See them in Action!

I love making my clothes. It makes them unique to me, and fun. I always love when I get that look. If you make your own things, you know the one. That look of disbelief and awe when you proudly declare 'I made it myself'. There is also that great feeling that you get, the satisfaction that comes with you knowing that those added extras you did are all from your own experiments and pulling together favoured elements into one cohesive design...

Anyway, so the point of this post is to show some of my clothing as worn my me. Not all of it, because I don't have the pictures. And I don't mean the ones I have to coerce my long-suffering fiancee to take for me for the promise of a massage! So I shall carry on...!

The first is my dress created from Simplicity Pattern 2497. I followed a nautical theme with the fabric choices, and added a pleated skirt and shoulder embellishments (see the original post here). After wearing the dress for the first time, I didn't like the sleeves. So with a nervous snip snip... Off they came. I'm glad that I prefer the look sleeveless!

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to snap a full-length picture of the dress. These photos were taken at a family day out at the Freds Pass Rural show. The two gorgeous young boys are my nephews. Such sweet little men!

The next garment is a top I designed from a costume I had made. It was adapted from my Cure Blossom costume to be a top instead of the original dress. I wore this to an afternoon at the races. My headwear is also one of my own creations... Read more about it on my other blog, A Rainbow of Balloons.

Next up on my project list to make is a purple skirt with pink self-made piping. I've never made piping before... so it should be an interesting project. I will let you know how it goes! Also I am craving to make this fantastic bag from The Boy Trifecta... Again, I will show you (if it turns out good! hehe)

Until next time!

Rainbow Smile ... Sew-Along Top #2

So, Blogger was playing up when I initially went to do my post. Then I was slack and didn't touch up this post. Ergo, here I am to fix that! (Finally!) As a balloon twister, I love to wear unique and eye-catching outfits. I recently decided to go by the 'stage name' of Rainbow, and since my business is called "A Rainbow of Balloons" I love to include it in my twister's wardrobe.

I used Simplicity 2497, a Cynthia Rowley design (click here for the last time I used the pattern), for the base of the shirt. Initially, I was going to do the version with the ruffled front. Mostly pink, but with a purple bias trim. This time I modified the dress to be a top by extending the hemline approx 6" so it would blouse out nicely whilst not coming un-tucked.


Because I was running out of time, for the Spring Top Sew-Along hosted by Rae; I decided to forgo the original pattern. I've had some fun rainbow grograin ribbon that I've purchased not once, but twice off eBay (same seller, months apart... I love my rainbow!) And yes, I made a belt out of the same ribbon, following one of Disney's tutorials.

Because the top is scandalously low, when twisting I have to wear another top underneath. I choose to wear a deep purple tank, I love that colour combination!

I decided to dub the top "Rainbow Smile" as it really does look like one (imho) and it really does make me smile. I would like to try the the pattern again, to make that elusive ruffle dress! I really recommend it, it has proven to be so versatile. I'd love to hear if anyone reading may have also used that pattern?

Goody Gum Drops

So I've entered this in Made by Rae's Spring Top Sewalong. I finally managed to convince my other half to take some photos of me in my new top. I have partially delayed a post on this hoping to make a matching skirt, however I keep procrastination and the competition deadline for  is looming.

So! About the top:

The pattern was originally draped for Cure Blossom, and it is insanely difficult to buy what you want at our local Spotlight so I decided to try dying fabric for the first time. Unfortunately, it came out too close in colour as another used in the top; ergo it became unusable. I really liked the colour against the purple fabric, and I had an 'ah-ha!' moment and decided it would also be great as a top.

• Self-draped previously as a dress, I modified it to be a top.
• Self-covered buttons, (my Gumdrops!) to be matchy-matchy.
• My design aesthetic didn't want visible machine stitching, so the blouse is lined and has self-made bias binding.
• The fabric is cotton drill and what I think is a cotton/linen blend. The pink was originally white, and dyed with Rit dye. 

My favourite part of it all is the back of the top. I'm pretty sure I will make this  design once again, but the plan is with rainbow striped fabric and making a dress.

Oh, and the flower is detachable, as a brooch. I thought it was a cute accent to the top. The idea of the ensemble is the intention that it could become one of the outfits I wear doing balloon twisting. Keeping it cute, unique and colourful! (Just what I love)

Thanks for reading, and please wish me luck!