THE BEE KEEPER DRESS

Just a few detailed shots of the new "bee-keeper" dress that will soon be available online.

There have been times this year where I have felt so burnt out and exhausted that I have not been able to cope with the amount of inquiry that came my way. This means that emails have gone without reply, questions on facebook have gone unanswered and so on. This is absolutely not how I want to treat the people who support me and what I do, and who make this creative life possible for me. There have been times however when I found this unavoidable, especially as a single mumma. I just want to say thank you to everyone for your patience. For understanding that there is only one of me, Thanks for appreciating that my creations are made on our dining table and not pumped out of a factory. I am so sorry if I failed to respond to any of your emails, comments or questions.

This year I will be working on new systems to try to overcome this. I will be streamlining my blog, shop and facebook so that the answers you need will be easier to find. I will move away from custom orders so that I could make every dress as the fabric inspires me, with the details that I desire. 

So every dress will be truly one of a kind and made with love.

So that I can give each my beautiful customers the attention they deserve.

So the only dresses that leave my studio will represent how I want naughtyshorts to be seen in the world.

The new shop will be opening soon. I hope to regularly replenish my stock with beautiful one-of-a-kind garments, vintage pieces and eventually a few imported pieces and home-wares. The items I sell will represent what I love in the world. It will be eclectic and quirky with a focus on handmade.

It will evolve over 2014, I'm sure. Step by step.

You can see more pictures of the bee-keeper dress in action here

xx

My latest design...

My gorgeous friend Ash came by this afternoon for an impromptu photo session. I am trying to organise pictures of my new designs ready to upload into my new online shop, opening this week!  I'll tell you more about that later. I have just been playing with the pictures and I couldn't wait to share them with you, hence the mid-night blogging...

I haven't even named this style yet. It features a scooped neckline and it slips over the head with no zippers or fastenings. It has enclosed elastic at the back and a drawstring that ties at the front. For some reason I have 'the bee-keeper' dress in my mind but I hardly know how it relates to the style. Too obscure? Any suggestions??

Goodnight xx  

On a roll...

I had a bit of an embarrassing breakdown at the optometrists this morning... 

It all started when I picked up my new glasses last week only to realise that the prescription was not right for me, so I made a new appointment to have my eyes rechecked and get my new glasses fixed. I was in the middle of the eye test when I broke down into tears, gasping, sobbing, blubbering, red faced, snot nosed... It was horrible and exhausting and seeing as this is my third teary breakdown in as many days, it is obviously hormonal. If I ever find myself crying watching masterchef or neighbors or any other equally terrible program you can bet that its time to reach for the nurofen and the chocolate.

My day started beautifully, with an early start and a bit of a work out on the beach. Panettone  for  breakfast, op-shopping and fresh coffee. And to be honest I have actually been on a bit of a creative high for the last few weeks. I have been filling my sketchbooks with designs and ideas and most of the designs I have put into action have worked out beautifully.

I have also purchased new photo editing programs so I have been spending a bit of time trying to navigate the new software. I have so much to learn,  but I have included a  few pictures from around my house taken over the last couple of weeks. I think they look pretty good. 

How is the Christmas prep coming along? Have you found any amazing Festive D.I.Y's online?

Bec x

DIY summer jacket

I found this top at an op-shop a few weeks ago and I was instantly drawn to the print and colours of the fabric. It reminds me of something my grandma would wear on special occasions. The fabric is synthetic, like chiffon. I normally prefer a cotton, but sometimes a little bit of slink is a nice addition to a outfit. I instantly saw its potential as a gypsy style jacket. 

I have been making boleros, kimonos and jackets lately (sneak peek coming) so I had this amazing vintage coral tassel trim on hand but you can find tassel trim in craft shops. I simply chopped off the sleeves at 3/4 length,  then I cut length off the back and I cut diagonally chopped the extra length across the front. I then sewed on my tassel trim to all of the raw edges and I was finished. A 15 minute project that I adore! I will be keeping my eyes out for similar pieces to do this again...

around these parts...

Hello beautiful friends! How are you on this fine spring day? It is lovely and mild down in these parts, but the sun is shining and the crickets and cicadas are chirping away so it feels like summer! Its a sound that reminds me of HOT summer days and it sort of lulls me into laziness...

But of course as always I have had a million and one things to do this week, and no chance to be lazy. I rearranged my home, I continued with the culling and sorting of our belongings, I set up my studio and on Tuesday I spent a whole day playing dress ups and taking photos with the lovely Peach from peach woods photography and local beauty, Claire. It was such a fun and laid back day and we shot at some fabulous locations and I CAN NOT WAIT to see the pictures and share them with you all.

Hopefully next week I will have a few more to share here... In the mean time I will leave you with a few pictures to give you a little taste of how my week has looked...

Bec x

Hello Beautiful Friends!

I am here! I am here!! I have had the most hectic and wonderful last few weeks. I finally debuted my little travelling caravan shop and it was a wonderful success. I was working so hard leading up to the market I have to confess that I was a little stressed out and ultimately a little bit of a nightmare to be around. I have to say a massive thank you to my lovely friends and family who helped me, and who have forgiven me for living in my own little bubble world this last month... I love you guys!

In the days after the market I had to shut down and hibernate and snap out of  hyper dress-making mode! A few days of sleeping on the couch, all day pyjamas etc, etc... Then came the post market house clean, which lead to the HUGEST garage sale in the world!!! And I have managed a little bit of creative sewing which has been so good for my soul. I am definitely cutting down on custom orders from now on to make time for creative sewing and one of a kind dresses...

Well I am glad that its over and done with and life can return back to normal, And I have lots to share including a very special D.I.Y at some point this week that I am sure you will love...

Hope you are well!!

Bec x

Market news!

Good evening friends! How was your weekend?? It was beautiful and warm over here in the west. I had a hectic weekend. We road tripped to Perth to watch my little sister and my sexy handyman take part in the tough mudder comp. It is a military styled race/event with obstacles over a 20kms course. No I did not race, nor did I want to to be honest. This is not my thing. But I loved watching two of my favourite people in the universe tough it out, covered in mud, getting electrocuted and jumping over stuff and carrying things.

I stayed with my beautiful mum and she fed me lovely fresh organic food and let me sleep while she played with my little person. I love my mum.

I am back home now, with so much to do. I am ultra motivated to sew with the Sou'west vintage fest fast approaching! The 9th of November I will be debuting my little caravan as a market stall and I want to make sure I have plenty of stock available.

I have just ordered six new african wax print fabrics for my new style of tea dress. I don't know if they will arrive in time to be made into dresses for the market, but I will have some in my other african print fabrics. I love this new style. Any suggestions for what I should call it??

BTW, I am sure that many of you are aware of the devastation caused by the fires over in NSW over the last weeks. I will be selling a few dresses to raise money to donate to the cause so stay tuned in the coming weeks for details.

I need a bath! And some sleep!! Talk to you later!!!

Bec xx