Thanks, New Year wishes and a Special Dress

The little girl pictured is my beautiful friend Karen's 2nd daughter. Karen and I met through our Mothers Group and I can say with all honesty, that I would be lost without her. We have very little in common and I'm afraid to say, she does'nt love Bon Jovi, however, I love her dearly and consider her one of my best friends.

I made this dress for Karen's first born daughter around March/April 2007. It has sentimental value for two reasons. The first one is because Karen kept the dress and has passed it on to her 2nd child and the second reason is because this dress is the very first thing I made after having my own son in November 2006.

As you can see, it's a simple dress made using a 1960's toddler pattern and 100% cotton pindot fabric. It has a button on each shoulder and I added a little bow in the front to 'finish off' the dress.

Even though it's a very easy pattern to make, I remember how difficult it was to cut and sew the dress in my sleep deprived state (my son woke every hour on the hour at night for the first 9-10 months of his life). I remember feeling frightened and nervous about what my mothers group would think, even more so because Karen is one of the most stylish people I know! Thankfully she liked it enough to keep for her 2nd child to wear.

People assumed that after I had my baby, I would start churning out babies clothes and I felt immense pressure to keep my business running, especially as it became my only form of income. I am glad I kept my business running, but at the same time, I do feel that I missed out on alot of resting and 'bonding time' in those first few months.

I would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone that has supported my business this year, it's been a strange year on a business level, but a really exciting one too.

Have a safe and Happy New Year, and I am looking forward to a new year filled with exciting new projects.

Bridal party dressed by 'Peta Pledger'

Melanie contacted me in October, and asked me if I could make her wedding dress. "I don't really make 'wedding dresses' as such, Melanie", I replied. "I know, but I am not after a 'wedding' wedding dress", Melanie replied. "Wonderful, I am the right person for you then!", I said. "Oh, and by the way, I am pregnant" Melanie added...

At first, I had a little panic attack as I had never made a wedding dress for a pregnant person before and I confess, I was a little scared.

Our first meeting was so much fun, Melanie's mother and sister came along and we settled on a design and fabric. A few weeks later, Melanie came to my studio to collect one of her bridesmaid dresses and the first thing I noticed was how much bigger Melanie's tummy had gotten!

Concerned that both my original design and fabric choice (shantung) would be too constricting, I hit the commercial pattern books to get a different perspective. I decided to use and modify a Vogue pattern as it had an empire line, open back and neckline.

We also decided to use cotton sateen as we liked the breathability of the cotton and the stretch thanks to the 5% elastaine content.

The skirt was full enough to accommodate Mel's tummy if it grew more and we made a navy blue belt that matched her gorgeous shoes.

Dressmakers will notice that the dress is half a size too big - this was intentional for two reasons, the wedding was in December (summer in Australia) and how much she would grow between dress collection and the wedding day was too unpredictable. I also wanted her to feel comfortable on her special day and not too constricted.

I am so happy with the way both the wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses looked.

Thank you so much for making me a part of your special day and thank you to Kerstin Steger for this photo, check out her super cool childrenswear label Paul & Paula here.

Carita looking gorgeous in her 'Frankie' top

I love receiving photos from you in your 'Peta Pledger' clothing. Sadly, I don't receive enough of them!

This one is of Carita wearing her 'Frankie' top in pink with black spots, Her friend took the photo of her on a Melbourne tram.

You can buy your own top like this one from here.

I'm going to see Bon Jovi tonight!

I got my Richie Sambora haircut by J at Mioche. Black jeans and new top ready. I have stocked up on hair mousse and hair spray and now I just have to wait a few hours before I get ready and go. Words cannot express how excited I am!

Vintage inspired [sweatshop free] kids tees by Arthur's Circus

These sweet new tees by Arthur's Circus have arrived in their online store and make the perfect Christmas present for both babies, toddlers and little people.

The t-shirts are manufactured in Australia and carry the Sweatshop Free logo. The prints on the front have been hand printed in their studio and are of Natalie's photographs, featuring some of the sweet toys available from Arthur's Circus.

You can buy Arthur's Circus tees from here and from Magnolia Square market this weekend if you're in Melbourne.

A Christmas tree decoration good enough to eat!

There was a lovely surprise parcel from the Netherlands in my mailbox today. Germaine of Oh By Jingo sent me a sweet vintage postcard and one of her super cute handmade Christmas tree ornaments.

