New Look 6252 Archives - Handmade by Carolyn

Domestic diva V

21/09/2010 3:56 am \ 8 Comments \ Carolyn

Skirt; old favourite, since it was one of the first really artistic things I made for myself without using a pattern. Lots of bits and bobs of fabric. Attached long white cheesecloth petticoat underneath with handkerchief hem. Random strips, stitching and shapes. Unexpected geometric flounces. The colours of blue-willow china, reminding me of my grandparents.
Top; real simple. Wraps and ties at back. Useful. A bit of a bra-strap-revealer, but forgiven because of its cuteness and coolness during hot weather. Days definitely getting warmer now. Good stuff.
I apologise for the silly telegraphic nonsensical style here today, but I’m a bit rushed although I don’t look it in this photo, but looks can obviously deceive…! and I have a lot on my plate. Thankyou for your lovely comments, I appreciate every one and I’m glad the domestic diva series is giving a smile to some, thankyou! Back again tomorrow, and wishing you a happy Tuesday!

Details:
Skirt; own design, various blue and white cottons, bias and bias binding strips
Top; New Look 6252, white seersucker
Shoes; Franco Burrone, from Marie Claire shoes

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: New Look 6252, own design, skirt, SSS10, top

The summer in review

01/03/2010 4:38 am \ 4 Comments \ Carolyn

Today is officially the first day of autumn. Seems kind of hilarious given that it’s going to be 37C again, and will continue to be in the high thirties for another week or so… anyhoo, I thought I’d review my most worn items of clothing over the past summer. Now I don’t take my photo every day, and I am making an effort to rotate through the wardrobe and wear everything once in a while, but that being said there are still the favourites that I turn to time and time again on my days “off” from posing for a photo because a. they are comfortable and b. I feel good in them. So I guess these clothes sum up “my style” for the summer (inverted commas because I’m still a bit hazy on what the heck my style even is!)…
It’s been an extremely hot summer with comfortable days few and far in between so it’s hardly surprising that the coolest items in my wardrobe have been the most popular, which means lots of white… even so I was surprised at how consistent my colour palette has been, and strong and bright. I seem to have gone for greens and raspberry pink quite a lot this season. For the five or six semi-formal functions I’ve attended I’ve gone for the beige lace dress I made at the beginning of last spring (for which I’ve received many compliments from very kind friends); I made it under the influence of the “nude” colour trend that was about at the time. Not all of these clothes were made by me, but I tried to be honest about the clothes I’ve turned to most frequently and this included a few store-bought items and one op shop item; in the evenings, or when I’ve required a light cool cardigan, my turquoise and hot pink cardigans from Metalicus have been my go-to’s, and without a doubt my most worn accessory has been my cheap little necklace I bought from the surf shop at Rottnest about four years ago… even so looking over these I’m pretty pleased that most of my daily wear falls in to the handmade category… how about your wardrobe? Have you worn mostly your own clothes lately?

Details:
Dresses;(nude) my own design variations based on New Look 6699, two types of beige lace and purple shot silk
   (white) Simplicity3745, spotted swiss voile with lace trim
Necklace; from the surf shop on Rottnest Island
Skirts; (lime print) Vogue 7303, cotton
     (white cotton) bought from Old Navy, Capetown South Africa
   (olive green) Vogue 7303, corduroy
   (red floral)Vogue 2894, cotton
Shorts; Burda 7723, white linen
Tops; New Look 6252, lime green linen
   New Look 6252, white seersucker
   (pink) Aztec Rose, op shop
   (apricot) Country Road
Cardigans; both from Metalicus

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Burda 7723, New Look 6252, new look 6699, own design, Simplicity 3745, Vogue 2894, Vogue 7303

