Bust out the needle and thread, it's National Sewing Month!

✯ Day 246 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

When it comes to sewing, I make no claims about being an expert. I’ve got the basics down, have sewn a few garments in my life, and know my way around a fabric store, but I'm not a skilled seamstress, as I know many of you are.

At the moment I don't own a sewing machine, but it's on my "dream wish list", so hopefully one of these days the sewing machine fairy will deliver one my way!

Nevertheless, just because I don't have a sewing machine doesn't mean that I don't love sewing - because I definitely do. Presently, the bulk of my sewing is hand sewing that I incorporate into my scrapbook pages and homemade cards, as well as my (lifelong) passion for cross stitching. (Ohhh, and stack - that mysteriously seems to get a little taller with each passing year - of vintage sewing patterns, tucked away for that day when a sewing machine comes to fruition.)

So, you may be wondering, what has me thinking about sewing today? That would be the fact that September is National Sewing Month. First launched in 1982 with a proclamation from President Reagan, who declared September to be National Sewing Month, "In Recognition of the importance of home sewing to our nation."

Though Mr. Reagan was speaking about the US, there's no reason why this month of celebrating the importance of sewing can't be extended to crafters and seamstresses the world over.

Whether you love to sew yourself, are a fan or buying handmade sewing projects, or just enjoy items with sewing notion motifs on them, there's a place on the spectrum of sewing for everyone.

With September's arrival this week, many of us just weeks (or even days) away from a noticeable switch from summer to autumn weather, which means that we'll likely be spending more time inside again, our thoughts traveling to fun, crafty sewing projects we can delve into while the weather turns ever nastier

To quote the official National Sewing Month website, "National Sewing Month is a time to indulge your passion for sewing and is the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself to the craft if you’ve never tried it before. New and experienced enthusiasts can find free sewing projects and Guidelines for sewing, embroidery, craft and appliqué articles available on the Sewing & Craft Alliance (SCA) website at www.sewing.org. Looking for an instructor? Try the SCA searchable instructor database to find one in your area.

Another place to start is the American Sewing Guild. With chapters and neighborhood groups across the country, members meet monthly to share their skills and ideas, enjoy education sessions and participate in community sewing projects.

September is a time to celebrate our passion, but we know the creative, therapeutic and calming effects of sewing are joys that we can celebrate throughout the entire year. Happy sewing!"

Isn't that heartwarmingly lovely? I certainly think so. I really like the fact that sewing fans and enthusiasts of any skill level can use September as an excellent chance to connect with this timeless, valuable art form which has so many practical, beautiful applications.

{If sewing alone seems a little dull, why not gather a group of your besties and throw together a good, old fashioned - entirely vintage approved - sewing party? More advanced sewers can help novices and every stands to gather inspiration from one another's projects and ideas. 1954 photo of college students sewing from DigitalProjectsUNCG on Flickr.}

Tell me, sweets dears, what role does sewing have your life and your memories? Will you be using September to jump into a new sewing project - or keep working on an ongoing one?

I'm personally stoked about the fact that it's National Sewing Month and am going to look for lots of fun ways (from using sewing themed products on some of my paper crafting creations to better organizing my tiny collection of buttons) to keep sewing at the forefront of my mind all September long.

Gorgeous vintage inspired flower headbands for children

✯ Day 245 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

Lacking the blessing of any children of my own at this stage in my life - and not having any precious little nieces or nephews, or godchildren - I don't get to many occasions these days to dress kids. That doesn't stop me from swooning when I see adorable, beautiful, or otherwise intriguing kids clothes. After all, it's never too soon to bookmark favourite sites and sellers for future reference!

Like many people, I'm a sucker for a cute child – pair said youngster with lovely clothing - and I pretty much go weak in the knees and want to dress them up from sunrise to sunset. One of my favourite trends in kid's accessories (a spill over from their popularity amongst adults, too)  in the last few years has been fabulously gorgeous (fabric) flower adorned headbands.

While cruising etsy recently, I chanced upon an especially adorable photo of a darling child sporting a glamorously wonderful white floral headband. I love the styling of this shot from. From the looped 1920s-esque pearl necklaces that call to mind a pint sized flapper, to the gorgeous pale hued flower and feather headband.

 

Seriously, how darling is this little girl and her awesome vintage inspired headband? It features two rolled cream roses, a frayed chiffon flower, white feathers, a glistening rhinestone piece, and a tiny piece of veiling peaking out in the front. So charming, so timelessly sweet!

This headband (which is available for $20.00 from etsy seller Nana Rose Designs) would be perfect for any special little girl in your life.

With it's soft colour, elegant textures, and shabby chic vibe, I could see this working so fantastically for a wedding, christening, birthday party, Christmas, a family photo shoot - or really any day when you want your special little one to be especially sweetly accessorized.

For those like me, who don't have any kids to dress yet, this Nana Rose Designs also offers all of their enchanting fascinator style headbands in adult sizes, too. But for the ultimate cuteness factor, you just can't beat these precious hair toppers for all the cutie pies in your life!

1950s Busy Day Baked Beans are terrific for the hecticness of September

✯ Day 244 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

While recipes (vintage or otherwise) generally appear on Chronically Vintage on Wednesdays, as yesterday post was all about (my cat) Stella's birthday, I bumped the usual food filled entry up a day. In fact, I think this ends up working out quite well because now we can launch the new month off on a tasty note.

Though it's definitely still more summer than autumn here in Toronto (despite - or perhaps because of! - the powerful storms we've been experiencing in this neck of the woods recently), my mind is already drifting to thoughts of hearty comfort foods with intoxicating aromas that haven't seen the light of day since the last snowfall.

It's scarcely a secret that September can be a hectic month - especially if you have little ones that are headed back to school, or if you've making a beeline for campus life yourself! Aside from academic related reasons, the ninth month of the year is often an action packed one because many other events (sports, Girl Guides or Boy Scouts, clubs, etc) start their new seasons now.

We're also beginning to think about the fall and winter holiday season ahead, digging out and reintroducing cold weather clothes into our wardrobes, raking leaves, possibly harvesting our gardens (and, for some, canning the bounty you've lovingly grown), and readying our homes and lives for the upcoming changing of the seasons.

September is rarely a month when I have time to simply stop and smell the roses (or pumpkins, as the case may be) and I know that many of you are in the same boat, so to help usher in September, today's classic 1952 recipe for Busy Day Beans is one that requires but a handful of ingredients and can be table-ready in no time at all.

{Fragrant, delicious Busy Day Beans are a 1950s staple that work just as well for harried folks today. Vintage recipe image via Curly-Wurly on Flickr. Click here for a larger version of this great recipe.}

You can tweak this simple, delicious recipe to your heart's content. I, for one, would swap out the onion flakes for fresh onions, shallots or green onions (scallions) - sprinkling a handful of the later across the top of each serving before bringing it to the table.

Likewise you can  increase or decrease (or remove entirely) the mustard – why not use spicy, brown, or honey mustard instead, as well. Feel free to toss in any other vegetables (some diced boiled potatoes would be wonderful!) you like, or even cubes of meat (ham, bacon, stewing beef, etc) or tofu for added protein and stick-to-your-ribs filling power.

Ready in just 30 minutes, this speedy vintage one pot dish is the kind meal that's a welcome treat during this mile-a-minute month and well on all through the blustery days of autumn and winter.