Friday 22 June 2012

Double Frocking Friday


Yesterday I claimed Jiffy patterns were so easy to follow you could make them drunk. 


So last night I quaffed half a bottle of Chardonnay and made this using the 1969 Simplicity 8259 pattern Tamera sent me and an old bed sheet. I think it came out even better than if I'd attempted it sober.


I wore it to run some errands in town today and it managed to stay in one piece, a sure sign of a well-made frock in my opinion. I even got called a glamour puss by a frisky pensioner.

1960s bed sheet (20p, jumble sale) worn with suedette platform boots (£5, local boutique), tribal necklace and bangles (India) and a silver headband (75p, YMCA)
Remember our terrible video from last year? (Watch at your peril, I've  become the very type of middle-aged woman I dreaded as a 20 year old.)



Freaky dancing aside I loved the chartreuse 1960s frock I was wearing and was beside myself with excitement when I spotted something similar on eBay last week. I wanted it so much I set my alarm for some ungodly hour on Sunday morning to place a bid.

Cocktail dress by California (£6, eBay), Silver platforms (£5, local shop)

I won it! 


I did consider wearing it for Liz's 40th birthday celebrations later but as it looks best with my trashy 7inch stripper shoes and the evening involves public transport, torrential rain and a walk across a field I think I'll have a rethink.


Have a wonderful weekend whatever you get up to.
See you soon!

81 comments:

  1. Fab handmade dress.
    I need to get my act together and make some frocks like this.
    Dx

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  2. That handmade dress is amazing! xo

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  3. Those frisky pensioners, they're like bees round a honey pot with you, Vix! Mind you, I think I would have called you a glamour puss too if I'd seen you out and about on the mean streets of Walsall looking so fabulous! Love the sheet chic, what a great print, and you did SLEEVES too! I am so impressed.
    The chartreuse maxi is a stunner, look at all that wonderful beading. It fits you so perectly. Are you SURE you can't wear it out to Liz's do later? Take your stripper heels in a bag and change!
    Whatever you wear, I know you'll look delicious and have a brilliant night!
    PS. Say happy birthday to Liz from me. xxxx

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  4. You are a "hoot"! Maybe I should try sewing drunk! I sure can't do it sober - and you make a strong case for it....

    Both frocks - gorgeous. 'Course it's YOU - you're perky, self-confident attitude it accessorizing and wearing them.

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  5. Oh my. I love that dress you made!!! I want one!!!!

    Have a blast at the party, just about to send yo an email!!

    XO

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  6. How you ran up your bed sheet dress in an evening under the influence of half a bottle of chardonnay, is beyond me! Nevertheless you look bloody amazing, love the funky retro print and I adore a square neckline. Your ebay dress is very glam and fits you perfectly, am sure it'll get plenty of wear, even if not Liz's party. xx

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  7. The Jiffy sheet dress has turned out a treat!

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  8. I love both of those dresses! Especially the longer one - what a gorgeous colour! :)

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  9. Girl you have some moves! As do your fella - you look great having a funky dance session. Also much loving your chandelier!

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  10. Vix - that video is AMAZING!!! I love it and hope that I'll be making videos like that in my future as you're a total inspiration.

    Also the dress you made looks lovely and the green dress you won on ebay is just fabulous!!

    L xx

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  11. I wanna dance with you!!! I watched the whole video and loved Jon bringing things up to the camera. You guys are such a cute fun couple. I just can't wait to play. There you go again I think I may have to change your title from seamstress to designer! This dress is so sweet! Glamour puss who says that? A pensioner :) This lovely yellow dress is gorgeous on you too babe shame it can't be wore for Liz's 40th you look stunning!
    Happy Birthday Liz ... if I was there I would have Vix hold you down and you would get 40 lashes with my cat'o nines :) Have the best rime tonight my love! We must talk next week for sure.
    I love you morethandancing!
    Krista

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  12. Note to self: look for cool old sheets this afternoon when I'm off thrifting this afternoon. Pretty dress.

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  13. wine and sewing - like your multi tasking you little glamour puss!! Excellent. Love the Ebay purchase too, worth the early start. Have a fab weekend xxx

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  14. Dress made with a bed sheet, wow! looks great but everything looks great on you girl! pretty amazing really!

