Frocktober : Week 4 Outfit Round-up

I've been having a great time with Frocktober, I hope you've been enjoying my outfits!  And if you can, I'd love it if you could donate here.  Ovarian cancer research is a very worthy cause.

DAY NINETEEN:

So I spent last Saturday sewing.  And normally when I sew I wear leggings and a t-shirt, but its Frocktober so I can't do that... so I thought this vintage nightgown and robe would be just as comfy - and it was!

Dress: vintage nylon nightgown and robe set

purchased on Etsy

But...

I went out for cocktails with my husband, so I wasn't going to go in my nightgown!  I thought this was much more appropriate!

Dress: by Gerry Roxbury, purchased from Miskonduct Klothing

Shoes: Glenda heels by TaylorSays

DAY TWENTY:

Sundays are going-out-for-breakfast day and this is the delightfully colourful frock I decided to wear!

Dress: Bernie Dexter Kay Dress in Savanna Floral Print

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

Shoes: Vivienne Westwood for Melissa

Bangles: vintage lucite purchased from Etsy

DAY TWENTY ONE:

Yep, ended up out for breakfast again!  What a lucky girl!!  And today I decided to get my flamingo on!

Top: Vamp top by Pinup Girl Clothing

Skirt: Hell Bunny skirt purchased from That Shop

Belt: Came free with one of my Bernie Dexter dresses

Necklace and Earrings: Custom design by Lucy Luxxe

(and yes, she will make you one too!)

Bag: wicker bag with embroidered and sequined flamingos!

Purchased second-hand online somewhere...

Shoes: Pink satin PUG Bettie Shoes 

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

DAY TWENTY TWO:

This dress.  This dress.  THIS DRESS!!!!  Vintage late 1950s dress that has hardly ever been worn and is in immaculate condition.  Sigh!  I paid a fair bit for it but I think its worth every penny.  I just adore it!  Oh, and I realised that I had been doing my hair the same way for 21 days so tried to change it up a bit!

Dress:Vintage late 1950s dress

purchased in the OLL Facebook group

Bangles: vintage lucite and bakelite purchased on Etsy

Hair Flowers: by Miz Smitten Kitten

Earrings: Vintage, purchased in an actual shop!

Shoes: White satin PUG Bettie shoes

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

DAY TWENTY THREE:

When this dress was released in Australia people went bonkers for it, and I can see why - its fabulous and colourful and does great things for ones figure!

Dress: Just Desserts dress by Pinup Girl Clothing

Purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

Necklace and Earrings: Another divine custom set by Lucy Luxxe

made specifically to match this dress

Shoes: Black satin PUG Bettie shoes

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

DAY TWENTY FOUR:

This outfit was inspired by a conversation I had on Facebook with a few people in regards to blue and green.  We were discussing the old saying "blue and green must never be seen without a colour in between" and I was saying it was rubbish, and instead should be "blue and green is fit for a queen".  This is my blue and green outfit!

Dress: Vintage 1950s Jerry Gilden dress purchased on Etsy

Hat: Vintage pillbox shaped hat covered in blue flowers

with a green velvet bow on the side, purchased on Etsy

Necklace and Bracelet: purchased from Lovisa

Shoes: Cheapys from Target

DAY TWENTY FIVE:

It was a bit cooler today, so I felt like being tropical.  And besides, its Friday!!!

Dress: Made by me, not long after I started sewing and blogging

Belt: Came free with one of my Pinup Girl Clothing dresses

Cardigan: Alannah Hill - they make the best cardigans!

Bangles: Vintage Lucite purchased from Etsy

Hair Flower: by Swell Dame on Etsy

Shoes: Red Satin PUG Bettie shoes

purchased from That Shop

Well, believe it or not, I am almost there with Frocktober, just 6 days to go!  I've really enjoyed this and I hope its been interesting to you all too.  I haven't done a normal blog post this week because I've been working my day job like a mad woman.  Hopefully I've have something to report on the sewing front next week, cause I've been madly working my way through some customer commissions!

