Keepin’ cool

03/03/2011 6:22 am \ 10 Comments \

I’m sorry I’m not very exciting today… just keeping cool.  I flopped slid gracefully into the pool as soon as I got home from walkies.  And this is the second day in a row Sienna has wanted to be in the photo with me.  Often she is there, somewhere, not necessarily in the frame but popping about in the background sniffing at trees and doing her own thing.  Lately she just wants to sit down where I am, so it must be hot for her too…

Details:
Dress; Simplicity 3745, modified to be more streamlined, white swiss dotted voile and lace
Scarf; a strip of turquoise silk chiffon, with a rolled hem edge
Thongs; Mountain Designs
Nail Varnish; Fool’s Paradise, BYS

Now the above picture isn’t at all exciting, but lets move on and have a look at some really interesting fashion-y stuff…  I watched our recorded Oscars last night, and I agreed with Beth that while a lot of the gowns were sadly unexciting this year, Cate Blanchett had the standout most beautiful gown of the evening.  Givenchy Haute Couture; a little part of me kinda hopes she will one day select something Australian for one of these events, but truthfully if I was in her position I’d be going Parisian too, probs. Whatever, Cate Blanchett never disappoints on the red carpet, and this was no exception.  The details of this gown!  I adored the little touch of gold at the shoulders and going down the back, setting off the soft feminine lilac to perfection, and I wished the camera was able to zoom in and show us exactly what those little bobbly things were going down the front of the bodice.  Whatever they were, they added just the right amount of decoration and interest.  I also loved that boxy square line of the sleeves and bodice; unusual and therefore a touch above, beautifully proportioned and realised.  Really, there was nothing not to love about that gown…  and the colours were perfect for her complexion.  She looked magnificent, as she always does.

As well, Helen Mirren look superb, a serial Best Dressed lady in my book.  With Vivienne Westwood she could hardly go wrong, no?  VW is usually so out there and her designs incredibly intricate and architectural; often gravity defying in their artistry, one of the reasons I find her so inspiring.  But for this occasion she toned down her usual flamboyance and produced a restrained and superbly structured gown, the soft sheen as well as the drab grey/pewter-y colour of that fabric showing off so well the elegant folding and draping that that designer is so admired for.

And I also loved the Dolce and Gabbana gown worn by Scarlet Johanssen.  Of course she is a natural beauty who would look good in anything, but even so her choice of gown this time was particularly stunning.  Form-fitting lace in that deliciously sophisticated berry colour, backless, and a divinely shaped skirt with a train?  Just too beautiful…

(I would credit these photos if I could remember which particular site I found them on.  There are many many many copies out there in the internet…)

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Burdastyle 10-2010-111A, a pattern review

02/03/2011 5:50 am \ 15 Comments \

Remember I wrote I’d made some matching shorts to wear under this little sundress?  Well, here they are.  Whew, they are so so short and flimsy I probably wouldn’t be wearing them on their own like this if I didn’t have a completely quiet non-sociable day dog-walking and house-cleaning planned, oh, yeah, hehe and of course a bit of office work too (I have to say that bit because my husband sometimes reads this…)  These little things are no more substantial than boxer shorts, so I feel a bit underdressed in them here.  But on the beach I was OK since there were not many people, and those that I did encounter today were equally if not more sparsely attired.
Actually I made these about 2.5-3cm longer than the pattern stipulated, as long as my scrap of fabric allowed me to make them, so can you imagine how tiny these would be otherwise?

Details:
Shorts; Burdastyle magazine 10-2010-111A, Japanese cotton
Top; “b” from Unique Clothes Any Way You Like, by Natsuno Hiraiwa, white cotton
Sunnies; RayBan

Here is the review I submitted for this pattern:

