I'm Back

Actually I have been back a week but can't seem to get back into the groove. Cheryl and I had a fantastic time in Honkers (is that just an Australian nickname or is it global?) but we sure wore ourselves out. It was hot, wet, steamy, crowded and with all the walking I lost 1 1/2 kilos!

One of the best parts was meeting up with Allison. We managed to have lunch, get in a bit of shopping and later in the week some drinks out.

It is amazing how you can meet up with an internet friend and talk away like you have know each other for ages! We could talk about you all as though we both had the same circle of friends :) And how funny that HK now has Spotlight - Allison blogged about that here. Cheryl and I didn't venture out to see it (but I was tempted to see if it looked the same).

Shopping was a bit hit and miss. Fabric wise I only bought a few pieces.
Two green pieces from the Western Market - one is a nice cotton shirting and the other an unknown blend (the vendor did say viscose something or other but I have my doubts). The grey is a linen blend purchased from the Yen Chow Street Market in Sham Shui Po.

Yes, that is the market under the trees!

While out in Sham Shui Po, I stocked up on zips!

I also bought some trims, buttons etc.

We also dropped into Angus International for some silks. That was an adventure in itself. Finding the place, going up the ancient lift and into a private residence. They were renovating their store and the stock wasn't there but the remnants were! So here we were rummaging through neatly packed silks in someones kitchen, without aircon. It was hot!!! They did not have a lot, just basics. This is what I got:
As to other shopping, I bought three RTW suits, 2 pairs of shoes, 3 handbags, 2 pairs of jeans, a Chanel trench (nice find in an outlet shop), makeup, perfume and some things for the girls.

I have uploaded all my photos here. Enjoy!

Purple skirt, podcasts and Hong Kong

One more photo of the JCC to show you a close up of the topstitching and the lining of the purple skirt

I used rayon embroidery thread to "topstitch" the seams of this skirt. The lining is Sunsilky from Lincraft - a polyester lining. The colour matched the wool so well and I didn't have anything in the stash that would compliment the skirt. The pattern is the same as my black skirt with the brown topstitching - Burda 01-2008-127.

While I have been busy sewing the May mini wardrobe and the JCC I have been listening to Lori's podcasts. I have really enjoyed them!! I only recently got my Ipod and so I have been catching up on all of Lori's posts. So THANKYOU Lori!!! Unfortunately I am all caught up and now will have to wait for each new podcast. So if you have not listened to Lori's podcasts, I recommend you do! I am currently downloading Toya's Inspirational Wednesday podcasts for my listening pleasure. If you have any other podcast recommendations I am happy to hear about them :)

Finally I am off to Hong Kong on Friday! So excited. This will be my sister and my 3rd trip together there. And it was only last week that we decided to actually go. We had wanted to go again but the time just wasn't right with our parents. Mum is settled at the moment so we have decided to go while the going is good!

Fold over top - Burda 10-2007-115

For a detailed review click here. For a short review.....I was looking for a very quick top to finish off the June capsule. I wasn't feeling the love for another Ottobre T so decided to have a go at this Burda fold over top. As the smallest size is 38 (and I need a 34) I decided to just morph the fold details onto the Ottobre. Easy! And quicker than tracing the whole thing out. I also took out 1.5 cms in the armhole area. Lucky I did as it still is a bit low. Will raise it some more for next version.


I had great trouble working out the fold - Burda instructions are double dutch in relation to this! So if you want to make this top, refer to Christina's fabulous photo tutorial on Pattern review. I wish I had done that before I started. Would have saved quite a bit of ripping out and head scratching.

I am wearing this top to work today. But I have gone all conservative with a grey skirt, black books and a green necklace.

June capsule contest

Yes, I have finished!! And in time - yippee!!

I need to thank Sofie for being my photographer and stylist and Ellen for being my photo technician! Thank goodness for teenage daughters. :)

I love this photo - Sofie decided we needed one with all the shoes....mmm...do you think I have a problem?

All contest photos are here

Robin asked if the patterned blouse was sheer - and yes it is! I have a purple RTW cami underneath.

I am off to bed now, so will post about the green top and purple skirt later.

Burda 09-2007-101

My first top for the JCC is finished and I really love it. I haven't tried it on me so I hope I am just as enthusiastic when I do :). I used a very sheer silk jersey I bought from Artextile in Richmond (Melbourne). This is my first time with silk jersey. It was very hard to handle but sewed and pressed beautifully. I followed Burda's instructions pretty much except I used 6mm seam allowances and put the sleeves in flat before sewing up the side seam. I used my sewing machine for sewing as I thought the overlocker would be too "heavy" for the delicateness of the fabric.

Here is a close up with my accessory purchase from yesterday. It is my $10 necklace from Portmans.


Here is a full length shot. With the print it is a bit hard to see the details in the photo.

I have another top to do and some handsewing on my final skirt. I will do the handsewing while watching Rove tonight but still have to even decide what top to sew! It must go with the two skirts and the necklace. I feel an Ottobre T coming on....or maybe another one of these. Both would be pretty quick.

May Mini Wardrobe

Photos of my PR May Mini Wardrobe - needless to say I did NOT finish in time! But I did finish. The fabrics were all from stash and were selected to match my animal print shoes.

Top Ottobre 2/2007 altered. Skirt self drafted/draped. Cami RTW



This time with boots and self drafted scarf:

Top Burda 1-2008-116. Skirt Burda 1-2008-127



Other combinations:


I went shopping this afternoon for the accessory for the JCC. I saw some gorgeous purple shoes that would have looked fab, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money. So I bought some beads for $3 and another necklace for $10. I am not sure how they will go as both my tops are prints and have bows. But I can wrap the beads around my wrist for a bracelet if necessary. Now back to the sewing.....

Burda 08-2005-102 (again)

I know I said I would post photos of the May mini wardrobe but the gods have not been kind - the weather too wet, some items in the wash and even the camera decided to go to school!

But before it went to school again today, I managed to get a couple of very quick photos to show my second JCC skirt. (The first still needs the lining, hem and waistband to be done - I felt like a break).

This is what I look like after a late night handsewing hems, waistbands, unpicking and sewing again...lol

I used Burda 8-2005-102. I have made this twice before but this time I decided to just have the flounce at the back and I redrafted the front to go all the way to the knees. I cut the flounce on the straight grain as I was short of fabric. Yes, another remnant piece that I bought from Artextile. It is the most soft beautiful wool lycra. It didn't like the steam much and I had to be careful when pressing. Also I could not get the darts to blend in at the tip. But it was so nice to wear today. I felt rather special.

I have to show you my lining too. This I bought from Lincraft off their "designer ends" table. It didn't say what the fibre content was but I suspect it is acetate. I bought quite a few metres of this one.

I really like this pattern. I can see even more in my future. I really like what Paco has done with this pattern here. So many options to add trim, lace, piping etc.

On another topic, today I received this email from JacquiE - an Aussie ladies fashion retailer. I think their website is really cute. Go here and then click on one of the outfits. If nothing else you can have a laugh at the accent.,lol. And yes I do have a few JacquiE tops in my wardrobe!