Hugo says "how will you know when it's arrived if it's invisible?"

 Hello! Did you have a good weekend? I hope so! Ours was a weekend full of unusual sociability for us, Hugo and I usually spend our weekends doing our own thing, just the two of us, but this weekend just gone, was busy.

Saturday we had friends round for lunch, and we were able to sit outside in the garden to eat. The first time this year!

Sunday we had Auntie Anne, (who looks after the dogs a lot), round to watch the Men's Final at Wimbledon. We drank Pimms and ate chocolate brownies made by Hugo, and got very vocal about the match. We were rooting for Nadal. Poor Nadal. I hate to see such a superb player beaten, but he was outplayed by the better man on the day.

We went to the beach to walk the dogs, and it was warm enough to go bare-foot on the sand, which felt very luxurious.

Tabiboo has a top tip for getting sand off little feet and back into shoes, in her blog post here.

We luxuriated in the sun with a cup of coffee and the weekend papers, and watched the world go by. And there was lots of great dog spotting!

I didn't make the dress in the picture above.

I found it in a charity shop. Never worn. It cost £6.

I was so pleased with the dress I got Hugo to take photos of me wearing it on the beach, to show it to you.

When you find something you love, a certain triumphal feeling follows, don't you find? You want to show your find, and be told "ooohhhh yes, what a bargain, lucky you!"

I showed it to someone, and she said, "it's very you Vanessa".

I'll admit, it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it makes me happy! It's always the little things.

I am making another dress.

I've had this red gingham fabric hanging around for years, and I could just picture it made up into the pattern I'm using.

I got the pattern free with this month's 'Sew' magazine.

I'm making the dress with the long arms, (dress B), but I'm not sewing on any applique like that featured in the pattern's waist area, on my dress, I'm keeping it simple.

The title of this post relates to this dress. I've had to order an 'invisible zip' on-line, and Hugo said to me, "how will you know when it's arrived?"

"What do you mean?"

"The zip, it's invisible, so how will you know when it's arrived in the post?"

I've got a few links for you since doing the post about my 'Lisette Portfolio dress', above. If you want to make one, and you feel like having some guidance with the pattern, there's a sew a-long composed by Gwenny Penny over five tutorials you can follow:

Day 1 here.

Day 2 here.

Day 3 here.

Day 4 here.

Day 5 here.

There's a sew lisette website that you might find useful here.

And there's a great SewLisette group on flickr which you can find here. The flickr group is a great place to look at other people's versions of all the Lisette patterns from Simplicity, and get inspiration.

Isn't that great that the Lisette patterns have such a wide range of support and coverage? There's something really nice about making the same dress along with lots of other people all over the world, each with their own version.

And lastly, just before I go, here's a little note to myself of another pattern I quite like, this dress from Burdastyle here. You can see other people's versions of it on the BurdaStyle website here.

I don't think I've forgotten anything....................... oh yes! My knitted dress! I've finished the back, and am now on the front skirt section, but I forgot to take photos of it today, I'll try and remember for my Friday post.

Cheerio! Love Vanessa xxx

P.s. If there's one link you go to today it has to be this link to Jane Brocket's post here, honestly, it's a thing of beauty and amazement!

Comments

[Meredith]

Vanessa, You are so lucky to have found that dress, I don't even really know you and I think it is very you. I just love a bargain and that dress sure is a perfect bargain. Love the beach photos.
Have a wonderful day,
Meredith

[harmony and rosie]

Your Hugo is quite a card, that's just the sort of thing my husband would say too. Funny things men, aren't they?! As for that charity shop dress, that really is something and for £6 I'm not surprised you're as happy as Larry, I would be too (not that there's ever anything like that in my local).

Your gingham dress is coming along beautifully, very expertly done around the neckline I might add so I'm looking forward to seeing the finished article, I love gingham and if it's red even better.
Kate x

[Martha]

Vanessa, I love the dresses, and the crocheted blankets, and the beach and the puppies!!!
Looking forward to your knit dress, also.

I did see Jane's post! ☺ Beautiful project, I agree!

Have a lovely week!

[Teresa Kasner]

Dear Vanessa, loved your post, the seaside, the dress, the doggies and you and your dress.. and of course the funny thing Hugo said. Gotta love 'em! Hope you pop over to my blog to see my photos of the 4th of July parade we had here in our little town yesterday.
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Nina]

What a wonderful way to spend a weekend and what wonderful bargains.

'Ah' and men do have a simply way of making us poor ladies chuckle - invisible zip!

I hope the top tip worked nicely?

Have a lovely day,

Nina x

[Stephanie]

Dear Vanessa,

You are right: when I saw Jane B's Liberated Ladies I felt as if, for one or two seconds, all was well with the world. It is a stunning representation of femininity and the colours are swoonable - yes, yes I've just made up a word!

I really like the look of your red gingham dress in the making; you are so clever. Do you manage to make all these beauties in the evenings after you've finished working? You are so productive.

Good on you, Hugo ;-) Tell him he made me chuckle too.

[Helen]

I love your charity shop dress, what a great find! It does really suit you and the so does the hat - and I love those beach photos. Your sewing is amazing too - the fabrics you choose are always lovely. Have a happy day.
Helen x

[Jenni at Baa-me Kniits]

I miss living near the beach, it looks like a lovely day out :-)

[Magic Cochin]

You're very lucky that I didn't spot that grey and white dress first! It was obviously menat for you!

What a lovely day you had on Sunday! Exciting things have been happening under the beautiful Black Cochin hen... too cute for words!!!!

Celia
x

[Judi A.]

Thought of you when I received an email today about a book called "I Am Cute: 25 Simple Designs to Sew." by Sato Watanabe. The email is from "SEW DAILY" created by Interweave. I did find it on Amazon, as well in the Interweave store. May be something you'd be interested in. I do like your sewing venture, but that charity store find is a treasure. Truly does look like it was mad just for you! :-)

[Annie]

I like the way your Hugo thinks ;D

As requested, pictures of mini-wire Wilbur over at knitsofacto soon, I promise :)

[Florence]

Goodness! So many lovely dresses - I adore your version of the Portfolio - it's beautiful and really lovely fabric. And doesn't that binding on the half-finished gingham dress look gorgeous - I'm leaving in a dressmaking mood - thank you! And thank you also for your lovely comment on my shirring post. x

[Barbara]

Both dresses are just so nice ... and I love the knitted one as well ... happy gardening too! x

[sandra]

Très joli modèle