Author: christinahopgood

life

Busy Miss Chrissy

christinahopgood

So I’ve not been as active on the blog in the past few days. This is for a couple of reasons!

1. Our landlord is coming home tomorrow (complicated situation), and we have been fixing things up around the house to get ready. Mainly, moving instruments back to our parents’ houses. As percussionists, we have a LOT of gear, which takes up a lot of space. While our landlord was away we kind of took over the lounge room with our instruments. Now we’ve brought it all back into our part of the house.

2. We have a huge concert this weekend! For those of you in Canberra, please please come along! You would not believe the amount of work Charles and I have put into this. As a consequence, it’ll be awesome.

Friday 30th November / Saturday 1st December, 7:30pm
ANU Arts Centre (in Union Court).
$25 adults / $15 concession.

We’re playing:
Drumming / Reich
Transmutations / Pateras
Celebration / France
Coming Together / Rzewski
Kalabash and Omphalo / Westlake
Musique de table / de Mey

And I’ll be playing some solo stuff!
Knockin’ on Wood / Norvo
Nola / Arndt

So I’m busy!

blouse, buttons, chiffon, diy, OOTD, outfit, sewing

Chiffon Blouse!

christinahopgood
So those of you who follow me on Instagram (my username is cutiefulchristina) or Twitter (@cutiefulchrissy) may know I’ve been working on a certain chiffon *cough* masterpiece *cough*.  In this post I’ve included my Instagram progress pictures and some outfit and worn photos.  I’m really happy with this project!

I have been making New Look pattern 6107, blouse view B with neck ties. So a mixture between view A and view B.  The skirt in this pattern is also super cute.

 Sewing chiffon is difficult.  Last time I sewed a chiffon blouse, I didn’t do proper seams and the whole thing frayed and came apart.  It was very embarrassing.  It was a cute blouse the one day I wore it, and then I saw my elbow poking through the sleeve and had a look, and found that it was beyond saving.
So I used french seams this time, which was kind of difficult since I’ve never done it before.  But I’m confident that it won’t fall apart this time!

Progress shot of it without sleeves, hems, or buttons.

The cute birdies on the fabric.  From far away it just looks like a spotty pattern!

 I completed it last night after MUCH cutting of threads.

Outfits!

 I find that this blouse goes well with my American Apparel trousers.  I couldn’t find much else that goes, in my currently small wardrobe (the rest of my stuff is at my parents’ house).

Looks good tucked in.

The back is acceptable.

It’s hard to see because of the pattern, but there are 6 pearly shank buttons and a neck tie.

Shaped nicely – good darts ‘n’ stuff.  Works untucked too!

Looks good standing on one leg.

I am super proud of myself for this blouse.  It’s going to be a blouse I actually wear!  Can’t wait to wear it with a light coloured skirt, shorts, jeans, a cardigan!  I thought it’d be see through so I bought a camisole, but it turns out it’s fine without!  The pattern is too busy to see through it.  I’m thrilled!  This means it’ll be a lovely cool summer top.  Winner!  I might use this pattern again with a different fabric in future!
cardigan, dress, earrings, OOTD, outfit, review

As promised, Modcloth package and review!

christinahopgood
I’ve been patiently waiting for two weeks for my Modcloth package to arrive!  It finally arrived yesterday afternoon!  Exciting!
“How do you open this thing?”

 The box was super cute and had writing on the inside.  One side says “So what shall we do together?” and the other says something about how we’re all unique and we should tell each other about it on the website.

Cardigan!  YES
This is the Classic Remixed Cardigan in pink.  Everyone on the website reviewed this cardigan saying it was too small.  It fit me just right!  I bought the small size, against everyone’s advice 🙂 Snug but comfy and roomy enough.  I love the sparkly silver dots.

Tights!  AWESOME!
These are the Tights for Every Occasion tights in Teal and Wine.  They have heaps of other colours too!  They’re very stretchy, soft, and comfy!

Dress!  ZOMG!
This is the Luck Be A Lady Dress in Dots.  They also have this dress in a lot of other colours.  I already have this dress in blue dots, which I adore to bits and I frocktober’d here.  I loved it so much I bought this pattern too!  Apparently they’re not stocking the blue dots one any more.  This dress fits me like a glove (well a glove that fits really well) and flatters beautifully.

Earrings!  Super rad!
These are the Bouquet Brilliance Earrings.  I just love them to bits.  All the gems are just so shiny and gorgeous.

Outfit!

 The best bit about this dress – POCKETS YOU GUYS

 The cardigan does up fine, no fit problems at all!

 The skirt has a nice amount of flare and I already received two compliments wearing it today!

The earrings are kind of big but not heavy for their size.

Pattern close up.  Looks kind of like Aboriginal dot paintings doesn’t it? And the belt is lovely, can’t wait to wear it with other things too.

All in all I’d have to say that this is my best Modcloth order yet!  I wish their things weren’t so pricy, but  it sure is fun getting things in the mail, especially when they’re super cute and awesome!

OOTD, outfit, sewing, skirt

Outfit post – OOTD – Grey handmade skirt

christinahopgood
Today’s post is just an outfit!  I went to work at the library all day today, so I was going for cute librarian! Did I win?
Skirt: Handmade
Cardigan: Alice and the Pirates
Shoes: Big W
Blouse: Target

This skirt is one I made back in 2009 (?) from one big old rectangle and a different waistband pattern.
The skirt is made of four box-pleats.  So the skirt is made of a rectangle of length 3*hip measurement, and then folded into box pleats.  There’s a zipper at the side and it’s all attached to a simple wide waistband that goes from my hips to my waist.

I got this fabric from a bizarre church sale where they were only selling fabric and patterns for super cheap.  It’s pinstripe suiting.  I lined it with spots!

Here’s a picture of me wearing it when I first made it!

 It’s also featured in my 3rd year recital poster.  Enjoy!


In other news, my blouse that I’m making is progressing slowly.  I’m using chiffon and it’s a pain to sew!