The all too Familiar Story of Sewing a Dress.

This story has happened before and will happen again. It is probably a story you are familiar with. There are trials to overcome and disaster afoot. it's the story of sewing a dress, as old as time itself.

Once upon a time a girl found an old pattern in a treasure trove op shop back room. She knew the pattern contained all the instructions to become the carefree girls shown on the cover. They were stylish - simple, tall and thin. They laughed and flicked their hair in care free friendship. The girl wanted to be them.

But a pattern is nothing but a set of rules and instructions. The girl went shopping for the right fabric to create the dress of her dreams. It took many years of searching. Then she found this fabric at Rathdowne Remnants and it had that 70's retro charm....

Bravely she got out the scissors and made the cuts. But the instructions were not quite right for her - the measurements were wrong for her size so she made adjustments.
Alas in her rashness and delusions she didn't think it through and cut the pieces too small.

She put the dream away for a month and wondered what to do.... Then, she awoke one morning with the solution! 

She went back to the fabric store and got extra cloth. She re-cut the bodice in a larger size and cut the waist lower in the skirt, which was fortunately possible because of her short stature.

She finished the dress! Alas, she isn't anything like the young carefree hair flickers on the pattern front. But she finished the dress. And it's wearable.

frocktober day 29 picking mulberries

Ripe mulberries....

remind me of days by the creek...

bare feet on rough bark branches and hot sticky juice....

feasting and carrying home buckets full...

for mum to make into pies and jam while chiding us for our stained state.

Here. Try some!

Frocking the 70's floral maxi dress with pale blue platform shoes and floppy hat.

Donate HERE to frocktober - You know it's a good cause, right? Big thanks to Rosemary and Rosemarie and Clare who have donated in the last few days. The support from everyone has been so heartening. Even the kids have noticed how the frocks make everyone smile and chat!

Frocktober Day 28 "love is a battlefield"

Well I'm dragging out the big frocks from the top of the wardrobe this week - 

 This little number used to be blue like this one frock this town posted the other day -

 but I spray painted it copper around 10 years ago. Now the copper has worn off it has a kind of post apocalyptic '80's Pat Benetar vibe which I am not adverse to at all.

Me and spray painting frocks goes back to my teens when I spray painted a friend's mum's wedding dress black, cut it up and wore it to the school formal. With electric blue hair. And leopard print tights...

But I'm so much classier all these years later *cough cough* in my frock and suede boots! Yikes! look how far I've come....hmmm...

I've spray painted a few frocks in my time. You need to do it well in advance of wearing it though because the fumes can make you keel over. It's a bit anti social.



Now no pressure but there are only FOUR DAYS LEFT!!!!! Do I need to say it all again? Donate HERE if you can. It's a frockin' good cause because ovarian cancer is a silent killer that needs research funding. Donate for all your sisters, aunts, nieces, daughters, mothers and girlfriends! Let's work out a way to detect this early and save women's lives. 

Frocktober Day 25 Summer Holiday

There once was a frockster who was feeling frock fatigued. She dreamed of a Summer holiday to Spain. She had the bag,* the frock,** the dream and a hat with her name on it.*** Spain was too far. She had to pick up the kids. The best she could do was the Spanish-like hacienda across the road. 

But one thing was missing. A travel friend. She looked right...she looked left.

 And then she spied the perfect companion.....

Who better than her daughter Hazel frocked up in beach carnival style. They left "Spain" and went and got the kids.

 

*The bag has island holiday images all over it (Though not sure about the Great Britain!) I bought it at the trash and treasure.

**The frock made a guest appearance last frocktober. It's French and the label is Jeanne D'Arc - yeah don't stand too close to the fire! Note the ironing instructions!

***The hat really does have my name on it! Had to buy it when I saw that - a few years ago from Vinnies.

Frocktober has a story too.
'In 2007, a group friends in Geelong discovered that there was no early detection test for ovarian cancer, and decided to do something about it. Quite a feat! So, we donned our favourite dresses, went out to the pub, passed around a hat and raised $200. Frocktober was born! Then we thought, "This is way too much fun to keep to ourselves... Let's challenge the rest of Australia to get involved too!"
Seven years later, the initiative has captured the hearts and imaginations of frock-minded people Australia-wide, and raised over $800,000 for ovarian cancer research.'

