The Pie Maker

So.... I may have just finished Pushing Daisies. 

... and very much fallen head over heels in love with it! 

Which of course meant I had to run down the the market and pick up strawberries and rhubarb to make a pie. 

Dress: Handmade by me

Belt and Shoes: Op Shop

Making a Dream Wardrobe

For a while now I've been working towards making my ideal wardrobe. Something that has items that work with several other items and, to a degree, trying to think like a well dressed woman out of the 40's or 50's who can't afford to just go and buy stuff willy nilly but has to think and save for each item. I (like everyone one else, I'm sure) get sick of having those days where you open your bursting wardrobe and think, "I have nothing to wear!".  Normally, this would lead to retail therapy and adding more to the ever growing pile of stuff that is 'cute but doesn't go with anything' or 'isn't quite right but close enough for now'. 

NO MORE!

I have made a change in my habits and vowed to finally get the wardrobe I want.

My first step in this process was to go through my wardrobe and get rid of all of the clothes that fell into the  'isn't quite right but close enough for now' and 'doesn't fit' categories. The 'cute but doesn't go with anything' category was more of a grey area. It came down to if I loved it and wanted more things like it in my closet, it stayed otherwise I was just as ruthless. Some of the nicer things I've held onto to sell; everything else went to the op shop.

Make no mistake, this was really hard to do. It took several days of getting rid of stuff. It ended up coming down to ignoring all of the sentimentality and saying, "If I'm not going to wear it, it can't stay".

I went through this process two more times with my shoes and then my jewellery. Finally, I was down to just the stuff I like in my closet.

The next step was to work out what I want my closet to look like and what am I missing to turn it into that. This took three draft lists, and hours spent on Pinterest to complete.

Since I also want my wardrobe to be made up of mostly handmade, vintage, and op shop items, it's going to take some time to get the wardrobe I want. However, it also gives me a list of things to make that should get lots of wear and be worth the effort put in.

Basket Purse

Between unbearably hot days, I've been continuing on my crafty streak. Last Thursday, I picked up a nice little basket purse from the op shop that had a terrible plastic lining. So, I took it home, searched my fabric stash, and beautified the little purse!  

Sew, Sew. Knit, Knit.

Recently, I've been doing a lot of work on my stash of unfinished projects as well as working on a list of items I want to sew or knit for my wardrobe.  Pictured is a 1940's style dress that I started AGES ago and finally sat down and finished. I find I tend to give up on projects when I hit a wall. Such was the case with this dress and the too short collar. I decided to just cut another one and ended up being able to wear the dress to the op shop yesterday!

In finishing this dress I looked at what was left in my "to do" pile and worked out the kinks in a blouse I have yet to finish and that I need to put in a lining in the 40's style suit still sitting in the basket. By no means is that all that is in that basket; however, having been inspired by By Gum, By Golly, I looked at my closet and worked out what needs to be added or replaced. For a while now I've been aiming to have a closet that is largely comprised of handmade and vintage clothing and seeing other people aim for similar goals is inspiring and helping me to focus in on what I want.

Magnolia from 'Sun glo Knitting Book' Series 58.

Another thing that has massively helped this idea along, is that I have caught the knitting bug. Having finished my cardigan, I don't want to not have a knitting project in the works. I've started working on a 40's short sleeve jumper that I'm actually really enjoying knitting! It's a pretty simple pattern but I like that. 

The Perfect Cardigan

Over the past 6 months (on and off), I've been working on a cardigan and early this month I finally finished it! 

I used the same pattern Solanah of Vixen Vintage used for her cardigan (The New Design in Cable Stitch pattern, which is the last one).

In order to make sure I finished it, I decided to do it in a colour that I'd been wanting for a while and made sure not to buy any navy blue cardigans. It worked like a charm and now I have the perfect cardigan! 

Thanks to Melbourne's weather being so unpredictable and not seasonal at all, I've been able to wear my cardigan a few times before having to put it away for summer!

Graduation

Yay! I'm a qualified scientist!

Yesterday, I attended my graduation. Three years of studying science over! It was great to finally feel like all of the work that I've put in has amounted to something. 

The day started with a 9:30 parade down Swanston St. My family and the boyfriend came along to this bit since it was only an hour. 

James and I in the bright sun

At the end of the parade we stopped off and took some photos in the park since it was a pretty backdrop (and right next to the car).

In the evening I went through the proper ceremony and got to walk across the stage which was a great feeling. I didn't take many photos though since I forgot my camera and it was poorly lit. The ceremony was very long and RMIT was a bit strict about where you could go once you registered. So, while worth it for the experience, I don't think I need to do it again...

Now it's out into the work force before going back for a Masters in education...

Star Spangled Headband

The other day I went to the Sacred Heart Mission Volunteer thank you party. Since it was the kick off to a lot of the Christmas themed fundraisers, I decided to get a bit Christmas-y with a star glittered headband! 

So, because everyone needs a starry glitter headband, I give you this tutorial! 

Materials:

Headband

Felt

Scissors

Paper

Pencil

Glitter

Glue (I used Glitter Glue)

Interfacing (if your felt is a bit floppy)

and a hot glue gun

 Step 1: Draw out some stars on your paper to use as a template. I did three different sizes to get some variation. 

 Step 2: Cut out the stars in felt and, if you find them too floppy, then back them with some iron on interfacing.

 Step 3: Glitter them up! Spread the glue all over the stars and liberally sprinkle with glitter. Then leave them to dry.

Step 4: Stick the stars on the headband using the hot glue gun and when dry, voila!

 A sparkly, starry headband!