Wednesday 11 May 2016

Finnished! My Marimekko Mini


I had some free time yesterday so I cracked open my pattern stash and made myself a dress from the 1965 Marimekko curtain I found in a charity shop in Cirencester a couple of months ago. (I also mastered the gormless selfie).


Yes, I've finally completed the nightmare that was my Dad's paperwork. Its been seven months since he died and it really has taken that long to get his affairs in order. The accountant was so impressed with my work that I reckon I could have a whole new career ahead of me if I decide to knock vintage selling on the head and, if we have another weekend as disappointing as the one just gone, I could almost be tempted.


Glorious sunshine, record breaking temperatures and cities celebrating their football team winning the league with odds of 5000 to 1 definitely don't make for successful vintage fairs. Given the choice I would have chosen to spend the weekend sitting in a pub beer garden drinking ice cold cider rather than sweltering in a dark municipal building with the heating on full, listening to Elvis covers and smiling at people telling me that my Nan used to have one of them.


Hopefully Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair in Bath this Sunday will be a welcome return to form, it's usually one of our most favourite events. Between researching inheritance tax laws, calculating historical stocks & shares prices, deciphering government websites and swearing at the calculator we've been preparing for festival season it kicks off in three weeks time! There's a steampunk theme at the first one so we've made some brooches from antique watch parts.....




To lessen the trauma of unwashed festival hair here's some wired head scarves we've made from vintage fabric (Jon dealt with the wire as I'd probably have chopped my hand off) .....


And Dee will be pleased to see that my crop tops now bear a Kinky Melon label!


Honestly, I had ironed this dress before I left the house this morning but trawling the town flea market (wait till you see what I found!) & the chazzas in torrential rain followed by a cheeky drinking session in 'Spoons with a girlfriend was a tough ask.

Dress made from Maijia Isola's Unikko (£2.99), Stuart Weitzmann boots (£2), 1960s Vogue umbrella (50p, car boot sale)
That's a complete outfit for just over £5! Who needs Primark?
I'm hoping this incessant rain does one before tomorrow, the car boot sale awaits. 

Linking to Visible Monday, unfashionably late as usual!

See you soon

107 comments:

  1. You just pipped me at the post with your blogging and your right you are like me. Its bust a gut or nothing.
    The dress is fabulous, I'd wear it too and it looks good with your boots. The star turn for me is the watch brooches and your label, love em.
    What about that brolly/parasol its fabulous, you can leave me that in your will. Speaking of which well done on completing your Dad's affairs, you deserve a medal.
    Lynn xxx

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    1. Yep, that dress would look ace on you!
      Quite surprised ourselves with those watch brooches. What on earth shall we make next? xxx

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  2. Since I'm half-finnish - i Love it!

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    1. Finnish things are always fabulous, including you! xxx

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  3. Fabulous makes there, especially the dress. Gotta love a bold print like that! Bet you can heave a sigh of relief now your Dad's paperwork is finished; sounds like it can't have been an easy task to do. P.S. I wish I had a brolly as eye-catching as yours! xxx

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    1. I might reward myself with a cheeky rum! That vintage brolly made today's weather a bit more bearable. xxx

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  4. LOVE the dress!! Fab legs too! x

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  5. dear lady, glad you've finished all that paperwork!, and for sure you're able to manage paperwork, 'cause you run your own business!!, I think you're more talented than any accountant, and more fabulous anyway!
    And I'm loving your new dress, a cool piece!. Such a lovely print and cute sleeves, and it looks marvellous on you!
    Wish you enjoy next weekend and have lots of fun to compensate for last weekend dissapointing!
    Besos

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  6. I love your dress Vix & do not come to the dark side of accounting! :0

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    1. Thanks, Denise! I'm probably unemployable now! xxx

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  7. What a great dress-I would never have known it began life as a curtain had you not mentioned it.

    You don't want to be an accountant-You'll get clients like myself that present you with a paper sack filled with receipts and odd statements at tax time and asking, "Can you make sense of this for me?"

    I bought a Marimekko swimsuit and matching sarong yesterday-must be something in the air!

