Hot Under The Collar...

I have been working on a little project of late. After seeing a few detachable collars around, particularly Peter Lapins, which I found on BurdaStyle, I thought I would try my hand at it.

I have alwasy been a lover of the collar, peter pan collars to be precise. To me, they capture sweet inocence, ooze vintage charm and spice up a simple outfit. 

I love how vintage shirt patterns more than often include a detachable collar - it can be cleaned and starched seperatly so that you always look fresh, its ingenious! Why do modern clothing companies not offer this luxury any longer? 

For my collar I used this wonderful houndstooth fabric that my Mum found for me at the op shop and bound it in royal blue bias binding, which comes around to form the bow and closure at the front.

It was a really simple, effective project, taking the whole of 30 minutes to complete. My mind has already raced way ahead with future collar plans, the variations are endless!

The Christmas Blues

This dress was one of many projects I completed over the Christmas break, it is most certainly my favourite, and also the only one that I got to keep.

I used an easy vogue pattern which I bought March last year when I first started learning how to sew. Deeming it too difficult, it got pushed to the bottom of the pattern box and forgotten. Come Christmas time I decided to make dresses for my friends for christmas. I had found a fantastic roll of mystery blue silk like fabric at St. Vinnies - close to 15 metres for a mere $7 and now just needed the perfect patterns. I figured if we were all going to have dresses in the same fabric, they must at least be different patterns. I dug out a few 50's full skirt patterns and Tadah! there was the easy vogue with the pretty bow back.

Just bewteen you and me, this dress was actually destined for another. However, upon trying it on I felt it was simply to perfect to part with, it fit like a glove - it was to be MY new christmas dress (sorry Mel!). So, with 5 hours left of christmas eve I got busy cutting, pinning and stitching and churned out another for her present.

 

I eagerly await the day we all show up in our matching blue ensembles, the sydney version of the Van Trapp girls.

The Talented Ms. Kidston

On my daily peruse of the internet, I came across this: 

My heart skipped a beat - could it be any cuter?!?! This fantastic sewing box (yes, sewing box!) is the creation of Cath Kidston and its not the only one. Upon further investigation I also found this, equal in cuteness, but alas, smaller in size.

Her website is full on kitsch adorable things, I have a feeling I will be frequenting her shop - Therfore, Bank Account, I apologize in advance.

Miss Fancy Pants

The first thing you may notice when seeing my version of Audrey's capri pants is........ well, they are not at all like them! I must say they are not oozing grace, but I feel like they have a little playful charm of their own. In the end they seemed more to be channeling a sixties sugar babe look. My brother on the other hand, always caring to share his opinions, noted "you look like a bad Eurovision contestant" - don't listen Audrey!

On the plus side the pattern was a dream to work with. It took a little fiddling to get right, but once I made it through the "why is the crotch so saggy?" stage it was all down hill from there. I used a a stretch drill that I already had and a zip I picked up at a second had store so all in all there wasn't much to lose.

I am very pleased with the way these turned out, and come fall I can see myself riding my bike around town in array of brightly coloured pants and even a tartan pair in the winter with a black turtle neck.

With this pattern taking around 2 hours on average to make, I can see it becoming a wardrobe staple - Thanks BurdaStyle!

Cupcakes.... A Cure for all Evils

After a severe migraine, a lengthy trip to the hospital and some of Mom's all comforting turkey broth, we felt I needed a little cheering up - in the form of sorbet coloured cupcakes.

These bright little gems are a remedy for any ailment - although I cannot overindulge in them just yet, they will be waiting for me as soon as I can - Meanwhile I will have to simply admire them.

Unfortunately these cupcakes make their appearance in place of my capri pants, which as promised are on their way.

That Sunny, Funny Face

Don’t you just love Audrey? I can’t imagine there are too many women in the world that don’t agree. Since her rise to stardom Audrey was renowned for her style, her impossible waist line and her quirky grace.

The first I saw of Audrey Hepburn was in her 1957 film “Funny Face” – I was enchanted. Her style was so effortlessly chic, simple and classic.  It was in this film that she debuted those infamous black Capri pants. 

I have wanted those pants ever since. However, try as I might I could never find the right pair in stores.  I knew one day I would just have to bite the bullet at try to make my own pair. Seeing that I predominantly make vintage dresses, the thought of making pants is somewhat frightful. The fit and cut is much more important. Understandably, I won’t look just like her in them, nor do I expect many people would! But the time has come to give it a try.

At last I have settled on a retro pattern from BurdaStyle (cropped trousers #111B).  It’s a very simple pattern (sigh of relief) and the price is more than reasonable. As it’s my first time sewing this pattern, I’m planning on using some stretch seafoam drill that I have left over from a previous Burdastyle project. Not only am I using this fabric in fear that I will ruin my initial attempt, but I have banned myself from buying anymore fabric for at least the next 6 months! I have more fabric than I know what to do with, so I suppose I ought to start doing things with it.

So fingers crossed - hopefully next week I will have a retro-tastic pair of capris that would put Audrey to shame (Doubt it!)

A New Year - A new Resolution

I am welcoming in the New Year with my first New Year’s resolution - to start my own sewing blog. I love all things fashion, I love all things creative and obviously, I love sewing. When I’m not stitching, cutting, pinning and creating, I'm reading sewing blogs, looking at patterns and planning well beyond that which my time and talent can match.

After much deliberation, procrastination and general thumb twiddling I decided it was time that I start my very own blog.

So here we are – This is my life in projects!