Monthly Archives: May 2013

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blue, with cardigan

06/05/2013 9:00 am \ 19 Comments \ Carolyn

Looking at this picture, I’ve just realised that my outfit is vaguely early 50’s, a la “A Place to Call Home”; with my long-skirted, waisted dress, a little cardigan and oxford-style shoes. Ha! A subliminal influence! But I am enjoying all the visual styling, the clothing and home deco in the show so much! You?
I’ve just had a look on the net for images of the women’s fashion worn in the series and there is practically nothing 🙁 But I’m sure there will be, soon!
This is the first morning I’ve “felt” cold even though the temps aren’t really lower today than so far for this month. Funny, that. It’s not even windy, but is just as still as still could be.
After I finish in the office I’m sewing. Nothing will stop me. I’ve had an autumnal dress on the go for about a month. Seriously! I’ve been plodding along, but I think I’d better get cracking so it can be worn just a few times before autumn is out!

Min 15C, max 25C, cloudy

Details:
Dress; self-drafted, using a design from Pattern Magic 2 by Tomoko Nakamichi, blue cotton, details here
Cardigan; knitted by me, the fitted cardigan with lace edging and three-quarter sleeves, in Jo Sharp Soho Summer DK Cotton; colour Calico (shade 216), details here
Shoes; Bronx, from Zomp shoes

For my family, Craig in particular; this day has been absolutely chocka with me-made-nesses! For activities with varying dress standards; Craig has worn this business shirt, switched over to this short sleeved shirt, then finished up in this hoodie for another part of his day. Whoa! And Cassie wore this Tshirt today.

Craig’s shirts; both Burda 7767, details of striped shirt here, details of blue shirt here
Craig’s hoodie; self drafted, details here
Cassie’s shirt; self drafted, details here

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: daily outfit, MMM13, Sienna

not-so-new

05/05/2013 9:17 am \ 27 Comments \ Carolyn

Hello, from the both of us.
I wanted to wear this little white linen top but none of my skirts felt very inspiring so I randomly threw it on over this dress. And discovered that the lower band of the top is close to exactly the same circumference as the dress at this point; meaning that when I am wearing them together like I am here, it appears not like two separate items but like a complete dress in itself.
It’s like I’ve discovered a whole new item of clothing in my wardrobe!!
Score!

min 13C, max 24C, sunny

I am the only one in my family wearing clothes made by me today

Details:
Top; the bamboo shoot top, self-drafted, white linen, the front is the bamboo shoot design from Pattern Magic by Tomoko Nakamichi, details here
Dress; based on Burda 8511, aqua linen with orange silk wave-y welted pockets, details here
Shoes; Bensimon, from seed

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: daily outfit, MMM13, Sienna

may the fourth be with you

04/05/2013 12:47 pm \ 25 Comments \ Carolyn

International Star Wars Day, hehe 🙂
So, here I’m on my way out for a day of shopping, including a visit to Spotlight to check out the $5 patterns. I bought one. Very restrained, I thought.
Yeah. (smile) OK.
Now for the guilty confession; I’m a bit late with the report of my stash-busting pledge for last month… probably because it’s so embarrassing to admit that last month the stash did not diminish one little bit. In fact, it has er, expanded somewhat. Expanded, considerably.
I made three items in April, only one of which was a bonafide stash-bust; my faux leather jacket. My navy corduroy skirt was a refashion from January, but I’m counting it since I only just blogged it last month, and the “bossy” dress I’m just going to consider a completely separate thing apart from the stash-busting challenge.
And … when I visited my parents for Easter, Mum gave me a rather, er, huge pile of fabric, lovely fabric that had been set aside for me by a very generous friend who was cleaning out her stash. So very kind of her. So my stash has gained roughly something like ten new pieces of fabric of various sizes.
Lots of productivity is definitely in order 🙂

min 12C, max 24C, sunny

Details:
Top; Vogue 1309, hand-painted silk dupion, details and my review of this pattern here
Skirt; Vogue 1247, purple denim dyed brown, details and my review of this pattern here
Shoes; Betts&Betts, about 20 yrs old

In me-made-maying efforts for my family; Tim wore this shirt today, and Cassie wore this dress to a party this evening

Tim’s shirt; Burda 7767 blue check fabric, details here.
Cassie’s dress; no pattern, moss green silk, details here

