Category Archives: Uncategorized

The colours of Valentine’s Day

14/02/2011 2:42 pm \ 14 Comments \

I’ve been off colour for a few days, and feeling blue… but I’m not complaining, as things are definitely looking more rosy today… This evening my husband and I strolled down to the river together for a picnic under the paperbarks to celebrate Valentines Day.  We don’t go out just the two of us very often at all, so it’s nice to make the effort once in a while, no?  
As well, last Friday we went to a BIG party where some good friends celebrated their silver wedding anniversary, so it really feels lately like romantic celebrations are in the air…!  I wore my Sandwich Bag dress and it was the perfect dress for partay-ing in a sweltering summer evening.
But for today, what could say romance more softly and prettily than pink? so I dug out the most romantic pink dress I own and put some pink champagne in the fridge to chill.  And after yet another oppressively hot day like today, it was enough to just chuck some chook on the barbie, chop it up into a green salad, chased down with a few dark chocolate truffles for afters…  a simply lovely feast!
Wishing everyone an equally gorgeous Valentine’s Day evening … 

Details:
Dress; based partly on Simplicity 3745, pink and beige lace
Petticoat; Burda 8071, pink silk satin
Hat; Country Road

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Neutral, but nice

11/02/2011 6:48 am \ 16 Comments \

I don’t know why I feel the need to apologise for a neutral look, but I do.  Yah, I know how silly that sounds…. The simple fact is that I’ve tried wearing this skirt with colours both vibrant and muted and it just look all kinds of wrong.  This skirt simply looks so much better when paired with neutral earthy toned colours… so there it is, and luckily I do have a pretty big collection of both pale and dark, drab putty-coloured stuff to mix it up with.
So to answer some comments from yesterday, did I buy myself any shoes when in Tokyo, well the truth is that sadly I did not (cue chin wobble with brave choked little sob.) and why not? So it may not be obvious from my photos, but I am fairly tall, and with very big feet, and the women of Japan are obviously all petite and with dainty little feet.  And after asking to try on about three or four pairs of shoes that interested me and being told in each case that sorry, but these do not come in “showboat”, (not in those words obviously, the sales assistants were all unfailingly courteous and polite, but that was the general message being conveyed here…) I just gave up and lived vicariously through Cassie as she happily tried on and rejected and narrowed down the fabulous array of footwear available to her ladylike little feet.  The good news?  Craig’s shoes actually do fit me, so I just possibly might dare to sneak off with them once in a while…  
So yeah, perhaps I should have just swallowed my pride and asked to try on some of the menswear selection?  What would you have done? 

Details:
Skirt; skirt “d” from Unique Clothes Any Way You Like, but Natsuno Hiraiwa, silver grey crepe: to see this skirt styled in 6 different ways go here
Top; Country Road
Scarf; a souvenir from Venice
Sandals; Vincenzo, from Soletta shoes
Bag; Gucci
Sunnies; RayBan
Nail Varnish; Fools Paradise, BYS

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Tokyo; for lovers of footwear

10/02/2011 11:55 am \ 16 Comments \

The shoes to be found in Tokyo deserve a post all of their very own… if, like me, you just adore shoes you might want to skip this post as it all could be too much excitement…
The shoes, like the rest of the fashion in Tokyo, range from tasteful and quiet and just like the shoes we get here, so not really worth getting excessively excited about, I saw ugg boots everywhere, for heaven’s sake!… all the way through to very extreme.  Since I grew up influenced by the tail end of the punk era blending into the beginnings of the new romantic fashion era, (anyone remember Adam and the Ants…? confession: I was a big fan, yeah)  so I have a soft spot for funky shoes with chains, buckles and a bit of weird and scary toughness in their appearance… but these fabulous examples are something else, no?
Enjoy…

