Birthday Dress 2012 in progress

There are now only 2 sewing days left unitl my birthday, and I *think* my new dress will be ready. I have a back up dress in mind just in case, but I am really hoping that this year will be the year I get it done.
I just spent a lovely afternoon in the comany of Antqueen working on my dress, and its really starting to come together. I am about to go and do another 30 mins on it, after which it will be ready to have the skirt attached to the bodice.
I am making up a vintage Butterick 2255 in a linen/cotton blend white with overblown pink flowers print.
Here is the muslin:

I hope to have it close to complete by next Saturday, when I am heading to Antqueen's house for a hat trimming afternoon. I might also impose upon her to mark my hemline.

2012 sewing goals

Goodness how time flies!

This year, inspired by The Unclutterrer blog, I've decided to make monthly sewing goals. Let's see how I went in January 2112:

• muslin the Butterick dress - almost done, wiht assistance from ant_queen of Ant Country. Construction of a test run dress is scheduled for this coming weekend.
• sew a garment for Rachel's daughter, Keira (9mo) - almost done. The pieces are cut with construction also scheduled for this weekend.
• post some pre-loved garments for sale on gumtree - nopt done, but I have organised for a stall to sell off some vintage clohtes in Feb
• have a refashioning/sewing day with ant_queen - done! We had a lovely day together durign my end-of-January holiday, including much tea and talk and watching Paper Giants, which she gave more for Christmas.

Photos to follow.

 

As for the next few weeks, here's what is planned:

•  sew a garment for Amber's baby, due in early March (sex unknown or at least undisclosed)
• finish Butterick dress 
• hold a stall at the Nth Melbourne Markets to sell off vintage garments (19.2.12)

 March

• have that long-promised millinery day with ant_queen
• Birthday outing 31.3.12.

 

 

 

Winter Holiday planning

Once again we are departing Melbourne for 10 days warmth and relaxation in July. This year we are going to Timore Leste, where Hubby will have just finished a work project.
Hubby tells me that, in Timor Leste, women swim (or bathe perhaps) in t-shirts and shorts or similarly modest apparel over their swimsuits. To do otherwise will most likely attract unwanted attention.  Now, I don't have any shorts that are suitable for swimming. In fact, I own very few pairs of shorts indeed.
I was just checking out the restylista's blog and saw this post
Perhaps the answer is a play suit in seersucker or similar light-weight but opaque fabric. Sewing out of season will be a challenge, but I have been tempted by the idea of a playsuit for some months now, although I could not imagine myself wearing one.
Now to see if I have/can find a suitable pattern.

Vintage Pattern Sale

Out of the Ashes is having a 15% off sale. You can't have this pattern , though, it's mine :D

today I sewed!

http://thegreatvintagesewalong.blogspot.com/2011/03/progress-at-last.html

A little bit of Shopping

Today my lovely friend montjoye took me with her on a recce of this shop, which happened to be having a 50% off sale: The Fabric Store

A little like Tessuti, The Fabric Store stocks high quality, designer fabrics. I went in with a bit of a mission - fabrics for work clothes, and I am very pleased with what I bought. I have: purple cotton knit for a wrap jacket; teal merino knit for stretchy tops;  sage linen and brown with orange floral print silk for blouses; a french navy and white striped cotton jersey with a faint grey/sage floral print background for a 'Friday' top; and I had to have a black and white printed linen that looks remarkably like this fabric about which Gertie has recently blogged: Vintage Roses

Oh and a little black and white spotty remnant for refashioning the bottom of that Beechworth skirt.

During the week I collected the shelves to go in my new sewing room storage units (I had ordered frames and tub/drawers, but forgot the shelves). Now, after a busy day's shopping I am trying to get up the motivation to go and re-arrange the sewing room.

I think I'll go and do 30 - 45 mins, then rest with an ep. of What Not To Wear that I have recorded.

Summer time Swap

Next weekend I am going to the  Rose St Market Swap.
During the Xmas/New Year break I had another sort and cull of my clothes and identified more garments that I have shrunk out of and/or don't wear. I think I have more than the 6 items permitted, so I will either store some for the next swap, donate them or perhaps sell them on eBay.
Last swap I came home with some very nice garments, which makes me optimistic about this one, and even if I only come away with one or two new garments, it will be well worth it, as all the left over garments go to charity.

Pic Spam - vintage dress muslin

Muslin front

Muslin back