Vic Mizzy is our vintage clothing division here at BoltedMKE. Mens, womens, shoes, and jewelry (soon!) are all featured in the Etsy shop, but we wanted to keep the clothing shop separate from the fabric shop. One of my favorite Vic Mizzy photos was featured in today’s “Artistic Inspirations” collection.
It’s Vic model Blonde Erin in a yellow knit floral top sitting in front of this amazing vintage teal blue trailer. (We’ve recently had to distinguish our current model as Blonde Erin because of the addition of a second lovely Erin model, who will be making an appearance around the Vic Etsy any day now.)

Here’s a peak inside the trailer.

The knit top was snapped up right away, but there’s still plenty left with lots to update!

I got a call two weeks ago saying one of my non-winning photographs had been damaged in some serious flooding we got in Milwaukee last month. I checked which one it was, and it was the image of the rooftops that I hoped was in my top-four contenders. You see, some of the entries were a bit of a… stretch. There were 75 or so categories, but you could only enter one photograph in each. And most of the categories were as you would imagine State Fair categories to be – three categories for children, six categories for flowers, several categories for farm animals, etc. Dumb stuff. So my Italy photos didn’t really fit many. Because I tend not to make a habit of photographing small children. Most of the photos of my sister for the Vic Mizzy Etsy store would have been fine, but there was ONLY ONE FASHION CATEGORY. So I entered this photo in the mailbox category. And this one in the summer category (third photo down).

Like I said, a bit of a stretch.

Anyway, I entered the this photo in the Emotion category:

Ha. Yeah I laughed too. Hopefully the judge laughted as well because someone decided to give me fourth place.

I also got a second place ribbon for the dress I entered in the “First Time Sewing Entry” category. I’m relatively sure this was a category for the first time you entered a sewn item into State Fair, not the first time you’ve ever sewed.

So there you have it, my illustrious Wisconsin State Fair winnings. Off to see the wizard tomorrow, so I’m sure there will be some photos of food of the deep fried and/or on a stick variety (first up is deep fried oreos, then maybe some deep fried vegetables).

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Things I accomplished instead of sewing dresses:
1. Ran a half marathon. Over the course of four days. I know, BFD.
2. I found some amazing cheese. Really, that should have been number 1.
3. Had a really short Vic Mizzy shoot in the blistering heat in the middle of a field in the Kettle Moraine. It was almost like being under that dastardly Tuscan sun.
4. I paid some kid at Kinkos $5 to cut 10 pieces of black foam board into 12×14″ rectangles. I know I only paid him $5, but I would have been willing to pay A LOT MORE for pieces that were ACTUALLY 12×14″ and, you know, not crooked.
5. Set a 2010 record for dollaz at the East Side Green Market, which is still pittance compared even to a so/so week at the Market last year.
6. Managed to turn in 11 of the 13 pieces for State Fair. 10 photos and one dress.
7. Got Vic Mizzy and BoltedMKE stickers made! Spend some money at the Market this weekend and you’ll get a few!

Some of the State Fair-entered photos are below. First two are my best shot at a ribbon!

]]> http://www.boltedmke.org/?feed=rss2&p=65 0 http://www.boltedmke.org/?p=60 http://www.boltedmke.org/?p=60#comments Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:12:53 +0000 admin http://www.boltedmke.org/?p=60 I foolishly signed up to submit three sewing entries in the Wisconsin State Fair. My grand delusions intentions were to submit a dress in the Cocktail, Party or Bridesmaid Dress category, one in the First Time Sewing Entry category and one in the Independent Sewing Pattern Company category.

This is also the week I hope to run a half marathon over the course of four days. And work full time. And schedule a Vic Mizzy photo shoot. And work the East Side Green Market on Saturday.

Like I said (to quote my dear Editor Erin): OMG PANIC PANIC.

Now, I’m trying not to worry too much. I figure I can cut out all the pattern pieces on my lunch break, sew when I get home at 9 p.m. Do any hand stitching on my lunch breaks as well. But I’ve only ever made two things from a commercial pattern before. AND IT TOOK ME WEEKS.

Did I mention State Fair entries are due on Monday?

I just ordered the Ceylon dress pattern from Colette Patterns in Portland, Ore. I’m thinking of doing it up in a really crazy floral print, but the little old lady judges at State Fair are pretty conservative.

I’m getting ahead of myself here. This was meant to be a thinking-out-loud-in-an-orderly-manner-so-I-can-quit-OMG PANIC PANIC-ing.

1. I don’t think I’m going to be able to accomplish any of this. It’s not that I don’t believe in myself – because I know I can make it work. I just have way too much going on and I make way to many promises and I end up in a cold sweat the night before with a hundred things started and nothing even close to done. Then I cry and go to bed.

2. I need to focus on one project first. To save my sanity. There are no consequences if I don’t finish. The best idea would be to get the Colette dress done, as there are extra prizes in the Independent Sewing Pattern category. BUT, I don’t think the pattern will even ship until Friday. Which means there is no way I will have it in time.

3. The halter dress will work! I made a simple halter dress a few weeks ago that will work for the First Time Sewing Entry category. Wow – just typing that made me feel better. One category down!

4. Start the party dress tonight. I’ve got the fabric and pattern picked out already, I can potentially get it done by Friday. If the Colette pattern comes on Friday, I reschedule the Vic Mizzy shoot for next week and use the weekend to get dress done.

Watch for photographic proof that I’m actually accomplishing something.

For your shopping pleasure. Vic Mizzy Vintage.

it’s too late for Gatsby, but not for you.

Or, you know, there’s always the $7.50 swatch. put it under your pillow and dream of silk taffeta-drenched weekends in the hamptons.

i’m trying to unapologetically copy this wonder of sewists, this wonder of humans, who is all, yeah i just totally crank out awesome shit day after day.

other options for blowing most of the rest of friday’s paycheck:

this might be “it” but it looks green and that’s scary.

this seems enormous. is that a quarter? “great for drapery or home accents” UNCHECK.

I’M COVERING THE WALLS WITH THIS.

made great progress on a quilt yesterday! photos soon. no more thrifting until i find my wallet. and get paid.

i’ll have a bunch of items for sale at La Superette 2009 at the South Street Seaport on Dec 5-6! Too bad I can’t stuff myself into a flat rate box and go too.

i’ll have magnetic memo boards and hair barrettes for sale, be sure to check it out if you happen to be passing through the south street seaport or another area of manhattan that weekend. give the city a hug for me. check out la superette’s Web site to read about the idea of the annual event (going on for 10 years!)

etsy is on it’s way. give me a minute or two.

it's messy in here