Yeti boots…
OK, those were just a small sample of the fun shoes that caused our jaws to drop and compelled us to reach for our cameras…
Now for the shoes my family actually bought whilst in Tokyo;
Tim’s
Cassie’s
and Craig treated himself to two pairs…
Tres gorgeous and quietly cool, yeah?  I like how each of the shoes has a considerate zip either at the back or the side, so the shoes can be slipped on and zipped closed without having to untie those artistically arranged shoe-laces…  so thoughtful!
Just to summarise my thoughts on fashion in Tokyo…
so yeah, I was fascinated by the extremes of Japanese fashion we saw in Tokyo even though I’m sure I could not get away with it here in my everyday life.  Probably very few Aussies actually could…  The closest a western country can boast of the same type of fashion diversity was the UK; the advent of the mini and later during the 70’s, when London mods and punks challenged a somnolent and boring fashion landscape… sartorially things have sobered down considerably since those times, yes?
I appreciate that not everyone is going to love the complex aesthetics of this sort of anything-goes fashion.  Some of what I consider to be the most visually exciting stuff can send conservative folks into a frenzy of condemnation but truly, those of us really interested in clothing can but admire the Japanese aesthetic and hope that designers here will occasionally depart from the tasteful boredom currently dominating the commercial clothing market.  And to take away just a little inspiration from this sort of lighthearted fashion; which does not take itself seriously and could never ever be described as ho hum.  
And hope the youth of Japan continue to go on being fantastic!
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Burda 7834, a pattern review

09/02/2011 6:03 am \ 17 Comments \

I’ve made another little top using Burda 7834.  It is such a quick and easy little pattern, I can see myself using it a few more times, in spite of the fact I will have to re-grade it each time I use it, as Cassie cut it out to a smaller size than I use…  well, it is her pattern so I suppose that is OK…!
This top is using up some scraps; the silver-grey portion is the last leftovers from this skirt, and the contrasting stripe detail was juuuust squeezed out from the the remaining fabric from this shirt.  Oooh, I just feel so undeservedly virtuous and pat-myself-on-the-back-ish when I use up some leftovers…!  like I’ve been a really good greenie and I’m doing just a tiny weensie little bit to Do My Bit in the planetary scheme of things.  As well as satiating my inner scrooge, by getting a free top from otherwise rubbish-y little scraps!
The funny thing about this top along with its apricot mate, that I made the previous weekend, is that although they are entirely different colours, I used exactly the same topstitching thread, and the same colour zip for both tops; pale grey.  How’s that for weird?  Assessing the zips available, this colour was the logical choice in each case…  which goes to show… something, I don’t know what.  Probably nothing.  Except that colour matching follows no hard and fast rules and can be a purely subjective exercise.
So, on to the review…

Pattern Description
Loose-fitting, short kimono sleeved, V-neck top with a central back zip, and separate pieces for arm bands, neckline band and under-bust band
Pattern Sizing
6-16, European 32-42; I made a size 10
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you had finished sewing it?
Yes
Were the instructions easy to follow?
yes
What did you particularly like/dislike about the pattern?
I like that it is a very quick and easy pattern, and makes up a cute little top.
I was only a little unhappy that (when the instructions are followed) it is not finished to super high standards on the inside.  For example, the side seam allowances end up visible on the underarm sleeve edge, whilst I would prefer for them to be encased within the two layers of the sleeve band.  Also, the neckline band at the back has to be folded back over the zip tape and doesn’t enclose it within the two layers, which would be a preferable and neater finish.    However if you don’t mind a bit of extra fiddling you can adjust these features to be more well finished off on the inside.  If you are just after a quick and easy little top and aren’t really worried much about perfect insides, then the method given is just fine.
Just an extra thought; doing up the central back zip might be awkward for some who are no longer super agile.
Fabric used:
I’ve made this up once in crushed silk and once in a synthetic stuff with contrasting cotton mix bands, but I think any crisp light blouse fabrics would be perfect.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
None.
Would you sew this again?  Would you recommend this to others?
Definitely I will sew this again, and I do recommend it to others.
Conclusion:
A nice and simple little top, both in looks and construction.  A useful casual wardrobe-builder to have in your collection.

