The Strawberry Daiquiri Polka Dot Blouse

As part of my new summer collection, the Strawberry Daiquiri Polka Dot Blouse is a brand new Penelope Red design. Handmade from a 100% polyester bright red and cream polka dot satin, and bright blue satin binding. I love this top, as it really is such a versatile style, and suits so many body shapes.

It usually suits women with a small or large bust, as the pleating flatters someone with a small bust, but also allows extra room for a large bust (around a DD can usually fit into it).



I have enough fabric to make around 8 of these. Even though it is a polyester material, the fabric is so soft, most people confuse it for silk. The blue stripe satin binding around the under bust seam creates a very flattering line, and I like the fact that is completely contrasting and unexpected!

An invisible zip is at the side. It is the same style as the Monet Pleated Blouse, just without the keyhole at the centre back (Monet version shown below)



This style is great to wear with jeans, wear with a cute mini skirt, wear with panst or a skirt. Such a versatile style, and great for many occasions. A cocktail setting, a bbq, a party, shopping with your girlfriends, wear it to work- the list goes on!

1/1/10: The Strawberry Daiquiri Blouse has been listed in the Penelope Red etsy shop! More photos of this design can be seen in the etsy listing.

Creating "The Red Hour" New Summer Collection

Finally my computer is working!!!! I have not been able to add any new blog postings for 2 weeks now, and I am starting to get withdrawal symptoms. So here I am, back again, and ready to add more and more new posts!

So without further ado, I wanted to show to you the beginnings of my new Penelope Red Summer range, "The Red Hour Collection".

It is called "the RED hour" instead of "the cocktail hour". I began designing this collection by starting off thinking: "what would I love to wear to a cocktail bar or party?"

Then I visited my textile agent, and she had these amazing fabrics! So the ideas just flowed...


The above design is my new Aqua Summer Wrap Around Halter Neck Top. Such a great style, which never dates, paired together with a stunning print- I have a feeling this will sell fast!


The photo above and below is of another cotton print, but you are actually seeing four colourways/swatches of it (2 in each photo). I have so far bought the green/aqua/yellow combination (the top swatch in the photo below), and now, each time I look at these photos I am tempted to buy another, but I am not sure which one... Any suggestions?



From the aqua print fabric, I am also making some flared pants from it. Anyone who knows my style well, knows I love my colourful flared pants!


This next print will be made into a gathered neck blouse, such as the Black and White Nouveau Blouse. This style shape has been very popular in the past 6 months, and as soon as I spotted this fabric, it just screamed Penelope Red!



There will be plenty of other handmade Penelope Red styles to come, and sneak peeks to view. I am hoping to have all the designs made up in the next week, ready for a brilliant photo shoot.

Some of my current styles available to purchase can be found in the Penelope Red etsy shop here:

New Summer Retro Fabrics: Vote for your favourite!

I visited my fabric supplier yesterday, and I am quite excited as they have a new print which I am in love with- I am just not sure which colour-way to get! In comes in a choice of three colour-ways, and they are pictured below.

1. RED



2. PINK



3. AQUA



I am loving the Pink colour-way and the aqua as well. So, I am now asking you, what do you think?

These fabrics will definitely come in handy for the summer, as I wanted to go back to my 60's and 70's retro styles- styles which I known for when I was selling at Paddington Markets. They are loads of fun to wear, and whenever I wear my catsuits, I feel like a million dollars!

Keep in mind that this fabric is a beautiful soft polished cotton, and I will probably make the following type of styles out of it...

1. Flared Pants like these:



2. Kimono



3. Catsuit



so please leave your comments! I would love to hear what you think!

Penelope Red at The Rocks Market: 10th & 11th April 2010

Just a quick message to let you know I will be at the Rocks Markets, Sydney this coming weekend, the 10th and 11th of April, 2010.



I am quite excited, as I have had a few weeks away, and I have some new designs, ready to show all of you! Actually, my husband is the only one to have seen them so far, I don't even have any photos of them yet, and they are in time for Winter. So if you are in the Sydney area, come down and say hello.

I will be there form 10am to 5pm. My location will be announced on my facebook page, closer to the weekend.

New Style! The Penelope Red Empire Grey Pleated Blouse

I have only just added this new design to my etsy shop... The Penelope Red Empire Grey Pleated Blouse.



As etsy only allows for five photos, this blog gives me the opportunity to show you more photos of this great top, and also the inside- as I always think that the inside should be neat and beautiful too!



