Saturday, January 19, 2013

SUMMER SELECTIONS

Hello,
This is my 199th post, and the blog is almost two years old.
Keep watching, because on my 200th post I will be offering a 
Red Cardinal Giveaway ...


The red bird thanks you all for reading, and here's a tip:
Becoming a Follower will enhance your chances ...


The unrelenting heat continues, so I figured I could produce another floral summer dress.
I am doing a re-run of Vogue V8786 in cotton/spandex, with an extended shoulder and no sleeve. 

And just to prove I am continuing my journey of sewing self-improvement ..


I found my old twin-needle and used it to stitch down the neck and armhole bias edging.  
And I like the result very much.


I've been like a magpie, acquiring cheap shiny trinkets at the sales which I am not attending when heat forces me to go walking in the Mall.
$6 necklace of enormous 'gems' -
Hello, Opera Queensland 2013.



 Been playing with pineapples prior to eating them ...

We recently visited the Hobbit film set, Hobbiton, in New Zealand, so what better way to escape the 40 degree heat hereabouts today, than to see the movie.
We spent the afternoon enjoying three hours of beautiful cool air conditioning...
playing the "Been There" game (but not out loud)...

Bilbo's front door - lots of scenes were filmed here ..

Praying for rain and cooler temperatures.
I want to get back to cultivating flowers like a Hobbit!

 Enjoy your weekend, wherever you are ..

 xxx

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25 comments:

  1. valerietilsten59.blogspot.comJanuary 19, 2013 at 3:21 AM

    I love the Red Cardinal bird Patricia.
    I would really like to see one ..
    You are doing well with your sewing. Its great to be able to make your own designs.
    You will look the bell of the ball for the opera.!
    Wonderful photos of The Hobbit set..
    happy weekend
    val

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    1. PatriciaJanuary 19, 2013 at 5:36 PM

      Hello Val, I have not seen the elusive Red Cardinal bird either, but I live in hope. Maybe this Spring in Canada. Thank you re the sewing - I was better at it when I was young because (a) better eyesight, and (b) the patterns had much better construction details. I am trying to get up with the modern day techniques. Happy Sunday Val

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  2. KathyJanuary 19, 2013 at 3:53 AM

    Lovely photos, Patricia and I really envy you your sewing skills. I look forward to seeing the new dress when it's finished, though I hope for your sake it's a bit cooler when you first wear it.

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    1. PatriciaJanuary 19, 2013 at 5:37 PM

      Thank you Perpetua, the dress is one for the hot days, so will probably have its debut this week, maybe at work. Some days the sewing room is impossibly hot, so a bit of cool would be excellent.

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  3. Rustic Vintage CountryJanuary 19, 2013 at 4:45 AM

    Wonderful photos and how exciting to visit the Hobbit film set, what a treat! Suzy x

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    1. PatriciaJanuary 19, 2013 at 5:38 PM

      It was a treat Suzy, and I was not even a particular fan of Hobbits. I do enjoy the fantasy of those cute little houses and gardens. x

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  4. Sulky KittenJanuary 19, 2013 at 5:19 AM

    Nearly 200 posts - well done! Love the dress material, very pretty. I'd love to get inside a little Hobbity home.Bilbo's looked wonderful in the movie.

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    1. PatriciaJanuary 19, 2013 at 5:40 PM

      Bilbo's house did look gorgeous in the movie; I wanted to get in there too! Sadly, the interiors are not at the place we visited, only a little bit inside Bilbo's door. Interior scenes were filmed at a regular film studio - boring.. Glad you like the dress - hot colours for a hot climate.

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  5. sandaJanuary 19, 2013 at 5:44 AM

    Sorry there's no relief from the heat. Sitting in a cool movie theater is a great way to escape it. That is a nice cardinal photo. We seem to have many cardinals this winter and I bought a new feeder to hang near a window so I can get better views of them and all the other birds. Many jays, chickadees, tufted titmouse. Have a nice weekend Patricia.

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    1. PatriciaJanuary 19, 2013 at 5:42 PM

      The heatwaves keep on a'comin, Sanda. Next week we'll do Lincoln if it continues. Jealous you have many cardinals - please take photos for me! Tell them I love them - No, don't do that, it would be weird... I have seen and photographed the jays, and like them too. Nice weekend to you, too.

