Monthly Archives: April 2013

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new toy

After tonnes of deliberation, I’ve bought a new lens; an early… something? present for myself  ðŸ™‚
My old lens is a 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6, which is a really fantastic little lens that produces great shots.  But for a while I have been really wanting to up the ante on my pictures and it has been frustrating that I have not been able to change the settings just how I would like.  So I’ve bought the 50mm f/1.4.

The top photo was taken with the new f/1.4, and the lower picture with my older lens, both adjusted to shady conditions.
I’ve still got quite a way to go with learning how to best appreciate it, but I’m pretty excited at the prospect of experimenting…  what do you think?
Details:
Top; the bamboo shoot top from Pattern Magic, white linen, details here
Skirt; based upon Vogue 1247, coffee coloured lace with silk lining, details here
Sandals; Misano, from MarieClaire boutique 
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8th -13th April
(I’ve pledged to wear only clothes handmade by me this year and to sketch my daily outfits in my Fashionary.  I’m calling this the paper doll project)

from left:
Aquarius dress
dress with wavey welted pockets
clementine top + lime print skirt
bamboo shoot top + coffee lace skirt
bell-sleeved top + re-fashioned denim skirt
chambray shirt + dusky pink Japanese design skirt

The weather is cooling down beautifully.  I love the heat, but extended heat is hard to take.  Of course, hark to me in three months time when no doubt I’ll be hypocritically complaining about feeling cold….  And I’m a terribly stubborn eco-minded individual who refuses to put on the air con unless we’re all fair dinkum dying.  Or unless we have company.  Ha!  Don’t worry about the family, but heaven forbid visitors might feel uncomfortable!
I’ve finally adjusted the coffee lace skirt I am wearing in the following post…. the linen waist bit had started to bother me, that it wasn’t a proper waistband.  I took it off and re-sewed the waist-hip side seams of the skirt and underskirt, taking in about an inch total at each side of the waist; and straightened the waistband up to be a high, straight waistband.  I think the skirt fits me a lot better now, and the waistband sits up at my true waist.

before, shaped
after, straight
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tea infusers

This post is apropos of nothing handmade at all really, but these tea infusers are such a cute and relatively newish thing in my/our lives that I just wanted to share…

When it comes to imbibing; tea is my number one choice.  I used to have it listed along with some other of my favourite things in the “about me” blurb up here on the ol’ bloggeroonie, when I eventually decided to change that to something that better described what my blog is actually about… but tea is a huge part of my daily routine.  I won’t even drink any other kind of hot drink at all, that’s how boring dedicated I am!  
Oh OK then; I make an exception for Melbournian Koko Black hot choccie… but that’s a kinda special, going away on holiday treat!

Cassie likes tea too, so much that she is known for it amongst her friends and these adorable little tea infusers have all been given to her for birthday pressies.  I’m allowed to use them sometimes too  ðŸ˜‰  and think they are so sweet I amused my tiny mind by taking a few pictures.

Each occasion I have met up with other sewing ladies who blog, have been marked by the consumption of tea; I enjoyed an interesting, delicious and unusual herbal fruity tea with Donna in Paris and was treated to a perfectly wonderful, traditional Japanese green tea with Yoshimi and Novita in Tokyo.  That was a completely new experience for me, and how I wish I could repeat it… in fact how much I wish I could go back and meet up with all those ladies again!
Just for comparison; this last one is “my” tea infuser, the everyday one I use by default.  Not quite so cute, huh?  Well, as long as it gets the job done!  Random fact; the tea in this last picture is what I am sipping right this very second…

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me-made may

2nd April – 7th April
(I’ve pledged to wear only clothes handmade by me this year and to sketch my daily outfits in my Fashionary.  I’m calling this the paper doll project)


from left:
white Tshirt + lacey layered skirt + hand-knitted socks
billowy white shirt + hot pink shorts
Japanese print sundress
chambray dress + ecru scarf
blue dress
eggplant dress

And in synchronous news, I’m taking part in Zoe’s challenge again.  This will be my sixth time participating!  Since I am making and wearing exclusively my own handmade lingerie now I can go the whole hog and declare myself totally self-stitched this time around….  Woot! 