Have a great weekend!  I'll be in a skirt making frenzy!!

Beccie

xxx

Help! What now??

I'm in a bit of a quandry - what do I sew next?

I have a few things for customers that I need to get done:

• The giveaway dress for Ina
• A circle skirt for a customer
• Two skirts for a girlfriend
• Not to mention three cardigans!

But I'm dreaming (always dreaming...) of what I'm going to make for myself next, and this is where I need your help.  Can you please help me decide what to make???  The choices are:

The perennial favourite that has been on my list for a while, but hasn't made it to the top - the Cherries 'n' Gingham dress.  The body of the dress will be made up with the seafoam green fabric with cherries and gingham bows, and the shoulders and sleeves will be the red gingham.  And I already have red vintage buttons.

Next choice, Pink Polkadots.  Not that long ago a lovely friend gave me a gorgeous pink and cane hand bag, and its so special that I knew I had to make a sweet dress to go with it!  I'm going to make the version on the right (the solid blue one) and the piping and pocket details will be in the darker pink, and I'll find some dark pink buttons (another trip to the button shop - hooray!)

And the third choice (cause I don't want to make it too hard for you) - the Pink Gloves and Pearls dress.  This fabric is just adorable!  Mrs Doris Button was using it for her Fall for Cotton sew along entry and as soon as I saw her fabric choice I knew I had to have some, and I bought the last of the stock at fabric.com.  The collar and cuff detail shown on the pattern in white, I will do in pink.

I love all of these so much and I just can't pick what to do first!!  So help me by commenting below with your choice:
A - Cherries 'n' Gingham
B - Pink Polkadots
C - Pink Gloves and Pearls

Help!

Beccie
xxx

Frocktober : Week 3 Round-up

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far - ovarian cancer research is such a worthy cause, and every little bit counts!  Donate here!!

DAY TWELVE:

After such a busy week organising the cocktail party for 100 people, hosting it until 2 in the morning, and then hosting a golf day the next day, I was too tired to even contemplate sewing on Saturday, so instead Stella and I went to watch my husband Steve play cricket.  This means I can sit in a chair and read a book and possibly fall asleep.  I just have to pretend I see it if my husband does anything good!

Dress: Scallop dress in Tea Cup Print by Bernie Dexter

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

(and it comes with the belt)

Bag: Vintage woven straw basket from Retro Station

(thats it on my left - and sorry, no web page for them...)

Bangles: Bakelite from Brighter Bakelite on Etsy

Shoes: Purchased at Macy's on my LA trip

DAY THIRTEEN:

Today was my sister-in-law's 40th birthday party, and it was 37 degrees and blowing a viciously gusty westerly (ie hot like a blow-dryer) wind so I decided the tropical wrap dress I made earlier in the year AND HADN'T WORN ANYWHERE was my best bet at staying cool and not having my skirt blown up around my ears!

Dress: Self-drafted rayon wrap dress - more here

Hair Flowers: by Berry Bombshell 

Bangles: Vintage lucite from Etsy

Shoes: Pink satin PUG Bettie shoes

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

And you can't see it but I also carried...

Bag: PUG Wicker bag in lime green

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

DAY FOURTEEN:

Today was MUCH cooler than yesterday.  THANK GOODNESS!!!!  So I pulled out this dress which I made from a heavy cotton curtain fabric with my favourite flower - hydrangeas!

Dress: Hydrangea dress, made by me

Belt: Vintage belt that matches a vintage dress I own

Shoes: last pair in stock, so total bargain - was $200, paid $40

purchased from Styletread

Also, I wore, but forgot to put on for the photos...

Bangles: lilac bakelite from Brighter Bakelite on Etsy

Bag: PUG wicker bag in lilac

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

DAY FIFTEEN:

This dress, well this style of dress, is my favourite - the Heidi dress from Pinup Girl Clothing.  It just fits so good and is so flattering on my shape.  In fact, I've seen it on a few ladies and it looks good on everyone!  I have 5 of these dresses in different colours and so far this month I've worn three of them (including this one).