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  6. RosemaryJanuary 19, 2013 at 6:29 AM

    Seeing your red Cardinal and the zingy vibrant posts has had the effect of warming me up!!! Come here you will soon chill down!!!

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    1. PatriciaJanuary 19, 2013 at 5:44 PM

      It is funny how the hot weather brings out the colour in us, over here in the tropics. I really enjoyed all the snowy blogs which appeared today. I'd hop on a plane right now if I could.

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  7. metteJanuary 19, 2013 at 8:22 AM

    200 is a remarkable amount of posts, good for You. I too envy your sewing skills and especially the patience you have making cloth into clothes!
    I´d be more than happy to send our winter to Australia.
    It´s too cold over here to go outside. The thing that unites us, is that we both have to stay indoors ; ).

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    1. PatriciaJanuary 19, 2013 at 5:45 PM

      So true Mette, both united in the indoors, keeping the extreme weather out. What a difference between Finland and Australia - over 70 degrees of difference, in fact!

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  8. Debbi@SheAccessorizesWellJanuary 19, 2013 at 12:45 PM

    What a beautiful necklace you found and such a bargain.

    It is always a bit of a shock to think of summer in your part of the world and winter in mine! We need rain or snow so badly because we have a severe drought. It has been months since we had much moisture.

    The pictures of Hobbitland look like paradise!

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    1. PatriciaJanuary 19, 2013 at 5:47 PM

      Thanks Debbi, I always did love a bargain. Ah, we do have something in common, we are in drought also. Our front lawn is now dark brown, whereas the last few years in January has been brilliant green. The sun is simply cooking our plants as we watch.
      New Zealand is such a pretty place, the Hobbitland film set looks exactly like all the country for miles around. Just beautiful.

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  9. JudithJanuary 19, 2013 at 1:38 PM

    199 posts! WOW! Did you get that small shower of rain last night - just right to help increase the old humidity for today :(
    Love the fabric in your dress - sleeveless is the best way at the moment...J

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    1. PatriciaJanuary 19, 2013 at 5:49 PM

      Yes, Judith, we had a light shower of rain which came in the bedroom window on my face :) I enjoyed the cooling effect and didn't even close the window. It's so hot the rain dries instantly, anyway.
      Sleeveless is the best way, even though I hate to show my arms. Desperate measures in desperate times.

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  10. BerylJanuary 19, 2013 at 4:40 PM

    Love those Yellow Earrings. Isn't double needle stitching the best solution to a flexible seam with an attractive finish? Did not know you were on a sewing improvement track - you sewing looks terrific already. Sorry you are having such hot weather. When it was 116 degrees in Tulsa for over a week last Summer, we ran out of movies.

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    1. PatriciaJanuary 19, 2013 at 5:52 PM

      Hi Beryl, the $3 yellow earrings thank you! I am in love with double stitching now, soon it will be all over everything. Early last year I had to send 3 half-done dresses to the Land of Stuff Ups, so improvements had to be made. 116 degrees is unreasonable - we would run out of movies too..

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  11. helen tilstonJanuary 20, 2013 at 8:00 AM

    Hello Patricia

    How talented you are to sew a beautiful dress and what a feeling of accomplishment this must bring.
    This is my first visit and I am your most recent follower
    Thanks for stopping by my blog.

    Helen

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  12. DarlaJanuary 20, 2013 at 12:17 PM

    Just signed up to follow you, I'm so lax at doing that on blogs I read all the time. Have to see that Hobbit movie for sure.

    Darla

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  13. ShellJanuary 20, 2013 at 5:31 PM

    How exciting Patricia, congrats on 200 Blog posts in advance. Well done to you !!!!

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  14. The Silver BunnyJanuary 21, 2013 at 9:50 AM

    Lovely post as always and please enjoy the colours of summer for us ; it's all cold and slush over here !xx

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  15. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2013 at 1:30 AM

    I am whimpering here, I want to live in Hobbiton and have one of those round doors, what a wonderful sight it must have been. And congrats on reaching the big 200!

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