Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Put a bird on it

Vintage Simplicity 3269


A few years ago I bought some cotton sateen with flowers and birds on it. It was after going to a William Morris exhibition at the art gallery. I became a bit obsessed with bird prints after seeing all the amazing furnishings. I would have a whole room decked out in Strawberry Thief if I could.
The fabric sat patiently waiting in my stash until I bought this pattern from Madelaine's etsy shop. I thought they would go perfectly together.

Simplicity 3269


I only had two metres of the fabric so I had to shorten the sleeves a lot. I tried to cut the pieces out so there was the maximum number of whole birds (there are a few, however, that have sadly been beheaded).

Simplicity 3269 pattern


The bag is one I picked up in the Two Squirrels sale. It's such a good size. I use it all the time.

Vintage Simplicity 3269


I love this dress. It makes me think I need to make more slim skirted dresses rather than my usual full skirted ones.
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44 comments:

  1. two squirrelsApril 10, 2012 at 9:24 PM

    Oh that is just amazing fabric and you so so pretty in it.
    I remember that exhibition, It was so beautiful, lots of ahhhhs and oooooos.
    The bag looks so good with it, I am so pleased it went to such a lovely lady.
    Love V

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    1. Camelia CrinolineApril 11, 2012 at 4:32 PM

      Thanks Vanessa. The exhibition was amazing. I wanted to take all the furniture and furnishings home with me. It's a great bag. I love it.

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  2. KatApril 10, 2012 at 9:29 PM

    Love love love it! I am seeing some awesome novelty prints around at the moment but I can't seem to find any as awesome as everyone else. This dress is stunning! Once the baby is born I will be hunting out some novelty fabrics to make myself some fun summer dresses.

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    1. Camelia CrinolineApril 11, 2012 at 4:35 PM

      Thanks! It was from Spotlight a few years ago. The quilting section has some great novelty prints at the Spotlight here.

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  3. mispapelicosApril 10, 2012 at 9:45 PM

    I love what you have done with that gorgeous fabric.The dress enhances your figure and show those birds in all their splendour. lately I am in love with prints of real animal so much.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    1. Camelia CrinolineApril 11, 2012 at 4:36 PM

      Thanks! I love real animal prints too. The more realistic the better.

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  4. CeciliApril 10, 2012 at 10:06 PM

    What a fabulous dress, your fabric is to die for! The design you chose works very well with such a busy print indeed and we can see the birds better with the slim skirt. You look wonderful in it :)

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    1. Camelia CrinolineApril 11, 2012 at 4:39 PM

      Thanks! I momentarily forgot how great slim skirts are but I will definitely be making some more after this.

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  5. Vintage Bird GirlApril 10, 2012 at 10:15 PM

    Now that frock is my absolute favourite! I LOVE the birdy print & the style is so lovely. You look so good! You are so clever to be able to sew such fab things. I love it with the bag, shoes & bangles. I'll try to stop drooling now! ;) Xx

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    1. Camelia CrinolineApril 12, 2012 at 4:10 PM

      Thanks! I thought you would like the birds given your nom de plume.

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  6. Lenora JaneApril 11, 2012 at 12:58 AM

    a) That is ridiculously awesome fabric.
    b) I mean I am an advocate of straight/slim/pencil skirts pretty much without reservation but I do think this one totally works for you.
    c) WILLIAM MORRIS! I would be okay having my entire LIFE decked out in Strawberry Thief (et al., of course, so much assorted goodness). We did a whole unit on him back in school when I was a teenager and my rad English teacher at the time was totally into interdisciplinary stuff and after covering Kelmscott and socialism we spent an entire class on the textiles and dec arts stuff...so awesome.

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    1. Camelia CrinolineApril 11, 2012 at 4:46 PM

      Thanks! William Morris is amazing. At the exhibition most of the stuff had come from one family I think. They had their whole house in William Morris. I would have been in heaven. Your teacher sounds awesome. I would've loved to do something like that when I was at school.

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  7. AmyApril 11, 2012 at 1:50 AM

    That fabric is awesome! It's perfect for that style of dress.
    I have been thinking about making more dresses with slim skirts, too. Don't get me wrong, I love a full skirt, but it's nice to look streamlined and sophisticated sometimes, too.

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    1. Camelia CrinolineApril 12, 2012 at 4:11 PM

      Thanks. I get what you mean. I love full skirts too but slim skirts make me feel like more of a grown up.

