Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Jacket New Look 6799

A boxy little jacket .... now my figure type might normally preclude me from a jacket of this design, but, as we do, I fell in love with the picture on the envelope ....And in my imagination I will look exactly like this lovely lady when I make the brown dress to match .......
Tweed fabric from The Fabric Store in Surry Hills, Sydney ..... I matched all checks as best I could ....

I used plastic press studs to fasten the jacket - so the front buttons are purely decorative - rather than have big ugly buttonholes through the thick fabric....
After I washed the fabric I decided to not line the jacket - it wasn't stiff or scratchy and since it was designed to be worn over a summer dress - I didn't want another layer of fabric on the jacket. All raw edges were bound with Satin Bias Trim - Hong Kong Style - no less!
A little time consuming - but otherwise good - it fits me nicely as well - I cut a 12, the dress will be 14 ..... don't hold your breath waiting for a post about it ..... it won't happen over night, but it WILL happen!

Saturday, October 10, 2009

A Trio of Teardrops

Here are three Teardrop Purses ....
This is the fabric for the first one I made ...





Please excuse my lack of words throughout this post ..... blogger has changed the way of inserting images ... and I don't like it .... anyone else having the same problems? Anyway, this a lovely cute purse. The beads were rather time consuming ... for the next two purses I made I used invisible thread as I didn't like the way you could see the coloured thread on the inside of the frame. Beading needles weren't successful either - hard to thread and not very strong - I resorted to a normal needle which accommodated every 6th bead! Not your average handmade bag - go on .... give it a go ...... while I try to figure out blogger .......

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Pep, Personality and Vitality

If you can get to Sydney - go and see the EXPOSED exhibition - the Story of Swimwear at the National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour. Actually, it's a travelling exhibition - coming to a town near you!  It closes 23rd October, 2009. Here are some photos.... it's a brilliant exhibition ....... I'm not going to blah on about each photo ... except for a couple .....

Here is Annette Kellerman's Book - it's just too good!
She writes that her perfect figure is due to her PEP, PERSONALITY AND VITALITY ..... Love it!
Here are a couple of ladies being arrested in the 1920s for wearing their swimsuits in public ....risque!
The exhibition is a Textiles Teacher's dream - great info on design, fibres, fabrics and society.......
Did your mum wear these????
It was also great to come across and artist working with the exhibition ..... Jennie Pry ..... she was sketching swimsuits .... her work is fabulous ...... what a treat!
And finally, I'd like to finish with this suit - it's my favourite - from Jet Swimwear .....Cool lines, a denim look with a detailed print - love it!