• Current Projects
  • Granny Corner
  • Tutorials
    • 2019 Projects
    • 2018 Projects
    • 2017 Projects
    • 2016-2013 Projects
    • Artworks
    • Artworking
    • Contact
    • Souvenirs
    • Artefacts
    • Jewellery
    • Decorative objects
    • Mini-bags
Menu

artworkerprojects

  • Current Projects
  • Granny Corner
  • Tutorials
  • Project Library
    • 2019 Projects
    • 2018 Projects
    • 2017 Projects
    • 2016-2013 Projects
  • About
    • Artworks
    • Artworking
    • Contact
  • Art Shop
    • Souvenirs
    • Artefacts
    • Jewellery
    • Decorative objects
    • Mini-bags
×
 
Rosie-Perl-april2017.4.JPG.jpg

pre 2018

2017, 2016, 2105, 2014, 2013, all the way back


 
artworkerprojects.dvf.diy.13.jpg

Frocktails 2015; DIY DVF

Rosie, artworker July 5, 2015
The Plan

The Plan

The one, the only, Diane Von Furstenberg at CDFA June 2015Sexy older babe. Like me except with confidence and a magnetic charisma.

The one, the only, Diane Von Furstenberg at CDFA June 2015

Sexy older babe. Like me except with confidence and a magnetic charisma.

Frocktails Canberra 2015: at the venue du jour, Hotel Hotel, Canberra, 28 supergood women in best self-made outfits enthusiastically celebrated common ground: sewing! Or rather, sewing and like-mindedness. This isnt just about the clothes, I've never known such a kind of random social group to count so many PhD's in their ranks. Really, really smart women, funny, handy, clever, kind, generous, smiley and laugh-y. 

@velosewer @bodhana @littlebettysews @sewjillian #cbrfrocktail I love this pic!

@velosewer @bodhana @littlebettysews @sewjillian #cbrfrocktail I love this pic!

The booze was hit and on this night, gauging the hand (texture, weight and fall) of anyone's dress/pants/coat/skirt/scarf/top/gown/purse was not only acceptable, it was actively encouraged and the relative merits of alternative or prospective pattern designs discussed at length. Which is a pretty spot on summary of the night, except for the food, (which was excellent) and the atmosphere (which was that best mix of laid back excitement) and the weather, which was cold. But winter crisp and crystal clear.

artworkerprojects.larkhillwinery2015.jpg
artworkerprojects.giant.chicken.jpg

Driving from Sydney to Canberra is a really pretty drive, with a stop at Lark Hill Winery on the way; they also have GIANT CHICKENS there. They do. 

For frocktailers, sewing is beyond a casual interest, it's about making haute fashion garments that properly fit the maker, made with care, consideration and creative flair. I think it wouldn't be going too far to say this could be described, in many cases, as a passionate hobby. Brought together through social media (blogosphere/Instagram...well ok probably mostly Instagram), we're a diverse and democratic (anyone can sew) group and we made the jump from online to real life (scary!) based on an activity that is fun, challenging and at it's heart, truly creative.

View fullsize artworkerprojects.hotelHotel.2015.1.jpg
View fullsize artworkerprojects.hotelHotel.2015.2.jpg
View fullsize artworkerprojects.hotelHotel.2015.3.jpg
View fullsize artworkerprojects.hotelHotel.2015.5.jpg

The most photographed stairs in Australia, at Hotel Hotel. 

IMG_4749 (2).jpg
artworkerprojects.dvf4.jpg
Purplish tinge to feet. Sandal heels in winter, you get that

Purplish tinge to feet. Sandal heels in winter, you get that

Ok so my Frocktails dress. I love my dress. I really do. Its a great dress. Its an elongated Sewaholic Belcarra, continuing my fine tradition of 'every top is a dress just shorter' approach to shift/sack dresses. I did think I had the shaping quite nicely through the body but maybe not, judging by photos. Not my photos, obvs, they only show me looking as I want to be seen, not as I am, but as shown in other people's photographs. Hate that. 

View fullsize MariaDenmark101KirstenKimonoTee..png
View fullsize Belcarra.JPG
View fullsize dvf_Cfda_bfa.jpg
View fullsize IMG_4753 (2).jpg

I studied DVF's which is all about the column of graphic print plus bare skin (sexy older skin) but since I wasn't planning on generating publicity (OR AM I??)  I didn't go there with the shoulder action so much because it would've really annoyed me to constantly monitor the slippage & hoiking it up or down, One is a lady.

As it is, I wore a black cardigan all night anyway, which I thought lent me a slightly boho look but again, other people's photographs are not so sympathetic to my black cardigan rule. (The "wear it always" rule)

Now, there were two ways to go, pattern wise, in making this 70's style (so hot right now) loose sheath dress; simple or simple-made-harder. Simple-made-harder involved raglan sleeve pattern matching and altering the cut and fit substantially so naturally that option won out. The dress is probably more like Maria Denmark's FREE Kimono T (the simple option) than Sewaholic's Belcarra but the Belcarra had a bit of shaping through the body due to the raglan cut so I went with that. NOT MY BEST DECISION.

