Kittys Drawings

Hiiii!

As long ago promised, here is the dress I made for my friend’s Margaret River wedding. Excuse how crumpled it looks now – I took the pics in a hurry this morning before heading out.

I used Vogue 4977 which is from the 60′s by the looks of it. Well – I only used some of it. The pattern was missing all the skirt pieces. A bit annoying but I just subbed in the bottom of another dress pattern. Easy

This is also the very first time I’ve made a muslin of sorts. I first cut it out on a ‘test’ fabric at the original size and basted it all together to try it on. Unfortunately I didn’t really have time to continue along that path because my decision to make a dress for the wedding came a little too late! Being a vintage size 14 it was quite a bit too big (I’m usually a 10 or 12 in vintage sizes) so I chose to re-draw the pattern making some alterations.

What I did:

• Took a horizontal V out of the back, with the point of that V at the side seam. This eliminated quite a bit of the gaping that was happening.
• Also took a vertical V radiating from the waist upwards to account for narrower shoulders and smaller bust.
• Took a little out of the side seams.
• Enlarged the armholes since taking in the side seam makes them smaller.

As you can see – I could have fitted it a lot better. What I did helped, but not enough. And I didn’t really have a lot of time! This was also my first time working with “expensive” fabric. I couldn’t get my hands on real silk taffeta so poly had to do I lined the skirt with silk though, and the bodice is lined with very thin cotton cos I didn’t buy enough silk. Derp. It was all a bit finicky cos the silk was very slippy…the taffeta not so much but it shows up every little nick and crease – especially in photos! Plus it’s a bitch to iron.

At least the sash was easy to make! Hehe. That was fun. I love polka dots! I could have reinforced it or added snaps to the dress to place it better – but – NO TIME. Waaa. Oh well. It was still great for the wedding even though I don’t really plan on wearing it again – or making the pattern again.

That said – These last few projects have given me an idea for a ‘new years resolution’….I’m not usually into resolutions and stuff but I’ve been thinking about this one a bit. It’s been a year since I started sewing now, and I’ve made quite a few things I really like and wear a lot, but also quite a few things that are so meh they’re definitely not going to appear on this blog. A lot of the meh projects have been a result of not putting enough thought into them. Usually it is to do with fitting or finishing. So this year I plan to be more careful with things, and take my time. I’ve already almost completed something with these thoughts in mind and I’m quite pleased with it so far. All that needs doing is a tiny bit of hand-sewing and it will be ready for the blog next week.

On other things….
Thanks to all my new followers – I have definitely reached my 100 mark where I should be hosting a giveaway. I’m still very much undecided about what to actually give away. Buuuut – I should get my butt into gear and sort it out. Stay tuned for the giveaway either next week or the week after.

Also – hello to everyone from We Sew Retro! I got quite a big response (comparatively!) to my last post that went up there and it’s really cool to get so many people over here reading my little blog. I’ve found lots of awesome blogs through the site and it’s great to be a part of that community.

Well I best be off now….finish that hand-sewing. Seeyas all later!

Hi Everyone!
A bit of an all over the place post today. First up, I’ve currently got an auction up on eBay for some gorgeous shoes I bought off ASOS. They are so pretty but unfortunately way too small for my feets! I bought a UK4 which usually means a Euro 37 but these are a full size too small. So I would say if you’ve got a 36 foot, AU6 or UK3, these should fit. They’re brand new, never worn and still in their box. Happy to ship international, just ask me and I’ll get a proper quote for your location. They’re currently sold out in this size on ASOS and you will be getting them cheaper even with the Buy It Now option

CLICK HERE for the auction

Also – I now have a Facebook page! It took me quite a while to jump on that bandwagon because I usually keep Facebook for private stuff. But click on over and press LIKE for me There’s a bunch of buttons to get you there in my sidebar or just click HERE

You may have noticed I’ve tidied up my blog a bit. I also figured out how to add custom fonts so I’ve changed my post titles. And remember how a while ago I told you I’d won a years subscription with the BaseKit website builder? Well I’ve set up the very  beginnings of my site (finally). It’s still not finished but I’ll show you when it’s done. It took me a little while to figure it all out but I’ve got the hang of it now. My only problem with using Basekit is that I am limited to standard fonts and I can only use Google Analytics for my tracking which I don’t like very much, preferring Woopra. I know the idea is to get away from any kind of code but IMHO you do need to access a little of it, as annoying as it may be. Maybe one day I will learn how to make a proper website. Hmm.