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: daily outfit, MMM13, stashbusting 2013

water

03/05/2013 6:55 am \ 24 Comments \ Carolyn

One of my favourite things about the me-made months are the photo theme days. Today’s theme is Water! aaaand I suspect I’m totally failing in creativity here and displaying nought but amazing predictability, but I can think of no better excuse for me to take Sienna to Dog Beach, which is only, like, her very favourite place in the whole wide world. I know, shouldn’t need an excuse, right? But sometimes, we do.
In other news, today I am being interviewed over at Seamstress Erin, on, what else? but our shared love of style and sewing.
Thank you Erin! 🙂

min 13C, max 24C, sunny

Details:
Top; Vogue 1247, orange cotton, details and my review of this pattern here
Capris; Vogue 1115, sand stretch sateen, details and my review of this pattern here
Thongs; Havaianas

My family is sorta? keeping up in the me-made fashion stakes, Craig is wearing this shirt again today. I’m thinking my “keep quiet and let it organically happen” approach is not going to lead to much variety in this side of things.
(Burda 7767, shirting cotton, details here)

Speaking of water, and the ocean, and freaky things; oh sorry, we weren’t? Oh well, we are now… check out this deep deep sea creature…
How freaky?!

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: daily outfit, MMM13, Sienna

post downpour

02/05/2013 7:32 am \ 17 Comments \ Carolyn

Thanks to all for the thumbs up yesterday, and I apologise for my very bad explanation, and should clarify with a more complete one: I’m pretty sure the “boring” comments aimed at me-made month-ers in general, that I’ve read on mine and on plenty of other blogs too, are more directed at the fact that a whole bunch of daily outfit posts can become monotonous and particularly for people not so interested one person’s personal style and the pursuit of understanding and creating it, but who are only in it for the sewing tips and techniques etc. And, sure, I understand that point of view. I even “get” it, but only a little bit, since I’m a nosey parker; head-over-heels into checking other ladies’ personal style and adore seeing different ways people mix-and-match up their clothes. And particularly if they are making it all themselves. Insatiably interested!
I didn’t intend to come off mope-y. But a big thank you for the vote of confidence :))
Last night we had torrential rain; which is awesome stuff for Perth. Of course, only this morning did a lightbulb go off that I should totally have nipped out yesterday and fertilised the garden… doh! It could be ages before we get another good soaking!
And I know from experience not to fertilise now, after the rain. Not a good idea, without an imminent watering-in. The neighbours will hate me, the family will refuse to sit outside for dinner. The only household member to be over the moon at my thoughtfulness will be Sienna, who will express her joy and appreciation by rolling blissfully and thoroughly in said fertilised beds, crushing plants, whatever, and then want to come in and rub her odiferous self against the sofa and everybodies’ legs. And then be hurt and bewildered by the enthusiasm of everyone’s rejection.

min 15C, max 23C, and a bit of everything today! some cloud, some sun, some rain

Details:
Top; Vogue 1115, lightweight cotton denim, details and my review of this pattern here
Skirt; Vogue 8363 with modifications, burnt orange raw silk, details here and my review of this pattern here
Shoes; Enrico Antinori

I have one other family member wearing a me-made item today; Tim is wearing this brown linen shirt. I asked if I could take another picture, to which he replied; You’ve taken one already, haven’t you? Um… yeah. I’d better not push my luck.

Tim’s shirt; Burda 7767, purple-y/chocolate brown linen, details here and my review of this pattern here

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: daily outfit, MMM13

Mayday

01/05/2013 7:34 am \ 40 Comments \ Carolyn

So, I said I wasn’t going to post a photo here every day during me-made May, since I’ve had comments on my blog about how boring it is, apparently. Sorry. But today is the very first day and I’m kinda pumped about joining in, so… yeah. Here we are! Wearing shades of beige, ivory, grey, just like those beautiful clouds above.
This is a different piccie from the one I posted on the mmm13 Flickr group, because after I uploaded that one I noticed it was actually a pretty lousy picture; one I had taken on a terrible setting apparently … doh! I’m still learning! Aperture too wide! So I checked through the rejects for this one, which is not so good of my outfit I think but is a better shot, clarity-wise.
It is cloudy, which makes the photo-taking part of my brain leap for joy, the light being so much more amenable to photos; and it is so beautiful and fresh and cool at last. I’m excited about trawling through my me-mades for outfits for this month. I’m excited about the possibilities for layering.

min 14C; max 26C; cloudy

Details:

Tshirt; self-drafted, and never blogged before because it was a bit boring, but it was made using the leftovers from these leggings…

Wrap; wrap “f” from shape shape by Natsuno Hiraiwa, cream knit dip-dyed in blue dye; more details here and my review of this book here

Skirt; Vogue 1247, of a piece of curtaining fabric; more details here and my review of this pattern here

Shoes; Betts&Betts; I’ve had these for many years

Last year, I also included when my family happened to be wearing something I had made on any given day too; so I thought I would do that again. An old photo, but this morning my husband left for work wearing this me-made shirt: