Dress from "Stylish Dress Book: Freedom with Wear"

Well....  it's been a while but not only have I finished some sewing projects, I've also sat down to record them.  It's been a phenomenal few months not only for me, but for my family too.

• I'm halfway to being a social worker
• I am employed two days per week in a job I love (as a family support worker) 
• We've decided to home school our son
• We're renovating our home, including a classroom (I can only take credit for occasional moral support and bringing pies)

I, as many people do, have an appreciation of Japanese fashion. I chose to make the below dress from Stylish Dress Book: Wear with Freedom.  What's not to love? I fell for the whimsical photo and the simplicity, style and cut of the dress.  What I didn't account for was my hugely different body shape, from both the model and the majority of Japanese people.

I do however love my finished dress.  I made it from a Sarong I bought at Bangkok's Chatuchak ten years ago but never quite managed to find a way to wear..... until now.  My body shape is radically different enough that I had to make one size down than was recommended, and then take it in further to prevent tentiness.  I was very glad to have my new found trying things on before I sew them up skills.  I think the lesson I have taken from this exercise is that clothes need to be more fitted to suit my not quite slim, not quite curvaceous, not that tall  body.  Just cause you like it, it doesn't mean it will suit you.  It is however, light and cool and colourful, perfect for a summers day.

Having chosen to model this dress myself with ankle socks and closed toe shoes has done neither me, nor the dress any favours.  But it's a bit of fun.  Here is my recreation of the original photo that so drew me to make it.  To be fair to myself I don't think the main difference is our body sizes.  I think it's the lack of profession photography studio in our home. A length of wall long enough that the photographer could stand far away without including the TV cabinet would help.   Above is another photo where I got the pose completely wrong, but it does the dress a smidgen more justice.

We've had a broken bi fold door on one of our kitchen cupboards for as long as we've lived in our house.  We tried repairing it endless times but the weight of the door on the hinge was beyond our DIY abilities.  The next step was to take the cupboard apart and replace the inside wall - boring! Here is solution B, with which I am very happy. It is practical and cheery, what more could you want?