Tbh, much of my attention these last few months have been on developing my wardrobe for a holiday we are going on over Christmas. There will be a few events where everyone gets really dressed up and that is exciting! Like it’ll be Frocktails with only me in attendance! So I’ll win!!

[Fyi the first part of this post is sewing, speed scroll down if its drags you]

This vintage pattern I chased down is made for fancy nights, very YSL le smoking. I’m going View B, floor length with pants underneath. Thinking heavy drape black viscose satin. Regarding these events, I have been planning, I have been buying fabric and patterns, I have actually been writing things down and I have been making two piece outfits. I have been serious.

Thinking these. You’ll have to click on the images if you want to see them entire, these are auto cropped to fit a square format but the thinking is two piece sets with volume contrasts

I’m thinking a mass volume thing I’m thinking panniers

Was thinking one shoulder volume thing, and then I remembered I already have this black satin Halston gown duh. I bought it in London and have worn it a surprising number of times, its exactly the kind of thing that delivers max when you need it. Last time I wore it, it was under a black crepe blazer and over a long skirt…I think it was a work related event but not sure. Dress is better than event. And yet I forgot I had this dress. Ah the things we forget, even the black satin things.

Then thinking a lot about a cape type item, as an extension of the massive volume thing

Burda polyester dress 103 burda style 07 24.jpg

I’m leaning in to the Tessuti Amara vest for a cape, I think with a split down the front it will work like the one from Emily in Paris season three episode 2, but not my priority rn, lower on the make list. This collection currently stands at 16 pieces. I wont be making 16 pieces. But this cape thing would make outfits transform, like over a plain top and pants or skirt it is instant drama, and dressed up, and I’m HERE FOR IT, AS THE KIDS WOULD SAY. HI KIDS.

For me, I’m so happy I’ve entered my caftan time of life. We are well supplied with caftan patterns and it makes my job so much easier. I’m going with this Vogue 1735. I have some Gucci fabric that was destined to be caftan

A few more, thinking a floor length column dress, but as a matching t-shirt with pencil skirt because versatile, cant wait to wear a floor length leopard print number

I love this one. Looping back and in a capey mood, I purchased and made this Simplicity S9926 pattern and I now have regret. I dont like it and I used a really nice cotton in the best chocolate colour and the loss hurts.

But I win some, I lost this one, and that is bound to happen in this hustle bustle topsy turvy world.

You know, I have plentiful amounts of black tops and black skirts, it is in my job description, and wearing a knockout necklace will turn most things around, particularly when head to toe in black, and I realise I have it covered

And then my Mother-in-law died, and things went quiet

We had her funeral, with just the four of us there, and now we’ve had a memorial ceremony with lots of people there. Her name was Mathilde and I loved her.

These ornaments put themselves on the artwork, I think because of her, the colours are very her. I’m still working on this piece

I’m making little pieces of light for it

We spent a night in the city and it was good to get away from home

Food was super good! And we marveled at the neat stainless steel welds on the widow frames at N Smith Gallery across the road

We had a birthday in the house so I made a cake but fyi, Black Forest Cake without the booze isnt worth the cherries

actually made six cakes in total

[not funny]

A reason for all that cake decorating

I put lights inside the cabinet! It required drilling a hole through the top, which is what stopped me from doing this earlier, but having the lights was on balance worth it totally