In Praise of Thrift Stores....

Hello everyone!  I hope this finds you all happy, healthy and very blessed!!  I am doing well as all the pressing matters of the past weeks and months are finally over and I actually feel like I can breathe without feeling like I'm drowning in quicksand!  This is such a wonderful feeling...that feeling that you don't have anything hanging over your head, waiting in the wings to be fulfilled.  I have nightmares that I will be late for a program that I have been hired for and the people who hired me are furious and I dissolve into tears...Yaaaaa...that's not a fun place to be!  The stressors with Colton's school and Cody's asthma are also going away, so that is also nice!  I feel very much at peace both in mind and body!!  Huzzaaaaaahhhh!!!!!

As I was in my costume/fabric room today picking out the fabric for my next project, I was struck once again by the very large amount of fabric that I have purchased from thrift stores.  That is what this post is going to be about.  Fabrics that have been acquired from places other than an actual fabric store.  You see, I am not what one would call a worldly goods or monetarily wealthy person.  I am a stay at home mom and housewife (by design and choice).  My fabulous husband is a self employed contractor and we are parents to two fabulous boys.  Not that there aren't crazy wealthy people in the same situation as us...this is just where we are!  And I wouldn't change it for the world.  Perfectly content am I!  But, being on a budget does make for interesting fabric and all-the-things-historical-fashion-creating acquisitioning... (I think the most I have ever spent on fabric was $14.00 a yard dupioni silk in the fabric district after Costume College in 2014.  I know that it totally stressed me out doing so, but I had been saving money for that trip specifically for the perfect shade of silk for the 1830s archery outfit I a still wanting to make.)  Now, if you have the resources to spend $14.00-$32.00 a yard on fabric, that is fabulous!!  Please know that this in no way is a guilt trip post, because it is NOT!!!  This is just me writing about my particular way of shopping for fabric, which brings me great joy!

I think it has something to do with the hunt.  I also get this thrill from finding a fabulous antique at a garage sale or antique store for a ridiculously low price.  It is just the knowing that I have purchased something worth great value for 90% less than market value (or however you should say that so that it makes sense mathematically).   That brings me an incredible thrill!! Case in point:  Victorian Kashmir Paisley Shawl.  So, it would stand to reason that finding 7 yards of 60" wide merlot colored wool for $18.00 for the lot, really makes me giddy with joy!  I am a regular shopper at many of my area thrift stores as it is just something I enjoy doing anyway, just to see what it has in "store" for me!  hahahahahahahaha!!!

Now, I do use a lot of dupioni silk in my costuming (along with some polyesters if they look incredible and can pass for a more natural fibers).  I don't belong to a group that strives for absolute historical correctness in their fabrics, I strive more for the accurate overall look and silhouette of the era.  When I do my programs, I explain that dupioni (or polyester) wasn't used in the Victorian era, that other silks would have been used.  But...I LOVE LOVE LOVE working with dupioni!!  It is incredible and behaves so beautifully.  The way it irons, stays put in a pleat, drapes, etc, etc, is a thing of loveliness!  So when I see dupioni silk drapery panels at a thrift store, I get a wee bit excited!  The other fabrics I find are linen and linen/poly blends, wool and wool/poly or wool/cotton blends, cottons, and velvets.  I also purchase white sheets for linings and sometimes even Victorian blouses!  A good washing either by me or the dry cleaners is all it takes to prep the fabrics.

For the purpose of this post, I have photographed a little selection of my fabrics from thrift stores, then also added pictures of past dresses that were made in whole or part using fabrics from thrift stores with a link to the original post.  Most of the fabrics you can tell just from the feel what they are, but I do a burn test on them all just to be 95% certain.  Again, I don't feel the pressure to have the fabrics 100% this or that with what I do....  

I hope this encourages any new costumers or costumers on a budget to search outside the "fabric store" box for fabrics.   Start "haunting" your local thrift stores!  You never know what you will find!

Silks: L to R

Striped silk satin (1850s dress):  8 yards of 60" for $8.99

Embroidered dupioni (something 1890s...I have a fashion plate that will be perfect!!):  7+ yards of 60" for $7.99

2 Green Dupioni Drapery Panesl:  2.5 yards each of 45" for $5.99 a piece

Blue with gold thread Sari:  Usual sari dimensions $3.99

Linen and Linen Looks:  L to R

Green Linen/Poly Blend:  6+ yards of 60" for $4.99

Tan Rayon/Poly Blend:  5 yards of 65" for $4.99

Plaid Linen:  6 yards of 36" for $5.99

Blue Linen:  4 yards of 65" for $2.99

Wool and Wool Blends:  L to R

Brown Plaid Wool/Cotton Blend:  5 yards of 45" for $3.99

Blue/Brown Plaid Wool/Cotton Blend:  2.5 yards of 60 " for $4.89

Brown Wool:  3+ yards of 60" for $2.99

Blue Wool:  2 yards of 60" for $1.99

Moire Fabrics because I adore Moire....