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    1. Hehe! After the carrier bags filled with Dad's stuff I reckon I could cope with anything!
      The Marimekko twins! Hope you're going to show them on your blog. xxx

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  8. Lovely to meet you on Saturday, it was roasting in there! Sorry to hear it wasn't a great weekend for you. Love the dress.

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    1. Lovely to meet you too, Lisa! We'll definitely come back to Leicester - hopefully on a footie-free day! xxx

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  9. As always I am stunned and delighted by your creativity. I am right now wearing a dress I made from a 60s tablecloth in lime green, turquoise, green and yellow. I love it, but I know I am going to get some stares when I wear it out. But those people can get stuffed as far as I am concerned. You are my muse to push myself into wearing what I want to wear and bugger the people who don't like it. Love the dress. Good luck on your next sales trip. Cheers, Michele

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    1. You are too kind, Michele! Your tablecloth dress sounds tight up my street. I know some people think I'm a bit weird with my crazy repurposing but I just can't help myself - there's potential in everything. xxx

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  10. Fecking fabulous! I love it and it looks gorgeous on gorgeous you so it does! Your whole outfit is perfection. Sunshine on the way so they say.
    Huzzah on getting your dad's paperwork sored...what a bleedin' nightmare. How stylish an accountant would you be? I'd defo haveyou doing my books.
    Loves ya!
    xxxxx

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    1. I'd do your books any time, love! We've had a fabulous day today, almost tropical it was. What awaits tomorrow? xxx

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  11. I wish I could make a dress as easy as that, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh So much fun fabulousity. Some fabrics, like people are free spirit and cannot be iron, hahhaha.
    We are having torrential rain for the amazement of the locals. It is lasting about four days and nobody leaves their houses, hahahha. They must think it is the end of the world. I, on the contrary am enjoying the last of the coolness.
    Besos from Málaga where you are always welcome
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxxx

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    1. I can't imagine you in anything but sunshine!!! Don't tempt me, rain or not I'd be over there like a shot! xxx

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  12. Another great sewing job! Even wrinkled it looks great! <3

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  13. WOW! This turned out AMAZING! To think it was once a shower curtain is quite insane.

    Those brooches are genius. The headscarf too. You guys are just full of fun smart ideas.

    I'm disappointed that your weekend wasn't as busy as you'd hoped. That always used to get me down, what with all the preparation and work and then to have a disappointing day or days. I've got my fingers crossed for you that this weekend will more than make up for it.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. Thanks, Suzanne.
      Its silly, isn't it? We can have successive good fairs and it just takes one to knock your confidence. I do hope we do better this weekend. Keep everything crossed! xxx

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  14. Fantastic work on the dress... Although I'm really drooling at that fab brolly. Good on you getting to grips with all that paperwork, what a nightmare. Xx

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    1. Thanks, Lou! I'm hoping that brolly won't be out too often - I want sunshine! xxx

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  15. Oo good work there! It's a great little dress. Love your other makes too xx

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  16. That is such a good dress, Vix. Marimeko is such cheerful fabric and I would much rather see it on your gorgeous bod than collecting dust in some dingy window.

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    1. Curtains always seem wasted on windows - only the residents see the pattern. Much better to wear them. xxx

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  17. You've done a cracking job on that dress Vix it looks lovely on you and I like the ankle boots with it.

    Well done to you re the paperwork - that takes determination and brains!

    Hope you do better in Bath than you did in Leicester. I've still to get to a car boot sale; our weekends have been pretty busy but I have high hopes for this Sunday.

    Have a fab week

    Veronica
    vronni60s.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks Vronnie!
      I hope you get to go car booting this weekend. We got some interesting bits today. xxx

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  18. over here, that company is partnering with Target this month. Lots of housewares and the like. I haven't had a chance to check it out. Love the wired headwraps.

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    1. Oooh! You'll have to check the collection out - I think its hideously expensive normally. xxx

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  19. Those boots! Love them. I hit one shop with my daughter. I broke my no clthes buying when I found a pair of Gloria Vanderbuilt $3.99 capris trousers. Not vintage but timeless snd I've eorn twice already.