This one is a gingerbread man and I must say, her workmanship is superb!

Please visit her online store and if you wish to buy your own gingerbread person, click here.

'Frankie' tops in Pink with Black spots are on SALE until midnight on Sunday

Well, it seems like it's almost winter again in Melbourne, so this sale has come at the perfect time. Great for both warm and cool days, this top is made from 95% Polyester and 5% Spandex. It has a longer line so it looks great with both jeans and capri pants and also tucked into a pencil skirt.

You can buy your own 'Frankie' top from here at 50% off the retail price until midnight, Sunday the 28th of November!

The Social Network has spawned a new crush...

My pal Emma and I went to see The Social Network at the Westgarth two weeks ago and I have had a huge crush on Jesse Eisenberg since!

Now, I know some of you may be thinking "gosh, Peta...he's a bit young don't you think?" - I say NO! Crushes are ageless and fun (but it would be super creepy if I had a crush on Justin Bieber *shrudder*). It has taken my mind off a big project I am currently working on and inspired me to watch Adventureland, which I have discovered is a really cool movie!

My favorite song of the moment is 'In Motion' from The Social Network soundtrack. I am a big Nine Inch Nails fan and was really impressed with the job Trent Reznor (along with Atticus Ross) did. If you don't own the soundtrack and like electronic music, go out and buy it, you won't be disappointed.

As for the Jesse Eisenberg crush, I look forward to seeing his next movie, Holy Rollers, in the meantime, I have Google. ;)

Oh Wow! Red 'Frankie' tops are on SALE until Sunday!

Red 'Frankie' tops are on sale in my online store until midnight on Sunday.

They are made from a beautiful stretch fabric that includes Viscose so they feel really nice to wear.

Note: size 14 has sold out.

'Never Fade' by Phrase

Phrase's 'Never Fade' is available from iTunes...it's perfect for summer, hanging out with pals, remembering the past and looking forward to the future...

RIP James Freud

The news has come in that James Freud passed away this morning. The online 'tweets' are saying he committed suicide.

I was never a massive Models or James Freud fan, but my best friend was and I have fond memories of listening to her squeal about him while I scrunched up my 15 year old nose.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

If you are sad or depressed and feel that you cannot go on, please call Life Line on 13 11 14 or visit the Beyond Blue website, because there IS light at the end of the tunnel, I know this because I too have been in "the tunnel" before.

'Making It Handmade' is available on DVD!

"So you think craft is for Nannas? Well think again. Come and explore the subculture of indie craft in Melbourne through four women who are subverting domestic craft techniques drawing from punk culture, politics, feminism and modern aesthetics."

Melbourne film maker, Anna Brownfield has released her documentary 'Making It Handmade' on DVD. The film features 5 crafty women, Rayna Fahey, Pip Lincoln, Gemma Jones, Casey Jenkins, Faythe Levine and interviews with them talking about their careers as crafters, the craft groups they have started and their opinions about what it is like to be a crafty woman in 2010.

Whether you are into making craft, buying craft or are simply interested in a sub-culture that you may not know much about, this movie will do one thing for you, leave you feeling with an inexplicable feeling of empowerment.

You can buy the DVD from here.

Bon Jovi - You Give Love A Bad Name

I know that this song is played to death on commercial radio, but I just had to post it today. I am going to see Bon Jovi with my cousins Julie and Suzie in December and I have to say, we're pretty excited!

After 23 years, this music video still makes my heart flutter. Oh, and if you're wondering who my favorite band member was, it was and still is Richie. ;)

"The Smith Kids Are Alright" - benefit gig for Gavin, Ned & Tadhg Smith

Copy and pasted from the Facebook event page:

Cate Groufsky was an "irreplaceable soul", and her sudden passing has left a massive hole in the lives of many, none more so than her partner Gavin Smith and their 1 y.o twin boys, Ned and Tadhg.

In a show of mass support from a music community that Gav has been involved in for over 20 years, (The Cants, Sons of Lee Marvin, The Ghoulies,) a benefit, support & memorial gig will take place on Sunday October 24 at The Tote.

Doors open 1.30pm
$20 entry.
BBQ, Raffle, Donations.