Dress: PUG Heidi dress in black pin dot

purchased from That Shop

Brooch: Hand assembled and painted brooch from Erstwilder

(and I'm not sure if you can see, but it looks like Miss Stella!)

Bangles: Vintage ones purchased at thrift stores for cheap!

Bag: PUG wicker bag in black

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

Shoes: Black satin Bettie shoes by PUG

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

DAY SIXTEEN:

I just love this vintage dress!  It arrived on Monday and I couldn't wait any longer to wear it.  There is SO MUCH SKIRT - over 1.5 circles I think - that it moves beautifully when I walk.  And the print on it is flocked, so its velvet-y.

Dress: Vintage 1950s dress purchased on Etsy

Bangles: Vintage lucite bangles purchased on Etsy

Shoes: White satin Bettie shoes by Pinup Girl Clothing

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

DAY SEVENTEEN:

You lovely people have seen this dress before.  I was in a bit of a hurry and it was going to be a hot day so I thought this frock would be perfect.  I didn't count on the gale force winds however....  When I arrived to have my photo taken and my parents house, my brother was on Skype from Canada, so he's in the photo with me too.

Dress: Made by me!

Belt: came with one of my Pinup Girl Clothing dresses

(I love dresses that come with belts - they are always so handy!)

Earrings: reproduction confetti lucite earrings by Lucy Luxxe

Shoes: White satin Bettie shoes by Pinup Girl Clothing

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

DAY EIGHTEEN:

Tonight I'm going to watch my step-daughter perform in her school musical, and because I'm going straight from work I needed a dress that would transition easily between day time and night time.  I thought this one would be perfect!

Dress: Vivian dress in Walk in the Park print from Retrospec'd

Bangles: Vintage lucite purchased from Etsy

Shoes: Black satin Bettie shoes by Pinup Girl Clothing

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

Anyway, thats it for another week!  I'm past the half way mark and there is only 13 days to go!!  Don't forget to donate to this amazingly worthy cause here.

Beccie

xxx

Frocktober : Week 2 Outfit Round-up

Once again - don't forget to donate here if you like my outfits and want to help me raise money for ovarian cancer research!!!

DAY FIVE:

This is the outfit I made and blogged about here!  And the reason I look a bit dishevelled is it was blowing a gale - funny story.  When the plane arrived in Launceston I remembered that I would have to walk down stairs outside the plane and walk to the terminal.  I realised that it more than likely would be windy (jet engines and all that) so I gathered my carry-on in one hand, and a decent amount of skirt in the other, and stepped out onto the platform... only to have my hair blow straight across my face so I couldn't walk down the stairs because I couldnt see!!!  What a disaster!

Top and Skirt: Made by me!

Cardigan: Vintage, purchased on Etsy

Bangles: Vintage lucite purchased on Etsy

Shoes: Fiebiger shoes

DAY SIX:

This was the day I attended the Rock & Rodz show in Longford, Tasmania to judge the pinup competition!  And of course I wore my new favourite dress.

Dress: Made by me

 Cardigan: Vintage, purchased on LA trip

Bangles: Bakelite purchased from Brighter Bakelite

Shoes: Plastic flats purchased on honeymoon

DAY SEVEN:

After the pinup competition I got on a plane and headed back home, arriving at about 1am.  The next day was a public holiday but due to a huge function later in the week, I needed to go to work to get stuff done.  BUT I had time for breakfast at my favourite cafe first!  The cafe is located in a nursery and the bird next to me - Hector - is the nursery's pet.  He likes to eat grass, say hello, whistle at dogs, and bite fingers.

Top: Made by Mikala Design on Etsy

Skirt: not vintage, but purchased on OLL Facebook group

Belt: purchased from Miskonduct

Shoes: purchased from Macys on LA trip

DAY EIGHT:

I was starting to come down with a cold so I thought I'd dress in something springlike to see if I could wish myself into feeling better... it didn't work.

