Summer Sundress McCall's 5089

Here's a cutie from 1976, McCall's 5089.

McCall's 5089

 The top is casual enough to wear with Daisy Dukes but take it longer and it's ready for a summer shopping trip. Go a little longer, add white-on-white embroidery, and it's ready for a beach bride. 

Post by Eileen Patterson, GoofingOff

Peace, Love, and Keep Your Seams Straight!

Photo Tips: Camera in the Tropics

I don't know about you but I love going to the beach.....and I love taking my camera when I do. I get my camera ready, have an extra card, and snap away thinking my photos are going to look as good as those in Conde Naste Traveler (or close at least). When I get home and look at the pictures, reality sets in. I'm not a pro, not even close. Beach pictures have their own problems, an arm's length of them, too sunny, sand reflection, water reflection, and lots of people and the crap they take to the beach.
Well, with scallop season just around the corner and knowing I will take a camera with me to the beach, I found this awesome post from Chris Norberg, the project manager of Hawaii Web Group, with Photoshop tips to make those beach photos as beautiful as you thought they were going to be....or better.
http://digital-photography-school.com/photoshop-tips-for-great-tropical-photos

Remember no matter what, have fun Goofing Off!

Miss Eileen’s Etsy Picks July 8, 2011

Good Friday, everyone! How was your Fourth? Lots of fireworks? We had some rain so the fire ban was lifted and there were plenty of fireworks. We are into hard core summer now, Beach, sun, fun. Let’s take a peek at what I’ve found on Etsy.
Can’t go to the beach (or anywhere else) without something to carry all those summer essentials.
        Vintage Geraniums Summer Carry All Tote by GreenBugBags Made from repurposed vintage thrifted fabric
                                 Funky Cute Tote by JitterBag Colorful and cute.

                Stylized Pink Lily Flower Small size tote bag by Amy305

        Simple Tote Blue and White Crisp and Clean by NJayedesigns
                Hip 3 Color Fabric Messenger Sling by Bagabilities  Good size for sightseeing and carrying light.
                          Essi Tote in cobalt faux suede by Raramodo  What a fabulous weekender!

                                     Vintage Tote by 2ChicDesigns
                 Large Whimsical Hand Painted Cat Tote by Ceinnamoss
So, what do you think? Cute bags? Check out my treasury on Etsy for more bags  MissEileen’s Etsy Picks: Just Bags. Voting starts as soon as I put up the poll in the upper left corner. Winner gets a feature blog interview.

Enjoy!
Post by Eileen Patterson.
Goofingoff Sewing Supplies                                             GoofingOff.etsy.com                                            Goofingoff.Artfire.com
Vintage fashion and home decor                                                        MissEileen.etsy.com
Unusual and unique finds                          MetalWoodsnwater.etsy.com                          MetalWoodsnWater.artfire.com


In case you wonder how I decide what goes on the blog, I look for new shops, cool ideas, repurpose and recycled items or supplies, and great pictures.

Tribal Colors Wine Bottle Cozy

I finally got it done. Last month was the Creative Challenge. Wine was the subject. I had all kinds of ideas and waited way too long to get started. Took me forever to get it right. I think my name should be Day late and a dollar short. Well, anyway, the cozy is done. Yay for me.

This is it, the Cowl Neck Wine Bottle Cozy in tribal colors.

The cozy is made of 100% cotton yarn and crocheted by yours truly. Good way to keep that bottle of wine cool when on the beach or at the pool. The colors were inspired by Sarasota, white sand, sea grass, and beautiful blue water.

What do you think?

Next creative challenge is fire.

Posted some new patterns in the Etsy and Artfire shops, like this one: .

Vogue 2878 Infant’s Christening Gown

There are even crochet and knitting patterns for sale.

4.15.11 MissEileen's Top Etsy Picks for the Week

Only a few days before Passover and I am swamped with things to do. Good things, though, so I am counting my blessings. I have two dear friends getting married and having bridal showers on the same day (the showers, not the weddings.  That’s what I made the fabric rose bouquets for). Our friends came down from up north and are staying with us (someone to stay up late and talk with. Good reason to open a bottle of wine). And one more thing, a blog to tell the world about the fantastic things I found this week on Etsy.



Oh, before I forget, the winner of last week’s contest is ClayBeadsandMore with the Clay Flowers and Butterfly Barrette. Check out her shop and congratulate her. Don’t forget to look for her interview.







