Fabric and wool shopping, Melbourne

01/10/2010 2:28 pm \ 6 Comments \

Having a blast in Melbourne, thus the lateness of the post.  Fabric-wise, twas another extremely successful day.  So I thought it would be helpful to give for you today a list of highlights in my explorations here…

The first shop I visited yesterday was:
Cleggs,
60 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
ph (03) 9654 7677
Verdict; small but varied range of all sorts of good; little bit of knitting yarns, little bit of embroidery and craft supplies, little bit of fabrics.  The range of laces and lace borders was fabulous and had me hooning across the store as soon as I spotted the discreetly placed shelf of lacy treasures…!  After much awed contemplation I bought a series of black lace borders to make a layered camisole…  Also medium to good range of lace and sequinned fabrics on the bolt, some reasonably priced

Tessuti Fabrics
141 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
The verdict; not cheap, but a very good range of very yummy fabrics.  Couldn’t decide what to get.  Everywhere I looked new possibilities called their siren call out to me.  I seriously spent a couple of very indecisive hours in here.  Eventually bought a selection of muddy coloured summer weight fabrics for summer dresses but may have to visit again before I go back home…  This place is well worth it.

Morris and sons
level 1, 234 Collins Street, Melbourne
ph (03) 9654 0888
Biggest range of knitting wool I’ve seen, like ever.  Bought four colours of sock wool,  muddy autumn-y solid colours as I crave these in my sock collection.

RetroStar Vintage Clothing Company
upstairs in the Cathedral Arcade, 37 Swanston Street, Melbourne
a collection of amazing and incredible secondhand clothes, lots of which are worthy of museum status.  Nowhere else have I seen all in one place Texan cowboy boots, American college jackets, cheerleader jackets, an immense collection of band Tshirts, plaid flannel shirts, menswear including Lacoste sportswear, cashmere jumpers and cardigans, shirts galore, jackets, army disposal gear, womenswear from years and years back that will have you gasping in amazement at each new discovery; this place has to be seen to be believed.  The decor alone is unique and real entertaining.  Warning; not cheap though…

and today discovered The Fabric Store
184 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy (still within walking distance of central Melbourne)
ph 9416 4455
Verdict; a huge range of really good fabrics, all in a reasonable price range.  Lots of end-of-bolts from designer ranges.  This is well worth making the trip out to see it, it is within walking distance of central Melbourne but if you buy up big like I did you may find the walk back somewhat burdensome… just saying.  Hard to leave this store without spending up some.  As with Tessuti’s, indecisiveness also plagued me bigtime here (so much choice!! man…), but I had an appointment with the next very important stop so bought lots of fabrics as I don’t want to trudge back out there again.  Oh, another plus point, the girls are very generous cutters.

Koko Black
Royal Arcade, Melbourne
No visit to Melbourne is complete without a visit to this cafe.  I can’t remember the occasion I first discovered this little gem, but since it entered my radar I will go here once a day when in Melbourne.  Sometimes twice a day.  The Belgian hot chocolate is to die for.  Seriously.  This is divine stuff.  One cup of this nectar of the gods and you will commence a lifelong love affair…  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Later edit: Alannah Hill fabric outlet, 188 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, is right next door to the Fabric Store.  Well worth a visit too!  Hint; bolts and bolts and bolts of Alannah Hill fabric are upstairs 🙂

My outfit today wasn’t very exciting, so I have no wish to bore you with a photo, but this will give you a chuckle…  for wealthy parents who have furnished their own wardrobes to bursting point with ultra-expensive designer gear and need another spending outlet: (now we’ve seen everything…)

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Curiouser and curiouser…

30/09/2010 8:50 am \ 18 Comments \

Hi, the last day of Self-Stitched September; and I’m coming to you live from sunny Melbourne!  Haha.  That’s an in-joke amongst Australians, as Melbourne is … er, not very sunny.  The weather here is notoriously fickle.  The sky today is white white white…  But dearth-of-sunshine notwithstanding, I still adore Melbourne.  This is the shopping capital of Australia, and I’ve already laid down the plastic in two fabric stores and a wool store, and also visited what must be the most kitsch-ily fabulous (but kinda pricey) second-hand shop in the whole of Australia, the RetroStar Vintage Clothing Company, and therein bought a pre-loved maroon velveteen jacket and a beaten-up (in a good way) pair of shiny black men’s brogues.. hola!!  It’s been a very successful day.

