A change of plan

I finished a cardigan the other day with the intention of listing it in my Etsy shop for sale when a pretty dress made by my dear friend Kath arrived from Australia 

Stevie thought the cardigan was a perfect match for the dress.

I have to say I agree

Some how I think the cardigan might not be available now

Stevie doesn't normally wear greens...but I think she looks rather pretty in this ensemble.

A little 'Ta Da' - My first ever Smocked Dress.

A little 'Ta Da' post as I show off the little smocked dress I have made.

This is the first time I have ever tried smocking and I have to say I really enjoyed doing it.  

My lovely Trendon redhead Brenda-Julia 'BJ' got to model it for me as I do so love the colour lilac/violet/purples on her.

Now I've got to decide which fabric to use next as this gorgeous fabric was given to me by the lovely Norvell when I was over there.  She kindly pleated the fabric on her Little Amanda Smocking Pleater - oh what a wonderful tool!  

Blondes in smocked dresses.

While trying to decide who is going to be my Trendon Girl of the Month tomorrow I thought I would dress my blondes up in the smocked dresses I now have.  I am now lucky enough to have enough smocked dresses for every one of my blonde girls.

I was asked the other day what my 'Sasha of the Month was for and as it has now been almost eight months since I posted Molly, my Sasha for January I thought I would explain again.  

Having had to have sold a lot of my Sasha's late last year, and indeed this year for various reasons, I wanted to focus on the ones I had left and as I had twelve Trendon Sashas I thought it would be a good idea to feature those.  I still have only twelve Trendon Sashas (unaltered - I haven't counted Tilly Rose, my re-root, nor have I counted Danni , who was bought as a boy, but had severe hair loss).  Of course one of my featured Sasha girls, Lucy, has since left home and another has taken her place, so featuring the one that has replaced her is going to be a bit difficult!  It might be that I choose two to feature in December.

Anyway back on to my blonde girls. Charlotte is now here to stay.  She was the one of the three that my husband bought me when I first discovered Sasha and has kind of become a 'mini-me' through her modelling my dress for the 'Dress A Sasha - Images of Childhood' before I went to the festival.  Spending so much time with her made me realise that I couldn't part with her and to do so I would only regret it.

Charlotte is the lucky one to get to wear the wonderful dress I received at the Festival made by Millie Dingham.

My eight Trendon girls from left to right

Meredith (66 Frido/Trendon Blue Cord NP), Alice (1969 FCP Kilt), Weaver (1968/69 Side Part), Victoria (1970/71 Blonde Gingham), Charlotte (1971 Blonde Gingham), Sally (1972 HCP Blonde Gingham), Sasha (1974 Blonde Gingham), Susan (1982 Sweater Girl)

My eight Trendon girls with my one No Nose Gotz girl Marcia on the end.

They are loving their pretty smocked dresses which they have teamed with JJ shoes.

Inspired by these wonderful dresses I bought a couple of books.

My fabric is pleated so all I have to do is start, which I hope to do tonight.

A Wonderful Gift

Yesterday in the post I received the most wonderful present from Norvell,  a friend in the US.  We collaborated  together last year to produce a gift for the Sasha Festival.  

This beautiful smocked dress is simply delightful and is the best dress my Sasha girls have in their wardrobe and I feel so lucky to have received it.

My gorgeous Meredith is the lucky girl  chosen to wear it.

I just love the beautiful smocking work.  

Thank you Dear Norvell, for being such a special friend and bringing a smile to my face.

Machine Smocking

An evening on my own last night and my sewing machine still up at house, I thought I would try my hand at machine smocking, something I have never attempted before. With no pattern and no real idea of what I was doing, I very much 'winged' it, making it up as I went along... Needless to say I was a lot later to bed than is usual!

Sasha, my 1974 Trendon girl got first try at modelling the dress.

I love this delicate flower print and think the colours suit her well.

Although I have no more of the fabric left, well certainly not enough to make another dress!