Thursday, June 21

frocks and such like...



in amongst the intense nitty gritty of the past few weeks of granny chic book madness (more of this thrilling subject tomorrow), i have been taking little breathers and dabbling with Miss Ethel. when Rachelle (my spiffy book writing buddy) came to stay, we decided upon the peachy idea of having co-ordinating frocks for our up and coming workshops in old blighty. not to mention important busy businessy meetings we are attending in the big smoke. we did not wish to be matching but nicely complimenting each others 'interesting handmade' attire, as one does.... there is a fine line at our age and one we must not cross

each of us, either side of the pond has spent stolen moments whipping up a few frocks. each one we tweak or add a different detail to and in doing so, have given a basic shaped frock a whole new look with a bit of bling here or a bit of bling there.



end of last week i wore my new red frock with handy dandy kangaroo pocket to test it out. the panel down the front has given the effect of a tabard of sorts (thus a nod towards granny's and their pinnies).


 i've made my handmade frocks from beginning to end without trying on in-between (once again risking it for a biscuit). so when i popped it on my heart sank as i realized the fawn ditsy fabric down the front did nothing to give me a radiant complexion but more one of having just been sick. so i threw caution to the wind and did the 'button bling' deed, placing two around the neck line to lift things a little. this very act frightened me greatly, for one has to be a little careful when blinging out floral frocks... too much bling and it resembles something an eight year old would wear. 


my blinging fears were unfounded and the buttons appeared to have done the trick alongside my new miracle face cream which claims to make me look fresh and not haggard according to the info on the box. as it is a 'hint of a tint' sort of moisturizer to fill in all the cracks and crevices on one's face and even things out, i am hoping for a small miracle. i am keeping my fingers crossed i don't break out from a reaction as is the usual way and indeed upon peering closely in the mirror today i noted i no longer looked 43 years, 9 months and 1 day but rather 43 years, 8 months and 21 days!! goodness what a miracle indeed

whilst out and about with the sun shining, in my new frock, with blingy buttons and miracle cream up against it, i noted i was the palest person in my town, i have no idea where folks get their tans from, they must be from a bottle or a bed but certainly not from our recent pants weather. i very cleverly distracted folks from my luminous pasty pins by my new bright rosy pinky red gloss balm which was found at the same time as the miracle cream. it is the sort which stains your lip and in doing so gives you a bit of perky colour. a clever distraction technique from pasty palour if ever there was one


so there we have it, with frocks made, complexion tightened up and lips worthy of Colin Firth stopping by, i feel i am ready for the coming few weeks of travel. although a thought has just occurred, having got my lips all ready for the off chance Colin Firth will drop by, i will not be here to receive him for i will be away travelling. i doubt with his busy schedule he will have time to hang around waiting patiently for my return and embrace. hopefully word will be slow to get out to him and thus i will have returned back to mossy shed before he arrives wishing to admire my newly glossy balmed rosy lips


and just a frock note, for there are many and i appear to have lost the frock plot with thoughts of Colin... however one worthy of a note, Rachelle and i are plotting and planning. tis our hope, patterns for our frocks and other such endearing granny chic attire will be available in the future in some shape or form, no matter your shape or form. hip hip hooray!



righty ho, over and out
Tif 

36 comments:

jo teraa said...

Please sell your dress patterns.....the world needs a dress like that!

Tracy x said...

i need a frock...
that is all
t x

melissa said...

Oh my. What adorable-ness, and I believe I spy those cute little buttons from 'Mollie Makes' or something similar?

So beautiful...your work amazes me everytime. :)

Fleurdelalaine said...

So cute! I love your clothes! Soooooo beautiful!

Love, Maartje

Liz said...

well thank goodness that you are plotting a frock pattern, for in reading this post I almost died with desire to stitch one of those lovelies up for myself!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh my sweet goodness...I want a grey and red one just like you made for yourself...except, I don't sew...boo hoo...they are simply and charmingly lovely. Maybe I can get a pattern and find someone to make me one?
Best wishes,
Bethie

Jopsy said...

Eeek! those are just lovely! Would love to wear one! spiffing! x

Donna -Little Tiny Stitches said...

Tif, your frocks are awesome my dear -tres peachy perfect for sure.

