A Flamingo Shirt Dress
This week has been one of little productivity but much inspiration. As I mentioned last week, I had my first session at the tailoring course I enrolled in.
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| My bag packed ready for school. |
The project I decided to start work on in class is the Simplicity pattern #1880.
I am making it in a flowing fabric with a lovely drape. It has a royal blue background and pink and white flamingos scattered throughout.
I was quite nervous at my first class (not sure why) so I was not as fast as usual. It took me the whole two hours to trace out the pattern and then cut it. I started to cut the fabric but didn't finish. This fabric is silky and quite slippery, so I am anticipating that it will be more challenging to manage.
I learnt a new way of marking onto the fabric using a tracing wheel and carbon paper. I had seen this technique illustrated in books but never seen it in action. My instructor showed me how it works and let me use hers. Basically the carbon paper sits under the fabric and you push the wheel over the fabric and pattern piece where the markings are. It was very quick and quite accurate. However, I had already purchased a 'Clover' chalk marker earlier in the week so I think I will give that a go next week.
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| Clover chalk markers |
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| Marking wheel and yellow carbon paper under the fabric |
Hopefully next week I can start to piece the 'Flamingo Shirt Dress' together.
The Good Ship Lollypop!
This week a childhood heroine of mine left this earth - Shirley Temple Black.
When we were kids, my best friend and I loved watching her films and we would sometimes put on concerts singing the songs from her movies. I had photocopied pictures of her stuck on my bedroom wall and occasionally put my hair in ringlets to get that 'Curly Top' look. As an adult she also lived an inspiring life, working as a US diplomat. Even as a child I thought it was wonderful how she didn't let her childhood stardom direct her life but instead forged an adult career of her own choosing and passion. She inspired me back then and I will let her inspire me again.
For some fun I have decided to create a little girls dress reminiscent of her style as America's little darling, in memory of her and my childhood. Come back next week to see the beginning of my 'Shirley' dress.
Other Leading Ladies
The other day my husband and I went out for a Mexican feast with friends of ours. We had a great time. During the course of the evening I was gifted with some lovely books full of inspirational photos of the classic Hollywood film stars. Here are some of the pictures from the one called 'Leading Ladies'.
It is great to have pictures like these as a source of inspiration. I am really intrigued with the outfit Marilyn Monroe is wearing here.
It seems quite contemporary, you could get a similar look very easily with things you already have or can get from current fashion shops.
Retro styling is not so difficult or out of reach and you don't have to spend a fortune or make it all your self.
Hmm time I went through my cupboard with a fresh set of eyes :-)
Well that's all folks
Keep well
:-)
History Heroine
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