Symco Shakedown low-down

Catchy title, huh? After a week of being back home, I think I'm finally unwound now.  Everything is accounted for, unpacked and followed up on.  It was a great four day weekend.  Weather was perfect.  Girls were gorgeous.  Vintage campers and bicycles were everywhere this year.  Bands were rocking.  How long should I keep this up?  Cars were chopped, channeled and shaved.  Met up with old friends; made new friends.  Truly an awesome experience.

My August apron really came in handy!

Thursday afternoon Hank and I rolled in and set-up camp.  Without the kids, the ole '68 Scotty felt downright spacious!  My mother babysat the kids and the sheep at the Homestead for us.  It was a welcomed weekend for Hank and I; we got to step out of the parenting role for a few days. 


Friday morning was stage prep for the pin-up contest.  I had purchased two pieces of stretch lace in 7-8 yards lengths at the thrift store.  We used these to swag the backdrop of the stage.  Now that's it's all done, I think I may make them into a peignore set!

Two thirds of the stage was used for the pin-ups while the other open space to the right was for the band.  A doorway was created in the middle.  As each girl was introduced by the hostess, she entered at center stage, stepped up on the platform and did her best pin-up poses.  Cameras were everywhere!  But I get ahead of myself...

...late Friday afternoon we hosted a calendar signing with the pin-ups from last year's contest.  It was great to have all the girls back together again.  Miss Symco 2011, Sweet Pea, is seated in the center of the photo, wearing the red hat.

Friday at midnight I helped organize the first annual Symco Shakedown Burlesque Show.  Our three performers were fantastic, and the show went over very well.  But I didn't get to bed until almost 2am.

Saturday morning came much too early, but the with all the extra hands I had helping me, things went smoothly all day.  The photo at the left is me changing into my "fancy shoes" just before the contest.  I found a pair of those clear plastic, rhinestone heels at the thrift store.  I was surprised at how comfortable they were.  Didn't use a single one of my band-aids!

The pin-up contest went off without a hitch.  Twenty-eight beautiful ladies, one gorgeous hostess (seated, wearing the embroidered peasant top) and my Hometown Victory Girls, Wild Kat and Peachie.

And Miss Symco 2012 is Apocalypse Meow!  More photos on the facebook page.

 
After the contest wrapped up, the top twelve placing girls went onto the grounds to take calendar shots with our photographers.  Shooting finished around 2pm on Saturday, and finally my work was done.  Hank and I could relax.  See those smiles of relief!  lol

Next time I'll blog about my dress, but yes, I did make it using a late '50s pattern. The ivory bodice has a small floral print with flock flowers (!) and the skirt is a sheer nylon.  Unfortunately my crinoline kept sliding down all day and peeking out the bottom.  But it was comfortable and flouncy!

Here's Hank and my best friend, Samantha, chilling on my '50 Ford.  Hank's red Chevy is parked next to it.

And now I'm back on the homestead, picking beans and gathering school supplies.  Time to check the flannel nighties to see if they'll last another winter and decide which sheep to breed this fall.  The weekend was fun while it lasted.  Symco really steps you out of reality for a few days; the cars, the clothes, the music.  I guess you could argue that it's just a bunch of adults playing dress-up.  But boy, until you've experienced it, you don't know what you're missing.

Apron Challenge: August

Some of you might know that when I'm not strolling through the pasture, adoring my little lambies, I organize a pin-up contest for the Symco Shakedown.  During the second weekend of August, hundreds of traditionally built hot rods and customs descend upon the crossroads town of Symco, Wisconsin.  Two days full of cars, swap, rockabilly music and mini-bike drags.  And kicking off the Saturday morning line up is a pin-up contest showcasing the classic glamour of the 1940s and 50s.  Seems to me like the perfect occasion for an apron...

So this month I channeled my inner rockabilly pin-up and decided on a small black apron with black lace ruffled trim.  I used the Miss Symco logo to make a patch pocket.  This should come in handy when I'm backstage handing out bobby pins, directing photographers, tallying scores and answering frantic, last minute cell phone calls.