Nici Blue Eyes
Damn The Torpedos
Wrong Turn
The Devilrock Four
Bakelite Age
Sons of Lee Marvin
Russian Roulettes
Even
Digger & The Pussycats
The Meanies

In facing the obvious and immediate financial implications of such a life altering event, this is a genuine way of helping out Gav, Ned and Tadhg. But more importantly this day will enable family, friends and even strangers to come together as a community and give support to the Smith boys, and to help remember and celebrate the irreplaceable soul that was Cate.

If you would like to make a financial contribution:

Trust fund for Tadhg and Ned –Direct Payment details below.

If you would like to donate directly to a bank account, here are the details provided by Berry Street; please read the directions below to ensure that Berry Street directs the money to the fund.

Bank: National Australia Bank
Branch: 330 Collins St,
Melbourne...
BSB: 083-347
Account number:
45-912-0903
Account name: Berry Street Victoria – Community Relations

If you contribute, please email Robert Nash (Berry Street) at rnash@berrystreet.org.au and let him know the amount of the donation and that the contribution is for the "Trust Fund for Tadhg & Ned Groufsky" so that Robert can ensure the money goes to the fund and can issue you with a receipt for tax.

Hooray! Gemma Jones has released three new Gocco prints

The awesome Gemma Jones has released three new Gocco prints for sale in her etsy store and I am excited!

As some of you may know by now, aside from the fact that Gem is my friend, I am a really big fan of her artwork and her little collection of prints featuring pennants and beautiful 1960's inspired girls has not let me down!

Pictured is 'Hooray', printed on a page from a children's novel titled 'What Katy Did'. I have ordered all three and I will be stalking my letterbox until they arrive.

You can buy 'Hooray' (pictured) from here.

'Like' from here and 'Yes!' from here.

Note that all images are Copyright Gemma Jones 2010/2011

My flower girl dress is on Offbeat Bride today!

I recently made a flower girl dress to compliment black 'Rocker Girl Jane' dresses I made for a bridal party.

This photo, taken by Stephen Henry is featured on Offbeat Bride today.

Both the blog, and Stephen's website are beautiful so please take some time to check them out.

These Artists - Nicole Reed's first solo show

Spring is finally here! (well, sort of)

It is finally Spring here in Melbourne, although it is a little hard to believe as it is so very cold!

I love Winter, and I do prefer the cold weather over hot weather, however, I am ready for pretty dresses, picnics at the Edinburgh Gardens and day trips around Victoria.

While browsing Mitchell and Dent's online store this morning, I came across this beautiful Spring inspired print, titled 'Spring Posy'. It is one in a series of three.

Visit the Mitchell and Dent online store for this and other pretty printed goodness.

'Kitty' dress

I have just posted some 'Kitty' dresses to Midnight Black in NSW.

This new style is made from soft Japanese 100% cotton, is half lined in the same fabric and has an invisible zip closure in the back.

The broderie anglaise that I have trimmed the dresses with has a sweet heart shaped pattern through it and is really lovely.

If you're not in Sydney and would like to buy a 'Kitty' dress, visit my online store and buy one from here.

'New Way New Life' - Asian Dub Foundation

Have you met Miss Hussy?

I have known Hayley Stoneham for about 5 years now. My first contact with her was through MySpace, then Facebook and we've met in person once too.

Hayley has an Australian, 1950's - 1960's inspired clothing label called Miss Hussy Clothing. She is currently based in the USA with an office in Melbourne, Australia.

1. What is your name and your location?

My name is Hayley and I have a clothing label called "Miss Hussy". Currently I live in Las Vegas but i also have a "base" in Melbourne" which is where most of our items are made. (The rest i do by hand from here in Las Vegas)


2. What kind of handmade clothing do you make and what is your inspiration?

I mostly make retro inspired pieces. Mainly influenced by the 50's and early 60's. I love being inspired by a fab piece of fabric, either a really neat or unusual colour or a print. Of course i do the basics like pencil skirts etc but i love doing limited runs of dresses maybe only 8 of each in a really great fabric. It keeps if fresh and fun for me too.


3. Do you plan on expanding the business in the future? If so, what are your goals?

My dream has always been to have a little boutique! I'd love to be able to do that. I couldn't think of anything better than having your own shop. Hopefully when i move back to Australia I can start working towards that. Las Vegas isn't the best environment for small boutiques.