btw, I just have to say something here, my own opinion… occasionally I come across a review in Pattern Review where under “were the instructions easy to follow?” a reviewer writes something like “didn’t even look at the instructions, lol!” or something equally breezy and dismissive.  In such cases I have to confess I usually read no further as (imo) this is not a review but a seamstress being a bit of a show-off, like the instructions are beneath his/her notice.  If you are not going to even read the pattern instructions, let alone assess them, then your “review” is worth nothing.  There are going to be some beginner seamstress’ out there who will want to know if the instructions have any difficult or unusual techniques, or nasty surprises, etc., before they fork out the money to buy the pattern.   I always thought this was the purpose of Pattern Review, but I get the feeling a few see it as a forum to showcase their creations, nothing wrong with that per se, but we have BurdaStyle for that purpose.  If the instructions are basic and easy to follow, then just say so without the condescending attitude.  Just saying…

Details:
Top; Burda 7834, silver grey crepe-y stuff with striped cotton mix contrasting bands
Shorts; Burda 7723, white linen
Thongs; Mountain Design
Sunnies; RayBan

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Street fashion in Tokyo

08/02/2011 5:15 am \ 13 Comments \

Finally, I have sorted through mine and Lisa’s photos to bring some of the best of the amazing street fashion we saw in Tokyo… thank you Lisa for letting me show some of your shots here!  Tim and Lisa got some of the best ones as they were much braver than I about approaching strangers and asking to take their photos.  I got the impression though that many of these gorgeously attired people were kinda chuffed to be approached, after all I guess why go to this sort of sartorial effort if you are not trying to impress people enough for them to wish to preserve an image for posterity?
Enjoy!
All the way from beautifully traditional…  

to the Lolita look…

to tutus and fur…
to the too-cool-for-school young things who hang out in Harajuku; their style distinctly Japanese but otherwise defying description
to pick up the other touches of red in her outfit, this young lady is wearing red contact lenses…
So now I feel like my own clothes are insanely boring… if, like me you find Japanese street fashion to be a fascinating and inspiring example of extreme artistic creativity, then you would love dropTokyo and TokyoFashion … 
(Excepting the second and third pictures which were taken by me, other pictures taken by Tim and Lisa, thank you so much for letting me use them here!)
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Easy breezy

07/02/2011 7:07 am \ 14 Comments \

Still been blowing an absolute gale around here; with the tail end of cyclone Bianca lingering about.  A plus; the stiff breezes have thankfully kept the temperatures down with pleasantly glorious days of around 32C, which is (imo) the perfect summer’s day temperature, and a deliciously cool change for us lately!
It was nice to catch up with ma Monday morning gals again, after the summer hols had had us all off to different parts of the globe for our various family breaks.  Today we resumed our standing appointment, met up for morning tea and exchanged all our latest goss within the group…hehe.
Now, I am always up for a challenge.  Although I do, yes, get mired sometimes in the bread and butter sewing of necessary clothing I do like to stretch my sewing wings once in a while and attempt something quite unexpected and frivolous… and late last year I bought a glove pattern; Vogue 7949.  Lauriana expressed an interest in us doing a sew-along together, would anyone else like to join in?  I am planning to use this particular pattern, but obviously others wouldn’t have to use the exact same pattern but one of their own choosing if you like.  Since this is a complete first for me I plan to work through step by step and will document my progress, for fun…  this actually could be a huge disaster, or I could end up with some lovely new gloves for winter.  Sitting in my stash is an old lilac suede skirt I found in an op shop.  This has sadly developed an unsightly bulge-y “bottom” from sitting down in it as well as some ugly “polished” spots, but most of the suede is in really good nick and I would really like to refashion it into some dreamy and unusually coloured gloves… thus the purchase of the glove pattern. Anyone keen?  If so, drop me a comment and together we’ll see how we go.

And in other news from in the sewing/blogging world, as another little challenge for next month I am going to take part in this:

‘I, Carolyn of Handmade by Carolyn, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-March ’11. I endeavour to wear
all handmade clothing each day for the duration of March 2011′


Details:
Dress; Vogue 1152 with fitting modifications, chambray cotton
Scarf; gift from my parents, from their trip to Italy
Sandals; Akiel, found in an op shop
Nail varnish; Fools Paradise, OPI

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Some random impressions of Tokyo (not fashion related)

06/02/2011 10:58 am \ 13 Comments \

To do the fashion in Tokyo any sort of justice, it has to be done separately… but here are some other impressions of this amazing city:

Comic books suitable for “all age” (sic), about schoolgirls armed with machine guns?  Oh, sure.