The pin-up contest is a lot of work.  When I was first approached about organizing this, my thought was, "Put some pretty girls on stage...the audience applauds for a winner...there you go!"  It's not quite that simple.  Our top twelve winners are featured in a calendar so immediately following the show, the girls have their photos taken on the grounds.  And this year I've added a calendar signing with the 2012 girls, and a rehearsal with this year's thirty contestants.  It's a lot prep; lining up contestants, sponsors, judges, photographers, an emcee, a band to play between the rounds and backstage volunteers.  But I've made a lot of friends along the way, and everyone seems to have a great time!

So Peepshow, my '50 Ford Shoebox, is ready for the weekend.  Hank and I drive separately.  He tows the camper, and I'm loaded down with crinolines and shoes.  She still doesn't have an interior, but I did have time (in between lambing and baling hay) to sew up a new seat cover.  It's black and very boring, but will have to do until I can find upholstery to match those swanky pink sun visors I made.

Admittedly, a car is the best accessory ever!

I'll be sure to take some photos of the car show and the pin-up contest to share next time.  If you're interested in a few photos from past years, check out the Symco Shakedown website or the Miss Symco website. 

Peepshow: A little sewing project

My 1950 Ford Shoebox, that I have christened Peepshow, is back on the road after a long winter of sleeping in the barn.  Back in March when we had a crazy week of 80 degree weather, Hank and I pulled the car out of our barn storage and brought her around into the garage.  I've taken her to town several times already this year.  Relearned how to drive a 3-speed manual (on the column), snubbed my way thru a few stop signs, gave her a good washing on Mother's Day and overheated at the Citgo in town.  Old cars are an adventure!

But it's time to get serious and start working on her again.  One thing that was painfully obvious was the need to get the sun visors reinstalled.  Driving west at 6pm is a killer!  Now banish from your minds the image of a little me-maw peering through the steering wheel.  I assure you that I can see over the wheel.  A little sewing project was in order.

The original visor was of course crusty and gross.  And since my flocked upholstery is sold out (why did I wait so long to decide?!), I dug out some cotton/poly and grabbed the pinking shears.  A simple sleeve would cover this perfectly as a temporary fix until I find upholstery to do the whole interior.

The fabric is folded alone the bottom edge.  I marked out, cut, repositioned and marked again the sewing lines.  The attention to detail and skilled sewing that went into this project is astounding.

I sewed the curved end and top edge, turned the sleeve right side out, and fitted it on.  

I pinned and hand-stitched the end closed.

Next stop was the trunk of the car where we find the Bucket o'Crap that I collected when I stripped down the interior.  The trunk is full of door panels, weather stripping and general unidentifiable parts that I assume will be needed later.  Is this the right screw to mount the visor?  Now do we have three that match?

After collecting three screws that might have worked, I got up front to find the necessary screws were waiting right where they should have been.  While I don't remember exactly, I suspect I did this under the advice of my well-experienced husband, Hank.  Notice the trim screws are also in the holes where they belong?  

And there you have it.  A new visor that won't rain 60 years of dust into my lap.  Now one thing I've learned about "temporary" fixes like these, is that they seem to stay in place a whole lot longer than originally intended.  So I'll do the other visor to match, and if there's enough I might cover the front seat.  And if you're wondering why the windshield is gray, that's the car cover.  White car + 6 cats + dirt floor = a paw-print dance pattern across my hood and trunk like you've never seen.  It's cumbersome to cover and uncover the car whenever I want to drive it, but Hank's not willing to repaint my car each year.

Now wouldn't it be nice to have carpeting...

Peepshow's Last Call

This week I took my 1950 Ford out for her last drive of the season.  I had to take just one last ride to town with my girlfriend.  Since I have yet to sew up an interior, it was a very chilly ride.  There is no insulation, no carpeting, no door panels.  We could see our breath throughout the entire trip. 

We went to a local deli that will be closing next week.  Many items on the menu were already sold out and won't be restocked.  We hit some local craft shops that will close their doors after the Thanksgiving rush.  With the lack of people on the sidewalks and emptier-than-usual parking lots, it was obvious that this small town was buckling down for the winter.

