All posts filed under: Miscellenia

Up Te Mata Hill

Published by The Dreamstress

On our last night in the Hawke’s Bay, before she left New Zealand, the Naiad and I took a ramble on Te Mata hill. The light was sublime, Bailey the Backpacker’s dog was frisky, the air had just enough of a chill to make tramping fun, and the scenery was spectacular. Best of all, when we got back to the car, just as it began to get really dark. the Naiad had packed a thermos of tea and a bottle of farm-fresh milk.  We sat on a log in the deepening gloom with cups of tea in our hand and watched the lights come on over the Hawke’s Bay, like the best sort of Christmas display.

2011: the year in review

Published by The Dreamstress

Another year over, another just begun. It’s interesting looking back at 2011.  It was quite a year.  It was a year of trips: the South Island, Australia, Tauranga, the Hawke’s Bay, Taupo.  It was a year of commissions: Carolyn’s wedding dress, Polly’s wedding dress, Judith’s Panniers, Kerry’s Steampunk Bustle, Shell’s wedding dress, the 1932 White Zombie gown for PorcelainToy.  It was a year of research and information: Queen Victoria’s wedding dress, Jeanne Samary, textile terms, Ninon d’Ecolet.  It was a year of finished projects: the 1660s Ninon dress, the 18th century gentleman’s ensemble, the 1770s silver stays, the 1890s black corded corset, the 1900 ribbon corset.  Most of all it was a year of people: Shell, my sister the Naiad, Steph in Australia, each and every one of you wonderful readers, and darling, much-missed Jo-Anne. Here are some images of the year.  Each of them should link to a post if you see something really exciting and want to know more. 🙂                           …

Finished project: Love at First Flight dress

Published by The Dreamstress

I’ve been sewing like mad for all sorts of clients, and I’ll show you images of those soon.  As a little treat for myself I took some time to whip up something for me. This is my Love at First Flight Dress: The inspiration for the dress was the amazing Echino fabric by Etsuko Furuya for Kokka. Steph took me to a fabric store while I was in Australia, and I saw this fabric and I had to have it.  It was love at first sight. How could I not?  It’s pink and blue and red and green and turquoise and mustard.  And it’s linen cotton.  And it looks like Christmas in the Antipodes: all sunshine and ocean and brilliant red pohutukawa flowers.  And it has birds on it!   Just look at the full width of it: And then I saw the Au$32 a metre price tag.  Ahem. I bought everything that was left on the bolt anyway: just about 3 metres.  Did I mention that it has birds on it? This is now …