It's all fun and games 'til the Bobbin runs out

 

This will come as NO surprise to my husband but I'm afraid that ........

 

I AM COMPLETELY ADDICTED TO SEWING.

 

 

 

Unlike all the other crafts I have started, been enthusiastic about for a month and then thrown in the back of the cupboard, my sewing obsession is just growing & growing with each thing I sew.

 

I've become rather boring and I think that this blog will more than likely slowly grow into the Vicki Sewing Blog rather than the Vicki's Blathering About Random Shit Combined with A Hundred Selfies Blog.  

I make no apologises for this.

I took up sewing when I gave up the grape and I think this addiction is a lot more productive than having weekly panic attacks and clutching my head on a Sunday morning moaning about my hangover.

 

Sewing is not without its side effects though.

 

Where before I didn't want to exercise after work because I bone lazy and just wanted to get home to watch MASH, I now don't want to exercise after work because I desperately can't wait to get home to sew!

 

Where before my hard earned cash went to paying the shareholders of Dan Murphy's now my moola pays the mortgages of CEOs of Spotlight and Lincraft.

 

And you've heard about golfing widows?

Well my poor hubby is a dressmaking widower. 

His pleas of "come to bed honey so we can snuggle" are now met with me yelling "Hang on! Just 5 more minutes!! I just gotta iron this bias binding, hem the skirt and top stitch the blouse bit !!"

1 hour later I sneak into the darkened bedroom like I've been having some sort of sordid affair with my overlocker.

 

I cannot explain the feeling of excitement I get when I see a particular fabric, and the image of what it will become forms in my grey matter or ,the sense of accomplishment that comes from wearing an outfit that I know nobody else has and that I have made with my own two little chubby hands.

 

The other problem is I want to

MAKE EVERYTHING AND I WANT TO MAKE THEM NOW!

 

I literally have to get my calendar and organise my sewing in order of priority. 

"Ok so I have to make the shirt dress for the 28th. The Tiki dress for the 6th. The tie-shirt dress for the 13th and the kimono jacket with rayon pants for the 17th"

I cut them all out and put them in shopping bags and I cannot start the next one until I finish the one I'm working on now.

 

So now I present you with my latest projects for 2016.

 

MADE THIS AMAZING 1940s frock out of vintage rayon only to find I didn't measure the bust properly and it is about 2 inches too small for my giant bazoongas.

 





I thought I would try and sew something "different" and thought this smock looked cool. I LOVE pockets on anything.  It is basically a humungus t-shirt with NO shape.

SEWING FAIL.

 

Bought some JERSEY to make some "Bree" blouses (peasant gypsy tops) and some lovely cotton voile to make a noice light summer frock from (added to the stash )

FAVOURITE PATTERN VINTAGE VOGUE V8789 . I LOVE THIS PATTERN.
It is really easy to sew. I make it with a half circle skirt instead of the big foofy one in the pattern though.
(this is now finished....... photos to come )

I have also since finished this frock Vintage Vogue V9000 (view B) in this super cute fishy cotton.

 

 

PROJECT ONE:  
ANOTHER FAVOURITE PATTERN VINTAGE VOGUE V9000 (view A with the pointy cuffs)
Making this for an event next Thursday.  It will be a nice classic dress that can be dressed up or down.

 

 

PROJECT TWO:
A frankenpattern Vogue V8789 top half with Butterick B5880 bottom half
Awesome fishy print fabric.
This is for a TIKI event next month.

 

 

THERE YOU HAVE IT.............. FOR NOW :)

 

 

BVM Christmas Lunch & Lines in the Sand

On Saturday I had a Christmas Luncheon for our Brisbane Vintage Mafia group.  

I thought that we couldn't end the year without another excuse to get all frocked up and sink a tubload of wine, champers & coffee! 

I chose the venue of The Waterloo Hotel at Newstead. The hotel was built in 1937 and was restored a couple of years back. It is a lovely art deco styled bar & restaurant but most importantly, it is air conditioned!!

OF COURSE another event calls for another frock to sew!!! 

I found some nice fabric in the quilting fabric at the Lincraft 40% sale and set about making Vintage Vogue pattern V8789.  

I changed it slightly by having a 1/2 circle skirt instead of the super full skirt and I also added front patch pockets. This is another pattern that I will add to my 'favorites' list.

It was very very easy to make!  The only problem was that the facings didn't really sit all that well.  

Next time I make it, I think I will either line the bodice or interface the facings.

Other than that, it was great and I think the V-neck is very flattering.

