Ok, that’s not to say that life in Addis wasn’t life. But this seems so much more the daily grind!
We have a family wedding to go to in a few weeks time. Both the dresses that I have that would be suitable, I can’t remember whether I wore either of them to the last family wedding, so methinks its time for a new dress! I made the girls one each before we went away, in preparation (hoping they wouldn’t grow too much in the mean time!), so I think after all that work, I deserve a new one too!
I dreamed up an idea for a dress while wishing I was asleep on the plane on the way home. Somewhere over the north western edge of Australia, I guess.
My idea was to have a cream yoke, with ruched band around midriff, and a black georgette floaty skirt. The plan was to embroider on the yoke. So yesterday we went shopping and of course we couldn’t find the perfect dress pattern – I seem to be adapting patterns more and more these days – but my husband found a Burda one that is adaptable to what I want, and what’s more, it was on special! We bought some lovely cream delustred satin (not the bridal satin – being silk, it was rather a lot more than I wanted to pay!), black georgette, and linings for each part.
I decide to have beading on the yoke instead of embroidery – its an evening wedding – so designed that last night. I’ll be using a mix of beads, and some swarovski crystals. I want it to sparkle! So hopefully I will get the chance to start that today.
My sister broke her wrist quite spectacularly last night, falling off her lounge while standing there to close the curtains. Well done. Thankfully we were home to look after her kids, while she and her husband went to the hospital. The Aviator (my nephew, mentioned in my last post) loves flags and was excited to see an Ethiopian flag sitting on our sideboard. Its actually for him, but we didn’t want to give the kids their gifts without their parents being there. So he’ll just have to wait a bit longer for that excitement.
We also visited my Pa (grandfather) yesterday, as he had a stroke soon after we went away. He’s had to move into a hostel, out of independent living, so that’s been a big thing for him and my mother and aunt. It was good to see him, and find out how well he is doing. He’s having trouble finding the right words to use, which frustrates him no end. I really sympathise with this, at it was something that happened to me when I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. But it was lovely to see his new room, and the grounds that the hostel is in are lovely.
Still haven’t found any 1 birr baguettes…
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
Your dress sounds lovely! And it’s nice to talk to someone enthusiastic about dressmaking,as opposed to another net-friend who is deep in the brides maids/wedding dress process (she’s just about to start the wedding dress – the final step!)
And your poor pa.
Apart from wanting to do etchings and learning to weave, the other skill that I would most like to have is to be able to draft patterns. I did graphic design at uni, and one of the parallel design courses was fashion and textile design. I now wish that I had found out how to take a pattern drafting class as an elective or something. It would be a skill that would be SO useful!
And if I had more time, I’d love to be able to do more embroidery on clothing. But writing books beckons, and helps to pay some of the bills more effectively…
Hi there Yvette,
So glad to learn that you are safe and sound back home again.
The dress sounds wonderful and I hope that you share pictures with us all.
Sympathy for your Sister and her fall………..hindsight is a wonderful thing isn’t it. She wont do that again in a hurry will she??
I have to smile everytime I read your blog from Addis; living here in Turkey, we have learned to have Bacon and Pork as a treat…………they import the cheapest and of course charge a huge huge amount. Mind you, it has got me to learn how to make my own crumpets, I regularly make hot cross buns ( well, its nearly Easter isn’t it) and chocolate eclairs etc. Charlotte always has a donut asap when we visit the U.K!!
You have mentioned pattern drafting…………..may I recommend this bible of a book; I am teaching myself from it as I only learned the basics at Teacher Training College………………..Pattern Making for Fashion Design by Helen Joseph Armstrong. Expensive, but honestly, worth every penny!
Take good care
Marysia.
Thanks Marysia, I’ll definitely look that one up!
Oh dear, you really are back into ordinary life, aren’t you!
My sympathy to you all, as dealing with crises like that when jetlagged is really not fun!