Monthly Archives: October 2009

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Good hair day

23/10/2009 8:06 am \ 2 Comments \

Friday, 23rd October 2009

Had a sociable day today; met some friends this morning, went on a long walk along the beach later with another friend, and wound up the day with a hair appointment. Ah, isn’t getting your hair done one of the most self-indulgent and luxurious events in one’s life? I love sitting and flicking through the latest fashion magazines, getting a cup of tea, having my hair washed and head massaged, followed by the blow-dry that makes it look so much nicer than I can ever achieve myself at home! Such a treat…
Today’s skirt is one I made last summer using Vogue 7880 view B, but without the silly hanging bits that are illustrated on the pattern cover. I’ve always left these off actually. I used a lovely burnout polyester chiffon in a wild kaleidoscope of yummy colours; chocolate, raspberry, lime, lemon, pistachio… Don’t you love how colours are defined in terms of food nowadays? Makes you salivate just describing them; a sort of feast for the senses. Maybe that’s the point. You don’t hear a garment described as a brown top any more, its alway a chocolate top, or a coffee, mocha or toffee top (as appropriate).
Even though the fabric is chiffon and quite luxurious I’ve used it as a casual skirt from day 1, even bike-riding and beach-walking, like today! The skirt has many layers and bits hanging down all around which flutter and ripple in the breeze in a lovely feminine way. As the fabric is see-through I extended the front and back bemsilk lining so that it formed a self petticoat underneath, and just marked the original length as to where to attach the skirt bottom pieces to it.
This has been a great pattern, although I have to admit that the first time I used it I found it quite complicated and attached the lining pieces to the bottom skirt pieces inside out and had to unpick it all; its a pattern that you have to concentrate on and trust that it will all come together all right in the end – it does!
Other details:
Top; Metalicus
Camisole (under); Country Road
Sandals; Micam by Joanne Mercer, from Hobbs
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Uniform butchery

22/10/2009 8:12 am \ 1 Comment \

Not handmade by me, but this is my daughter, who you could say is a creation of mine! in some small way… One cool thing they get to do on their last day is to reconfigure their school uniform however they like, and here is her version! It is all frankenstein-ed from different components of the uniform, including buttons and hair-ribbons, some of the girls used their bathers, sports shirts, tie…you name it. We bought a 2nd hand one for this, as she still needs her real one for Speech night! She did a wonderful job, and its all her own design and handiwork. It fits perfectly. (There can be no higher praise from a seamstress!)

It was very inspiring; there is such a wealth of creative talent in our teenagers, it gives you real hope for the future. You know the world will be in safe hands, and all the rest of it… sigh…
It was wonderful to see the girls so excited and happy and full of confidence for their future and bursting with enthusiasm.
Its been wonderful to have a day this uplifting…
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Big day out

22/10/2009 7:11 am \ 1 Comment \

Thursday, 22nd October 2009

Thankyou for your lovely comments!
Today is a big day, my daughter’s final day at school. Her school makes a big deal out of it for us parents too; it started with a flower ceremony, followed by final assembly, morning tea, chapel service and then lunch; in order. Quite a day. So I needed a DRESS! I made this previously for a lunch held at the beginning of spring, but couldn’t wear it without risk of freezing half to death. So, held it over for this occasion.
Its New Look 6699 view G,J,L again, a little ripper of a pattern. As the lace I bought for it was completely see-through, I lined it completely with a cotton batiste petticoat. I added wide coffee-coloured border lace around the bottom of the petticoat and a simple tube sleeve of the same lace around the armholes. I moved the invisible zip closure to the left side seam as usual and eliminated the back centre seams. The midriff is of gathered silk, and I also added a long sash of the stuff to tie at the back. You can’t see it in the picture, but I added a close-enough-to invisible pocket on the right side, just big enough for a mobile phone and a credit card. I think I’ll do this to all my party dresses in future… so useful…
Got several compliments for this dress today, which was very gratifying! Ah yes, we seamstresses always deflect praise, “oh, thankyou but it was easy, nothing to it, really” but its nice to get recognition, no? Here’s a challenge, approach someone you don’t really know very well and pay them a compliment. It will make their day and, by association, will give you a boost too!
Other details:
Shoes; Marco Santini, from Marie Claire
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How to wear menswear inspired pants

