Heat

Here in Australia it's coming into summer rather quickly. Only mid October, and we are having days in the mid 30's C, and the next few days are going to be a heatwave. Bushfire season has also started with a vengeance; there's a massive fire raging not too far from where I live that has already claimed 200 houses. Though the smoke is pretty heavy, I am very blessed not to be in danger, though many people I know have lost everything.

I also hate the heat. Hate it. Balmy spring weather is the top of my comfort zone. If the weather calls for thick stockings, a coat and scarf, all the better. Australian summers are the worst, and this one seems set to be a shocker.

Now, what does this have to do with my sewing? A lot actually; I've been thinking about what I'll be doing craft wise over the uni holidays this morning.

Firstly, I've heard of a quilt drive that the Salvation Army is doing for people that lost their houses in the bush fire, and I'm hoping this can be something I can get involved in. I have time over the next months, and I have a lot of fabric.

More personally, if this is going to be a hot summer, I need to stock my wardrobe with cotton, and a lot of it. I find t-shirts too stuffy for most of the summer months, and so live in cotton blouses. As I start to plan my sewing projects, it's going to involve a lot of cotton dresses, and a lot of cotton blouses.

Does any one know any good vintage like summer blouse patterns? I'm currently eyeing off Colette Pattern's Sencha blouse, but any other suggestions would be very welcome

Two Vintage Parties; Two Dresses

This Saturday I had two birthday parties to go to, both with a vintage dress up theme, which I always find a  lot of fun.

The first party was a very casual 1950's picnic.

I wore a "new" dress of mine. My Mum had bought it many years ago at the op-shop, and then I found it the other month in my grandma's mending pile. One sewn shoulder seam later, and I had a fantastic summer dress. It's Laura Ashley fabric, and is really cool; perfect for a picnic on an extremely hot day. my one thought with this dress is that it needs a circular skirt petticoat to give in a bit more shape. There is so much fabric in that skirt, and it would look great if it were standing out.

My second party was a 1920's dessert night. my dress for this party was a very interesting find from an op-shop in Newtown (for those who do not know, Newtown is the student suburb of Sydney, and is full of op-shops, strange vintage shops, and Thai restaurants) the dropped waist was perfect for a 1920's night.

It was a lot of fun deciding what I was going to wear to these parties, and I hope next time I have a vintage style party, I will be able to wear something I've made myself.

Welcome

When I think about my approach to life, there are two things that stand out.

Firstly, my attitude is one of simplicity. I hate fuss and  excessive expenditure.

Secondly my style is excessively vintage. I love vintage style dresses, doilies and fabric/

And I think these two aspects go together.

One of my aims in life is to live simply in a style that I love. I'm an accomplished patch worker, and am starting dressmaking. I hate shopping, but will happily spend hours opshopping. I'm trying to expand my cooking repertoire, and I'm starting to dream of how I will one day create a very vintage DIY home.

When I'm not concocting ways to work my way through my ever growing fabric stash, I study a Bachelor of Arts in History and Medieval Studies. 

I love: good novels, writing, thinking deep thoughts, old houses, spending time alone, crisp, cold winter days and long train commutes to unversity.