Spring Racing - The Outfit

Two weeks until Stakes Day (which is when I will be heading off to the races), and I am only just starting to create my outfit. Never fear - unlike previous years, where I have either chosen complex dress patterns with limited time frames to make them in, or been forced into a rethink of my chosen fabric due to some sort of mini heatwave courtesy of Melbourne weather, I am making something simple. A skirt and top combo, and luckily for me, I've made both a number of times, so there should be no issues.....

Well, so I thought.

This year I've decided to go for a designer fabric. Its a stunning colour combination, and I love the pattern by Milly.

Ooooh - pretty!

I had originally bought the fabric for no other reason than I loved it and because there was no actual purpose for the fabric, I didn't buy a lot. Of course, as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it for myself. So I put it away, and when it came time to make my race outfit, I dragged it out, and realised there was nowhere near enough.

So, here I am two weeks from race day, with a stunning fabric I don't have enough of! Of course, I could have gone to my local Spotlight, which while its good when you need something immediately and you can't go anywhere else, is not known for its top quality for dress fabrics. But considering it was a designer fabric, and couldn't be paired with any old fabric, off I went to the not so local fabric store (yes there was a little bit of driving to get there.... okay a fair bit of driving), in the hopes that I could find some fabric to use for side panels for the skirt. While I could have just found some other fabric to use (and I am a fan of shopping for more fabric!), I really wanted that fabric.

With the help of one of the lovely ladies from Rathdowne Fabrics, I was able to find fabric for my side panels as well as for the top. I'm loving the combination of colours, although the aqua is defintely more green than the photos.

The shoe shopping is a different story. I'm not looking forward to that!

***

Follow up note:
The outfit was completed in time (with minutes to spare), and I thought I'd share some photos.

Even a few showers weren't going to put a dampener on the day.

My leaf shape headpiece and long clutch.

Welcome Back!

After two years without blogging, I was quite happy to leave it by the wayside. However, while talking to another hand made business, blogging was discussed, and I mentioned that I had started a blog a while ago, but it had been stopped as I thought they were incredibly boring (I'm sure I'm a lot more amusing in real life). There was some encouragement to start it up again, and so here I am, again (it doesn't take much encouragement for me to waffle).
 
Its been a very crazy two years, with a lot of personal changes in my life. Some of those changes were very difficult, but some have been a step forward. One of those changes has been going back to full time work as an IT geek. I missed the logical side of the work (plus it helps pay the bills). All That Jazz is still going of course, I just do both (because why have one line of work, when you can have two?). The focus with All That Jazz is mainly aimed at bags and clutches, but I do still make hats (which reminds me, I need to get started on my race outfit!).

I figure I'll keep this one short and sweet (well, short at least), and share a photo from one of my recent personal changes.... yes, I had a milestone birthday! Happy Birthday to me, and a big HELLO to all of you!

I love birthdays, especially my own!