A spy is amongst us…

07/11/2009 2:09 am \ 1 Comment \

Hey ho, it’s Saturday.  We didn’t get to go to the art exhibition last night but that’s OK.  Around at my brother’s yesterday afternoon they had set up karaoke for my niece’s birthday party, and we mucked around on that for a bit before the girls got there.  Hilarious!  I tried to do “Bat out of Hell” and realised that Meatloaf really had a very good voice after all.  Boy that’s a difficult song to karaoke to!  Furthermore, it was demonstrated why it was a good decision for me to drop out of choir.
This dress I’m wearing today is a recent creation.  It’s New Look 6699, with a few modifications.  Namely the bodice with strap arrangement in the pattern was reshaped into a proper one-piece bodice front and back, and instead of gathering the bust section into the midriff I made three tiny pleats each side.  I inserted a sash to be tied in back of the midriff, and moved the zip to left side seam.  The skirt is flared slightly more that the “straight” one in the pattern.  The best modification is the addition of these huge pockets!!!  Major upgrade of the dress!
I really like the two contrasting fabrics I used, each is white based, with splashes of unusual “ugly” colours and a touch of black.  The necklace adds to the overall random hodge-podge effect.
Confession time: when I made this dress I used an invisible zip I had already, and it really was not long enough.  Meaning that when I take the dress off it would make a hilarious spectacle to an casual observer.  Sort of like a mad battle with a strait-jacket. 

The close up photo of the pot below shows my little spy, who is not visible in the other photo… 

Other details:
Necklace; Surf shop on Rottnest Island
Sandals; Micam by Joanne Mercer, bought at Hobbs

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Splash out a bit of colour!

06/11/2009 4:41 am \ 2 Comments \

This skirt, Vogue 2894, is one of my most recent projects.  During my wardrobe clean-out I decided I needed a really colourful floral skirt to brighten things up, so went to Fabulous Fabrics and, voila!  I feel it’s got some great colours to play around with that can match up with a lot of my current garments.  I wore it with a cardigan for this photo and for this morning, but actually it’s now getting a bit too hot for cardigans and am going to have to “summer” things up a bit an the apparel department.
Actually I popped in to Fabulous Fabrics yesterday to pick up some extras to finish up some sewing projects I’ve currently got on the go, and browsing through the pattern catalogues I was a little shocked at how light-on the summer Vogue book was.  There seemed to be much less on offer this season.  Is the economic crisis affecting the home sewing market?  Surely not.  Now would seem the ideal time for people to be getting out their sewing machines and running up their own garments at home for a quarter of the cost they are in the shops…  The added bonus is that you are wearing something unique that you will not see on anyone else.  This is always one of my primary motivations, the cost saving is a secondary consideration.  Although spending less per garment definitely means you can have a much more extensive wardrobe!!!
I wore this outfit to a morning tea this morning (skirt universally admired, which was nice!) and a friend commented that if she saw my skirt in the shop she would definitely be buying it.  Of course I don’t want to see anyone else wearing my skirt but it was nice to hear!  I spouted on about the benefits of making your own clothes as I always do and with any luck, not withstanding my powers of persuasion, I may convert one person to the home sewing crusade.  
After office duties today I will be doing some exam taxi-ing again, and visiting my niece for her birthday, and other errands.  Later I hope to go to an art exhibition with my husband, if he gets home from work in time.

Other details:
Camisole; Country Road
Cardigan; Metalicus
Bracelet; from a craft fair in Brisbane
Necklace; gift from my friend Becky
Shoes; Neo, bought from Nine West (I think)

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I’ve got a grey cloudy feeling…

05/11/2009 1:22 am \ 3 Comments \

Please excuse my funny facial expression in this photo.  I think I’m suffering from early-morning-itis.
I think of this skirt as a sort of shabby bohemian look.  It was made from Vogue 7880, although you probably wouldn’t pick it from the pattern thanks to the mad improvisation going on.  I used view B minus the weird hanging bits, the view I like the best as it has such a random jaggedy hemline.  The upper section is out of soft grey and fawn cotton, printed to look like patchwork.   All of the skirt pieces were shortened by about 8cm and joined as per the pattern.  Then I sewed together random strips and panels of a mixture of lace and broderie anglaise cheesecloth to the lining to make a “shabby chic” frothy petticoat underneath.  
I originally bought about 2m of this embroidered cheesecloth on a whim and made this top, then used the leftovers to make today’s skirt and this dress!  So it was a worthy investment of, oh, about $30 for two and a half garments (this skirt being the half)!
Its a grey and overcast day today, so I am matching the weather in my attire, how Wuthering Heights is that?!  See, I can be quite literary in my shallowness, when I choose to be.
After my usual “walkies” this morning (not wearing these shoes!) I’m just working in the office today, in between taxi-ing my daughter to and from exams, and later I will visit a friend who has hurt her back.

