Last Minute Page Boy Tutorial

New youtube tutorial! I filmed this pre-hair dye fiasco but the next one will show the new fixed hair color.

NonBettie Bettie Bangs

Woohoo! Youtube video time! Today's video is an alternative way to style Bettie Bangs. Enjoy!

How to get great 2nd day hair

Phew! This video was quite a production so you better like it! ;)



I have got to find a faster way to upload youtube videos. This one took like 4 hours?!? So with film, editing, converting (another lengthy process!) and then processing on youtube, these things are literally taking a whole day. Any tips? I might try filming at a bit lower quality and see how that works. Ever since I got my mac and started using iMovie, things have been taking much longer....

1940s Peak-a-Boo Bang

Who doesn't love the 1940s peak-a-boo bang? Here's how to do it!

Sunshine and Hair Cuts

My computer was acting up this morning but I did get it working finally so today's youtube video could come up! Woohoo! This tutorial is on faking a middy haircut if you don't have one. I'm planning on getting a middy in the not to distant future so I definitely wanted to get this video done before then.

I've also been awarded the Sunshine Award by Mommy en France who blogs over at Two Little Cabbages & cie. Thanks dear!

And here are the questions that go along with the award.

 Favorite color: Generally, I like green. Right now I'm loving mint, coral, teal and Tangerine Tango. Really depends on my mood though.

Favorite animal: Cats! 

Favorite number: not sure I have one

Favorite non-alcoholic drink: Diet cherry soda (It's really abut all I drink aside from water.)

Facebook or Twitter: Facebook. I don't even have a twitter account!

My passion: I have many-vintage, fashion, reading, writing, sewing. I tend to be very opinionated about things and either love it or hate it.

Getting or giving presents: I like giving presents if they are good presents. Giving people generic type presents is no fun and it usually means you don't know them very well and (at least for me) doing it out of social obligation rather than because you really want to. My husband is hard to buy presents for so I always get excited when I find him something nice!

Not going to lie though, I like getting stuff too. ;)

Favorite pattern: Anything by Wearing History and also the circle skirt pattern available from Casey's Elegant Musings

Favorite day of the week: Any day when I get to sew. Also days with nice weather. Right now: Wednesday and Fridays since I don't have to be in lab and can wear cute things.

Favorite flower: Roses and Hydrangeas

I'm supposed to pass it on to some blogs. It's too hard to choose, so I won't. Instead, I'd like to pass it on to all of my readers because you all bring sunshine to my life! I love each and every single one of your comments. Thanks for reading! If you accept this award, please leave a link to your answers on this post. I'd love to get to know you! Don't have a blog? Feel free to leave your answers in the comments.

Topstitching Tips and Tricks

Topstitching is one of those sewing techniques that sounds simple but can be really frustrating! Here are my tips to successful topstitching.


1. Test first.

Test out some different styles of topstitching to see which one looks the best. A single stitch creates a thin line while triple stitching creates a much thicker line. Contrasting thread pops in your projects while matching thread is more subtle.

For this thick fabric, I opted to do a triple stitch because the single stitch was just so invisible on the fabric.

2. Press first

I hate pressing but it's always a good idea to press the seam you are going to topstitch so you get a nice clean fold on your fabric.

Clean topstitching!

3. Go Slow!

It can be very tempting to speed along but going slow is key to getting a smooth, straight line.

4. Find somewhere to line up your fabric.

Having a guide for your fabric is a must! I like to use a machine foot that lines up with where I want my topstitching to be. You may need to try a few before you get one that fits. Also, you can use a post it note on your machine if you need to line something up in an unusual place or deep into the fabric.

Be careful! Not all positions on your foot are equal. On one side I lined up the seam with the center of the foot and had the needle in the left position. On the other side I used the center needle position and had the seam run along the inside of the left prong of the foot. They didn't come the same width. This goes back to #1 Test first!

 5. DON'T PANIC!

Don't be overly stressed if it's not perfect! You can rip it out and do it over if it's really bad but most people won't be looking close enough to notice all of those little jiggles in your topstitching lines.

Pin Curls!

 I'm not an expert pin curler by any means but I did want to do a brief overview of pincurls and my routine. Feel free to leave any questions!

Victory Rolls for Fine Hair Tutorial

I finally got this video up! Oy, sometimes technology just does not cooperate. It's up now so enjoy.

Youtube: Fingerwave Tutorials

Enjoy!

1930s Holiday Look

Holiday makeup look #2 is a 1930s Nutcracker inspired look. Cupid's bows always remind me of china dolls and I love the dolls from The Nutcracker! There's one more holiday look coming and it's 1950s.

Green and Plaid Perfection

One of my all time favorite old movies is On the Town. I just adored the green and plaid combo of the Prehistoric Man dress so when I spied it on Heart My Closet, I had to snatch it up.

