Black Pencil Skirt

I distinctly remember by my first black pencil skirt, we had a funeral to attend and after much rooting in my wardrobe it was decided I need a new skirt. As far as skirts go it was nice, it had a pleated kick pleat and was from m&s but I hated that skirt. Mainly because it was intended for a funeral which itself gives off pretty horrible thoughts but secondly because why do we feel the need to wear black to funerals? they should be a celebration of LIFE! And life is COLOURFUL! I've already informed Rikki that the dress code for my funeral should be "fabulous as f**k" I think it would be a wonderful occasion for people to crack out their ball gowns! 

Anyway as sucky as funerals are this is my new funeral skirt. the fabric came from my friend, she has already cut out a skirt for herself, but it had a side zip [and we all know how I feel about those] and I wasn't sure how the fit would be so I opted to cut another skirt using my old faithful GBSB pencil skirt pattern [book 2]. Luckily I manged to get the skirt out of the existing fabric, the only thing I had to forgo was the waistband. So instead this waistband is finished with a strip of brightly coloured bias tape.

The skirt sewed up super fast and I love the fit, those four darts at the front really seam to work with my shape. And I did a really awesome job on the lapped zip which is fast becoming one of my favourites. I've really been focusing on my finishing at the moment in the hopes of becoming a better dressmaker. 

Please excuse my hideous panty line! I put on makeup for blog pictures I am not about the start changing my knickers too. 

The skirt is hemmed by hand which was a nice therapeutic touch for a skirt that will end up holding bad memories. 

So why make a skirt that you will one day end up hating? [I can hear you all saying it] Well you see I read once that clothes are the armour we put on every day and I think its true. I hope that this skirt will give me courage and keep me strong because well, sewing is therapy. For me at least.

In slightly happier news! 

My guinea pig isn't depressed anymore! We had a rocky few weeks after his cage mate died where he'd just sit looking glassy eyed and wouldn't eat or drink anything. He was also really needy and would squeak for hours [if anybodys wondering, Yes a squeaking guinea pig can wake you up at two in the morning even if all the doors are closed in the house and it's downstairs!]  But yes he's almost back to his usual self eating and drinking quite happily!

Pattern - pencil skirt , GBSB book 2

Fabric - Gift from a friend!

Much Love

Frankie 

xxx

DIY Shoe Refashion

 Let me start off by saying I LOVE these shoes. I mean if I had to choose between saying Rikki from a burning building or these shoes, some days, just some days I would choose the shoes.

They are so comfortable its unreal, these shoes have never left me with blisters and a drunken Frankie once walked home from the pub wearing them. YES! wearing them, not carrying then in her hand, not balancing them on her feet whilst receiving a piggy back. Actually wearing them.

These cheap primark heels have seen many a night out, day trip and a very special wedding where I was taking all the pictures. YES! all the pictures and they coped through that too!

 Which is probably why they are wrecked, the heels or wrecked the toes are wrecked. But due to the fact they don't wreck my feet, I decided a quick spruce up was in order! And luckily for me the faux suede of these shoes was easy to refashion.

A good paint job can hide a multitude of sins! I'm using Revell model paint that was left over from some models Rikki built. I love that it comes in both matt and metallic colours! For this project I used silver and matt black.

And took my inspiration from shoes with contrast metallic toes, I think Kurt Geiger and Chanel made some.

First of all I taped off the toes and painted the main body of the shoe black. I had to do two coats for even coverage.

Then with a steady hand I pulled off the toe tape and painted the toes and heels metallic silver. Again I had to do two coats for even coverage.

Next I painted the soles red, al la Jimmy Choo. To be honest might do this with all my shoes because it makes me feel 100% more classy!

I think they turned out pretty BOSS to be honest. I'm pleased because I don't have to throw away one of my favourite pairs of shoes and because it feels like I have a new pair.

I am considering painting the heels black as well to make them feel a bit classier but I think I'll give them a couple of wears first. I didn't paint the heels black originally because I thought I might run out of paint after one shoes and then wouldn't I look a Muppet! Although two shoes in different colours might be kinda quirky.

And they are still as comfortable as ever! 

Yerp still definitely thinking about painting those heels to make the toes more of a statement!

#Sewcialist Sweater Refashion

I'm not sure if you can actually call this a refashion, Its more of a garment spruce up!

It all started out with this simple sweatshirt, we had popped over to Rikki's Nan and Grandads for a visit and so his Aunty Di could do my hair and as it goes Grandad was getting rid of two of these jumpers one in black and one in blue. Nan offered them to Rikki who said no because he doesn't really wear jumpers to be honest and she was like "okay I'll charity shop them then" 

AHEM! [waves furiously for attention] I'll take them off your hands! Mainly I just liked the idea of having another jumper to lounge around in but after sometime I though it might make a cool refashion project!

