The Dressmaker movie premiere

 

Friday night myself and a few of the dames from the Brisbane Vintage Mafia hit Palace Centro Cinema in James St for the premiere of the movie The Dressmaker.

 

 

In the foyer was an exhibit from "Needlefruit Sewing Lounge" Paddington.

Needlefruit is a sewing lounge and haberdasher who offer classes for first timers and the skilled.

https://needlefruit.com.au/

 

It was so awesome to meet Christina from Needlefruit. I'm really going to have to get myself over to Paddington to suss out their shop because it looks and sounds incredible!!

 

 

Then it was time for the movie.  After a couple of hiccups from the projectionist it began.

 

I can't really say much about the actual storyline of the film because that would spoil it I think.
Woman goes back to the country town of her youth to find the answers to her past.

It's a strange film. Again, it's hard to explain without giving away the plot.
It starts like a slap stick comedy and through-out it felt like it could have been a stage play.
It was very exaggerated acting. Over the top.
Then in the second act the theme abruptly changes to a very macabre drama only to return to a bizarre black comedy in the third act.
It's a very DARK film.

BUT THE COSTUMES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OH MY GOD THE COSTUMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

image taken from:  www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/the-dressmakers-author-rosalie-ham-charts-her-journey-from-rural-australia-to-red-carpet-20151002-gjznok.html

Absolutely divine. The BVM were in raptures of sighs and groans of exquisite delight. 
If you love fashion of the 1950s you will be in ecstasy watching this movie.
Simply stunning. Beautiful. Glorious. Gorgeous.
Stand out outfits for me were Tilly's navy & white golfing outfit WITH TEE HOLDERS (!) , the dress worn by the mayor's wife to the wedding with feathered cap and the wedding dress.
OH MY.



TOTAL MID-CENTURY HAUTE COUTURE PORN.

Judy Davis as the mother Molly was just fantastic and the absolute stand out for me.
I just LOVED her character.
Kate as Tilly was beautiful but I found her acting a bit flat.
Liam Hemsworth as Teddy was almost TOO attractive if that is possible. I mean seriously nobody is THAT good looking !!!!
Darcy Wilson who plays the young Tilly was amazing. What a great little actress.

There were plenty of 'laugh out loud' moments and also lots of "holy shit" moments too.

I'm interested to know how different it is to the book because it is a real mix of a genres.
Super light hearted and silly in parts and then suddenly very sombre and gruesome the next.

Vicki rating 7/10
 This is mainly for the set design and costuming which is simply spectacular.
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NOW..... WHAT DID I WEAR?

I wore a light grey cotton day dress with pastel lemon yellow collar, buttons & pocket detail made from Vintage Vogue V9000. I love this pattern and this style of frock.

 

 

 

 

 

I found this image on Pinterest a while ago and it was my inspiration for the frock.

 

 

ANOTHER  GREAT NIGHT OUT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEWING MEET N GREET & FAT QUARTER FRENZY

HOWDY YAWL

 

Well what a fantastic weekend I've just had. 

 

I've been having a shit of a time mentally for the last week or so. I've been really overwhelmed with heaps of stuff going on and my brain threw up it's hands and went "fuck it".

What with my fundraiser, then my gorgeous sister came over to visit from 'merica (which was fantastic but very exhausting) and then I got the bull-shit lurgy followed by bronchitis.

All I've wanted to do is ...... NOTHING.

Not sew or watch TV or cook or move. Just get home from work & go to bed & sleep.

 

So my scheduled meet n greet luncheon for my Facebook sewing fanatic group THOSE DARN SEW N SEWS couldn't have come at a better time.

I tell ya there is nothing like setting your hair, whacking on a frock and some red lippie and spending a few hours talking shit with a bunch of dames to really inject a big ole shot of positivity back into your veins.

 

SELFIE !!!!!!!

 

 

Our meet n greet was at the beautiful Dragonfly Café at Eden Gardens at Carseldine.
You might remember this from my Floral Function I had there last year.
www.edengardens.com.au

As usual the food was delicious, the setting lovely & the company was awesome.

Thankfully, this time it was NOT stinking bloody hot & so we could all focus on nattering away about sewing, fabric and all manner of important girlie stuff.

 

 

It was just wonderful and really did my brain the world of good.  It was so cool to meet face to face some of the lovely ladies from FaceyBees.

Everybody looked lovely & most wore their own amazing sewing creations....

Talented bunch of shelias they are!

