Amber Dusick

birthday shoes

So it is a tradition that I get shoes for my birthday. It is also a tradition for me to post about it! My birthday was last weeked and my mom sent me a pair of TOMS in Morocco Classic.

They looked like this when they arrived:

So of course I couldn't let that be. A couple hours and several fabric markers later:

Ah, much better. I actually picked them out with the intention to color them in. Love them now, I don't think I've ever had such colorful shoes. 

By the way, here are my birthday shoes 2008. And here are the ones from last year. I couldn't find the rest but I'm sure there are in the belly of this blog somewhere. 

chicken skirt

Went out to lunch with Wendy last week. 

After a lunch she took me to a vintage clothing shop on the same block. I walked in, saw this skirt peeking out of the rack and grabbed it. In less then 2 seconds. I fancy these appliqued skirts (I think I'm officially collecting them now that I have more than a handful) and I could spot one a mile away. Fortunately, everyone else seems to think they are ugly so it was 50% off. 

I mean, it really IS kinda ugly. 

But when I saw that the hen's wing lifted up and had a baby chick underneath:

One does not let that sort of thing go. 

So I bought it. 

I've shared a few of my other applique skirts here before, like the house one I made. And this house scene one that I was wearing when I bought the chicken one. And also the velvety mushroom one. Oh, and this happy flower one too. Yeah. It is sort of a thing. I LOVE them.

And now I want to make another one. And possibly with a lift up flap that hides something else, just like the little chicken. Hmmmmmmm

I got dressed again!

I haven't done a "fashionesque" post for a bit now.  You probably don't want to hear me rant (again) about how yoga pants are the sweatpants of my generation but it is true.  A lazy habit I'm (still) trying to break.  Sigh.    

So when I do bother to get dressed, it is like a celebration!  Get out the camera, I'm wearing an outfit! 

Although, other than the shirt by MaryInk there is really nothing interesting going on here.  This is my default "I have to actually leave the house" outfit right now.  Do you have one of those?

My new hair thing is doing a twisty thing instead of a braid.  Watch out, I'm getting adventurous!  I'm still secretly coveting the bright orange bob though.  

I did snip my bangs a little.  Just to see. 

Baby steps, baby steps.

The sad thing is that I used to be downright fashionable.  Unique.  A risk taker even.  A trendsetter maybe.  And now?  Well, let's just say I never in all my self-centered teen years thought I'd grow up to be so darn...normal.  Mom-like.  And dare I say it?  I don't want to say it!  Ouch, it is so hard to admit. Okay, I'll say it.  

Boring.

They say that Einstein wore the same thing everyday (although I've also heard that this was exaggerated) but rather than fact check, I'm going to believe it.  Yeah.  Let's go with that.  We are all so busy being brilliant that we can't be bothered anymore.  Right?  Are you with me?                   

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What is your default outfit?  Come on, you totally have one.  Right?            

sewing from a pattern from the year I was born

I love vintage sewing patterns because I always have this image in my mind of the perfect vintage something and I can't actually find the item.  I'm always dreaming up 70s era tunic tops but most of the ones that exist are polyester, which feels icky and hot in summer.

I got this 1977 McCall's 5565 from Etsy seller Picky Pat Basket a few weeks ago because it is made for stretch fabrics.  And I could make my dream shirt a reality, and with cotton jersey.  

By the way, if you are planning to shop vintage patterns, take note of the measurements.  Sizing was different 30 years ago, a vintage size 12 is more like a modern size 6.  Etsy is a great source for vintage patterns, I can (and do) spend hours sifting through them.

I skipped the belt for now.  I also didn't even bother to finish the bottom or the sleeve egdes, I'm just going to leave them raw.  The fabric trim is vintage and I've been holding on to it for years.  (PS - those little dark dots aren't stains on the shirt, they are water drops from my wet hair.)

