Accessories

Later this month we are attending a Formal Dinner in Cairns, which is not a frequent event in our lives.

I was tempted to make a new dress, however time was not on my side, so I decided that I would wear the dress I had made for me whilst we were in China in 2008 that was for a Ball that I was attending the night after I arrived home. At the Ball the dress was accessorised with bronze, burgundy and olive.

In an attempt to make the outfit look different, I decided to change the base to charcoal/silver to start with. I did have the dusty silver strappy shoes and was given a beautiful charcoal wrap for my birthday this year, so all I needed was the necklace, earrings and a bag.

So I headed to Goddess Beading at Beverley Hills where I have been having my beading classes with the dress and shoes, and discussed the options with my teacher. This is what we came up with.


Next was the evening bag, so the other week at The Remnant Warehouse, Alison and I found some charcoal wool (that matched the wrap perfectly) and then when reading the Bag'n-telle website I saw a reference to clutch play by the very creative Don Morin. I was lucky and managed to borrow a copy of the Vogue April/May 2011 magazine, so this weekend I have been making my clutch bag.

This is my very first bag and I am rather pleased with the result. I got to play with the quilting attachment on my sewing machine and also had the opportunity to use the Professional Touch Applicator Wand that Alison gave to me for my birthday last year to attach 3 rows of Swarovski Hot Fix Crystals (another gift for the same birthday from a sewing buddy).

Thank you Alison for showing me your bag and the tip about the metallic thread and the cord, it worked a treat.


The clutch has a divider inside.


Here are all the pieces with a small part of the dress (sorry it is not warm enough to wear the dress tonight, but I will try and remember to get a photo at the dinner so you can see the outfit) together with the charcoal wrap.


Next, fingers crossed, is the cargo pants.

Me-Made-June Wrap-Up

I have had some delightful comments during the month and thought I would share some of my thoughts about Me-Made-June.

First up Carol commented: I think you have the most co-ordinated wardrobe of anyone I have ever seen! I'm very envious.

So I need to confess.

I don't purchase any fabric or garment unless it works with these, My Personal Colour Solutions swatch.



This colour swatch lives in my handbag (it has the dog ears to prove it) and even for the smallest purchase, it is taken out and compared to the item I want to purchase (my DBIL even says I won't purchase jelly beans without it). If it doesn't work, no matter how tempting, it doesn't come home with me.

It doesn't have to be exact, it can be a mixture of a couple, as long as the base is the same.

Here is some fabric that I purchased on Saturday.



In real life the match is better, but I hope you can see what I mean.

I first had my colours done about 1989, however I did have a refresher last year at Kerryn's Fabric World and was very pleased to see that I am still in the same Autumn family.

Secondly, I need more accessories e.g. scarves, necklaces, belts that can make my tops look different. This is an area that I really need to work on.

Lastly, I was surprised:

• at how many different outfits I could create over the month, there was only 1 day that I had the same look when sitting at my desk and there were a lot of new combinations for me.
• that even though I loved my suit on Day 15, I really need to have another look at this as I don't think all that taupe is good for me.

I have really enjoyed the month and with the assistance of DH and sewing friends taking my photos for me it was a lot easier that setting up the tripod each morning even though I have purchased a digital remote for my camera.

Seeing all the other members of Me-Made-June's outfits has given me quite a few ideas and patterns to check out.

There wasn't much left in my wardrobe that was Me Made and I still have a way to go to have a wardrobe of all Me Made and I will get there, maybe not for September though.

And now here is a collage of all my outfits for the month.



Now back to some sewing, or maybe beading!