The Evening Gown

You haven't heard from me for a while, as I have been churning out the 'the dress'. It's now done, finished, worn and it had a great night out!


Pattern: Vogue Patterns V2962

Before I even got off the starting block, I was a little nervous that the pattern may not be the right size. The pattern is date 1957, and I tell you what, people back then must have had the tiniest waists and big busts, as there was no way I was going to fit in the size 10 without some serious modifications.

The halter crossover bit was shortened immensely and widened, the waist piece had a few extra inches added, and under the bust was taken in miles. I didn't add the 6m of lining in the skirt as pattern suggested, but instead opted to make a tulle skirt. Much easier.

Overall, it was a relatively simply gown to make and I think it came out ok. (It's the first piece of clothing I have made for myself in 12 years.)


Thanks mum for helping do the fiddly zip. I might have to invest in a bust. I'm sure it'll help make things sooo much easier for next time.

And just to top the night off, I won 'belle of the ball'. Fancy that!

Birthday Surprise

I just love unexpected snail mail.

Yesterday this very cute little envelope arrived in the post. I instantly recognised the design from one of my bloggy haunts here.

Surprise!


A gorgeous badge and hand printed stationary. I love it!
Sherrin does such a wide range of beautiful work- sewing, printing, badges and wonderful arts and crafts. Go check her out.

Thank you for the smiles. You definitely made my day.

Fabric Love

nest collection by Tula Pink at Moda Fabrics.

Stunning fabric.

Would love to know where I can get it in Melbourne. *hmmm*

This is...

... my most favourite outfit that expresses my individual style.

I would love to say that this was MY favourite outfit and MY individual style- but not the case. I am wishing that I had these gorgeous outfits from Chronik in my wardrobe- so feminine and natural. But alas, I don't have them, nor do I think I would have the courage to wear such beautiful pieces. (I feel safe in black).They're just divine.

I'd have to say that I'm a jeans girl through and through. Jeans by day with flats and layered tops or jeans with a white jacket and killer heels. They're just so versatile, and comfy. (sorry no pics- camera is dead at the moment).

Check out who is also playing "this is" here.

Thank you to Kittys Kaboodle for choosing this weeks theme.

knitting help

I have to be the most gamy- handed knitter in the world!

As I'm a self taught knitter, I have picked up a strange technique that makes knitting seem difficult, when I know it really isn't.
I hold the right needle with my hand over the top of it, and every time a cast a stitch I therefore have to drop the needle, pick up the yarn, do the stitch, then pick the needle up again, so on and so forth. Exceptionally tedious.
I'm a knitting newby so I don't expect to be a sewing demon, but surely there is a better way than what I'm currently doing.

Can someone offer me some help?

Something Finished

Yay! The scarf is finished!


It took a little longer than expected, as I was trying to teach myself how to do ribbing. Not a bad job for my first attempt I think. Don't look too close- you might see a hole or three!
It's nice and snuggly, and I think it would look great with one of these badges made by Starashan.

Now I'm off to finish this dress I keep procrastinating about.....

Snap Happy

Misty Morning

I finally got around to putting our long weekend photos from Mallacoota onto the computer.
This one is one of my favourites. Little B was having a grumpy morning so we toddled off for a quiet walk to the beach. It was a bit crisp, but great to get some fresh sea air.

On the go.

I have so many projects on the go at the moment, it's hard to think straight!

I'm trying to get my ball dress finished first, as the ball is only 10 days away -AAAGH!!! and it's not all together yet. Panic may soon set in I think. I really didn't have the time to spend on this dress to start with. I procrastinated too long with the idea of making it first. Never mind, it's started now. Must plow on!!

I also started a scarf recently. I'm sooooo close to finishing it, that I just want it finished. It is my first attempt at doing ribbed stitch, and it'd be the first time I've ever knitted something through to completion.

Another project started is a black skirt from here. This was started way before the ball dress even came onto the scene, but will now have to be put on the back burner till dress is done.

Aside from crafty projects, I'm in the middle of putting in new garden beds, renovating the whole house, thinking about making curtains, and want to start spinning wool.

Ohhh- where does it end! :)

This is...

... the space in which I create.

My creative space is in the centre of our home, the dining room. Well, more the dining table. Eventually I'll have my own room, but for the meantime, this is it.
So, I cant show you any inspiration boards, piles of beautiful fabric or bundles of yarn. What I do have, is a great big window to gaze out of to watch all the native birds foraging around.

Thanks to Quiltingmick for this weeks 'this is' theme.

I love Red

I don't know what it is about red that I'm drawn to, but I just love it. It makes me feel lively.

