Foxy Lady has had a very creative week, I've been inspired by some amazing fabrics I have, and indulged in lots of sewing and creating. I delved into my vintage fabric collection, and made decisions as to what I will be making for my summer range (and next winter). I had a real mess on my cutting room floor today, and if you know me well, you will know those pieces won't be going to waste.
Apart from, my daughter laughing, good music, bird song and my washing machine (view previous blogs), I love nothing more than to hear the sound of my tailors scissors cutting into some fresh fabric. I also love working with colour, the brighter it is, the happier I am, It's great for my endorphins
I finished the hotel boats soft furnishings (7 pairs of curtains, 4 cushion covers and 2 bed runners), which meant I could then get started on a project I have been desperate to start on; a range of 1960s and 70's clothing. I have original vintage patterns, and I have the skills to adapt should I need to, and at bed time I have been revisiting some of my old fashion encyclopedias from my degree days 20 plus years ago. I thought I knew about the 60's and 70's fashion, but there is so much more to it than mini skirts, Pop Art, Psychedelia and flares. It's easy to identify outfits from these eras, but for me it's about recognising the transitions, and picking apart the different sub cultures within the fashions. I am immersing myself in these eras, hoping to discover something new (new to me), and as it happens I have already (later)
I am going to Australia next week, so I doubt I will have a blog for next Friday (as that is when I arrive after 20 zillion hours of travelling). Though I am sure I will get many inspirations whilst I am out there, so will do adhoc blogs, or save it till I get back. If it's ridiculously sunny, then I will be focussing on that, relaxing and getting some much needed vitamin D, as well as having a fun time with my family. My brother lives out in Sydney, so me, Mia and my mum are going to visit him and his fiance.
Firstly, I made Mia and I some short skirts, from some white cotton with foxes on it, a remnant I bought from Lizzie Norris. I used an old pair of cut off denim shorts I had made a couple of years ago, as there wasn't quite enough fabric for a skirt that would be respectable enough to wear without tights.
Next I got my mitts on some fabric I had treated myself to a couple of years ago, again, if you know me, you will know I am reluctant to buy new as my ethos is all about recycling, and having as little impact on the environment as I can. However, I was in a fabric shop, and spotted this awesome fabric with a tape measure print on it which had my name on it, a quality cotton print from New Zealand, that are in fact an ethical company. I wanted to make a statement piece, that I will wear when I am doing events in the summer.
It fits like a glove, here is a preview.
The next thing I made was a Jerkin.... yes that's right a Jerkin.
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| Vintage Fabric Remnants |
I finished the hotel boats soft furnishings (7 pairs of curtains, 4 cushion covers and 2 bed runners), which meant I could then get started on a project I have been desperate to start on; a range of 1960s and 70's clothing. I have original vintage patterns, and I have the skills to adapt should I need to, and at bed time I have been revisiting some of my old fashion encyclopedias from my degree days 20 plus years ago. I thought I knew about the 60's and 70's fashion, but there is so much more to it than mini skirts, Pop Art, Psychedelia and flares. It's easy to identify outfits from these eras, but for me it's about recognising the transitions, and picking apart the different sub cultures within the fashions. I am immersing myself in these eras, hoping to discover something new (new to me), and as it happens I have already (later)
I am going to Australia next week, so I doubt I will have a blog for next Friday (as that is when I arrive after 20 zillion hours of travelling). Though I am sure I will get many inspirations whilst I am out there, so will do adhoc blogs, or save it till I get back. If it's ridiculously sunny, then I will be focussing on that, relaxing and getting some much needed vitamin D, as well as having a fun time with my family. My brother lives out in Sydney, so me, Mia and my mum are going to visit him and his fiance.
Firstly, I made Mia and I some short skirts, from some white cotton with foxes on it, a remnant I bought from Lizzie Norris. I used an old pair of cut off denim shorts I had made a couple of years ago, as there wasn't quite enough fabric for a skirt that would be respectable enough to wear without tights.
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| Recycled jeans and fox print cotton skirts |
Next I got my mitts on some fabric I had treated myself to a couple of years ago, again, if you know me, you will know I am reluctant to buy new as my ethos is all about recycling, and having as little impact on the environment as I can. However, I was in a fabric shop, and spotted this awesome fabric with a tape measure print on it which had my name on it, a quality cotton print from New Zealand, that are in fact an ethical company. I wanted to make a statement piece, that I will wear when I am doing events in the summer.
It fits like a glove, here is a preview.
 |
| Tape measure dress |
The next thing I made was a Jerkin.... yes that's right a Jerkin.
I had a few funny jokes with my mum about this when I was quizzing her on fashions of the sixties as she is my first hand expert. My mum was a Mod, and she made all her own outfits (I'm sure many people did this then if they wanted to keep up with the latest fashions from Carnaby Street). She reminisces to me about how she would buy the fabric from the Tuesday Market, and be going out to a gig in her new outfit on the Friday.
So a jerkin.. Perhaps not a particularly memorable fashion front the 1960's but it was, and I see it as a versatile piece of clothing that I would like to experiment with. Basically a jerkin is a historic garment that had been worn mainly as a protective piece of clothing like an apron.
I bought one of my favourite pieces of vintage cloth recently, but unfortunately it wasn't quite big enough to make a dress, so I decided to try it out as a Jerkin. I wondered how it would work as a reversible item, making it even more versatile, so that's what I have done. I'm really pleased with the outcome, and I'm in two minds whether to keep it or sell it.
So a jerkin.. Perhaps not a particularly memorable fashion front the 1960's but it was, and I see it as a versatile piece of clothing that I would like to experiment with. Basically a jerkin is a historic garment that had been worn mainly as a protective piece of clothing like an apron.
I bought one of my favourite pieces of vintage cloth recently, but unfortunately it wasn't quite big enough to make a dress, so I decided to try it out as a Jerkin. I wondered how it would work as a reversible item, making it even more versatile, so that's what I have done. I'm really pleased with the outcome, and I'm in two minds whether to keep it or sell it.
2022 update - Kiki is available at Button Boatique on the following link Button Boatique shop
I still had a couple of hours left today before I had to pick Mia up from school, so apart from finishing tidying and doing my twice weekly floor wash, I could make even more plans, and started a few shift dresses. I am making them size 18 or 16, as larger sizes are in demand for vintage dresses. I recently did some market research, and this was the outcome. So I chose the fabrics, and cut them all out.
Ready to sew when I return from Australia.
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| Kiki -60s Jerkin Vintage pattern and cloth |
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| The ying yang buttons are vintage |
I still had a couple of hours left today before I had to pick Mia up from school, so apart from finishing tidying and doing my twice weekly floor wash, I could make even more plans, and started a few shift dresses. I am making them size 18 or 16, as larger sizes are in demand for vintage dresses. I recently did some market research, and this was the outcome. So I chose the fabrics, and cut them all out.
Ready to sew when I return from Australia.
Great blog, vibrant just like your fabrics and designs. Have a fun filled family time in Australia.
ReplyDeleteThanks we will, my brother and my mum have a great sense of humour, so we should have lots of laughs x
DeleteLove the dress and jerkin . Great stuff
ReplyDeleteThanks Gillian, no doubt you will see me in the dress at some point (once the winter has gone!). I'm in an extremely creative phase at the moment, and I've got back to where I was before I became side tracked with being a good mummy. I'm really pleased that I can still craft precision top quality designer garments. Onwards and upwards
Delete