Why are these kids so happy?

Because they are leaving their parents for a whole year travelling to the other side of the world to train as youth leaders. My DD is the one with the biggest smile in the middle.

I am so proud of her. She did very well in her final year at school and achieved a place in one the top Universities here. She will study Media and Communications combined with Law or Global Studies (she can't decide) when she returns.

Between getting her on the plane and starting my new job I haven't done much sewing. I have cut my blouses and hope to finish two by the end of the week.

Slow progress

Thank you for positive comments about the dress. I am planning to wear it next week, towards the end of the week.

Slowly continuing my quest to build my corporate wardrobe which for the sake of convenience has included a few non-extravagant store bought sale items. My best bargain was two pencil skirts including belts in black and beige for $14.95 each. I couldn't made them for that.

Last night I traced patterns for some serious blouse making on the weekend. I'm using BWOF March 2009 blouse 109, pictured as made and BWOF July 2007 106 from the technical drawing. There are three versions of this blouse which has a yoked back and comes with or without collar and front ties. If the fit and look is right I'll probably do all three versions.

First priorities are to do the overblouse in left over silk from the underlining of DD's formal dress (a rich auburgine/purple) and a plain cream cotton blouse sans collar. I also have some mustard silk and a red and white print in the stash suitable for blouses.

It'swonderful, smarvellous

I love 2010! The summer is gorgeous, the air is filled with the sweet scent of muraya, the beach is close and the water warm. I've just had two weeks of doing not much at all.

Today I've hung up my consultancy shingle after 6 years running my own business and started a new executive role in the city. I'm sure the glow of summer will fade as quickly as my fake tan, but today I'm excited.

One of the upsides (and downsides) of a work from home consultancy is that you often find yourself working in your pyjamas at midday or at midnight. I have very few corporate clothes because I wore the same few suits (black and boring) to all my meetings.

Pyjamas won't pass muster at the new workplace so I am now focussing my sewing on 'corporate wardrobe builders'.

My first effort is BWOF March 09/111 a jacket which I felt so comfortable wearing today. For a summer jacket I didn't both with the lining and used a combination of Hong Kong and felled seams. I included self covered shoulder pads. It is made from a crushed polyester normally used for parkas. Perhaps not the best fabric for an unlined jacket worn in the Sydney summer, but it has a nice relaxed feel while still looking 'managerial'. I wore it with a khaki coloured jersey singlet and drill cotton khaki skirt. Note that I am strongly resisting a return to my old corporate uniform of black suits with white blouses.

Which is a good seque into my next completed item, a hybrid of BWOF May 09 dress 125 and 126. Husband suggests that I should "strongly reconsider" wearing this to the office. He doesn't like the fabric. Personally, I rather like it. It fits very well and feels comfortable. My eldest DD whose fashion opinions I trust is away, so what do you think? Should I? Be honest, I will not be offended.