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    1. What a find, Sam! I always wanted some Gloria Vanderbilt jeans back when Brooke Shields modeled them!

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  20. Marimekko has the best fabric! M is hard to come by here...but I'm always on the lookout for one of their brilliant prints! The shift dress silhouette is perfectly suited to the fabric too!

    The Kinky Melon labels are IT! I LOVE them!

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    1. That print would suit that incredible shift dress you made this week. xxx

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  21. That Marimekko print is amazing!!! I can only imagine the paperwork nightmare... I can't even deal with regular tax paperwork every year, much less inheritance issues.
    My bf is soccer crazy, his dad was a super awesome soccer coach, so he was flipping over that game!!!!!!

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    1. Thanks, Becky! I hate paperwork - can't believe I used to control a million quid budget in a past life.
      Leicester's amazing performance has made the city world famous, hasn't it? xxx

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  22. That dress is too fab!
    What a great transitional spring piece. Love the booties with it.
    Love those watch parts brooches & hair twisties too!
    Bibi
    xox
    https://calmlycookingcurry.blogspot.com/2016/05/chole-masala-curried-chickpeas.html

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    1. Thank you, Bibi! Bare legs, boots and an umbrella - covering all the bases for a Spring day in the UK! xxx

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  23. I knew that Marimekko curtain would end up in a dress, and what an awesome one. Long time since I've seen you in a mini ... Those brooches are fantastic, and I love the Kinky Melon label. I'm sorry to hear last weekend's events were disappointing. Here's to hoping things will be better in Bath! xxx

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    1. It has been an age since I last got my legs out - when it rains it's a much better option than a soggy hem on a maxi skirt! Yes, fingers crossed for beautiful Bath. xxx

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  24. Dear Vix, you've managed to make a modern and fresh version of Unikko curtain by turning it into minidress. I'm loving it! :) A couple of years ago Unikko pattern was so popular in Finland that many Finns got bored with it. All items ranging from umbrellas to Nordic walking sticks were covered by the Unikko pattern. Nowadays Marimekko has a new Swedish main designer and the prices have got so expensive that an ordinary citizen can't afford to buy Marimekko items anymore. Unless your wallet is full of euros. :)

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    1. I'm glad you liked it, A-M! That's such a shame that the prices are so high now, one of my Facebook friends visited last year and said that she couldn't even afford a key ring! xxx

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  25. I love this dress - especially the sleeves! You have mastered the selfie!! :)

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    1. Thanks, Trees! Its a 1960s Jiffy pattern for a teenage kimono dress - I'll dig out the envelope - really easy! xxx

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  26. Oooh, you'll be at Judy's! I was wondering whether to go, now I deffo shall (trains permitting, though I might grovel at the Mr to drive me). Will you be bringing the wired headbands? I've been looking for headbands/alice bands and the shops don't seem to have a very good selection at all.

    I'm sorry to hear you had a crummy weekend - hopefully it's just a one-off. I reckon you'll be able to shift loads of menswear at a steampunk event - you have a good selection of tweeds, don't you?

    That dress is super. It seems weird to see you in a mini rather than a maxi, but it looks great.

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    1. Yay! It'll be ace to see you again! I'll bring the headbands and you can give them a try.
      Gawd, I'm hoping the combination of football and sunshine killed off the weekend. Certainly dents ones confidence.
      Tweed, braces, tailcoats, walking canes, waistcoats, Grandad shirts - keep those suggestions coming! xxx

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  27. Sorry to hear that Leicester was a let down, here's hoping Bath is better.
    You've worked a marvel with the Marimekko...just in time for the sun.
    Love the brolly too..but my nan didn't have one!...Well done for completing your dad's paperwork...an onerous task I guess. Have a lovely weekend and a pint of west country cider for me. Xx

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    1. Ha! I've still got my Nan's - a see thru' birdcage brolly like the Queen!
      I shall have a cider for you and I'll be thinking of you at 9pm on Sunday night! xxx

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    2. I'm gutted that I'll be on night shift so will have to catch up on my tablet! Will be thinking of you too as I watch it. Bet you're glad Peaky Blinders is back just as IS is finishing.xx

