Just a quick blog to say that how happy I am to have found a lovely group sewing buddies in Auckland! We had our most recent meet up at Sew Love sewing lounge. Thanks for having us Sarah!
If you’d like to join us next time you can join our Facebook group to hear more.
Hi everyone! How’s your Wednesday? So I’m guessing you want to let others know about our meet up? You can share the image below! Or you could even add it to your sidebar by copying and pasting the code:
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Also there’s a sale on all Cake and Victory Patterns for just 24 hours over at the shop. Sale end sat midnight tonight!
How’s your week been? Thank goodness it’s Friday cos mines been pretty hectic! I’m pretty pleased to announce that the next Auckland Sewing Bloggers’ Meet Up will be on the last weekend of March. I love meeting people who are passionate about sewing – so come along and hang out with some friendly, creative ladies! This will be our third, and best, meet up and to celebrate everyone will receive a wee something!
More details to come next week! Will YOU be there?
Hi Swappers! How are we all doing? Are we all getting our stalk on the inaugural Winter Swap 2013? I hope you’ve seen who you partner is. And now perhaps you’re seeing what your partner is into? Thinking yes, I can totally see my winter swap partner in that Vintage Vogue pattern that I bought on Etsy but *know* that I will never sew. Or maybe you’re like Let’s be honest, I loved that fabric when I bought it, but can I really pull off fuschia?? Or maybe you’re out-doing the rest of us and you’ve decided to make something for your partner?
What great swap ideas do you have?
On Sunday we – the Auckland Sewing Bloggers – had our Winter Meet Up. It was super fun and had a great time talking about sewing, sewing and sewing oh and a bit of blogging. There is something pretty cool about meeting up with people who you know you’ll have heaps in common with, especially if, like me, you don’t know many people who sew. Caroline, Frances, Michelle, Jason and Claire joined us (we are still convincing them to get blogs!)
Photo shamelessly stolen from Caroline. You may notice we are mostly looking to the right – When Caroline asked the people at the table next to us to take a photo they thought we wanted a photo with them. Apparently they were famous rugby players. Awkward and hilarious.
Want to join us next time? Email me at penny[at]dressesandme[dot]com!
Just a quick note to say that we are having our winter meet up this Sunday 9 June at 10.30am. Frances, of Frankly Sew, suggested we meet at a cafe called Circus Circus on Mt Eden Road and I think that’s a great idea. Caroline and Michelle will also be there as well as all the non-bloggy sewing lovers.
Keen to come but you’re a bit shy? Never fear! We are super friendly! Send me an email penny[at]dressesandme[dot]com and find out more.
I have these two lovely Vintage patterns up for grabs. All you have to do is “like” my Facebook page and comment with your blogger name and which patterns you’d like (otherwise I won’t know who’s who!) The patterns are Maudella 5397 (bust 46″) and McCalls 6944 (bust 36″).
I’ll draw two winners in a weeks time on Sunday 2 June.
Dont forget the Auckland Sewing Blggers Winter Meet Up is happening on Sunday 9 June. Comment with your email address if you’re keen!
More details to follow but I just wanted to give everyone a heads up. The Winter Meet Up will be on Sunday 9 June at 10.30 am I’m open to ideas of where everyone would like to go. Please comment if you’ve got an awesome idea!
I’ll be sending an email out with more details soon. If you don’t have a blog and are keen to join us that’s cool too! Just comment with your email address and I’ll put you on the list!.
Also I’ve created a button if you’re keen to add it to your blogs:
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Here in New Zealand we are well and truly into winter – it’s grey outside, it’s been pouring all day and my boots are sodden right through to my toes. Full disclosure: I even bought some Ugg Boots last week.
I’ve dived into Me Made May head first and actually remembered to note this when I get dresses every morning! Well done me! My photographer was working late this week so I’ve only got pics of the last three days but rest assured that I have been complying with my pledge. Here is the evidence:
May 2: Houndstooth skirt; May 3: Vintage-y blouse and Grey work skirt; May 4: Ginger by Colette and gingham shirt (the first blouse I every made). This last outfit has become my go-to combo.
The Auckland Sewing Bloggers had their first Meet Up last weekend too! It was a great morning discussing our shared love of Sewaholic Patterns – Claire and I even decided to have a Thurlow challenge to conquer our fear of sewing trousers. Michelle from Every Stitch bought some great fabric which we pounced on and told us about how she was going to whip up a 1920’s dress IN ONE AFTERNOON for her daughter’s party! What a super hero! Unfortunately I forgot to take photos, I only posted one to my instagram of my lemon tart – what a fail!
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and I’m looking forward to the next one!
Last Friday I crawled across the finish line completing my Mad Men Dress on the day it was due in an episode that was quite reminiscent of my university days (I know Julia gave an extension but I was going on holiday on the same Friday – so no extension for Penny). I’ve posted a few photos of the finished product as well as some progress posts along the way.
In case you were wondering I made McCall’s 6454 circa 1964 in a navy, teal and gold brocade. I made a muslin in some shocking pink nylon-y material which I used as the lining.
This is the first sewalong that I’ve gone in on. I’ve really enjoyed being part of a community of people all working on their sewalong projects. However I found working under the time pressure of a deadline quite deflating. I really enjoy sewing. It’s something I do because simply because I like it. So the notion of having to time pressure was a bit unwelcome. That’s not to say that I haven’t enjoyed the sewalong experience. It’s been great to see everyone’s dresses and how they interpreted the brief. Perhaps I was a bit literal with my dress – I don’t think 1960s when I first look at it. Instead it’s more of a copy of Betty’s dress – brocade and a high neckline.
The plunging back was really a guess. I partly chose this design because I thought the high neckline on Betty’s dress front would need the low back to balance it out if you know what I mean, and partly because I already had this pattern perhaps being a cheap….
Overall I enjoyed the sewalong experience but it might be a while before I enter another!
AUCKLAND SEWING BLOGGERS MEET UP IS HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY – IT’D BE GREAT TO SEE YOU THERE
Dresses & Me 
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