And as if the haul wasn’t enough, I spent the morning in the Royal Botanic Gardens and was totally spoilt for choice when it came to stunning locations.  And the soft grey light that this city is famous for (thanks to the cloud cover) makes for dreamy photography.  Win!
Today I feel a bit Alice-in-Wonderland-ish, wandering through the beautiful other-worldly treescape of the gardens in this floral floaty dress with black tights and booties (for warmth, I did say Melbourne is dismal, today is 18C or 66F, freezing by current Perth standards)  It reminds me of the illustrations in my old copy of the book, by Arthur Rackham, and which shaped my childhood imagination of the dreamworld that Alice visited.  My mother once said this dress was one of her favourites (thankyou Mum)  It is based loosely upon Vogue 7748, a basic wrap dress pattern, but with a two layered frills around the neckline, a deep frill around the lower edge, back waist ties and sleeve ties added.
Details:
Dress; partly my own design, based upon Vogue 7748, printed polyester chiffon, with petticoat (not seen) my own design, pink jersey knit, seen first here
Tights; Kolotex
Booties; Django and Juliette, from Zomp shoes
Illustration below by Arthur Rackham, from Alice In Wonderland, published 1907

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Gardening gracefully

29/09/2010 3:33 am \ 5 Comments \

Today I am wearing a little sundress I made a few years ago, with the intention of it being a beach dress to pop on over bathers.  As it turned out kind of fancy and pretty I’ve ended up wearing it on loads of different occasions…  I used the halter bodice from McCalls 4453 which is a top pattern, and altered the design to have a side zip opening.  I drafted a skirt that is a sort of faux wrap around design.  Long at the back and with two tapered fronts lapped over each other and both secured in the side seams.  The dress is fully lined with pale pink lining.  I like the softly pretty luminous effect this has under the sheer red swirly pattern of the fashion fabric, which actually has sparkles.  Bonus!  
And the little lace cover-up has been another pretty as well as useful little thing that is my own design and was whipped up on a whim.  
Today I felt the need to be a bit … colourful and quietly cheerful.  After all life has to be appreciated and celebrated and lived.  With spring springing all around us and new growth bursting relentlessly forward in the garden one cannot push away the quiet and inevitable mechanism of new life.

Details:
Dress; partly McCalls 453, partly my own design, pink/red sparkly polyester chiffon
Top; my own design, cut-out embroidered linen
Sandals; Pedro Miralles, from Soletta shoes

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Black dress

28/09/2010 9:10 am \ 10 Comments \

So, I hardly ever wear this dress and it just sits there on its hanger and I reach for it once in a blue moon.  I wasn’t even planning to use it this month.
This can be a toughie to wear because of its body-con nature and I have to be mindful not to slouch when I’m wearing it as even the tiniest lump and bump shows to the full…  and even though the harsh sun in Australia can be very unflattering in photos (like most Aussies I’ve learnt this the hard way so please be kind if you do care to comment!) I posed in the full sun for this one to show the lovely folding and draping of the design; being a black dress these features wouldn’t show up in a shady photo.  The artful folding of the thin silk jersey around the midriff area that becomes a random geometrical frill along the opening edge is my favourite feature of this dress.  Come to think of it, the only feature of the dress…!  It is a very simple design.
I am wearing black today because I am attending a funeral.

Details:
Dres; Vogue 2556, black silk jersey
Shoes; Misano, from Labels
Sunnies; Rayban

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Domestic diva XI

27/09/2010 2:33 am \ 13 Comments \

Hehe, realised that my most loathed domestic duty has not yet been immortalised here; the dreaded office work… (groan)
I used to be an analytical chemist (yes, with a degree n’ all…) and so led a reasonably interesting life with every day different from the next in terms of the samples I was required to analyse and for what.  I used my brain; that long neglected part of the body that begs for me to find something new for it to do… poor thing…  Nowadays I run our office mostly from home, and while it is necessary work and somebody has to do it, it is … just not my forte.  Said lamely…
Once, early in this career sea change, I had finished our tax after dogged hours pouring over paperwork, and had proudly mentioned it to my friend D, a proper accountant.  She replied with touching faith in my abilities “Well, that wouldn’t have taken you very long, surely?”    Er, hehe.  Give me a lab with an HPLC and a sample of pesticide with the order to develop a procedure for the identification of, and then determine the purity level thereof, thankyou…
And yes; I often do dress up like this for work, even if I don’t have to run out on an office-related errand.  I feel more professional, and Pavlovian-ly think it makes me more efficient.  Said hopefully…

