almost..... but not quite

Wow, thanks for the response to my last post everyone! 

It's great to see so much enthusiasm for vintage patterns.

Simlicity 5017

Simplicity 5017 was definately the favourite,

followed by Vogue 5782.

Vogue 5782

I am having such a hard time deciding which pattern to make that I've decided to make them both.

I made a trip to Spotlight to peruse the fabrics and came home with this lot.

 

Getting side tracked as I do, I fell in love with this beautiful Liberty print rip off. It's a cotton voile named Ashley in Khaki.  It is actually the softest shade of grey and I absolutely adore it.  I spent a couple of hours on Saturday making the Simplicity 3835 view C (the blouse).  I put it on as soon as it came off the machine and promptly wore it for the next two days! 

I'll take some pictures and post a bit more about this when the weather fines up here in Sydney. 

Tommorrow is the first day of Summer but you surely wouldn't know it. 

I bought this cotton voile called paint by numbers in wild green, with Simplicity 5017 in mind. 

But I just. don't. know. 

I want to make something I can wear again and again, but I don't want to be too casual either.  I think with the right set of heels and accessories I should be right.

And even though the Simplicity 4116 didn't get any votes, I decided to make that one too.  Mostly because I once saw a woman on TV wearing a similar dress made from black broderie anglaise and I fell in love...........

but also because I thought a new (as opposed to vintage) pattern would be more simple to make and I could ease myself into the dress making experience. 

Boy was I wrong! 

Luckily I decided to make a toile first - thanks for the suggestion little betty. 

First off I found mistakes in the instructions straight away, then, after taking my body measurements, remeasuring and measuring once more just to make sure, I cut out a size 10. 

I didn't expect it to fit like a glove first off but nor did I expect it to hang off me like a potato sack! 

To say I was feeling a little discouraged by this stage is an understatement.

 

So after spending an hour or so last night pinning, moving darts, lifting the waist line, dressing and undressing numerous times I decided I'd be better off starting again this time cutting a size 8.

And did I mention that this was a printable pattern, which I spent several hours taping together on Saturday night - thank God I've got all of Mad Men Season 3 to get through.......... 

And as for the Vogue 5782,  well I just cannot decide what fabric to use for this one.  I truly swoon each time I look at this pattern.  I think something special is called for for this dress. 
A trip to Tessuti perhaps? 

decisions decisions - whats a girl to do!

With my youngest sister-in-law's wedding looming my thoughts have turned to what to wear..............

I don't want to spend alot of money on something that might only get worn once, so I've been thinking about making myself something.  And after getting into Mad Men in a s.e.r.i.o.u.s.l.y. BIG way I thought vintage might be the way to go!  It's going to be a day time wedding so no need to go overboard with the dress.

Something classy and classic I think.

Luckily I have a few vintage patterns in my stash!

Not because I ever really thought I would use them but just because I love to look at them.

These are the ones I'm considering.

This pattern, Simplicity 4116, is actually not vintage, but was a free download from somewhere.  I think with the right fabric, it does have a vintage feel.

This dress is gorgeous.  Vogue 5565, the pattern includes a cute little 3/4 length sleeve jacket.

Simplicity 5017. Simple yet stunning 1960's evening dress..............

Vogue 5782.  Screams Joan.  Love, love, love this dress.

So which one do I go with?  Which is your favourite?

Sunday morning cookin'

There have been repeated requests for pancakes around these here parts lately. 

I'm always a little reluctant to endulge one child's "treat" requests when the other child cannot partake in the spoils.  So I was hugely pleased when Jo posted this recipe for egg-free (and dairy free if you use soy milk like I did) pancakes recently!

Yum, yum, and double yummo!!!! 

Miss B was actually a little hesitant to try them, having never eaten pancakes before.  But once my little cat loving girl saw the kitty cat version I made for her, she hoed in with gusto.

Here's to pancakes we can all share :)))))

One per Month - October

Time flies and it's that time again.

My craft book for October was "patchwork style" by Suzuko Koseki. 

I got this book about a year and half ago, and although I love alot of the projects in the book, the instructions just seemed too complicated to tackle.

  Until now that is!  I've been wanting to update the cushion covers in my loungeroom for awhile now, so trawled through my craft book library for some inspiration. 

Of all the pillows in all the books I have, this style jumped out at me most. 

So I decided to bite the bullet and give the unique Koseki method a go.

 

So whats the deal?  How is this different to other quilting projects?  Well, rather then sewing all your strips together first and then sandwiching them with batting and backing fabric to quilt, you attach and quilt each strip directly to the batting as you go. 

Once I got going I loved it - and best of all it was easy peasy!

I used fabric from Valerie Wells Del Hi range, which I bought eons ago and then when it arrived I didn't quite know what to do with it.  But it was perfect for this project as I wanted something that was bright and bold and would give my loungeroom a lift.

For the backs I used some Ikea fabric in my stash, which also had a flora theme, and again fabric which was bought on a whim.  Only a smallish piece from the bargain bin - too small to do much with - but perfect for this project.

I am really loving this "de-stashing" business.  It's great to go through what you have and actually use some of it.  I just hope the dollar is still so good when it comes time to replenish.........