Beads & Dresses

I managed to pick up some necklaces from the Charity Shop today - they looked like good 'possibles' in the shop, but when I got them home and tried them on Tilly Rose with her 'Yamka' dress I wasn't so convinced. Maybe I will cannibalise them and make something a bit different.

Using some vintage fabric that has been lying around for sometime I thought I would see what it looked like made up into a little dress.

Judie insisted on wearing her pink shoes with it...I tried to get her to wear a blue pair, but she wasn't having it.

Next up, while I was trying to find my tin of beads and things, I saw some fabric that would probably sew up well to make another Yamka style dress...

It is a very soft fabric and drapes well.  I teamed it with the shell beads and I think these do go nicely with the dress.

Julia agrees.

I have been enjoying looking through my Sasha books, particularly the studio dolls and their clothing - I have various ideas I want to try out - once I have sorted through to find the appropriate fabrics.

Yamka Inspired Dress

Inspired by the dress Yamka is wearing as shown in 'Sasha Dolls The History' on page 104, I thought I would try making my own version which can be seen here modelled by Tilly Rose.

I would love to see pictures of  the original dress on 'Gypsy Girl, 1970' that Yamka's dress was derived from, but  that is apparently in Stefan Biffinger's book 'Sasha-Puppen Sasha Dolls' which I don't have.

I used 100% Irish Linen.

Just need to make her some bead necklaces and bracelets now.

Blondes in New Zealand Fabric Dresses.

I made three more dresses with New Zealand fabric today and thought I would do a line up of my blondes (short hair Susan not included - as she said she would only wear short Retro style dresses!)

From left to right:

Sasha (1974 Trendon Blue Gingham), Alice (1968 Trendon Kilt), Meredith (1966 Frido NP), Sally (1971/2  Trendon WF Blue Gingham), Victoria (1970 Trendon Blue Gingham)

Victoria in 'Paua Shells' Batik

Alice in New Zealand 'Postal Stamps'

Sally in NZ Animal Fun.

Sharon - I have tried to capture her face for you as she has the 'Wide Face'

Two New Zealand Print Dresses - One for Blogiversary Giveaway Gift.

Two more dresses made today with a batik New Zealand birds and Maori Emblem print.

Julie and Judie are modelling these two dresses although one of them will be the gift for my Two Year Blogiversary Giveaway.

Don't forget if you would like to enter my giveaway - please leave a comment here or on this post.

Giveaway closes Friday 31st May - winner will be drawn by random number generator.

Sewing for Sasha

Some of you may recall that I sold my first sasha doll 'Sasha' and then bought her back the other month after she had had two owners in a very short space of time.  Today I thought she could wear the new dress I made out of some New Zealand fabric I had - only right as she was the first to visit New Zealand with me in 2011.  

The print was quite big and I wasn't sure how it would work - but I think it is okay.  I just love all the birds.

I'd love for her fringe to be even, but I believe this is an original cut - it doesn't look like it has ever been trimmed, and I am not a hairdresser so I will leave well enough alone.

A new dress for Victoria

I thought I would try a little sewing today to keep me distracted from my son's imminent departure for another three months.

I paced myself today and although am now sore, not as sore as I have been so hopefully with a quiet sit down this afternoon before we go up to the airport the pain will ease up.

I'm a bit annoyed that I machine hemmed this skirt.  I usually hand hem when I can, but I had no suitable matching thread so thought I would machine hem it as a contrast.  Perhaps it just needs a bit more of a press.  Or I may just undo it and try and get some matching thread to hand sew it.  Otherwise I am really pleased with how this has turned out and think the colour suits Victoria really well.  The little collar is detachable.

Victoria is so beautiful.

Sasha Festival Donations

I will be posting my donations for the Sasha Festival Children's Auction off to the USA on Monday.  I thought I ought to try capturing some better photos for my records.

Donation for Children’s Fund Auction, Sasha Festival 2013

A beautiful dress made in the ‘Sasha Studio’ Style from a Victorian Child's Christening Gown by Lorraine Tyler of ‘Muriel Makes’.  I made use of the beautiful handwork reminiscent of the Victorian period in the making of this dress.  There may be slight imperfections/discolouration due to the age of the fabric, but all add to the charm and ‘little bit of history’ of this lovely dress.  Dress donated by Lorraine Tyler.

This photo is 'just because' she is so pretty - the detail of the dress is lost!

Next up was the cardigan I made for joint baby outfit Marti and I made and are donating.

Next is the 'Erica Sweater'  in memory of Erica McLeod - a fellow New Zealand Sasha lover who sadly passed away earlier this year.

Both sweater and cardigan have been knitted with 100% New Zealand Merino wool.

I am also contributing to the project Rosie has organised....my outfit yet to be completed, hoping to get on to it next week as I should have more free time as my older son is off to join his ship and flies back to Sydney tomorrow.