Hand made lingerie...

I've been so busy of late, and haven't had much time to post or share new projects.

This is a project my daughter and I completed a couple of years ago, and one that we've replicated many times since, so I thought it worthy of resurrection!

We made this set of bra top and French knickers in no more than an hour or two. We chose to use this set of instructions and template from Project Twenty Two...

http://project-twentytwo.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/diy-bralette.html

They were both cut from a burgundy bed sheet that we no longer used as it didn't suit the bedroom décor any more. A pink quilt cover has been relegated likewise, to the sewing basket, and was used as the second toning colour in our French knickers. The lace trim on the bra cup is offcuts of a remnant of continuous curtaining, that I grabbed for a mere -60c at the local big name haberdashery. I love the remnants bin. You find the best stuff there for next to nix. Especially fab for projects like this that only use incy wincy bits of fabric.

I used ecru lace trim on the edges of the bra cups after zigzagging the edges, to save having to hem. Lace and binding cover a multitude of sins. I got a whole card, probably about 20 yds/m of it at the thrift shop a while back for just $2.50. This will be worn as a pyjama set, so in preference to traditional bra elastic and fastenings, we attached the bra cups to a bandeau which fastens at the back in a flat knot (we'll replace that with little pearl buttons and buttonholes I think).

This photo is not to show you the underside of my sewing. It's so you can see the pretty frilly straps.

For these straps, black elastic was resurrected from the bottom of the sewing box. I used long strips of sheet, cut on the bias, and attached using the 'stretch and stitch' method to get the frilly effect.

Matching French knickers were made using the Coletterie Madeleine Mini free-to-download pattern...

http://www.coletterie.com/colette-patterns-news/free-pattern-to-download-the-madeleine-mini-bloomers

....which my daughter and her friend patiently printed out, matched up like a jigsaw, taped together and cut.

I ignored the elastic instructions, preferring to simply thread elastic through a channel for the hips, and leaving the legs plain so that they're more like a traditional French Knicker.

The little bow details were fashioned from scraps of ballet slipper ribbon which we have in abundance thanks to my lovely's dance exploits, and little polka dot buttons from the bottom of the sewing basket. They sit on the sides of the leg.

All in all, my daughter was  thrilled with such a pretty first time result, and we've made many a similar set of pretty lingerie since.

Give it a try. It's addictive!

...Mimi...  

Five Star Frou-Frou #45...

Hello all, and welcome to our little community at Five Star Frou-Frou!

I have been absolutely flat chat this week. It's my husbands 60th birthday tomorrow and we have a party tonight. I also had a huge fundraiser organised for my daughters Dance Troupe, and of course, the usual life tasks were in the mix as well. So Five Star Frou-Frou is a little late and I apologise.

 I'm going to list the top three most clicked today, with a more in depth list of features on Monday, as we really did have a busy linkup this week. Thankyou!

First up and most clicked was Jo's post at Anne's Attic, seen above. Jo inspires constantly with her creativity, and this post is no exception.

Secondly was a dreamy post from the lovely Shane at Roses Lace Brocante, and I can see why this one was viewed so frequently. Shane always shares the most divine images, and she's outdone herself this week. Take a peek...

And finally, from Mary at In the Boondocks, a clever way to use what you have on hand to help organise your closet. Mary always has great practical tips for recycling and upcycling, and this one is a beauty!

Thankyou all.

Can I just make a few comments on what I've observed about linkups in my time both hosting and linking...

I once worked in Advertising and Marketing, and I've noted many similarities between linking at a Blog Linkup, and placing an advertisement in your city newspaper.

In advertising, you only use your best images, utilising the cleverest minds in your business (and others like agencies) to make the most of your advertisement. Key issues include using clear photographs, eye catching slogans, inviting colors, and engaging text. You make sure that you are very clear about what your 'product' is by having great headlines, and detailed information in your ad.

If you follow these guidelines, a great photo, an eyecatching description, and detailed content, you too, can be a feature!

An InLinkz Link-up

Insourcing #29....my value in the home...

 

My weekly Insourcing totals are all about placing a financial value on what I do in the home. Why do I do this?

Well, firstly, if I wasn't here due to illness, accident or other absence, my tasks would all have to be outsourced, and my family would either need to fund somebody else to do what I do, or they would have to do it themselves. Either way, that would be a tough call.

Secondly, much of what I do, truly does have a significant retail value. From making scented candles, to embellishing gorgeous linen, to upcycling thrifted vintage clothing...these things all cost big dollars if you have to buy them at full retail value. And that of course applies, to house cleaning, dog washing, manicures, pedicures, hair treatments, facials, and entertainment too.

