society."

If you are a vintage clothing lover and happen to be close to Newport, RI between now and Nov. this exhibit would be worth a nice day trip.

Boston Globe article on the exhibit.

"You cannot hate people for their own good."

I love Kate Harding.
If you have never read her fat acceptance manifesto you should.
Just a few choice quotes:

"7. Human beings deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Fat people are human beings.

8. Even fat people who are unhealthy still deserve dignity and respect. Still human beings. See how that works?

9. In any case, shaming teh fatties for being “unhealthy” doesn’t fucking help. If shame made people thin, there wouldn’t be a fat person in this country, trust me. I wish I could remember who said this, ’cause it’s one of my favorite quotes of all time: “You cannot hate people for their own good.”

Jezebel reminded me how much a dig this chick.

Vintage McCall's Style News, May 1953 #1

New vintage pattern book, McCall's May, 1953.
My plan is to scan the pattern books, catalogs and flyers that I have collected in the next couple of months. Part of the reason to do this is to have a way to archive these in case they get left laying around and, let's say a cat, not naming any names here (Cheif) decides to lounge around on the fragile paper, putting his their claws into said pattern book periodically.
Bad kitty.

and Nancy, of course you can snag these.....anyone else, you all can use them of course (I would never watermark an image that I did not create, I didn't produce these, just own the books and am scanning them. Yes I have issues.) just credit back to me.

Vintage Butterick Fashion News 1949 #4

Pages 10 & 11 and the back cover.
I've put all the pages here, on my website.

Butterick Fashion News 1949 #4

Pages 8 & 9

What's For Dinner This Week

Let's see.
Tonight is Roasted Chicken with potatoes and carrots. You brine the chicken cut out the backbone and lay it flat, stick herbed butter under the skin and cook it all on 450. The skin gets nice and crispy.

Monday: Fettucini Alfredo with Italian Sasauge
Tuesday: BBQ and Hot Wings with Macaroni & Cheese
Wed: Burritos (I've got fresh cilantro growing on the deck now so that will make these even better.)
Thursday: Pizza with salad

Not Quite Nigella has forever linked Mac & Cheese with bacon for me. Not good, but oh so awesome.

Besides the Cilantro I put Texas Tarragon and Sweet Basil in a window box on the deck. I have room for one more herb, but I can't decide between Rosemary or sage. Probably Rosemary, I think I would use it more.

Butterick Fashion News 1949 #3

Pages 5, 6 and 7.

Haunted

Oh, I forgot how much I love this song.
I just like the way MacGowan writes a lyric.



Sinead O'Connor & Shane MacGowan

Butterick Fashion News 1949 #2

Pages 3 and 4

Butterick Fashion News 1949

Click on the pictures to read the text.

Praise Jebus

Hilarious and creepy all at the same time.
And when I say creepy I mean it in the "that poor child is being exploited" kinda way and not in the "oh look it is Glenn Beck's mini me" way.

Gather Ye Roses....

Just a quick post.
I am out in the garden this week.
Planting seeds I got from Millington Seed Company, moving a couple of things that do not seem to be happy where they are and planting the 2 roses I got from Jackson and Perkins the other day.

They are Zephirine Drouhin Antique Climbing Rose and

Heaven on Earth Floribunda Rose.

I love roses, but don't seem to have much luck at this house with them.

Because Only the Beautiful Need Apply

As if someone who does not live up to our notions of attractiveness could not have an amazing voice. Boyle wowed them on Britain's Got Talent (their version of American Idol) and you have got to hear her sing.
Go here to see the video (Simon seems to not like his show to be embedded).

Susan Boyle stuffing Simon's preconceived notions down his pie hole.
Priceless.