Daytime Wedding Guest Outfit (a.k.a, "The Bea Arthur")

 We were invited to a wedding in Indianapolis.  It was a daytime event and I didn't want to wear the same 'basic black dress' from Talbots that I have worn to literally every evening outing in the last 15 years.  

A shopping trip to Nordstrom and a few other department stores came up empty.  But a visit to Joann fabrics turned up some bargain green chiffon and sage green crepe backed satin.  I had loose vision of monochrome pant suit and started with the slacks.  I didn't realize this was going to be a tribute to the late, great Bea Arthur, but I think "Dorothy" would have been proud.

Jacket: Closet Core Patterns - Jasika Blazer

 

Final Costume: McCalls M7645 by Yaya Han

The costumed turned out really well.  We had one wardrobe malfunction.  The wire loops I baked into the Sculpey buttons really didn't turn out so well.  As soon as they met the smallest resistance, the wire loops popped out.   With just thirty minutes before 'trick or treat time', I had to attach a micro-drill bit to my dremel, put two small holes in each button, and then re-sew them.  With a bit of time to spare, she was ready for photos.

Sculpey to the Rescue!

I've been having trouble sourcing the right buttons for this year's Halloween costume.  The pattern calls for eight toggle buttons.  I envisioned rolled leather or wood.  I found some items that would have worked, but they were a little over budget.  Costumes can get expensive very quickly.  Sculpey often comes to the rescue.

These are some buttons I found that were close to what I wanted.  The leather option was almost $4 per button.  

For less than a dollar's worth of Premo baking clay (which was already in the craft stash) and about an hour of effort,  I ended up with some passable costume buttons.  The only drawback is that they can't be laundered.  Below are a few photos of the finished product and of the process.

Rachel Revere Costume

School Play for 5th Grade History.  Costume for Rachel Revere.  

Simplicity Pattern 3725

The real Rachel Revere 

Vespa - Singer 301 with a (long) Shot at Redemption

While restoring Vaiden, I purchased a parts machine.  The body was in terrible shape, water damage causing the paint to crack off all the way to the aluminum in one spot.  The inside was caked with a layer of mold.  When I opened the shipping box, I had to take it in the back yard because the mildew odor was so bad.  The drip pan was rusted and warped.

I stripped off the good parts.  What to do with the rest of it?  At this point, we (the machine and I) had nothing to lose, so I decided to paint it and see if I could restore a second Singer 301.  Even though it was in bad shape, it ran better than Vaiden.

I gutted the machine of all wiring and the motor, leaving the internal workings intact (I learned my limits a long time ago when I took the back off a wrist watch.  That could be a whole other post). I scrubbed the body down in warm water to soften the clear coat and get rid of the remaining mildew.

I baked it in the oven to remove all the moisture.  If you are wondering why I did this, don't ask me.  It's Dave McCallum's doing.  It's what he recommends in his great book "The Featherweight 221 and I".   His book and DVD are well worth the money, and his engaging personality really comes through the pages.  It's a fun read in addition to being a helpful reference. He was also kind enough to reply to an email asking for clarification on a point or two.

The color option of this model is reportedly called "Light Beige-Oyster White" or LBOW in the enthusiast blogs.  I was not very fond of the Beige part of this combo.  I already have a black 301, so I needed to pick a good color.

Vespa in seafoam green and white

I've always wanted a Vespa scooter. Not any old Vespa scooter, but a vintage, Sea Foam green scooter.  Our neighborhood and lifestyle are not very well suited to owning a Vespa right now, so I decided that the 301 would be a good stand-in.

I'm not a very good painter, and don't really like taping, painting and sanding, painting, sanding...  (Where is my sister-in-law when I need her??? Rumor has it that she's an expert with a rattle-can).

That said, here is the state of my machine today.  I'm about one or two coats of Krylon Catalina Mist and a few coats of Dupli Color Engine Clear Coat away from a finished body.

I hope the colors will work well together.  The top, front nose, lamp cover and hand wheel are the original off-white, and the body will be green.  The original trim on this model was brown and gold.


In between coats of paint, I've been searching for the hardware for the wiring.  Some of the clamps and connectors are rather specialized.  I've been asking around town with no luck.  Someone recommended the local model car racing hobby store.  That's an errand for another weekend.

Victory - A Singer Featherweight 221

My brother likes to pick up the odd item here and there at estate sales.  When I started quilting, and heard about Featherweights, I asked my brother if he ever came across them.  He told me he already had one - so I offered to buy it.  That was when he told me he couldn't find it.  I sort of believed him... but there is that really great vintage bean-pot that he wouldn't sell me either.  Not that I'm upset about it.

Last Christmas, we drew names.  My brother got mine. He said my gift would be a little late; which is fine.  I figured he's good for it, and I do happen live all the way across the country.  A month or so into the new year, my sister-in-law came to visit.  When she walked in the front door, carrying a black case, I knew exactly what it was!  I was thrilled.  I had images of her running through the airport, trying to make her connection, black case in tow.  God love her soul.  I left the airline tag on it.

This Singer 221 'Featherweight' was made sometime after June 4, 1946.  In the year after the end of World War II.  So I named it Victory in honor of that time when the war was over and people were hopeful of better days ahead.

I'll be restoring this machine for active use as a portable, and not as a collectible.  I think it's in 'middle of the road' condition.  The mechanics seem to still work well.  The motor appears to be in good condition.  Cosmetically it's okay.  The clear coat and decals are worn in places and there is some tape that seems to be fused to the body.  I LOVE it.  It's the best Christmas present from my brother, ever.  And I'm so grateful to him for giving it to me, and my wonderful sister-in-law for flying it across country.  It will take me a while to restore, because Vespa is also on the workbench. It's good to have more than one project going at a time.  Right??