Catalog Sunday

This Catalog Sunday is Chicago Mail order, 1935.

Over the next couple weeks as I go #googlefree I'm going to FINALLY be migrating the NewVintageLady blog to my own servers. So keep a lookout for that. 

The Ultimate Vintage Notion Find! UPDATED!

Hello lovely people. 

Yesterday Brian and I made our pilgrimage to the Observatory. He met tons of doggies and had a great time. Afterwards I gussied up in one of my dresses and went to Playclothes to pick up some repairs.

Adding to the wardrobe.

This has been a strange series of weeks. Things not coming together, then them coming together, jobs, hoping, you know, life. I've felt like I haven't been able to take care of myself lately. It's strange, tiring. Perhaps it's the hot weather because this past weekend made me feel a lot better. That and watching The Golden Child again (love that movie).

I also had tremendous luck. Greyhound FINALLY sent me the money for my missing royal chrome settee. Oh, that's not it. I also finally, FINALLY found another couch frame! Squeeeee! I was thrilled when I found it, thrilled! It should be here sometime at the end of the month (non Greyhound shipping).

And as I wait for it with bated breath, I've been sewing.

July Goodies Showcase!

And now I get to share some of the goodies I acquired last month. 

I know that I didn't post a June Pattern Showcase, and right now, quite frankly, I forget what I bought in June! I actually don't think I got many, if any patterns that month. I've been on a kick of getting goodies for the apartment. And yes, I'm still waiting to hear back on my couch.

This is a lovely novelty WWII postcard. Gotta love these!

It's the little things: Hook and Eyes

I've always loved vintage notions. They have details you can't find with modern ones. Sometimes it's the actual materials, or the wicked deco packaging. Other times it's the items themselves before the advent of zippers.

Perhaps that's why I find these hook & eyes so amazing. The range of styles and sizes and uses. The large ones I'm sure were used for fur, or looped over with thread and used for coats. The small ones delicate enough for sheer silk numbers of infant clothes.

Here is a small sample of my hook & eye collection. What? Surprised I have one? Oh, then you all don't know me by now :)

These are the coat hooks. They are HUGE!

Notion Gizmos

Its Tom Waits tonight.

Yes, I loves me some sewing gadgets. There are all sorts of things out there to aide in sewing, and none of them are more interesting, or useful, than the vintage ones.

This first one is my plastic bobbin holder. Its seen better days, much better, but it was my mother's so it will never be replaced.

This next one I love simply for its graphics. Late 50s more likely, back when women were euphoric in their girdled dresses doing housework and such.

Speaking of girdles...Im leery of the elastic. Im sure its past its prime.

Same for this one, but lookit that hair!

Apparently home pleating was big. As well as the ways to do it. I find it interesting that now if you have enough yardage, you can just send off and have your fabric pleated.

I am all about that pleating measure thing, though. CANT wait to try it out!

And the bevy of self belt making kits. I have a lot of these. Many different brands.

Im also somewhat of a seam gauge collector. I LOVE the vintage ones, and this one (probably 60s) is my favorite. There isnt anything this thing cant measure!



This is the latest addition to my collection. I got it mainly for the calatin buttons, but look i the upper left, a SCALLOP RULER!!!!!! How awesome is that! VERY!
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