mental health day

Sometimes you just need to ignore what you are meant to be doing, in favour of what you want to be doing. A mental health day of sorts. I tried so hard to get all of the jobs I needed to do finished today, but my head wasn't with it and what I really wanted to be doing was crocheting a trim onto a new little cape for my girl. After hours of procrastination and unproductive behaviour I finally gave in and sat down with a cuppa and my hook.

Sometimes I have too high expectations of what I can achieve in one day! I bet most of you do the same. I'm starting realise now that to save my own sanity I just have to turn down the pressure and let some things go.

I hope your weekend is full of things you would rather be doing!

Bec x

Junior Re-style

I was shopping the other morning. I was on a mission to get my small person a hat so that I didn't have to drop her off at kindy without one again. It shoud have been an in-out mission, over in 10 minutes, except the shop was full of gorgeous little garments with quirk and style and exorbitant price tags. I came across a gorgeous little knit cape/poncho and I made it my plan then and there to try to make my own. 

Today at the op-shop (Australian version of a thrift store, for all my american readers...) I bought two knit jumpers. One was a ladies skivvy or turtle neck, and one was a mens jumper with a high round neck. I simply cut off the arms and body of the jumpers in a semi-circle. I sewed on a tassel trim to finish off my knit edges neatly. I also took the arm of the ens jumper and made my own turtle neck roll to make that cape more snuggly. I then made and attached the pompoms.

I even had enough knit fabric left over to make little beanies that match each cape. I will get an action shot of my small person in her cape as soon as she lets me dress her in it! currently she is running around the house in her undies as is the norm.

We are gearing up for Autumn/Winter round these parts so ponchos and leggings, capes, jackets and boots are on my mind! I love this time of year!

dress factory

We have been busy today. Inside and out. I have dresses hanging everywhere and I need to get the house in order for a property inspection on the weekend. The owners of the sugar shack are coming through for the first time since I started renting this little place, so I want to make sure that it looks beautiful. Lots of cleaning and organising as well as lots of sewing. 

We have peri peri chicken in the oven and the smell is carrying through the shack and making me hungry! Its time for a bath, dinner and then to settle in for an evening of revenge on the TV. Yes! Then early to bed to start it all over again tomorrow.

As always the house is a mess of fabric stacks! Its a beautiful mess, at least :)

Lots of new dresses will be added to the shop over the coming days so stay tuned on instagram (look up naughtyshorts and if you cant find me in a normal search then look in the hashtags) and facebook for details.

Thats all from me today. Hope you are well and happy wherever you may be in the world.

goodnight!

Bec x

today was....

Today was spent sewing together the last 6 dresses needed to  bring me right up to date with my orders. I know I said 27 dresses - but it ended up being more like 37 dresses. In my haste to get things done I made some silly mistakes on a few orders. Wrong sizes, wrong fabric, a little snip, a missed stain... It has meant that I had to sew a few orders twice. A good lesson to slow down and make sure that things are done right the first time. Not all is lost, as I will have a few extra dresses ready to ship when I re-open the shop.

Today I received a gorgeous package from a gorgeous customer. It was completely unexpected and such a delight. An illustrated 2012 calendar to keep me on track and some divine little love-bird salt and pepper shakers. Too cute!! This lovely lady was one of my first supporters and she has an ever growing collection of my dresses. She was the recipient of my first ever Annie dress! I have to pinch myself sometimes. It is such a dream come true to be able to do what I love every day, and sensational clients are just the icing on the cake!! I am so lucky. 

Well I must away. I have a snotty small person to cuddle. 

P.s - TODAY is the last day to enter my giveaway. Winner drawn TOMORROW!!!

Good luck x

tea and sympathy...

Good afternoon lovely peeps! How are you all? Have you had a busy Tuesday?

I have had quite possibly the busiest Tuesday of my life.

It all started with a nice long soak in the bath accompanied by a mug of tea and the latest Frankie magazine. This is highly unusual behaviour in the mornings, but we had a couple of hours to kill before a trip to the doctors, and having my mother-in-law living with us certainly has its benefits when it comes to needing a minute to yourself... My bath was gate-crashed by an eager small person eventually, but not before I finished my cuppa and a couple of articles. It was a nice start....

