'bows on shoulders' blouse

I've been reading that Fall is making its way in the Northern hemisphere by this time of year and I can't help but wonder how it is like to prepare a wardrobe for the change of a season. Where I am, tropically hot, I could count the number of times it had rained for the past two months on my fingers. The that-time-time-of-the-year Sumatran haze even worsened the air. Black ashes on the floor at my backyard by every morning. I'm certainly looking forward to the monsoon rains!

Because of the weather, I've been turning to wearing sleeveless blouses a lot. I made myself a new one yesterday, adapting the sorbetto pattern by adding a few inches on the shoulders for a variation. Hence the bows on the shoulders. I was inspired by ::this::. I had some leftover fabric from a previous project: a smock I'd worn quite regularly; because it's a little sheer, always with a camisole underneath. This time, I lined the blouse with a thin white cotton. It was the first time I lined a self made garment.

This new blouse is a great piece to wear with my favourite scarf in air conditioned places and had helped me keep cool for most of today I'd been out.

Also, I could not believe I haven't share that Jali had made her version of sorbetto using the fabric I'd sent her. Go see!

Here's me: sneaking a photo before heading out, in my 'bows on shoulders' blouse.

and just reading Sarai's post on her chevron top made me think I ought to go ahead and make mine. and I really like her pair of velvet clover pants.

50 pouch project :: mish-mash || completed!

It's pretty much the doldrums here. The slight differences to the daily bits were meeting up with the consul and an invitation to a Hakka association's 8th anniversary in the past days.

Sewing front: I finally stiffened my back and completed sewing the pouches I promised my mother.

Read about my:

• first batch of 18
• 12 toile de jouy

This final batch of 20 is made of various prints; new/pre-loved fabric. I also considered the fact that there would be male recipients hence a small quantity of "manly" prints I could put together in my best effort.

I think I'm done with anything pouch or bag for now.


* Note to self,
and really, I want to share this post- Lune Vintage: Count the day.
It's a nice read and a great reminder for myself.

sail ahoy! :: lunchbag

I figured the best way to get back into my sewing mode is to start complete the projects I'd promised to make for a dear friend and my mother. After the move into the new-to-me house and then later, a week long off work for Brian meant I have not been anywhere near my sewing machine. It had been a nice albeit uneventful (after the house move) family time together.

I finally got to finish off making the lunch-maybe breakfast-bag for my dearest pal who likes to have her cereal in her office. I bought her a red food canister and an extra round container, then set out to measure the size of the lunch-bag which folds over 'paper bag' style. Using unused vintage nautical theme linen pillowcase, blue gingham cotton for lining and denim straps. I gave the straps some length so she could carry the bag over her shoulder and the extra bag room space for the occasional indulgence of a packet of chips, or two.

(Thank you Brian, for your left arm support. Ref: top picture)