Monday, September 15, 2008

Back to the land of the living


Well it really feels like Spring has arrived. Not because of the glorious weather, the buzzing of bees, or the birds that now wake us up at 5am each morning (which my husband hates, and I quite like). But after two weeks of horrid sickness, I now feel well and renewed, and bursting with Springtime energy. I want to clean and make and play and bake and I want to do it all NOW!!!!


I feel like I'm pop pop popping, just like these poppies I bought from the markets on the weekend (I love the way they 'pop' out of their hairy pods, and a gorgeous colourful crepe-like flower unfurls....I also love guessing what colour each flower will be before it 'pops' out. Hey is this why they're called 'POPpies'???)

Anyway, so I've been getting in amongst it, firstly with the cleaning, which I am sadly behind in after weeks of just doing the bare minimum. Then on the weekend I had a huge urge to sew something different. Something not for the shop, not for a gift for someone else, not something for the kids, but something for me. And I didn't want to make something I've already made before. I felt like a challenge.


So I went for another mash-up.


Basically, I took a gorgeous piece of $2.00 Op Shop fabric (stiff white seersucker with blue polka dots) and mashed up two patterns to create a dress. I was hoping for something a bit 'Alice in Wonderlandy' with a 50s edge.


I am pretty happy with it actually.


The two patterns I used were Simplicity 4589 (view A) and Simplicity 3835 (view A - the long dress) and they mashed up pretty easily.


I also made a belt from a vintage buckle I had, and wallah! So next time I'm invited to an Alice in Wonderland tea party, I'm good to go.


Maybe Melanie will provide the crockery!!!

I've also had a couple of nice surprises which brightened up my days during my lapse into lurgydom.



I won a wonderful book on how to make wallets from Cass from Snailblazer.


I especially like the ankle wallet. My son would love this - can't wait to give it a try!!!

And I was very generously given a Brillante Weblog award from Shells (Pixie Kisses).


Thanks so much Shells, you write a lovely blog, and I hope you don't mind if I shirk my obligation and simply pass this award onto anyone who is nice enough to be leaving a comment on this blog. I always check out the blogs of people who comment (you should see my heaving bloglines) and I am constantly inspired and humbled by the creativity and insightfulness of craft bloggers. It is what pushes me to be more creative, more grateful, and to find as much happiness as possible in the little things. Thank-you :)

35 comments:

djbebe said...

Well done with the dress - it's exactly Alice in Wonderland with a 50s twist!

Cass said...

Bec OMG that dress is divine. I'm lost for words

Unknown said...

WOW! That dress is utterly adorable! Just so perfect with the dots, and the seersucker (which makes me squeal in delight cause I LOVE seersucker!) and the vintage belt buckle, it seriously has it all! Well done!

thetinylittlegirl said...

love poppies!

and adore your dress, you did a great job on it!

Drewzel said...

So glad you're feeling better...hooray for Spring! That frock is super cute!

EmBelISH said...

Hey Bec
What a wonderful job, that dress is beautiful! Glad your feeling better
Bel x

Bird Bath said...

fab post - I love poppies and dots! The dress is amazing. well done on making something so wonderful for yourself! Poppies are such happy bright flowers - sure to make you feel springy :)

Melanie Gray Augustin said...

So glad to hear you're feeling better! That dress is gorgeous, very tea party!

bec said...

Love the dress, I have that Built by Wendy pattern, but have been scared because of the weird sizing- you have inspired me now. Hope I can make mine look as nice as yours- I am too chicken to use too patterns, though!
Glad you're feeling better, know what it's like, still have my cough!
Bring on spring!

Hey Harriet said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE that dress! You perfectly captured the Alice in Wonderland 50s edge style. Actually no, you have created the Alice in Wonderland 50s edge style! I think. If I was a more fashionable kind of person I'd know for sure. Either way it's a gorgeous creation! Sweet poppies & a big congrats on your well deserved award Bec :)

JustJess said...

Superb dress! I too love a Poppy - one of my favourite flowers.

Sharon said...

Lovely, lovely dress! Totally Fab! Will you be making yourself a matching ankle wallet?!

Amalou said...

Poppies are a wonderful way to brighten your life after a couple of weeks of feeling drab. So glad to hear you are feeling better. Nothing worse when Mums are sick, everything seems to fall apart.

Gorgeous spotty dress, looks sensational on you! The belt is a lovely touch. I know zero about fashion, sewing and patterns. A mash up dress from two patterns sounds like a very brave challenge to me. Well done :) Amanda

.girl ferment. said...

wow your dress is super.
well done.
xx

lera said...

I love LOVE that dress. Everything about it is great. The style. The fabric. The buckle! Great job.

Ali said...

So nice it's Spring time in your house now! I love, love your new dress! You're so clever, it looks so sweet and lovely and spring-y! And what a lovely feeling making something just for yourself! (it's a nice feeling hey?!)
That book on wallets is great! Love to see what you come up with!
Enjoy your morning birds :)

Jenny said...

Wow! That dress is just gorgeous and fits you perfectly. I love the poppy photo-can't help but smile!

Stacey said...

I love your new dress! The buckle is perfect for it.
Well done you!

flossy-p said...

Whaaaa, your dress is gorgeous!!!!!! You're so clever, you clever mash-up sewing star, you!

Anonymous said...

oh it looks amazing!! how stunning do you look!

Nicole said...

Bec, that mash up dress is devine -I love your photography of it as well!

gemma @ loz and dinny said...

This dress is just lovely! You are a sewing genius

Em said...

Hey Bec,
Glad you are feeling chipper.. the dress is great - you are like me your little pins are in need of some spring sun ;-P
xx Em

Rachel said...

Looove the dress, you did a great job!

Hot Fudge said...

I'm glad you're feeling a lot better - it's so hard trying to cope when you are a young mother and feeling so ill.

You have combined two of my favourites in your post - poppies and spots. Can you remember as a child opening those tempting buds way before they wanted to make an appearance?

And the dress is brilliant, you clever thing.

Jodie said...

oh polka dots and seersucker ... seriously you have aced that dress. It is awesome!!!

Stacey said...

That dress looks great on you!

Impossible Alice said...

Yay! I'm so glad you're feeling better :) And I'm feeling the same way about spring as you! That polka dot dress is super cute :)
And thanks for the lovely mention!

Anastasia said...

what a lovely post!! glad to hear you're feeling better - im loving spring too but suddenly hating the allergies & hay fever...ugh!!!
hey great job on the dress - looks fantastic! its nice to make something just for yourself every now and then...you deserve it!

flossy-p said...

You DO have a brilliant blog! Well deserved!

p.s. I've tagged you with the "what's on my walls" meme. I hope you haven't done it before, and I hope you don't mind, and I hope you enjoy it :)

Levin said...

fabulous dress.
i've shown your creations to my daughter - i think she should start sewing her own clothes - it's nice to have 'one offs'. unfortunately, she's in bed with the flu at the moment otherwise i would inspire her with this dress.
i love poppies - they are my absolute favourite flowers.
l
x

Red Hen (dette) said...

Your dress worked very well! I love the little vase yor poppies ar in too. And I had to laugh when I saw the slim sporty wallets- I have just this minute posted my "wrist Purses"!!! Funny how similar things/ ideas seem to pop up at the same time.

Maureen Reynolds said...

Great dress Bec. Good work at the combination.

Lin said...

what a lovely frock! Love the polkadots!

Sherrin said...

wow Bec!! I love the dress. It looks great! You have been doing such lovely stuff... I haven't been able to check out your blog for a while, so there's lots of lovely new eye candy. :o) :o)