It was a really lovely lunch.  I thought the venue was great and the prices pretty reasonable.

Everybody has a wonderful time chatting & eating & doing our Secret Santa.

I feel truly blessed to be a part of this community of dames that are not only incredibly stylish & fabulous but are also the funniest, caring, thoughtful women you could meet.

Susanne - our BVM unofficial photographer.

===========================================

Sunday morning hubby announces that he has a surprise for me.  

My cousin Chelsea (who was staying the night) and myself were instructed to go and have a coffee somewhere while he prepared said surprise.

Normally, I am almost freakishly psychic when it comes to guessing presents & surprises but this one really had me  frustratingly stumped.

Soon we get a text that we are GO and are told to come down to the waterfront at Sandgate.

My amazing awesome husband had...

MADE ME A LABYRINTH!!!!

What the heck is a Labyrinth? 

Well besides a fantastic movie made in the eighties a labyrinth is:

A labyrinth is a single path or unicursal tool for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation.   

One can think of labyrinths as symbolic of pilgrimage; people can walk the path, ascending toward salvation or enlightenment.   Modern labyrinths to help you achieve a contemplative state. Walking among the turnings, one loses track of direction and of the outside world, and thus quiets the mind

In simple terms, it is a path that you walk. Normally circular.  It's not like a maze as it has no dead ends. You finish where you started.

It is like a form of meditation.

For more information about them go to :http://labyrinthsociety.org/home

Ever since I saw a show about a lady who was building one in a park I have been fascinated by them.

They cross all religions & faiths but their origins are hazy.   

One of my goals for 2016 was to walk one and here my husband had made me the most glorious one on the waterline.    And so I walked it.

It was just beautiful.  I focused on my breathing and on the feel of the sun on my face & the wind and the sounds of the water & birds around me.

It was just wonderful and it got me a bit teary with happiness.

It was such a beautiful gift.

Afterwards we stood way back to see if any other people would feel inclined to walk it.

Some people walked it, some ran it and some just looked at it a bit freaked out that it was some sort of alien crop circle thing.

I cannot wait to walk some other labyrinths and I particularly want to do the one at St John's Cathedral in the city which looks incredibly beautiful.

What a great weekend.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

WALKEN IN A WINTER WONDERLAND

Saturday night I had my hubby's work Christmas party and the theme was
Winter Wonderland.

"Oh for shits sake! Winter Wonderland?!!! In summer in Queensland!??"
was my immediate reaction.

This was closely followed by "Oooooo an excuse to go to Spottys and buy some more fabric and sew a new frock SQUEALLLLLL!!"

Even though I was warned that the majority of people would probably NOT be in theme I cared not because if a theme is announced then God Dammit I WILL be in theme!

I decided to do the Simplicity Lisette dress again because it is really lovely on.... has a back zip and has pockets.  I chose a red cotton with gold metallic snow flake pattern.

I can't recommend this pattern highly enough. It is really easy but LOOKS like it is really hard.

I teamed my frock with a gorgeous Christmas hair piece from Kats Cadillac Vintagewhich made my super duper Christmas outfit complete!

Kats Cadillac Vintage Hair piece

I can't say too much about the Christmas party except the hall look freaking spectacular.

They even had fake SNOW!!

Hubby was right. 

Out of about 1000 employees only about 10 people were in theme.

I didn't know anybody so frankly I didn't give a shit what people thought of my 1950s Mrs Claus ensemble. I had fun anyway.

I managed to rail road two employees dressed as elves and convinced them that we HAD to have a photobooth photo together considering we were the 3 best dressed people in the place.

I'm not sure if they were too scared to say no but be all crammed into the booth.

Please note Mr Elf's expression in photo three.

I was squishing into frame & I accidentally put my hand on his........ ummmm.... christmas baubles.

Ooops.

It was a lovely night and a great excuse to make another outfit.
Not to toot my own christmas trumpet but I had at LEAST 5 people come up to me & tell me how much they loved my outfit & hair piece.
I'm not gunna lie it was pretty good for a dame's confidence and it felt very nice to say modestly (ok maybe not so modestly ) " Thank you. I made it myself"

Christmasy as all shit

I freaking LOVE a mystery photobomber LOL

You can't see it but it is snowing in this pic.

WE JUST LOVE LOVE LOVE A PHOTOBOOTH

THE BIG FELLA

ONE CHRISTMAS SHIN-DIG DOWN...... 3 MORE TO GO.

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.
************************************
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



===========================================================

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.

===================================

 

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