    And that dress you have won on Ebay, OMG isn't spectacular!

    Have a good weekend gorgeous!

    Ariane xxxx

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  15. Love it! You look fab! LOVE your style and your freaky dancing to The Stone Roses is class! We're going to Heaton Park next friday, may use some of your moves myself! x

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  16. You can never go wrong with dancing to Fool's Gold!

    You've got some major cool dresses here, but I like particularly the one you've made, it is amazing what one can do with an old sheet, a sewing machine and a bit of time!

    Hope you have a great weekend!


    PS: yes the title on my post was extra cheeky today lol

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  17. Middle Aged!!!! Excuse me? Arent we of similar vintage? lol. The yellow dress is AMAZING, I can see why you got up early for it. Looking forward to the party pic.
    V
    xxx

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  18. that green dress is beautiful xxx

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  19. I watched. I loved.

    You are ridiculously gorgeous.

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  20. I love it. You make it's creation sound like so much fun too. I remember watching that video when you first posted it, ha ha.

    To avoid any future awkward auction end times try this little tool
    https://www.goofbay.com/login.html?referer=/my_snipes.html%3F

    It'll bid on your behalf up to your maximum amount. It's saved me many a headache xxx

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  21. The print on the dress you made is so gorgeous! I really should try to make dresses with patterns sometimes! The yellow dress looks fabulous on you, too. Have a great weekend! XO.

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  22. Gorgeous! There's something so special about your vibe, Ms. Vix -xo

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  23. omg both of your dresses are just STUNNING!!!! I love the handmade!!
    I would love for you to visit my blog sometime!!
    :)
    Allison
    afashionfiles.blogspot.com

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  24. You are a fantastic seamstress! I often see gorgeous sheet or curtain fabrics and wish I could make something from them but my sewing skills don't go beyond hand stitching due to my frustration with sewing machines.
    That cocktail dress is gorgeous too. Hope you have a great weekend!
    True story too, about 5 years ago I was showing my kids how we use to dance in the 80's to Billy Idol's Dancing With Myself and I tripped on our rug and ended up in the emergency room with a broken wrist! ;) Our livingrooms can be dangerous places.

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  25. VIX!!! That dress from your video, I have been looking for EVER SINCE!! I rememeber watching the video and loving it (and you in it!) and searching fruitlessly for something similar, I love the shape, and the colour...oh well, the search continues....what's the make, so I can maybe search that on eBay?
    You look wonderful in your frock. Can't believe you made it, you're so talented. Thank you for the purple hair comment! you should go for it!! I'm going to do it again tonight as I missed some bits :( Also thinking of getting a fringe cut in, feel a little image overhaul coming on!
    Much love and kisses as ever
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    PS Adrian's website is live now if you want to see some of his new work. Still bugging him about my blog header mind! xxxxxxxx

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  26. That vid is still hilarious! I'm right up there with you on becoming the sort of middle-aged lady I dreaded becoming - and I tell you what, it's bloody brilliant! I honestly don't think life has ever been this much fun. Have a great weekend. xx

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  27. Whoa! You made that dress in one evening, with the influence of half a bottle of wine? I'm totally amazed, but thanks for the tip about Jiffy patterns. Not sure they are still available, but if so, I'll check them out. I could use something totally easy.

    Is it a lot sunnier where you are? It's jolly freezing here. Or do you have some sort of tropical bubble in your back garden that you slip into for photos?

    Cheers,
    Rosemary www.foreveronthecatwalkoflife.com

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  28. Loving the dress you made - you really are mega talented with a sewing machine. Looking good in your ebay win too. Hope you have a great evening.

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  29. Was it the same pensioner as the one who was walking round in his pants? That was hilarious! I really need to practice so I can just rattle off a gorgeous dress! I love the Chartreuse dress with the hooker heels! xxx

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  30. You made the first dress whilst drunk? Brave girl, I wouldn't trust myself not to sew my finger to the fabric! The green dress is fab - another colour I NEED to add to my wardrobe!

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  31. OMFG! Lmao! Yer pair of silly buggas! The cat's been looking at me wondering why I'm chortling away at your video! :D Totally awesome dress! Wear it yes! But get Jon to carry yer over the field! Go orn Jon ya know ya want ter!