21/10/2009 2:19 am \ 2 Comments \

Wednesday, 21st October 2009

Just a quiet day at home, so dressed accordingly. Both pieces I’ve worn already recently, breaking my rule. But I’m wearing the pants again today since they won’t be really dirty from yesterday, although they will be now since I walked the dog in them this morning. Working up a sweat!
And the top is such a favourite I just had to pull it out again. It is one I posted about previously here (Butterick 4985, view A sleeves, view B collar), except today it can be seen more clearly.
And again, I like the contrast of the ripped, shabby, lace-y casualness of this top with its antique type buttons against the very tailored, almost-menswear pants. I think the best way to wear menswear is to have something ultra-feminine along with it.
Oh, and this summer I am really loving Revlon’s Blackest Black nail polish for my toenails. I feel so chic and edgy with it! This is such a departure for me, who is usually wearing coral pink or nude tones on my nails. Yeah, for something different!
Other details:
Pants; Morrison
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Secretarial duties

20/10/2009 4:24 am \ 2 Comments \

Tuesday, 20th October 2009

Today did my duty as secretary of the Ladies’ Auxiliary at school, so dressed secretary-like. Kind of.
This top is McCalls 4454 view C, but made using pieces of leftover silks I had from previous projects and some velvet ribbon I had bought for something else, but not used. The ripped strips of silk were sewn to a bemsilk facing version of the camisole after draping, pinning and fitting on Bessie, (my faithful dummy) and another lining attached inside to hide the bits and ends.
I really like the combination of grey, purplish grey, and bronzy browns; giving it subtle smoky style, and the soft, shimmery layers of translucent silk are sort of ethereal. The ripped edges form a rebellious and untailored contrast to the pants.
The necklace pendant is also self-made.
Other details;
Pants, Morrison
Shoes; Vicenza, from Soletta shoes

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Patchwork

19/10/2009 9:16 am \ 1 Comment \

Found this one and only picture of the other version of the dress I posted about earlier today here, from McCalls 4454, elongated to dress length; the one made out of patchwork fabric bought in Calico and Ivy. It was bought as a collection of “fat quarters”, from which I cut large, medium and small squares. The squares were pieced and the pattern cut out so that the smallest squares were at the bodice of the dress, and getting larger in size down to the hem of the dress, at which all the largest squares were. All were on the diagonal.

I loved the seaside-y colours; it may not look like much from the back but it really was a lovely dress and got a lot of compliments. Sigh. I think it got a rip in it eventually.
I think it looked better than its follow-up, partly because of the pretty fabric, and partly because the skirt was a lot more billowy, a better look for me.
(On a pictorial note, I’m at the top of Mount Lycabettus looking out over Athens …. we walked up to the top and back and really earned our drinks! It was fab!)
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Bouchee dress

19/10/2009 5:49 am \ 3 Comments \
Monday, 19th October 2009
Meeting my Monday morning gals today, so I’m wearing the hot pink Metalicus cardi they gave me for my birthday to show it off. I’m not sure about my dress this morning. Not sure because I always feel I look like an elephant in it. Its from McCalls 4454 view D, which is actually a little top pattern. I used it because I really like the bodice arrangement, and just drastically elongated the whole thing to dress length. I also added some triangular inserts to splay out the skirt and hemline, and added (artistic touch!) two HUGE pockets diagonally and randomly to the front. The pockets were also to cover some discoloured areas; as the fabric was originally from the remnant bin at Fabulous Fabrics because it had partially faded in patches.
Its not been a bad dress as its very cool to wear in summer, but … all ladies like to avoid looking like an elephant. So this may be its last outing. If you are a pear shape, like me, then its probably best to avoid long A-line dresses with no waist definition. I think I need waist definition. The funny thing is I made this same dress (see here) before using patchwork fabric bought from Calico and Ivy, and it looked great (shrug).
The necklace was also made by me, during my beading phase. My ladies this morning admired it!!! Still, they’re always nice to me!
Other details:
Cardigan; Metalicus
Sandals; Micam by Joanne Mercer, from Hobbs
Bag; Gucci
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To sleep, perchance to dream

18/10/2009 8:16 am \ 2 Comments \

With the lovely warm summery weather here to stay, fingers crossed, its time to don summer jammies. My choice this year is sort of what a saucy fifties housewife might choose. The colours of mint green combined with red are kind of fifties, I think. The lace with red ribbon is very lingerie, and not pairing it with either black, red or white saves it from being tarty. A final touch was the three apple buttons, (Eve, gettit?) left over from a baby jumper I knitted many moons ago. The shorts have POCKETS! Well, I had enough fabric, so why not. The shorts were made using last year’s summer pyjama bottoms as a template, cut off short. The top is McCalls 4454 view C without the tie. I’ve used this pattern many times, and usually modify it by sewing it much narrower at the torso (about 4cm each side) and inserting a left side zip, but this time its as is and about 5cm longer.

My husband wanted to know why I’m not modelling it, well, ahem I think that’s obvious, no? But thanks for the suggestion…
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