Pattern Description: 
Shorts with fly front, faced waist, welt pockets, slanted front pockets and underlay with button for internal closure.  This pattern basically does for three different garments in the magazine; short shorts, bermudas, and longer trousers, with a few different pattern pieces and modifications.  To save myself future effort, I traced out the pieces and variations for all three at the same time.
Pattern Sizing:
34-42.  I traced a size36, graduating out at the hips to a size 38 because I like a bit of flare, plus I was using flimsy fabric that wouldn’t have looked nice in a form-fitting garment.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you had finished sewing it?
yes
Were the instructions easy to follow?
Now here I have to be honest and say no, they were not, particularly!  If you’ve never sewed a welt pocket before, the instructions provided for sewing these would be awfully confusing.  I’ve sewn plenty, and these instructions still had me scratching my head a bit over what was the joining line, the abutting line and the stitching line.  And as for the instructions for the underlay, zip and the waist facing, well these were VERY confusing also.  When I read the instructions out aloud to my family it sounds hilarious because they are so crazy confusing….  like trying to build a space station or something…  I misunderstood the zip attachment and sewed the zip in place with a nice curved topstitching on the shorts front.  This turned out to be wrong.  Right near the end I had an a-ha moment and had to unpick the zip almost completely to do it the right way NOT attached the the shorts front, but only the facing, so I could insert the waist facing all neatly tucked in and finished around the zip tape and underlay as the pattern intended.  This was one of those times when an illustration ala how the envelope patterns do it would have helped a tonne.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I like that only a tiny amount of fabric is needed for these shorts.  I think I had roughly 60-70cm of 115cm fabric, which was just enough except for pocket innards, for which I used other scraps.  The pattern is well drafted and fits together well.  I like the clean lines of the shorts, no pleating or waistband gives them a contemporary and streamlined look.
What I don’t like; if I’d made them up to the pattern they would have been too short for my liking!
Fabric Used:
Lightweight cotton.  The pattern recommends brushed wool.  I think a thicker fabric like this would work really well.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I added about 2.5-3cm in length.  These would have been way too short for me to wear out in public otherwise!
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, I do recommend this cute little pattern, and now I “get” the instructions I will sew these again in a more appropriate fabric, such as corduroy, and definitely adding the extra length.  Although if you are under the age of twenty, the shorter length would be fine.
Conclusion:
I sewed these to wear under a short little sundress of the same fabric, for modesty.  Their streamlined non-bloomer-y shape makes them perfect for this purpose.  So I am very happy with them.

 

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First day of Autumn!

01/03/2011 6:50 am \ 12 Comments \

And the first day of Me-Made-March, and the all-self-made self-challenge.  So here we go with the daily photos…
Neutral today.  Surprise!  Playing it safe again.  Well, hopefully still nice with the lace-y embroidery and all.  And I just needed to be cool.  As they quipped on the news today, it may be the first day of autumn but somebody forgot to tell the weather…  

I always walk past this tree on my morning walkies with my doggy.   And often paused to look at it.  Each time noted the twisted tortured complex beauty of its trunk.  And wanted to photograph it.
I love trees.  I expect this is already blindingly obvious from the number of times I picture them here, but… I really do love trees.  I don’t think I could bear to live somewhere where there were not lots of trees.  Often I like trees more than I like some people.  I guess that comes across as hopelessly hippy dippy, and don’t worry I’m not going all earth mother chanting crazy peace-out head in the clouds opt out of the real world here… I do like lots of people too!  Just that I find trees very comforting and I don’t always find people to be comforting…

Did anyone watch the Oscars last night?  Well, let’s be honest, who cares about the Oscars, but what about the red carpet bit beforehand…. the only interesting bit.  I was out last night, but got my husband to record it for me to watch later.  Recording is the best way, because I can just fast forward through all the boring talking and entertainment and actual awards rubbish, and just slow down for the shots of the gowns.  Looking forward to checking those out.  Any highlights, anyone; favourites for me to look out for?

Details:
Dress, and petticoat underneath (not seen); both Burda 8071, broderie anglaise cheesecloth and silk satin for the petticoat
Top; my own design, cut out embroidered linen
Sandals; Micam by Joanne Mercer, Hobbs shoes
Sunnies; RayBan
Nail varnish; Fools Paradise, BYS

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Smoky short sleeved mens’ shirt

