As you know… I go to the beach… a lot… it’s what happens when one lives in a town that is littered with them. You just sort of dawdle along and splat… you find yourself on the beach again with sand between your toes and saltwater drying on your skin. It’s a tough life but I’m coping well. Here’s one of my favourite beaches… Nobbys (aka The Dog Beach)… it’s a friendly beach where everyone says hello and you can let your dog off the leash, a rather fabulous feature when you own a whippet… it’s rather rocky but that’s what I love the most about it. It’s just magic at Nobbys.
The ever-beautiful Nobbys, Port Macquarie
It’s springtime here. Sun protective clothing, hats & sunnies are indispensable again. I decided I needed something new to throw on over my swimmers on the dog beach mornings (I’m tired of daggy old sarongs)… what to make?
When the Liesl + Co patterns were released I was underwhelmed. They looked big, shapeless… not ‘me’ at all… especially the Late Lunch Tunic… I’ve never even owned a ‘tunic’. Seriously.
I’m the girl that bolts down a meal and skips onto the next thing on my ‘to-do’ list. Food is merely fuel to keep the SewBusy machinery operational. So the Late Lunch Tunic held no lifestyle appeal – and it looked… so boxy… then I saw Sown Brooklyn’s Tough as Silk Tunic… and I went back to the patterns and had another look… and with a couple of clicks it was sitting in my inbox. Oops!
Hello Late Morning Beach Tunic…
The Beach edition of the Late Lunch Tunic (and my Michael Jackson moment). Please note I AM wearing swimwear under this. I’m a nice girl.
I’ve always had a penchant for sheer shirts, not fitted ones but soft, billowing sheer shirts that just hint at what lies beneath, modest but not dowdy – I adore them. I’ve been wearing them since high school.
This is made from cotton cheesecloth in the palest pink. It’s easy to care for, light and cool to wear and so so easy to sew… not to mention I paid about $12 for the fabric – all 3 metres of it. I also adore the crinkle of cheesecloth… let’s just say I like ironing when I’m sewing but ironing laundry is not my gig.
Now even I don’t go to the beach all the time (it just seems that way) and prance about in swimwear… (in fact I think that’s the first time you have come close to seeing me in swimwear on the blog). So how would I wear this out – if I was so inclined to sit around all afternoon and eat?
The Late Lunch Tunic when you actually want to go out and eat lunch…
The more demure way – with proper clothing… & an ‘up do’ because I’ve got Beach Hair going on…
I’ve paired this with skinny jeans, heels, earrings and a nude lace cami. The yoke has a double layer of fabric which creates a bit more ‘coverage’.
I can imagine wearing this in plaid/flannel with leggings & flats in winter – dead cute, comfortable and warm! that would make me look as short as I actually am… I’ll have to think about that…
My handsome (but v.stoopid) whippet Banjo decided this was THE day to photo bomb…
Photo bombed!
and again…
Photo bombed again by the hound
and sometimes I admit I’m not always so keen to get wet at first…
It might be warm – but the water is cold in spring/summer until you get used to it some mornings!
STITCH 56 – a new blogging gig
This is my first project with Stitch 56 – I’ll be blogging some of my makes over at Stitch 56 and some tips on how I finished my makes. Stitch 56 has a really big range of sewing accessories, patterns, digital patterns, patterns for clothes, homewares, hats, bags and more – go and have a look!
I want my blog to continue SewBusyLizzy style – it’s my little creative playground and I want to keep it that way. Strangely, in this virtual corner of the world I discovered a new way of looking at life and feel part of a worldwide bunch of beautiful generous people who have become my sewing circle and life. My blog is a bit like a butterfly, I don’t want to touch its wings…
At Stitch 56 I will be exercising some of my more serious craftin’ muscle (not too serious – I’m not I’m capable of that) and write some instructions, tips and reviews. I’m a former craft editor – I have a formidable arsenal of skills – from interviewing, writing, editing, technical writing, freelancing, photo shoots (not in front of the camera – I’ve always been camera shy – go figure) and broad knowledge of ‘craft’… I’ve turned my hand to many crafts – including wood carving and turning, folk art, bear making and silver jewellery, crochet, knitting, patchwork, embroidery… yes, I am bona fide creative machine, you can read more about that here.
So subscribe to the Stitch 56 blog for more product reviews, sewing pattern reviews and more SewBossyLizzy sewing tips… I’ve written more about the Late Lunch Tunic over there today… and I’m writing up another post for Stich 56 which is just some of the techniques I used to make the tunic this week as well… it’s nice to have somewhere to put all that extra information that might be of use to others!
I’ll be sewing a wider range of things at Stitch 56 – which is interesting to me. Helene has been good for broadening my horizons… I’m interested in things like sewing for tweens, hats and what not. So things like that will be popping up over at Stitch 56 too and I’ll let you know when (I would have made an excellent lollypop lady).
So if you are curious – yes, I purchased this pattern and bought my own fabric. And yes I do really love it.
I thought long and hard blogging for Stitch 56 and decided that I didn’t want to accept cash for my posts. I blog what I like, I sew what I love and I say what I think – that’s going to happen here and over at Stitch 56 – because that’s the SewBusyLizzy way 🙂 Helene at Stitch 56 has provided me with patterns that interest me and a discount – and I have purchased quite a lot of patterns LOL – hello Thread Theory! I see it as a mutual sponsorship.
I’m still going to be sewing plenty of Big 4 patterns, independent & free patterns at SewBusyLizzy just for you guys because *shuffles feet* I have a lot… and I like sewing my own crazy stuff and sharing it with you – it’s the highlight of my sewing projects!
MORE SEWBUSYLIZZY NEWS
- Next week I’m going to blog my first Minerva make (25 November) The Christmas Skirt of Happy Happy Joy Joy. And it is – I had so much fun making, wearing and photographing that skirt – buckle yourself in for sewing fun!
- I’m sewing up the new Lolita Patterns Gunmetal top – I had rather an epic journey in getting it printed (I’ve learnt my lesson, now I’m just avoiding my local Officeworks printing department whenever possible, hello Xerox) so I’m behind the blog release schedule. Patience people! And there will be a giveaway.
- I was also selected as a tester for the Thread Theory Goldstream Peacoat so ELH is finally going to score a treasure from the sewing room.
- The sewing room is almost re-organised. Oh it’s sooooo much better! Pictures when I’m done.
- I’m waiting for By Hand London Georgia Dress pattern to arrive and Papercut Patterns Bellatrix Blazer… I’m so impatient. Australia Post is horrifically slooooooow….
- Finally… I’ve nearly finished My Hot Mess Birthday Dress… which is TOMORROW!
Sorry can’t stay and talk… must sew more…
Pattern: Late Lunch Tunic by Liesl + Co from Stitch 56 – pssst… it’s a download so you can start right away! Great pattern, great instructions and great finish.
Fabric: pale pink cotton cheesecloth from Spotlight.
Stitch 56
Sew Busy Lizzy 