A shop entirely filled with identical teddybears? (yes, we checked)  

Tiny restaurants…

with awesome food

Plastic food is everywhere.  And is that not one fabulous stack of star-shaped “pan cake”?  *

Vending machines… see how the top half have a dark blue label underneath and the lower half red?  The red ones are hot drinks, and are literally almost boiling!

The loveliest miniature gardens

As well as miniature doorways everywhere

A crazy electrical wiring system

Tea latte, anyone?  Yes that is a tea-bag bobbin’ about in the foam there… I think of myself as a tea connoisseur but this was a first for me.

An urban canvas

Must be the skinniest building, ever

I really like that biking is so well catered to, possibly because car parking spaces are minimal…  very civilised and a green win for Tokyo.  The lower picture shows the way to the bicycle parking lot for the underground railway, how awesome is that?

(*  “plastic food” picture taken by Lisa… thank you for letting me use it here!)

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On knitting in planes

05/02/2011 3:23 pm \ 13 Comments \

Further to my post on the socks knitted on our plane trip, I thought I’d give some more details on my own experiences of sky-high knitting  (and above is my nearly-second pair of socks knitted on the same trip).  Obviously I can’t speak for all airlines, nor the behaviour one can expect of all airline officials, but only my own experiences here…  
When I made my own enquiries with Qantas I was given the guideline “nothing bigger nor thicker than a ballpoint pen”.  So I presumed that the little double ended needles used to knit socks would be alright, since they are as it happens much smaller and thinner than a ballpoint pen.  As a further safeguard, since “metal”, and “pointy”, and particularly a combination of those two qualities, seems to be the biggest no-no’s when boarding a plane, I figured it would be sensible to get hold of some bamboo needles.  Eliminate the “metal” factor, at least.  And I had absolutely no dramas going through security, nor on the plane.
Can I just digress for one minute to mention how nice bamboo needles are??  Love working with these things…  Metal is the best, natch.  Plastic is the worst.  Just my opinion…

I bought this pack containing 5 needles, the label gives the dimensions of these needles as 20cm long and 2mm thick.  And they are flimsy.  Man are they flimsy… in the packet there is the fifth needle that I snapped whilst knitting with them… 🙁   You have to be really careful when using these little things.  Or it could just be that I am too rough?  But thank goodness the manufacturers were kind enough and had the foresight to include the fifth needle…!
If you are a really keen knitter and wish to do some larger scale knitting in the air then it might be worthwhile hunting down and purchasing a kit like this one below…
I bought this set of airline approved needles about seven years ago from a local yarn shop now sadly gone, Cottonfields.  
The Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles.  This is an American product, and interestingly the instructions give the same guidelines we have … specifically mentioning the “nothing bigger nor thicker than a ballpoint pen” line in their Airline-Safe blurb.
The set comprises a not-quite-complete-but-adequate range of sizes, and you can join all the bits and pieces together to create knitting needles both single pointed and circular, of various lengths, simply by choosing different lengths of piping to suit whatever you are working on.  A big downside; this is an expensive option, one of those purchases that had me sweating and wondering whether I was truly mad even thinking of spending good money on yet more knitting needles when I already have a complete set of ordinary needles, for petes sake… but now I figure it to be a worthwhile purchase. Why?  Because I am a really keen knitter.  Keen enough to resent sitting on a plane for hours with nothing to do with my hands…  And since I got them I have used them to knit two complete jumpers on separate trips.  Worth it?  Ohhh yeah!
Oh, the website is www.knitdenise.com  for those who are as keen as me.

When it comes to snipping the yarn; I have a tiny pair of plastic handled, kindergarten-grade kiddies’ scissors that usually live permanently in my knitting bag, and I left these out before we set off for the airport.  And good thing too, as I saw lots of these innocent things sitting in the bin of confiscated potential instruments of terror.  (insert eye-roll here…)   Luckily sock yarn is quite skinny and thin and I managed to break it when I needed to by just yanking it hard.  Yeah, not ideal, I know.  Can someone invent some plastic scissors, please?

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