Green Cotton/Poly Blend:  8.5 yards of 60" for $4.99

Blue Cotton/Poly Blend:  4 yards of 60" for $2.99

Dresses and Outfits Made from Thrifted Fabrics

1920s Basket Ball Middie

Fabric for shirt came from the 10 yard bolt of duck/canvas from Goodwill.

Edwardian Skirt

Bubble gum pink linen from Savers.  This was dyed with tea to calm the "in your face" pink!

Natural Form Era Maternity Gown

That has since been remade into an NFE tea gown....

Purple satin and printed velvet both from Savers.

Fencing Outfit

The jacket was made using fabric from a 10 yard bolt of duck/canvas like fabric from Goodwill.

1916 Winter Suit (Using Wearing History's Jacket Pattern)

Red wool and black and ivory stripe fabric, I think from Savers...

1950s Christmas Card Outfit

Black raw silk fabric for blouse found at Savers.  I think the red silk was also a thrift store find...can't remember what one though...

1912 Fancy Dress Ball Gown

Blue and Gold sari fabric from Savers.

1910 Merlot Wool Winter Suit

Merlot colored wool found at Idaho Youth Ranch.

1912 Pink and White Suit

The pink fabric is a poly blend and the white buttons and trim came from a white Linens and Things silk drapery panel, both found at Savers.

1920s Pajamas

The gold silk came from JCPenney dupioni silk drapes found at Idaho Youth Ranch.

1837 Cranberry Christmas Dress

All of that cranberry colored dupioni silk was one HUGE Pottery Barn drapery panel found at The Idaho Youth Ranch!

1896 Sailor Dress

Off White dupioni silk drapery panels from St. Vincent de Paul.

1840s Quilted Petticoat

Brown Dupioni silk drapery panel from Idaho Youth Ranch.

1930s Fall Suit

Orange wool for jacket and Ivory silk for blouse both from thrift stores.

1850s Gymnastics Outfit

Fabulous fabric found at Goodwill

1872 Riding Habit

Deep green wool from the Pendleton Wool Factory found at a thrift store still on the "Pendleton Wool" bolt.  I had petted the exact same wool at the factory outlet in Pendleton a couple of years ago, so this was an exciting find from Goodwill!

Another thing I love about thrift store shopping and finding fabrics that I can use, is the fact that for whatever reason someone cast these things aside  and now I get to use them for something lovely.  The name of my blog "Beauty From Ashes" hints at this...taking something that someone just doesn't want any more (Ashes) and making something of value out of it (Beauty).  It is very much like what God does for us...He takes something broken, cast aside or unwanted and makes something lovely, beautiful and worthwhile out of it!!  How cool is that!!??

Well, I hope you all have a most wonderfully blessed rest of your week and weekend!  I know I will!

g

Thrift Store Score!!!

Well,  yesterday, I worked on the Edwardian "S" bend corset mock and decided that it was too short and so I didn't take any pictures of it.  I'll work on it this weekend or next week.  

Today, I decided to get out and do some thrifting.  It has been snowing like crazy here and I have kept to my warm home avoiding the people who do not know how to drive in snow.  But, cabin fever took hold of me and I needed to get out today.  I tried JoAnn's as I had a nice 50% off coupon and their red tag fabrics are 50% off, but there was nothing there that was screaming to be purchased.  My thrift stores however, were a different story!!!

One of my favorite finds today were these two super cool balsa wood round cases!!  They say "HP Invent". They are about 16" long and the diameter is about 4".  I am thinking I will drill holes in either end and attach leather straps to it to make lovely flower specimen holders out of them!  My dream is to make a 

Victorian Naturalist outfit one of these days! 

Next came the handmade souvenir photo album on the left.  I have included the previous 2 photo albums that I also got at thrift stores.  the one I got today measures about 8 x 9.  These are going to be used as floral specimen albums.  The Victorians were notorious for pressing flowers and pasting them into books.  These sweet books are hand made out of natural products so will be perfect!

Here they are stacked up.  I like the sticks that are used for decoration on the binding...

A view of the inside of the smallest book.  Handmade paper and a protector sheet will be perfect to display my pressed flowers!

I am always on the look out for vintage looking shoes and today I found these!  They are larger than what I wear, but after adding my gel sole inserts and padding the toes with toilet paper (hahahaha!!!) they will be perfect!!