Dress: Bernie Dexter Dress from Ms Katts Kustom House

Bangles: Vintage lucite purchased on Etsy

Bag: Pinup Girl Clothing Wicker bag

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

Shoes: Vivienne Westwood for Melissa

DAY NINE:

I just love this skirt!  I actually wanted the dress version but I had problems with the fit.  My size 14 boobs and size 10 waist couldn't compromise on a size 12 dress... so I bought the skirt instead!

Top: Vamp top by Pinup Girl Clothing

Skirt: Retrospec'd

Belt: Pinup Girl Clothing

Bangles: Vintage lucite purchased on Etsy

Bag: Pinup Girl Clothing Wicker bag

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

Shoes: Red Bettie Satin Heels by Pinup Girl Clothing

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

DAY TEN:

This was the day of the big function at work, and the weather was forecast to be VERY hot, so I thought this vintage cotton dress would be just perfect whilst I ran around getting all the last minute things done for the party.

Dress: Vintage dress purchased in Canada on my last visit

(how awesome are the pockets and shoulders detail!)

Bangles: Bakelite purchased from Brighter Bakelite

Bag: Pinup Girl Clothing wicker bag

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

Shoes: lilac wedges purchased on the LA Trip

DAY ELEVEN:

The day after the big party.  I hosted a cocktail party for 100 people and got to bed at 2am.  I spent day eleven hosting a golf day - seeing everyone off at the tee, delivering beer and sandwiches around the course, and cooking the barbeque after the round.  I was very tired and could not be bothered to put on makeup.... please don't think any less of me!

Dress: Cherry Jenny dress by Pinup Girl Clothing

Bangles: Vintage lucite purchased on Etsy

Necklace: by Collectif, purchased from Oh Lucy!

Shoes: Jelly Shoes by Fiebiger Shoes

I hope you are all enjoying a look in my wardrobe!  I'm enjoying wearing lots of different things that I don't wear much.  Don't forget to donate here!

Beccie

xxx

Miss Rock and Rodz 2013 or My Trip to Tasmania!

Before I get in to my weekend away judging a pinup competition, I just want to say a few things.

Thank you to everyone for being patient while I've been unwell.  I've been getting increasingly sick for the last 12 months - migraines every month, foggy thinking, weight gain, exhaustion, etc etc etc.  The GPs I saw insisted that nothing was wrong with me and made me feel like it was all in my head.  Two months ago I got sick of feeling sick and convinced a Doctor to give me a referral to an endocrinologist.  Last month I finally got in to see him.  After a lot of testing I now have my answers. 

My hormone system was a disaster zone.  I was very low in estroegen, progesterone, and DHEA, which is the building block of all hormones (so no wonder I was low in the other two), and very low levels of vitamin D.  I have also been diagnosed with Coeliacs disease.

So I am now on hormone replacement therapy, several supplements, and a gluten free (and dairy free, cause I'm also lactose intolerant) diet.  This has pretty much turned my world upside-down.  And since my diagnosis I have been coming down with everything going around.  I hope that the current head cold will be the last of it (please!)

So thanks for putting up with my all-over-the-place-ness recently.  Things are hopefully looking up for me.

But now on with the fun!

Last weekend I travelled to Longford, Tasmania (another state in Australia to where I live) to judge a pinup competition!  Sew Retro Rose also sponsored the competition, with the winner receiving a $100 gift voucher towards a custom made dress. 

I just love Tassie!  How could you not love places that have fields like this:

And antique shops that looks like this!:

You can just imagine the treasures you'd find here - sadly I couldn't stop...

Anyway - when I arrived I posted on my Facebook page that I'd landed in Launceston, and one of my followers told me that I need to go Nanna's Coffee and Vintage - I asked for the address and headed right there, cause I thought it was just the kind of place I needed to visit.  I wasn't disappointed!