Other details:
Cardigan; Metalicus
Camisole; Country Road
Sandals; Vicenza, bought from Soletta shoes
Necklace; bought from Live!

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Limes, oranges, and thoughts on self esteem

04/11/2009 3:49 am \ 1 Comment \

This skirt is another version of Vogue 7303, made up quite plain as a mini.  I fell in love with the fresh green lime print of this fabric and thought it would be ideal for a cool little summer skirt.  Just the colour alone is refreshing!  I matched the print of limes on the skirt with these orange slice earrings that I bought back in the 80’s which are now definitely passe as earrings, but look OK strung on a chain as a necklace.  A good way to rework some old accessories.
This skirt pattern has been such a great pattern I can’t see myself ever tiring of it.  Its most important asset is that it fits me perfectly.  The value of this cannot be over-emphasised.  And its plain enough to jazz up in ways only limited by your imagination.

Actually, setting myself this challenge of wearing something completely different every day has been very good for me, and breathed new life into many of my clothes that I have passed over in favour of a few favourites too often.  And taking my photo each day has also made me more aware of my personal grooming and image that I’m presenting to my family and friends and the world.  I’m telling you it’s not always a pretty sight, and  I’m definitely trying to smarten up my act a bit.
I firmly believe that when you make an effort to look good on the outside and you are pleased with your appearance and attire, it definitely lifts your spirits and makes you feel much better within yourself.  The result is a happier more cheery me who is more pleasant for my family and friends to spend time with!  I hope!
Plus, I’m realising I’ve made heaps of clothes that aren’t maybe quite as hideous as I sometimes think.  They just need to be “styled”, with things I already have, or can be made by me if I need to.  Half the battle in making your own clothes and loving them enough to wear them is simply to just DO IT.  Without second guessing yourself too much.  We shouldn’t just assume that shop-bought is necessarily superior.

Other details:
Cardigan & T-shirt; Country Road
Sandals; Vicenza, bought at Soletta Shoes
Necklace; earrings (origins lost in the mists of time) strung on a chain

 

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Space Age nun

03/11/2009 4:28 am \ 2 Comments \

When I saw this heavy, slightly shiny fabric at Fabulous Fabrics I immediately visualised this dress.  I pictured something severe and unusual.  When it was finished and I first put it on and looked at myself I immediately thought, “Futuristic nun.”  Sort of what Sister Perpetua on board a space station like Battlestar Galactica would be wearing, say.  Still, I really like the dress, and feel it’s quite unusual and perhaps it will help me get in touch with my inner sci-fi geek.
The dress is basically Burda 8511 with some modifications.  Namely the centre back seam was eliminated to make the back one piece, and the front and back panels were cut with no shaping down the side.  I sewed the front shaping darts, but not those on the back.  I inserted shorter white panels inside the side seams, inset under the front and back panels by about 2cm and with an inverted pleat at the underarm seam.  The final effect is of a white slip underneath a heavier tunic.  I had enough of this white fabric leftover to make this top.  The dress has no zips or buttons as it’s loose enough to just pull over my head.  The white velvet ribbon is simply sewn inside the side seams at the waist and tied to bring the whole thing in together and give it some shape.
The pendant is one that was given to me by my parents probably back in the mid seventies.  Its pewter, made by Jorgen Jensen of Denmark, and has a poem inscribed on the front.  It reads as follows:  

Mind these three: 
T.T.T. 
Hear their chime: 
Things Take Time.
Isn’t that lovely?  Just the sort of advice a future nun might impart…
Other details:
Shoes; Perrini, bought quite a few years ago from I don’t know where
Pendant; Jorgen Jensen of Denmark, gift from my parents
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Turquoise, chocolate and cream

