Positive procrastination

I came across a great blog today, while I was procrastinating.  It was a general procrastinate, nothing specific. I had some spare time, so I used it positively, to procrastinate for style and goodness.

The blog is called Idiosyncratic Fashionistas, and they are also on
instagram. Jean and Valerie describe themselves as "style bloggers for "women of a certain age setting a bad, bad example for older women everywhere".

Since this is roughly my own mission statement, I was drawn to them immediately. Of course my own mission statement also includes setting a bad example to younger women too; not to forget my obsession with round eyeglasses and hats. 

Since my focus has been on wardrobe, I've been doing a spot of alterations and dressmaking for myself.  I bought a pumpkin coloured boiled wool coat when I was in Paris.  I decided I wasn't happy with the collar, so a $7 scarf, a snip here, a tuck there and some handsewing et voila!

I love boiled wool, so easy to manage.  It can be re-blocked at will and is super warm and rain-resistant.  


Last week I made a dress and adapted a top in linen from Tessuti, using their 'Eva' pattern and some linen I bought a while ago from their Melbourne store.


I just looked quickly on their site to get the link and they seem to have more lovely linen in stock.  Oh Dear...

And this morning the interweb advised me solemnly that Sew Tina Givens, a US site had the pattern for this

on sale so with a few keystrokes and an outrageous Aus/US exchange rate, it will be winging it's way to Australia. 

Some years ago I bought a Pfaff sewing machine.  There was, I subsequently found, a timing problem with that model which no amount of servicing would cure.  If anyone else is experiencing that problem with their machine, I can heartily recommend having a removalist toss the machine into a carton (and I do mean 'toss'), and transport it a few thousand miles on trucks and ships.  It seems to have had time to rethink it's options and is sewing beautifully.  Perhaps the overlocker had a quiet word while they travelled together.

Now, if I can only remember how to thread the overlocker...

Back from the brink....

Phew - my laptop has only just been restored to health after a little spack attack, and I was offline for 2 weeks.    I felt so alone (not really!) and I got heaps done because I wasn't wasting so much time looking at randomly interesting things.  As a result, of course, there's jewellery festooned over everything, and half completed projects everywhere else.  So now I need to sort it all out, finish and stash it for the Mother's Day market in early May.  

Strangely (for me) I backed up and saved all the artwork a couple of days before - lucky, really, although as it happens I didn't lose anything in the end. 

I also managed to frame a heap of fish drawings and prints, now leaning gratuitously against walls and giving the place an arty look (as long as you don't want to walk anywhere).  There will be new Alices soon, and I'm hoping to have some brand new merchandise too! Watch this space.

A friend and work colleague came back from Melbourne raving about the fabric and patterns from a little shop she found -  I found it on the interweb and thought it is worth sharing, for all those who remember that clothing can be made by hand.  It's called Tessuti, and this is the link to the online shop.  They also have a blog, for inspiration and ideas.  It's the next best thing to being there. One of my vintage dressmakers' models has gone to live with her to help her to bring those patterns to life.

I made some floral shorts for the Girl last week.  She was helping by making cups of tea and making sure I didn't wander off.  One of her little mates called, seeking companionship, to be told that she was making shorts.  The mate called back at five minute intervals to ask if we'd finished yet - finally she came over but the thrill of home fashion creation just couldn't beat the excitement of playing games on the ubiquitous iphone or equivalent. Although she did seem impressed by the finished product, and felt there was enough fabric for her to have some shorts too.

I adapted a pattern from the early nineties, and the Girl was most impressed with the suitcase of patterns held in reserve - just going to show that things go around and come back into style. (It seems like yesterday.)  It's nice to see some decent fabric shops re-appearing, I'm kind of tired of the random rolls of seconds and the warehouse approach, its nice to see new designs while they're still new. 

I'm currently thinking about steampunk inspired 

cuffs and scarves - as soon as I work out which suitcases hold the reserves of vintage lace, fabric, and trims. But first, I should pack some of that jewellery.....and maybe do some housework.