Sew It - A Smart Dusting Cap

Whilst on the Isle of Wight I found this little pattern in one of the 1930s sewing books that I keep at my Mums, I took a quick snap of the page on my phone for deciphering later and now that I have had a chance to make one up, I thought it was about time I shared with you all. It did take me a while to decipher the instructions as the drawing in the book was more confusing than helpful, so I have redrawn it and added a bit more text which hopefully makes it a bit clearer.

A Smart Dusting Cap 

(approx. 1938)

The little dusting cap tied in a bow on the forehead is very quickly made. 

Ingredients: 
27" of 36" wide material - I used cotton gingham from my stash.

Helpful Links:

Hand rolled hem tutorial  //  Machine rolled hem tutorial

No pattern is required, just work the directions on to the material.

1. Open out the material and fold it in half the other way, so that it now measures 36" by 13.5".

2. Cut along the fold to within 12" of the other end.

3. Hem all the edges.

4. Join the two selvedges at the fold end and gather up this seam until it measures 5 ins.

To wear the cap, place it on with the gathers at the top and wind the two ends round the head, first crossing them at the back.

The cap is really very easy to make up, the hardest part really is the hemming. I chose to do a machine rolled hem as it was quicker than painstakingly doing it by hand, the only tricky bit comes when hemming up the slit in the middle, I rolled the hem up to the slit and then caught in as much as I could of the rolled fabric either side of the point of the slit, I am sure there is a knack to this which I don't think I have mastered here as it is a little messy, but as it's only for wearing about the house I am not too concerned.

You can tie it any way that suits you, as there is be plenty of length to play with, I will say that I found the bow quite hard to get right, but that has probably more to do with my big old head than the pattern!

Bow Style: It is a bit fiddly to get just right but worth it!

Turban Style: Tie a double knot on the top of your head and tuck in the loose ends

So there you have it your very own 30s dusting cap, the only problem is now there really are no excuses for not doing some dusting!

Wendy x

Bloggy Awards

 Right I promised this a few days ago now so here it is at last

Firstly the ever so stylish Nabby from This Old Life kindly gave me the Liebster Blog award.

 You must if you have not already, go and visit her blog, she makes the most stunning 1930's outfits which are beautiful in every detail, you will be amazed and very jealous of her skill I promise!

 Next, the lovely Miss Katie from Little Red Squirrel was kind enough to give me three awards in one! Miss Katie is another gal who's blog you must visit! She's one multi-talented lass, she knits, she sews and she embroiders like a dream, just check out her saucy Pin up girls they will make you want to take up your needle and thread right away!

 Part of the award was to list some facts about yourself, so here we go:

1. I wear glasses, there I have said it, Yep I am as blind as a bat without them but it's rare that you'll ever catch me wearing them in photos as I just haaate em! But just for you...

What do you mean Jarvis wants his specks back?

2. My all time favourite Movie director is Alfred Hitchcock, I Just love every one of his films (though I still haven't watched Phyco yet, I'm too scared). Also, I was born in the same part of London, Leytonstone as Hitch, quite a few years later might I add!

3. My favourite book to date is Enigma by Robert Harris, I read it a few years ago and I was completely captivated, it has made me slightly obsessed with learning all about the Enigma machines and Bletchley park, I'm sure I will bore you all about this very soon. Ps, the film version is good but the book is soo much better!

4.  I called this blog The Butterfly Balcony, as on the day that I was procrastinating on starting this blog I needed a name (obviously) and as I was gazing out of my window I spotted my very first Butterfly landing on one of the newly grown (all by me) flowers on my balcony, and so it became the Butterfly Balcony- I have to say now that veg growing is my new love I am not so fond of Madame Butterfly! My mum, however, is convinced it is so named because I can never settle on one thing for too long and am always flitting between projects, which to be honest actually works just as well as an explanation and makes it sound like I had put some thought into it!