4. What are you favourite fabrics to work with and do you have a favorite thing that you like to make?

I love working with cottons or cotton elastanes. I love the variety in cotton prints available. You are limited with a cotton though and i try to stick to only using it for 50's style sundresses with full skirts. So i have to say they are my fave only because of the wide variety of prints there's on for every mood. Right now my fave thing to make is the 50's sundress. Its probably because the weather is so hot here right now and wearing pants is torture! - and they are so much fun to trim, bows, buttons, rick rack...love it!

5. Name 3 of your favorite Australian designers (established designers are welcome).

Well i have to be honest, when i was studying fashion at university i would have killed to have owned a brand like "Wheels and Dollbaby" they were the right mixture of punk, retro and rock 'n' roll! Love that style. Unfortunately in uni all i could afford was the tank...still saving up for something!

Im going to cheat here and say that i love my fellow retro designers...You, Moxie Minx and Hot Couture. How fab that Australia is producing some of the best items in this scene. I think its great that people are really getting behind local brands too. There is a huge amount of loyalty right now.

And then Alannah Hill, controversial right now but how can a girl not want that kind of edgy pretty!..lovely! I got a great Alannah Hill 40's style straw hat for christmas. It is my favorite thing right now.

Miss Hussy online store: click here

PHOTO CREDIT: Jenny M

Sylvia in stripey 'Lucky Diamonds' at Greazefest

I love receiving photos of customers wearing Peta Pledger dresses and this one is adorable.

Sylvia wore my Red and White stripe 'Lucky Diamonds' dress to Greazefest this year.

If you have a photo of yourself wearing a Peta Pledger garment please send it to me! My email address is: petapledger@gmail.com

Thanks Sylvia!

'New York Groove' dress in Peacock

When I showed my friend Pilgrim Lee this dress, unsure of what she thought about it, I blurted out: "I was going for CBGB in the 80's meets Mad Men". And being a fellow creative type, she understood exactly what I was talking about.

This fabric is wonderful. Photos don't do it justice as it is hard to see that it is a jacquard (63% Polyester/37% Rayon) with black and metallic peacock green thread.

I made this dress unlined and used a neck facing, with an invisible zip closure in the back. Unlike most of my dresses, the darts in the front have been sewn as tucks.

The dress is available online from here.

The Cure - Catch

I have been interviewed by Baby Wasp's Culture Hound

The lovely Courtney Beck interviewed me for her super cool blog.

You can read the interview here.

Thanks Courtney for asking me some very interesting questions!

'Frankie' tops available NOW!

All four 'Frankie' tops are available for sale in my online store.

Please note that some colourways may take up to 4 weeks for delivery.

This style of top is good for non-pregnant people, pregnant people and post-natal people as it has a longer cut and quite stretchy.

Made in Melbourne, Australia with love.

Mad Men, Cocktails & Dresses on draw! pilgrim

Go and visit draw! pilgrim and check out her super cool Mad Men inspired blog post. It features delicious cocktail recipes and some of my dresses!

'Frankie' top in Black coming soon

Here is a photo from my recent shoot of Beth playing it up for the camera.

Oh, and I am going to make the 'Frankie' top in black soon, I promise!

'Lula' mini skirt in tartan

The new photos from my latest shoot will be trickling online over the next few weeks.

Available from my online store now, the 'Lula' mini skirt in tartan is made from 65% Polyester/35% Viscose and lined with 100% red Polyester.

Lining adds to the cost, but I think that the 'creeping up' feeling when you're walking down the street in an unlined mini is quite uncomfortable, also, by lining this skirt I found that it gave it a nicer shape.

The waistband is bound in yellow (you can see inside the skirt if you click on image number 4 here and there is an invisible zip in the centre back. I am favoring large snaps as waist band closures at the moment over traditional button and buttonholes.

If you wish to buy this skirt, it is available from my online store now.

Think Pink from the movie, Funny Face

It's my birthday today and...

It's my 37th birthday today, the end of the financial year in Australia and the last day of the SALE in my online store!

Bestest early Birthday Present ever!

As some of you may know, I have been on the search for frankie magazine issue # 2 for quite some time now.

Well, on Saturday my wish came true. My pal Eddie gave his mint condition copy to me as an early birthday present, and it took alot of self control not to jump up and down like a person who has scored front row Bon Jovi tickets.

I think aside from the fact that Ed is a generous person, it may also my magazine karma.

