Vintage dress [1980s] #1

The 80s aren't that vintage, but anyway. I'm starting with the most recent pattern and working backwards. Perhaps I should look out for some patterns to fill in the gap between the 70s and the 40s? And have a whole series of dresses…

I found this material in Lincraft, although I wasn't expecting to. I had a look around their limited range and was on my way out when Elsie flicked at some fabric as she walked past it, and it caught my eye. I don't normally make decisions so easy, this was instant attraction.

It's some kind of viscose satin, not my normal stuff because I was brought up to wear natural fibres. But I could not resist the print. Giant complex paisley in green, turquoise and brown. I adore it.

I didn't cut the original pattern, I traced all the small pieces onto baking paper and just cut around the original skirt pattern. This takes a little more effort, but it keeps the original pattern in good condition and with the alternate sizes unused.

I didn't realise the fabric had a direction to the print, so I was a bit worried that because I had to lay all the pieces in the same direction and not upside down to save space I would run out of fabric, but I did, phew. Cutting the pattern and then the dress fabric took a couple of hours I think, it's pretty back-breaking work. And then I packed it all up and had a nap. Start sewing next weekend I hope.

Photos of Saturday

From the day I spent at Collaroy Conf Centre with some church people: A big rainbow going into the ocean.

Hungry rainbow lorikeets.

Bush Turkey.

Back home: my parents helping me put up my new shelves from Bunnings.

The shelves in action.

Starving.

I woke up this morning and was almost instantly ravenously hungry. I did 5 circuits (except for the plank twists) yesterday, and had soup for dinner and chocolate and yogurt, so probably should have eaten more protein. I hardly ever wake up hungry, but I always have breakfast first thing because if I don't I feel gross. And once I feel gross it's harder to eat. I don't know how people skip breakfast. But yay, my body is building muscle!

Jillian!

I'm on the second week of doing a workout DVD from the US Biggest Loser trainer woman with the aggressively bare fatless abs. Elsie is a big fan of Jillian, and I can see why. She motivates without being at all fake or chirpy. The workout is really hard, but the moves don't require heaps of skill or balance.

Anna and I started doing the DVD Monday last week after work in the spare office. Every so often we get into a healthy exercise craze, like lunchtime walks.

There are 7 circuits plus warm up and cool down, we started with 3. We got up to 4 last week. By monday this week we already noticed we are stronger! My lame push-ups are much less feeble. Yesterday we did the 5th circuit, which was a killer. But v encouraging, Anna has gone from being able to do no surrenders to being able to do nearly all of them in 1 week! So next week those plank kicks in C5 will be a breeze.

We are loving being able to see increased fitness after only 1 week. We were starting from a pretty low base, and we are pushing hard within reasonable limits. It's brilliant to have a $15 DVD and the motivation of a workout buddy, too. It's probably the best value I've found. Thanks Jillian and Anna!

Endorphins LOL.

I've been tired and mopey, as always happens in winter. I'm eating healthy, exercising, sleeping well, but I've had a flat battery. Now I'm trying to go out in the sun at least once briefly every day. Even if you don't soak up much Vitamin D being all covered in winter clothes, apparently sunlight shining in your eyes helps sync your body, or something. Along with taking a multivitamin for a week, I'm feeling a lot more normal now.

And I've had a lightbulb moment: laughing is good. One night I was watching QI and laughed out loud, and I realised it had been SO LONG since I had a proper laugh. And then I heard all these things about how laughing is good for your health and all that. Duh, me. So I am going to prioritise things that make me laugh. I might even lower my brow and watch Funniest Home Videos.

Graham Norton did it the other night with this segment: perfectly timed photos. Nothing like an awkward dog… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx3zn5vpEyI ... and tonight is Miranda, which is first on my list of dumb shows that make me cackle. People who like Miranda are sort of a secret society, it's such an over-looked show. Like the IT crowd.

VINTAGE Sewing.

So I have all my ebay patterns. I'm deciding which one to sew first. The 80s dress will be the easiest, it's pretty consistent with modern patterns. But why not dive straight in to the old stuff?