So on to the new recipients of these awards:

Miss Marie from Love letter from London

Presley from Young Vintage Girl

Charlotte from sew far sew good

Kestrel from Kestrel Finds and Makes

Lady Jardin from Vintage Views of the South Coast

Mim from Crinoline Robot

Keshling from Keshling Pulls it off

Melina from the Knitting Pony

Annabell from Vintage History Student
Hannah from Leopard and Lipstick

I realise these are not up everyone's street, so I understand if you decline, either way, it is an opportunity for me to say how great you guys are and how much I enjoy reading your blogs!

Wendy x

I'm Back...

Wow, it has been nearly a month since I have been on here! It's been so long that when I logged in to my blogger dashboard today it had completely changed, it has gone all fancy and swish and very orange! It all looks great but it feels a bit like when your favourite food store changes around all of its products, you wander around dazed and confused trying to find all the bits you usually buy knowing that when you get home your bound to have missed something! To prove this point I have already managed to accidentally wipe this post not once, but twice! So please forgive me if it is more pictures than words as I have lost most of the enthusiasm I started with, on typing this up for the third time!

Now that I am well and truly back in London my holiday has started to feel like a distant but very lovely memory and as I have done nothing of any great interest since my return I thought I would share some of what I got up to.

So first on the agenda was attending the Isle of Wight Festival

I went with my little brother and we had a fantastic time we listened to bands we had both been wanting to see for ages like the Foo Fighters Pulp and the Kaiser Chiefs which were all fantastic and we munched on some yummy but very expensive food like ostrich burgers!?!! 

...and took loads of silly selfies while waiting between bands.

The weather was on the other hand was just a little less than fantastic. My dreams of being all summery and floaty in my new dresses were almost lost as I only got to wear a dress on the Saturday, and due to it being really chilly, it and I spent most of the time under a jacket, woollen poncho which was topped with one of my mums beautiful crocheted blankets!   

The first two days were relatively sunny if not a bit too cold but on Sunday the weather changed to heavy rain mixed with very strong wind rendering the site a blustery mud bath.

Is it raining?? Guess which silly Blogger forgot their Wellies?!?  Note:pocket full of plastic bags as emergency shoe cover!

I have to say I had been feeling a bit disappointed that we hadn't camped this year that was until we were entering the venue on the Sunday and saw that lots of people were gloomily leaving having packed up their mud soaked items to go home early. 

We stuck it out though and found the best thing is to accept it (once your soaked your soaked it is not going to get any worse) and enjoy yourselves regardless, having said that we were in the very lucky position of being just a bus ride away from mums for a warm brew, hot shower and cozy nights sleep!

Not a good Idea to stand this close to a open flame in polyester dress

On the Monday after the festival it was really sunny so we were able to have a small barbecue in the garden, which in itself is a mini miracle as there is no power stronger than that of lighting a barbecue in Britain to bring on the rain clouds!

We even managed a few country walks, one of which we all got hopelessly lost, I blame my Mum she has lived in Wroxall for for 6 years now and convinced us she knew where we were going, but to be honest it may have been the fact that we were too busy talking to notice of the correct sign posts, and the fact my Dad was not there to keep us on the right track, either way we still had fun and got lots of lovely fresh country air.

My brother went back to Liverpool on Wednesday so the remainder of the week was spent with me and mum doing lots of Charity shopping (hurrah) whilst dodging sudden downpours.

Ryde High Street

I have to say if any of you are ever to venture over to the island the best places I've found so far for charity shops are:
Ryde - Loads, lost count, start at the very top of the hill and work down.
Newport - Try wandering down some of the back streets to find the best independent ones.  
Shanklin - Quite a few here and all close to each other.
Ventnor - Not as many but most are priced reasonably.

I'm sure this is just the tip of the iceberg as there is loads of places I didn't get to visit this time, but to be honest there were so many that I think I overdosed and haven't been in one since being back in London, though I'm sure that will all change very soon! I managed to get some bits and bobs for myself (a very 70s maxi skirt £2.99, some Glen Miller records 3 for £1 and some lovely 50's curtains for £2. plus lots more). I also found a few things for my lovely 'Faith Hope and Charity Swap' partner which should mean that the parcel should be winging its way to her very soon.