You see, about 3 months ago, I gave my friend Pete of i heart guitar my treasured copy of Guitar World, featuring a very young and spunky Steve Vai on the front. I had the magazine since I was 15 or 16 years old, which makes the issue "vintage".

As Pete lives and breathes guitar - and is also a huge Steve Vai fan, I felt that the time had come to pass it on.

So if you have a collectable, or something that you have been hoarding for a long time, and you think that someone you know may appreciate more than you do, wrap it up and give it to them...as you don't know what collectable karma will come to you!

Some of you will know Steve Vai from this David Lee Roth music video:

Friends that inspire me - Lynnelle Moran

I planned on doing a series of blog posts about my 'muses'. However, I felt a little awkward using the word muse, so I am going to blog about friends/people that inspire me.

Lynnelle Moran and I met in the early 90's in clubland. We were both goths and I thought she was very cool indeed as her face was pretty and so much whiter than mine!

Over the years she has inspired many dress and skirt designs and we have collaborated together to make some fine threads.

Lynnelle has a super cool husband named Dan West who is a music producer and also is part of Sylent Running, a collaboration between musicians from Melbourne and NYC. Lynnelle is also in a band, a folky electro outfit called Welcome Dear Friend.

As well as making people happy with her beautiful singing voice, Lynnelle also juggles being a mother to two boys aged 4 years and 6 months AND running a sweet childrenswear label named crumb...

The label is a partnership between Lynnelle and her beautiful mother, Mary. The two create beautiful clothes for both girls and boys. My favorite item in the shop at the moment is the Billy Boy Rocker shirt.



Well, this is the first post of nine, I hope you enjoy checking out all of the links and please do tell your friends about crumb... and please mention that it is all handmade in Melbourne, Australia.

Life Is Flashing Before Your Eyes

My pal and I went to see some Vince Collins animation at ACMI in Melbourne last night.

If you watched Sesame Street (gosh, another Sesame Street reference!) in the 1970's and early 1980's you may be familiar with his work.

Here is a clip from last night. Both my pal and I are mums to young boys, this song was quite relevant to both of us at this point of our lives.

Happy 5th Birthday T-world!

T-world was launched 5 years today by tee collector Eddie Zammit.

The magazine is wholly dedicated to t-shirt culture and is the only one of it's kind in the world. It has featured some amazing artists both from here in Australia and around the world.

Something that you will notice about T is it's colour. With so many magazines choosing 'muted tones' and black and white photos, T is like a trip to "that room" at Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory - coincidently, Eddie currently lives in a converted chocolate factory!

Issue number 6 celebrates 40 years of Sesame Street and is a must have for people like me who grew up watching it and still love it. Oh, and some cute little people I know are models in the 'A-Z of Kids Tees' feature!

I met Eddie through my friend Nicole a month or so ago. His hard work ethics and passion for life are infectious and he has certainly made me want to work harder at what I do (the dressmaking bit, not the motherhood bit, that's already covered).

Whether you are into t-shirts or not, this magazine is still worth a look as it really is amazing.

You can buy current and back issues from mag nation.

Baby Wasp interview with Eddie here.

The Girlfriend Of The Whirling Dervish

One of the best things about Facebook is the wonderful things you can discover through your friends - thank you Mose for posting this!

SALE is not a dirty word...

OK, so if you live in Melbourne, Australia you may be quite sick of the word SALE by now.

Department stores seem to have them all year round and the thrill of the post Christmas and End of Financial Year sales seem to have lost their sparkle.

Well, it is the end of the financial year and it is my birthday soon. So, from today until midnight, June 30 I am having a SALE in my online stores.

Oh and thank you Pilgrim Lee for my cute sale sign!

Webstore: www.petapledger.bigcartel.com

Etsy store (USD): Peta Pledger

Speaking of Pilgrim...

I blogged about the dress I made for Pilgrim Lee of draw! pilgrim the other day. However, I don't feel that I don't you enough about the girl behind the delightful designs.

I first read about Pilgrim Lee and her wonderful artwork on The Vine. The article was written by paintergirl - someone who has introduced me to many cool people and things over the years - and I instantly fell in love.

What caught my eye was her Alphabet series, my favorite being the one pictured above. I love the colours and I love the indirect way the pills and letter C remind me of The Carrie Nations from the movie Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.

I bought the print and had it framed by the amazing people at Melbourne's Outre Gallery.