These black "granny" boots fit perfectly.  The heel is a perfect King Loius heel!!

And here is the best find of the day!!  A near perfect condition Persian Lamb coat.  I am really wanting to turn this into a hand muff, stole, hat combo for winter.  My Mama has a suite and I adore it.  Now I think I can have one as well!!!  The collar is perfectly shaped for the stole and there is so much of the fur that I can also make removable collars and cuffs for Greg's wool coat!!

I feel pretty good about today's finds!  I always feel that more than half the fun is the hunt and today's hunt was stellar!!

More Curtains!!

Oh how I love thrift stores!  And what do I love about them?  Well, for this post we shall focus on their wonderful selection of curtains.  Especially if I can find silk curtains!  Silk Dupioni is not cheap.  It can be found at JoAnn's for $24.00 a yard...if you have a 50% off coupon that makes it $12.00 a yard...aaaaaand it is only 45" wide.  Sometimes I can find it for $8.00 a yard, but that is rare.  So, when I find a silk curtain panel for $4.00...I get excited!!!  Last week I found another set of silk curtain panels at Deseret Industries and thought I would put all of my silk panel dress ideas here in this post.

1884 Stripe dress by Charles Worth, Chicago History Museum

Stripe Dress from Chicago History digital collection

Dupioni silk Drapery panels from JCPenney found at The Idaho Youth Ranch for $4.00 a panel

Gold silk matched with black and dark ivory fabric also found at a thrift store!

1912 dress found on etsy.

Linens and Things silk drapery panels found at Deseret Industries for $4.00 a panel

Silk matched with a brown velvet dress also found at DI and my mink stole.

Wojciech Kossak - Portrait of Sophia Hoesickowej 1909

Silk Drapes by Pottery Barn found at The Idaho Youth Ranch

Lace and netting to go with the silk

Teens Era Sailor Suit

Linens and Things White silk drapes found at Savers.  I will be pairing blue silk with it for the collar, tie and cuffs!  

So, now you can see why I love thrift stores and every one I go to I check out the linens department!  You never know what you will find!

1910 Winter Wool Suit in Merlot

This year, I want to make Mom and me winter wool suits.  I have had the idea for a woolen suit in my mind for quite some time, and this is the year for that idea to come to fruition!  I am so excited to begin!!  After researching the internet like the geek I am, pouring over my computer folders of Edwardian fashion, looking through my books on antique clothing, and gazing at Pinterest until my eyes bled, I finally, FINALLY, found the suit that was literally screaming my name!!!  I had already found a fabulous one for Mom, but just couldn't find one that blew up my skirt, until my eyes beheld this wondrous sight from Karen Augusta Auctions.  Be still my wildly palpitating heart!!  And salivary glands, you can cease your salivating while you are at it!!!  Here she is!!!

Wool suit from Karen Augusta Auctions.  Isn't it just fabulous?  

The detail is just delicious!!!

Frogs!  I love frogs!!!

Even the back is divine!!!

The fabrics that chose me to be made into this fabulous suit!  And I mean "chose me" quite literally!!!  The wool on the right, I found at The Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store.  7 yards for $18.00.  Yes, you read that right!!!  I couldn't believe it!  I did my hunters bellow of joy and my victory dance right there in the store!!  The velvet I have had for a long time and will be used for the accents....

This pattern from Rocking Horse Farms pattern company is the one I will be using for the suit!!

Rockinghorse Farms Patterns

This is going to be so much fun!!!

On My "To Do" List...

So, I was going through my fabric boxes today and was just a bit interested by all the "To Do" outfits I have. Here is a partial list of them.  These don't include a few others of mine, nor does it include the outfits I have planed for my mom!  Good heavens.  I would just love to be able to not have to sleep for 8 hours a night!  Can you imagine the outfits I could crank out?  

First off is this awesome archery dress from the movie " Daniel Deronda.  I adore this outfit.  The color combination is fabulous and quite striking!  My costuming group is going to start an archery club that I am so incredibly excited about!  The red fabric came from a store here in town called Home Fabrics.  It has a HUGE selection of really wonderful fabrics.  The ivory dupioni came from Hancock Fabrics.

Daniel Deronda photo from The Costumer's Guide Photo Bucket collection

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i31/costumersguide/Daniel%20Deronda/?action=view&current=daniel11.jpg

Next up is a wonderful late bustle dress that my dear friend Josie and I are doing.  We call these dresses "sister" dresses as similar fabrics are used.  Mine is the one above and Josie's is the plaid with black silk instead of the red.  I can't wait to start on mine!  Josie has already made hers.