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  32. Great job on the hand-made dress - and holy moly, love your Ebay find :) xx ps digging your living room grooving too :p

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  33. Most things are more fun tried after 1/2 a bottle of wine! Haha! Wonderful job- looks fab.

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  34. Love your Drunken Daisy frock. and the chartreuse - bit of an alcohol thing going on here?

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  35. Friends don't let friends sew drunk - because then the drunk friends end up dressed better than the sober ones!Love the green dress.

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  36. I had seen it before, but loved watching you and Jon dance with random objects :)

    You are one talented vixen. The bedsheet dress is amazing and LOVE you in the chartreuse number. It fits you beautifully.

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  37. I can't even buy a dress after half a bottle of wine!

    I'm going to learn to sew. And I too will have fabulous dresses in an evening.

    Inspirational as ever!

    C
    xxx

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  38. More videos Vix, that was great!!! Love your new dress, awesome colour. You will look gorgillisious what ever you wear to the party!! ♥

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  39. What a delightful double frock Friday. Love the bed sheet dress & the Ebay frock fits you to perfection. Xx

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  40. your jewellery. is. SO AWESOME. ALL THE TIME. i'm yelling. xo

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  41. Gawd you're a fecking frisky wench in your your sheet-frock - no wonder you've got strangers in the street eyeing you up - heck I am!!!!!! Cheers to sheet-frocks!!! That dance video is indelibly burned into my video memory bank and I will never forget the joy of Vix and "Fool's Gold" in one hot room of love. I have certainly become one of "those" women I cringed at 20-odd years ago and I will continue unabated, hopefully for at LEAST another 40 years!!!! I am SO happy you won the bargainous glam frock - damn the rain, I wanna see those prosti shoes kicking it up at Liz's burpday - happy 40th to the hot wench! xoxoxoxoxoxo

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  42. How on earth do you manage to run up a frock so quickly, even after some vino? I'm like the worlds slowest sewist, it takes me a lifetime to make one frock. I love the maxi dress, it's so elegant. Have a great weekend! Xx

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  43. You are a talented seamstress, so pretty! (Loved the Mona Lisa top previously too!) Adored the dancing -- my daughter gets embarrassed when I dance, but screw that I LOVE it! Whoo hoo for middle aged dancers having a blast -- it keeps us YOUNG!
    XXX
    Suzanne

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  44. it's 2am here and i can't sleep so i go see what vix is up to. you already know how much i love that rave video. and i can't believe you got this california dress on ebay. it is kller...as in i'd kill for it.

    glad you didn't wear it through the muddy fields. it is gorgeous!

    oh and i forgot the flower power dress made from a sheet. i'm so freaking jealous!!!

    you look like a million bucks vix.

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  45. Love the video - you look even more beautiful, younger and full of fun than in the photos and you always look pretty damn good in those too.

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  46. Bloody fucking bugger - you're so gorgeous!!! I forgot how much I loved that dancing video last time - it's even better second time! The bed sheet frock is just fabulous - you're so clever I can't stand it! And the chartreuse frock is frickin SPLENDID (the pocket details make me cry a little bit!)! My gawd, you need to have your own book. Love you more than middle aged raving! Sarah xxx

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  47. eeeeek! your frock was 20p - genius! loving how the pensioners are reacting to you; they're still groovy buggers inside, y'know;) ......but we need to know more about the one wandering about in his pants :)

    your new ebay frock is AWESOMELY EXQUISITE!!!!!

    have been Well And Truly Told Off by the 13 year old today for wearing my lycra roses'n'barbed wire leggings with a polka dot mini-dress.... do these teenagers have NO imagination these days?;) xx

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  48. I love your necklace on the first look, it's amazing !!
    http://selenite.weebly.com

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  49. wow both dresses are gorgeous I love those black boots too.

    Yeah I think you should suggest a girly weekend in summer its such fun and Liz can celebrate twice xx

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  50. Drunk sewing! Love it! Will have to give that a try myself sometime ;)
    Lovely green dress, too. I have also set my alarm at some hideous hour just to win something too..dedication!

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  51. Ha Great Video!! ~and that is one of my favorite colors that yellowy green :) You look super and the dress you sewed turned out great. I can't wait to bust out my machine and sew again ~Happy Birthday to your friend Have a great time ~Love Heather

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  52. PS Vix you are the winner of my giveaway! well done and YAY! xxxxxxxxxxx

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  53. You really know how to whip up a striking dress, transforming a bed sheet in the process. The ultimate in recycling.

