Love in the Mail

Today was a marvelous day. I came home for lunch and checked the mail and there were 3 packages. Thats right 3!!! A Book and two patterns. woo hoo!

Here's the loot....

I have wanted a crisp and sexy shirt for a while now, 

I'm planning on version 2 in a similar fabric. I even have a skirt and belt the same as the picture.... Meant to be....

also...

Tulip pockets and scallops... who could want more?

I have the prettiest italian cotton voile for this pattern, with brown and red tones. Can't wait to start chop chopping into it.

Maybe for my birthday cocktails next week? Could this be a cocktail dress???

hmmm

And the book, A memoir in 39 apartments. It's good so far. 

Hope everybody has a good week, what is everybody sewing?

I'll be starting the shirt tomorrow and will post an update ;-)

Take care kittens ox

Everyones a winner baby... well... almost....

The winners have been drawn... Out of my gents hat none the less....

Sophie Miriam has been drawn for pattern #1

The Ingenious Indigenous for pattern #2

& La Dama for the purse!

Winners please email me your postal address and the prized will be sent out next week, If I do not receive your addressed within 3 days I will have to redraw that particular prize :- )

Thank you to everybody who entered, I saw some very pretty dresses! (In particular Bessie B's choice of a beautiful 50's cocktail dress.... drool... I'm in love)

Stay tuned for more giveaways, there are plenty more patterns up for grabs!!!

ox

Renay

Suspense!

Winners announced tonight, stay tuned!

Ruffles & Roses

The lovely lady over at Ruffles & Roses is having a lovely red skirt giveaway and there is still time to enter, It is being drawn on Sunday, So head on over to her gorgeous blog and become a follower and you could be in the running for this...

She also has great tutorials that are so easy to follow.

Have a great day peoples :-)

Polly Danger

I stumbled upon a lovely little Etsy store the other day called Notions By Polly Danger and wanted to give her a mention here because she sent such a nice parcel.

I ordered three lots of her pretty patterned handmade bias tape (It was so hard because I wanted them all)  and waited patiently for the postman!

Then... Such a lovely package arrived with cute little details

The bias tape was much prettier in person and I Can't wait to use it. (I have some ideas)

And she even sent me a little gift :-)

An iron on birdie...

So thank you Polly!

If anybody needs terrific trims or beautiful buttons head over to her store!

I highly recommend...

Still time to enter the Giveaway, which is drawn on Friday.

Have a Lovely week peoples :-)

Sweet as Cherry Pie

I have been reading a few tutorials lately about making a pattern from an existing piece of clothing in your wardrobe and have been wanting to give it a try. I have had this cute top in my wardrobe for years but it was getting very worn and the zipper decided to catch on the fabric every time it was done up. Annoying!

So I thought I'd test out the pattern making technique on this little baby. Here's what I did...

Firstly...

Took out the craptastic zipper and the straps (they only button on so that wasn't too much of a workout!)

Secondly...

Took off all the buttons and started to unpick the little sucker.... (whilst carefully trying to remember how  it needed to be sewn together...I couldn't reaaallly be bothered trying to write it all down).

Also trying to dodge threads, they always like to stick to black!

How unfortunate... I'm still finding thread all over the house  

Then....

Set out the pieces on the new fabric and chop chopped it all out! I had to re-draft some of the pieces that were a bit too skewed to use.

All that was left to do then, was sew it all together. And Bob's your uncle.

And ta da! A brand new top in just a couple of hours...AND recycled the buttons

Very satisfying after trying to make the lovely little Butterick number a couple of posts ago and FAILING miserably! Looks like its muslin time...

I'm fussy with cherry prints and always see lots of dodgy ones but this one I thought was a bit cute and snapped it up. 

Anywho, There's still time (Til Friday) for all of you to enter the Giveaway so get your skates on :-)

Hope you all had a great weekend! I'll be back soon with a new flaming red dress which is almost finished!

Ciao now 

ox

Drum roll please.... Its GIVEAWAY TIME! Purse lovers and Pattern Users Rejoice!

Since The long and winding bobbin blog has been going for just over a month now, I have decided a little giveaway is in order!

 I am so excited to have 28 followers (ok so it doesn't sound like many but considering I thought that I wouldn't even make it to 5 its good. And you are all so cool and unique!) 

Cheers!

Whats up for grabs???

Firstly:

Item #1

Simplicity 3744: Cute 6 gore pencil skirt with waistband and left side zipper closing

3 versions: soft pleats, kick pleats, bow sash

Size 26 inch waist (for you tiny girls!)

Item #2

Vogue 8754: Lovely Slim skirt or dress with sleeveless bodice and welt pocket at side

flattering low round neckline, front and back! ( I have made this up, Its nice to work with)

And lastly

item #3

A cute little handmade purse that I picked up overseas

Made from a denim type fabric with crochet cherries! so cute

Has pretty bright green cotton lining and a kiss lock closure

Okay! The rules are as follows:

You know the drill, You need to be a follower of The long and winding bobbin

Just leave a comment with a link to your favourite dress pattern at the moment (or dress) & which prize you want to win (item #1, #2 or #3)

If you post this giveaway on your blog You will receive an extra entry! (Make sure you leave a second comment with a link to your post)

Entrants are welcome from across the globe, I will post to any country :-)

The 3 winners will be announced Next Friday 23rd July at Midday (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

Winners need to send me their postal address within 3 days end of the competition! 