I was at The Idaho Youth Ranch thirst store the other day and came across 6 yards of this marvelous cranberry wool!!  Laaaaaaaaaa!!!  (It is actually darker than the photograph..)  I have been searching for a perfect shade of wool to make a winter Edwardian suit and now I have it!  I am so thrilled.  I already had the patterned velvet that came from Hancocks that I will use for accents.  The pattern came from Rocking Horse Farm pattern company...

http://rockinghorse-farm.com/

Ok, so I have been in love with the Chemise a la Reine since I was a little girl.  I didn't know it was called that at the time though.  My Grandmother Jeanne, had pictures of Pinkie http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinkie_(Lawrence_painting) 

and Blueboy hanging on her wall and I would study Pinkie for hours.  I loved the filmy white dress she wore, the pink sash and her pink hat.  She was so lovely and her dress was so girlie.  Then I grew up and noticed lots of costuming ladies making these lovely dresses and I thought...I think I want one as well!  The white filmy fabric came from the St. Vinent de Paul thrift store here in town and the blue dupioni silk I have had forever.  The image above is of Anna Maria and Thomas Jenkins painted by Angelica Kauffmann...found on wikipedia.  I adore the hat that Anna Maria is wearing!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Anna_Maria_Jenkins;_Thomas_Jenkins_by_Angelica_Kauffmann.jpg

Another thrift store find! Again from The Idaho Youth Ranch is this wonderful raw silk window pane charcoal and black plaid.  I loved it on sight and found that there was 5.5 yards!  Whoo hoo!!!  I think the fashion plate here will be a perfect inspiration to use with the fabric.  My sweet friend Madame Kat send me 3 yards of black silk crape and I think I will use that somewhere on the dress too.  I will most definitely be using it to create a flowerpot hat!!!  Thanks Kat!

Ha!  More thrift store fabrics!  I love my thrift stores!!!  The plum figured taffeta and the plum and green velvet came from Savers.  I had the acid green taffeta for quite a few years.  I brought the thrift store fabrics home and was digging around my stash and discovered that they were meant for each other!  I believe that the dress on the left of the fashion plate will be a wonderful dress made of these fabrics!  The fashion plate came from Cotroceni National Museum.

http://www.muzeulcotroceni.ro/engleza/expozitii_trecut/2010/jurnal_de_moda.html

Guess what?  More thrift store fabric!  Shocker!!!  These both came from St. Paul's.  The window pane fabric is a very light fabric...reminds me of linen.  The black velvet will be the accent and buttons.  I have a black dupioni that will be the solid.  Love this dress and can't wait to make that hat!!!

The solid silk are curtain panels found at the Idaho Youth Ranch.  I love finding silk curtains at thrift stores!!! These came to me for 4 dollars for each panel.  The panels are over 60" wide and 3 yards long.  I won't do the math as I suck at that particular event, but you can guess that that is a great bargain!  The plaid is a cotton as is the burnt out velvet.  I have had this fashion plate so long that I can't remember where I got it from!  Sorry!!!

Oh how I love stripes!  Again the fabric came from Savers.  There is 7 yards to play with.  I would really like this dress to have a steampunk-y feel to it as I just recently found out that there is a steampunk group here in town!  Laaaaaaa!!!  I adore this fashion plate that I found on the Old Rags Tumblr.

http://oldrags.tumblr.com/page/28

I don't know if I will use ivory, black, or a deep red for the accent color....still in the thinking stage.

This lovely red wool came from yet another thrift store.  Can't remember which one and it is actually a deep red and not so bright in real life!  The lace is antique and came from a good friend.  The inspiration dress is fabulous and can be found at the Detroit Historical Museum.

http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/cgi/i/image/image-idx?q1=dress;rgn1=ic_all;op2=And;rgn2=ic_all;op3=And;rgn3=ic_all;op4=And;rgn4=ic_all;xc=1;g=costumegroupic;size=20;c=dhhcc;c=djg;c=hcc;c=hfhcc;back=back1320261383;subview=detail;resnum=8;view=entry;lastview=thumbnail;lasttype=boolean;cc=dhhcc;entryid=x-1950.224.001;viewid=ES01A50_224_1A

Oh how I love pink!  It is so girlie and wonderful!  The fabrics came from JoAnn's, the lace and flowers from an antique store!  I adore this dress.  I have found some lovely antique gold trim at JoAnn's that I think will look rather well with it!  I came across the dress on Pinterest and can't find where it came from originally!  I will keep searching!  Found it!  1910 Powerhouse museum.

Well, that is all for now.  I can't wait until all of these dresses come to "life".  That way I can plan others and find more fabrics!!  I think this stage of the costuming craziness is one of the most fun!