Smile for Santa...

 

Here are a few jolly ‘Santa’ snaps from my collection. I’ve been saving them up for this very merry month. Mind you, on closer inspection- I’ve zoomed in and everything- I’m not at all convinced that any of them are the real Father Christmas! Still, they are rather fun…

Nice bit of set dressing going on here- very good for dating this photo!

Rather like his choice of outfi, too. Well who isn't a fan of an oversized buckle, eh?...

 



This Santa didn’t much care for the tailored look.

He knew that a lot of fabric could cover a multitude of sins...

 

 And  finally, this Santa likes to keep pictures of us all....

 

 

Here's to the next time,

 

Tupps xxx

Thoroughly Modern Tupney!

Oh golly! I should have posted this two months ago… what am I like, eh? Forgetful, obviously!

I’m having one of ‘those days’, so I’m not really sure what to say about it (Confused. Me? Not much!!!) other than it’s a 20s style cotton dress! See how I’m struggling here. Yes, today is not a good day for words, writing, or.... well, anything actually!

 

***

In the summer I went all 'twenties' obsessed again and hankered after an appropriate outfit. I had no fixed pattern for the dress, which was just as well seeing as I didn't have enough fabric to use with any of my patterns. So, I took the bodice from one and the skirt from another. Also, as I was little unsure what the size of a 'small' lady equates to in 20s patterns!, I decided to put the pattern pieces up against an original that actually fits skinnyribbles here. Well, the last thing I wanted was to go to all the trouble of making the dress, then end up looking like I'm wearing an oversized pillowcase!

Anyroad, it turned out I'm indeed a small lady in ye olde 20's patterns- worth knowing, eh?!

 

...Is it just me or does she have a small head?

 

The original pattern called for velvet and lace (yeah, not great for summer), and had a gathered skirt.

I didn't have enough for the skirt, so I used a different pattern for inspiration and then pieced the skirt together. Actually, I far prefer the box pleats... well, on this style, I do!

 

 

 

Teehee, being all bashful in front of Mr Gnome...



There is something so liberating about this style of dress- nothing to restrict, cling or fuss about. It truly was perfection in dress form for the heatwave we were having at the time. Having said that, it did take a while to get used to it. I felt positively naked at the start… thankfully, that wasn’t the case and I soon found its 'roominess' quite the novelty in the heat.  

I absolutely adore the large collar- it reminds me so much of the one my Great Grandmother is wearing in this snap. <3

Collar lined with vintage net...

 



Detail of the armhole facing and pleats on the shoulder....

 



Outfit details:

Dress - A Liberty type print from stash (A Mammy charity shop find)

Shoes - Original 20s. £2 bargain flea fair find.

Scarf - Original 20s/30s. Gift.

Brooch - 20s ( Another Mammy charity shop find)

 

The whole outfit probably cost £5 at the most!

 



 

So, do you like? Or do you prefer my usual 30s/40s spin on things?

I shall now leave you with a relatively modern ditty. It’s rather jolly, isn’t it? No idea why I'm sharing it though!

Anyhoo, I may have to listen to this a few more times to buck my spirits up a bit.

Hope you are all well and 'Tickety Boo'...

TTFN,

 

Tupps xxx

Oh no ! Not more old tat…

 

Oh deary me, I really have let this old blog of mine slip, haven’t I ?!

I was a bit unsure whether to start up this blog again by only blogging about ‘recent’ happenings, or to carry on first with the blogs I forgot to post…. So, I’ve decided to mix ‘em- One old, one new- well, it sounds like a good ideal to me!

So let’s start with some of my purchases from the merry month of May, shall we…

 

A load of fine crochet cotton- perfect of a load of projects I have planned....

 

 

 

Little lacy gloves... way cheaper than crocheting your own!

 

 

 

 

Pretty photos of perfect people....

 

 

Collars, glorious collars...

 

 

 

 

The little white one still has its price label, too...

