Sunrise...Sunset

I've been experimenting alot lately with photography. I would like to go a little more in depth with it so I can learn how to use my sweet little Panasonic Lumix, but in the mean time I'm just going with taking photos of what I like.

Sunrise

Sunset

I couldn't resist the gorgeous colors created in these pictures. Isn't Mother Nature a clever lady!

Sewing for the other things in my life

With the weather warming up, I like to start lightening things up around me. Coral jeans, white t-shirts yes please! My couch also demands the same attention and seeing as it's the had the same cushions for 5 years I guess I cant blame it.

I really wanted a chevron fabric and too impatient to go looking for it so whipped out the fabric paint and created it myself.

I had some calico hanging around and I used painters tape to section off the areas I wanted to leave plain. I started off with some method for making the chevrons even then they kind of went out the window, I kind of like it's uneveness though. Here he is stuffed and on show together with his other new partner in crime.

I used this tutorial which was super easy and meant I didn't have to play around with zippers. Yay!

There are many more on the way, here are some others I made.

Such a quick and easy way to jazz up your living room. Now I'm looking into doing more printing on fabric, using lino cutting techniques which I found a great tutorial for here.

I'm all over Pinterest these days, what a time suck it is. I'm here in you would like to follow my pins.

Returning to normal programming

Whoops sorry for the long absence! Life's been busy but I have managed to do some sewing, this is my latest creation.

I've been itching for this one for a while so finally got myself organised enough to do it. The pattern is an oldie that I talked about previously but just perfect for what I wanted. I altered the neckline to be round instead of V and and left out the fancy racing stripes on the green version. 

The sewing of the whole thing was quite easy, the pleather proved to be a bit troublesome though and didn't want to go through my machine. So I put some swedish tracing paper over the seams and everybody was happy again. 

Fancy close up! I top-stitched the armhole seam just for effect. So another new thing I tackled in my sewing journey - raglan sleeves. Super duper easy things they are, I think I scare myself into thinking all these things are going to be so hard but most times they're not. Apart from binding, that's still my nemesis.

Now only if Brisneyland's weather would cool down just a smidge so I can actually wear it (me thinks that's not gonna happen). 

A new wardrobe favourite - Vogue 1247

As usual, time ticks away before my eyes. I've had little sewing time recently but I did manage to finish off my version of the Rachel Comey Top pattern from Vogue 1247.

I have to admit that I am in love with this top, really hard. It's perfect for the Brissy winter and also fills a wardrobe holes of a black top that was loose and flowy. I had muslined this back in Summer and knew that I wanted to change the neckline from a v-neck to a more rounder neck.

I also widened out the sides of the top, I think I cut a size 8 or 10 but I'm not that in hips so ended up drafting a new bottom hem to boot. I also left off the cuffs, who needs em. Check out all those intersecting seams!

Fabric is a cute viscose from the Fabric Store (a.k.a Fabric Heaven). Everything is french seamed so has a lovely finish on the inside.

Now i've got the pattern perfected, this may also be a good pattern to replicate for the warmer weather, in a light silk maybe. 


I have so many more plans of sewing running through my mind as always, but so little time. I think I need to seriously start creating a more visual way of cataloguing the ideas that come into my little head, maybe a mood board or notebook or some sort?


In other news, I've discovered the joy that is Pinterest. I am here, come follow me.


Till next time!

Such indecision.............

It has been quite a while since I sat down to sew anything and I miss it badly. With the high hopes of getting stuck into some sewing this weekend, I was looking for inspiration. I finally dragged my failed knit dress out of the Big W bag it's been residing in for the past month and this will be first on my list to finish off. It's now going to be a basic knit top, here's how it's looking after I hacked off the bottom.

Safe to say it's a bit of a mess right now, I need to finish the neckline, take in the baggy sleeves and finish off the bottom.I was happy with the actual design process, it has drop shoulder seams and some draping detail in the front. Turns out as a dress the draping detail made me look like Mrs Saggy Guts on steroids so it's new incarnation should be much better. Here's a close up of the shoulder seam and front panel detail, I kinda like it

This is the draping detail on the front. I think I will add a band to them bottom to finish it off.