 

NOTE: Bree is pulling my shoulders back because of my shit posture.

 

The frock I wore was made by ME from quilting fabric I bought from a remnant sale at Make It Hobby and Craft at Boondall. It's a nice soft cotton with a print of buttons on it.  It is Butterick Pattern B5747.  It was a bit of a pain to make. The instructions are shit and a few steps are missing when you get to the waistband part (fucking handy).  I don't think I'll make it again. Not a fave of mine.

 



 

Butterick B5747



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Then it was Sunday. BATHURST SUNDAY.

 

I dropped my hubby at our friends The Hill's for a day of eating masses of nibbles, drinking piss, talking about Fords & Holdens and Lowndseeeeeeeeee and watching cars drive really fast around a track.

Not for me.

 

The fabulous Mz Katrina & Mz Kel & I headed into the convention centre to go to the Crafters & Quilters Fair. 

 

Now, I would rather stab myself in the face with a knitting needle than do scrapbooking or teddy bear making but I was hoping to find some incredible fabric to drool over.

Alas, those mad quilters only sell there fabric as infuriating FAT QUARTERS which are the most inconvient size. You can't even make a decent do-rag or turban out of them!

Speaking of turbans (see what I did there) we were able to make it in time to heckle.... I mean WATCH.... the luscious Mz Chrissy of the Lindy Charm school do her talks on Make Do & Mend and the fine art of tying a head turban.

 

 

Holy shit. I for one will totally be rocking the vintage turban look this summer when the heat is so unbearable it feels like my skin is going to peel off.

Just wack on a turban with an oversized hair flower (from Kat's Cadillac Vintage on Etsy of course...... www.etsy.com/shop/KatsCadillacVintage ) and Wallarrrrrrrrrrr !

Instant glamour !!!!!!

 

 

After a chat with Chrissy we headed over to the Singer area where Mz Lisa of Atomic Martini had a display for the upcoming movie "The Dressmaker". Oh sigh.  Those vintage singer machines were just beautiful.   A really lovely display.

 

 

I didn't buy any fabric as anything that wasn't a stupid fat quarter was about $20/metre! When you are sewing 1950s frocks you need a MINIMUM of 4 metres so too expensive.

I did buy some divine velvet fabric flowers and some little sewing type charms.

It was a nice day just getting done up & walking around with the ladies.  If we had any self esteem issues they were soon gone after being told by about a HUNDRED middle-ages ladies in Millars culottes how wonderful we look!

 

 

ALTHOUGH...... I almost got kicked out by a very angry looking quilting lady because I touched one of prize winning quilts. I was fondling it trying to work out how they did the puffy bits when this lady appeared VERY suddenly and barked "Don't TOUCH THE QUILTS!".

She was wearing a VERY official looking yellow sash which I think meant she was one of the "Protectors of the Holy Quilts".

YIKES. Oops.   Those quilting folk take their quilting VERRRRRY seriously.

I gotta tell ya. The quilting industry much be a multi-billion dollar industry. I have never SEEN so many incredibly passionate quilting ladies in my life.

To be honest, they were kind of scary.

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The frock I wore is another from Le Maison de Martin. It is Simplicity Lisette 1419. I LOVE this pattern! It is easy to make. The instructions are simple. It has a back zip (always a winner). 

I just love the capped sleeves & peter pan collar...

and did I mention it has POCKETS!!!! POCKETS !!!!

If you are going to make it and are a 1950s era gal then don't forget to lengthen the skirt part!

When I bought the fabric I didn't take that into consideration and so didn't have enough for the bodice bit. (dickhead).

I will definitely be making more of this frock. It is great.

 

 

 

 

 

xoxoxoxoxoxxooxxo

Fancy Dress Disco supporting beyondblue 2015

Every year I say to my poor husband....

 

 

 

 "This year I am going to take it easy. I'm going to be nice & quiet and do bugger all. Lots of peaceful walks on the beach, tranquil sewing, watch some DVDs and meditate. No running around like a mad chook. No putting myself under pressure. No stress. "

 

Then the mushy grey stuff between my ears gets to thinking.

Gets to planning

Gets to scheming.

I don't know what it is but it's like a compulsion.

Itchy fingers.
I can't help myself. I just LOVE setting up fun events for people.
What a weirdo.

 

And so it happens...

 

"Darl. I've decided to put on ANOTHER event! This time a fundraiser for beyondblue!!
A FANCY DRESS DISCO !!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am proud to say that we got (almost exactly) 100 people through the door.  