So that was my holiday I honestly don't know where the time has gone I can't believe it went so quickly. I had a fabulously relaxing time and enjoyed every minute! I'm off now to catch up on all your lovely blogs, I haven't been able comment on some blogs recently, I just can't publish the comments, Is it just me?? Perhaps it's due to the blogger facelift, I guess I might need to update my web browser? I'll give it a go, fingers crossed this does the trick!

Oh, before I sign off, I want to say a quick Thank You to Nabby and Miss Katie for giving me some lovely blog awards, which I will do a post about ASAP. Thanks, Ladies you really helped rid me of my post holiday blues!

Wendy x

Digging For Victory & Knitting Inspiration!

A few months ago, well February to be precise my best friend Diane and I finally got our hands on an allotment! We had been on the waiting list for just over a year and are very lucky to have one considering the demand for them in London at the moment! We both love growing things, and we both love eating things so it seemed the perfect solution to grow things to eat!

I have for the past few years been growing a few veggies on my balcony, mainly salad, radish, tomatoes and potatoes essentially anything that doesn't mind being in a pot and is easy to look after. So I was over the moon when we got the plot, finally a chance to do some proper gardening! I haven't mentioned it before, as I was a little worried that it may be an epic failure, as you will see from the pics below it needed (and still needs) a lot of work...oh and a massive skip!

The last occupier was a real hoarder, she seems to have kept most of her household junk in her shed. We found big plastic boxes full of fitness magazines, video tapes, gardening and history books all of which had been totally ruined by the water that had been pouring in from the hole in the roof.

The ramshackle old shed made up of old doors! You can see the hole which the foxes got in through by the recycling box!

Perhaps the worst thing we found was a dead fox and cub, we think they were sheltering in the shed over winter and either ate some rat poison that was stored in the shed or could not find enough food to survive the really cold winter we had. Either way, they gave us both a huge fright, as the shed has no window it is very dark in there so we didn't see them until we had almost touched them!

This is the Green House, there is certainly a frame can't vouch for more than one pain of glass!

So the Progress so far...

February 2011 - Where to start?!?
 All manner of junk seems to have been dumped on our plot!!

March 2011 - Progress is under way! The first row of potatoes and shallots are in. Also some Gooseberry bushes and a Blackcurrant bush, that I have had in pots on my balcony for a few years, and some new Poundland Blackcurrant & Redcurrant bushes (under the bottles).

April 2011- More digging done and some more of the junk has been removed. Another two rows of potatoes have been planted and the shallots are just starting to peek through.

May/June 2011- More digging has been done but the ground is getting a bit tough to dig as it been very so dry. I never thought I would wish for it to rain! Planted Peas, Onions, Runner Beans, strawberry's, sweet peas, beetroot and broad beans.

Page 02/03

Page 01/04

The aim for next year, when we have more of the land dug over and more of the rubbish removed, is to follow the Dig for Victory 'Grow for Winter as well as Summer' Leaflet (click photos for links to pdf files) for all year round crops. I am hoping as we are sharing the produce this will mean that although we won't be totally self-sufficient we will be at least optimising the land and getting the most veg possible!

All of this digging and planting lark has given me the inspiration to do a bit of knitting, so I've started on my very own land girl style jumper. I am using a free pattern for a women's V-neck Jumper found on the V & A website, and knitting it up in bottle green wool (although I'm sure at 16 I vowed never to wear bottle green again after having it as my school uniform for 5 years!) it is just the thing to create perfect Land Girl look and with fingers crossed should be finished in time for chilly old autumn!

Wendy x

High Days and Holidays

Right, my bags are packed and tickets collected and I am about to toddle off to catch a train and then ferry down to the Isle of Wight for a week.

I will be spending my time charity shopping, cream tea eating, sandy beach walking, and most excitingly of all festival going!!

I've been to the Isle of Wight festival a fair few times now and have loved every minute (well apart from the occasional flying cups of pee, not nice, not nice at all).So for the next few days, I will be letting my hair down releasing my inner hippie, although armed with my factor 50 and enjoying lots of loud music, eating loads of falafel and hummus, experiencing the horror that is the chemical loo and hopefully also dodging the odd dubious missile!

I have scheduled a few little posts to pop up whilst I am away which hopefully you should enjoy!  So I shall see you on the other side! 

Wendy x