 

 

A pair of 1920s shoes for £2- they fit perfectly as well....

 

 

A dinky little crepe camisole- and yes, it is in dire need of a press...

 

 

 

 

A Thetford Pulp-ware baby bath and a 1950/60s changing mat ( 'cause I really need these!)...

 

 

 

A gorgeous 30s hat and leather hatbox....

 

 

 

Another parachute panel and some very pretty 30s (?) fabric....

 



 

... And...

 

 

Quite possibly my favourite purchase of the day. Such a wonderful portrait from 1945. I'm just a tad envious of he lovely jacket !

All I need to do now is find a little bit of wall space to hang he... sounds simple, but you should see my walls !

 

Quite the haul, eh?

 

Well, that is enough of me showing off for now. I'm going to try my hardest to keep this blog up and running- I've certainly got a lot to catch up on - new jumper, dressmaking, RAF Friday's, some events and more !

 

 

TTFN,

Tupps xxx

 

 





The Dot, Dot, Dot, Dash Dress!

 

I really can’t believe it, two things started and finished in the same year! Yes, I’m back again with my second Sew for Victory project…. The ∙∙∙ ─ dress.

To be honest, this project has been a little personal victory for me. I started out with great trepidation as I feared the pattern was beyond my dressmaking capabilities; but now, after finishing the dress with relative ease, I feel like I can take on anything I so desire…. well, to a degree! It has given me such a boost in confidence and a much needed one at that.

This pattern included top stitching, gathers, a placket and collar- all the things I hate doing, and I did ‘em all like a big girl! 

 

∙∙∙ ─

 Ohh, such pretty waist and hip details...

 

 

∙∙∙ ─

 

 

  My first of four corners clipped, turned, pressed and tacked! I was so pleased with my efforts as i really didn't fancy the idea of all those corners and points at the beginning, but there will be no stopping me now! :)

The front of the corselet ready to be top stitched to the bodice....

 

∙∙∙ ─

 

 

The Finished Dress: Take One!

 

I say take one because I thought I had finished it and finished it I had! Everything was done- the collar, the placket, the belt, the hem- everything. All done. Then I went on my merry way outside to do the photos, came in, uploaded them to the computer and went…. “Well, well, well! What’s going on ‘ere then?” I suddenly noticed a load of ugly folds around the shoulder and neck. I looked like an American footballer with the way the bodice fitted or should that be, didn’t fit?!

The thought of having problems with an ill fitting bodice didn’t even cross my mind when sewing. I just thought Mammy had made all the necessary changes, but you never can tell- it’s those pesky sleeves and collar, I tell yee!

So, Mammy had to do a load more lifting and fiddling to add and take out the extra fabric in the bodice until the neck and shoulder once again fitted properly.

∙∙∙ ─

 

The Finished Dress: Take Two!

 Such lovely shoulders....

 

 

The placket of pure pain. There was me, all content with my placket. Beautifully sewn and hand slip stitched into place ( I absolutely HATE doing plackets- I seem to have a mental block towards them)… turned it to the right side and what did I find? I had only gone and sewn the facing and under flap to the wrong sides! I felt such a divvy and a prize one a that! It’s funny, or not so funny really, how the first attempt went so smoothly in, yet everything that could go wrong did on the second attempt!

 

 

 

A close up of the fixed shirring...

 

 

∙∙∙ ─

 

And here's a load of me in  it!

 

 

 

The Back...

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m absolutely thrilled with my new dress, but I’m a little annoyed with my choice of fabric. (honestly, what was I thinking!) In hindsight I should have used a lighter coloured and less patterned print as you lose all the lovely details on this print. I think the detail is going to be like my embroidered knickers-  I’m the only one who knows its there! ;)

 Not to worry though, as I have some very pretty plain blue fabric in the stash and so another dress of the same design is on the horizon...Watch this space!

 

 

 

All the best,

 

Your Tupney xxx

 

 

 

 

 

∙∙∙ ─