If I can save my family the equivalent of a good weekly salary, by insourcing what we need, then there is no need for me to find a job outside the home. Instead I can be here, being the glue that holds my family together. I can smooth their path and my own, by simply being 'available'. I cannot put a financial value on that. It's priceless.

So for example, last week could easily have been an expensive week. A 60th birthday celebration is approaching, my daughter had friends over as it was still school holidays, and having exhausted many of our own 'fun' ideas during the first week of holidays, boredom was a distinct possibility!

Certainly we let our hair down and saw a movie, window shopped at the local Shopping Mecca, and enjoyed a Latte` at a trendy cafe`. But overall, we entertained ourselves at home.

The spools of lace were dragged out, and we trimmed pillowcases, sweatshirts, sheet turnbacks, and thrifted denim jackets, very prettily. You don't know the meaning of the word 'chaos' until you set teenagers loose with a sewing machine, and an endless supply of lace! If they could have stitched some to the dog, they would have!

Then we played with sequins. We always have a stash of those around here too.

 

 So sequins were added to some of the lace, some sneakers, the denim jackets, and some costumes currently in progress.

That kept everyone amused for two days, thus saving at least $100 each time. I don't know about you, but even a casual visit to a the local Shopping Mecca seems to leave my wallet lighter by that much and more! So we'll call that a $200 saving, PLUS a saving on gifts to come, as we generated at least $500 worth of lace trimmed linen pillowcases, and denim jackets, to gift to friends. Have you seen the prices of the fancy lace trimmed pillowcases and denim jackets currently in favour??? Insane! So, not bad for a bit of tinkering with lace and sequins! If you can sew a straight line on a sewing machine, or sew on a button (a sequin is easier!), then you can do the same.

So between what we saved in staying home for Chai Lattes with cafe style cakes and fancy burger lunches, and what we generated in gifts, we've insourced about $700 right there. That's not to be sneezed at. Of course it also means that I am home to supervise and be here to chauffeur my teen and her friends, and that, in this day and age, falls into the very valuable category of 'peace of mind', so cannot be underestimated.

We also made several decorations for my husbands upcoming 60th birthday, including balloon weights, table centrepieces, and table confetti. This was lots of fun and with Pinterest at our fingertips, not at all difficult! There's a significant saving to be had there, judging by our reconnaissance mission to the local Party Supplier, where we could have easily spent $300.

So let's look at the list for this week:

60th birthday decorations 
$300 retail value for $30 outlay...insourced value $270

Thrifted denim jackets x 3, trimmed lavishly with lace
$300 retail value for $45 outlay...insourced value $255

Upcycled pillowcases x 12, dyed and trimmed with lace
$360 retail value for $60 outlay...insourced value $300

Home lunches and latte's x 5
$250 retail value for $50 outlay...insourced value $200

Of course, we did our manicures and pedicures with materials already on hand, saving $130 for the two of us, deep conditioned and straightened our own hair, saving $140 for the two of us, and bathed the dog and gave him his flea treatment saving another $35. So even there we added a further $305 to our savings and insourcing total, without even trying!

These are all tasks that many 'outsource' without thinking twice.

This is why the whole idea of tallying up our insourcing for the week is so important to us, and particularly to me.

This gives me an insourced total of $1330 for the last week.

I could possibly have earned that AFTER TAX in a fairly high pressure job, as I have in the past, and been happy to outsource all of those things. But I would not have had the luxury of being at home, spending valuable time with my daughter, my granddaughters, my husband and my family. To me, that's far more important!

What was your value in the home this week?

Five Star Frou-Frou #44...

    Hello Everyone, and welcome to Five Star Frou-Frou, where YOU get to promote your most fabulous recipes, prettiest projects and other snippets of goodness.   Last weeks most clicked entry was Pattie at Olla-Podrida's Slow cooker ham, and it's obvious why...this photo alone has me drooling! And just so it's not all about recipes, look at this sweet rocking horse from Su at Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow...how adorable.     Thanks to everyone for linking up so faithfully. To help the linkup grow, please make sure you get acquainted with other bloggers, as you would at any gathering. I've noticed the comments from our group are a little...ahem..scarce...lol! Please do the right thing and don't link and run. Nobody benefits if we don't all visit and comment. You are all darlings and I hope I can impose upon you to fulfill this part of our linkup requirements. Thank you all so very much.  

An InLinkz Link-up