28/02/2011 2:04 am \ 8 Comments \

I made for my husband another shirt using the Kaffe Fasset shot cotton from purl soho.  This fabric is so wonderful to work with I’ve considered a few times sneaking off with it to make myself something instead of for him… but that would not be playing fair, right?  This fabric was bought with shirts for Craig in mind, and I must stick with my original good intentions.  No matter how fabulous it is… sigh
The name of this colour is Smoky; and has a deep purply blue warp and a lighter periwinkle/baby blue weft.  I’ve put in a picture showing the different threads below, because I know everyone is totally and completely fascinated with fabric and its composition and loves to get up close and personal …. no? er, that is just me then…hehe
This shot cotton is very light and almost sheer, and is perfect for mens’ summer shirts.  I often feel sorry for men in the heat of summer, they have to wear shorts or trousers, and don’t get the option of floaty unfitted dresses like us girls, which are so much cooler.  I know for myself when the temperature is brutally high I almost can’t bear the thought of a constricting waistband, trapping in the heat and suffocating my body.  This fabric is light and breezy and just gorgeous.  And a dream to work with.
I made this shirt using Burda 7767.  I’ve used this pattern so many times now it is practically a sloper, whatever that is.   Such a strange word, yes?  
There are not many variations introduced into the pattern this time, it is a pretty basic effort.  There are two breast pockets with flaps, and the sleeves have been shortened.  Of course, the shortening of the sleeves makes for a heaps easier construction, not to mention a decent amount of leftovers that I might manage to get some little thing out of for me!  The lower hemline is curved.  This can be quite difficult to do with some wovens but not so much with this great fabric.  I think the looseness of the weave is just enough so it has a very slight stretch to it, making a double foldover hem around those curved edges not so much of a problem.
I used up some leftover thread (from my rusty corduroy jeans) to stitch this.  Plain mens shirts look great with contrasting topstitching, and I adore the vibrancy of this strong tomato red against the dull denim-y blue!  I was also lucky enough to find the perfect buttons.  There is one sewn decoratively on the outside of each sleeve hem for a bit of interest.  Also there is a buttonhole on each of the collar ends, but this is purely decorative and has no button, nor is it even cut open.  This is just a casual shirt, but I like these echoes of businesswear details on a casual shirt sometimes.
(btw, about the headless shots?  sometimes he gets shy and requests this….)

Details:
Shirt; Burda 7767, with minor fitting and design modifications, shot cotton

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Grecian ball dress

26/02/2011 6:09 am \ 23 Comments \

I made this ball dress in 2004, for a conference function we were attending in the Louvre in Paris, where I couldn’t look underdressed. It was an important event in our calendar and I needed to dress to impress.  Thankfully I think I looked suitably presentable.  I remember being super happy with my dress and the very glamorous Parisian evening.  The dress is still in my wardrobe, so I must still feel good about it!
Since then I have worn this dress to three other balls and about three or four other things, so it is my most worn formal dress.  At the time of its construction, Grecian goddess-y looks were quite fashionable so I was inspired by that trend.  But as it turns out this is quite a classical design that I really do love, so I’m sure I will wear it again in the future too.  On one occasion I made an appropriately styled headpiece and handtorch from cardboard, aluminium foil and gold cellophane and went to a costume ball as the Statue of Liberty, and had my picture snapped for the newspaper as a result.  My picture in the paper is not a common occurrence!  At the mo’ I can’t find a picture of that outfit, but if I do I’ll put it up here…
I made it using Vogue 2480, out of silk satin in two shades, that has additionally a (synthetic?) thread running through it to make it subtly sparkly.  The two colours are oyster white for the underdress, and a coolly subdued sage green for the top part of the dress.  I love the draped design at the left hip, as well the long skirt has a beautifully shaped little train at the back that I think is very flattering.  The only slightly strange thing about the pattern is that as the draping is all on the left side of the dress, the invisible zip closure is on the right side.
So, obviously this is not a daily outfit post, but I had my hair done the other day and I’m not one to let a good hair day go to waste.  I haven’t shown this dress here yet, and I decided the day of a professional ‘do is a good day to do this dress justice.  Plus I’m anticipating Me-Made-March ’11 coming up and a daily outfit post for a whole month… (oh dear) and I don’t want to risk boredom by OD-ing on the daily outfit post thing.  You’ll get enough of that soon enough.  I’m just worried that if the weather doesn’t co-operate (by that I mean cool down just a tad) I will definitely be the most boring participant in this challenge because the same few little sundresses are just going to appear day after day.  I would really like to avoid that scenario.  Let’s face it, the same outfit over and over is… totally not exciting.  

Details:
Dress; Vogue 2480, oyster white and sage green silk satin
Shoes, Nina, from David Jones

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Mineral Green socks

24/02/2011 7:27 am \ 14 Comments \

How much do my feet hate me right now?  So much, and why? oh let’s not get onto the weather again…
Which brings me to this, I apologise for all the whinging yesterday.  I always promised myself I wouldn’t whinge about stuff on this blog, and what did I do yesterday?  Whinge.  About the weather, no less!  Sooo trivial… sorry.  A girl is entitled to an off day every once in a while, hm?

