The Janelle Wind Collection

What I wore Wednesday - Rummage Style...

A little while ago I was VERY excited to find these vintage sheets at the Op (Thrift) shop.

I adored them SO much and knew that I really really wanted them for a dress for myself, and maybe one for my girl too. I was BEYOND excited when the lovely Theresa of Rummage Style so kindly said she would make me a dress using my fabric. I love that she offers this service with her dresses, it's a great way to use a special piece of fabric you may have been saving.

I couldn't get my fabric in the post quick enough and I excitedly waited to see how my dress would look. Fast forward to last week when I was doing my usual facebook checkup when I saw this photo pop up on Rummage Style's page.

I'm pretty sure the neighbours must have heard my squeal of delight. These were MY dresses and I wasy beyond thrilled. They were perfect for me and I couldn't wait to wear them.The dress on the left is a Shift dress and the yellow dress is a Messenger dress.

On Monday of this week some happy mail arrived. And inside this brown paper package (the best things come in brown paper packages!) were my new Rummage Style dresses. Eeeek!! I was SO excited and couldn't wait to open my parcel.

Yesterday was the day - the day I wore my yellow Messenger dress for the first time. I teamed it with some grey tights, my vintage boots, one of my favourite lace scarves and my gorgeous new Sconnie and Jam necklace and brooch (more about them in another blog post because I LOVE them so much, they need their own post). Let me tell you, I felt SO comfortable and so good in my new outfit. I honestly could wear this dress EVERY day, it was soft, comfy and totally ME. So, without further ado, here's what I wore...

Dress - Messenger Dress by Rummage Style

Scarf - Valley Girl

Tights - Sportsgirl

Grey and white top - Op shop

Boots - Ramjet Assortments

Brooch and Ring - Sconnie and Jam

I think it is safe to say that this is now one of my most favourite outfits and if you are a local, you will most likely see me in this dress very regularly. I will be wearing this dress in the warmer months too with my saltwater sandals. I just love it so much. If you have a special piece of fabric that you might like made into a dress or top, the head on over to Rummage Style and check out all the different styles Theresa has to offer. I suggest you follow her on Facebook too, to see the gorgeous ready made dresses that pop up regularly as well. I may just have another gorgeous dress on the way shhh.

Just keep stitching, just keep stitching...

For the past few weeks, this has been my motto - Just keep stitching. You see, I had a little self imposed deadline that I wanted to meet. The Australian Blythefest was coming up in June and having missed out on attending last year due to ill health, I was DETERMINED to make it this year. I wanted to be there to meet my lovely online dolly friends and to have a little stall with my dolly dresses.

Having completed one deadline (My Christmas Stockings), I decided to take two weeks off from pattern making and make as many little dresses as I could. I shared lots and lots of sneak peeks along the way on Instagram and Facebook (all taken with my iphone) so I thought I'd share some snippets of my dolly dressmaking process with you, my lovely blog friends too.

I started with a batch of skirts.

Then made some bodices to match.

Then joined these together to form pretty little dresses. I am loving grey and orange at the moment so these definitely had to be part of my little collection.

I spread out and made quite a mess throughout my stitching and felt grateful once again for the little studio that I have at my parents home.

Made another batch of bodices. Let me tell you, these teeny tiny collars take a long time to make.

And just kept stitching... and stitching... and stitching... and did I mention stitching...

Made some pretty aqua and bunting dresses - these sold pretty quickly so I think I will need to make some more of these down the track when I pop my dolly dressmaker hat back on.

Kept the energy levels up with LOTS of chocolate and kept myself entertained with a pile of movies to watch while I stitched too.

On my final day before Blythefest, I spent the day finishing a few simple dresses above, using gorgeous Liberty Fabrics and packaging all of my finished dresses. I added a little more to my packaging for this batch and I was really happy with how they all came together.

And after my mammoth stitching effort of the last few weeks, I had completed a total of 26 dresses (I was aiming for 27 but ran out of puff and time).

After a few more hours of work, each of my new little dresses was packaged and ready for my stall at Blythefest. I must confess that I was pretty tired and my finger was bruised from stitching SO many tiny press studs (snaps) and buttons. I was super excited for Blythefest however and went to be (and attempted to sleep) with so many exciting thoughts running through my head. I hoped that my fellow Blythe collectors would like my dresses and I was just so excited to meet so many dear friends at the meet too.

I want to tell you ALL about Blythefest, so will be back with a huge blog post very soon. xx