Other news – I got my scooter license!! YAY! The two day course was quite intense. Going from Zero driving knowledge to being allowed out on the roads in two days is pretty full on. The instructors at HART were really excellent and taught us really well. I’m kinda proud of myself for passing because only 8 out of 12 made it, and I was the only one who didn’t already have a car license.  I brought my scooter home on Friday – it was nerve-wracking driving home from the city let me tell you! Not to mention my 200cc Vespa is a LOT bigger and heavier than the itty bitty 50cc scoot I did the course on. The advantages are that it’s not as battered and the weight of it means it handles better through corners and driving slowly. After scaring the people working at a prestige car dealership in the back streets of North Melbourne (I was hooning around the car-park getting used to my new ride), we went out on a longer ride on Saturday. All the way down to St Kilda via Williamstown, then South Yarra (Chapel St!), Richmond, the city then home. Now I love it and I’m not scared as much anymore hehe. It will no doubt take a while not to be a danger on the roads (oh dear) but it sure is a lot of fun having a scooter!
However, today we ran into a dilemma. I was all set to head down the beach and go for a nice long ride….buuuuttttt……when I started her up – she started leaking LOTS of fuel!!! Omg! Not really prepared for all this mechanical bizzo. Dammit! So now she has to go back to the dealer and hopefully they can fix it. I mean….that kinda really sucks. I hope I haven’t bought a dud. Eep. I think something must be loose along the fuel line somewhere. It was only in for service last week.

Ummm that’s about all for now. I’ll be posting some sewing stuff soon and hopefully do some drawing too. It’s really hard to get motivated this time of year. Not sure what it is. Does anyone else fall into a bit of a creative slump around the end of year holidays???

Ciao!!

Hi All!

As you can probably tell by the title of this post, it’s likely going to be about Halloween or dressing up Last week I was at a party, to celebrate Halloween – or more just to dress up, since the holiday isn’t a big deal in Australia really. I’ve only been to a couple of dress up parties and this one I think I put the most effort into, since I made my dress and bought special shoes for the occasion.

So let me tell you about the most awesome skirt in the world.

This is Advance 8064 from a few posts back. I thought it would be perfect for the party and all I had to do was track down some blue gingham. I got lucky at Spotlight in Brunswick and bought the last 2.8m of this. It’s seersucker too! It was only $13 or so. The buttons were $6 for about 8 from the antiques shop up the road.

On making this I realised my pattern was missing the piece for the back facing, and I had to draft it. It wasn’t too tricky to do – I used the back pieces as a guide.

Aren’t princess cuts so awesome? I just love how the way it’s cut gives control to the fall of the skirt. Super flattering.

There’s pockets too!

I didn’t wear this shirt to the party – I had a white vintage one on instead. This one however, is one I made myself. Two sewing projects shown in one hit!! Its Hollywood 1164. It came together quite easily. The hardest thing maybe setting the sleeves. I used a trick from one of my sewing books on how to reduce the ease in the sleeve, as patterns often come with too much and then you’ve got to stuff all this fabric into a small space.
The super easy trick is just this – fold the end of the sleeve cap down as if you were shortening any other part of the sleeve…but only take a little out. Mine was about 1cm total. Then smooth the edges when you’re cutting so you skip the jagged edge thats created from the folding. Hard to explain sorry! If anyone wants to SEE it, I can do a diagram. Just let me know!

Since I have no Toto, I decided to con Puss into being Toto. Here is me stuffing her in my bag
At first she didn’t like it, but then she was okay with it. Then she had enough. Teehee.

My only problem now with this skirt is that it’s SO Dorothy. Does anyone have any ideas on how I could wear this or alter it so I don’t look like Dorothy all the time? I was thinking of swapping out the buttons for some white ones. And not wearing the glitter shoes of course hehe. And maybe even dyeing it – either red to make purple….or maybe even yellow to make green. Ideas???

Now my next post will be ART related. Howzat!? I’m working on a freelance job for someone which has to be finished tonight so I better get back to it!