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  8. khristie BApril 11, 2012 at 9:02 AM

    Awesome dress. Envious!!

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  9. CynthiaApril 11, 2012 at 9:16 AM

    I love everything about your whole look. The dress is perfection (I'm a sucker for anything with animals on it), shoes bag and bangles. You look awesome!

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    1. Camelia CrinolineApril 12, 2012 at 4:12 PM

      Thank! I'm a sucker for animals and animal print too.

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  10. one denim birdApril 11, 2012 at 11:20 AM

    Just gorgeous! The bird print is divine, are you entering this one in the "Mad Men challenge"?

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    1. Camelia CrinolineApril 12, 2012 at 4:14 PM

      Thanks! No, the Mad Men challenge finished in March but it is suitably Mad Men-ish. I was considering using the fabric for a Betty dress but ultimately decided to go with the Peggy dress.

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  11. PetaApril 11, 2012 at 11:21 AM

    this dress is adorable. Can I order one?! lol

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    1. Camelia CrinolineApril 12, 2012 at 4:15 PM

      Thanks! Ha ha, I don't think they sell the fabric any more but if I ever get sick of my version I'll give it to you.

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  12. TreesApril 11, 2012 at 8:46 PM

    Oh wow - this whole look is FABULOUS! This is an amazing frock, you did such a great job - that fabric is just beautiful.

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    1. Camelia CrinolineApril 12, 2012 at 4:16 PM

      Thanks! I think it may be my favourite thing I've ever sewn.

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  13. AnonymousApril 11, 2012 at 9:32 PM

    This is one of the most inspiring dresses/outfits I've ever seen! This is a beautiful, beautiful example of how original dressmaking can be.

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  14. StephanieApril 12, 2012 at 10:19 PM

    LOOVE your dress and fabric!

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  15. Heather JeanApril 13, 2012 at 6:14 AM

    This dress is so incredible!!!
    -Heather Jean

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  16. MadelaineApril 17, 2012 at 3:33 AM

    The dress looks fabulous! I love the giant bird print with the slim silhouette.

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  17. AnonymousApril 18, 2012 at 5:14 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. AnonymousApril 18, 2012 at 5:15 AM

      even if I arrived on late (and I'm not the first one to tell you)...this dress is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen, the fabric is so precious!!!
      You did an excellent job: this is art!

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    2. Camelia CrinolineApril 18, 2012 at 2:43 PM

      Thank you. It's never too late. I read and appreciate every comment and yours made my day.

      Delete
  18. The Dainty Dolls HouseApril 20, 2012 at 11:00 PM

    This dress is marvelous, am in love with it!! You look radiant!! I discovered you thanks to Sacremento!! Love your blog..wish you a sweet weekend! xx

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    1. Camelia CrinolineApril 22, 2012 at 5:21 PM

      Thanks so much! Sacremento is great. I hope you have a good weekend too.

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  19. BriApril 21, 2012 at 1:15 PM

    Your dress is absolutely gorgeous! Your fabric choice is so awesome, I wish I could find some like that!

    Found you via Mis Papelicos and her April inspirations!

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    1. Camelia CrinolineApril 22, 2012 at 5:22 PM

      Thanks! The fabric was a lucky find on the sales table a few years ago.

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  20. Heather FonsecaApril 25, 2012 at 4:13 PM

    That dress is amazing! It makes me want to dust off my sewing machine. I want a bird dress too!

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    1. Camelia CrinolineApril 26, 2012 at 9:45 AM

      Thanks! You should. I think everyone should have a bird dress.

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  21. AnonymousApril 27, 2012 at 8:07 AM

    This print is fantastic, and the style of the dress is so flattering on you! It's so different from your usual silhouette, but still beautiful. Well done!

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  22. BirdieApril 27, 2012 at 4:06 PM

    This dress is so incredibly flattering on you! Definitely more like this (and I LOVE the bird print... I have a similar - though not as fab - one that I picked up ages ago that I'm now inclined to pull down and use).

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  23. ZoeMay 20, 2012 at 9:08 PM

    This dress is all kinds of amazing!!!!! You look fabulous xx

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  24. DressUpNotDownJune 21, 2013 at 6:11 PM

    I gasped out loud when I saw your dress! So beautiful!!!

    www.dressupnotdown.blogspot.com

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