Costume Jewellery Storage

I used to keep jewellery on a tree from Ikea, but then it got too full.

I used to keep jewellery on hooks glued in my cupboard, but this too got too full and the hooks fell off.  Also it's so hot the glue melts at times.

Then I bought an awesome filing cabinet for $10 at a garage sale.  It took me a while to use it because I wanted to spray it red but couldn't find the right paint locally.  I started to move my jewellery into it mid year.  There are still some pieces floating around the house but I'm getting there.

Each draw is labelled with the colour it holds. 

Top two drawers are for Erstwilder.

One of my favourite drawers - Rainbow!

I need another one of these for my nail polishes and another for my stationary and art stuff, if I can I would also like one for my sewing... A girl can dream.

Aussie Curves - Maxi Skirt

Keeping things pretty simple - spent today in from of the computer planning for next year, still.

Top - Big W Avella

Skirt - used to be a dress maybe from Crossroads?

Shoes - Rubi

V8787 - review

V8787

Pattern Description:
Lined dress has fitted bodice variations, midriff, tapered or flared skirt and back zipper. C and E: side front and side back seams, and side pockets. A, B, D and F: semi-fitted skirt and back slit. D, E and F: bias front bodice with fold-back facing.

Pattern Sizing:
6-14, 14-22

I made 5 dresses it total. Most of the dresses I blended between sizes, there was a wide variety in body shapes :)

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes -We choose option C. Sleeveless with a flared skirt.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
I'm not sure - I didn't follow them. 

I used bias strips made from the fabric for the neck line. I created a tutorial here on how to do that really neatly.  After the fifth dress I could almost do it blind folded.

I also left the side seams until last so I could make sure the dress fitted before I hemmed.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I really liked this pattern, we didn't go with the sleeves though so I wonder how that would have went.

Fabric Used:
Ponti De Roma from Lincraft - http://www.lincraft.com.au/ponti-de-roma-deep-red

I got it online and it turned out great - although the red runs in the wash.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

I didn't use a zipper because of the ponti.

Blending between sizes worked well.

The bust dart fell pretty much perfect every time!

I had a few hunched shoulders so I pinned out the excess fabric. 

For my own dress I did a FBA, so I ended up with a bigger dart and an extra dart on the other side.

Instead of the curved waist band I just cut across the grain - I think I made it 12cm wide. Didn't affect the dress fitting but made it easier for me.

Once I could get the ladies to try on the dress, I drew where I wanted the arm hole edge should go instead of using the pattern's arm hole. Does that even make sense?

 

V8787 - neckline tutorial

Apologies if this tutorial ends up being confusing.  When I first muddled my way through it I confused myself, but by the end of the 5 dresses it was really easy.

Vogue 8787 uses a facing for the neckline, but because I was working with ponti and actually don't like facings, I wanted to use bias strips instead.  So I made up a whole heap of bias strips using the left over fabric.

I sewed the gathering section using the longest stitch (pattern piece 2).
I sewed the back pieces together.
I sewed the shoulder seams together.
I sewed the bias strip around the neckline, sewing good sides facing together.  I sewed the bias strip at least an inch past the matching notch on the gathered front piece (pattern piece 2).

I rolled the bias to the inside, and pressed.  I make sure that I can see the outer fabric when I press. Look at that random piece of thread sticking up there!

I then top stiched.  I started on the shoulder seam of the un-gathered side (pattern piece 2) and sewed all the way around.  You can see on the left hand side of the this photo, that the bias strip hasn't been top stiched, whereas the other pieces have been.

Close up of where I started my top stitch.  Later I will thread a needle with the loose top thread, stab through were I started stitching and tie a knot.

Pinned the gathered side to the other half, matching notches. Lots of pins! Can you see that I folded out the bias strip. This makes matching the edges a little tricky but not hard.

Other side of the pinning.  Here you can really see the bias strip over hanging the seam edge.

Putting this side (the ungathered side) I sew the front pieces together.  I use the stitching that is already there from the bias stitching to guide where I need to sew.  I sewed a little to the left of it. You can see the notch and the extra bias that runs past it. 

Now that the two fronts are together, I flip it right side out and check to see if I have caught the fabric, the gathers and made sure that you can't see the bias stitching.

Give it a nice press.

Now start the top stitching at the point where your previous top stitching ends when it goes under the un-gathered side of the front.  See above photo.

Stop the shoulder seam where your previous top stitching began.

This is what it should look like on the inside after you have top stitched.

I also added elastic to the waist band seam because the skirt was a little heavy in this fabric.

Plans - Xmas holidays edition

This is the official first day of my holidays.

 Work plan:

I went into work though at 10am and worked until 3pm without lunch - just munching on whatever I had. My aim was to get my senior English unit planning done, which I did!!!

