August challenge.....

Hi, all,

Things may be going from bad to worse as I continue to work on Festival 2019 stuff, but don't tell Punky B.  She got a raw deal modeling last month.  Now, this month....well, you'll have to have a look!

So, then, Sophie, you won't believe it....she dressed me in a PAPER BAG.....
Sophie:  no, kidding, a paper bag?  That's kinda mean!

Me:  Oh, Punky!

Punky B:  What do you need, Mom?
Me: Do you want to model my August challenge items?
Punky B: for real, this time?  You promise no more paper bag dress?
Me: Definitely NOT a paper bag dress this time!

PB:  OMG, I have been fooled again!!  Moooooommmm.....
Me:  sorry, sweetie, I am designing shoes for the festival, too, and of course they're top secret, too!  BUT,  I do have a little surprise for you....a good one, this time!
PB:  excuse me if I am a little bit skeptical, Mom....

PB:  Woohoo!!  It may not be a new style, but it is a new dress nobody else has worn!!
Me:  yes, I made that for your sister to wear at the festival, but she was always modeling for the CFA and never got to wear it.  So, you are the first to wear it and you can keep it as long as you want.  I won't even sell it off your back this time!

PB:  See what a great model I would make, Mom...this is my "looking into the future" pose....

the design challenge....oops!

Yes, it has been awhile since I posted, and I have stayed incredibly busy!  Find out what has been going on, with some help from Punky Brewster....

Me: Punky, it is your turn to model this month! woo hoo!

Punky B: oh, boy, Mom, I have been anxious to have a turn ever since
Auntie Di challenged you to make up a new design  a month!

Punky: May I just say, "What the heck, Mom?"

Me: Sorry Punky, I've been designing the souvenir outfits for next year's festival,
but they are top secret!

PB: Totally not fair, this is just a shapeless paper bag....
Me:  here, I'll fix it up real nice for you, sweetie...

PB:  Very funny, Mom!

Well, at least Punky B has gotten to model the new outfits (2) and so she's seen the TOP SECRET outfits, which is making her feel a bit better.  I think I owe the poor kid an ice cream cone, though. It was a bit of a mean trick to play on her!

Once I get the souvenir outfits under control, I'll get back to designing and filling orders!

April's Challenge!

Here we are in very late April (next to the last day? yes, I'd call that late!) and I finally have my challenge garment done!  My friend Diane challenged me to make something new every month for a year and so far, I am hanging in, but just barely.  

I had seen a child's dress with a fox face design on it. I could picture Sasha in that, so I gave it a try. 

original child dress

I wanted to make it a "culotte" (those of us who wore those in the '60's will know what that is!) but alas, I misjudged and poor Sasha was getting a serious "wedgie."  So, off with the bottom part and it was turned into a dress.  Since I had used a scrap of fabric for this sample, I was running out of fabric, necessitating a contrasting band.  (which I actually think is an improvement.) So, right about now, I was asking myself, "Having fun yet?!"  There are definitely days....

the final product

Catching up!

Hi, everyone,

I've been negligent on the posting, altho I have been busy sewing and creating!  I took up a challenge by a friend (Hi, Diane!) who created a new sweater design or pattern every month last year and plans to do it this year, too.  Well, that sounded fun and not too hard, so I accepted the challenge.  She now has my complete admiration!  It has been harder than I thought and it is only March.  I am now caught up and will show what's new:

January:  a baby shoe style in 2 different forms...a sewn on sole, and an "applied" sole as the late Jean Jensen used to call them.

simple mary janes can be made in any color!  this is the applied sole style

I did hard soles on the shoes but could do soft soles as well

February and March:  

I decided to sew something new instead of doing shoes.  I am counting altering patterns as my "something new" as it usually takes me the better part of a day to test a pattern and then alter to get a fit I like.  You have probably noticed I like a tight fit with very little ease.  The pictures below show the test pattern (on Cora) and then the final dresses that resulted (the off white ones).  Perhaps you can see the looser fit and lower armholes of Cora's dress.  I tightened the neckline, made the bodice smaller and raised the armhole quite a bit.  Once I had something I liked I made the white with green trim from a vintage table runner and the gold trimmed from 2 placemats.  

For this month's pattern, I tried another "ready made" and again found it too big overall.  It was shown with a huge pair of gathered shorts that I didn't bother with as I knew that I wouldn't like them.  So, on the shirt I made the bodice smaller and also made the sleeve ruffle smaller, altho the consensus is that it needs to be smaller still.  One cute thing about this pattern was the peplum, which was nicely proportioned, and it has a small dip in the back which I thought was cute!  

My photography skills are challenged enough without some help from a wee photobomber!  Here's some outtakes!

Hank, what are you doing here?!

Hank, don't kick, come with me!

oh, aren't you the clever one?!

The Winner's Choice!

Hi everyone,

I hope your holiday was fantastic no matter what your celebration of choice!

Recently, I ran a little drawing for a free pair of shoes of any style for anyone who was a follower of the blog.  The winner, Mary Crawford, chose a pair of fringe boots.  I had never made them in blue and I really am happy with them.  This style seems to work best in suede, for some reason.

In the upcoming year, the plan is to post on here more frequently.  Lets hope I can keep that promise! One thing I want to do is develop a new pattern per month.   It's good to have goals!

2018 is bound to be great!

Blue suede BOOTS...eat your heart out, Elvis!

Audrey is a bit sad that the boots are leaving soon...

And the WINNER is....

Mary Crawford!  Mary, please look at the styles of shoes and boots I make and decide what style you would like, plus the color, and email me.  (azsmockaholic2000@gmail.com)

Thanks to all who follow me!  Next year I plan to be a bit more active on the blog.  One thing I decided to do (based on inspiration from a knitting friend) is to develop a new pattern once a month.  It might be for an article of clothing or a new shoe style.  We need something new and fresh for our "kids," right?

Your ideas for items you'd like to see available are definitely welcome, so suggest away!

To all my Sasha family, Feliz Navidad, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hannukah, or whatever works for you and yours!

Sasha Hugs, Marti

Will you win the prize?!  I am coming up on my one year anniversary of Sasha's Vintage Boutique and the launch of this blog. To celebrate this event, I am going to have a drawing of one name from those who follow my blog to win one pair of shoes or boots.  (your choice of style and color).  Only people who are in the "following" list will be entered....there's still time to click that follow button!

Some of you have used nicknames on your picture.  I know a lot of you, but not all.  Therefore, please check back here on December 15th to see who the winner is!

Who will it be and what will they choose?!  Come back on December 15th to find out!  And click the 'follow' button soon to be entered in the drawing.