Every single one of those 100 people looked absolutely fantastic!!! The effort that everybody put into their outfits was truly exceptional and hilarious.

 

Because I decided against having a theme, people were free to get creative and so .... 

we had Pirates galore, Princesses, Vikings, not one but THREE Coop Devils, Doc & Marty McFly, hippies, Mary Poppins & Bert, Vikings, Cave Men/Women , Rocky, Michael Jackson, A big Banana,  Brittany Spears and Scooby Doo with Shaggy just to name a few!!!

And a bunch of FURRIES who totally stole the show with their incredible outfits.

(How the hell they can dance all night in those heavy furry outfits is beyond me)

 

THE WONDERFUL FURRIES

 

 

I went as a kewpie doll.  When I put it together it was a great idea but I must admit on the night I was NOT comfortable at all and regretted my choice.  I am not used to wearing something so revealing & I was paranoid my bazoongas were going to come flying out!

 

 

 

 

 

DJ Nephthys & MC Kiranov had the dance floor packed all night with everything from disco to eighties to nightclub nineties to bitchin air guitar rock to ska to weird one hit wonders. 

It was awesome!  I think one of the highlights for me was seeing everybody just going OFF all together and in the middle this big banana dancing around next to Scooby Doo!

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

DJ NEPHTHYS & MC KIRANOV

 

It was almost impossible to pick a best costume & best group costume & the staff at the bowls club had a really hard time deciding.  Right up to the very end they were debating out the back on who should win !

 

 

The trophy for best costume went to Frankenfurter from Rocky Horror. Not only did Matt look fabulous in his sexy skimpy attire (with high-heels made from thongs & gaffer tape) but he also put on an award winning lip-sync performance of "Sweet Transvestite" for the adoring crowd.

 

 

The trophy for best group costume went to the Smurf-a-licious Tricia & Dan who have always been two of my biggest supporters. Smurfastic !!!! I love you guys.

 

The fantastic tiki kitsch trophies were designed & created by the super gorgeous Danielle from Black Lagoon Designs.

 

 

After the presentation of the trophies it was time for the drawing of the raffles.

We had 4 MASSIVE packs filled with all sorts of fantastic goods & vouchers donated by a stack of wonderful businesses & people.

 

 

The other highlight of the night was INSTATHAT. 

Holy moly SO COOOOOL.

 

Basically, you took a photo on your smart phone thingy & uploaded it to Instagram with the hash tag #FDCDBB it would print out on this funky printer watchamacallit and you got to keep a copy of the photo .... FOR FREE!

It was the BEST thing like totally ever.  I can't recommend it highly enough.

Thank you again to Nicky from Instathat for manning the photo station and keeping control of the crazy  masses!!

www.instathat.com.au

 

 

 

 

 

What's a Pirate's favourite letter?  Rrrrrrrrr ?
NO It's the C

 

 

 

The whole night raised a total of $2000 for beyondblue. 

HOW AWESOME IS THAT? !!!

 

 

I can proudly say that everybody had a brilliant fun night of crazy dancing, eating yummo food and cacking themselves laughing all while raising money AND awareness for a brilliant organisation.

For me, the purpose of the night is not so much around the money.  It is more about creating a night of fun & joy for people.  Life can get overwhelming and stressful so sometimes it is great to be able to dress up in a crazy outfit and literally dance like no one's watching to great music & forget your troubles and issues even if it is just for just a few hours.

If I made just one person laugh & smile then I am stoked.

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As everybody was leaving they were grabbing me & hugging me and squealing in excitement

"NEXT YEAR I will bring all my friends!!! I'm already thinking of my next costume!!!"

 

I guess that means that there will be a 2016 Fancy Dress Disco.

 

STAY TUNED !!!!!

 

 

 

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To see ALLLLL the photos from the night go to:  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/a8imigkafvqnkq8/AADUPka-8zw84NeiFoUG7F6Ra?dl=0

 

To see ALLLLLLL the raffle sponsors & stacks more photos & more information about the night go to:

www.fancydressdiscobb.blogspot.com

 

For more information about beyondblue go to: 

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

 

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY WHO MADE THE NIGHT POSSIBLE.

My hubby Mick - Greenslopes Bowls Club - Sara & Dave - Instathat - all the raffle pack donators - my friends who helped sell the raffle tickets - everybody who came along - everybody who shared the event - Black Lagoon Designs - beyondblue - my Mum - my in-laws - I hope I haven't missed anyone.