Upcoming Valentine's day for Silly Geese who love Coffee? It's You, Hi, You're the problem...

    Christmas lights back in a tote all jumbled in a ball, tree packed away, house getting back into order.

Or maybe none of the above because you've been fighting a yucky crud for the past 3 weeks? Just me? If you see my immune system wandering around out in the wild looking confused please direct it home. I miss it.

Looking forward to the next big holiday, Valentine's Day! Of course, I had to take a fun farm themed approach here.  A line of silly geese decked out in heart themed apparel?  Check:

 

 

If you are a silly festive goose you might just love this tee.  It is made of a super comfy and stretchy jersey knit, great for casual wear or layer it with a cute pink themed outfit on as shown above.

Also...if you LOVE a silly festive goose I suggest this tshirt as the perfect present to show your love. Matchy matchy is the ultimate lovey dovey proof of a relationship I've ever seen:

 

 

 

OK, maybe that it a wee bit too THEME for you.  Maybe you would prefer a simple normal style that can be used year round AND for the Valentine's red and pink general color scheme season:

1. MAMA Hoodie Sweatshirt

2. MAMA Crewneck Sweatshirt

3. MAMA Red plaid tshirt

Another multi season design that can work year round is this cute multicolored I Heart Coffee tee, hoodie, and sweatshirt:

1. I Heart Coffee Hooded Sweatshirt

2. I Heart Coffee Crewneck Sweatshirt

3. I Heart Coffee Tshirt

Alright. Now maybe you just aren't so particularly fond of this upcoming holiday because you've recently gotten out of a difficult or damaging relationship. I haven't left you out!  Here you go: It's You, Hi, You're the Problem, It's YOU:

This is a change up and play on words from the lyrics of a popular song 'Anti-Hero' by Taylor Swift.

So whether or not you are celebrating this upcoming Valentine's Day, remember:

💗YOU are Loved 💗

Amanda - VintageDutchGirl

Christmas Goats and Peppermint Mochas...

    Today, brand new in the Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy shop, is a few last minute Christmas and holiday themed apparel items.

Cute animals in rows is a popular clothing trend right now, here is my take on it:

Christmas goats, wearing knit sweaters and santa hats. Adorable! It's a mama goat with her three kids:

This crewneck sweatshirt comes in a variety of colors to choose from. 

Next up is one of my fave's, a Peppermint Mocha. YUMMM.  The colder weather coffee drinks are so good.

 

 

And lastly, a women's t shirt with a ski chalet retro style poster in the middle of the busy skiing season:

 

 

    All the rest of the Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy shop Christmas and Holiday items (I think there are 38 right now!) can be viewed by clicking HERE.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

A

What is a group of butterflies called?

 DID YOU KNOW!? I did not until a few minutes ago.

A kaleidoscope! A group of butterflies is called a kaleidoscope. So cool!

We are avid butterfly fans here. When we visited Arizona earlier this year we went to the Scottsdale Butterfly Wonderland. What a treat! We honestly didn't expect to have that much fun!  We had butterflies landing on our heads, riding on our shoulders...even the little kids got to help release newly hatched butterflies into their huge conservatory.

I highly recommend it if you are in the area!

So my daughter loves butterflies and asked for a butterfly t shirt. She wanted something simple and casual but with a pretty design. An easy shirt to throw on with jeans and all-stars.  Of course, we got right to work. Here's what we came up with. It's subtle, muted colors, very boho chic:

 

 

And yes, she asked for a crew neck sweatshirt too. We really liked how this sand color worked well with our butterflies:

And this light heathered gray:

Check out the Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy shop for more styles of shirts: oversized unisex fit, hoodies, zip front sweatshirts, and more.

 

Off to design some more!

A

Lace-Trimmed T-Shirt Tutorial!

The most popular post to date is this lace-trimmed tshirt tutorial, originally Posted Jan 24, 2010. I've have many new followers since then, so thought I'd reshare! Enjoy:

Step 1: Buy an inexpensive, boring plain v-neck from, well, ANYWHERE. Me? I chose an Old Navy dark gray tee:



See? It's boring. It needs some help.

Step 2: Dig through huge bag of vintage lace and notions lovingly thrifted and given to you by your Grandma K and pick out some sassy, funky or complimentary ribbon or lace. ( Hee hee hee, I'm imagining my ribbon saying, "My my Amanda, you are looking mighty FINE today!" Get it? Complimentary ribbon? OK, It's just me then.)

Step 3: (If needed) Serge or zig-zag stitch raw edge of lace or ribbon. (Yep, I'm slowly getting over my serger fear! However, it must still be having an effect on me because I completely forgot to take a photo.)