Skull & Crossbones Pirate Jingle Anklet by Angelyques











Wine Mezzuzah Case by ReneesNeedle







Set of 4 Bibs, Upcycled Vintage Embroidered Bread-Basket Kerchief Cream and Green, Infant/toddler size by UrsulaGlassGoddess







Large Round Muffin Basket By BasketsbyEmily








Reproduction 1920's Cloak by BlueMoonLighting







Hippy Summer Cotton Beach Hat by OriginalSample









Silver Multi Textured Link Bracelet by ManicSilver















If Only ring by JenHough



Each pick is beautiful. The poll will be in the Left Corner of the blog. Polls will close Wednesday night.



Good luck to all.



Post by Eileen Patterson of GoofingOff.etsy.com, GoofingOff.Artfire.com, and MissEileen.etsy.com

12.21.10 New Vintage Etsy Goofing Off Listings

Wow. I was so excited about the lunar eclipse last night that I drank caffeine and got up at 3:30 this morning so I could see the moon during the change. It was awesome!! The moon was a reddish-orange color, simply fantastic. Made my husband get up to look. He grumbled a bit at first but he was impressed. Then, after sleeping about an hour, I got up again to see the moon once more during the eclipse.  At first it looked like a mushroom then slowly changed. It was so bright! What fun!

Well, I listed a few more patterns in the Etsy shop. I thought it would be a good time before I lost my steam.

Butterick 2293

I just love the look of this pattern. I can’t decide if I like the blouse (I am partial to sleeveless tank tops) or the pattern envelope. The illustration sort of looks like Mary Tyler Moore back when she was on the Dick Van Dyke Show. Cute and easy looking pattern with 4 different versions for 32 inch bust.

 

  Simplicity 8110

I love this outfit. I think it appeals to my professional, put-together side. Not that I dress that way all the time but I do love the look. From 1969. Very put together and stylish. In Women’s size 38, Bust 42 inch.

Simplicity 8552

I like the thought of jammies but this is perfect for a beach cover-up. A necessity for keeping those burning rays of the bod. The pattern include bra and panties, too. Too Cute!!

There are more listings but those are my picks for today. Great to think about, especially with the snow coming down in feet in most of the northern hemisphere right now. I don’t think too many folks are going to be dreaming of a white Christmas. It looks like a reality.

OK, got to get back to goofing off. After all, it’s what I do best.

Post by Eileen Patterson of GoofingOff.etsy and GoofingOff.artfire.com.

The Magic of Books

Books have been my first love. They have got me through some of the hardest times of my life by giving me a place to escape and taught me to cook, sew, and be a better person. I am shocked and saddened when I hear people predict that books will someday be a thing of the past since Amazon and other online book sellers offer books online. Too busy? Listen to book. You can and I've tried it, but honestly, it's not the same. There is something truly summer-scrumptious about sitting on the front porch or on the beach with a book. The words are tasty morsels waiting to be devoured, each one special. A good story is the perfect escape from the everyday; it can take you across the globe and back in time. Often times, the story is so good that you become a part of it and saddened when it ends. I keep my favorite old books in my bookcase. Like old friends, I check on them every so often, keep them dusted, and glance through the pages that I know so well. Someone once told me their daughter was having a hard time reading. She didn't have any learning problems, she just hadn't discovered books yet. I told the woman to take her little girl to the library; make a special day of it and do that once a week or every other week. So simple a remedy that she hadn't even thought of it. Most local libraries have a section for children with a story time. The commercial book stores have them, too. Some even have coffee shops inside making the special treat easy to get. What a wonderful way to introduce someone to the magic of books!

Learning to use new tools

OK, I am hooked. I don't really need another hobby but metalwork, whether it's jewelry or decorative is so cool. I learned to use a plasma cutter yesterday. It was awesome! I am still on the low side of the learning curve but I was able to cut out numbers and fish. I have a long way to go but we are going to enamel the numbers and fish and put them up on our mailbox. Way Cool!! I also put it to use cleaning up the yard by cutting up some tin for art supplies. I hope someone can use them. Sea trees (they are so beautiful) are some of the most amazing things on the beach. They wash up on the beach after storms and the colors are always different. They are known as soft coral. I think they are just sea plants that grow on the ocean floor that sea creatures attach to and grow, like coral colonies. They are amazing but fragile if out in the sun and weather. Indoors and protected, they can last a long time. They are among my favorite things.

Showing off should be my middle name. These are a few of the things for sale from the MetalWoodsnWater shop. Shells, coral, and deer bones all picked up on walks in the woods or on the beach.