I had the fabric, oh yes, I had the fabric,

I significantly altered the pattern, making the sleeves more fitted which changed the armscye & side seams for a better (or so I thought) shape all around.

I had enough for a floor length gown of SPLENDOUR, just the eventuality a well kept stash is designed to accommodate...

I also had the CHEAP FABRIC, from Spotlight, so I felt financially virtuous in deploying it AND smugishness in having to hand such an on point solution...

BUT

Unfortunately, the cheapness should've alerted me to a geometric pattern printed OFF GRAIN that would be HARD to match. DAMMIT. HOWEVER, in maintaining the liberal use of CAPITALS, it was worth it, I ended up with a very wearable gown that I can shorten to midi length for a dressy lunch function coming up soon and best of all, it looks great with a BLACK CARDIGAN. I know, too good.

View fullsize artworkerprojects.dvf.diy.8.jpg
View fullsize artworkerprojects.dvf.diy.10.jpg

The print being off grain was a long run pain in the arse and I had to settle for just making it match down the side seams and steam pressing the fick out if it. It worked! Finished hem with black bias tape to keep it as long as.

View fullsize artworkerprojects.dvf.diy.12.jpg
View fullsize artworkerprojects.dvf.diy.13.jpg
View fullsize artworkerprojects.dvf.diy.14.jpg
View fullsize artworkerprojects.dvf.diy.15.jpg

Now Jillian will no doubt recognise the backdrop fabric and I want to assure you Jillian, I trod will CARE upon it! Tippy toes! Its so nice and I love it! I love it so much and rest easy, your reciprocal goods are on their way to you! I do love a barter, trading a generous length of super fabric for an artwork. *Hint: anyone else out there want to do business, hit me up here, see my Art Shop here.

I cant seem to fit a full length selfie at home so here's one from @_busylizzie but I must say, not too many snaps have surfaced from the night, we were all having too fine a time, obvs

I had the earrings. Oh yes, I had the earrings.

I had the earrings. Oh yes, I had the earrings.

@bloglessanna @kbfield

@bloglessanna @kbfield

@bloglessanna trying to outshoe me

@bloglessanna trying to outshoe me

Game set match. Harrrrrr

Game set match. Harrrrrr

When I started this website, I had no intention of airing my hobby online, I'm a professional artist & I maintain a professional attitude in my conduct AT ALL TIMES. Except when I'm being a DICKHEAD which admittedly is a lot of the time. But, the art world is never going to be as social, partly because we're mostly all sociopaths and partly because we're not up for inviting comparison to other artists. Sewists have no problem with praising the better job you've done with the same fabric and/or some total dud call of pattern selection on their behalf. Its less weighty for sure, but at baseline it's the difference between I hate you all/you all hate me and I love all (most) of you/you all (mostly) love me. It was a nicer world that Saturday night in Canberra.

View fullsize artworkerprojects.frocktails.2015.5.jpg
View fullsize artworkerprojects.frocktails.2015.6.jpg
View fullsize artworkerprojects.frocktails.2015.7.jpg
View fullsize artworkerprojects.frocktails.2015.8.jpg
View fullsize artworkerprojects.frocktails.2015.9.jpg
View fullsize artworkerprojects.frocktails.2015.10.jpg
In Granny Corner, Past Project, 2015 Tags sewing, fashion, Frocktails, fabrics, dresses, 2015, Granny Corner, DVF, index 2015, Pattern hack
← Lucent Visor: #superloveitThe Changing Room. From The Body Mask Series 2015 →
 
 
 
 
 

Past projects

 
Featured
Artworking; December 2018
Dec 26, 2018
Artworking; December 2018
Dec 26, 2018
Dec 26, 2018
Artworking; November 2018
Dec 18, 2018
Artworking; November 2018
Dec 18, 2018
Dec 18, 2018
Artworking; October 2018
Nov 14, 2018
Artworking; October 2018
Nov 14, 2018
Nov 14, 2018
Vale Stimming & the Great Outdoors
Oct 26, 2018
Vale Stimming & the Great Outdoors
Oct 26, 2018
Oct 26, 2018
Artworking; September 2018
Oct 3, 2018
Artworking; September 2018
Oct 3, 2018
Oct 3, 2018
Artworking; August 2018. Stimming etc. part 2
Sep 7, 2018
Artworking; August 2018. Stimming etc. part 2
Sep 7, 2018
Sep 7, 2018
"Stimming & the Great Outdoors" Diptych
Aug 18, 2018
"Stimming & the Great Outdoors" Diptych
Aug 18, 2018
Aug 18, 2018
 

Back to top

 

I respectfully acknowledge the Guringay people, the traditional custodians of the land that is now called Ku-ring-gai, and pay my respects to elders past, present, and those to come. I extend my respect to elders and members of the Darug nation, and to all Indigenous people who may be reading these words

Fellow travellers, thank you for visiting

© rosie@artworkerprojects.com