Detail:
Dress; Vogue 1087, navy blue striped jersey knit, for my review of this pattern see here
Jacket; Simplicity 4698, navy blue raw silk (really should do a review of this wonderful pattern too…)
Shoes; Sandler, op shop

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Domestic diva X

26/09/2010 2:23 am \ 5 Comments \

Woah, same skirt as yesterday; snap!  Though this version is view C and is made out of a bright cheery, bohemian, gypsy-ish print.  This is another skirt pattern I’ve used a lot, although not as much as my old standby Vogue 7303.  Come to think of it, if I’d kept all the skirts I’ve ever made using these two patterns, I could go a whole month of Self-Stitched September with no double-ups, no worries.  I’ve used them both heaps of times.  (I know, boring)  Don’t worry, I’ve been branching out lately and have a few new exciting summery items and patterns to post here once this month of self-stitching documentation is over… one photo a day is enough imo.
The top is my own design, made from an old pair of three quarter pants; for the original story and a short tutorial on how to do this see here. Although the pants in their original form were dag-city, the fabric was in very good condition and I loved the soft yet still sharp citrusy colour of the linen.  So I saw potential.  Took the scissors to them and never regretted it.
We’ve got a nice afternoon planned seeing our friends; it is my friend E’s birthday too, and we are looking forward to having a drink (or two) and viewing their latest holiday snaps.

Details:
Skirt; Vogue 7880 view C, printed cotton
Top; own design, made from an old pair of green linen 3/4 pants
Sandals; Anna, from Marie Claire shoes

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Domestic diva IX

25/09/2010 4:53 am \ 8 Comments \

Post celebratory let-down; I did have a lovely day yesterday, and thankyou so much for your lovely birthday wishes!  Hmmm, re this morning’s outfit; both old favourites.  Both of these pieces I contemplated throwing out last summer and both got a last minute stay of execution.  Later I was so glad I hung on to both of them.  These are the sorts of clothes that are definitely me.  Maybe looking a little old-fashioned now? but I am feeling the pull of my collection of soft lacy crinkled clothing in dreamy faded colours now the summer days are almost upon us.  The weather is so lovely and warm now! but we are still desperate for rain.
Looked through the wardrobe this morning, and even though there are only six days of self-stitched September to go; not that I’m counting…!  I have probably a dozen more ensembles I could have chosen from.  So I don’t know why I’m feeling a melancholic lack of faith in my sewing abilities at the mo.  I do know I really need to clean out my wardrobe…
And yes, I did skim the pool and do a few hours yardwork in this outfit, but sans heels of course.  Heels and gardening are not an efficient match.  I put the heels on again afterwards.  Domestic divas need to keep up appearances…

Details:
Skirt; Vogue 7880 view B, sage green self-embroidered cotton
Top; Butterick 4985, cream broderie anglaise cheesecloth with random lace overlays and crocheted lace ties
Scarf; refashioned old jumper, cut up and felted, see here for tutorial
Hat; Country Road
Sandals; akiel, op shop

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Domestic diva VIII

24/09/2010 6:08 am \ 15 Comments \

For those of you wondering if the domestic diva series is nought but a ploy then wonder no more, for I do actually do housework around my house as well as sewing, er which OK admittedly has got unnecessarily high priority in the scheme of things.  And my pretty pale pink iced chocolate mud cake, baked today here in my kitchen by me and pictured below will definitely go to good use, later on I may put some little pink and white striped candles on it, light them, wait for my family to sing me a little song, and then blow the candles out.  Yes, today is the one day in the year reserved for my turn at this particular activity…
I have been showered with birthday pressies and spoiled rotten by my friends and family, which is a nice thing for a domestic diva, no?
To celebrate in the sartorial way, I am wearing some of my favourite creations; the pale pink skirt which, like my blue patchwork skirt the other day, was created mostly patternless in a maelstrom of frantic sewing activity one magical day when I was hit by an urgent inspiration; and miraculously turned out just the way I envisioned it, this is not always a foregone conclusion.  To see this skirt styled in six different ways, see here.
My top is my own design, made from a pair of old three quarter pants, for the original story, see here.
I did not make the adorable little brooch, it was a birthday gift from my dear friend S.  This comes from a range made in Western Australian using a bits of old china plates to make new and very pretty and whimsical decorative items.  Isn’t it sweet?

Details:
Skirt; partly Vogue7303, mostly my own design, pale pink damask
Top; my own design, charcoal linen/cotton mix, seen first here
Shoes; Vicenza, from Soletta shoes
Pin; Mashida, gift from a friend
Roses; gift from my husband

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