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  28. love your outfit for a fiver!!! you look gorgeous - cool big hair!!!
    sorry for the last fair - but bath will be good as usual and then all the fab festivals! chapeau for the paperwork!!!
    hugs xxxxx

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    1. Thank you, Beate! Keeping everything crossed for Bath. I think the weather won't be as good, much as I love the sunshine it's not good for vintage selling! xxx

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  29. Looking fab in a mini! Love the big hair too.
    I'm sure the brooches and tops will fly ...
    M x

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    1. Thanks, Jane! I've got seven festivals booked so far, its an endless job to keep making stuff so we appeal to all! xxx

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  30. I love your hair here, it looks wonderful! Fab dress too and the labels are a perfect finishing touch xxx

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  31. i can't tell you how much i love that dress! and you look amazing in it. i'm channeling you and going to make a full maxi skirt out of some drapery fabric. i have no idea how it's going to come out but i'm pretty excited. thanks for always inspiring me. xo

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    1. Eeek! can't wait to see your creation! xxx

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  32. It's apparent that you've been sprouting good ideas in the rain like mushrooms! The pins are exquisite, and the labels are definitely "added value" to your handmade garments.

    When you recently mentioned "busy brain" and then commented that you were wading through the paperwork associated with closing your father's estate, I made the connection. My parents lived into their late 80s and died within a year of one another -- even with 'planning in advance' and my brother hiring an elder-law attorney, the final sorting literally claimed a year of Sunday afternoons. You've done the job well, and you're well done of it!

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    1. Its a huge relief, Beth, I can tell you! Now my mind is slightly less muddied and I can create to my heart's content. Today it's a chicken wire sculpture! xxx

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  33. I'm loving your new dress, the wired headscarves and the brooches made of watch parts. Your creativity is endless! I'm not surprised that you've also impressed your accountant! You excel at everything that you do!!! xoxo

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  34. That dress is super cool, and I love the head wraps ever so much - love head stuff, yay! xox

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    1. Thanks, Carol! anything to cheer up manky festival hair! xxx

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  35. Massive congratulations on sorting out your dad's affairs. I remember the massive task it is from when I did mine. Just the house to sell now, then you're sorted. You look very sophisticated in your selfies and I love the Marimekko dress. You look slim and lovely. So Leicester was no good, that's a surprise. Roll on festival season. We spent the hot days on the motorway, so annoying. Roll on summer! Xxxx

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    1. It is a massive relief. Hope there's not loads of mistakes when they start looking at it.
      I panicked when i made the dress, it looked smaller than I thought I was! x

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  36. Aren't you clever! Beautiful dress, fabulous brooches and great labels in your tops!!!! Well done the death stuff- probate and the suchlike is horrendous!!! Sorry that the vintage fair was so unsuccessful, I can imagine people were just in the park or gardens!x

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    1. I can't blame them, sunshine and vintage fairs aren't a great mix, sadly!
      Glad you like the brooches, you are the expert! xxx

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  37. I do like your label in your clothes. I wonder if they will be collectable by a future Vix in years to come? How cool would that be. Dam rain, hope it goes away for you.

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    1. Thanks, Sue! We had one day of glorious sunshine yesterday, its dry now but the temperature has dropped by ten degrees, bloody weather! xxx

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  38. That dress!! Who would ever think that's made out of a curtain??? <3
    And the umbrella is so cool too!

    All the best for your next flea market!

    P.S.: Those brooches look rad!!! <3 <3 <3

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  39. Hi, your email link does not seem to be working, I follow you from a distance lol.... I was wanting to ask a couple of questions
    Christine from http://tillyscraftycorner.blogspot.co.uk/

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  40. It's funny - I was just looking at the current Marimekko collab with Target a few days ago! Love their bold prints. Your dress is awesome, and the umbrella stole my heart! Glad that the hard work is done, and done well. You are simply a genius!