02/11/2009 6:23 am \ 1 Comment \

I went out for breakfast with the Monday morning gals in Bicton at a lovely new cafe this morning so wanted to go for something smartish in my apparel. 
 I started planning this outfit with my beautiful Italian sandals bought on super special from Zomp last year. The sandals are bright turquoise with a gorgeous crackled effect on the (chunky!) heels in chocolate and cream, thus determining the colour scheme for the day. 
I made this dress at the beginning of the year to be a useful little basic dress but I ended up rarely wearing it as it felt a bit boring.  However I tried it on with this ruffle hemmed petticoat during my wardrobe clean-out and it suddenly looked quite stylish I thought!  The pattern is Burda 8071, view B, a good basic sundress pattern that uses very little fabric.  I’ve made probably four or five dresses out of it over the past few years.  The fabric I used for this one is cream broderie anglaise cheesecloth.  Having worn it today quite successfully and comfortably I’ll definitely put it to better use than its had up til now and just learn to add to it so its not so plain!
Today I flew totally out of my comfort zone and changed my earrings (gasp!)  I do this very rarely!  Decided that I really need to accessorize a bit more, as when you look at the pictures in fashion mags its often the jewellery and other little details that can make or break an outfit.  I also needed to pick up the turquoise colour of the sandals somewhere else in my ensemble.  Hence, out came this lovely silver and turquoise jewellery I bought from Navajo jewellers in New Mexico.
Other details:
Cardigan; Alannah Hill
Petticoat; Metalicus
Sandals; lasoffittadi Gilde, from Zomp
Jewellery; made by Navajo jewellers, New Mexico

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Denim with a white top

01/11/2009 3:59 am \ 2 Comments \
I read somewhere that denim jeans and a white top is a fashion look that is worn more commonly by the general population than any other look.  If this is true, then today I am merely conforming to the norm.
Just a plain top today for a plain sort of Sunday; cooking, gardening and a bit of dying.  That’s the colouring of fabric kind, not the having a heart attack kind.  I hope.  The results of the former activity to be featured in a future post, with luck.  
This top, Butterick 4985, is rapidly becoming my favourite blouse pattern, with adjustments.  Because I have a narrow torso I take in the side seams by about 3cm each side.  This can only be achieved by altering the order in which the pieces are sewn together; I construct the two fronts, and the back section, before sewing the side seams, unlike the pattern instructions.  This way I can achieve a perfect fit.
This fabric was entirely leftover from another project, this dress, that’s how little fabric this pattern uses.  I also used some old buttons from my collection, that I had removed from a previous top I was throwing out.  These are a pretty bluey-grey, made from shells.  I’m sure I’m not the only one who keeps lovely old buttons, just in case.  I’ve inherited some really beautiful buttons from my grandmother and great aunt that I will never ever throw out, but re-use, re-use and re-use again.  Hopefully my daughter will too.
As a result this top cost nothing to make but my time, a bonus for a useful little top.

Other details:
Denim shorts; previously owned by my son
Necklace; self-made

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Which witch

31/10/2009 9:08 am \ 1 Comment \
Today being Halloween and all, even though we don’t celebrate it here in Australia, I decided to embrace the Halloween spirit in my daily ensemble.  Hence the witch-y colour scheme, and the appearance of my familiar in the photo at right.  However I was the only one in the family that got the reference.  Neither did I see anybody else out and about today who looked remotely Halloweenish.  Oh, apart from a photo of my 4yr old nephew who went to a party last night dressed as a skeleton.  So cute!
I love this dress.  This has to be the easiest pattern in the Vogue repertoire; it has, ooh, three pieces and one of these is a mere stay.  I ask you.  Foolproof.
In this incarnation it is my “little black dress”.  I chose high quality silk jersey mix as I wanted it to look really good and to last.  The look of the dress is unique I think.  The unusual folds and interesting draping effects take it a step above your average run-of-the-mill LBD.  The pattern is an Issey Miyake design, who is a genius at realising simple, very sculptural shapes that manage to celebrate the female form while appearing quite unlike most of the dresses you’re used to seeing around.
Today was very windy so I wore a cardigan for most of the day; shopping and spending time with my mother, my daughter and my sister-in-law; a girl’s morning out.  To show off the details of the fabric manipulation I also included a photo of the dress sans cardi.

So.  It’s a very comfortable dress to wear, obviously as its all stretch fabric.  Its also SO easy to make; oh, did I mention that there is absolutely NO hemming or finishing of the raw edges?  How great is that?!  The perfect beginners project, and a designer look into the bargain!!
Other details:
Cardigan; Scope, bought at some shop in Melbourne
Sandals; Micam by Joanne Mercer, bought in Hobbs
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