My sewing as usual isn't perfect, but I'm pretty happy with this particular shirt.  I'm slowly learning to sew stretchy knit fabrics and get comfortable with it.  Not sure why I was afraid of it for so long!  Considering that cotton jersey is all I want to wear most of the year when it is hot I think I'll be doing more of it.  

Now I just need to find more patterns... 

 

 

 

comment (but not here) to win this pretty dress...

I'm hosting a dress giveaway over on MakeBabyStuff, all you have to do is comment over there.  I pretty much never do those types of giveaways (the comment ones) even though I get asked pretty often, so this is a bit of a test.  I really just couldn't say no to hosting this one for Shabby Apple though.  I really do love their dresses.  And especially this one that is being given away.  Given away...but not to me, sniff. 

Green is the color and I love it.  And the petal neckline.  And how it is fitting, but not too fitting in those places can be trouble for a mama of two, you know?  Pretty much perfect.

So if you like it too, go comment!  Again, NOT here.  I'm just telling you guys about the contest cuz I like ya'll.   

I'll be back in this space with normal bloggy posts soon I hope!    

more dress up fun...wigs!

My son got a letter from Milo, the son of Wendy/BirchLeafDesigns which included a photo of him wearing an incredible rainbow clown wig.  My son was fascinated of course.  "Is that his real hair?"  No, just a wig.  "What is a wig?  Is it like a hair hat?"  Pretty much.  "Can we get one?"  

So naturally, a trip to the costume store was in order.

Honestly, I dug this one on me.  A lot.  To the point where I'm considering chopping my hair just like this.  I wish I had the bravery required for this color but I think I just couldn't pull it off at this point in m y life.  I had purple hair in my teens.  I don't think I could do it in my 30s.  Well.  Maybe.

Babies in wigs.  Okay, I get it.  I can totally see the hilarious appeal of this.  

This pink one was awesome.  I'm amazed by how the long hair + pink combo really makes him look, well, girly. 

My son said Papa looked like "Ponyo's father" with this wig on.  So funny.  

We let them pick two and this spikey punk black one was the first pick.  Complete with black lipstick so he can look just like the guy on the package.  Says his name is Pood and he is in a band called Shodeye or something like that.  Who knew the goth stage started at age 4?  

He plays drums of course.  Oh boy, I think I miss the chimney sweep days.

The other one they took home was this fuzzy purple one.  Sort of an 80s rocker style.  Makes them look like little muppet monsters.  

So hilarious to see these two running around the house wearing these.  

The dress up box I made is overflowing.  I think I better make another one because this is just too much fun! 

 

 

my feet returned & internet window shopping

My youngest is now 17 months and I feel like I'm almost completely back to normal...er, physically speaking.  My feet have finally returned to their pre-pregancy size and I'm thrilled.  Beloved shoes I couldn't comfortably wear for a few years suddenly fit again.

Like these.  I've missed them.  They have just the perfect low heel height for my persnickity feet.

This combo of "new" shoes, the sudden re-appearance of my old body and spring has me totally obsessed with Etsy porn.  Which is what I call it.  I find myself spending way too much time after the babies are asleep surfing the vintage section and typing things in like "tulips" or "red glass" and seeing what comes up.  It is a pointless obsession because I rarely ever actually buy anything.    

Or maybe it isn't pointless.  Internet window shopping is fulfilling my hunting & gathering tendencies like thrifting used to.  Do you do this too?  What is your favorite site to internet window shop?     

 

 

 

 

 

 

local thrifting adventures...with kids

As I've complained about before (too much probably) I rarely have luck thrifting here in Los Angeles.  I'm spoiled I guess, having grown up in the midwest where everything is vintage and everything is just a few bucks.  Still, every once in a while I crave it and try again.  

Back in the small town land of cornfields, I used to go thrifting several times a week.  Daily even.  In fact, in high school I volunteered at our local thrift store just so I could be the very first to sort the donations.  This was before eBay or Etsy so this was purely for my own vintage addiction.  

