Making & Creating - A Maxi Makeover & Some Bostin' Batik

Back in the bad old days of my career in corporate hospitality I regularly worked sixteen hour shifts, often five days in a row for weeks on end. These days I only need to do one and I'm absolutely knackered.  Whoever said "do a job you love and you'd never have to a work a day of your life again" obviously never did a vintage fair in Bethnal Green!

Yesterday, after we'd unpacked the van and sorted out the remaining stock, neither of us had the energy to walk down to Wetherspoons and I didn't want to waste the rest of the day gormessly staring at the computer so I had a rummage around the stockroom and decided to make this vintage '70s cotton maxi a bit less Little House on the Prairie and a bit more riding the Magic Bus along the Overland Trail.

Off came the prissy high neck, the lace trim and the pink buttons, much as I adored her as a school girl, dressing like Holly Hobbie when you're 49 is a bit weird. I hacked away at the neckline, reinforcing it with bias binding and, using the remnants from the hippy bag I'd used for the mediocre maxi project, I hand sewed each piece to the bodice.  When the perished elastic from the cuffs was removed it revealed fabulously flared sleeves, so I hemmed them and left them as they were.

The dress was a bit sack-like so I slit the side seams, inserted two tube shaped pieces of fabric cut from an Indian cotton dupatta (rescued from a 50p bargain bucket in a chazza last week) and sewed them into place. The nipped in waist from the tie-back added some shape to the silhouette.

 I've lusted after chunky coral chokers like these in Kashmiri emporiums throughout India for years but the prices are ludicrous (for a skinflint like me). This beauty was £10 from the vintage fair on Sunday. I was happy with that.

Linking to Patti and the gang for Visible Monday.

The larger oblong piece was my initial practice and the smaller top one was produced using a crackle technique

Today the Lizs invited me to join them on a batik making workshop in the Arboretum Visitors Centre (£15 for a 3 hour tutorial, unlimited tea and coffee and all artists materials provided). I was a bit nervous as they're both artists and when it comes to painting and drawing I really haven't got a clue but I surprised myself. 

This was my main creation. Hard to believe it was a piece of plain white cotton a few hours ago, isn't it? I'm going to sew it on the back of a denim jacket and probably bore everyone who asks with an in depth synopsis of my batik technique.

Vintage Cornell of London maxi worn with a coral choker and 1960s Gohill's snakeskin boots (seen HERE)

Despite the punishing schedule we had a fab day in Bethnal Green, we even got interviewed by super cool site, Humans of London (scroll down to find us). We seriously need to do some shopping, the rails are looking a bit sparse and we're back in vintage lovers paradise, Stockport, on Sunday.

See you soon!