An Update on the Isabel Green Dress

I must apoligise for keeping you in suspenders for so long over the Isabel Green dress but to be honest I can still only just bare to bring myself to talk about it. Abit like the cowboys I got myself into a pickle with a couple of weeks ago, but that's a whole other story! For those new to my blog, I'll briefly fill you in. After watching Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang and getting very excited indeed about the costumes and sets, I decided to set myself the impossible task of creating an Isabel Green wardrobe  (she's the main character). Eventhough I accepted that it would be a stupidly difficult task as the costume designer was also responsible for Atonement and Pride and Prejudice.

Anyway, my gorgeous 'hopefully sister-in-law to be' found the perfect Vogue pattern for the dress so I made it my mission to devote an entire 'Stitch n Bitch weekender' to making the dress. I had been warned that Vogue patterns were ridiculously difficult and the pattern had 14 pieces!! But it really was very nice and the closest to the 1940's style that I had seen.

Making the dress was a massive learning experience for me which I have to say I gained a lot from and enjoyed the challenge, but unfortunately when I finished it I realised that the dress was way too big for me. So whilst I was pretty happy with the fact that I had managed to make a really complicated and detailed dress, I could not wear it!

Not to be defeated, I decided to just whip up another one! I did the obligitory half thumb adjustments and was pretty pleased with how easy the second dress was to make. However, I could not believe it when I tried it on and it was still too big! How can this be? I had even measured myself and checked the guide on the pattern. I was so frustrated so out of desperation I just took it to the overlocker and whizzed it in another inch each side, tried to put it on and woops, I couldn't even get it on. It was too small!!!! Ok so I give up, it isn't meant to be.

The Isabel Green wardrobe project has been abit of a 'I don't want to talk about it' subject around here ever since. Until last week that is when I decided it was time to try another pattern. I have had real difficulty finding 1940's style patterns but I liked the look of the little blue and white dress with the collar and gathered sleeves so I thought I'd give it a go and I'm really pleased with the way it's turned out so I took some photos of me wearing it today. The chartreuse coloured fabric with the little white flowers isn't really 1940's style either but I love it. I bought it in the Retro Shop in Bangalow during our road trip and saved it for a dress. I may have gone off on a bit of a tangent with this dress but never mind, it's certainly been inspired by Isabel Green.

But if you can help me out on where to find 1940's patterns, I'd love to hear from you.

More Gypsy Love

Oh my giddy aunt, have you ever seen anything more cute than this? It's a sewing box and is made by Cath Kidston, you can find them here.

I reckon on average I must type gypsy caravan into google at least once a week for a regular fix of all things gypsy and hopefully inspire Mr Gale to build us our very own, but I have never stumbled upon this little beauty before. It's certainly got me thinking, maybe something new for my gypsy range?

I'm even more perplexed though that I didn't find myself with one tucked into a shopping bag on leaving the shop as I did in fact visit the Cath Kidston Marylebone High Street shop during my recent visit to the UK. It was quite a treat as I hadn't gone in search for it. I was there hunting out posh charity shops. Incidentally, I found many posh charity shops and bought the most awesome pair of Zara jeans.

Pssst! Just for the record, Cath Kidston to me is very much like that record that you loved until it was played to death on the radio and you become very bored of it indeed. I guess that makes me a mainstream snob does it? Having said that, I wouldn't be dissappointed if Father Christmas decided to stuff one in my stocking! After all, I have been a good girl:)

Memories from Home - Montecute House

Promise you won't laugh? I know you will though, I would if I were you, but I get this funny feeling when I'm in old country homes. Yes I am about to absorb myself in dillisions of grandeur, so if you want to just look at the gorgeous pictures and ignore the dribble, I fully understand.

 

My mum has always said that I have "ideas above my station" and this just proves it. My friend Delia puts it down to some spiritual sensation suggesting that "maybe in a past life you were an aristocrat or something". I don't know, whatever it is, I just feel comfortable. I can spend hours wandering around the rooms, admiring the antiques, fabrics, furniture and art. The smells of old just make everything so real and strangely familiar. I can really imagine how life would have been back then. I can feel the history, imagine the family sagas and personalities that would have existed there.

I guess we can all dream and maybe that's just it, maybe I have an overactive imagination and have read too many historical romances.

On our visit to the National Trust property Montecute House it was such a beautiful day that we decided not to pay the entrance fee and just hang out in the gardens instead. We spent the whole afternoon strolling around the gardens, looking at the beautiful flowers, playing chase, watching the fish in the pond, waiting just waiting for Mr Darcy. See that's another thing, being a complete romantic means that I really do believe in knights in shinning armour who whisk woman away to a happy ever after life.

Mr Darcy didn't arrive that day but I am pleased that Mr Darcy has since revved into Delia's life, albeit on a bright shiny motorbike.

My Creative Space

Do you ever get sewers block? I usually get it when I'm a little bit under pressure to perform, rendering me not entirely unable to sew, but just unmotivated to sew what I should be getting into, wishing instead to work on one of the other many projects I have on the go. You see time is ticking by and I want to make some chrismassy things for our forthcoming market, but I'm just not in the mood yet for christmas. So instead I made these lovely bright needlecases. I've been meaning to make these for a while to go with my pin cushions. A lovely little gift together don't you think.

But what I should really be making is some cute little birds but they just aren't turning out how I hoped. Still more design work needed. Hopefully I'll manage to sort it out over the next couple of weeks. How about you, got any lovely christmas projects on the go.