Not long after reading the article, I started following Pilgrim via Twitter, and after learning that we both had sons the same age, I asked her if she was interested in a playdate. Thankfully, she said yes and we (and our sons) have been friends ever since.

Whether it's a sunny day or a grey & rainy day, Pilgrim always fills up my day with colour...technicolour to be exact!

She launched her Etsy store recently and is planning on adding new items every couple of weeks.

If you're after a pretty bright print for your wall or some super cute gift tags, visit her store and be sure mention that I sent you for a 10% discount off your purchase from her etsy store!

Website: draw! pilgrim
Twitter: pilgrim_lee
Etsy store: draw! pilgrim

Pilgrim's dress made from a 1960's bedsheet

My super talented friend, Pilgrim asked me to make her a summer frock made using one of the many beautiful pieces of fabric from her stash.

First, I machine washed the fabric using hot water and just a little washing detergent and fabric softener. I would have liked to have tumble dried the fabric but as I don't have one, I line dried the fabric piece.

Finally, to ensure as much shrinkage was taken out as possible and to make the fabric easier to work with, I pressed and steamed the fabric with a hot iron.

We chose a simple boat neck strapless design as the fabric print was quite bold. The skirt is a simple gathered a-line shape and the centre back has an invisible zip.

Princess seams allowed me to get a nice fit in the bodice and I lined it with 100% Viscose lining.

Hopefully I can post a photo of Pilgrim in her new dress later in the year as the weather gets warmer.

For now though, forgive me for the iPhone photo of the dress and be sure to check out Pilgrim's amazing website, draw! pilgrim.

One of the things that made me want to sew

When I was a little girl, my nanna and I watched this movie together many times. I remember the feeling of awe when they convert the "shack" to a pretty home.

I am about to make some new curtains for both my bathroom and laundry. I hope you enjoy this clip from the movie Calamity Jane as much as I do.

RIP Ronnie James Dio

I remember watching this on the ABC as a child. From memory, it was on just before I had to leave home to go to school...or was it when I got home from school?

Anyway, this is my small tribute to Ronnie James Dio, may he Rest In Peace.

A Shot Away

I am one of 'those people' that is lucky to be surrounded by friends that are not only faithful, but very, very talented.

One of those friends is Nicole Reed. I have known Nicole for 10 years or so, and I remember in the early days, my knees would go weak when I saw her as I thought she was just "so cool". Nicole is soft spoken, intelligent and a super talented photographer.

Well, I still think she is "so cool" and love her dearly as a friend, but I can also say that I am a big fan of her as an artist too.

Photographing a broad range of subjects, for tattoo, fashion and streetwear magazines, the thing I love most about Nicole's work is that her photos always look 'alive'.

Her wedding photography is unobtrusive and natural and the many photos she takes of her surroundings in her many travels, make you feel like you could get lost in that moment in time.

I hope to shoot with her soon, but in the meantime, please check out her work via the links below.

WEBSITE: A Shot Away

FACEBOOK: Business page

PHOTO CREDIT: Mr Cartoon photo taken by Nicole Reed for T-World magazine issue # 5

New dress in a limited run of three

At first glance, you may think that this dress is no ground breaking design. This is true, however, what makes my dress stand apart from the others is the fabric.

This dress is made from the highest quality cotton sateen, which means it's cotton with about 5% spandex/elastaine in it. It is thick and a dream to both sew and wear.

I have only half lined this dress keeping in mind that not everyone wants to wear a lined dress. It has an invisible zip closure in the back and leopard print trim. The 2 inch wide belt is included and I have not added belt loops to this dress, allowing the owner to wear the dress with or without a belt.

You can see a close up of it here and it is available from my online store.

Oh, and it's in limited run of three, I have already sold two so there is only one left!

It's not a party without Margarita

My friend Dawn posted this gorgeous link on her blog, The Girl Can't Help It.

It is a Cointreau advertisement featuring Dita Von Teese and I just had to share it with you...enjoy!

Zebra print 'Lula' skirt looks like the first skirt I made...

The very skirt I made was in year 9 in high school. The year was 1987 and my friend Kendra and I needed something to wear to the Bon Jovi concert (Slippery When Wet tour).

We made zebra print skirts out of poly/cotton jersey that I think we bought from the fabric department at Coles in the Melbourne CBD, which is now a Target store.

