september stitches

Well, seeing as how it's getting very close to the end of the month (yet, again, again, again....) I realised that I haven't once written about my self-stitch-september.
hmmmmmm.

i believe the main reason is that well, i didn't keep to wearing my own stitched clothes every day. i guess i shouldn't really have signed up for this project when i was busily, steadily, madly, frantically, dedicatedly working on other things. ie - sewing clothes for myself took a far back seat to sewing clothes for my new collection.
but then again - it did mean there are just a few sample pieces that i've been wearing. (as well as wearing other self-made items).

i've not taken photos of me wearing my new pieces. perhaps because i don't look anywhere near as wonderfully rock chick as Sylv, or sweet pretty little thing either. (different clothes, different light, different shoes and different styling makes for a different girl - doesn't it). mainly because getting the photos taken just simply doesn't always happen (rushing out the door, or wrong light the camera, or no-one to take the photo, or ........).

Ari took these photos a short while ago - the three of us went out for dinner (Sam was working late) with some friends. the blue skirt was one i'd just made the few days earlier (i'm still deciding on the length it will be, think it needs to be shortened). the belt is one i made quite a while ago from some beautiful kimono silk remnants - love that intense deep red.

Kim did take some photos of me the other night in my new red Art Skirt, but i'm not sure how they turned out (perhaps they didn't?).

anyway - self-stitched me is a continual progression. i don't / won't buy new clothes for myself unless they are {at least one of the below}
a) handcrafted
b) locally made
c) organic / fair trade
d) second hand
e) something i will have + wear + cherish for many many years more (longevity in fashion is very important to me).

so - once my full fashion collection is finished and ready i'll have a whole new wardrobe of my own things to wear. won't that be good!

lolly dollies

I realised that I haven't yet shown you the finished costume making from a few weeks ago.

I did feel like a crazy sort of tramped up Alice in Wonderland all night. It was marvelous. I was made up (by the resident make-up girl, thanks Bonnie) with the longest fake eyelashes. Oh.Fun! They did feel a little strange, took a bit getting used to. But were so lovely to see on everyone else (and make great shadow shots!). 

Of course, I forgot my camera on the night. Ari took a few before my hair + makeup were done (and high-sunlight squinting factor - ie terrible photos of me......). And the girls took the others on the night (in low light and bathroom / glamourous dressing room mirrors).

*We called ourselves the Lolly Dollies, as we handed out packets of lollies as prizes.

We are having a Mad Hatter's Tea Party for Ari's birthday. I have my costume done and done, now!

ruffled

I'm working (much too slowly....) on my first fashion collection. I was hoping to have something to show by now; but life has not gone that way. Oh well.. much other stuff has happened. Let's aim for some sneak peek glimpses in a few weeks {still working on setting up new studio space, so I won't rush myself}.

Anyway - my collection features quite a lot of ruffles and frills and things. It seems I'm very fascinated with them. 

Not sure if the fact that they are all over Anthropologie (and I suppose, some other fashion places...) is a good thing or a bad thing. Perhaps by the time I have my collection ready to show ruffles will be too overdone. Perhaps my pieces will be something different anyway - and it won't matter in the slightest. {Here's hoping the latter is the truth}.

Anyway, here's a few pieces from the newest Anthropologie collection. I'm very much liking this jacket and gunmetal shirt. And the berry coloured blouse is very sultry.
{August 2010}

These few pieces are from Veronika Maine (as always favourite, and inspiring - love her cuts, designs, colours, shapes, patterns).
{top:: Summer '09 bottom: Winter '09}

* There's more to look at here - ruffle, frill, pleat.

different styles and taste - but all colourful

I love my husband, totally. And his style. Sense of style. He's a very fashion conscious, stylish man. Loves his shoes (here's where I sneak off to take a photo of just a small selection of his 100+ shoe collection). Loves his t-shirts (won't show you that, mostly all black. But very very neatly folded. I'm not allowed to wash his clothes at all, as I do it wrong.)