On a more positive note, last week I managed to make two loose covers for the gorgeous old armchairs I bought in Vinnies last year. It ended up being one of those projects which you think would take ages but in fact was relatively quick and painless. Don't we just love it when that happens. Hope your projects are going swimmingly.

To Market To Market

Sarah, Michelle and Me - Trashy housewife theme market

It's been so long since I mentioned our little market the 'Made With Love Bazaar' and I actually have a very big reason to mention it now as we will celebrating our first year of success at our next market in November. It can't believe it's been one year since we decided to stop talking about it and do it!

rockMYroll

rockMYroll

Crooked Stitch

I first met Michelle when we were at an antenatal group. We were the 'naughty' ones who got the giggles during the birthing video, talked about sewing when we should have been discussing birth plans and left the group feeling pleased we'd met each other but not really knowing much about what we were about to experience in child birth!

Adore U

Angie Freeman Mosiacs

Baby Boudoir

Baby Boudoir

Baby Boudoir

During the months that followed it wasn't just our babies that were born but a plan to start some kind of co-op/market to sell locally handmade products. Michelle was heavily involved with the local art scene and therefore had many contacts, a suitable venue and was ultimately the one that was brave enough to run with it.

Baby Boudoir

Buttercup Cakes

We were also eagerly encouraged by the other 'stitch n bitch' girls who were excited about becoming involved in a community based handmade market. And thank goodness for Sarah, who managed to organise all our chaos. So it was with nervous anticipation that we all set up for our first market, hoping and praying that enough people would come along to make it a success.

Clever Zebra Designs

Grace of Autumn

Grace of Autumn

Having a Hoot

Lisaloo

The community has really embraced our market and we are so appreciative of them, especially our 'regulars'. We have also been blown away by the amount of talented artisans on the North West coast of Tasmania wanting to become involved, it is just amazing it really is.

Pure Sense

Turning Trixie

Sweet Mia

Last week I saw a friend in town, a friend that is very supportive of local artisans and has been supportive of our market and she said "you know you guys should be so proud of yourselves and what you've achieved, everyone talks about the market and how brilliant it is". Thanks Alison, we are and it was lovely of you to remind us. Thanks also to everyone that is or has been involved; shoppers, stall holders, Naomi our photographer, the Advocate Newspaper, SeaFM radio, buskers you've all been awesome and we couldn't have done it without each other. Cheers all and here's to another year of fun and dress-ups. Come along and experience the LOVE: Artscape Building, 45 Jackson Street, Wynyard, Tasmania every second Saturday of the month between 9am - 1pm.

Third Vine

More 'Gypsy Dreams' Clothes

I'm so pleased with these cute little hippy/gypsy style fur waistcoats I made using some teddy bear fur that I had picked up at Vinnies just before I left Aus. It was sat on my sewing table when I returned. By the way, the bird fabric isn't upside down, it's ......... whatever it's called when it can't be upside down ........ hehehehe. I think you'll know what I mean!

I've pretty much used it all now making four waistcoats but that's the way it goes when you make things from recycled. You only have what there is, there's no going back for more and when it's gone, you have to come up with something new. But that's what I love about making everything out of recycled stuff.

What have you all been up to? It's been a while hey. Just gonna pop over now to the new 'Our Creative Space' to have a good catch-up.

Memories from Home - Dunster Country Show

Don't we all just love a good country fare to evoke nostalgic feelings of happy childhood summers days? Pony rides, scones, fizzy pop, fair rides, face painting, sunburn, the beautiful sweet smell of hay and horses tack and Punch and Judy belly laughs.

As a parent it gets even better. Not only do you get to relive those memories but you get to relish in the enjoyment of seeing your little kiddiwinks experience it all. Plus, you discover a whole other side of the show - the adult entertainment. No I don’t mean of the risqué variety, but the local cider, microbrewed beers and gournmet farmers gastronomic delights. I have also entered into the official ‘boring old farts club’ by discovering an interest in the more traditional country crafts such as spinning and thatching which before would have made me adopt the “yeh right whatever” kind of attitude. I even went for a little lookie at the tweeds, no I didn't buy any, way to itchy for me, but I just wondered if I could mix it up abit with a couple of my vintage dresses and run a queenie type look!

But seriously is there anything more fun, I ask you? And with the backdrop of Dunster Castle, it was all pretty perfect really for us at the Dunster Show. See the castle? It's one of my favourite things to do in England, visit the National Trust country homes and estates. I'll be sharing some pictures from Montecute House real soon, where Sense and Sensability was filmed.

Kim didn’t quite know what to make of the ferret racing (it’s an English thing), but was very proud of his achievement on the clay pigeon shoot after the guy told him he was way to good and had to shoot blindfolded! Maggie as always loved all things horsey and especially enjoyed the fun games put on by the pony clubs.

This was all very serious, which made me giggle. Though I have always thought of hunting as a cruel sport with the prolonged chase and savage kill of animals just doing what they do, I do however like some of the associated traditions and respect the skills of the master of the hound. Hypocritical maybe.

Oh and did I tell you? There was even a crooked house. Remember these? I was so excited about going in this when I saw it (you see you can do things like this again when you have a child). Actually it was disappointingly 'pikey' inside, but I tried to see it through kids eyes and looked past the gaffer tap holding the boxing bags together as I exaggerated my bash into them each time the wibbly woobly floor moved.

Face paints smudged, we returned to our barn properly tired, dirty and sticky from sugar and sweat. I just flipping love it I do. When I say returned home, it wasn’t quite as simple as just popping the key in the ignition and off we trot as I had left a ‘thingy’ on and flattened the car battery requiring the local scout group to push us around the flat field a couple of times to bump start the car! I felt abit like Benny Hill.