Small Discoveries in Sewing

My mother loaned me her 1960's Singer sewing machine--the only machine I have EVER sewn on, since I was a kid!--and when it looked like I wasn't going to return it, she bought me a new one. So different! It's taken me a while to adjust to it. As mom commented, "Are you still circling it?" Yep, I was. New fangled contraption, but slowly I was getting the hang of it, though it will never be as great as mom's--sturdy, metal, reliable.


 So, as days pass and I watch it sitting on my kitchen table I approach it with small projects--I am not a seamstress, not even a sewer, really. I dabble, enough said. But every discovery and experiment has been a small thrill. So I'll keep going back, sew a bit more, and eventually, who knows what I'll sew. Honestly, though, think small. ;)



Today I discovered I could take a very badly designed t-shirt--tight up around the neck, tight in the sleeves, just tight, and unappealing in all except the color which is dreamy, and turn it into something I'd wear--light, v-neck, free-form, lose threads, something someone, surely, would pay $20 or more for and I would NEVER. I probably paid $2 for it. Yay, me.

You should see the stack of tees I've dug out to recreate! 

It's all about fun, something different, even a tad, and recycling. It's my mantra for everything. :)
d, xo

Teacup Garden

Two things I love: vintage tea cups and succulents, and they just happen to go very well together. I don't have space for indoor plants so a few small teacups full on by stove top suits me just fine.

 The teacup is blue transferware and the gravy pitcher is hand painted Danish ware. Both salvaged.

Crisp white and blue accents are my favorite kitchen colors.
The succulents are snippets from larger potted plants in the yard and EASY to transplant, just gently push a snippet into the dirt. That's it!
I pinched the more succulent succulent in the teacup from a neighbor's yard while walking the dogs. It was a small piece off a large plant. It won't be missed. ;-)

d, xo

Thrifty Spring Finds--Some For You, Some For Me

I can never have too many sweaters. They dress up the drabbest t-shirt, add a quick lift or cover up to a top. I scored these three great sweaters, plus some accessories for ridiculously little. Some are vintage and some are not. Some are for me and some are for you. :-)

Darling pink sweater w/embroidered apple blossoms, Garnet Hill; White frilly trimmed tank top, The Gap; vintage 80's sunglasses, Faith, France; white woven floppy hat (one of my hat staples), red faux-alligator leather wallet, Abas; white Italian leather vintage wallet--mine! ( I LOVE this wallet. Organized & compact. I paid $2 for it). Total: minus hat, $11.

Light pink 100% cashmere sweater, Jones New York; Pink green plaid blouse, Old Navy; white red vintage shoulder bag, no tag. Total: $9. Yes, you read that right. The CASHMERE sweater has a pink prick moth hole in the sleeve: $3. It's almost like stealing.

Red Converse Tennies, made in USA. I love the red ones. Will be in shop soon. :-)

 Cute light turquoise sweater, Christopher & Banks, white tank, The Gap, my white wallet & a dreamy soft pair of Cole Haan slipper flats. Sweater, $3. Slippers, $4.

I can't wait to wear this sweater! I love it and I also have it in pink. :-) Merona, $3. Groovy olive green vintage tote is in the shop now. And it totally works with this sweater...keep, sell, keep, sell. . . hm?

I have quite a few purses just now that work great with this sweater. Here is my latest Etienne Aigner shoulder bag in navy blue leather. Darling & in shop now. (I also have it in cranberry). Again, my white hat & wallet. I love them.

The best duo yet, with the Blackwatch tartan plaid bowling bag. Tell me this isn't spectacular!

And for the dudes--the bowling works for you too. The white Converse tennies are a size 13. In shop soon. Having trouble finding laces that long!

I'm keeping the darling swishy charcoal top by Rocker Girl. The distressed leather boho bag will be in the shop soon, although I am VERY tempted to keep it. Cute top: $3.

Whoever said you can't find great fashion finds at thrift stores hasn't shopped with this vintage maven. :-)

d, xo

Dahlila Found Vintage

Sweet Vintage Kitchen

I am so enamoured with this photo (right). It just grasps my love of sunny kitchens, sweet breakfast nooks, vintage decor, bold colors and sedums in coffee cups, which I do, and also adore. I only wish my kitchen were big enough for decorative counters. All space is taken. Send Oprah.

 These photos comes from the Etsy Storque article: Get The Look: Memory Lane.

http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/get-the-look-decor-memory-lane-10885/

Vintage Curios: Make Your Own Art

One of the great perks of being a vintage sleuth is finding wonderful curios for my own home. I found this darling little framed flower bouquet lithograph for 50¢. Up close--very close--you can see the daisies are hand painted white for an extra pop. Beautiful.

The frame is backed with green velvet & I didn't want to peel it open. So I added my vintage buttons--still holding onto a swatch of fabric, and a poem line, "look at the stars", I once typed and tore away for this piece--right on the glass.

Some day, someone else may want to remove my additions & clean it up, hang it on their own wall. UP-cycle. :-)

d. xxoo

Make More

I wouldn't call it a resolution so much as a coaxing towards pleasure. So busy running DahlilaFound I have left behind all my winter craftings: crocheting, sewing, making cards, creating ANYTHING, really.

I got a quick taste of this last week, when I dug out my glue gun to revamp this little curios basket. All that was on it was the green vine leafing & plastic bouquet. I clipped pieces of fabric flowers, found beads, shells & glitter and behold, made over this sweet little forgotten basket from the thrift store into something fun. And fun, really, is what crafting is all about, well, that perhaps and a tad of sanity. :-)

dahlila xxoo