Wednesday, February 29, 2012

A girl named "Julie"

I've been working on a painting.  I should make more picture, it makes me happy.

Sewing is a more viable creative outlet when children consume your life.  Where as painting must consume you.  I pulled an all nighter to finish her and was terribly cranky from lack of sleep for a couple of days after (sorry kiddies).  A few daytime Nanny naps and early nights later and I'm chipper again.

Here she is my homage to 70's soft porn, and wallpaper, "Julie".


Going Bananas

I've had this lil' number made for a few weeks.  I couldn't resist this banana print and used McCall's 8569 from 1951 to make this skirt.  This is the 2nd time I've made this skirt and surely won't be the last.  I love the style feature of the puckered pocket and the little split in the front waist band which reminds me of a vest.



You'll have to excuse the crushed fabric, I was wearing it for a few hours before I got a chance to get Ginger to take some photos.
I couldn't resist sharing this photo of Ginger modelling under the big climbing tree.  Cutie Patootie.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Rock and Roll saved my life


I found the best barkcloth fabric in a dodgy dusty antique shop and paid more than I thought I should have, to get home and lovingly hand wash it (although the woman swore she had washed it) for half of it to fall apart in my hands all the while filling my bucket with mud. Washed, phaw!!  I was looking forward to making a full circle skirt alah Rock and Roll style, but all I could manage was this slightly flared skirt.  Pales in comparison to the vision in my head, but I love it all the same. Made with a1972 pattern by Style, number 3788, version 2.  It was quick and easy to make, as skirts tend to be, which is why I am digging them so.  What to do with the deteriorating bits left???
I have made this top from simplicity 4056 maybe from the late 60's. The fabric is a lovely light weight linen.  I love the idea of this top more than the actual top, it's a bit boxy.  I will rock it though, it took me far too long to make to simply leave it in my wardrobe.  Simple to make my but!  You get that with dress making, sometimes it's just not as fabulous as you want it to be, other times it takes you completely by surprise.
This is how I actually wore the skirt on this day, with my fall back tank.
 I have also been making the basic tee, the pattern of which comes a PDF from Steph at 3 Hours Past the Edge of the World.  It needs a little tweaking for my narrow shoulders.
This post was sitting as a draft for a couple of weeks, I got called away as a busy mummy, but I'm back now, after a spell of being a little run down and alot tired.