I got this last January, but when Mrs. Amber Apple posted about hers a while ago, I realized that I'd never blogged about it! What a shame!

It really is just ridiculously fun to wear. The skirt is full and swishy and it's fully lined in the plaid fabric- warm and fun!

While I do already have a Christmas dress, I couldn't help but snap some cute Christmas shots with my little tree!



I also did a little tutorial for the make up look I'm wearing. The eyeshadow didn't show up to great on camera but it looks lovely in person.

Sew Grateful and the Magic of Jersey

The lovely Debi challenged people to use gifted patterns or fabric, nothing really came to mind that I could do (or have time to do), but when Oona posted this tutorial (and I remembered that Debi said you could be thankful for tutorials too!) that hit the spot!

And let me tell you, I am grateful for this awesome tutorial.

Who doesn't need a simple black cowl dress?

Or a slinky black dress?

Or an off the shoulder dress?

Or a one shoulder dress?

Or a back bearing dress?

And people, this is all the same dress! Through the magic of jersey and Oona's style genius, you too can have one of these lovely dresses! And it's ridiculously comfortable!

And because Oona asked, here's the beverage that helped me figure out this whole knit sewing thing.

HPNOTIQ and HPNOTIQ Harmonic!

I was really excited to learn that my machine had just as many stretch stitches as nonstretch stitiches! Woot! And I happened to have a double pointed needle to make the hem look all fancy.

Now, those of you who know Oona are probably thinking "How can you possibly do an Oona (aka the Queen of Prints) tutorial with *black* jersey?"

Don't worry. I also picked up this lovely print jersey and have whipped up Double Agent Dress #2 already! I even wore it out last night to see Les Miserables. I didn't get any pictures of me in the dress because yesterday was crazy busy. It's not a good idea to have two dresses to finish in one day (this rose dress for Les Mis and a Thanksgiving day dress) plus all that other getting ready for a holiday thing.

Happy Thanksgiving all! Eat some turkey for me since I can't stand the stuff!

Youtube: Versatile Vintage Brows

Enjoy my latest video! Happy Wednesday all.

Youtube: Red Lip Tips for Beginners

Red lips are a classic finish to any vintage look, but they can be pretty intimidating! So here I share my tips and favorite products that can help work you up to a bold red lip or work for days when you aren't feeling up for something so loud.

50s Hat Hair

Remember this look? Well I did a video tutorial for it! Enjoy!

Youtube: 1930s Fingerwave Tutorial.

Enjoy my latest video!

1940s/1950s Inspired Everyday Makeup Look

Here's my very first makeup tutorial!

Tutorial: Adding a Side Seam Pocket to a Pattern

My very first sewing tutorial is here! I adore pockets in dresses but so many dress patterns come sans pockets! (Crazy people, always forgetting pockets! ;) ) But you can add your own pockets! Side seam pockets are a great option and are not noticeable from the outside of the garment.

Part 1: Adjusting the Pattern

This part shows you how to adjust your pattern for pockets, which is really not as hard as it sounds.



Part 2: Sewing

In part 2, I show you how to sew the pocket into the skirt. Just insert these steps before your pattern tells you to sew up your side seams.



If you use my tutorial, I'd love to see what you've made. Leave your link here or email me at girlwiththestarspangledheart@gmail.com. Questions, comments, suggestions-let me know!

French Twist Tutorial

The French Twist is a great basic that looks elegant on its own but can also turn any style into a classy up do.

I'm seriously considering chopping off a LOT of my hair! If I do, I'll be sure to record some extra youtube videos so I can have some hair tutorials to share with you while I'm sporting a short do. I'm also planning on adding some make-up and sewing tutorials to my channel. Is there anything you'd like to see?

Faux Betty Bangs

So, in keeping with my New Year's resolution #3, here is the hairstyle from last week's Youtube of the Week.

Pardon my weird face. My eyes looked goofy in all of the pictures. I hate taking pictures of myself.

Here's the bangs by themselves. Looks pretty cute. I wore this style out shopping and it held up pretty well.... that is until I started trying on clothes. It's not really designed to hold up to shirts going on and off all day. But, other than that, it lasted quite long.

Ashley of Lisa Freemont Street used a hair flower to cover her bobby pins and I choose to do the same. I think that with more practice, I could figure out how to hide the pins underneath the rest of my hair, but I didn't have time to fool with it. I'll definitely be doing this style again. It was super easy and made me feel like I had my Betty bangs again! The hair flower I'm wearing is another Belle Blossom.

Vacation has been going great! I'm in Palm Coast FL, which is located between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. The weather is quite fabulous and the hubby and I are quite taken with the area. The resort has no wifi, so this is likely to be my last post until I return home.