Summer tea and sunshine

Last week I attended a High Tea event held at the lovely Oruawharo homestead.
I had been sewing like a mad thing in the weeks leading up to this event in order to complete my frock.

The lovely lemon honey coloured rayon fabric was too nice for such a plain dress and as it was several sizes too big I decided to refashion it into a charming, frilly garden party frock.

Before.

After.

The sheer accent fabric I chose to use for the sleeves etc. turned out to be hell-ish to work with especially as I had planned on an embroidered scallop edge.

I used an iron tear-away stabiliser, which worked a treat, but I had to be very very very careful when tearing it off! 

A sleeve while in progress.

I also made Mum a detachable collar and jabot to go with her blue polka dot dress, which completed effect I am quite pleased about!

And here it is!

Well that's all for now! A friend has some more pics, but has yet to send me copies, I will post them when I do so you can see all the lovely thing others were wearing too!

Toodle Pip!

M.

New Projects

Oooh I have been rather remiss in regards of posting lately haven't I?

I have several projects on the go at the moment so do watch this space!

I promised you all pics of the midwinter Art Deco weekend didn't I? So here they are!

 My Parents with a few of our friends and acquaintances at one of the evening events.

Me wearing the jersey I made for 'Make and Mend.

One of my more recent acquisitions an original late 20s/early 30s rayon crepe dress. It has the sweetest pattern of pearly white leaves and yellowy orange spots on a pencil blue background.  

A friend decided they wanted to try giving this pic some effects.

Me and parents looking a tad tired at one of the brunches.

I'm afraid I don't have any pics of me wearing the 'Cat among the pigeons' sweater I mentioned in my first post and have now completed knitting. 

I want to make a few minor alterations to it and then I will get some piccies. 

That's all for now!
I shall try to be more regular in my posting and show you all as I progress on my current projects.
regards,
M.

Appliqué shawl and bag set project

Gosh it's been a while since I last posted!
I have finally finished the appliqué piano shawl and have made a bag to match. I thought I would share some pics of the finished articles.

Here it is draped over my mannequin Molly.

Spread out.

  And the bag.

Well that's all for now.

I will post pics from the winter festivities soon.

Pip pip,

                M

Make and Mend - Re-purposing Part1

Mum loves the luxurious satin piano shawls of the 20s and has always wanted one.

I have promised for a long time to make her one and I have finally got around to it.

I have based the design on this deco mural that mum photocopied out a book many years ago. I don't remember where its from, but I think possibly somewhere in America. Its stunning!

 This is my final design.

I am appliquéing the design onto a black silk bridal satin background.  The motifs are cut from old silk blouses that have been collecting up for years as their colours are so beautiful we thought we would come up with something to make out of them eventually.

I made a 'final size' draft of my design to use as a sort of pattern. First I trace the piece onto paper then I use it as a template to cut out the coloured fabric. Then I use a temporary spray adhesive and stick it place and sew around it with a 100% cotton machine embroidery thread. I am using the spray adhesive instead of iron on bonding because I don't want any glues remaining on the silk, the spray will be removed with a gentle hand wash at the end. I also use an iron on stabiliser to prevent damage and puckering on the delicate silk. I prefer natural fibres like silk, cotton, rayon etc and will only use polyester if unavoidable. 

This is my progress so far.

Wish me luck for the continuation of this project,

Pip pip,

               M.

Art Deco weekend-summer 2011

Its that time of year when winter Art Deco weekend is just around the corner, which reminded me that I haven't posted any pics of this summer. So here they are:

Friday Night Cocktail event

 Me wearing the gown I designed for a competition, one of the prizes being that my design would be made for me by a couturier.

 The back 

The  design pic 

Mum wearing the dress I made for her.

 details of the dress

Saturday Morning Brunch

 Me and Mum enjoying the sea air and live music.

Mum and Dad reclining after the meal

Sunday Day at the Gatsby picnic

 Me and Mum both wearing sporting outfits.

Mum's is made by me.

Me and Mum at 'After the dust has settled' a post Deco Event

Me wearing an original cotton early 1930s dress.

 I had the compact before I bought the dress, but didn't realise that they matched until I was ferreting amongst my accessories on the day this was taken. Some luck that!

Us with some friends and acquaintances after an Art Deco themed variety concert  in aid of the Canturbury Earthquake disaster.

I'm looking forward to the winter event, hope I get all my planned outfits ready in good time. Not the usual sewing on buttons and tucking away threads the morning of the event. My planned projects are an appliquéd and embroidered piano shawl, a skirt to match the jumper below and the jumper mentioned in my first post amongst many other things. So watch this space! 

Pip pip,

M.

NVL giveaway

Here is the before and after pics of the jersey I altered.

Before

After

Make and Mend - Alterations Pt.1

I have started my first project, altering this two piece merino set into a mid 1930s two piece suit.

Unfortunately I had unpicked the waistband and sleeves before I remembered to take a 'before' pic, so I laid them out how they were.

 I cut the waistband into quarters crosswise and and grafted two quarters together to make two wide pieces.

 I measured and fitted, then hand sewed side seams, using pinned outline as guide.

Because I am a lot smaller than the original merino top the arm holes were now smaller than the sleeves, I decided to pin the excess fabric into a decorative pleat on the shoulder.

The sleeves set in.

The basic silhouette of this jumper- lightly fitted waist, loose bloused top.

Thats all for now. Will be back on task tomorrow, hope to  finish the jumper and maybe start on skirt.
Pip pip,
     M

Yay, First post/latest project

I've been admiring this jumper worn by Natasha Little in Agatha Christies 'A cat among the pigeons' for quite a while and I have finally got around to making it.

I have almost finished it, with some minor alterations for personal taste.
I will post pictures of it when it is finished in a few days.
Pip pip for now,
M.