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    1. A couple of my US mates have mentioned that collaboration, Natalia. We don't have Target in the UK. xxx

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  41. Your dress is fab, probably one of your best makes! the brooches should sell fast, what a great idea and the wired headscarf too, brilliant. Good luck at Bath. Betty

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    1. Thanks, Betty! I'm counting the days until the festival season now! xxx

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  42. Great job with those steampunk brooches...you are really amazingly creative. That hair scarf/ hair ribbon looks great too...isn't Jon nice for helping our with the wire. I used to use a lot of wire for DIY projects, I'm not sure why I stopped...oh yes, it is because I stopped visiting hardware stores and that is the only place where one can find them at a good price because hobby stores are ridiciously overprices...so thanks for reminding me!


    You look smoking hot in that dress! Special love for that necklace and umbrella...fabulous accessories.

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    1. Thanks, Ivana! Hardware shops have brilliant stuff for us crafty types, cheap enough for us to experiment and try things out. xxx

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  43. What a super dress! Hope you've had a good weekend.

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    1. It was a vast improvement on last week! Thanks, Hazel. xxx

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  44. Fab dress Vix and lovely tanned legs! I had a go at the old fake tan but I have to get up before 6 these days and my heart wasn't in it. I have brown knees and white shins.
    Sorry to hear your last fair was a dead loss. xxx

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    1. Thanks, Em! The St Moritz spray tan is really good, dries quickly and doesn't go patchy. xxx

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  45. Oh my, the dress is fab, the print, the style and on you, of course! And those labels for your crop tops - and anything else you create. Great idea. Can I ask how you got them/made them - the labels? I'm sure you'll run out of them soon with the way you whip things up!

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    1. Thanks, Pao! I ordered the labels from eBay. I've just checked and they do post worldwide. Here's the link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/36-Woven-Sew-School-Name-Tapes-Name-Tags-Labels-High-Quality-School-Labels-/261467419419?hash=item3ce0ac331b

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  46. Hi Vix, You look so chic in you dress, love it. The umbrella is cute too I might add. You are very organized so no surprise your accountant was impressed. Love your labels, hair ties and watch face pins, so clever. I hope you sell so much and make a killing at your next sale!

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    1. Thanks, Cherre! I have my moments of chaos, too. xxx

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  47. Ooh I love this dress, you look gorgeous! xx

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    1. Thanks, Sarah! I was a bit nervous cutting the curtain up. xxx

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  48. Totally chic handmade dress! I just have to say, brown is an especially radiant colour on dear, Vix. It sings to no end with your skin and hair tones.

    xoxo ♥ Jessica

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    1. Thank you, Jessica! I'm rather partial to brown, it works wonderfully well with almost every other colour. xxx

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  49. LOVE the dress!!! I made a marimekko mini back in 1968 (!!). It was black, white, and purple, and I loved it!! I saved up my babysitting money to buy what was probably a yard of fabric. I could only make a big pillow from it now, haha!! I love how you've styled it with the short boots and of course all your jewelry is delicious. XXXOOO

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    1. I wish the fabric I'd found was purple - jealous! xxx

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  50. Your dress is great! That curtain had the perfect print for it. And I can't believe you got those terrific boots at such an amazing price. Looking good, lady!

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  51. I commented on your most recent post before reading this one - I'm so glad you put labels in your cute crop tops! I've wanted a piece of Marimekko clothing for years but have yet to find one that fit my body or my budget. The dress you made is perfect. Congratulations on the completion of your Dad's paperwork - what a long and tedious process that must have been.

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    1. I've been after some Marimekko for years, too. I did find a pair of shorts they'd done in conjunction with H&M but they were a funny shape so I let them go! xxx

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  52. The dress turned out just lovely! I'm another reader from Finland and I must say that Marimekko has priced out its products from the reach of ordinary folks (https://www.marimekko.com/eu_en/fabrics/classics/coated-fabrics?p=2). As a student in the 1980s I was able to buy myself a number of Marimekko items like bags, scarves and tops and it didn't bankrupt my meagre budget but now I think the current price of EUR 155 e.g. for the classic black Urbaani shoulder bag is way too high.

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    1. Thanks Millimari! That's such a shame that they've priced themselves out of normal people's reach. xxx

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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