All posts filed under: Sewing

Things I sew – historical and modern

The Luna Moth takes flight!

Finally, after all these years, the Luna Moth frock is done! So what still needed to be done on it?  Well, when I posted it mostly done the skirt was only basted on the the bodice, and the skirt components were just pinned together.  Over the last two weeks I re-did the bodice since the green drape on it wasn’t working, sewed the skirt on properly, sewed the layers of skirt together, sewed on the purple velvet skirt drape and the sash, finished the back fastening, and did more beading. So is it done?  Yes and no.  It was ‘done’ for the photoshoot, but I almost always find with the first wearing of a garment that there are lots of little bits that need tweaking to make them work perfectly. With this dress I need to re-do the bottom-most layer of the skirt as when you pick up the train or when the wind blows it open the white support fabric shows, and that’s just not OK. I also want to sew purple velvet rosette …

Afternoon tea at the Coronation Cafe

Today I gave a talk on the interaction between tea and fashion at an afternoon tea charity fundraiser for Ronald McDonald house. It was held at the Coronation Cafe at the Museum of Wellington City and Sea – a charming venue themed around a display of reproduction British crown jewels made for the New Zealand centennial.  We had tea, I talked, we visited with guests, lots of photos were taken, and a lovely time was had by all. Many thanks to the wonderful Daniil for being the photographer!  

The Seven Year Stitch apron

Mr Dreamy & I will be celebrating our 7th anniversary in just a few days.  I can’t believe it’s been that long! We got married in Hawaii, just down the road from my parent’s farm.  I was a very practical bride: we didn’t want our wedding to be a fantasy or a fairytale, we wanted it to be the best reflection of what we could really be as people. As a practical bride, I did all sorts of things on the day.  I got up early and made my own bouquet, and the bridesmaid’s bouquets.  With a lot of help from aunts and anyone with strong arms I made chocolate mousse for 80 people without any egg beaters (the fully equipped kitchen of the venue, wasn’t).  I set tables and arranged flowers, and, to the horror of the aunts, I got down on my knees and scrubbed the dancefloor. Now, any practical bride who is going to scrub floors on her wedding day needs a good apron, and I had a stunner: an embroidered early …