Frock in progress

 Working with the black was actually easier than you would expect. The fabric was 150 wide, so I really did only need 2 meters - now I can make a top with the left over!
I used this Vogue pattern - V8494. It is a great pattern if you have a waist and hips. It nips in but then just skims over those other bits. I have made it before and know how easy it is, but it also has a nice fit. It has princess seams and a centre back seam. I decided a side zip would look better.

 I cut the satin the same as the beading and sewed them together as one. This way I dont have to worry about the seams showing through the tulle. I have bought velvet ribbon and beads to make a belt, but I am not sure on that...

Apologies for the quality of the shots - but this was a work in progress under pressure. The dress came together really quickly, but I felt it needed some adjustments - so I ran in all the seams, particularly the side seams to give it a better fit. I think I actually made this one a size bigger than last time - and now have to get rid of that extra fabric. 

 With the adjustments made and the zip in, this is a much better picture of how the dress will look. I lined the bodice in the satin which finished the neck and armholes nicely. The only major adjustment I made to the pattern was in the shoulders, which I took up at the back about an inch. Then hand sewed the lining along the zip and waist seam.

Final step was the hem which I simply overlocked the two fabrics together and turned it up and machine stiched. Because there is some fullness to the hem this gave it the body it needed. 

Oh, and I guess you are wondering about the other fabric. I cut it out from a made up pattern. I cut two layers of the georgette lining. The scallops form the hem and there are plans to get rid of the tulle at the bottom - but while it looks nice here on the hanger,

it looks absolutely AWFUL on. In my head I had imagined it draping softly and hanging elegantly- however on me I truly look like a stumpy elephant in it. The fabric puckers around the arms and just adds bulk. This dress is so not for my shape, but for a tall willowy woman. I will have to do a remake of it or else it will wallow like this forever in my laundry! Maybe thats for another post!

Frocking Up

I am off to a Ball on Saturday. It is for Xandy's footy club - a bit of a fundraiser and the dress code says formal. I have a choice of formal dresses, but I got a photo from last year to see what they wore - and it was full on black tie. The real deal. No risk of being overdressed! So with this new information - I was off to the fabric store to go all out!

 Both of these fabrics are from Darn Cheap in Glenhuntly. The black is a tulle with small sequins of black and gold. The other is a cream tulle which is much more heavily beaded and with a cream cording. I couldn't decide so I got both!

 I got 2.5 meters of the black which was only $40/m and 1.6 of the silver at $50/m.

 I envisioned the black dress long in this pattern. I also bought some heavy weight black satin with some stretch to line it with.

The silver I plan a short dress with a scalloped hem. I was thinking a Gatsby style dress, loose fitting like a tshirt style dress. I have georgette to line it with to keep it light. I just couldn't decide!!

In the Swim

 As a final school holiday treat, we headed to GESAC today in Moorabin for a swim. The pool area has been done up and it is really fantastic for kids. Then entry charge is reasonable and it includes unlimited rides on the two massive waterslides - if you can wait it out in the line. The one you can see inside here is a single person one, the other slide is outside and two people ride an inflatable thing in it.

 Underneath the slide is a fabulous play area. It has graduated entry and heaps of different squirty things to play in. It is made for water play and is shallow enough for toddlers, but also with some deeper areas - probably about 90cm, so an adult can sit in the water and supervise. Apparently there are also warmer spots (!) There is also a short lap pool inside, with an Olympic sized pool outside. There was more than enough to keep the boys happy - and me as I didn't have to get in!!

The twins happily went down the slide - Xandy did the walk of shame back down the steps as he was too nervous to give it a go. We'll have to work in him!

Payback

As I'd apparently 'missed' two days of the boys holidays (working and then King Kong) there was a need to get out and do some things. So thats exactly what we did with a little bribery!

The boys had to sit through my pilates class (thank goodness for ipads) and then we were off to buy school shoes and footy boots. This was actually exciting for them, and as that is all we looked at - we came out with 6 pairs of appropriate and cheap shoes. Yay for DFO in SouthWarf. 

Then we walked to the Docklands were we had some vouchers for Wonderland. Turns out it is a slightly longer walk than I had anticipated - but there was a great little park on the way...

 Then when we finally arrived - all the fun of wonderland. Seems like the school fair has spoiled them a  little since last time we went, because now all the rides seem a little 'tame'. We did enjoy the dodgems though.

 Finally, back through Harbour Town where there was a little patch of snow set up for play. The boys had a little play there before we started the treck homeward. Luckily we were greeted by a city circle tram and had a little ride most of the way back.

 We all reckon today makes up for a few days!

King Kong

We took Mum and Dad to see King Kong at the Regent today. It was a great spectacle and the puppetry was amazing. In fact at the end - the puppeteers got the biggest applause. The story - well its King Kong really. I would say it is a happily condensed version of Peter Jackson's movie of the same name. It has real potential - but would need to be reworked before it hit broadway (I have watched too much Smash and think I am some kind of expert!!)

Tiling

After a hectic start tot he holidays with football, bowling, playdates etc. I felt the boys needed to get their creative on. Benji asked to paint, so I grabbed some tiles that I had moved only that morning - leftovers from the newish toilet, and they attempted prints on them. 

 The idea was to use acrylic paint and then remove it with cotton bud sticks to make a pattern and then we would print on them. The problem was that the paint wasn't thick enough and the sticks didn't remove it enough for the printing process

 While it was a bit of fun, they were getting discouraged by the results of the prints - so we changed tack.

 The tiles were cleaned off, and the boys were each given a sharpie to decorate the tile.

I found some porcelain paints that I had picked up on special somewhere a long time ago. I had a funny range of colours, but that was the limitation. Each of the boys took a really different approach to the task and each giving fabulous results.

They were baked in the oven and came out great. I want to put felt on the back of them to use on the table as heat pads but they want them framed on the wall - or even better (to them) tiled on the wall. For now they are in a pile waiting for some resolution!

Lovely Learning

Its school holidays here and Alexander is driving "home school". The boys need a little catch up in their reading and maths so it really is to their advantage for us to do a little work at home. The last couple of days I have driven the sessions, but as a change I thought Alexander could read Charlottes Web to the twins - and this was the result. A really lovely moment in the sun. If only every day looked like this picture!!