One of the three items I’m making for the By the Sea challenge is the lace evening dress inspired by the glowing hills and muted sea at sunset in New Zealand. The dress had a pressing deadline: I had a wedding to attend, and needed a frock to wear.  The wedding is past, the dress got made (in a massive rush, and only thanks to some help from the lovely Lynne), and worn, and I got lots of compliments on it. But…. …I’m not quite happy with it. Here is what it looked like at the wedding. I ended up wearing it with a stunning early 20th century black feather boa (a gift from the wonderful Lynne) instead of the Capelet of Yay, because the Capelet paired with the dress was just a little  too  striking for the wedding, and the boa was  sooooooo  gorgeous and looked perfect with the dress. I felt great in the dress, it was really comfortable, it worked well for the wedding, and I got tons of compliments. But…. …looking …

I’m working ahead on my ‘By The Sea’ Historical Sew Fortnightly items.  I’d love to make a fantastic Victorian or Edwardian wool bathing suit, but alas, am making myself be a teeny bit practical and sensible and I’m making two items which both come from stash, and have been on my to-do list for ages and ages. The first is more sea inspired than strictly by-the-sea.  I’ve got a wedding to go to this autumn, and haven’t got a suitable dress (really, they are all too formal, or not formal enough, or black or white or scarlet, none of which will do). One evening, out for my walk, thinking of inspiration dresses and trying to decide what to make, I stopped at my favourite outlook for the view.  I love the last hour of light in New Zealand in the autumn: it’s one of things that reconciles me to the oncoming winter.  The sea calms and goes the most delicious grey-blue, and the hills glow gold with the reflected light. The combination is so distinct, …