Nanna's was a great and humble cafe filled with gorgeous chrome legged tables and chairs dressed in nanna table cloths.  There was a fun selection of vintage (though nothing for me) and a very friendly host who made me a lovely cup of tea.  I had a lovely relaxing time and then headed off to my accommodation.

And can I say I was in love when I drove into the driveway....

Woolmers Estate is a world heritage listed convict site.  It was continually occupied by the same family from 1817 to 1994 and I think they farmed sheep... Anyway its very old and atmospheric and beautiful.  The cottage we stayed in (I stayed with Ms Katt from Ms Katt's Kustom House who organised the competition) dates back to the 1840s and I just loved it!

This is our cottage - isnt it adorable!

This is my room (after I'd dumped all my stuff...)

 

Here is part of the garden - its so rustic!

So once we'd move our stuff in we headed to the showground where the Rock and Rodz festival was being held to set up Ms Katt's shop and to meet the entrants for the pinup comp and have a run through.

Can I say that Ms Katt basically moved her whole store in 2 cars.  Seriously, unpacking it was insane - how she got everything packed in there was just beyond me.  I have renamed her car The Tardis.

Here is one quarter of the stuff we set up.

After a fun (and anecdote filled) evening and a good night's sleep it was the day of the show and the day of the pinup comp!

I decided to wear my new favourite dress:

 

With a cardigan, cause it was cold

And flat shoes, cause I spent all day on my feet... 

This was a fabulous competition that really embodied 'pinup' to me.  Girls of all ages and all sizes pushing their boundaries to get up on stage and strut their stuff.  The outfits and accessories were great, the routines were fun and the props were hilarious, which made it a joy to watch but hard to judge!

I didn't get to take many photos, but here is one of me and another judge, Von.

And here are our winners!  From right to left - Miss Cherry Bomb (winner), Miss Curvy Sue (first runner-up), and Miss Jacqueline Deluxxe (second runner-up)

I must admit that I loved all the ladies, but Miss Cherry Bomb was my favourite!  Her cheesecake routines and fabulous props just gave her the edge.

I had a fabulous weekend and loved meeting new friends, and I felt refreshed heading back to work.  But this last week the business turned 10, so I had to finalise the cocktail party for over 100 guests, and a golf day the following day (both of which I hosted).  That refreshed feeling went out the window pretty quickly I can tell you!

Anyway!

I'm going to try to get back to my regular posting schedule next week and I think I'll get you all to help me decide on my next project!

Beccie

xxx

Frocktober : Week One Outfit Round-up

Frocktober???  Whats Frocktober???

Frocktober is an initiative of the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, and it encourages people to get involved by wearing only dresses (and skirts) for the entire month of October and raise money for and awareness of ovarian cancer.

The statistics for this disease are not good.  In Australia, one woman dies every 10 hours from ovarian cancer.  The issue is there is no test for detecting it (a lot of people don't realise that a pap smear does not detect it) so, commonly its only diagnosed in its advanced stages, with only 20-30% of women surviving beyond 5 years.

This fun initiative aims to raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, so they can achieve their research goals into this currently not-well-understood disease.  And yes, this is an Australian foundation, but we aren't so mean that we would keep tests and cures to ourselves!

Every little bit counts so I would love it if you could donate here.

I have teamed up with a bunch of other pinups and vintage ladies to raise as much money as possible.  If you have instagram, you can check out our photos by searching #teammskattskustomhouse.  I will be doing a blog post every Friday to highlight my outfits and ask for donations.  If nothing else this is going to be a fabulous opportunity for you all to see the extent of my wardrobe and accessory collection BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO WEAR THE SAME THING TWICE!

This may mean that by the end of October I'm wearing some really odd things on weekends, whilst sewing like a mad woman to come up with more dresses and skirts!!!!

So here we go...

DAY ONE:

I must admit it was really hard to pick what to wear today... I'm not going to be able to wear it again until November.... and this dress is one of my favourites.