Do you ever get a pattern and fabric and you're so in love with it, then totally change your mind about it? I was enamoured with the Darling Ranges pattern by Megan Neilsen and got some lovely black & white fabric to make it up in. Now the thought of it makes me cringe, I don't know what it is. Maybe I might shelf it for the warmer weather. 


I'm seriously thinking of using the fabric to make a tunic/shirt, after seeing this this version on Cirque Du Bebe's blog, this pattern is a strong contender. 


I also dove into my pattern stash and found a vintage lovely that may also fit the bill

Whaddya reckon? The vintage pattern has no buttons which is what I'm after, but I do like the Pussy Bow on the Pattern Runway blouse. Obviously more thought is required.


Then I spotted this gem from Kwik Sew

Aint she pretty! This is ideal for the Faux Leather sleeved top I was talking about in a previous post, might even use the version with the pockets to be super fancy.


Hope you're all being much more productive than I am.


Till next time!

I have mail!!!

I signed up for the "One cool thing/One Strange thing" swap over on The Perfect Nose and my little goodie parcels arrived last week much to my utter delight. 


The first package was kindly sent to me by my swap partner Kat from Modern Vintage Cupcakes. Check out the awesomeness!

A vintage Butterick pattern for a skirt and a jacket. I'm particularly digging on the jacket, I think I will use the long sleeve version. It is unlined so could be perfect for my first adventure in jacket making.

Kat also sent me a cute little polka dot belt buckle and some quilted blue fabric. My first thought was for making a clutch bag with the buckle as a feature, just need to find the right pattern. I might also try dyeing a bit of the fabric, I think it would look stunning in black.


Then a total surprise package came from TJ who organised the whole swap. Count them all, 3 freakin patterns! She kindly included a Kwik Sew pattern, after my last rant about my sewing with knits fail. There is also a cool top in Butterick 5429, a top with a twist at the front. Found an inspiration photo using the upper portion in leather, putting that on the list.

I also got this fabric and wow I love it. I would have brought this fabric myself if I spotted it in a store, TJ you read my mind.

I am thinking about making this into a panelled top of some sort, I have to put my thinking cap on to make it into something extra special.


Till next time!

Some Lovely Links

Wow time goes so fast and you feel like you've done nothing. Last week I madly started drafting and then sewing a dress using a stripe merino knit from my last post, it was a disaster which really bummed me out. I got so frustrated with it that I bundled the lot into a plastic bag and threw it in my sewing wardrobe so I didn't have to look at it anymore. Perhaps when I have a free weekend I might try to salvage it, or maybe not. 


So to lift my spirits I went on the hunt for some other people's creativity and inspiration. It's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Sydney at the moment and I spotted the runway show and collection by Project Runway Season 3 Winner Dylan Copper. I love his use of colors and prints, so gorgeous!

I'm totally digging on Little Betty's version on the Darling Ranges dress by Megan Neilsen patterns. My first pattern from her got lost in the mail, now I've happily got a replacement so I think this is going to be next on the list.


One of my new fav blogs is She's Sonic. She's put up a post talking about Leopard print as a neutral. I'm a sucker for leopard print, especially as accents such as scarves or shoes.


Cotton and Curls never fails to impress with DIY ideas and tutorials. She's posted up a tutorial about making a Knit dress with a Peter Pan collar. Looks pretty simple, though I think I would ditch the hi-lo hem going on, my legs are not made for showing that much skin!


I was so excited to see a new blog post from Pattern Runway. She is a Brissie pattern designer selling her pattern through her Etsy shop (just quietly I am seriously considering her Pussy Bow blouse). Her latest blog post was all about a Tailored Jacket she has just finished. Absolute perfection! I might get to that skill level in about 10 years more of sewing.


I finally succumbed and joined Pinterest, I could easily loose hours on there. You can check out my boards here.


Till next time!