I do so want a handy dandy kangaroo pocket frock for myself -but will have to be careful on that front, as said pocket will look like 'tis already full at the moment :o)

OOo, one week and one day we will be on our little jaunt up north :D

Excitement and nerves are begining to surface :o)

Happy happy day to you my dear. May Mr Sunshine pop his head around your door for sure!

Love n hugs,
Donna xx

P.s. If Mr Sunshine does pop round to you, please be sure to snaffle him in your case and bring him over for a long stay :o) xx

Unknown said...

I like the rail the dresses are hanging from :)

Alison Gibbs said...

Loving your frocks, your 'granny chic attire'. Such pretty fabric too!
Can't wait for patterns to become available.
Tis a shame Colin Firth will miss his chance to sample the new bright rosy pinky red gloss balm

Carol said...

Pasty and pilly wally describes my complexion, a tinted moisturiser works a teeny tiny miracle.
The buttons were indeed the perfect finish for your pinny nod frock. Look forward to seeing you both in your matchy splendour. Nine more sleeps!
Carol xx

Nicole said...

That had me in stitches! Thank you :-) Your frocks are brilliant, if you ever do sell patterns I'm sure to be a customer they're fab!

P.S Colin will wait I'm sure... :-)

jennifer said...

frock pattern! frock pattern!

Unknown said...

I've wanted one since I first saw you modeling one quite fetchingly. :) Keep us posted on pattern availability please.

susaninfrance said...

do i spy some new spiffy peep toe clog there??? "love"

and love the rest too of course, especially the lovely lacy neckline on the first dress!!

opportunityknits said...

Such charming and pretty dresses, with a hint of nostalgia. Love all the creativity that went into sewing them.

Jane B. said...

Oh, I do most ferverently hope that the sewing patterns will be suitable for sewing novices like me! They certainly are completely adorable :-) and what a very clever idea!

Lynne said...

I was hoping you would do up a frock pattern from the minute I saw them on a previous post. I think I could still wear one of these lovelies at 53 years 9 months and 18 days : )

silly old suitcase said...

...and soon there will be lots of
frock-a-holics walking around...

They look great!
i hope your doing fine! xx Maartje

Unknown said...

Well well you and Rachelle are such clever things! Such beautiful fabrics, too. I sadly do not have such skills or bravery to concoct a granny dress for our 'crafty day' next week, but I will do my best to fly the granny flag and perhaps pop on a vintage pinny or two. See you then dear Tif!

Catherine Holman said...

I love your frocks! I have a huge box of old patterns from grandma that I've always wanted to make dresses from but haven't given it a try yet. Hugs!

Challice said...

I just kept thinking, please be selling these, please be selling these! They are so lovely!

Zita said...

Dearest Totally Terrific Tif,
I would absolutely love to have a dottie angel frock to frolic in. You MUST make up a batch for selling, along with the pattern.

follyandglee said...

I'd heard that Colin Firth had booked one of your workshops under the anagram Frolic Hint. Steady....

Anonymous said...

You are so funny and wonderful! I laughed outloud at this post. Thank you for this, and for your beautiful work. Your frocks are inspiring me to keep plugging away with dress making. Have a happy trip overseas!
-Karen

figwittage said...

Yes oh yes please! I must own one too! Those are quite lovely frocks! xx

Anonymous said...

MUST have FROCK Pattern! WILL PAY!

Charis said...

You made your dresses without trying their on?! Madness ;)

Anonymous said...

I love these!

Katie said...

Oh my, Colin Firth-worthy lip gloss?

I am teaching Pride and Prejudice and watched a scene with my tutoring student and swooned for him for about the millionth time.

Diana said...

Do hurry on the frock pattern for girls of humf...”all sizes” I am wondering if those of us with more junk in the trunk will look as lovely in these little creations. I hope so....I see all sorts of possibilities.

Anonymous said...

This certainly smacks of customer demand so you rwally must make frock available for us!! Ive got my preorder in.

annemade said...

I hope that you make your pattern for your frocks available very soon. They are totally charming and I would love to make one or twenty for myself.

Melissa Marie Head said...

Those dresses are amazing and would perfect for wearing to look cute around the farm! I need a pattern please!!!

Anonymous said...

I adore your blog...simply perfect..must have one of those frocks..I sew...would love a pattern...at any price..have looked on net/joann fabrics..not one like yours...please..make one available for the public...
thank you.

Jodi said...

I agree with all the above!!!