Dress : Pinup Girl Clothing Heidi dress in Mint

purchased from Miskonduct

Shoes : Pinup Girl Clothing Bettie shoes

purchased from That Shop

Bag : Pinup Girl Clothing Wicker Baguette bag

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

Bangles : vintage lucite

purchased at various times from Etsy

Necklace : hand made creation by Lucy Luxxe

DAY TWO :

Today I visited a vintage clothing exhibition - a selection of clothing from the Darnell Collection - focusing on evening wear from the 1920s through to the modern day.  Incredible exhibition and such ahhhhmazing clothes.  I fulfilled a fashion dream by seeing a Dior New Look suit from 1948 in person.  I really wanted to touch it but I was good and didn't...  I think the best thing about this exhbition was that none of the clothing was behind glass, so you could get right up close and see the beading and the fabrics...

I'm thinking I'll go back and have another look - it really deserves a blog post all of its own!

Dress :Vintage 1940s rayon dress

purchased from Ooh La La Vintage Group on Facebook

Shoes : Tony Bianco red suede peep toe heels

purchased in 2011 from Wanted Shoes

Bag : Pinup Girl Clothing Wicker bag

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

Bangles : vintage lucite and bakelite

purchased at various times from Etsy
(Bakelite from Brighter Bakelite)

Bonus photo - me and Charlotte Smith, who owns the collection.  Lucky woman!  I got her to sign my catalogue.

DAY THREE: 

The weather today is not being kind to those of us that are doing Frocktober... its cold, windy and rainy.  So I felt compelled to bring out something more wintery from my wardrobe.

Skirt : Pinup Girl Clothing Doris skirt in a discontinued print

purchased from That Shop
Top : Cardigan embellished with sequins
purchased from Alannah Hill

Shoes : Black patent leather (bargain! $15!)

purchased in 2012 from Target

Bag : Pinup Girl Clothing Wicker Baguette bag

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

Bangles : vintage bakelite

purchased on Etsy from Brighter Bakelite

DAY FOUR:

I am the Lady in Red today!  But what I love most about this outfit are the accessories.  I am wearing shoes with big red shiny lips on them, and I have a bangle with carved red lips too!!!

 

Dress : Pinup Girl Clothing Heidi dress in Red

purchased from PUG website
Cardigan : Alannah Hill
purchased several years ago, sorry...

Shoes : Vivienne Westwood for Melissa Shoes

purchased from MDreams Perth Store

Bag : Pinup Girl Clothing Wicker bag

purchased from Ms Katts Kustom House

Bangles : vintage lucite, Bakelite and fakelite

purchased at various times from Etsy

I hope you are liking my daily outfits so far!  Next week there will be seven different outfits!!!

Don't forget to donate to this good and worthy cause.

Beccie

xxx

Pink And Green Is Fit For A Queen!

Pink and green would have to be one of my favourit colour combinations, and when a friend asked me to make her a skirt of out of this fabric, I knew I had to have one too!!!

Its the most fabulous chatreuse with giant pink roses!  Love it!!

Of course I checked with MsKatt if she would mind if we had matching skirts, and thankfully she said she didn't mind one bit!

So, once my Fall for Cotton project was complete, I set about making her skirt, and my skirt... and a lovely blouse to go with it!  I don't have any construction photos, and the blouse is not quite finished yet, but I wanted to show you all anyway!

I used a self drafted circle skirt pattern for the skirt, with a 2 inch waistband to which I added my new favourite item - PIPING!!!

And I added pockets as well - I think more items of clothing should have pockets, don't you???

Polka Dot Pockets!!!!!

And those of you who are super observant will notice that the blouse looks distincly like the dress pattern I've made a hundred times recently... thats because it is!!!  I turned it into a blouse pattern!!!  And this one I've lined with pink polkadotted cotton.

Now, I would really like to finish this outfit to wear this weekend, so sorry that this isn't a more detailed post... I must dash and finish this blouse!!!

Beccie

xxx