So today I found myself at a thrift store with my two boys in tow.  Thrifting with kids is totally unlike thrifting alone.  You can't wander around carefully mining for jewels.  I've developed a method of thrifting with them.  It is my "walk the aisles as fast as possible and get the hell out of there before the kids freak out" method.  This means I only stop if something really grabs my eye and even then I have only two seconds to decide if I'm going to take it with me or not.  It is like impulse thrifting.  

This skirt caught my eye on my way to the checkout and it followed my "under $10" only rule so I grabbed it.  Didn't even look it over much because my littlest guy was at his melting point.  I quickly looked for a tag and didn't find one so I figured it must be handmade.  It was a wrap skirt so size didn't matter to me so I added it to the books my son had picked out.  

On the drive home I was writing a blog post in my head and was planning on writing something about how the skirt I picked out reminded me of an Etsy seller whose skirts I've long wanted to get.

When I got home and actually really looked at it (I hadn't even noticed the Red Riding Hood/Wolf) I realized not only did it "look like one of those skirts from that Etsy seller" but it IS one of those skirts.  This one.  

Turns out Hannah lives in Los Angeles too and is a bit thrifting/vintage obsessed as you can see here in her house tour.  So now I'm chosing to believe that she put it there.  That she sprinkles her skirty magic around otherwise crappy thrift stores.  Yeah, okay, probably not.  Admittedly, I feel a wee bit guilty for finding this skirt thrifted, like I owe her $ or something.  Or maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to have to buy another one.  

So I am no longer going to complain about thrifting here.  I have renewed faith.  And next time I'll go alone, because even though my impulse thrifting worked out this time I can't help but wonder what I missed in the aisles I didn't even go down.  Next time.   Next time.    

 

 

 

 

the locket

I've always wanted a locket, ever since I was a little girl.  Probably every girl who grew up in the 80s did, thanks to the movie Annie.  I didn't want just any old locket though.  I wanted a special one or one with a story or a very old one or one that was given to me or....something.  

I found it.  

Here is the thing.  I don't wear much jewelry.  Except the lovely ring that I nearly lost forever and my red glass signature necklace I don't wear anything regularly.  I'm being very careful about what I purchase and what I bring into my home this year.  I didn't need a locket.  I certainly didn't need to buy myself jewelry!  What about being frugal?  What about not spending money on things I don't need?  It is only January February and already I'm buying something frivolous?    

Well, sometimes it feels good to break the rules.  Especially when a sterling locket made in 1895 with original monochrome photos is involved.

No, I don't know who they are.  Or most likely, were.  I do know that I am keeping their photos together and saving them respectfully.  Yes, I did indeed pop them out of the locket to put my own photos inside.  Most people react with horror when I tell them this part.  I thought about this for a long time and I realized that the worst thing would be for the locket to sit in a box untouched and unused.  Much better for me to use the locket and appreciate it.  I'm just not that type of person.  I don't buy things just for the sake of owning something, I buy things to use them and find joy in their use.  So I put tiny photos of my two boys in it and it is the "mama" jewelry I never knew I wanted.

So I've been wearing it with my red glass one and so glad I bent the "only buy stuff I truly need" rules.  Oh, and yet another tunic photo!  This one is actually a vintage smock though and I bought it many moons ago.  

We're just heading out of a cold/flu cycle in our house (as his grumpy little face shows) so I'll be back soon when I'm all caught up.  Um, if that ever happens.  

 

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Was it horrible to have taken the photos out of the locket?  What would you have done?  

 

 

 

 

for the love of tunics

I've been into a tunic thing this winter (when I bother to actually, you know, get dressed) and this vintage one is my favorite now.  It all started when I sewed this one.       

I love that folksy print and the covered buttons.  

You can see my standard lazy long hairstyle here in that first pic, just tied in a knot while still wet.  I don't even bother with pony tail holders lately.  Been getting those urges to cut it, this was the last time it was cut!  I have two hairstyles: long and cut at an angled bob.  This has been going on for 17 years.  Yawn.  Not sure what I'll do if anything.  Suggestions welcome.