Handmade Flag Bunting: Snugglepot and Cuddlepie May Gibbs

On the weekend I finished hand making two May Gibbs Snugglepot and Cuddlepie printed flag buntings. They will be gifts for some little girls overseas!

I wanted to make them something they hopefully couldn't get over there, something that kind of says, "Australia", but without being too kitschy. 

And who doesn't want to decorate their kids room?!

I handmade the flag bunting using May Gibbs patchwork fabric that I found in Spotlight recently...( Sadly the only fabric retail store within walking distance.)

I hope the little girls enjoy them!

Custom Order: A Handmade Emerald Green and Bright Blue Silk Kimono

I was looking for some time to compose this post about this fabulous custom ordered green and blue silk kimono, and now that my bub has woken up with teething woes, and is desperately wanting a cuddle, it seems the perfect time to start! I think I sometimes live a double life! Fashion designer in one life, mother and wife in another! 

I just finished hand beading this kimono design last night, and Leanne only picked it up today- so it's hot off the press! Leanne was sweet enough to model it for me in these pics so I could show it off.

Leanne has purchased quite a few of my cotton kimonos, and its one of her favourite styles. She had asked me for a more evening wear type of kimono, and after discussion we decided on this gorgeous emerald green vintage silk. 

The green silk in the main body of the kimono features a dark blue floral print, so I decided to use a bright blue silk for the sleeve, then blue vintage rik rak braid,  and blue sequins to give it that finishing touch!

As with all my kimonos it's the pleating of the fabric that really makes my Penelope Red kimonos stand out... And it's unfortunate that you can never see it in the photos. Each kimono uses around 2 to 2.5 metres of fabric due to the pleating  and how it has been cut. 

I have handmade so many kimonos since starting my Penelope Red fashion designs. Each one has been unique or at least made into a select few. It's quite fun for me to imagine just how far some of my unique designs travel. In its life time, I wonder how far this kimono will go?!

Featured design: The Red, White & Black Stripe Ingrid Top

I wanted to create a mini-range of designs to be more tran-seasonal, as the online shop caters for both North and Southern Hemispheres. This range will be called, "Modern Vintage", and the styles included will be exactly that... taking vintage silhouettes and ideas, and making them modern!

So announcing the first style to be included in this mini-range... The Red, White & Black Stripe Ingrid Top.



As soon as I saw this print, I imagined this style! I love that it is such a graphic print, full of character, and it has that "Cruise/Retro" feel to it.


The top features a boat neck at the front, a v-neck t the back- which can still be worn with a bra; a tulip overlapped sleeve; and it has been handmade from a polyester/elastane print.


I love it tucked in with a high waisted pair of pants or a skirt, but it would look equally as good with a pair of jeans!

You can buy this design and many other Penelope Red designs in the etsy online shop.

A new design: A Penelope Red Pleated Wrap Knit Dress

A week ago, I was in a design slump... I wasn't feeling very creative after having spent so much time on the computer! I needed to get enthusiastic and excited again, and my hubby, being the supportive and encouraging guy that he is, suggested, "Remember that fabric I bought for you from San Francisco? Why don't you make something that is just for you?"

I had been thinking of a wrap around dress out of the printed silk jersey fabric he gave me, and the dress pictured in these photos is what I came up with!



It is such a stunning fabric, and the print suited the dress perfectly. The print was arranged in panels, so there was a border or stripe running across it every 90cm. I had to be very careful how I create the pattern, otherwise I would have a stripe running across my body in a very unflattering position!

So I used the stripes as contrast on the dress- a stripe going down the side front; ties that go around the waist; and the cuff on the sleeve. It also features pleats at the shoulder, on the front skirt panel and the centre back top panel.

My husband bought the jersey knit red floral printed fabric over a year ago, when he was in San Francisco. I had asked him to visit a shop that had FOUR floors of fabric, which I had found previously. He knows how to win my heart!



I think I might make a short sleeved version of this wrap around dress for Spring, in a red and contrast. I also hope to find a suitable print- as this dress is so beautiful in a print.

I wore this dress out for the first time on Saturday night, and it made me feel like a million dollars! I can't wait to wear it again!

The Making of Lorelle's Bright Blue and Black Wool Winter Coat

The weather has been very cold recently- perfect for making coats! Recently I had fun creating a bright blue and black coat for Lorelle. As you may have seen in some of my previous postings, I put a lot of effort and time into making my designs- this is what sets my designs apart from many other designers out there.

Since it is so hard to tell people how much work is involved in these coats, I thought I would show you...



I decided to give this coat something extra, by placing embroidery down the seam lines in black- to contrast the bright blue.





Each button hole takes many steps: working out where they will sit, making the piping, sewing the piping to the outside of the coat, clipping, hand stitching the piping down. Then once the coat is finished, I need to hand stitch the inside to the piping, to open up the button holes.





I place pockets in each coat, on the side seam.




Each Penelope Red coat has many layers; outer layer in wool, interfacing (above), interlining in cotton (below) then a silk lining.



Some of the design details: contrasting shaped panels, embroidery, and pleating and fur trims.



Attaching the fur above, and attaching the collar below.



With so many layers, it is always important clip, notch, and trim all side seams.





Above, sewing the lining, and below shows how the embroidery is done- by my fantastic machine!



I do a lot of hand sewing in my coats- one of the reasons why they take so long to make, but it also means you are getting a truly unique and beautiful product. How many designers do you know have hand sewing in anything?


I hand sew all the seams flat, to make sure they sit flat and stay beautiful for a life time.



When the coat gets to this stage it really is exciting! Above, I am attaching the front outer side to the front inner side, which means I am almost finished!


...And the finished product! Lorelle was so excited that she had to wear it out straight away!