So I cut out a piece of jersey the width of the chest, and chose myself a hashtag , My inspiration for this came from love sewing magazine who made these cute bags one issue. I wrote the hashtag out in chalk and found myself a paint brush.

I didn't have any fabric paints so I used model paint that we brought when Rikki went through his modelling phase [not blue steel modelling, making little cars modelling]. I'm guessing that it wont wash out because it never washed out of his jeans?

I painted the whole word trying to keep it even.

Pinned it too the front of my sweater, popped on a walking foot and lightening stitched it on!

Do I look cool? I was going for a trendy, like a, I live in topshop and drink starbucks kinda vibe.

I was wearing it with short shorts but then I took some pictures and realised that having so much chocolate in the house over Easter has not been my friend! So I switched to jeans!

I feel comfy which I think matters more than feeling trendy.

I think if I were to do it again I would make the slogan smaller so it goes less into my armpits! Saying that sewcialist is a pretty big word so maybe it has to be this way!

All in all I'd say its not a bad little spruce up in my humble opinion and I think it looks pretty cool! Although I do wonder if its a bit too cool for a mother who likes to be in bed at half nine and has an addiction to tea! It also kind of reminds me of the 90s which might be my favourite decade, I could definitely see my sister wearing this at like 16.

In other news you may have noticed my hair is back to being blonde! After growing all of the god awful red colour out, my hair still seemed dark so Rikkis Aunty Di was kind enough to put highlights in for me.

I say kind enough... she tortured me for god knows how long! Have you ever heard of a highlighting method called "using a cap"? Nope? Me neither. Well as it goes "using a cap" is where a condom like thing is put on your head and then small sections of hair are pulled through small holes individually with a thing that looks like a crochet hook. Then colour is applied leaving you with a beautiful head of even natural looking highlights!

Hurts like a MOTHER! Omg I had tears streaming down my face I'm not sure if I was laughing or crying but sweet Jesus, there are literally no words to describe it. That or I'm just a massive wuss! Which wouldn't surprise me! Although my tattoo did hurt less.....just saying!

Anyway afterwards [and after a quick trim] it was worth it because my hairs cute again! and I'm blonde! And according to Grandad my new hair made me extra SASSY! But I think he's just upset because me and Rikki won at cards!

Anyway if you want to see my new hair pop over to my instagram where I've been posting far too many selfies recently!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

I'm a beautiful butterfly!

An old lady died in my mums home town, we didn't know her, but we do know.

I shall explain, whilst having a meander in her town we strolled past a charity shop, and outside of this charity shop there was a table filled with fabric and embroidery thread, and embroidery transfers and just loads of craft stuff! Well I had a small (slightly maniacal) dig through the box of fabrics and happened to find a black knit fabric, roughly two metres. Anyway after deciding to purchase (what? It's not new fabric if you know exactly what to make from it!) we wandered inside where we found about. 30 craft books and asked the assistant what had happened, turns out a lady had died and her husband had donated all of her craft stuff because he couldn't bear to look at it. Which makes me kind of sad, but at the same time im sure that a lot of people are going to get pleasure from his kindness and generosity and her good taste! 

Now my intention for the fabric was to make the three hour cardigan from the great british sewing bee book, but there wasn't quite enough! So I followed this tutorial for a cocoon cardigan! http://truebias.com/2014/03/diy-cocoon-cardigan.html

You basically follow the instructions and mark directly into the fabric.

Excuse the mess, we've fitted a new sound system in the game room and are storing all if our Easter eggs! 

Right so it's comfy, and the construction was super easy, I did French seams for a nice finish and use a zig zag stitch and a ball point needle. This was my first experience sewing with a knit so I was pretty nervous! 

The arm seam kinda points at the nipple region, (can I say nipple?) which I'm not crazy about, but I think it's hidden by the drape of the fabric. By the way I have no idea what kind of knit it is, it's fairly stable with a very small amount if one way stretch, it's not thin like a tshirt, but the backs not fuzzy like sweatshirt. 

I'm not crazy about the gather detail at the back, I'll see how it washes but it might be ripped out. 

It feels very snuggly.

Here's me trying to do a casual pose, so you can see it hasn't worked! 

All In all I kind of like it, I don't like it as much as my kimono jacket, but it's warmer and I was DESPERATELY in need of a black cardigan I can just throw on over things. Yes i know springs meant to be here but have you seem it yet!? No didn't think so! 

Much love

Frankie

 Xx

OWOP day 6 and 7

I'm a little late for OWOP day 6 ! (What I've been busy!) 

I wore my Robert version with my golf jumper (Dunlop) I promised myself I would only wear the jumper for golf but they looked far to cute together!

And today is very monochrome! 

White dress , black "funeral"  jacket (yes I have a funeral jacket don't judge!)

Black and white brogue style heels and a beige clutch! 

And we are finished! That's OWOP done with! For this year at least! Thank god my washing machine can finally rest! 

Much love

Frankie

Xxx