So, on to my new sockies.  These are the socks I started knitting in Japan, and have finally finished.  Sam bought this wool for me when he was in Melbourne on his volleyball tour, after I had given him precise directions to the wool shop.  It is just about exactly the colour of all my children’s school uniforms, so has traditionally been rather an un-liked colour about this house.  I was a bit surprised that he chose it!
As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve always felt knitting my own socks to be quite “worthy” and I feel strangely virtuous that I do this.  I put some more thought into “why” and came up with the following… my family lived through WW2 in London (before my time, obviously), and knitting socks for the troops was in that time and place a very worthy thing to do for the war effort.  All women did it, it was the right and patriotic thing to do and all were proud to be doing it.  It was a highly lauded activity.  After thinking back on it I’ve realised that this pride in knitting something as basic and necessary as socks is an attitude amongst the females in my family that has subliminally been passed on down to me too.
Details:
Socks; made from Morris Empire Superwash Merino 4 ply in Mineral Green (col 415) with Beluga toes and heels, adapted (as always) from the Ladies Sockette’s in Patons Knitting book C11, a circa 1960’s publication.
Pussycat; hand-carved by my grandfather
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Another hot day… and some glove stuff

23/02/2011 4:03 am \ 9 Comments \
Strange thing.  When I logged onto my blog this morning, it popped up and said I am following no blogs!  How did that happen?  I don’t recall going through and un-following any blogs… perhaps I am a far more active and computer-savvy sleepwalker than I ever realised… 

Has this ever happened to anyone else???
Anyway, I am sweltering…  without a doubt my bathers are the most worn items in my wardrobe this summer; I am in and out of them at least four times a day.  In and out of the pool.  I’m a believer that if one has a pool (which we are hugely fortunate to have) then one should not use the air conditioning.  The downside to this is that Perth has not dipped below 22C at any point over the last ten days or so, meaning all night we are stifling.  The only pleasant time of the day is first thing in the morning, when we do get down to around 22C and it is bliss to get outside of this oven of a house and flop into the pool, again.  Of course, by mid afternoon the aforementioned oven is a cool cool haven compared to the fierce heat outside!  Every now and then the family gets jack of it and switches on the air conditioning despite my rants about greenhouse gases etc  Oh I’ve just googled and 22C is 72F on the old scale.  Highs generally 36C, or 98F.
In glove stuff…  Lauriana and Darci have both made a start on their gloves, which is fabulous… and I am waiting to see how they go on their muslin gloves.  I am still unsure about cutting into my lilac suede skirt.  In fact as it has been hanging in my laundry awaiting its execution I am starting to regain a new fondness for it and am fantasising about all the great combinations I could make with it…  as a skirt.  It may well find its way back into my wardrobe.  I do have another op shop suede skirt that is a very 70’s beige and that I have never worn.  I might chop this one up instead.
Lauriana mentioned an unusual seaming around the thumb in her store bought leather gloves… and I got out my own leather gloves to have a look, and on all of my four pairs of leather gloves that I currently own there is the same strange gusset/flap arrangement sewn into the thumb area too  (see below).  I’ve never consciously noticed this before!  This feature is definitely not in my Vogue glove pattern, and what is more I think this sort of seaming would be way beyond my capacity to draft for myself.

Details:
Top; Country Road, originally white and dyed with ground turmeric
Skirt; my own design, charcoal grey jersey knit
Necklace; made by me, tutorial here
Sandals; Anna, from Marie Claire shoes

Gloves (below) a souvenir from Venice.  Look at this lovely detailing on the back….

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Little yacht romper

22/02/2011 4:08 am \ 10 Comments \

A blast from the past for today…
This is a little romper suit I made for our eldest Tim when he was tiny.  I have no memory of where I got the pattern, it might have been a TopKids design, but I do have a very vague feeling I just saw it in some Women’s Weekly crafty publication, hehe.  It had a pocket at the front with two appliqued yachts, edged with zigzag stitch and with red satin stitching to represent the hulls, and some tiny little embroidered flags at the top of the sails.  Turned up cuffs and lining, in contrasting yellow.
It was a nice little thing that all three of mine wore, but this is the only photo I have, of Tim wearing it.  If you would like to see what this cute little kiddie looks like now, go here…

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