At the doctors I am happy to say that Miss Z has been given the all clear. Her ears have 'resolved beautifully' and she no longer needs antibiotics. Hallelujah! I on the other hand have been prescribed medicines to fix my own sinus infection - which explains why my head feels like it is full of cement and one of my back teeth has had a pulse for a week.

Despite the fact that I am going cross-eyed staring at my sewing machine, I have absolutely stitched my heart out today. The deadline is looming for orders to be shipped before I escape to Bali next week and I certainly don't intend to disappoint anyone who is expecting their dress before I say bon voyage.

I managed to finish all that I needed to today, and I delivered a HUGE sack full of orders wrapped and packed to the post office this afternoon. Tomorrow is another sewing day, and I plan to finish the dresses for Sally's bridesmaids and an 'Annie' dress for miss Margie...

So now I am enjoying a pot of tea. My teacups arrived (in time for my birthday tomorrow!) and they are just as beautiful as I hoped. Dinner is cooked. The sewing machine is turned off. It might be time for another bath...

Much love!!

Bec x

I'm still here... sort of.

Yummo vintage inspired fabric range @ spotlight...

a small pile of bodices cut and ready to sew...

an amazing fifties pattern discovered at the local oppy for 20 cents. UNUSED! INTACT! MY SIZE!

lovely vintage goodness sent to me by friends...

ten minutes of sunshine in the backyard...

my small person. Who keeps in such good spirits despite her 'thumping earache'.
not again!!

my first ever attempt at a doll blanket...

tea towel & table linen goodness...

dresses at different stages of completion...

Hi my friends!! How are you?? Is it Friday? my goodness...

I hope you have all had a better week than I. We are still out of action in the naughty household, and after a visit to the doctors late yesterday it looks like things may get a bit worse before they get better.  Dr Carr's diagnosis of a thumping earache (likely to perforate her eardrum...again...second time in a month!!) was very sad news. I am amazed at how little my small person complains.

I am feeling a bit better. I seem to have overcome my tummy bug only to wake up with swollen glands and a blocked nose - awesome.

I still have my energy back though - sort of at least - enough to certainly fit in a spot of sewing - when the small person allows it, of course. So I have set up back on the kitchen table - which is hilarious seeing as I stole the large farm table and put it in my studio. It now sits (covered in stuff to put away) in my sewing room, while I cram as much as I can onto the small table in my kitchen.

I thought to do something special for my little lady and make her a doll blanket. It only took me a couple of hours to make - but it was a big effort in the state I was in. I was so pleased when I wrapped it up to give to her. She promptly threw it on the floor and told me ' i dont want it' and had a little tantrum.

I have heaps of work to do - so I had better at least try to get some done. Thanks so much for all of the well wishes and love. You guys are the best.

Bec x

A new design...

hello!!!!! How are you all? I hope that you are having the most fantastic weekend EVER!! Maybe you are making lots of stuff?? Or eating heaps of yummy food? I bet that if you live any where near me you have spent  your whole weekend inside rugged up against the stormy weather.

My poor mum-in-law, who has been living in a groovy caravan in our back yard,. has had very little sleep due to the torrential rain, howling wind and thunder-clapping right above us!! It has been amazing - I LOVE this weather... My mum in law normally loves this weather too - but it has all been a bit much what with her caravan leaking - the door blowing wide open at 3am scaring the socks off her - plus her hot water bottle EXPLODED!

I have had my real mumma here too. So it has been a mum filled weekend. I took full advantage of the granny babysitters - spending some time on a new design that I have been promising to one very special (and patient) customer... I am happy to say that the new dress is a success - and it is my new favourite!! I thought that it was so special that it deserved 6 million photos... So here they are :)

Once again I hope you don't get sick of my face. The pictures of me in the studio - yes they are a little bit self indulgent - but I liked them.

This new dress has some lovely features... BIG POCKETS! a twirly whirly flared skirt that is very flattering on the waist. A neat new neckline and a zip up the back. This makes for much more comfy underarms!! YAY!! This new dress will not be available for custom order. I am going to make them up as ready to ship for sale in the shop - until I am confident enough to make them on demand.

Well this is too long! I'm sure you are quite bored now.

Lots of love!! MWAH!

Bec x