Turquoise pencil skirt

19/02/2010 6:07 am \ 8 Comments \ Carolyn

I’ve made this skirt for my autumn wardrobe, but thought dang it! I’m wearing it today. Well, with a temp of 30C it’s finally cool enough to wear something like this, and I thought, what the hey, I’m going to the beach! I was hoping the sand was cooler so there won’t be so much danger of burning one’s toes. And I was right. It was gorgeous at the beach, and I had a swim after taking my photos.
Instead of turning to my tried and true Vogue 7303 I plucked out a different pattern from my collection, a real oldie, this one dating back from my teenage years, I think. It’s Vogue 1023, no doubt out of print by now. I’m vaguely certain my mother made the long version of this for me to wear for my school concert band formal dress… Anyhoo, decided from the cover illustrations to make version C, took out all the pattern pieces and was quite disappointed to find the pocket piece and the waistband piece were missing… not devastating enough that I couldn’t work these out for myself, but a little sad to see it wasn’t intact any more…
I selected this fabric for its colour, I really wanted some punch for autumn. (Please note I’m trying to inject a little colour in my wardrobe!)
I love it. Not feeling quite brave enough to pair with other bright colours yet and playing it safe today with a white shirt, but I’m sure I’ll get over that…

Details:
Skirt; Vogue 1023 view C, shortened, turquoise polycotton
Top; New Look 6252, white seersucker
Necklace; from the surf shop on Rottnest Island
Nail varnish; own mix of BYS Mint Condition and French White

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Fabulous fabrics, New Look 6252, skirt, top, Vogue 1023

Inspired by nature; gold and aqua

30/01/2010 1:52 am \ 3 Comments \ Carolyn

At this time of year the sky is this intense ultramarine blue and the grasses are dryly yellowing until they are crackling underfoot, as always the landscape is everlastingly fascinating. Nature has a perfection in her colour palette that is daily an inspiration, those of us drawn to colour and its myriad changing faces in the shifting path of the sun are compelled to express themselves somehow, for some it is in the medium of paint on canvas, for me in my insatiable love of clothes, I choose to do this through my apparel.
These garments I’ve worn before in other combinations, but when I put on this intense lime top with my golden silk skirt and my newly made silk chiffon scarf; this bright yet somehow relaxed palette made me wonder why on earth I hadn’t thought of it before…
When I first made this top, on a whim, I felt a little intimidated by its brightness, and only wore it sparingly and with safe neutrals such as white, lately I’m feeling more adventurous and wanting to pull it out more and more.
This magnificent gum tree must have seen a fire in its day, with its old battle scars of charred bark still visible; my daughter and I ventured into the bush to take these photos and when I minded her to look out for snakes she took two photos then turned and marched straight out…. Perhaps she’s the sensible one and I’ve got too much my head in the clouds contemplating the beauty of nature…. but I didn’t see any snakes!

Details:
Top; NewLook 6252, green linen
Skirt Davida, second hand shop
Scarf, turquoise silk chiffon, made by me
Sandals; la soffitadi Gilda
Bag; Gucci

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Fabulous fabrics, New Look 6252, scarf, top

Australia Day

26/01/2010 5:00 am \ 5 Comments \ Carolyn

Today is Australia Day, and everyone here has their own personal ideal way to spend this day, depending on their age and general level of wildness.
How am I celebrating Australia Day? Well, first thing this morning my husband and I went out for a paddle on the river. It was just divinely peaceful; river almost deserted and flat like a millpond with the sun sparkling on the surface, pelicans and black swans gliding by majestically. We pulled in at a tiny deserted beach and had strawberries and a thermos of tea while watching the waves lapping at our feet. We didn’t see any dolphins this time, but often we do. Then we paddled home to another swim and a late breakfast of more tea and Vegemite on toast; yes, like lots of Aussies I am hopelessly addicted to Vegemite on toast and can’t imagine a more tasty breakfast … Later on we will fire up the barbecue for some lamb chops, and at nightfall walk down to watch the fireworks over the river; all in all a very leisurely Australia Day.
Our children, on the other hand, will be whooping it up around their friend’s pools and generally creating lots of noise and mess; I’m just thankful it won’t be our pool that cops it this year…
I’m still feeling pretty hot after our paddle so I’m dressed very casually and for maximum coolness.

Below is a picture I took of another true blue Aussie I found outside, this little darling has a body as big as my fingernail!

