Hope 2011 has started well for you all. I have declared it "Year of Me!"... that is, that I will do things that will suit me and my son, not everyone else. I tend to be the person who will go to everything she is invited to even if it means getting tired or putting myself out in some way. We all do this, I'm sure but I need to pull it back a bit. I have 3 legal battles going on (all personal and tiring) and my study, keeping the house and garden (ha) neat and tidy and of course the most important; my son. So starting with holiday to Adelaide to see my girlfriend and her family; I am practising the "Year of Me". Actually this is not that big a sacrifice as 1) They have a new home.. with a pool. 2) it is over 30 degrees there and sunny 3) it is STILL pouring rain nearly every minute here and not the least because 4) her husband is also on holidays at this time and is a fantastic cook! They have been away from Brisbane for much of the last 15 years so since having my son, we have not got to them often. We will visit the Pandas in the Adelaide Zoo and see some of the Tour Down Under (cycle race) with my friend entering my son in the kids race! I hope to see some thrift shops and fabric shops but I don't really need anything (but always on the lookout for shoes I can't live without!)
It was a little while ago, but on clearing my desk I found the entry ticket to the Valentino Retrospective that was in Brisbane from 7 August to 14 November. Of course, I managed to nearly miss it by not remembering to go when my son was at his Dad's (one day a week) or after tafe finished but before school holidays started. I went on the last day and only remembered at lunch time.... without a doubt, many others had done the same thing and there was a line a mile long!
There were many beautiful dresses including the black number Julia Roberts wore on winning her Academy Award, the dress Jacqueline Kennedy married Onassis in and many beautiful creations. You can see the collection if you google Valentino Retrospective (I've tried about 15 links but they are archived and don't work). It is worth it but you can't see the detail of the work... truly amazing! Every stitch on couture is hand made ... NO sewing machine work at all. (the workshop did purchase sewing machines one time but they were sent back more than a year later unused). Each and every rolled hem stitch, ruching, seams, beading etc are all done by hand. As one who sews, that was what was awe inspiring to see ... the detail and work is overwhelming and the photos don't do it justice. I was thrilled to see the work even though some was not to my taste, other pieces were. I was thrilled for the opportunity and even though the designers do the design work and have to know how the fabric will behave etc, etc you cannot go past the many women that toiled over these works of art.
Other things that have transpired ... I bought a subscription to Ottobre Magazine starting in February 2011! I do like a lot of their designs and it is so cheap! I think it was about $26 AUD for the two issues ... well that's not that much when it would be the same to buy Burda off the shelf (if I could find it anywhere!!). I think the Burda subscription is too expensive for me and besides I can get it for free at the library!
Finally also have some photos of the dress I made for my friend's 50th birthday. None of me wearing it as it makes me look very round! But it does look great on the hanger and with someone a few kilos lighter (me soon hopefully) it will look great! I have had many favourable comments however and the satin was a great choice for this dress. It swishes about ever so lovely and is really comfortable to wear with the elastic waist. (this was very handy as my friend had fantastic finger food and champagne all night at the party!) I have to make a sash belt for it or get some contrast ribbon as it really needs something... any ideas? The colour is probably more true of the top photo. Just a reminder... the fabric was $3 from the church jumble sale and the pattern was .20cents or .50cents! Bargain.
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