Step 4: Pin lace around neckline of t-shirt. Remember to not pin the back of the shirt while pinning. I pinned both the inside and outside edges of the lace all the way around the neckline:



I didn't have enough lace, but would have liked to go all the way around to the back of the neckband. Instead I serged the ends and pinned them down at the shoulder seam:



Step 4.2: Carefully miter (translation: fold it until it looks right) and pin lace or ribbon in place at the bottom of the "V" if you chose a v-neck style t-shirt. Of course, with a scoop neck or regular t-shirt this may not be needed...OR, you may need to every so often add a tiny fold to allow the lace to curve around the neckline correctly. Once again, just fold and pin until it looks right.



Step 5: Stitch the lace to the shirt along the inside/unfinished/serged edge first:



Step 6: Stitch the outside edge of the lace to the shirt, following the decorative pattern. I followed the curves as much as possible so it wouldn't flip up after washing:



Step 7: I stitched the folds down at the bottom of the "V" so it would lay flat. My stitch lines are marked in red:



Step 8: Admire your handiwork then jump giddily around your sewing room because you created something cute, individual, inexpensive AND sassy in a short amount of time:



Step 9: Try sassy new shirt on and attempt to take a self portrait without showing the camera or your face or earrings. Whoops, guess I didn't do Step 9 very well:

Pin It

Step 10: Wear it everywhere. It's a washable t-shirt so who cares if your 3 year old smudges it with jelly coated fingers? Just make sure that 3 year old isn't wielding a sharpie. I mean, I'm pretty good at getting stains out but that's pushing it.

This Lace Trimmed T-shirt can dress up jeans, dress down a suit jacket but can also be worn under a simple zip up hoodie paired with faded black yoga pants while feeding the kiddos lunch and doing laundry. Oh wait? Is that just me?

Enjoy your sassy Lace Trimmed T-shirts!

A


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Tank Top Sassification Inspiration...

I have three brand new (tags still on!) ribbed tank tops waiting for my time and some sassification inspiration. They are boring and bland, just a plain heather gray, black and navy. I want to just give em a little style and interest oomph...just a notch above humdrum.

We are still setting records of temperature lows and rainfall here in the Pacific NW, but I need some sort of (looking forward to) sunny weather project. So hopefully that means I can complete a few of these by the time sunny weather arrives.

These cascading ruffle embellishments are everywhere. I'm liking the tone-on-tone look:


(Charlotte Russe)

Yes, I realize this one isn't a tank top, it's a tankini swimsuit top. Cute, huh? I'm loving the idea of an off-center knotted sash that helps cinch the smallest part of the ribcage to produce the hourglass effect:


(J. Crew)

Simple rows of casual eyelet lace let this ordinary tank become more delicate and feminine. Perfect for layering:


(J. Crew)

Simple rows of elastic thread detail give this tank a flattering pseudo v-neck:


(Anthropologie)

Lastly, my fave! Just add a simple patterned bow tie to ramp up the style rating of your fave summer tank top:


(Modcloth)

Now, I just need to find a way to entertain my 2 and 4 yr old for hours on end while I play with my sewing stuff. Hmmmm, any ideas?

Hope it's sunny wherever you are!

Amanda

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Pillowcase Dress Photo Shoot...

I finally got around to throwing together a cute lil pillowcase-ish style dress for my spunky Lil Chick. I had a pattern in my head and really needed to see if it would work or not. I had this bright aqua, pink and green adorable fabric found at Walmart (of all places!) and bought a good five yards or so because it just SPOKE to me.

Ever have that? I'll walk through a fabric store and hear a deafening chorus of "Pick ME!!!! Pick ME!!! Take me home! Add me to your stash! I promise I'll behave and be beautiful! You'll LOVE me!"

It's a bit overwhelming.

Anywho. Was thrilled that this was a quick project with a high cuteness factor. That fits two of the requirements to ensure a repeat of a sewing project.

Got Lil Chick, dressed her up, and asked her to just stand and smile for me:

Whoops, kinda blurry and missed the full-on grin.

How bout a close-up?

Hoo boy. Told ya she had some spunk. I think she gets it from Auntie Mimi ;)

You think you're funny, dontcha?


Her response to my "Stop picking your toes!" comment:

The teen years may be rough.

C'mon girl, PLEASE will you smile?

Oy.

OK, last chance!


Close enough.

Have since made another, nautical inspired, pillowcase dress, the next one I make I'll be snapping photos for a tutorial! Go pick out some fabric that's yelling at ya...

A


Vintage Dutch Girl is on the BOOK of FACES.