Details:
Top; NewLook 6252, white seersucker
Shorts; Burda 7723, white linen
Hat; Country Road

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Burda 7723, Fabulous fabrics, New Look 6252, shorts, top

A day in the garden

09/01/2010 1:31 am \ 2 Comments \ Carolyn

I used to love gardening. Once upon a time, I would go into my garden and a couple of hours would disappear as I pruned, weeded, tended and fed my plants; now it’s more of a necessary weekly maintenance that gets done. Oh sure, I still go to the nursery and get all excited about how my garden could look if I just got out there more, but for the time being my poor garden is taking a back seat to sewing. Well actually it has always taken a back seat to sewing, but now.. well let’s just say that if my life was a theatre, sewing is hogging the first ten rows, my office work sits up in the dress circle, housework is in the back stalls, and gardening is situated in those discounted seats at the side and behind pillars that get limited viewing. Cooking, well, cooking was running late and missed the first act, and had to be let in by the usher and do the walk of shame during the curtain change past everybody else already in their seats.
I made this top at the beginning of summer from New Look 6252, and it’s a great little pattern that uses very little fabric and can be run up in a day. I added a cute little pocket to the front out of some of the leftovers, for interest. This top’s only drawback is that its a “bra strap revealer”, so I have to consider my bra colour when I decide to wear it.
I’m a believer that a visible bra strap over your shoulder is OK if it matches your outfit, although the bra-closure part in the centre of your back with all the hooks and eyes should never ever be seen out in public… I think that the shoulder strap, if it is slimline and of a matching colour or lacy, it can look like part of a pretty camisole under a blouse, and can really add to your overall look. Only if it is pretty and matching, mind, and never if it is obviously screaming “BRA!”
On that completely off-the-track, unrelated note, I’m off to the garden….

Details:
Top; New Look 6252, green linen
Skirt; Old Khaki, bought while on holiday in South Africa
Cardi; Metalicus
Hat; LLBean
Thongs (flipflops); Mountain Design
gardening gloves

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Fabulous fabrics, New Look 6252, top

Cool and comfortable

28/12/2009 1:51 am \ 1 Comment \ Carolyn

Today is to be a scorcher, 40C forecast, and at even 9am in the morning you can already discern a shimmer in the air. On days like this an oppression and stillness hanging heavy over all, sapping strength and dulling wits. The sky is intense and vivid blue unrelieved by any hint of cloud. I found one lonely rose in the garden as yet unwilted by the recent hot spell, its shady spot is its saviour and no doubt by the end of the day the edges of its soft petals will be crinkled, dark and crisp, and its colour will have faded to a veined shadow of itself…
I think I’ll probably be spending most of the day in my bathers, but will need to be decent for some activities, such as watering out the front and popping off to the shop for milk and essentials! Thus this outfit.
This skirt and blouse are light and airy and allow for maximum flow of air on the skin for when a cool breeze happens to waft by … one can only hope…

Details:
Skirt, Vogue 2894, floral cotton
Top; New Look 6252, white seersucker
Thongs (flipflops); Mountain Designs
Nail varnish; Santorini Sunset, Napoleon

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Fabulous fabrics, New Look 6252, skirt, top, Vogue 2894

Purple flowered shrub, what is your name?

14/12/2009 6:24 am \ 1 Comment \ Carolyn

Not as hot today as yesterday, thank goodness! Visited Castle Rock and lay about in the sun, occasionally getting up to splash about in the cool turquoise waters. Ah, but this is the life.
Today I dressed as inspired by the shrub outside our kitchen window; it has gorgeous iridescent purple flowers in spring/summer, followed by bright orange berries in the autumn; the berries often inspire people to rip these bushes out of their gardens as they’re a bit messy. I have to confess the purple cardigan has been on and off intermittently all day, as its really too hot for it in the sun, but I like the way it complements the green in my outfit, so dragged it around with me anyway! Oh, suffering for the sake of fashion is tres tragique, no?
Other details:
Skirt; Vogue 7303, lime print cotton
Top; New Look 6252, white seersucker
Cardigan; Saba, op shop
Thongs (flipflops); Mountain Design
Hat; Country Road
Sunnies; RayBan