Coco Cobalt

Ok so technically this isn’t my first sewing project. It is actually the third pencil skirt I have whipped up in as many weeks - we’re on a roll people! - but I forgot to take pictures of the other ones so for now, my pink  and teal pencil skirts will remain in my closet until I remember to photograph them. That is if you really care about see slightly different colours and variations of essentially the same skirt….Wait what am I talking about? Of course you want to see them!

Anyway, let me introduce to Coco, you my new cobalt blue pencil skirt. She took me roughly 3-4 hours to make last Sunday and I’m so proud of it J The fit and finish are by far the best of all three skirts which just proves that practice makes perfect.

The pattern I used is this four piece New Look pattern circa 1988 (Thanks mum!). I have to say that this is a GREAT pattern for a novice sewer because it really is easy as.  

Cut out your four pieces of fabric, pin them together, sew away, wack in a zip, do some ‘ditch stitching’ and you’re done! I did have to cut the waist down a little to fit me better, but really the most challenging parts of this project for me were sewing even darts (a problem I fixed with a white fabric pencil) and putting in a zip (not nearly as hard as I thought it would be).

Overall, I am really happy with the finished product and will most certainly go on to make myself a wardrobe full of rainbow pencil skirts – if my office can handle it that is. 

On Tuesday I colour blocked the s**t out of Level 3 by channelling/copying Kendi Everyday and wearing Coco with a coral blouse (and I even took pictures for my first proper outfit photo which is scary!!). The verdict was positive and Coco went down much better than when I wore pink tights. Let’s just say Level 3 wasn’t quite ready for pink tights.  They sure as hell love Coco though.

Say it ain’t Sew

Image courtesy of edelweisspatterns.com 

Since The Boy got a new job he has been working almost every weekend. Whilst I disliked this very much at first (and may have developed an addiction to The Only Way is Essex) I thankfully, decided to stop wallowing/watching poorly scripted reality TV and put my spare time to good use. So I’m learning to sew.

Why sewing? There are umpteen reasons but now I’ve written that I can really only think of five.

1.       I can save money but still have a killer wardrobe.

2.       It’s always good to learn a new skill.

3.       Unlike baking, sewing can’t make me any chubbier.

4.       I ran out of poorly scripted reality television to watch (until I am able to download Geordie Shore…) and let’s not forget….

5.       The Gloat factor. It’s that feeling when someone comments on your outfit/asks where you got it and you tell them you made it and then take a minute to feel nice and smug…oh yeah. 

As I’m a novice sewer and really learning everything from scratch, you can follow my ups and downs, the things I found difficult and hopefully the successes.

My first task is to make some simple work skirts and as my skills improve, I’m hoping to move on to a couple of dresses and then some more ambitious projects.

Wish me luck - it’s time to get sewing!

Postcards from paradise

I was reading my friend B’s blogpost on her love for snail mail and it made me think of my own not-so-secret adulation for postcards, of which there seems to be an actual definition.

Apparently, deltiology - the study and collection of postcards –is one of the world’s most popular hobbies…and here I was thinking I was the only one!

Now, I wouldn’t say I’m a super hardcore deltiologist (?!) but I have quite the collection of postcards hoarded away in my room. They adorne my walls, act as bookmarks or decorations and I often flick through stacks of them at a time to remind myself of my travels, the people I met and the things I experienced. Honestly, whetehr a postcard is tacky and tasteless, a beautiful artwork or illustration, a photograph, or text, I. Just. Can’t. Help. Myself.

Why? Because well – who doesn’t love getting a postcard?!

The delight you feel when you open your mail box and there’s a postcard scrawled with your name on it…how can you not feel a bit spesh?! Someone is thinking of you while they are gallivanting around the world and having loads of fun and they’re sharing a little piece of their experiences with you.

As a chronic sender of postcards (I estimate I sent close to 200 postcards in 15 months during my most recent travels and time away) , my motivation to buy, write and post them is purely for the surprise I know it will give my friend or family member.

Sending a postcard is my way of letting someone know that I’m thinking of them while we’re apart. I might be watching the sunset on a beach on Barcelona or lying in a Berlin hostel bed recovering from a revolting hungover, but by writing to them, I feel like I am sending a part of me back to them.

Anyway, here are some of my favourite postcards. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do (again sorry for the dodgy photography!).

We smashed it!

I know this post is a week (or more) overdue but I just wanted to send out a big thank you to everyone who supported me in the RSPCA Cupcake Day! I reached and exceeded my $250 fundraising goal, selling more than 100 cupcakes and raising $432 dollars. WOO HOO for animals!

If you’d still like to support you can donate at my personal fundraising page here. 

 

And just to prove I really did bake my arse off (honestly I don’t think I ever want to see another cupcake again) here’s some pictures  of the vanilla, chocolate and red velvet cupcakes I forced down the throats of my family, friends, and work colleagues.

Bet you wish you ordered some now :p

P.S. Sorry for the crap picture quality - my camera broke!

Cake for a cause!

So I almost forgot but next Monday is RSPCA Cupcake Day!!! The most important day of the year (after Christmas and My birthday that is). I have set my sites on trying to raise $250 for the RSPCA by convincing my wonderful friends and family like you to donate through my online fundraising page here.

I will also be baking up a storm over the weekend to try to raise some money so if you'd like to put in an order I will be selling a variety of large cupcakes (flavours to choose from include red velvets, vanilla and chocolate) for $3.50 each with all proceeds going towards the RSPCA in Queensland. 

It's a great cause so please get on board!!