The Making a Bridal Fascinator: Putting It Together

Cleaning and repairing 1940's era floral corsage spray. The flowers and leaves shown here are colored nylon stretched over wire. The single cream chrysanthemum shown below is a beautiful antique white fabric.

Arranging and attaching the tea dyed feathers - individual and spray to the base I made from felt. I am using my hat maker's cloth mannequin head which items can be pinned to very easily.

Stiffening the felt base with Sobo craft glue, covering the wires in the feather spray with felt. The wire will allow for more control over how the spray lays, curvature and height.

Close-up of a tea dyed feather spray. I hand dyed the feathers last week and the turned out a lovely variegated cream color.

Trying on the partially completed fascinator to check how the feathers fall, how the flowers sit, etc. It will be attached to a ribbon covered headband when complete.

2-10-11: MORE Heartfelt Handmade Inspiration!

Three new additions to my handmade valentine collection:

Crushed ribbon red rose and green leaves.

"Be My Valentine". The tiny heart in the center says: "Junior I Love You".

"I love you" pastel colored cupcake liner hearts and flower.

2-10-11: Favorite Things

Intricately laced and patched Edwardian petticoats worn as Spring and Summer skirts with boots and turquoise jewelry.

 Old fancy boxes full of old fancy hair.

Old broken down baby dolls. This fellow lost his head when I got him home! He appears to be a soldier doll - his uniform and head need some repair but that just adds to his charms.

Polaroid Land Camera Model 95A + Accessories

Here is the latest addition to my Polaroid camera collection! It is a Speedliner Land Camera Model 95A. This version was made between 1954 and 1957. This camera is a real beauty and in almost mint condition. The camera case is a leather embossed to look like ostrich - very fancy!

The camera and all of these instructional manuals and accessories came in a brown leather Polaroid "Master Case". Originally the case and the other accessories were sold separately.

Polaroid Filter Kit #541 - "exciting special effects with clouds, reflections, distant scenery."

Close-Up Lens Kit #540 - "Built-in steel measuring tape gives correct adjustments for camera focus and lens attachment."

Polaroid - G.E. Exposure Meter, PR-22 - "Compact photoelectric meter makes correct exposure simple and certain."

Various instructional, informative pamphlets including How To Make Good Pictures with your Polaroid Speedliner Land Camera Model 95A" were I got the info quoted above. Sadly the Flash Gun is missing from the set - I'll have to look for a replacement.

There are conversions to allow use of 120 film for this model which I will be researching. I saw one that used Legos! Do any of you readers have any advice on converting to a 120 format?

1-8-11: WIWT (What I Wore Today)

awkward photos of my cameras: part 1

Spring Wardrobe

Hubby Fashion: Baby Steps

After months of gentle haranguing Stevie gave in, and donned my fashionable additions to his Winter wardrobe. In a single night he wore both the vintage grey wool cardigan (with pockets!) and the tweed chauffer's hat which I had *painstakingly picked out for him. He's a handsome man and I wouldn't kick him out of bed for blowing a bubble pipe and drinking a glass of rye whiskey.

*painstaking because he finds any color other than grey "too loud" and ALL vintage men's hats are chimp head sized (that means small)

Not As Nice As Your Bubbeh's Glasses

Today at one of our local consignment shops I found a bag containing five pairs of vintage 50's era bubbeh glasses! The lenses in these are disorientingly thick with bifocals and in some cases a jaundice-yellow tint, but these can easily be popped out by your favorite optometrist. I'll be keeping the flashiest pair (3 photos in the top row) for my own self as I like to look good when I am reading in bed at night.