And so it goes on the Homestead, too.  My husband will clear a space and snuggle Peepshow into the barn.  There she'll spend the next six months, gas tank stabilized, car cover cinched down, sleeping alongside the boat and camper.  I have the chicken coop shoveled out and filled with fresh sawdust.  The sheep pen is cleaned and laid with new straw.  The garden is barren.  The basement storm doors latched.  Winter will be soon upon us, and I will be found, book in hand, sitting by the woodstove.

Shoebox Update : Details

Although she's far from being done, my Shoebox is getting a few feminine touches.  Peepshow, as she's been christened, is hitting the streets in style!

 

Yes, you saw that correctly.  Juicy Pink metalflake from Roth and a doorknob.

Symco or Bust

Camper is outfitted and hitched to Hank's 1950 Chevy.  My '50 Ford is loaded with all the necessary pin-up stuff (clipboards, check-in sheets, contestant numbers, bouquet of roses for the winner...).

Hank was laying metalflake on the roof last night.  Talk about the Nth hour!  But he was too excited to sleep.  :)  He didn't have quite enough flake to do it justice, but you can see a pink hue in just the right light.  More layers to come after the car show.

 

I ransacked my closet and pulled way too many outfits (but only three pair of shoes).  A girl never knows what the weather will do!  My crinoline was a must . . .

Technically I've only got about three hours seat time in this ole girl, learning manual for the first time, three on the tree.  Only killed it twice and started out in third once.  Surprisinly I'm tall enough to see over the steering wheel, but not quite tall enough to reach the pedals.  Two pillows makes all the difference!

 

I'll try to get some good photos of the cars and the girls.  ;)  Check back next week for all the sordid details!

Shoebox Update : Paint

We took the ole girl over to our buddy's shop where Hank squirted some color on her.  Nice to be working inside, away from the cats, the bugs, the birds, and the bits of 50 year old paint wafting down from the rafters.  I guess now that "shop upgrade" project will move up a few notches on the To Do List.

Hank drove her back home those 30 miles while I followed.  Shh, don't tell the cops that we didn't have headlights, wipers, door latches, a grill, a trunk lid or valid registration.  But Hank did install the tail lights and bolted down the front bench.

It's good to have her back home again.  Our deadline is fast approaching, and I've long since given up on the interior.  We've decided on Juicy Pink metal flake for the roof, but that may not make it either.  I'm just excited to be in it and heading down the road.

And evidently Louie is happy to have her back home again, too.  Literally, she sat in the driveway for not two hours before the cat was in it . . . and had left his mark in the still-a-little-tacky paint . . . in three places.  Gotta love life on the farm!

Shoebox Update : In Primer

So happy to say that over the past couple of months, my husband has been steadily making progress on my Ford.  All bodywork is done. Filler and patch panels ground and buffed.  Love that look of bare metal!

And so she was driven outside, taped and draped.

First coat of primer laid down pretty smoothly.

Now, admittedly, my husband has been more excited about this project than I have.  So far, that is.  I think he's better at envisioning finished projects when metal is involved (plus he wants to move her out of the shop to make way for his '52 Chevy wagon which is waiting patiently in the shadows).  I'm better at envisioning projects when they're done in fabric.  Once the exterior is painted, I'll take over to finish off the upolstery and detailing.  That's when it all comes together for me, and I can actually picture myself sitting behind the wheel.  Our deadline is a traditional hot rod show in early August, the Symco Shakedown, and I think we can make 'er...even if I have to resort to a Mexican blanket for the time being!

Gratuitous pin-up photo.  :)

Shoebox Update : To Scallop or Not to Scallop?

So apparently the bodywork was getting slightly tedious because my husband took a roll of masking tape and a rattle can to the front end.  Here are the options to date:

 

Still love the lady . . . and as for me, the upolstery quandry continues.  Also, did I mention that there was metalflake in her future?   Rattsberry and Juicy Pink are in the running.  And we have been granted access to an actual paint booth!  So she won't be done in the driveway . . . with the cats jumping on the tacky hood!  Oh baby, we're talking!