An article on the 'psychology of colour' says the following about red:

passionate, strong, energetic, fiery, sexual, exciting, natural leader, powerful, dangerous, angry aggressive, extreme & intense

1. Summer Berries Red Current01, 2. The red one, 3. String of red glass beads - spiral, 4. Bloody Red, 5. FELT FLOWER RED TOTE, 6. Red shoes, 7. How much more red could this be?, 8. Zipper Pouch - Red Stripes, 9. Hues of Red Waves, 10. The Red Bridge, 11. Red pom poms, 12. April CCswap, 13. Red 1.0, 14. crafting 365: 73 - for Carol, 15. "English Garden" red hand-painted pendant, 16. Red tulips Wrangels 30 april, 17. red and aqua, 18. Birthday Girl with a Red Charlotte, 19. April CCswap - handmade item, 20. pink | red | orange, 21. Minami Necklace, 22. small happy red fleece poofy, 23. Red One, 24. Red State BLue State Necklace, 25. red beads, 26. water in red, 27. Red and white Yoyo Garland, 28. Handmade Brooch Bird red pink orange Flower, 29. Red fabrics from Purl Soho, 30. Red currant * Красная смородина * Grosella * Ribes * Groselha * Groseille rouge * Rote Johannisbeeren, 31. Cherry Drop Earrings-Vintage Plastic Beads and Handmade Copper Ear Wires, 32. Red knot stitch, 33. red corduroy overlook zippy, 34. 'neath the blood red canopy..., 35. Handmade Red Japanese Chainmaille Flower Charm, 36. red seed beads

This is....

... my favourite travel memory.

I'm a bit late posting this week, as we've only just walked in the door from our relaxing week away visiting my in-laws.

Favourite travel memories- a tricky theme this week from your covers blown, as I have truly seen some spectacular places of which the memories still linger.

I lived in Brasil for 12 months in 1999, and did some amazing travelling around the country. Brasil is so rich in culture, has beautiful architecture, and the people are the friendliest I've ever met.

1.The famous ( and i think VERY overrated) Rio de Janerio. 2.A small Brasilian country town; Ouro Preto

Another awesome memory is a SCUBA diving trip to Palau in 2005. One of the perks of being the manager of a SCUBA diving facility is taking trips overseas. This was my first dive trip and was lucky to be at such a lush tropical oasis.

And of course, I cant forget our eloping to Fiji in 2006.
On the quiet north coast of Fiji there are hardly any tourists which is what we wanted, and to do some SCUBA diving as well. The resort was awesome, extremely quiet (no kids) and not many people were around during the day as they were off diving. We thought we might as well get married while we're there too.

Long Weekend- Yay!

It's the long weekend, so we thought to take a couple of extra days and make it a long week. We're off to the coast to visit the in-laws. I'm so lucky that I have the best in-laws!
Hopefully the weather stays dry so we can enjoy a spot of fishing and walking on the beach.
So if you don't hear from me for a while, I'm having R&R by the beach and I'll be back next week.

My new love!

Good bye ol' faithful. We had a great relationship, short lived, but full of fun. I'm sorry- it's time for me to move on.



When I saw the new, younger version of you, I just had to have him. He's so much more sleek and stylish, and does much more than you ever could. Anyway, I'd like you to meet Bert- my new love.



Bert is my new birthday present (which is still weeks away yet). But if I was to attempt to make this ball dress, ol' faithful would have groaned at the thought.
Well, I'm off to break Bert in. *hehehe*

This is...

...my favourite pet!

As a kid growing up on a standard city house block, dad always said "NO DOGS! You're not getting a dog as a pet!" So I made up for it in other ways. Our house soon became a menagerie of creatures great and small.

We had fish, birds, rabbit, mice, a cat, and eventually came a dog. But my favourite was 'Puddles', my duck.

Photo credit: Liz Walker 1975

On a weekend trip to Melbourne, our family decided to pop into the Vic Market. After separating from mum and dad, I found the animal section, and promptly decided I wanted a duck. So I paid the man my pocket money and rescued the poor thing from its tiny horrible cage. It sat on my lap in the car the whole way home- a 2 1/2hour drive.
Puddles was my best friend . She slept in a box next to my bed with a hot water bottle, and would only sleep if my hand dangled in the box.
I would take her for walks around the block. She'd follow me everywhere. She also used to help dad change the oil in the car. While dad was lying underneath the engine, Puddles would sit up under dads armpits and watch what he was doing. I'm sure dad wasn't too impressed about it. I think she thought she was a dog. Which is why in the end we had to take her to a local farm to learn how to become a duck again.
It makes me giggle thinking back on those days.

Thanks to Two Peas in a Pod for this weeks 'this is' theme.