Retro looking lemon meringue cake...

 

Spring may be in air, but it's really cold and wet here. I was getting a bit bored at the day job and so started looking at "Martha Stewart's Great Cake Recipes"... Whilst I am not fond of meringued cakes, I really love this picture,  it so retro, it has a 70s cookbook style.  Click here for the recipe!

New boxier change purses!

 

I like my rounded purses, they're so soft and can fit in a pocket. On the other hand, they're for loose change only so I was working on a new pattern yesterday. I am quite happy with the new "boxier" shape and it's true, it fits a lot more! See it here in dark gold leather and a quirky coral kisslock frame. And there are more to come this week and the next!

Lace rabbit!

 

A couple of days ago, I stumbled upon Oh, Henry! on etsy. Irrena's styling is really special, see how she can transform a few ordinary plastic spools into a great setting for a pair of earings! I am in awe with her photographic skills! Each image tells a story. It reminded me that I really need to upgrade my own pictures!

I love the handmade lace work, handmade by her boyfriend's mother, using tadition old techniques. This rabbit is really gorgeous!

Fantasizing on Peter Pilotto's wonderful spring summer collection...

 

   

  

I was at Dover Street Market and Liberty a few days ago. Whilst I had saved these images from Peter Pilotto's catwalk show last September, I was thrilled to see the clothes on the racks! They are so so amazing, both in cut and print, and so so wearable! I am tempted to splurge, if I only had an occasion!

Ethical Fashion at the William Morris Gallery!

 

 

The William Morris Gallery, the home of art & craft, is having an ethical fashion night on Thursday 11 March. It is fundraiser to support the gallery which is devoted to the celebrated designer, craftsman, writer, socialist and conservationist,  and displays an important collection illustrating his life, achievements and influence. The Gallery is housed in an 18th house, Morris' family home from 1848 to 1856. I have always meant to visit, so this is the perfect occasion!

In the spirit of Morris’concern for the environment and interest in natural dyes, the gallery has curated an ethical fashion night, with a catwalk show to pove that eco-design can be edgy, fashionable and fun!
The poster reached my in box a couple of days ago. I'm quite excited but have no idea as what to expect. I will be having a stall selling some *new* eco designs, made from vintage fabrics and leather remnants!

Participating designers include: Emmeline 4 Re, Feng Ho, Nancy Dee, Elena Garcia (pictured here), Sew Last Season, Miksani, Beautiful Soul and Tammam.

William Morris Gallery
Lloyd Park, Forest Road, London E17 4PP
Nearest tube: Walthamstow Central/ Blackhorse Road

New Wendy Mullins' book out!!

It is a bit sad to admit but I'm a sewing and pattern cutting nerd and love reading instruction books, old and new! I suppose it gives me a break from actual sewing and pattern cutting, and I love the retro designs and styling of older books; there're always a good place to pick up ideas and new techniques. Among the "new" books, I adore Wendy Mullins' Sew You series (as well as her clothes and patterns of course!). You cannot imagine how excited I was this morning when I heard that a new book is out ... today!

A different era...

My sister has been scanning old photos and sent me this one yesterday. It is my mother and me, and well, it was ages ago! It looks from a different era and I love the light, and my summer dress, navy & white with red trims.

A moment to ponder... the Givenchy couture show

 

 

Looking at images of the Paris couture show, I am in awe with Riccardo Tisci work for Givenchy. The video perhaps gives a bitter indication of how stunning the fabrics are, and it is a bit sad that like many, I will never see and feel the clothes for real...  I was less keen on the jewel colours of the later part of the show (and the über Hollywood look!) but was very impressed with these, in particular with the frilly sleeves, and how gorgeous these looks with the shiny shorts. To me, this is very Little Lord Fauntleroy! The frills on the dress above are so amazingly well-made, the close up images are quite something. Welll, I guess that's what couture is all about, supreme craftmanship and creative spirit!
There are no frills coming on my new designs! But one piece of fabric I had printed pomises to be quite glorious! It is in transit over the atlantic right now!

A Single Man ...

I have seen the poster quite a few time on the Bakerloo line on my way home, and now that I've just had a look at the trailer and I am ready for more! The images are so stunning, Julianne Moore is so beautiful, the costumes are amazing... It is so evidently stylish! A bit like a modern Douglas Sirk? Moore had looked amazing in the modern remake of Sirk's All that Heaven Allows. Personally, I am less keen on Firth, but this role seems to break from his usual screen persona. 
I had loved the atmoshphere caputured in Nowhere Boy and can't get enough to Mad Men! I'm really loving this retro trend, soI'm thrilled there are so much of it at the moment. Maybe people are feeling quite nostalgic. I love fashion and costume but do not have a real preference for an era. Whilst I have long been able to see, admire and wear the clothes of the late 50s and early 60s, it is nice to have to (nearly) "feel" the astmosphere of the era.