My first print advertisement

Here is my first "magazine" advertisement. It is in the latest (well, not so latest now) edition of MixTape zine. It is really exciting to see your name in print.

If you have'nt check out MixTape please do. It has great crafty ideas, inspiring articles, great recipes and it is put together by two very talented and very dedicated Melbourne ladies, Justine and Nichola.

MixTape is a refreshing change from advertisement saturated magazines that have very little reading content.

It is available from their Etsy store and I suggest you purchase a copy today!!

Emma skirt makes people swoon!

I wanted to make my friend Emma a skirt that was both stiking, yet simple, and here it is. This skirt is made out of 100% Hawaiian Cotton Barkcloth, I have chosen not to line it and it has a zip closure in the back seam. The waistband is a straight forward 2.5cm, bound style with a snap closure (I felt like a change from the usual button and buttonhole). The hem is flirty enough to wear an underskirt underneath for a true fifites look.

To finish off the style, I have made a matching, removable self covered belt.

Emma is tall and wears amazing shoes that highlight her stunning legs, I am looking forward to seeing this on her!

Whenever people see this fabric in my studio they literally gasp or swoon. I like it and wish I had metres of it, but sadly, it is not the case.

Betsy Bustier with Belt

Ah, Betsy. My friend Beth, has the face of a Hollywood starlet. She is eloquent and sweet and she is also a member of my favorite Burlesque troupe, Mans Ruin Burlesque.

It is a simple top, yet is looks stunning on. I delivered it to her today, and she tried it on over a pair of black skinny jeans, it looked great.

I have made it using Hawaiian cotton barkcloth and lined it with a yummy rayon/viscose lining (the kind that you use in jackets). It has an open end zip in the back and the self covered belt is removable.

I will post some photos of her wearing the Betsy top on my flickr page soon.

Ch-ch-ch-CHERRY BOMB!

I could look at cherry printed fabric for hours. I can honestly say, it is one print that I never tire of. I have made this 'Rocker Girl Jane' dress using a beautifully smooth cotton. I have lined it in white polyester and used an invisible zip purchased from Harvey's in the Nicholas Building (I find the meshy Birch ones from retail shops scary and unreliable).

I have made it my goal to make up most of the cherry fabric that I have stockpiled by the end of [Australian] summer...we'll see how I go.

Speaking of cherries, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Justine from 62cherry and her ace husband Simon for setting up this blog for me as well as my website. Please click on the 62cherry link and check out her online store (I have bought 4 items from it already) and her very cool, very crafty blog too.

A beautiful dress for a beautiful Artist

My friend Samantha Sultana and I have done a collaboration and this is the finished product.

I have made the dress from vintage-look Polyester Taffetta, flocked with black spots. I love how the full circle skirt makes that sound as the fabric moves. The straps are made from velvet ribbon and I have made a 2" black, fabric covered belt to accentuate the small waist.

Samantha is a vintage inspired sleepwear and accessories designer, the brooch that she has created for this dress finishes off the outfit perfectly. I hope this colab is not going to be a one off thing!

Dani's belated birthday present...

I started making this dress for my gorgeous friend Dani in April (her birthday is in June). Today, I finally finished it and it looks really pretty. We were going to make it a halter, but I decided to omit the straps leaving her collar bones bare as I wanted to highlight her sweet anchor tattoo.

I did'nt want to use a synthetic fabric to line it, so I went to my small bits of fabric pile and found a really cute hot pink with small white polka dotted cotton canvas.

I am giving it to her tomorrow...I can't wait to see her in it.

Well, my mum LOVED it!!!

My mum Helen is a hoarder. She has at least 200 assorted bags, yet still carries things around in plastic supermarket bags - which drives me crazy.

So, in hope of her breaking this habit, I made her a black tote bag with a 'genuine' Elvis Presley fabric panel appliqued on the front. When I showed it to my husband, his comment was "well, you got the Vic Market look down pat" - cruel!!

I finally gave the tote to my mum last week and she loved it, just the way she has loved everything else I have made for her. The cutest thing she said? "Oh, I will be so proud walking down the street with this, it has Elvis on it and your label on it".

If you would like an Elvis tote too, let me know and I will see what I can do for you. ;-)

Introducing...Frankie

I have been working on a new top design for literally 1 year now. I started working on it when I was pregnant and it has taken until today to deliver the new style to stores.

This figure flattering top has elbow length sleeves with self binding, self bound boat neck top and by popular demand, I have made this style with a slightly longer line (hip length), making this top perfect over a pair of jeans, great worn with leggings and also very cool tucked into a pencil skirt.

Send me an email for stockist details.

Vanessa's new dress

Two Sundays ago, my gorgeous friend Vanessa asked me to make her a new dress by the following Friday. No problem! Ha, good old Murphy's Law ensured that my son Bastien came down with the flu that very same night.

So with only 1 week and an unwell baby I created this simple, yet stunning dress using genuine Hawaiian cotton bark cloth. The dress has halter style straps, a high split in the back. I made a 1 1/2"self covered belt (not pictured) to complete the outfit.

As you will discover during my blogging journey, I am a brilliant dressmaker and a terrible photographer!! Let me know what you think...

My first Blog post

I have set up this page to keep you up to date on the latest projects that I am working on, new editions to the ever expanding Peta Pledger clothing collection and also to share crafting tips and resources.

I am currently am working on a collaboration with my friend & favorite Melbourne Pop Artist, Gemma Jones (www.gemmajones.net). We will be doing an exclusive run of t-shirts and tote bags and goodness knows what else!

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I am a Designer and Dressmaker with 18 years experience. I make one off pieces and small runs of pretty garments & accessories influenced by the 1950's, Melbourne's Tattoo Culture and Rock n' Roll.