Stella's 70's skateboard riding style and a BBQ

Stella is my first born my muse, my style aficionado.  She is the first one to compliment my outfits and will constantly pull together some stunning combinations.  She has a great sense of style and perfect comedian timing.  She will be a force to be reckoned with.  Here Stella is rocking her 70's skateboard riding style.  Check out Ginny, both her shorts and singlet are on back the front.  Just by chance i got this pic of Stella posing with our new mini BBQ.  I will have a big photo shoot one day with Stella showing us her super vintage darling style.

I spotted this at the markets and knew we had to have it.  It's not often I bring home treasure and Matt gets excited about it,but today he did.  A 50's/60's mini BBQ in it's original box. fabulous.  Oh yes.  It's going to be a great summer, lounging around in my kaftan having a mini BBQ.

Nine days of Frocktober

Everyday this month I am wearing a frock and I love it.

Weeeee, what a great start to Frocktober.  Day 1.  Rita's pineapple dress makes me want to twirl.  For those that don't know I acquired some dress from a  woman named Rita.  Her mother had made them and she wore 2 often, while her husband was courting her and 2 never saw the light of day, she never wore them.  Yah for me.  This is the pineapple dress' first outing, she is fabulous.  I felt like I need a fluffer under her, but I don't have one.

Day 2.  I bought this 1950's day dress from an op shop during SSS so this is the first time I have worn her.  A perfect frock for a day at the fair.  It was a wild and windy day, I was constantly fighting with the wind lifting the fullness of this dress up around my shoulders.  Worth it though.  And doesn't Ginger look adorable in her vintage polka dot dress.  I totally tricked her into wearing it as she normally likes her boy shorts.  She stole the show, people stopped to look at her on the rides.  Cute a  button.

Day 3.  I have had this dress for years, (I think I bought it when I was breast feeding), but it's the first time I have worn it.  It has lived in Japan for a while while my body belonged to my babies.  I like to think of it as my secretary dress.  It has a suede feel with a towel feeling trim.

Day 4.  My lime dress.  Made last year some time.  I wasn't digging it when I wore it this week.  I'd usually just change, but I felt like I had to wear it all day.  Very practical for a bust mummy though, with big pockets for stuff and a full skirt for sitting on the ground.

Day 5.  Another of Rita's dresses, also the first time it has been worn.  I love the crossed over bodice.  Of all my patterns, I do not have one with this look, bummer.  I absolutely am in love with this dress.

Day 6.  A morning spent at school working with the preppies.  I was a little shy having Stella take my photo at school.  A dress I have made.  I love the leopard but skirt bugs me on this dress.  It has a yucky feel to it.  I may get around to fixing it one day.

Day 7.  I was talking to a Nanna at the local craft shop the previous day about crocheting and I was inspired to dig out this nanna number.  I got lots of comments on my dress on this day.  This frock conjured up memories of people's grandmas.  Oh, isn't that nice.  I took direction from 3 year old Ginger for the photo on this day.  I had to say many made up words and pull funny faces and poses.

Day 8.  It was stormy morning and I wanted to wear something a little warm.  Here is my take on the suburban flannie.  My 1970's shift dress mad with a cross hatch checked flannel fabric.  Worn with not Ug boots, but Japanese tabby boots.

Day 9.  It is going to be the summer of the kaftan at my place.  Sipping cocktails around the pool, looking fabulous.  Last weekend at the local flee markets I came across a lady selling clothes out of a box.  It was one woman's take on leisure wear through a couple of decades.  Kaftans beat trackies hands down.  I picked up a couple of kaftans, moo moos and little tops all for $1 each.  Happy day.  I popped into the Petrie historical village markets this morning and was turning heads in this flamboyant frock, or it may have been Stella in her 1970's Hang Ten shorties worn with her led Zeppelin tshirt.  Very styling in a 70's skateboard riding kinda way.  Love this dress, I may just have to go and lounge around now.

SSS ' 11 Days 28, 29, 30.

These last few days of September have been crazy.
Day 28, was spent looking after a couple of extra kids, while trying to sew some things for someone else.  (I'll blog that later, as it's bit exciting).   I wore a black skirt  I made years ago.  It is looking a little worse for wear, but is very practical.  I will have to make myself another one.  Now I'm a more accomplished sewist, it will be practical, and fabulous.  Ginger was "helping" me make dinner.

Day 29, the day before Alby's 6th birthday and his party.  I literally spent the whole day cleaning and preparing for the onslaught.  And was up all night making cake.  Our downstairs area is also home to my sewing corner, so I had to put alot of stuff out of the line of fire.  I wore a tshirt I made and a pair of dusty pink cords that I cut off years ago and found recently.  I wonder why I cut them off.....

Day 30 and the day of the party.  What was I thinking letting 12, 6-8 year olds tear through my house?  It was alright really, Alby had fun.  I don't thinks kids parties are ever fun for Mummys.  I had a mini disaster when my frankfurts for mini hot dogs cooked too long, split and curled.  Thank goodness for mother in laws.  Mine was able to duck to the shops and then keep a watchful eye on them dang little things while they cooked.  The kids love mini hot dogs!
I wore a recently made high waisted pencil skirt, in a lovely shade of blue.  I do really dig this shape, and it was very comfortable as the most fitted part is higher than my tum, which tends to bulge after hot dogs, punch and lollies!  I will do a separate post on this skirt, with pattern details, as it is fabulous. 
Here is my 6 year old and I after the guests had all gone.  I made Al's shorts last night.  I would like to make them shorter, but he likes them this length.  O well, at least he will grow into them.  Dr Zeus, cute.  He loves them.  And I love him.

