Shopping Vintage

If you couldn't tell I've been on the look out for cute skirts lately. I do this every spring. The weather starts getting warmer and I know the dreadful summer temperatures are just around the corner. Skirts just seem like a great way to combat the heat. I really love vintage clothing. I haven't found any great vintage shops here in San Antonio so my go to is to look on Etsy. It is a great place to look for good vintage finds. I just bought this beauty a couple days ago and I'm so excited to get it! I really would love to take a trip out to Austin right now to browse the Vintage shops on South Congress Ave. but I don't think I'll be able to any time soon. So Etsy it is. I think it was a pretty good find!

A Bag Full of Vintage Goodies

A couple of Thanksgivings ago I was in Utah at my parents house with all of my sisters. My amazing Granny had passed away a couple of months before and we had the privilege to go through all her old sewing boxes. She was an incredible seamstress. There were boxes and boxes of fabric, ribbons, notions, anything you could imagine. Some of it was fabulous, some of it was straight out of the 80's (and not in a good way). It was fun. So the other day when I was going through my craft boxes I found my plastic baggie stuffed full of vintage rick rack, seam binding, bias tape, ribbon, appliques and much much more. How had

I not gotten crafty with this yet?!!!? I was especially drawn to the lace seam binding. Honestly it is way too pretty to be used on the inside of a garment. This stuff needs to be seen. So I started thinking of ways I could use it. I've been thinking a lot about Miss. S and her hair lately. So with the inspiration in my little plastic baggie and this tutorial I came up with these.

And can I say I'm in love with them. I plan on making several more over the next couple of days. You might even be able to win a few if you check back tomorrow. I've been itching to do a giveaway!

She makes me laugh. Sometimes her facial expressions are just so funny! Needless to say she loves her new bows!

Vintage Embroidery Hoops

Sorry this is a day late. We had a sick house yesterday. We are all on the mend now after a day of napping though.I first saw this idea on A Little Sussy and thought what a fun easy way to add a little color to a room. So I made these for Miss. S's room a couple summers ago with the help of my Mom. About half of these hoops came from the DI in Logan Utah and the other half my Mom gave me. They were handed down to her from my Grandma B. I loved the idea of using this small family treasure in a new way for my little girl. They hang in her room above her crib. Sadly her crib bedding was washing the day I took this picture. I'll get a picture soon of the whole effect.

I'm posting this now for two reasons. #1 I think I'm going to change the fabric out of them soon (Except for the S). I'm updating a few things in her room and the fabric that is in them now probably won't go. I wanted to document what they look like now.

And #2 I think this is the perfect post to explain why I chose Sweetly Nostalgic for the official name of this blog (no more changes). I love items whether for your home, to wear, to play with, anything, that evoke a feeling of nostalgia. I have a lot of family heirlooms that have been handed down to me that I love and use in my home. I also love shopping for and using vintage items. Even new items that have a vintage feel I am drawn too. I love certain memories that mere objects can stir up in your mind. When I look at these embroidery hoops it makes me think of the women in my life my Mom, Grandmothers, sisters, and Aunts. I'm reminded that I come from a long line of ladies that were and are great at making something out of nothing. That have wonderful talents and make beautiful things.

If you want to make these it's really easy. Start collecting embroidery hoops and fabric. I would say 8-12 different sizes and patterns would be sufficient. I usually like using odd numbers but this ended up being even. It really doesn't matter. Place your fabric in the hoop and pull tight. I used a hot glue gun to secure to the hoop. Last trim the access fabric and hang. The poor little one at the bottom broke when Miss. S began standing up in her crib, and could reach it. So if you are hanging it over a crib make sure you hang it out of reach of little hands.