Lace peplum top

A family friend gifted me a big box of 1960s lace and other gorgeous fabrics. There was only a little of this aqua lace but I had to use it for something. I based it on Vogue 8815, everyone's favourite basic peplum top, but adding a cap sleeve, lowering the back, and adding an extra layer of peplum.

New stuff!

Couple of new (but old) pieces in my Felt store. Check them out!

Shirt restyle

Cute "Jaeger of London" shirt I found out in South Dunedin. Got rid of all the excess ruffles to make a simple blouse.

From the pattern archives

One of the great things about going home to your parents' house is finding lots of old stuff that's hiding there!
This is such an awesome pattern, not because of the actual pattern but for the absolutely gorgeous pictures on the front. Come on - how great is that big flower, the colours, the accessories... love love!

Also for sale

Pretty white ruffle shirt dress (reworked vintage) for sale here!

Summer's coming

Rather bad photos so sorry.. but hey. Little high-waisted red cotton shorts for my friend Michelle.. swapped her for a print of a beautiful photo she took, that girl's got talent! I'm definitely into swapping. Based on a cute 70s pattern - how awesome is it? Based on the look of the girl with the denim version. Oh and final product on the right. Yay it's getting real nice and hot, definitely summer on the way, it's been a long time coming and I for one am stoked.

Finally, a picture!

Here's my dress at the Hokonuis.

Pro-photos

These didn't scan as well as I'd hoped.. but they still look cool! This is the dress I made (from recycled circles of fabric) for the Nouveau Design Awards in January - it looks so much better on film than on the stage I reckon.
This last one is a beautiful dress I was given by Barb, I shouldn't really call it vintage coz she's not old! But it's from the 70s and so gorgeous - gold paisley. It had a few holes but I fixed them up and put a gold ruffle on the neck.. Goes well I think!

If only I lived in New York...

Via Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing.

20s modern dress

Cute little dress for sale in my shop. I found this fabric in a second-hand shop ages ago and have always wanted to use it. 20s style drop waist, loose top and gathered skirt.

And it begins...

I'm using the fabric from an old opera dress to make an avant-garde evening dress.

An oldie but a goodie

This is a dress from WAY back in the day! As you can see I made it back in the summer of 06/07... it's when I really got into sewing, as a creative relief from the issues with moving to a new town, knowing hardly anyone and having a crap job! (That said, it was an awesome summer in other ways...) Anyway it was made vaguely off my oldest vintage pattern... mostly just the waist and the gathers, then i freestyled the rest.


A couple of years later I pulled it out, took off the tiny straps (hate them) and added nice thick tie halter straps, and shortened it to a decent length. Voila!

The latest!

Cute little dress up in my online shop... I know.. finally got my life sorted and made some new clothes! Honestly I love this one - made from a vintage dress, mixed with a gorgeous stripey lycra knit top, and it even comes with its own belt! It's for sale here. So if you're in the game for a cute, handmade, eco-friendly and sweatshop free dress, check it out! Or hit me up for custom work... I'm easily bribed.

Bridemaid's dress for Alex

But in all actuality it could be worn whenevs. Lexy specified a 20s style dress with a drop waist, full skirt with tie, and perhaps lace. We drew pictures of it when we were on holiday. When it got made the weekend before the wedding (!) it got created from blue chiffon, with an attached (vintage) lace/lining slip with an extra skirt layer on the bottom, chiffon tie and underlining. Kinda flapper looking, it looked so gorgeous on her and I'm so happy with how it came out. Just need to get my hands on the photo shoot pics!


Picture courtesy of You Could Totally Be French

1969

Straight out of Margie's pattern collection, from 1969... slightly adjusted with a waist band and no zip etc because it's stretch, but generally on the same wavelength. Global Fabrics stretch knit again. Click on image for bigger view.

Cutest dress ever!

Newest addition to my shop! Adorable reworked vintage dress with belt... love it!

In real life

Amanda modelling the gorgeous dress from below!

Vintage Goodness

It's been a very fruitful week for getting sweet sweet stuff.
First me and mum stumbled upon a lady selling 50 years worth of her wardrobe, and I picked up these Spanish lace-up boots...

Then Adrian's mum gifted me a massive box of his grandmother's sewing patterns back to the 50s, including some amazing coats...

I went to the book fair at Founder's Park where I picked up vegetarian and baking recipe books, sewing books, magazines and patterns for $6!

I'd been looking for a cool retro cruiser bike for a couple of years so when I found this in Richmond out the back of an op shop for $15 I had to have it... keen to get it painted but it can wait.

And Andrew's mum gave me a hand-painted silk scarf his grandmother owned... I love it... Awww...

Latest dress!

Modified from a vintage dress, cut off sleeves, length, neck-tie...

From the pattern archive...

I think it's 80s... used the pockets variation for my skirt above.