It's a Franken-Frock

What to do when you're itching to make a frock yet don't have enough fabric?
You make a Franken-Frock that's what.

You might recall the lampshade I made here, which left me short of orange fabric.
I could have made a skirt but I chose to create a Franken-Frock for the following reason.
It's my protest against mass consumption.  
The frock may not be everyone's cuppa, but I love it because there's no chance there could be another one around.
I wanted to make something that's obviously handmade, obviously scratched together.  
Patchwork on a large scale.
I made do with fabrics in my stash and I've made quite a dent so it's time to start raiding the op shops for more.
The reason for my protest?  
I'm absolutely sick to the back teeth of seeing people wearing shitty 3/4 cargo pants, fugly sandals, polo shirts and wind cheaters.
There I said it.  I step out the door and I feel like I'm being hit over the back of the head by khaki and griege.
Dear People, Please get your shit together and stop following the fucking herd.  It's giving me a headache.
End of tirade.

 1970s frock and granny bag - handmade by me

1950s coat and green necklace - flea market
Pink star necklace - handmade gift from dear Krista

Leggings - Black Milk

Boots - retail

Wearing my pink necklace for Krista.
 

I'm still using the bag I made, it hasn't fallen apart yet, god knows I've given it a right thrashing and it's still looking new. 

Bet you weren't expecting the back to look like this huh?
All of these fabrics are lightweight cottons from op shops, so is the zip.
I used the same pattern as the one I used for the frock in my last post, the pattern is dated 1974.

In other news, #1 Son turned 25 today.
Gave you a fright with this pic didn't I?
I went into labour two days before he was born and this pic of me looking like an egg cup was taken just as things were starting.

It was a long, difficult home birth, which left his father and I so exhausted, we didn't even get to take a pic until he was two days old.

The cat got such a fright, she had five kittens!  
Our tiny West Hampstead flat was full of babies.

Happy birthday son!
So there you go, Franken-Frocks, homebirth, having kittens and growing sons, all in one post.
I hope you're kicking off the week in fine style!
Baci,
Desiree x

We Have No Secrets

A week ago today, we had people over for drinks and finger food, which turned into dinner, thanks to our dear foodie friend Paul who was staying with us.
I remarked in my last post it was the first time I'd entertained a decent-sized crowd in five years.
Truth is, it was the first time in half a decade that I'd fed and watered any group other that my immediate family.
Why?
Because I was scared of falling off the wagon.
It will be five years on May 2 since I had a drink and I still haven't had a drop.
I've been blogging for four years and each year I make a point of giving myself a pat on the back here.
But don't congratulate me, I don't expect accolades.
Before that date in 2009, despite my ernest efforts, I'd slowly been making a big mess of myself and couldn't face a social occasion without getting hammered to some degree.
Three days later I was having my first stay in the loony bin.
The people I hurt the most were my children.  But they still seem to like me.
The words of #3 Son will always ring in my ears. 
I was making my daily late afternoon detour to the bottle shop for supplies and the wee chap (aged 7 at the time) piped up "Why are we ALWAYS coming here?"
I will be forever grateful for their forgiveness and for my dear husband, The Phoenix, for getting me through.

So, I've broken the spell, I'm not afraid to be within a metre of alcohol, I can entertain again and I've finally relinquished my self-imposed titles of party-pooper and social pariah.

If you can ignore the rant about The Onion, Emily has some interesting things to say about socialising without a drink in a piece published in xo Jane today, which reveals similar problems she faced when she decided on sobriety.

Yesterday I craved another poison: neon!
I couldn't get enough of it so as you can see, I piled it on, even my lipstick was a neon shade of red.

Earrings, sunnies and 1940s navy slip - Etsy

Green necklace - secondhand market

Yellow African necklace and bracelets, 1970s pendant and bangles - op shops

Pink spiked bracelet - gift from darling Vix

Slave bracelet - Phussy

Lipstick - Suedeberry by Lime Crime

Oh and remember my Frida lamp?
For those interested, it wasn't purchased from an op shop, anyone who gave that away would need their head read.
No, the lamp and hand painted cushion were from a wonderful local emporium called Creative Treasures which stocks locally-made crafts, clothing and soft furnishings, retro records, vintage clothing and collectibles.