    The chartreuse dress looks very elegant on you; getting up early was worth it.

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  54. Oh Vix that is just amazing, you are the "Manchester" transformer. The dress is so cute, the sheet pattern is fabulous.
    Hoping you have had a perfect weekend.
    Love v

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  55. Gosh Vix how ever do you do it? That dress is amazing and an apsolute bargain too. In going to have to invest in a sewing machine.

    Loving the new dress it's stunning. The colour if fab too. But I do think you made the right call in rethinking it for your evening out. Be such a shame to wreak it.

    X x

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  56. Hi my dear-typical you to produce such a uniquely cute and fun dress for bonkers money!! It looks fab as well as your maxi dress too! Hope you're having a great weekend xxx

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  57. glamour puss haha well i can understand that everyone seeing you like that is impressed, what a fabulous frock you made!
    kiss,mary

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  58. well worth waking up early for......uber glam!!x

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  59. the firsky pensioners are right, you are a glamour puss! Love the second dress.

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  60. Love your new green cocktail dress - very glam! xx

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  61. Love your new green cocktail dress - very glam! xx

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  62. Gorgeous! Wish I'd saved the sheets I got as a wedding shower gift when I married the ex in 1974! The green sheath dress is very elegant. I also find that some of my upcycling projects turn out better when I've had a few glasses of wine.

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  63. Gorgeous! Wish I'd saved the sheets I got as a wedding shower gift when I married the ex in 1974! The green sheath dress is very elegant. I also find that some of my upcycling projects turn out better when I've had a few glasses of wine.

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  64. You ARE a Glamour Puss, in both of those dresses. You could start a column for the lifestyle section of a newspaper called "Sewing While Sloshed". I would have got up early for that dress too--I love the beaded details. I hadn't seen that video before, and all I can say is that the next time you have a rave at your house, can I come over?

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  65. Quaffing implies spillage to me so I regard this as cheating :-)))))!!!! Only kidding! You look brilliant in both frocks-new and er- new!!! Clever you!

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  66. You truly are a vision of loveliness, Vix. I'm mesmerized by everything you wear and how stunning you look in them.

    I love that fact you made that first dress after a bottle of wine and it still came out flawless. That is beyond awesome.

    The second dress is perfection as well.

    I hope you had a fabulous weekend. xoxo

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  67. Congrats on winning the dress! It was worth getting up to bid on.

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  68. A fantastic dress. I am not sure I could do anything like that after half a bottle of wine. it takes all of my concentration just to sew a hem. I love your raving video! The long dress is so elegant, such a shame if you didn't get to wear it because of the rubbish weather.

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  69. The dress you made looks great. That frisky pensioner had it right, you are a glamour puss. If I drunk half a bottle of wine before sewing I'd probably stitch my finger to the fabric. That green cocktail dress is gorgeous.

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  70. Gorgeous dresses Vix, I love the one you made its fantastic xx

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  71. Definitely a 'glamour puss' in your recycled sheet-dress (I have some curtains in a similar pattern that I wanted to make into a housecoat, but I think it's slightly beyond my sewing capabilities). And the lime green number oozes evening glamour. What a great duo of dresses.

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  72. I love the sewn drunk dress! It's really cute.
    And the green one is super fabulous!

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  73. I LOVE it!!! Both frocks are amazing!!!
    I can't wait to see what else you create!!
    Tamera

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  74. What an amazing frock amor? made of an old bedsheet? Aye, your just too talented.
    LMAO at "sewing drunk"
    You are a glamour puss and more.
    Green Indian Princess dress is exquisitely divine.
    Luv ya

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  75. That dress was truly meant to be yours Vix, you look stunning xxx

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  76. Haha - I have actually watched that video prior to this post and was thinking how gorgeous that chartruese dress you were dancing around in was - you look stunning in yellow so fab that you've found another beautiful yellow dress.

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  77. OMG....you so made me lol with the so easy you could sew it drunk!

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  78. I've been so busy lately I'm just catching up on your amazing blog,I nipped in a carity shop the other week and picked up some old patterns I just have to find time on read what to do lol your dress is great :)

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix