A Journal
A personal journal that invites readers to design their own journeys through the world - with travel, dress and taste.
My work is shaped by seasonal rhythms, cultural, sensory and historical awareness, and expressions of independence. Language is my first love.
The hardest thing to declutter - the scruff stuff…
I am totally onboard with the Marie Kondo method - but there are some things necessary in a useful wardrobe that neither spark joy nor get used all that frequently: the clothes you keep for scruffy jobs
A spring coat in moss green cotton-linen twill from 1960’s Simplicity 5984 pattern
There’s an absense of outerwear for spring that actually offers warmth but isn’t made from wool. My journal on making my first fully lined spring coat, with cotton flannel interlining for warmth.
Leighton Denny pink nude polish, 3 Times A Lady
Colour scrutiny of Leighton Denny’s Three Times a Lady sheer pink polish
A square neck pinafore dress in grey wool from 1970’s Style 1169 pattern
Journal on making a midi dress with a ruffle tier, suitable for an autumn pinafore. Made in light grey wool from a 1970’s pattern.
An A-line skirt in Designer’s Guild cotton duck
Experimenting with Designer’s Guild upholstery fabric………..I asked myself: ”how well can cotton duck be applied to dressmaking?”……..what I learnt
High-waisted trousers in sage green twill from a 1970’s Vogue 1275 pattern
Journal of my total make time, lessons learnt and pattern adjustments.
Square neck pinafore dress in navy blue needlecord
Made as a gift. Details on total make time, adjustments and lessons learnt.
Maybe I’ve been doing it wrong all these years
Do I really need to keep changing my wardrobe every 6 months?
A loose-fitting tent dress with dagger collar
Working from a 1970’s Style pattern, turning craft cotton to the job of dressmaking - here’s how I got on. Main lesson: oversized is still a fit….
A cropped jacket in cotton twill from 1980’s New Look 6007 pattern
Using a 1980’s cropped suit jacket pattern as the starting point. Details on total make time, adjustments, seam finishes, and lessons learnt.
High-waisted trousers in linen-rayon blend
Working with a 1970’s Vogue Basic Design pattern, sewing a pair of single pleated trousers in loosely-woven rayon.
A drop-waist skirt from 1990’s Style 4987 pattern
Making a drop-waist skirt for a petite frame with high waist-to-hip ratio. Lessons learnt.
Maggie Anne yellow polish, Jessy
Colour scrutiny of bright yellow polish, Jessy, by Maggie Anne
A wool dress from Givenchy 1970’s Vogue Paris Original 1950 pattern
Main lesson: get more knowledgeable about fabric weights and gsm…..it not enough to know the fibre…
Can I call myself a minimalist?
Musings on the definition of being a minimalist - am I one and should I care either way?
Making more of a transeasonal wardrobe
I have started to change the way I approach building my wardrobe for a season.