This design is part of my new collection, "The Venus, Penelope and Jane Collection". Take a look at the inspiration here. One of the first designs I created for this collection, the Venus Floral Bolero, was featured in the blog here.



The fabric I have used for this top is quite unique. It is steel grey in colour, has a sheen, and a seer-sucker-like texture. It is made from a cotton/polyester blend. Great for spring and summer.



I am really quite fascinated with lace and trims at the moment! I have added a beautiful vintage lace to the under bust seam. This lace has actually been hand crocheted- can you imagine someone has literally created every loop and knot in this intricate lace! I bought it recently, and couldn't wait to use it, so here it is!



A cute little ivory rose button has been attached to the centre back, and at the top of the invisible side zip.







I wanted to complete the contrasting detail a little further, so I have made a top stitching detail in ivory thread, around the neck and hem.



All seams have been over-locked and pressed.



You can take a look at this style, and other styles in the range, on the Penelope Red Website here.



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New Style! The Venus Floral Bolero

I have finally had a chance to update this blog with a new Penelope Red design! Introducing the Penelope Red Venus Floral Bolero.



I have deliberately used photos that only show you sections of the bolero, as I want to unveil the whole design in a photo shoot, which will be taking place later on in the month- so keep watching this space for more!

This new cropped jacket design was inspired by Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" painting, and Jane Austen. Read more about this here.



The main fabric is a gorgeous vintage screen printed cotton, which was purchased from an antique dealer a few months ago in Sydney. The ruffle is another vintage fabric, which I have previously used on the Victorian Pink Corset as well. I thought the ruffle accents the bold flowers with a more delicate feel- I like the idea that each woman that wears this has a little boldness to them, but also has a little delicate, feminine side to them as well.



The jacket or bolero has been fully lined, and I have added a lovely pink decorative blanket stitch to the edge of the hem.



I am currently working on other styles that will be a part of this mini-range. I can't wait to show you more! I already have a corset and a gathered neck blouse to include.

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Updated on Tuesday 23rd March, 2010: I have added the Penelope Red Venus Floral Bolero to my etsy shop. Please take a look at this beautiful design here!

Inspirations: "Birth of Venus" and Jane Austen

I have been thinking about creating a new range of designs and I have decided to use two inspirations, to create something a little different...

Whenever I read Jane Austen novels, I think of the flowing dresses and beautiful fabrics. One of my favourite DVD's is "Pride and Prejudice", with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. The Regency period used Empire lines- what most people would call a "baby doll" style; Grecian decoration, Egyptian ornament, Spencer coats, and military influences. I will borrow a little from this period for the silhouette of my designs. Click here to read more about costume's from this period. All costume photos in this posting are from the fashion-era.com website.



The painting above would have to be one of my all-time favourites; Sandro Botticelli's "The Birth Of Venus". I love the colours, the beauty of Venus, the West wind, Zephyrus and Flora, the spring that are blowing her gently to the shore. I want to use the colours from this painting, as well as the beautiful femininity to help inspire my designs.



I will use a lot of pastel colours (coral, pink, aqua, mint, blues, creams, etc), and lots of florals, as well as floaty fabrics, and I have a great pleated pastel pink fabric that I want to use. I recently bought quite a lot of vintage and antique lace, so this might be added to the mix as well!



I can't wait to see what I come up with, and share my creations with you! I probably won't have them on sale for atleast a month or more, as I will want to take photos first, but I am too excited to not share my ideas with you!

More photos of the Bohemian Kurti Blouse

I have already done another blog post about the Penelope Red Bohemian Kurti Blouse, but since then this style has been modified (I have now attached the braid around the perimeter of the whole sleeve hem), and I now have new photos to show to you...



The Bohemian Kurti Blouse is now available to purchase in the Penelope Red etsy shop.

There are splits on either side from the hem up to the hip area.


There are small pleats going down the front and back of the garment.



the inside of each Penelope Red garment is as neat as the outside!



This style is great with or without a belt, and you can wear it with jeans, pants or a skirt. Take a look at the other blog posting to see it worn with pants.

New Fabrics!

The photos included in this post are a few quick shots of new fabrics that I have purchased in the past week. I have only draped them around the dummy- so you can get a feel for the fabric.


The above fabric (the purple, yellow and brown) and the below fabric (emerald green and white) will be used to create kimonos. I can't wait to see the finished product!



The above fabric was purchased from an antique's dealer, along with the vintage tulip fabric. It is a one way print, so I will have to be careful how I use this. I don't want birds and flowers upside down!

This candy stripe is a knit- I love a good candy stripe! This will most likely make some really cute tops.

So much to do, and so little time!

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