Ciao!

Hiiii!

I’ve  been busy. As per usual.

These are the things I’ve been talking about in my last posts. I made a simple tank top and a gathered skirt.

(Boof is smiling too!)

The top I used a vintage pattern for. It’s made of very thin purple slub cotton. Not the best quality but this was my “test” go. The size was pretty small – so I ended up removing the darts from the front. It still only just fits in the front. The next time I make this I will give myself a bit more room around the bust and it doesn’t really need to be so fitted as I like my tops a bit looser.
The back of it is nice and I like how low it goes (you can’t see sorry – pics were taken in a hurry today!). I’m thinking I might want to add some kind of embellishments to not make it so boring. Maybe some embroidered daisies around the neckline.
Next time – I will also be lining it. Facings are annoying! I followed the instructions on attaching them which left some hand sewing a the shoulders which was kind of shitty. I’ll do it the other way I know how to line sleeveless garments when I make this next.

The skirt didn’t need a pattern. I just cut a long rectangle of fabric and gathered it into a waistband. Since this was a sheet it didn’t even need hemming. Yay! I only sort of like this – lesson learnt: gathers look better with more at the back then at the front.

So this is one outfit down for Fiji! And I even found a belt and shoes to match.

Also – Check out my new shoes! SO AWESOME! And mega comfy. I don’t have much to wear with them though (shhhh) – But I couldn’t resist the bargain – $50 from Asos for Miss L Fire – that’s pretty cheap!

I can make things to match though can’t I? I do need your help though – I’m not sure if I should make another skirt like this one but in white….or a pencil skirt in white? I have some white cotton drill similar to the khaki skirt fabric. I also have enough of the purple cotton from the top to make a skirt – then I could put the two together and it would be like a dress. All I’d need is some green accessories. Does anyone have any other ideas? I’m a bit thrown off by the white. Help!

Anyways – that’s all for now! Til later…

A non-drawing related post.

Let’s talk about (and perve on) SHOES.

Check out these babies!!!!!!! I don’t usually spend my last cent on frivoulous purchases. Really.
But this time I just *had* to have them.
Just look at them. The brightest shade of electric blue. Pretty sequins. Flowers. The cutest rounded toe. The right height with a perfect, not-too-skinny heel. Soft suede. Plush pink velvet interior. *sigh*
And all for $100 including postage. Yay!
From Schuh in the UK. They arrived in less than a week too.

Excuse my fatty feet – the mercury reached 43C today (108F) hence the swollen feet. Blergh.

I think I am in love with Irregular Choice.

While I have not really been doing a lot of drawing this past week that I am in Tasmania, I have found the time to do a teeny bit of vintage hunting.

This means that I am going to be extra super duper busy on the drawing/design front when I arrive back in Melbourne tomorrow. I have a bazillion things to do. One of those being that I am FINALLY going to get some hosting and move to WordPress. So as of next week there will be a transition period at Kitty’s Drawings and I will be guiding you towards my new site….hopefully without any hiccups along the way. I expect to have it up and running by the end of next week so stay tuned for a new link.

But back to the fashion stuff eh?
I found the below shoes at the Huonville St Vinnies store…amongst a not very impressive collection of second hand shoes. These are Bruno Magli cream pumps – 100% leather and made in Italy. With brand new heels and not a sign of a scuff! For how much you ask?

$6

Yep thats SIX Australian Dollars! Heh! Score!
These will go nicely with the cream tights I bought the other week. Now I just need to find a cream coloured belt. I think I will be going on an accessories hunt when I’m back home as I am severely lacking in a few things. I have a bad habit of buying too many dresses and not enough accessories.

I hope you all don’t mind these fashion related posts. It is truly one of my biggest obsessions…and while I don’t claim to be a fashionista or anywhere in the league of Super Kawaii Mama, I do love dressing up and wearing pretty things. My style is coming along slowly and I’ve made a few big leaps in the past year or so.

With the new blog I will start to categorize posts and introduce a bit more routine for you all. With some of my clothing purchases included too if no one finds them too painfully boring. Hehe

And I haven’t forgotten about the letterpress photos. I will leave that til I get back as image heavy posts are a bit of a struggle on my Mum’s old Mac.