I, Carolyn of “handmade by Carolyn”, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May ’13. I endeavour to wear entirely self-stitched clothing each day for the duration of May 2013′

So I will be aiming to take photos of myself every day, which I guess is the actual true part of the challenge for me  ðŸ˜‰ since, y’know, I’m wearing all my own clothes this year, and all.  The photo bit is easily the toughest component! but I might not bore y’all with my drivel in the form of a post every day.  Although mebbe, if I have something bubbling in my head to say, since I actually really like looking back on these months myself and seeing what was going on in my life. 
I’m pretty sure I won’t trouble you with my paper doll drawings during May, although I will still be drawing them in my fashionary, for sake of continuity.
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Leatherette A-line skirt; 6 different ways


I don’t wear this faux leather skirt nearly enough, given that it is actually a pretty cool skirt.  I think maybe that is the problem…  maybe it is too cool for me!  I’m not really used to wearing much leather or faux leather, except in shoe, boot or bag form.  But, using my imagination I can discern that the weather seems to be making a very veeery gradual descent into overall cooler temperatures, so I’m thinking about those parts of my wardrobe again.  And about giving all those little sundresses a break.  I think this skirt deserves to make a few more appearances and get worn, dammit.
I made it using Vogue 1170, and it first appeared along with my review of the pattern, here.

Below left; worn with a matching, wool and faux leather military style jacket with knitted sleeves.  Haha, of course this skirt and jacket wasn’t ever intended to become a matching set, just that I had some of the leatherette leftover, enough to squeeze out some of the pattern pieces of the jacket.  Bonus outcome, a sorta suit!  Random observation, I am fair dinkum sweltering in this photo here! so this will be a very good ensemble for winter; some day when I get the fashion urge to channel Star Trek or something.
Below right; peeping out from one of my most recent creations, the bell sleeved denim top.  I have to admit; this is my favourite of the bunch.  I’m kinda head over heels in love with it.  I like the contrast of the unpretentious honesty of blue cotton denim against more sophisticated smooth and glossy leather; and the casual, easy-fitting and very un-body-con vibe of the shapes here reminds me of those lovely Japanese pattern book looks.

skirt1
Below left; with a plain white Tshirt and black snakeskin cardigan; hmm another of the faux leather components of my collection!  This might even be an office appropriate outfit; not that my office requires one.  I have a friend who does the very same job I do, and we often joke about our “work wardrobe”, haha.  Which generally features shorts and thongs, or a dressing gown and slippers, depending on the season, and a dog under the desk at your feet.  I would need an outfit that fitted smartly into a real office for about 2% of my actual working week, tops.  But I would wear this for such occasions.
Below right; the colours blend in nicely, and the vertical lines of the folds in the skirt are nicely visual juxtaposition against the random diagonal folds of this painted silk, Issey Miyake top.  I was pretty pleased to discover this skirt and top look great together.
skirt2
Below left; I like unexpected things and what could be more unexpected than a leather petticoat?  Skirts underneath a dress or dresses over a skirt, take your pick; is a terrific combination for a cooler day.  I’m wearing here my trusty eggplant dress; add a big drapey berry coloured scarf over the top, and I think this is a nicely layered autumnal ensemble.  Below right, maybe a bit smarter or more preppy whatever that means; I’m wearing a little triple-collared shirt with a net cardigan over, all in visually peaceful gentle shades of grey, coffee and white.  I’ve always loved these subtle pale neutrals here.  When I started my blog my aim was to branch out and incorporate new and more interesting colours into my wardrobe.  So I do enjoy flirtatious adventures with real colours sometimes, but only tempered with plenty of safe retreats to my ol’ pale and drab faithfuls.  I think I enjoy colours like a holiday, playing with them for a few exciting funfilled days at a time, and getting back to my neutrals is like coming back home into your own comfy familiar space again.
skirt3
Hmmm.  Waxing lyrical about colours as a metaphor for life again, for heaven’s sake.  Somebody stop me.  Anyhoo, whatever; I think I’ve ignited a fresh love for my comfortably, blessedly colourless faux leather skirt.  Now I just need the weather to co-operate so I can wear it!
Oh, what am I wearing today?? today I am wearing the eggplant dress just above, but sans the extras.  Like I said, it still feels like summer here, no joke.
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Mum and Dad’s; a travel wardrobe…

