Back to School

This week I have been working on some alterations for my daughter.  I love vintage, and felt it was time she worked a few pieces into her wardrobe (she is beginning her Senior year in less than a month).  She usually wears the usual teenage girl's uniform of jeans and a tank top so this is a stretch for her, but I hope the tailoring helps her see you can make a vintage piece look and feel like it was made for you.

Vintage lace added to the hem of a cute printed skirt

A cute wool skirt taken up to become a mini

And the most amazing pair of vintage Italian jeans!

The skirts were very basic changes, the first one I simply added the vintage lace to the hem with my machine, done in less than 10 minutes.  The wool skirt I took about 6" off the hem and then gave it a new hand-sewn rolled hem, this one took longer, but still used very basic sewing skills.  Both of these skirts could be done by a beginning level sewer.  The jeans required lowering the waist and tapering the legs, but they were so worth the effort.  I think these may be the most rockin' pair of pants ever.  It doesn't hurt that the jeans cost about $5 and then we found $2 in the pocket!  I also did up a pair of skinny purple jeans and a cute little black vest for her, having items tailored to fit you just right makes all the difference in bringing new things into your fashion repertoire- it is hard not to feel comfortable when things fit "just right."

Amazing Green Salad

So, as usual I don't have an actual "recipe" for you, just a suggestion.  I have a new favorite salad, it is delicious, and crunchy, and beautiful to boot!  It requires very fresh iceberg lettuce, English cucumber slices, fresh green peas (mine are straight from the garden), sliced green onion, and fresh organic nasturtium blossoms.  Assemble salad, top with ranch (no, really, USE ranch dressing, trust me) and add some fresh cracked pepper.  Serve immediately, and prepare to be amazed.  This is so crunchy and refreshing, with just a hint of floral when you go in to bite it, and then you get hit with the subtle spice of the flowers and onions and the sweetness of the peas...  I literally couldn't talk to my dinner "date" until I was done eating this salad.

The Lazy Days of Summer

Wow!  I just realized it has been almost a month since my last blog post, time flies when you are having fun.  This summer has been incredibly lazy, so I guess I just don't have much to share.  Projects have been few and far between, and honestly most of the things I have started have languished the moment the sun peeks out and beckons me back to play.

My children and I made a trip to Utah to visit with family.  That was fun.  My mother's garden is beautiful and full of life, my parents are both pretty darn good company, my son caught his first fish, and my dad served us deep fried bacon... what more can I say.

 
Here at home we have been lucky enough to enjoy long sunny days at a nearby lake, fireworks, a carnival, some good books, vintage video games galore, and even a 10th wedding anniversary.  It has been sweet.  But as Autumn approaches and real life looms large (school, work, etc.) I will cling to these last few weeks of freedom.  There is still time for blackberries and the beach, one last ferry ride, and just a little more swimming, heck I might even talk myself into one more bonfire and s'mores.  Enjoy these long days, I know I will.