This term I'm going to trial a paperless unit, which means everything has to be digital and accessible for my students on their tablets. I'm excited because I've always liked the idea, but because we didn't have student laptop or tablets we had to book into the computer room, blah! So anyway, it's all done - 'handouts', 'worksheets', assessment tasks, lesson plans ready to go.

 I would like to get a head start on the next unit for this group of kids so I won't have to worry about them until half way through the year, but I do have to work on my other classes before that. So anyway, my first week of the holidays will involve me going into work and planning for the rest of my classes.  

House plan:

 Before I head off to work I want to get a bit of house work done.
 - downstairs declutter
 - Christmas decorations
- my office desk
- dining table declutter
- wardrobe sort
- jewellery draws
- pantry sort
- sewing room - OMG what a mess!

 In the afternoons I want to get some cleaning done.
 - washing clothes
- folding clothes
- clean down all doors
- air-cons
- the usual stuff really  

Sewing plan:

 I want nice easy sewing this holidays, mostly.

- Scout woven tee from Grainline
- Suzy pant from Tessuti Fabrics
- Mandy boat tee from Tessuti Fabrics
- Tania culottes from Megan Neilson
- green skirt from my own pattern
- skinny tee from my own pattern
- maybe the Washi dress by Made by Rae

Aussie Curves - Headwear

I'm cheating this week.  I'm using the hats that I made for the races this year back in June/July.

It's become an annual thing for my husband and I, a group of friends and my parents and brother to travel to Townsville to watch the V8 racing.

Earlier this year when I was talking to my friend Bec about the races, a co-worker overheard us and thought we meant horse racing. She excitedly asked us what we were going to wear and if we were going to have fascinators.  V8 racing is the bogan version of racing really, we rock up in sun safe hats and team t-shirts - my family are from the Holden horde, and our friends are Ford fans.

Anyway, I decided to make Bec and myself a 'racing' facinator.  We only wore them once this year, but next year I'm going to wear mine each day. The people in our stand loved them.

I can't find the photo of Bec and I together - but I did find me and mum.

  

   

        

 

     

Setting up for Christmas

Every year I like to add to my Christmas display. Not something my husband likes of course because he's a but of a Grinch. 

I would like to set up a big lights display outside but that is a little bit too much like hard work for me. I'd rather put together dioramas and little displays.

I'm a bit of fan of Christmas toys especially.

This year I bought myself a few new sets from Playmobil.  So here is the first installment of my 'Setting up for Christmas'.  

This set is set 4888 - sled carousel.

It's kind of like Lego for dumb arses - it comes in little plastic bags and illustrations on how to put it together.

Stickers going on...

 

The top is now together.

 

Sleds are ready to go.

All together now.

Close up of a doll - they do creep be out a little.

Finished, and ready for the next one.

Staff party done and dusted

As social club co-ordinator this year I organised the staff party - with a bit of help from others - I'm not claiming all the credit.

As well organising meat and bread and all the other stuff you do, I made a trifle.

It was a bit of a friendly casual night with some games with Christmas print toilet paper rolls for prizes, some fun awards and going away presents.

I decided that I would curl my hair - it took an hour - this is why I normally go with a bun for spech occayjuns. Auto correct is really having trouble with that - dam that occa accent.

My photos were all taken after the fact - so my hair isn't as full on as it was at 6pm.  I went totally Texan with big hair.  C told me my hair looked like a cyclone,  hmmmm.

Dress - Leona Edmiston - it looks a little retro

Cami - target

Shoes - Tulula Valu

Aussie Curves - Yellow

 

 I have wings,,, just like a pad.

It's been a a few weeks since I joined in on Aussie Curves. November for teachers can be hell - report cards, speech night, graduation night, end of year parties, carols by candlelight, end of year paperwork that just seems to keep coming, escalating behaviour etc. I'm not having a whinge just explaining why I am so exhausted and can't be bothered to photograph myself.

Last weekend our teacher choir performed in a battle of the teacher bands - I'll have to do a post later to show you our dresses and tell you all about it.

So, on with the yellow.

Not a colour I wear full on - just as accessories or with other colours.  I have a great cardigan and I have fabric for a skirt, and I do have a pair of shorts that are a little tight at the moment.



When I saw this top on Asos, I loved it. When I tore it out of the wrapping, I loved it. When I tried it on, I didn't love it. But last night I was like - you paid for it - you will wear it.  After a day of OMGs and I love your top,,, I love it.

Top - Asos

Cami - Target

Jeans - Autograph

Sandals - Rubi

Necklace - eBay

I was paranoid about wearing this top as I am about most white or cream clothes.  I was sure I was going to spill something on it.  I was so excited after eating a very messy turkey, bacon, mayo, salad focaccia that I hadn't gotten ANY on me.  After lunch though I ended up getting glitter glue along the front hem... it washed out okay but there really isn't anything wrong with a bit of glitter.

I don't know what is so fascinating down there.

Wait, was that a rain drop?  It's been threatening to rain today - come on!!! Break the drought!