So as hinted previously, I have just returned from a long Easter weekend entire week away.  How did that weekend stretch out so long???  Oooh I have no idea! but I am not complaining! 😀

Time away: 7 days
Where to: my parents’ house in the bush
Season: early autumn.  Hot days, and beautiful and fresh in the evenings, daytime highs from lovely 28C right up to a roasting 34C
Expected activities: LOTS of bushwalking, smidge of campfiring and flying-foxing (yes, really!), a coupla forays into town and one big family dinner at a semi-swisho country restaurant for a special anniversary dinner for my brother and sister-in-law.  Meeting a friend for lunch.
Colour scheme: mostly bush-and-dirt friendly olive, khaki and moss green, with the freshness of white and one shot of hot pink for fun and colour

What I packed: (click on each garment name to link to its original construction post)
(left to right; top to bottom)
4 Tshirts, here and here
(below) summer pj’s
hiking boots
smarter lace-up booties
ugg boots
thongs
not pictured, but I also took a selection of my handmade underwear and bathers

Verdict:  Mum and Dad had mentioned that they had experienced a few cold nights, thus the packing of the corduroy jeans and ugg boots … and then of course we had hot weather! only one morning and evening did I put on the black corduroy jeans but pretty soon took them off again for something cooler and easier to get about in.  I needn’t have bothered with them!!! but better safe than sorry I guess  ðŸ™‚
Everything else was great.  My dark olive khaki hiking pants were worn and worn, until I felt they could have walked around the property all by themselves!!  My new wool felt cardigan was fantastic in the evening.
Nit-picking; I could have done with a few different tops, as in a bit more variety in styles.  I do get bored with my choices when I’m away, particularly when I pack lots of the same; in this case, plain Tshirts.  But actually plain Tshirts were the ideal thing for the kind of holiday this was.
My daily outfits:

I know you guys will like this photo  ðŸ™‚
Hiking boots and hand-knitted sockies

Old photos: but part of the holiday outfit batch.  I don’t think the first photo has ever appeared here on my blog.  That was part of me-made May, last year…

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27th March – 1st April
(I’ve pledged to wear only clothes handmade by me this year and to sketch my daily outfits in my Fashionary.  I’m calling this the paper doll project)

from left:
full moon top + little charcoal skirt, knitted green hoodie
white Tshirt + long layered lacey skirt, dk olive wool felt jacket 
dark pink Tshirt + hiking cargo pants, handknitted socks, dk olive wool felt jacket
white Tshirt, hiking cargo pants, handknitted scarf and socks
linen army-style shirt, hot pink shorts, handknitted socks
charcoal/black stripe Tshirt, khaki hiking pants, handknitted socks

by the way, and I’m sure everyone is way smart enough to have sussed this out already; but just saying: when I draw my paper dolls merely carrying a cardigan as opposed to wearing it, that denotes that I wore it only for a small part of the day, like in the evening when it might be a bit fresh.
And: halleluia for fresh evenings  ðŸ™‚
And: sorry I stuffed up colouring-in my hiking boots.  Days 3, 5 and 6 here are supposed to be all the same shoes.  My bad.
And: well.  Can I just say; drawing lace to look anything at all like “lace” is flipping hard.

In stash busting efforts for March; I managed to whittle my collection down by another three lengths of fabric, woot!  Namely, the sand-coloured silk/linen for the knots dress, a length of emerald green corduroy, and the blue cotton denim for the bell-sleeved top.  Also kept up with my pledge to continue re-fashioning old unwanted textiles into new and useful things; by re-using the lovely wool felt from a long-unworn wrap to make my new cardigan/jacket thingy.

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