Monday, May 30, 2011

1948: P is for Peplum

Introducing the second installment of my Sewing Through The Decades Challenge - The 1948 Simplicity 2590 dress - Otherwise know as my P is for Peplum dress.



Today has been an interesting day. I awoke tired (Big surprise, it is a Monday after all!) and it was pouring with rain. The kind of rain that screams "Stay indoors!" But I went to work anyway, because, well, I suppose I didn't really have much of a choice. At about 2 o'clock, it started raining indoors also, and the ceilings almost fell through! It was all such a drama! I had to put on a hard hat (thankfully it matched my outfit) and evacuate everyone, and in the end I got to go home also.

I'm very happy for the early mark, but I feel dreadful for those colleagues who had to stay back and deal with the ankle deep water that filled our building, and those who's work stations and garment racks where destroyed. The fact that I'm happily sitting in my robe, sipping tea by the heater (and Oh so happy!) is slightly weighing on conscience.

But because of these dramatic events, I finally have the chance to share my latest (and quite possibly my favourite) creation with you!


I've had some serious sewing dramas lately, and although this dress took me a good couple of weeks to complete it wasn't particularly difficult. If I had of been a little more diligent, I probably could have finished it in a day or two. Part of me thinks that the boring fabric is to blame, It was very uninspiring when sitting in a heap on my desk, that's for certain!

Although the pattern was straightforward, there were a lot of techniques and steps that I had never used before - It was my first time working with crepe, my first teeny tiny roll hem, my first sleeves! my first time using my new overlocker, and my first peplum! phew, that's a lot of firsts!


There was a huge amount of room for me to screw this dress up, yet somehow I didn't! and I'm just thrilled with the end result!


But, do you want to know my favourite park about the dress? the peplum is detachable! I'm contemplating making one in black with an array of different coloured beautiful peplums to attach to it as I please!

Since its completion I have managed to wear it 3 times already! Sadly the weather is getting a lot colder, and it doesn't look great with a cardigan, so I want to wear it as much as I can, before its too cold.


Natasha, my dear friend and handy photography woman took photographs for me again. We went to the main campus of Sydney University and took the pictures in the quadrangle by the great hall. Its so beautiful there!


Don't you think it looks like Hogwarts?! Perhaps that's just my imagination/ wishful thinking!



Check out the rest of the Photographs here.

Friday, May 27, 2011

A Skirt of a Curious Nature

In my last post I told you about a skirt that had found its way into my possession, via a colleague at work and my plan to spice it up a little.


After some deliberation, I decided I needed to loose the fur at the hemline (Yet, I daresay you will see its return on a future project). But without the fur it was a little lack lustre. So, what's the best way to brighten up a lack lustre project? Rick Rack of course!

And voila!

I added one row of jumbo black rick rack to the bottom, and then a second row of mustard above that.
Its just a simple addition, but I love the effect! Well, honestly, I just love rick rack!


It just so happened that the night I finished the skirt, I also made a trip to IKEA! We ate Swedish meatballs, played make believe in the kitchens, accidentally smashed a drinking glass (Eeeek!!) and got lost. It was fun!


Though generally speaking, I tend to like a little more privacy when using the facilities.

I'm very pleased with the skirt, and I foresee it getting a lot more wear than before. Every time I put it on, I feel like doing this!

Have you brightened up any of your wardrobe pieces lately?

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Browsing the Blogosphere...

Oh, Hello there! Remember me? Yes, thats right, I'm that sewing blogist that seems to have forgotten about her blog!
I know I have been really slack on the posting front, but boy have I got a lot in store for you!

Although I have been slacking on my posts, I have been busy busy busy on the sewing side of things. I have been working like crazy on a TOP SECRET project for the last month, and it seems to have almost taken over my life in the last week and a half. I'm itching to spill the beans, but alas, that will have to wait another week or two - But a GIVEAWAY will be involved, and lets be frank here, who doesn't love a giveway?

In the midst of all my top secret sewing I also found time to finish up this lovely 1940's dress I've been working on,


It will be my early 1940's installment of the Sewing Through the Decades Challenge. Unfortuantly I don't have any photographs of it just yet, But, providing that the sun makes an appearance tomorrow afternoon, I shall get some then - and I promise to share!

I also have in my possesion a skirt of a curious nature. It was given to me by a colleague at work, and I instantly saw its potential!


In its current state I feel that its a little too JLO meets Miss L Fire for me, but I'm a sucker for full circle skirts and have a few ideas in store for its "Vamp Up" so check back soon to see what becomes of it.

And just so you don't leave visually unsatisfied, here's some eye candy I've found whilst perusing the blogosphere:
- "The Needle Diary" and no this is not a junkies diary, as the somewhat questionable blog name may suggest, its actually a sewing, lifestyle blog thats entirely adroable! Its a recent blog discovery of mine and I became an instant follower.
- I'm in love with Debi's 1940's hooded dress, so cute!
- I wish it was Summer, I wish I lived in England and I wish was doing this! Doesn't fleur just have the life!?
And last but not least,
- Check out Karlee's quick army pant re-do over at Gatsby and Me, Simple and effective.

Thats all from me today, but I'll be back soon!
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