Audrey Hepburn vs. Cyndi Lauper




I haven't done much blogging at all lately, as I've been busy doing other things. Like baking things containing nuts, in an effort to make sure Charles gets at least a small amount of essential fats inside him, as he refuses fish no matter how it's disguised and I consider him too young to be eating whole nuts. It has worked too well. The biscuits, which contained walnuts, heather honey, wholemeal flour and walnut oil, were bitter (due to the type of honey we used, which had a bitter after-taste) so Charles has realised he has them all to himself and eaten four today.

Self-evident is the sewing.......










The bustle skirt! The pattern arrived beautifully packaged and was a work of art in itself, hand-drawn on heavy paper and adorned with the beautiful Miss Twiss motif! I couldn't wait to get started. Once I have an impulse to do something it must be commenced forthwith! So, on Saturday evening I made the green one with the most yuk fabric you would never, ever choose. I've had it years and heaven knows why I bought it in the first place and only used it on this occasion as I wanted to make sure I was making the right size and it was going to look ok. Oddly, once it was made I loved it in all its putrid glory and have worn it non-stop ever since. This is a very simple but clever sewing pattern. In actual fact, one size really does fit all - you just adjust it by way of the positioning of the holes where the tie is threaded through to gather the fabric. No zips, no buttons, no interfacing - nothing. Love it. So much that I went to get fabric for three more and made the second one last night (Sunday). I fully intended to come back with something understated and chic. But due to something in my soul, a magpie deep inside, I did the same as always and bought two bundles of fancy taffeta (although I did buy a more reserved black and cream check as well, for winter). I've always wanted to project an Audrey Hepburn sort of image, you know - effortless and graceful. But somehow I'm drawn to styles that Cyndi Lauper would probably prefer (not that I'm a fan - not even in the 80's). Hmmmmmm. And I suspect that some of the time that is how I appear to others. Especially to my deeply chic 74 yr old mother-in-law (not that she minds. We are great friends).



I really like feminine clothes, stuff that's not very practical though. For instance I will wear the red/orange taffeta skirt shopping on a Friday afternoon and not care what anyone thinks. But don't think I never wear ordinary, dignified clothes. I do, but not without the effort of turning my back on all the fancy schmancy stuff.

But it's the same with wallpaper. I had to have raspberry matt paper adorned with proper gleaming gold flowers. And then had to paint the chimney breast gold. You know how it is..... But I know there is a chic, understated person waiting to make her presence known someday. But until that happens, it's the magpie in me that's winning!

I have done some knitting. I've turned the heels on the pink socks and am doing the gusset decreases. I'm making the black and white skirt this evening and then it will be back to the knitting (the brown embroidered taffeta can wait).

BTW As you can see, I did finish the black/cream skirt. And despite Blogger really messing about uploading photos - again.