So spread the word peoples, the more entries the merrier!!!

Thank you lovely followers :-)

Help! I need some buttons, not just any buttons...

Okay so it's not spring. Its cold and rainy winter. But this jacket is in preparation...
The Lady Grey is quite the time consuming project. I spent half of today on the lining alone. But this is looking ok so far. All thats left to do is the bottom hem and sleeve hems and.... It needs buttons!

I'd like to know what you guys think... any suggestions, I'm stumped...

Here is the jacket so far...

Maybe red to match the lining? Thoughts?

Hustling and Brussling

Good Monday morning peoples, How was your weekend?

I had a cracker of a time, My lovely man took me on a date into the city  on Saturday night to a little bar called Madame Brussels (You should really check it out if you are ever in Melbourne). Have a look at their website! It has a whole story on the history of Madame Brussels ( An ex brothel owner in Melbourne).

Here is a picture of the inside bar:

It was like stepping back in time. Fake grass, garden path, great music & waiters dressed in retro wimbeldon attire. And the drinks were amazing. Amazing! My man had a gin martini (I can't drink them, blegh! But he loves them) and we shared a few jugs of different punches. They were delicious. My favourite was a maraschino and gin punch with vermouth and soda... and something else I can't quite remember. We got a bit peckish and decided to try out their poached chicken, chive & Mayo toasted sandwich (recommended) and also the double smoked ham and cheese. Very tasty, and it hit the spot! We stayed there all night chatting and drinking and being merry.

Can't wait to go back and sit on the rooftop terrace when it gets a bit warmer, although the waiters do hand out blankets when it gets a bit chilly, how sweet.

Afterwards we went back to our lovely room at the citadenes and watched a movie (The Beach) and slept like logs!

On Sunday we had a lovely pancake breakfast and did a spot of shopping. I picked up:

From Route 66 (50% storewide sale thank you!), A cute little sailor cardi. (complete with flap!)

& this pretty little high waisted and pleated skirt (It came with a great belt but you cant see it in the photo)

So after all the walking around we were both getting weary, and decided it was home time, I was in great need of a cup of tea and a sewing session to relax.

I scored some great (And very very cheap) fabric from the Alannah Hill outlet store on Brunswick Street for some current projects, I'm not sure what type of fabric it is because they are not labelled but they feel great.

I got some lovely mustard coloured fabric for the Lady Grey by Collette Patterns (I know, I'm like a broken record, but they are great!). And some beautiful silk lining in the most vivid red!

(The mustard is much brighter than the photo)

I'm about half way through and its going swimmingly, although I havn't started on the lining yet....

There is lots of pretty topstitching, princess seams and that giant collar!

Also on the go....

A little 50's number in a dark royal type blue, I'm doing the dress, minus the jacket. I have cut it out and its ready to go... exciting!

So thats all folks. Have a great Monday and rest of the week!

What has everybody else been up to???

I didn't forget about the sunshine shrug... & Andi B. Goode Giveaway!

The knitting project is still going and taking a long time...
It has 230 odd stitches per row!
I'm not hating the colour yet, give me a few days and ask me again though tee hee
About a quarter of the way through so far.

In other exciting news...

The lovely Andrea over at Andi B. Goode is having a great giveaway over at her blog. You should go have a looksy, her blog is a great read and she is oh so cute and stylish.

Style Icon - Alannah Hill

So Peter and Sarah got me thinking about style icons....

I have many, and often get inspiration from random people in the street or on the online... errr street?

Here is one major icon,

Alannah Hill

Lace, hearts, stockings, red lipstick... her clothes are like a dream. Floaty, Fascinating & oh so girly.

She moved from Tasmania to Melbourne when she was 16 ("with a suitcase full of costumes" she says) and literally walked into some boutiques selling her ideas. It seems to have worked for her..

I love love love pretty much anything that she designs, beautiful floaty dresses, pretty skirts, bags, fur (fake, but still beautiful. I don't think I could wear a real fox and feel good about it...I used to have these dreams.... but thats another story...)

Going in to one of Alannah Hill's stores is an experience in itself. There is lush velvet everywhere, soft feminine music and her gorgeous delicate designs all around. The decor is magical and there are cabinets full of amazing jewellry and accessories. 

Oh I'm in love.... I recommend everybody check her out, ASAP! The clothes are well made and worth the (Sometimes Hefty) pricetag.

I don't even mind not eating for a week (possibly 3) to add another AH piece to the collection (tee hee)

I will leave you with some eye candy, have a nice night ladies and gents!

Skirts Skirts Skirts

Here is the finished skirt...

The fabric was a .99c score from ebay. Batik, with a pretty peacock pattern, very pretty.

The best bit about the skirt is that is has big pockets, and the curvy top is very flattering (it reminds me of lips for some reason....?)

It took about 2.5 - 3 hours to make, Quick and easy! So I made another one!

Turns out, I have a skirt fetish....

Here are 3 different ones using Burda's Jenny Skirt

Hope everybodys weekend was great!

Outfit Posts soon...

Sneek Peek

Something on the go...