How ace is that??

Let's keep telling our stories, talking, raising money and raising awareness about ovarian cancer and the need for early detection. Donate here
Shout out thanks to Jen and Leanne who have donated!!! 

Frocktober Day 24 Put A Bird On It!

This post is inspired by Eilis over at Frock This Town who has the most glorious collection of birdy print frocks and birdy accessories. Well I wanted to show you all that I have a birdy frock too. This 70s halter neck maxi.

It's a great print that makes you hum "the Bluebird of Happiness" if you know old songs like that. It often gets me singing "Candy Says" by the Velvet Underground:

"I'm gonna watch the blue birds fly over my shoulder
I'm gonna watch them pass me by
Maybe when I'm older
What do you think I'd see
If I could walk away from me"

Do you like to put a bird on it? Then you'll adore this brooch, generously donated by my friend Liz at Betty Jo Designs who makes the cool stuff from vintage lino. It's yours if you'd like it for a donation to FROCKTOBER! Just leave a message!

If you don't follow Betty Jo Designs on instagram you'd better go and do that because it's a veritable cacophony of pattern, colour, cool and vintage that crash into your heart with a zing of sentimental yearning for times long gone in the guise of the latest trend. There really is "something" about the maps of Australia she makes that have caught a bit of attention lately too.

Even Kaz Cooke rang her up and wanted one. They are perfect for your holiday house or caravan or to compliment mid century decor with some vintage Australiana!

We're on the home stretch everyone! One week to go! As an old high school friend used to say "give 'til it hurts"!

Frocktober 23 Frocktabularse Guest Frocker!!!!

I know right! You get a rest from gawping at my awkward poses and get the delightful Helga Von Trollop  from New Zealand instead! We both have a penchant for square dancing frocks, coloured tights and shoes but Helga turns it into a "fecking" art form! My children are in love with her and wish she was their Aunty. I'll be sending them over Helga!

And how about her expertise at poses - yes I could learn a thing or two. She can be forthright then demure....

 and even dance moves. Her frocktabularse blog is always a sight for sore eyes so if youse don't all follow her then youse are lagging behind.

 And Helga has provided some sage advice here ladies on how to look after yourself!

" Ladies, it's crucial to twirl your way into the gyno regular like, hop up on up on the table and spread your pretty legs so that your lady parts are well looked after!

Ovarian cancer is no laughing matter, and your loved ones will be grateful to you for keeping a special eye on your womanly health!"

And just an update on ovarian cancer research, read this article on how scientists discovered that tampons can contain DNA from an ovarian tumors and this could lead to an early detection test. Great news.

And just to prove I did frock up...here I am today. i felt a bit like Patsy from Ab Fab. 

I even had a hangover thanks to drinking too many negroni's at the bar last night. Or should that be "negroaaaanies"?



Remember that your donations go directly towards research into ovarian cancer. Donate HERE! And if you would like a craft kit pack or mexican goodies pack with your donation just leave a message! BIG THANKS to my sister Kelly's (ahem veterans) hockey team for donating (if she's in a veteran team that make ME OLD!) and to the Parzacs, Valentina and Saro!

frocktober Day 22 A Wordy Day

TODAY'S PHOTOS BY JOE (age 5) and PEPPER (age 7)

 

Yesterday was a wordy day. I wore this '50's cotton frock with matching bolero. What would you call that? An ensemble? This is another gift from my Tasmanian friend Sue (and yeah - I bet you wish she was your friend too! Because generosity isn't even the half of it! She can make bread. And beer. And build houses....)

This "ensemble" is a real classic outfit. The label is "Cole of California". I love how it has such a buttressed bust - a veritable constructed shelf - even when it's empty like when I wear it!!!!Impressive!

I wore it to the school library where Joe and I volunteer to shelve books. Yesterday we sat and read some books too. Joe took my photo!

