Featured Sponsor: What-I-Found

Guys, I have the coolest blog sponsors in the world. Take Tina of What-I-Found, for instance. I think I'd like to steal her life. She's married to a safety inspector for amusement park rides, and she and her husband live in an RV, travel around the country, and Tina haunts estate sales and shops to bring us amazing vintage pattern finds. Jealous? I am! I did a little interview with Tina and yeah, she's just as cool as she seems.

Gertie: What's it like living on the road? Is it as awesome as it sounds?

Tina: Yes, it's pretty awesome. I love this life style, but it's not for everybody. I like the constant change and visiting all the new places, but we end up trying to sleep under roller coasters, parked next to dusty horse barns and having to avoid eating carnival food. But we also have a chance to see big State Fairs and little traveling shows that play in a corn field. I love seeing people all excited about coming to the fair, hovering over their 4-H exhibits, city kids interacting with farm animals, and of course riding rides.

The other part is the traveling between jobs. I get to see deserts, alligators, and oceans, sometimes all in one trip. But my favorite is small local events . . . don't you wish you could come to the Giant Omelette Celebration?

What's the coolest part about your job?

The big thrill is when we are in some tiny little town and there's that long neglected, dusty shop just off Main Street . . . and sure enough there will be a treasure trove. The owners is often just amazed that somebody wants those "old things". And they are even more amazed that I found them under the table and behind those boxes that were piled in front. I just love when my Pattern Radar goes off like that!

Have you ever found anything really cool/weird/funny inside a pattern envelope?

I found the best thing ever:

Aw! That's so sweet!

Are you a seamstress yourself? If so, how do you manage it in your RV?

I have sewn in the past and did a serious amount of quilting for years, so I know my way around a sewing machine, but I can't sew much in the RV. I do have a little Singer Featherweight that I travel with. And I have sewn projects here, but the big problem is not having a fabric stash . . . every inch of space we have is full of 5,000+ patterns - no place to stow fabric. I do some hand embroidery, and if we ever have to stop moving I'll set up a sewing room in a jiffy, because I miss sewing. But I don't plan to leave the road anytime soon.

Yes, you read that right: Tina lives in an RV with her over 5,000 vintage patterns for sale! We better take some of them off her hands so she can make room for a fabric stash.

Here are my picks! How about this classic Vogue shirtwaist in a 36" bust?

Or Vogue 7966, a fantastic double-breasted frock with a wide v-neck - also in a 36" bust.

This shapely wiggle dress (Advance 8066) is similar in theory to VoNBBS's Background Dress, with lots of variable collars - here in a 40" bust!

And Advance 4877 is a beautiful 40s number in a 34" bust - I love the bow-tied neck and shaped hip yoke!

Go see more of Tina's fantastic selection at What-I-Found. Also, she has a really awesome blog, where she shares other vintage sewing and fashion ephemera that she finds in her travels.