Pics of the lamp illuminated and our gorgeous new cushion, both made by Recycled by Wendy, who has an amazing eye and knack for mixing stunning fabrics and tapestries to make cushions, reupholstered second-hand furniture, throws, footstools, bags and clothing.

 

I need this enormous cheongsam satin cushion and footstool in our house pronto.
Even the chillies are handmade using satin fabric.

The kimono lady, reef, windmill and mountain scenic fabrics are all tapestries and are mixed in with sequinned Indian fabrics and colourful cottons.  

The perfect throw, couch cover or wall hanging.

 

I bought these vintage sunnies from Creative Treasures for $5.

Tonight, blinged up once more and my hair curled with hot rods.
Not enough jewellery though ... never enough!

1960s top, shoes, globe earrings - eBay

Shiny skirt - op shop

Slave bracelet - Creative Treasures

Ring - craft market

Zip hair clip - gift from Erica Louise of Recycled Fashion

I hope you're all enjoying your long weekend.
We're off to Southbank tomorrow to ask Will and Kate to dinner. haaaaa!!
Baci, D xx

Santa Gave Me Perfect Skin

Well we've unwrapped our presents, the children are having a swim and lunch with their father's family, #1 Son has gone for a drive and I'm having a break with hubby before cooking a simple Christmas dinner for this evening.
It's about 34 degrees, rather humid and way too hot to eat yet.
Happy Christmas dear readers!

These pics were taken last night on Christmas Eve while #1 Son, up from Melbourne, was cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

The house was tidy (past tense), we all looked fairly reasonable and happy to be all under the same roof.

Oh and Santa came early and gifted me perfect skin.

Actually that's a damn lie.
I suffer from adult acne, insects destroy the skin on my feet and ankles in summer and I'm prone to nervous scratching and picking.
I always import my camera pics into Aperture, crop them, retouch a couple of scabs (!!) and that's it ... I don't have Photoshop and I hate fake skin-smoothing shite in blog pics.
But for some reason, Aperture "knows" I need LOADS of touch-up so it does it for me without asking.
Ugh!!  Think I'll go back to iPhoto for more "honest" photographs.

Real-fake tree.

After admiring Emma's beautiful Christmas tree, I decided that next year's tree will be more playful and off-the-wall.
There's nothing grown up about Christmas is there so why get all serious when it comes to decorating?
Here are a few shots of ours this year, with some of the handmade decorations ... I love the ones the kids have made at school, they're my favourites.

Tah-dah, a pic of (L-R) #2 Son (16), The Stylist (11) and #3 Son(12).

Our perfect skin.

No fake skin applied here.

Don't ask, I have no answer.  
But I think we're looking very happy.

"Oh god will you just TAKE the photo?"

The Stylist has been using the school holidays as an opportunity to dip-dye her hair ends.
Cute!
I wish you a wonderful Christmas ... relax, go with the flow and try not to stress.
Big hugs and kisses to you all!
Desiree xoxox

Odds 'n Sods

Digging around my pic files, I found these from a textile and art fair I took The Stylist to a few weeks ago.
All part of her education in the joys of the tactility of fabric and fibre.
There was so much to delight both kids and adults ... like delicious foam chips and stuffed fabric dagwood dogs! Yum...

I rarely wear red except for my lippy and one of my few red pieces of clothing is this 1950s wool coat with a jumbo-sized collar, buttons and pockets.

The Stylist in disbelief at the work that went into making this pom-pom circus costume.

Her sneakers were painted by a local tattooist we met at a flea market recently ... so colourful and happy for a wee lassie.
She chose neon-pink tights to layer under her skinnies.

Did you know you can commission people to create decorative sewing machine stickers out of your original art?  Imagine this sweet little face peering up at you saying "c'mon you can do it, it's looking great!"

Flower brooches fashioned from Japanese kimono silks ... how to pick just one?

And beautiful, enormous badges.

The Stylist was photographer for the day and I gave her free reign of the camera ... she found such cute handmade crafts to snap away at.

What's that look?  I dunno ... maybe I'm jealous of the dummy's shoes.
I wore Black Milk tights; thrifted vintage silver, dancing shoes, leather shorts and gloves; and an Edwardian, pink silk blouse from eBay. 
The sheer blouse is incredibly delicate and I have to be aware of my movements as it's wearing away ... it's like being wrapped in fine downy feathers.
I hope you're all enjoying a splendid weekend!