Joe brought his pen and paper and asked beseechingly, "could you teach me how to write every word in the world in little writing?" Together we wrote a story about our recent visit to the National Gallery of Victoria where we rode a gold carousel. Joe's story also went into much detail about sushi.

It was a good warm up for the evening's  writing workshop at the Coburg Library with author Paddy O'Reilly which she described as a gym class for exercising our writing muscles. Can't recommend these workshops highly enough. There's something wonderful and mining the brain, forcing yourself to try harder, think about things you wouldn't normally think about - lifting those word weights harder!  Higher! More reps! I left with all my senses heightened!

Thank youse need to go out to Reggie and Shara for their wonderful support and donations yesterday. There's still NINE DAYS TO GO! Remember -if you would like to buy either a brooch craft kit pack or a bag-tag craft kit pack with your donation, just leave a message.
DONATE HERE All proceeds go directly to ovarian cancer research - it's not a rare or obscure cancer. It's a frockin' deadly cancer that is silent in symptoms and an early detection test is essential to saving women's lives. We are helping with that - spread the word.

Frocktober Day 20!!! The Higher the Hair......

The closer to Jesus.

Have you ever noticed the correlation between country singers hair in the 70's and their christianity? The higher the hair, the closer to Jesus? Yes I know - I should do a phd on it. Check out Wanda Jackson here!

So I'm doing my best to match HIGH HAIR with my 'Loretta Lynne Dress'. That's what my partner has always called this dress. And it's true. Loretta was a fan of the long sleeve dress with spangles.

 But I call it my "Gayle dress" because Gayle gave it to me. She was the vice principal where my kids went to primary school. They used to call her "Skeletor" - yeah kids! So mean! She was very thin and never smiled and we were all a bit scared of her. One day she called me over for a chat and I thought the kids were in trouble. But in fact, she wanted to give me 3 amazing bridesmaid frocks from 1971! The hot pink one I wore on day 8 was one, there was a white one with 3d flower sleeves that has since been given away in an over generous moment to a young friend who looked so amazing in it and this one. The BRIGHT LUMINOUS RED BEADED AMAZINGLY MADE LONG SLEEVED BUTTON BACK Loretta Lynne dress. And you know - poor Gayle was thin and unhappy because she was going through a really tough time. She came out the other side and blossomed again - got rosier cheeks and we all got to see her generous soul.

I know there are many a generous soul out there too so donate to the ovarian cancer research foundation if you can. As my friend Kylie said - it's a no brainer! Donate here. Ovarian cancer kills a woman in Australia every 10 hours and developing an early detection test is the key to beating it.

Don't forget the Mexican stuff you can buy and the proceeds will go to frocktober. Make an offer - no offer too small so don'e be shy! I will cover the postage.

Now here's Loretta Lynne singing "Fist City". What song and what singer!

 

Frocktober Day 19 MEXICAN GOODIES!

Would you like some Mexican festive decorations for your next party? Or for the up coming Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)? Or like me - just leave them up all the time.

I have some gorgeous colourful Mexican papel picado flags in large and cute mini flags plus 2 milagros badges - one for luck and one for being my hero. These are all handmade in Mexico and all yours for any donation to frocktober! Leave me a message if you would like these goodies and donate! Don't be shy! No donation too small.

And keeping with the Mexican theme, today's frock is a traditional embroidered number from mexico which I bought on etsy. Of course I had to wear it with Frida-like flowers and my little papel picado ear-rings.

 





















Frocktober is rolling on and the donations are still coming in which is sensational.

This is from the frocktober website:

100% of the funds raised for this campaign go towards funding research into an early detection for ovarian cancer to save women’s lives. Our aim in 2014 is to beat last year’s funds raised of $328,000 to enable us in 2015 to fund our very own Frocktober Research Fellow and follow their progress as part of next year’s campaign.

Well - we still have 11 days to go! So far this frocktober has raised $118,138.74so we still have a way to go to beat last year. So come on - donate and get this Mexican pack of goodies! I leave my festive flags up all year round!