I'm back for what you've really been waiting for on the remodeling front, to see the final bathroom. If you missed it, here is yesterday's before and during renovation post. Sorry I split them up (I know that made some of you crazy!), but there was just too much to share. :) As you know, I only had two weeks to plan out nearly every single detail of our bathroom renovation, though the work itself took considerably ... Read more »
The Golly Ranch bathroom remodel: before & during renovation
It's time to talk about a major project that sucked up a lot of our time and energy this spring and early summer! As in, even this post and the upcoming reveal post sucked up a lot of time! Needless to say, I am excited to finally be sharing this all with you. This and the reveal post are "sit down with a drink" posts, so I hope you're in a comfy seat. As you may recall, my dad came to stay with us in May while he ... Read more »
Wearing bold prints and bright colors this summer
This summer, I've found I would much rather be wearing separates than a dress. And bold, beautifully colored ones are really catching my eye. I have several patterned separates that need coordinating solid pieces to put together outfits rather than wardrobe orphans. So I'm trying to fill in where I can this summer! Unfortunately I haven't had a lot of time to sew lately, so a couple of the gaps I've filled in with a ... Read more »
Halter style inspirations for summer
It's sure looking like summer out there! Fortunately here we're not having the extreme heat wave some other areas are. (Don't worry, we got it last summer—just remembering the days on end of 100+ temps makes me want to jump in a bucket of ice.) But we have entered the part of summer when I dream of adorable summery outfits but then tend to wear shorts and a yawn-inducing tank top much of the time when I'm around the ... Read more »
Crazy for tulips skirt and blouse
I assume by now everyone who was using Google Reader has exported their feeds to another service like Bloglovin or Feedly? Today's your deadline if not, so you better hop to it! I exported my feeds to both of those services when I first heard about it, so I could play with them both. I decided awhile back that I preferred Feedly, partially because it included options to organize blogs into categories. I know you can do ... Read more »
How to make shaped & lined patch pockets (with a few tailored touches!)
When I was working on my Sew for Victory jacket, I was quite tickled with how my lined patch pockets turned out, and I've used more-or-less the same technique ever since. It's based on tailoring methods for patch pockets. I can't claim credit for inventing these steps by any means, but like anything, I tweaked the process until I had a series of steps I really liked, so I wanted to share how I do it! I love this method ... Read more »
Lumberjill squirrels hat
Friends, it's been awhile since I've completed a knitting project, and I have sewing to blame. While I've been busy filling out my wardrobe, my knitting has suffered, which is unusual for me and a side effect of sewing I don't like! So I may cool down the sewing a slight bit so I can focus on my (new) current knitting project. After I wipe a couple of projects off my plate that involve tutorials, that is... stay ... Read more »
In which I confess my shoe love while working on a house project
True confessions, Karen style: I like shoes. A lot. Yesterday, I posted a photo on Instagram of my shoe collection. Which up until yesterday, had been (embarrassingly) mostly stacked on one another on the floor of my closet. So I finally bought a shoe organizer at Target and put it together yesterday afternoon. I posted a photo once I filled it up with shoes, and then we went out to the side of our house to work on ... Read more »
Finished: polka dot dirndl for summer
Glad you like my new eyeglasses! Of course, you'll see I'm wearing my vintage ones in this post. I go back and forth. ;) By the way, I've had a few requests for a tutorial on my hairstyle in that post. I may work something up but in the meantime, you can watch this first part of this Lisa Freemont Street video for a 40s scarf updo to evening glamour to get the gist! I finished this skirt at least a month ago kind of ... Read more »
New spectacles
No, it's not vacation photos yet. Soon, I promise! Now you may recall sometime in May, I mentioned that I got new eyeglasses. A few astute readers noticed I was wearing them in my last post. And if you follow me on Instagram, they're not new to you at all, as I've been sporting them in photos for awhile. But this is the first time I'm introducing them on the blog. Meet my new specs! I've been wearing vintage ... Read more »
My guest post today on The Refashioners!
Hello my friends, it's been some time! We're back from our long trip to the UK. Lots of fun was had, I even got to meet a handful of amazing blogger friends, and pictures of our trip will happen soon once we've settled back in (and taken care of a few remaining bathroom remodel-related things). But most importantly today, pushing through the jet lag, I have something fun to share! Remember how I told you I was selected ... Read more »
In just a few short days…
... we'll be leaving for the UK! And so I'm packing. (Pay no mind to the wall color, we haven't painted our bedroom yet after a year in the house!) And despite my best intentions, I've not been able to keep up with the blogosphere, what with the bathroom remodel still going on and a long vacation looming in just a few days. I'll post occasional pictures on Instagram while we're gone and check email, ... Read more »
History is riding on my back: not-quite-Me-Made-May blouse & skirt
Thanks for all the nice comments about my last handmade outfit post! ♥ If you haven't noticed, there hasn't been a peep on here about Me Made May. Here's the deal. I've wanted to participate in MMM for the two years and thought finally, I'm ready to do this challenge! But then the bathroom remodel came up, so it seemed a bit silly to dress in me-made clothing in the middle of a construction zone. Plus, we'll be in the ... Read more »
My 40s gray wool skirt & feedsack blouse
As I mentioned in my last post, while I'm in bathroom-land I'm going to catch you up on some of the things I sewed towards the end of winter and beginning of spring! I think after this post I still have three things (with a possible soon fourth) left to show you, one of which may even result in a mini tutorial when I come back up for air in June after our trip. What can I say, sewing has really become a big deal for me ... Read more »
The subject of my radio silence
My apologies! As you may or may not have noticed, I have been mostly absent from my own blog, reading blogs, Instagram, Twitter (not that I'm on Twitter that much)... you name it, I haven't been there. This has been going on a couple of weeks now. But I promise it's all for a good reason and not bad: we're suddenly involved in a very exciting but somewhat stressful and very time-consuming home project here at the Golly ... Read more »
My birthday wrap dress
Happy Birthday to me! :) I wanted to finish up a sewing project in time for my birthday today! With my megaproject jacket complete, I was able to resume some regularly scheduled sewing. Which right now is all about filling in my spring and summer wardrobe! I pulled a pattern out of my stash that I'd been wanting to sew forever. It's a 1962 McCall's pattern for a wrap dress. But some of you who collect vintage clothing ... Read more »