The skirts were basically a hemmed tube with elastic in the top to hold them up. We wore fishnet stockings, matching pointy toed ankle boots and I think matching Bon Jovi tees on top.

Fast forward to 2010 and my urge to make clothing inspired by my formative sewing years keeps getting greater and greater.

The 'Lula' mini skirt is a new style. It is generally 42cm long from waist to hem and is sometimes lined and sometimes unlined depending in the fabric.

This one is lined in 100% viscose and made from 100% cotton corduroy. The wales are very fine, giving the skirt are nice texture. It has darts in the front and back and an invisible zip closure in the centre back.

If you would like a bit of metal influence in your life, you can buy this limited edition 'Lula' from here.

Oh and if you want to see where Kendra & I got the inspiration to wear matching outfits, watch the Cinderella video for their song 'Shake Me' below:

Blog Love from Perth!

This is another short blog post as there is a little person asking me to build a train track with them.

The gorgeous ladies from Studio Bomba have a side project called Mitchell & Dent, they make beautiful stationary and artworks. Please check out their online store here.

Oh and as my star sign is Cancer, it's only natural that this is my favorite print!

Thank you Leah and Angie for your blog love last week, I really appreciate it! x

Thank you for the shout out Paula!

Here is an interview with Paula Delley shot early last year.

If you are interested in buying a leopard print skirt like one she is wearing in the interview, send me a message!

Jennifer's wedding dress and the 1930's heirloom lace

When Jennifer and I had our first meeting, all was going well. Jennifer wanted a 'non-wedding dress' made from 100% Silk Dupion using a 1950's inspired pattern. "And I would like to incorporate this piece of lace that belonged to my great grandmother, it's been in our family for years and it's very, very old".

I instantly got stage fright and I must admit, went into a little panic. As I composed Jen's quote I worked out the best way that we could get the most out of the piece and after the quote was approved, Jen set out to have the lace professionally cleaned and dated.

The National Gallery dated the lace as early 1930's, which made me feel a little more relaxed as I would have felt a little nervous cutting anything that was from the year 18-something.

We agreed to a simple design and let the lace be the main focus of the dress. The silk was purchased at Tessuti in Melbourne and I wish that you could see the true colour of it in the photo, it is divine! I bought the 100% Viscose lining from Harvey's in the Nicolas building and used a heavier lightweight woven interfacing (that sounds strange, I know) for the bodice.

I gathered a rectangle piece of the lace onto the midriff to ensure that we got the maximum use of the piece, the invisible zip was inserted into the side seam.

Jen wore a very cool pair of black and gold metallic snakeskin stilettos and accessorised the dress with an antique brooch.

To see the backview of the dress click here.

Thank you so much for making me a part of your special day Jen! x

Alexander McQueen, RIP

When I woke to the news that fashion designer, Alexander McQueen had committed suicide I thought it was another cruel online hoax.

Sadly though, it is not a hoax and very true. Although the fashion industry will acknowledge that it lost one it's heros, what breaks my heart the most is that there is a group of people out there who's lives changed forever today.

I lost two friends through suicide in the 1990's and not a day goes by that my heart doesn't break. It's a strange sort of pain, you can feel it coming from a distance and within seconds, the sadness washes over your whole body and grips at your heart and then after what feels like a long time, but may only be a few seconds, it passes and life goes on.

If you feel that you cannot go on, suicide is not the solution, there is help and there truly is light (and life) at the end of the tunnel. Australian residents have access to a service called Beyond Blue, if you are not an Australian resident and you feel depressed or that you are finding it hard to live, contact your GP and ask for help.

Valentine's Day sale...

Just a quick note to let you know that all love-themed items in my store are reduced until February the 15th.

Take a look here.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, check out Pilgrim Lee's blog for some cute Valentine's Day goodness here.

"May I have straps with that dress please?"

The answer is YES. Well, in most cases. When Sean wanted to buy his gorgeous girlfriend Yani a Peta Pledger dress for her birthday, the one request he had was that she did'nt want a strapless dress.

Yani chose the Antique Pink Hawaiian Bark Cloth 'Lucky Diamonds' dress and I made it with removable straps.

For an additional fee of AUD$10, I can turn any of my strapless dress designs into a dress with button on-removable straps.

And remember that all custom made dresses have the option of sewn in or removable straps, providing the design allows for it.