I have had a look inside the 40s pattern, because I am the most excited about it, and freaked out. The pattern has never been used, it's still "factory fold". Then I realised, it's blank. It's blank tissue paper, what's the use of that?? Do I have to draw the pattern on? Then I realised, oh, there is no printing but the pieces are all pre-cut. With little holes punched out for markings. I just have to unfold 70-year-old tissue paper, match up the pieces to the instructions, and cut out fabric without damaging the patterns or holes. And then somehow fold them safely back together into the broken envelope.

First I have to figure out how much fabric to buy in inches. Wheee! This is exciting! Who needs Shabby Apple?

JKs hospitality.

Just wanted to put up some photos from a recent lovely night hosted by JK while she house-sat in college break. I also taught everyone my family's favourite game, Rummikub. Not the most glamorous or complicated game, it doesn't have armies and trading and minimum 2 hour play-length. It's just putting numbers in order but it really makes you focus. And those are delicious little baked cheesecakes.

Leggings of the night.

Last night I decided that the material I had leftover from making Georgina's bespoke tall leggings would make another pair for me, if I was cunning. There was enough material for 1 leg and 2 half legs. So since these only get worn under skirts anyway (leggings are not pants, ladies) a random join doesn't matter. Woohoo! I am thrifty and resourceful and able to use up useable pieces of stuff!

It was good to be sewing while watching a Hilary Duff movie. I suppose I could have watched State of Origin… nah, Hilary Duff movie. It's like ice-cream in television form. Raise Your Voice is her least good movie, though. The Cinderella one is the best. And in other news, my block of Breakaway chocolate is empty of wafer! It's just chocolate! It it's so rock solid I can't break it.

Mentalist.

This is Rigsby and Cho, just because I like them.

It was The Mentalist season finale part one last night. It was awesome! I have all the clues and trails in my head so there was real excitement last night. Red John (or his CBI mole) tried to find Hightower (who went on the run in the ep Red Queen after being framed by the CBI mole). This episode was about an investigation into a robbery on a money transfer business, and it turned out Red John was behind it, trying to follow some money transfers to Hightower from a friend helping her hide. 3 innocent people died and one of Red John's minions was shot by the Fat Guy (JJ La Roche) in the back of a police car. Which was highly suspicious, but the Fat Guy is not my main suspect. My money is on the CBI Director, because in Red Queen he a) dobbed on Hightower about an affair which implicated her as a murder suspect and b) quoted William Blake poetry. However, Fat Guy could be someone bad, since he recognised the Blake quote, and has now shot a Red John minion in custody (to shut him up?). But he wasn't in CBI to set fire to the last Red John minion who died in custody and quoted William Blake. The 3rd obvious option is Grace Van Pelt's fiance, because he's too nice and also works within the CBI. It would be lame if it was so, because they already used that plot device before, she had a sweet boyfriend who was a killer. Two in a row is just unimaginative. But it's looking bad for him, the wedding story arc is going to match the Red John story arc. And while Rigsby is hanging around all love-lorn the wedding is a tragedy anyway.

So the front runners for CBI mole and next Red John reveal are CBI Director and Mr Charming Fiance. Either way, the mole will probably manage to slip through Jane's fingers leaving a mysterious clue and we'll be only slightly closer to Jane's Revenge.

A weekend in Maitland.

I'm not used to thinking of Maitland as a place to do fun weekend things. I'm used to it being boring. It's really quite nice. Here are some of the best things to check out.

Maitland Regional Art Gallery. Free entry, cool kids room (you can put stickers on the walls), cafe, range of exhibitions, cute machines for donating coins.

This is the lamest piece of art I've ever seen. There was some really really good wildlife illustration though.

Across the road there is also a leather workshop. Very pretty, and as you can see we parked right at the door (in the grey car, not the red cart).

Op shops. Limited opening hours on the weekend. But keep a weather eye out for bargain crochet doilies. I wish I had bought more than one, since it was only $2, and they are the proper hand made ones. Now I can think of all sorts of nice crafts to use them in.

This is a random iconic thing on Morpeth Road.

Cupz n Crepes. View of Morpeth Bridge, purveyor of such delicious drinks as the Iced Cocomochanut and the Banana Chai Latte.

Horse and cart tour of Morpeth. We didn't do this, but it's probably good, and only $6.