Sassy Aprons in the Shop....

First of all, if you are reading this in a reader, c'mon over and see my new blog outfit. I got WAY too sick of boring gray and white and needed some COLOR in my blog life. Check er out.

Alrighty, you asked for em!

First of hopefully many sassified aprons for sale in the Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy Shop:



SUPER fun to make! Not sure I'd get a lot of actual cooking done while wearing this one...probably just stand around with a wooden spoon lookin purty and eating a chocolate lava cake.

Ya know, being a good hostess and all...

Amanda

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Retro Polka Dot Apron...

I have a THING for the red and teal/aqua color combo....and I have a THING for polka dots....and I have a THING for ruffles...and I have a THING for fabric flowers...and I have a THING for retro inspired clothing.

Put all those together and you get:



Yup! Finally finished my apron that I started back on Sassy Apron Sewing Sister (errr) Day!

I am in love. I may have to wear it non stop for the next few weeks. Praise team Sunday will be interesting. Doesn't really help with the whole, "keep attention off yourself" mantra that I try to repeat when choosing my outfit on those Sundays.

But I can wear it when driving to church!

Now THESE are what I call ruffles:



Fabric flowers? Yes please:



Now, to figure out what to actually COOK for dinner while wearing my sassy retro apron...

A


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Sassy Apron Sewing Sister (errr) Day....

My brother and sister-in-law were visiting all last week. The girls decided to get together to do a sewing project.

AKA: Sassy Apron Sewing Sister (errrr)Day! SASSeD! (thanks Amy ;)

Pretty sure the serger was smoking. Lot's of bright coordinating print fabrics and some DELISH margaritas. LOVED it. Not sure I sewed straight lines but loved it nonetheless!

So far what we've come up with is:

One sweetheart neckline mod floral print:



And one super sassy apron with fabric flower detail and tiered ruffles:



And.....that's it so far.

Of course, I have yet to finish my own apron and my Mama's, but I'm really close. Here's a teaser pic of the fabrics that I currently have piled on my sewing table:



Oh yes, there is a retro 50's theme going on!

Can't wait to show you all the finished products! Hopefully I'll escape to my sewing room for a bit today to get them completed. Once my apron is done I'll be able to flit around my kitchen cooking up a storm in my sassy apron. I'm convinced it will make my cooking taste better. Or maybe it will distract people enough they won't even be able to taste what I've made. They'll be too busy looking at the accent colored rolled edges on the ruffles to notice. My evil plan is working!(enter sinister laugh.)

What about you, would you wear a sassy apron in the kitchen?

Amanda

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RePurposing Bubbalu's Button-up Shirt For Lil Chick....

I LOVE little boy button-up collared shirts. I have Bubbalu in one almost every Sunday and a few days of the week too. It never fails to make me smile. They make him look like such a cute lil man!

I'm also digging the whole Women's boyfriend shirt thang:


Urban Outfitters


American Eagle


Nordy's

Being that I have a ton of these button-ups of Bubbalu's and this fun women's wear trend....you can pretty much guess what I did, right?

In order for Lil Chick to wear these hand me down shirts of her older brother, they needed some tweaking and embellishing. Some Sassifying, if you will.

First of all, I wanted them to fit her in a bit more feminine style. Most boy shirts are extremely boxy and unshapely. I could have taken in the sides but really didn't feel like measuring and all that jazz. Because I'm slightly lazy.

Enter elastic thread. LOVE THIS STUFF. Use elastic thread in replacement of your bobbin thread and you will have lovely gathered, flexible, fabric scrunching. It's delicious.

Mark off a centered rectangle section on the back of the shirt at the approximate waist area:



Replace your bobbin thread with elastic thread and start sewing.Making sure you bobbin will sew on the UNDERSIDE of the shirt, start on one corner of your marked rectangle and, backtacking first, sew a straight line the entire long side of the rectangle:



When you reach the end of your marked section you'll need to sew a hairpin turn and then sew across making a second line. CLEAR AS MUD?? OK, I'll draw you a picture to show you what I mean:

Start sewing at the red star, end at the green star. VOILA.

You'll end up with a gathered section that looks like this underneath:



That's ALL I DID. Threw it on Lil Chick and snapped some pics.

See how the gathered section adds a girly touch?



Of course I HAD to give her a flower pin:


(Yes, she DOES have two piggy tails, one is just hiding. I'm not trying a new hair fad on her)

This shirt looks great on her with jeans, or leggings and sparkly flats. Love that I can easily repurpose Bubbalu's old shirts into something fun and sassy for my little lady...without spending a cent.

I'm off to sassify some more button-down shirts...

A

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