Hello cool thing, we’re working with the Pantone Matching System using it to sort out a seasonal wardrobe it makes sense to work around colour then you can mix and match separates, you know, get more out of what you’ve made. I work with the Pantone Matching System everyday at work; I’m a Graphic Designer, so this wonderful little colour chart is a necessity in my line of work, colour matching and picking gorgeous colours to make logos and artwork pop makes my job fun, especially when you see the end result all printed up and looking sharp. I think using the Pantone system to sort out seasonal colours for your wardrobe is smart. Winter in Australia will be here before we know it and I’ve been thinking about my winter wardrobe I think these hues are perfect for me to base a winter wardrobe around.

Lately I’ve been pulling-shapes ’the square/box’ kind, something I like to live outside of but in this case, you could say, I’m happy to settle within; inside my own handmade box. Admittedly, I am not challenging myself at all sewing-wise and I know you know that but when you come across fabric like this and you like the way it falls why fight it right? I’ll tell you now, I have just finished two more square garments for next week. I promise, that’s it for the squares I’ll be moving on.

I was telling the ladies over at Sew Weekly how I fell head over heels for this fabric which happened to be sitting amongst the cherries and polka-dots—looking like the black sheep.  I had this blinding vision, I let out a gasp and slowly moved towards it all coy-like stroking it’s selvedge whispering hey! do you want to come back to my place and make out with my Janome? and just like that we were inseparable.

The bodice I used from Butterick 4389 and then self drafted a straight skirt for the bottom. There is a centre back zip insert and the top of the bodice has been interfaced on the facing for a sturdy fit. It’s a very basic, quick dress, the best kind for fabric this busy and perfect for a weekly sew-up. My leather neckpiece I made a while ago and hopefully will be putting up a tutorial here in the not too distant future.

…excuse my lily white legs they’re great reflectors when I’m on a late afternoon bike ride and if I click my bangles together they make for a good bike bell. chk chk

This top is what I envisioned for this fabric, a gorgeous Pantone palette along with a gorgeous but simple drape. You all know the simplicity and make-up of this top. The fabric’s width was disappointing I wanted it to sit closer to my wrists so, to add width and to make the top more interesting I added excess fabric along both edges which added a much more interesting border which I love. I also did the same with the neckline. I sewed up the edges from the wrists onwards because the fabric is white underneath.

I’m slowly developing a love affair with colour it’s been a longtime in the making some of the fabrics out there are just too gorgeous to pass on and if you’re getting blinding visions why not embrace it, slide that stunning piece of cloth under your sewing machine foot and let loose and see what comes out the other side? I love this top it’s got that mexican feel about it, I’m guessing from what’s been coming off my sewing machine lately and the fabric choices I’ve made I’ll be wearing lots of throws, ponchos and kimonos over the coming months, it’s that casual chic with an ethnic twist I’m after; sometimes staying true to yourself  while doing these fun challenges can be a tad hard, the last thing I want is to spend time  and money on a garment I wont wear again. I get bored with fashion v e r y quickly always flicking about on the breeze of it? I’ve realised over the years that this sewing thing has allowed me to wear my ideas loud and proud and with a great fit too *wink*I think we are the lucky ones, us sewing peeps, yep!! we are the business, we are the ones walking around in our one-off creations, our internal monologues whispering ‘you can have your store boughts… I made this, you wont find this  a n y  w h e r e’  we have skills, and they aren’t ordinary skills. We have these skills for life, we can manipulate fabric into clothes, we can pass these skills down to our kids- yes! that’s handy— I’m looking after that too. Pretty cool huh?… you, reader with the passion for sewing!! you are indeed a creation within itself you should be dead proud of yourself tackling hems, buttonholes, tricky fabrics and the like…go you!!!!

so with that— my cyber pat on your back, I give you this weeks dress and top the Caribou<The Pixies> turnout, this got me a spotlight position on Sew Weekly last week, happy days indeed and thank you Julia Bobbin for the Sunshine Award, I’m blushing so much it’s added colour to my legs…THANK YOU!!!!