30 days of wearing items that I made myself wasn't too difficult, but it does highlight the fact that most of the things I make are too fabulous for cleaning, being sick in and basic lazing around the house.  I may need a few humble house dresses.  And  I definately need more separates. 
I thoroughly enjoyed Self Stitch September.  For the joy of wearing things I made, (I feel a real sense of pride) and checking in on other SSS'ers to admire their fabulous garments and style.
Next month, eek, starting tomorrow is Frocktober.  Every day in October I will wear a dress, either made by me, someone else or store bought.  I can do this easily, but I fear I will have the same dilemma as SSS, with days at home.  I think I will just pretend for October that I am a Stepford wife, don an apron from my collection of thrifted aprons. Or better yet, make sure that I do something a little glamorous everyday, to warrant a fabulous frock.  I will post my frocks weekly here.

SSS '11 Days 25, 26 and 27

I have a few moments spare while the potato chippies are cooking to share my last few Self Stitched September outfits.

Day 25, impressively, a few days after purchasing this apple fabric I actually made the intended garment.  Made from Butterick 3865, from the 70's.  The packaging says it's fast and easy and it was.  I was worried about the front zip. but for no good reason.  I accidentally matched the apples on the front seam pretty well.  I love the waist band, it's super comfy.  I am also wearing a tshirt I made.

Day 26, I wore the dress I made for the first day of spring last year.  There is a little bit of an effort is wearing this as it is hefty to iron.  I sometimes think I want to change the skirt of this dress from gathered to swingy. Maybe one day.  It is easier and more exciting to make something new!!  I almost forgot to take a photo.  I only remembered when it was time to bath the kiddies.

Day 27, I am wearing this breezy little camisole I whipped up last night from a early 90's pattern..  The fabric is very soft and the graphics are very 80's.  I am trying to find a good pattern for making a few little tops for Brisbane's hot summer.  This one is ok, I need to have the patience to make my own bias binding for the purpose of finishing tops like this one.  It was nice to get into my jeans after wearing so may skirts, the weathers turned a little cool.

SSS '11, Day 24 Sundaes on a Saturday

I have had this Michael Miller, Sundae fabric in my possession for a while and have finally made it up into a little halter neck dress.

A friends Mum gave me a pile of her old patterns mostly from the 70's.  All totally wearable and summery and mostly my size.  Made from Style 4859 from 1975.  It was a cinch to make a really quick.  I think I will have to make at least one more for the summer.

 
It is not the most flattering for a curvaceous bosom, but then the 70's were never about ample cleavage, so I'm okay with the way it looks.  Next time I make it, I will add a couple of inches to the hem as I don't like showing my knees much.

SSS '11, Days 20, 21 and 23

I am enjoying this spring weather and the extra energy I have this week.
Day 20, was a spring clean day and I went for a go to outfit, a skirt and a tank.  I was so involved in my spring cleaning that I neglected to take a photo of it on my body, but I got a shot of the fabulous 80's fabric that I made my skirt from.  I love these colours.  I wish I made a more swishy skirt instead of a straight, oh well.

Day 21.  I made this skirt just the night before, from a 20 cent curtain.  I really wanted a swishy skirt.  It took me an hour in total.  It is made from a 70's pattern cut on the bias.  I love it, the colours are very springy.  Go to tank top here.  I did a spot of fabric shopping with a couple of lady friends who I will make some garments for.  A bit exciting.  I was a little naughty, I couldn't resist this bold apple fabric that I will make up into a skirt (today I think).

Day 22.  I decided to take the kids to Bribie Island for a frolic on the beach and went for a nautical skirt that I whipped up.  I had been wanting to make a border skirt on a diagonal, but I didn't have enough fabric left over from Alby's bedroom curtains.  Made from a simple 60's skirt pattern.  I'm hoping the fabric softens up a bit. It stands up by itself.  I look knackered, because I am.  Kids, driving, beach, ice creams, op shops; phew!

We made a mermaid using a stack of shells.  What fun.

SSS '11, Days 16, 17, 18 and 19

Yah, for school holidays.  No more lunches made in the mornings and dinners made at lunch time.  No more racing out the door, hopping to get to school before 2nd bell.  For 2 weeks anyway.  Although it should be a quiet time of rest, with 3 kiddies and a spring cleaning project started, there's no rest for this busy mama. 

On Saturday, Day 16, we went to a friends BBQ.  I am wearing my Harry high pants on this glorious spring day, chilling on the grass, with Ginger taking my photo.  Later that night my husband and I went to see Custard play at the Powerhouse.  It was a sit down affair, very strange thing, I am so use to shaking my groove thing to Custard.

 

Sunday was scorching hot and very hazy, it felt like a summer's day.  Day 17, I wore my Religious Frock.  I hung around at home for most of the day, but then met up with a girlfriend to see Gentle Ben and his Sensitive Side, a super sexy sounding Brisbane band, all the way into the city a relaxing 50minute train ride.  It was a great show and so many lovely spring dresses to admire.  I received a few compliments on my little number, always noice.

Day 18.  This is controversial.  I just finished these either late 1940's or early 1950's regulation trouser's from Vogue 6285, last week, and I though they looked ok.  And a bonus they are super comfy, but I had 2 people close to me tell me 'honestly' that they are terrible, my own mother included.  The ankles look a little strange, I think they are tad too long, but I like them!!  I probably won't wear them again though.  Also the white shoes were the wrong choice.  It was early, I was on my way to my mum's and didn't really check the complete look, eek.

Vogue 6285

Today, day 19 was spent cleaning curtains, making curtains and buy curtain hanging fixtures.  Alby's room is almost finished, yah, it's getting exciting.  In a way Stella's room will get a mini makeover as Alby was crowding the glamour of that girl's room.  Oh, I wore a 1960's, 6 gored skirt, navy blue with little red anchors and white dots.  Comfortable.

Please be honest (but not blunt or cruel) about my controversial trousers.