Notions Of Fabric

No new photos today, folks. My regular photographer ran his first real (Olympic plus distance) triathlon today and we are both much too tired! So instead, I have a question. Or a quandary. While I was waiting for the race to finish, I grabbed some pencils to match fabric swatches. My current queue is one Kew dress, and then my next BIG project - a Closet Case files Sophie swimsuit! I am equal parts intimidated and excited for this project. Notions were actually quite easy to get - I just ordered a basic kit from Emerald Erin in nude and it has everything that I will need! So that was easy. I have spent an reasonable amount of time looking for fabric, before deciding on a splurge from Blackbird Fabrics. I've never ordered from them before but have been looking for an opportunity for a while, so I order 3 fabrics which I thought would coordinate with the thought to mix and match across a bikini. So I spent a few hours colouring in some of the croquis, using the closest colours that I...

Today we have a change of photographer and scenery - on location photos! These photos were taken on my iPhone by my lovely friend Jess, so the quality might not be quite the best, but I am on location in Barcelona! I'm currently on holiday in Spain without my usual Photographer husband, but here I am in the kitchen courtyard of Casa Batllo, my favourite of the Gaudi designed residences. I just couldn't turn down the chance to get such great location shots! This dress is hot of the presses, as I finished it less than a week ago! I have made several Ogden cami tops, and decided that I really liked the dress version on the  True Bias  blog and wanted to make it myself! I used the tutorial roughly, although I did end up having to take more off the back to even it out (I just did it as I tried in on with the skirt basted to make sure it hung straight on my body). This fabric is from my trip to Paris last summer, and I'm pretty certain it's a viscose. It's light and drape...

This is the first project that I made while at home in Australia, however is the last one to make it to the blog. Mostly because as soon as I wear it, I wash it and wear it again! It has been in constant rotation ever since I made it, and even more so now London has finally decided that is summer now! This is the Kew dress from Nina Lee. Like my other Australia projects, it was something I hadn't made before but that I had fallen in love with when it came out. Specifically, version 2 with the straps and little wings (sleeves?) was really gorgeous and I loved the line drawing. I always had linen in mind for this dress, so when I went to spotlight I headed straight there. Red is not normally my colour, but this is such a lovely shade I couldn't resist! When I went to look at buttons and they had these lovely ones with exactly the sameshade of red, I knew it was fate! It does wrinkle a little throughout the day but it's nothing major and I don't worry too much about it. I ...

After finishing my more complicated makes in Australia, I really felt like I needed a palate cleanser. So I picked up the Simple Sew Ruby, which I had bought from Amy of Almond Rock in an instagram sale a while back. Actually, this is the third I’ve made but the first to make it to the blog (I’m hoping to eventually catch up to all my current makes, but we’ll see). In this version, I decided to leave out the pockets, which I do kind of regret, and I lined the bodice instead of using the facings - personal preference. This gorgeous soft cotton is from Paris, which I bought about a year ago on a solo trip from one of the stores at the foot of the Sacre-Couer in Montmatre. That’s my favourite place to buy fabric in Paris and I picked up a few pieces (5) on this trip. This was always going to be a Ruby after the success of my other checked Ruby which I wear especially with tights and boots in colder weather. This one is a little better without tights, I think. (I’m also wearing my new favo...