Thank you so much to all those who entered the giveaway and left such nice comments about my L(ong)BD. Your kind words never fail to put a smile on my face and make my day!!
LBD, and a giveaway
It’s my blog-iversary! It has been two years since I started up this funny lil ol’ blog, and I’m marking the (sorta) occasion with a giveaway.
About six months ago, the lovely Gail sent me this pattern and I don’t mind admitting it has been something of my “prize”. A pattern that I have taken out to look lovingly at every now and again before tucking it back safely into my pattern box. One of those patterns with the totally lovely pen-and-watercolour illustrations on the cover of willow-y, supremely elegant, immaculately coiffured ladies of yesteryear gazing world-wearily off into the middle distance. Probably on their way to some impossibly glamorous soiree, or about to hop into the limo to meet up with Clark Gable, or some such. One can but aspire, right? But procrastination does not elegance bring…
so ta da!
Finally… I made a LBD. Hehe, obviously not the Little Black Dress kind of a LBD… let me explain…. there is a very very silly show on TV here called Beauty and the Geek, which of course I never watch being of a far more serious bent 😉 Anyway one week a geek had to answer a pop-quiz on fashion. And one of the questions was “what is a LBD?” And the geek answered “Long Black Dress” And they marked him wrong, whereas for me his answer was like a stroke of idiot savant genius and he should have been given a big “yeees!” for fashion insight, because Long Black Dress is as pretty darn good answer I reckon, and it is a rare lady who goes through her life without the need for the simple elegance of a long black dress at some point. And I have now filled that (hypothetical) need. With vintage-ly panache too, hehe.
And now I am passing on the love, and offering this pattern to another seamstress/seamster. It is Vogue 2858, an Original 1944 Design (or Dessin Original de 1944, if you want to get really chic about it :))
It has some rather unusual-for-an-evening-gown seaming techniques that I am assuming were normal for 1944…. I made a few “modern” changes to mine, although in a pathetically small nod to authenticity the raw edges of the seam allowances have been pinked :).
For a start, well the superior invisible zip has been invented, people! I made use of one.
I also left off the shoulder pads. I did start out making them, but left them off the final version. I’m afraid shoulder pads are just Too Dreadful on me…
This pattern is a size 12-16, and all the sizes still there marked out. If you’re wondering; I traced it off so I could grade to my own size… yup, it is still a bit of a wrench to be parting with the original, but I can do it knowing I still have my own traced out version should the need arise for a LWD (long white dress). Or a LRD (long red dress) Etc etc etc…
If you would like this pattern for your very own piece of 1944 elegance, just leave a comment on this post. Of course, if you would still like to say something nice about my new dress but don’t want to be entered into the draw, then please feel free to do so… 🙂 I do love nice comments too!
This offer is open to anyone and for two weeks, so on 26 October I will put everyone’s names into a hat, those who say they want to enter, and draw one out.
No, I agree that is a very questionably low-tech method and doesn’t have quite the panache of that random number generator thingy, but frankly my dear I just don’t give a damn. *
Details:
Dress; Vogue 2858, black crepe
Sandals; Micam by Joanne Mercer, from Hobbs shoes
* the obligatory Rhett-ism… couldn’t resist, hehe
And the winner is…
I must admit I felt quite excited as I riffled through the entries using my high-tech lottery determination system to single one out…!
Thankyou to all those who participated and left a nice comment, you are all awesome, and so kind!
Shannon, I will pop over to leave a comment on your blog about arranging to send you your prize.
One year in cyber-space; and a Give-Away
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Today exactly one year ago I started blogging here about my sewing, and as it turned out, some other stuff too! 🙂
To mark the occasion, I thought it might be fun to wear again today the same dress I did on my very first blog post, a quiet celebration for it being the First Dress Here, so to speak. Although of course, at the time it was only about a year old… far from the oldest thing in my wardrobe. I think my photo taking has improved a lot, what do you think?
(photo at right from my blog, 12 October 2009)
And to thank YOU, lovely readers, I decided to have a GIVE-AWAY!
I did put some thought into this: since my blog is supposed to be about sewing, knitting and looking your best; I tried to have a little of each represented… so I have selected a sewing pattern, a knitting book and a little arm bracelet to give to a loyal reader.
The sewing pattern is New Look 6317, it is multi-sized from 10-22, and is still pristine and uncut in its envelope. I think this is referred to as “factory folded” in ebay speak, but since I don’t go there hardly ever I could be wrong… It is both easy and versatile, and includes a simple straight skirt, a jumper or sweater, and a coat pattern; all very simple and uncluttered in cut and line so a pattern ripe for customising in however way you wish.
(Using this pattern, New Look 6317, you could easily re-create either of these designer looks for yourself; at left from Michael Kors Fall 2010, at right from Yves St Laurent pre Fall 2010)
The knitting book is “Wild Tea Cosies” by Loani Prior, an Australian knitting designer; you might remember some of my projects from this book I’ve posted about here in the past. It has a fabulous variety of fun designs, all using only a few balls of wool, and all quick projects that will take a fraction of the time of a full-sized knitted garment. Coffee drinkers; you could just as easily adapt these designs to a coffee pot as for a tea pot. This is a book that a beginner (who knows basic stitches) can cut their teeth on, and work their way up to some of the more complex designs over time; and I guarantee you won’t get bored with your project as it will be finished in a flash, and you can delight your friends with some crazy and unique gifts.
The beaded bracelet is just a silly little thing; a variety of black beaded strands, tied up with a black gauze bow. It is elasticated so can slip over your hand to sit snugly and chicly on your wrist. Cool, no?
Unlike other (kinda mean) giveaways I’ve seen in blog-land, this is open to Everyone in the World! And also, obviously, this is one I’m funding myself and I’m not receiving any endorsements or sponsorship by doing this.
You can enter into my give away by doing the following:
1. Becoming a follower of my blog (please leave a comment here to let me know if you do, so I know you are there)
2. If you are already a follower, just by leaving a comment on this post,
3. IF you have a blog, by linking to my blog OR by mentioning this give-away on your own blog.
This give-away will be open for a week, so next Tuesday, 19th October I will randomly pick one from the comments I receive here and announce a winner…
and thankyou for reading!
Details from top:
Dress; New Look 6699, with some of my own adaptions, coffee and black lace over ivory silk
Sandals; Joanne Mercer for Micam, from Hobbs shoes
Necklace; my own design
