I have so much fabric and many many patterns, so I'll need to be more disciplined in 2013. Work through the stash and buy no more until I do. I've decided having a big stash is a bit of an impediment to a coordinated wardrobe. I have bits of this and bits of that, all gorgeous and good quality but the colours and styles are eclectic. 
Sewing has been a little slow here. I started on a Muse dress that had very promising beginnings but ended on the scrap heap. I learnt a great lesson from that project - you are never too experienced to read the instructions and NEVER try to rectify you mistake with scissors until you have thought it through preferably overnight.
Made this Kay Unger design dress Vogue 1241 for a Melbourne Cup luncheon and I have to say I'm crushed - literally and figurately speaking. The combination of teal linen and black stretch lace is a definite winner, but the plain linen at the front is not that practical for a sit down occasion. I look rumpled and please don't mention the barely modest neckline (the safety pin on the lining shot says it all). To be honest, I don't know how this happened. I followed the rules, made the muslin, did the full bust adjustment, but obviously didn't take into account the seam allowances at centre front. I do love the back, my new swayback adjustment worked well.
After my trip to Spain I'm besotted by flamenco, so couldn't believe my eyes when I found this gorgeous cloth from the Australia designers Easton Pearson. Thought for a long time that it was worthy of more than a skirt, but in the end, it seemed so obvious I went ahead. I used New Look 0605 view D. The pattern appears to be out of print, a shame as it includes a terrific, softly gathered faux wrap skirt in the options. I overjoyed to discover that my fabulous flamenco perfectly matched 3 metres of Italian cotton shirting bought at a closing sale and sitting in my stash with no particular purpose. Serendipity (the accidental discovery of something pleasant, valuable, or useful)!
The real winner is the fabric. The fibres are long and soft, very luxurious to wear and a dream to sew. The colour is camel not orange, much closer to the second photo. My photographer, DD aged 16 and into special effects thought "like it would look nicer and no I don't have time to another photo''.
It is not finished, as I need to cut the lining and have some self covered buttons made. I did make the belt from a kit from Sunni at A Fashionable Stitch which I am really pleased with. June brought other frustrations included having my house broken into, but I wont dwell on these sewing stifflers.
1) my sewing student finally finished her two garments, this skirt pictured and an overly ambitious dress project Burda 01/2011 103. The latter took literally months to complete with too much assistance for learning. I've sent her off to complete the hems and buttons on her own. Pictures? Perhaps next century...
My second project was a resounding success, a Katherine Tilton t-shirt Vogue 8817. Looks better on but the photographers are missing in action. I especially like the ragged edge neckbinding which was from the fabric selvage.
Sometimes I want to mix it up! I just love my new Butterick 5566 skirts.
A wet weekend is forecast. While everyone around is feeling down about it, the little sewing fairy is struggling to contain her glee!
I finished this skirt a while back, but haven't had a chance to photograph it. I've rattled my chain about Collette Patterns before, so I won't go on. The Beignet is a clever design -a high waisted skirt with six panels, lined, 12 buttons and inseam pockets-and creates a flattering skirt. But, and it is a big but, the initial fitting problems are immense. I cut acres off my seam allowances and this complicatd completion of the lining panels. I'm pleased with finished product but I don't think I'll make another.
Next up, I am finishing a leopard print trench that I started before I went to Europe; and will be cutting out some more workwear.
Just a short post to let you all know I'm still on planet earth. While I haven't been doing much blogging due to regular interstate commutes to see my mother who has been in poor health, I've been churning out blouses from my TNT blouse pattern McCalls 5433. This one is in navy blue silk with gorgeous filagree silver vintage buttons. I've also made a crisp white one. 
Not so my DD, who looks gorgeous in just about anything. I copied this blouse from her favourite Zara shirt. The skirt is also self drafted. You have no idea the joy that 40 cms of ice blue corduroy can give a young girl. She looks pretty cool don't you think?
I feel a little larger than life in this blouse - a signal that my weight gain is getting out of control - start walking home from work. The fabric was bought in London and I had something else in mind, so only purchased a metre. I compromised and cut the Collette Jasmine on the straight rather than bias grain. It works well enough, but if you are doing this be sure to add an extral centimetre of ease. I didn't do this and feel that it is a little clingy over the bust. The pants are from Burda, blogged about here.
My gold silk blouse McCalls 6436 was almost still born. My original version included pockets that were so droopy they had to be removed and the slippery, stretchiness of this fabric frustrated me. Then I ran out of matching cotton, so left it to work on the more satisfying kaftan project. I do love the finished product. I am planning to use buttoned down soft drapey blouses with more rigid structured skirts a key part of my 'boardroom' wardrobe.