Being a skateboarder, his sense of fashion does include wearing clothes at least 2-3 sizes bigger than his real waist size. And yes, with his pants hanging half down his bum.

But does that excuse the fact that he doesn't like this look. Doesn't think that I could pull this off. That this would be the funnest, best look to wear to the school drop off, or to meander down the streets of Brisbane city. I would totally wear this. Yes even the mini skirt, but only because of the thick tights underneath. (Though I don't know if I could actually successfully walk in that skirt without spending the day pulling at it??) Long gone are my days of wearing thigh.skimming.could.pass.as.a.belt mini skirts. On another note of different sense of style - Sam thinks perhaps I could wear mini skirts still now. 

{One day, while I was clearing out some clothes, he held up the skimpiest of skirts and asked me why I don't wear this anymore. I think I barely even answered him - probably just laughed and showed him my thighs! I'm blaming my kids, but perhaps should really look at the fact that I just canceled my gym membership, and haven't done a speck of yoga for at least 6 months}.

*just so you know, because Sam works in the industry he gets all his shoes and clothes for free or at really good staff discounts. (His shoe size is sample size, which has proven to be a nice handy little perk for him over the years of working in the skate industry; most skaters have must larger feet!).

**image from Suno NY. Check the website out. I linked over from a story on the very interesting, textile online newsletter, HandEye. (They do also have a real paper mag as well).

walking in my shoes

somebody* took these photos of my shoes.

the red + black pairs are both my everyday - obviously not on the same everyday, but alternate, or depending on my outfit - shoes
the pink ones are my wedding shoes. i wear them semi regularly. when i go out somewhere exciting. they are much more comfortable and easy to walk in than they look.

the gumboots were purchased for my NZ trip. for some silly reason i had it in my head that it always rained there, or would be wet with dew the whole time in the paddocks. or something like that. it didn't. or wasn't. i have worn them one or two times - occassionally on the school drop off wearing my giraffe skirt {my dad + sam both disapproved, but my sister didn't. i trust here. she's also more open to being a little bit off beat in dressing.}
the other black ones - strappy heels - sometimes get to go outside. generally my toes aren't in show-off condition to wear them. and they look a bit silly with socks or tights. much as i am fascinated with this style of look, it's not really me. i wear them when i want to dress up, and feel a bit more than just regular myself. you know, perhaps on date night or something....

mostly i wear barefeet as often as possible. especially around the house. we all take our shoes off when we get home. i've been wearing these inside so much already this cold season; they've almost worn through i've loved them so much. am going to make some new ones soon(ish). a very good looking pattern in weekend sewing that sylv + i have been talking about making. {in reality i will be doing the making and she the wearing, but that's okay. i like making.}

*photo was taken by mishi (i think). both kids love to take the camera and randomly take photos. sometimes some excellent shots turn out. views that i wouldn't normally enjoy or think to photograph. that's the wonderful thing about kids - they edit life differently, or don't edit at all really.

my creative space :: a pink giraffe

today i'm making the skirt that's been in my sketch book for a short while. and in my head for a longer while.
i bought this fabric at spotlight, when we were there for tulle for the ballet tutu. it's not often that spotlight has interesting fabric (years ago they used to, but not now) - so i grab it when i see it. i knew i wanted to make a skirt out of this, so instead of getting my usual half a meter (is that what you do, when you don't have a project in mind?), i got 2.5 meters. which means i've got heaps left over after my skirt. i'm planning on using it to line a bag i'm working new designs on.
this makes me think of a pink giraffe. how fun - to be a pink giraffe.
skirt is still in production. come back tomorrow, i plan on wearing it for 51 versions of me.

and yes, those are a whole lot of pin tuck pleats. which i love sewing. a small amount of my pleat, tuck, ruffle inspiration, if you want.

For more Creative Spaces, visit Kirsty.