Category Archives: Uncategorized

Diary of Desire Pt 3

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Sometimes I astound myself and am feeling very pleased about the completion of the skirt for Texas Flowers gown.

Suffice to say it is looking very much like the original don't you think? Texas Flower will be very happy indeed.

 

So, only the lace to be done now.

The under gathering and pleating was done – I wasn't happy with the height of the pleating, so that got unpicked, moved and restitched. The back overskirt was hemmed, unpicked, rehemmed, pleated, undone and repeated at the sides. The ruching I could have done a bit more but left them and the origami pleats for a first time attempt turned out well.

 

The original gown and owner of said gown, Lonna Miller shared a picture of the stunning lace on Facebook for me. Lonna has used the original gold satin and lace from the dress, reworked in red.


In Texas Flower's and my look at this breathtaking gown at the 2014 Convention I neglected to see the beautiful detail in the lace which is actually beaded. Flower's lace will be full embroidery with just a hint of beading in the small flowers.

For now it's back to simpler tasks as I wait for my McDowell Drafting machine to come back from the US with a friend so I can start the next challenge of the bodice.

Stats: 51.5hrs, 18m/19.6yds hand stitching

 

Cheers

Kat xo

 

P.S. I think I have now finished the Historical Sew Monthly's February challenge of Tucks and Pleating, albeit a little late.

 

Practice, Practice, Practice

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Clearly that's what I need to do more of after today's effort, or at least pay attention to instructions!

Misses – 2, Procedurals – 1, Pistol Reloads – 2 very messy and uncoordinated, Shotgun inadvertently opening – 1 and probably a bit ragged on rifle on 2 stages.

Despite this, raw times were good but that makes not one iota of difference if you have all the other stuff going on, now does it?

 

Loads of fun as usual, plenty of laughs and good company, what more could you want really.

Congratulations to Mad Dog Tannen for taking out top honours at this weekends Gamblers club match and to Ex Sighted and Prairie Joy for clean matches!

Next club match in two weeks!

Cheers

Kat xo

 

Taste The Rainbow!

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Well it might not be as tasty but the latest colour explosion would definitely rival any handful of Skittles!

It's been a few weeks of colourful and interesting patterns for Adelita skirts, corsets and tops.

 

Fulfilling others needs with bright and fun prints and plains, cotton and silks.

 

Gorgeous matching, small peacock feather detail for a couple. Noooo, not a new set for Jack and I, although I do have that fabric for me!

 

Enjoyed the “quicker” sewing, now on to “challenging” again.

Cheers

Kat xo

 

Shots on Saturday

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Yes, it was a down range kinda day yesterday with 15 Cowboys and Cowgirls turning out for The Gamblers club match.

With Jack sitting on the sidelines for now, he happily video'd (people say that but is it actually a word?… I digress) and kept score.

It felt good but had a few unnecessary misses, called 'must keep your eye on the front sight'. Never mind I'm on to that.

All times were decent however and had the Dog on the run! Nice shooting with all and thanks for the challenge 'Mad Dog Tannen'!

 

Click on this link to see Stage 1 Video (This link is mainly for Dad and Mums sake 🙂 )

Have a good week!

Kat xo

 

January – Procrastination

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Procrastination – noun – the action of delaying or postponing something (and I liked this bit of the definition) your first tip is to avoid procrastination.

Now we all know that is sometimes easier said than done! I can find many ways to my delaying doing something that I should be doing. Sometimes it’s just not ‘to get out of’ doing it, it’s because I just need to wrap my head around the project a little longer.

So, I decided I would attempt the Historical Sew Monthly 2016 challenges, thinking it could help me stay focused on getting projects done while not in my ‘natural’ environment so to speak. Wink, wink. 😉

I did find this one a little hard as I really don’t have any here with me. There is fabric still in Oklahoma that I could pass off as procrastinating on.

So for this portion I managed to complete 4 corsets that really needed to be done as some needed to be sent to the US.

 

I also had in the list a version of Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman dress for a Texas friend, Skedaddle. Now although I could say it is period, I would prefer to say silver screen inspired.

 

Needless to say it’s done and waiting on button pieces to arrive from the US so I can make the 45 covered buttons that will complete this dress. If you are looking for an awesome alternative to paying for a covered button service and still want metal shanks, I can highly recommend Button Biz

……..many days later, yes been busy with Jack trying to sort him out, cutting out, sewing and helping a friend get back on track with sewing. Procrastination at its finest.

Cheers

Kat xo

 

La Adelita

Posted on by kathousekelli70

I think I've spoken about the Adelita's in the past. They were women of folk lore, the Mexican women who fought for the revolution and relates well to the 1911 era and Wild Bunch.

I present to you the 'Adelita' skirt, a Mexican style skirt in bright colourful fabrics, trimmed with coordinating ribbon and braids. Only limited by imagination it can be finished in plain colours, whites, day of the dead fabrics, florals anything your heart desires.

Here is Trixie with her skirt, fashioned from all cotton fabrics.

 

Colour your world!

Cheers

Kat xo

 

It’s Christmas!

Posted on by kathousekelli70

“……it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Everywhere you go….” Hello friends, family, near and far!

Yes, it's Christmas Day here in Aus.

“…..here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus lane….” Well he's already been to many across half the world now and making his rounds. Hope you get everything you wish for.

The past couple of days in preparation for Christmas has been spent, deciding on the table fare, attempting some sort of decoration for a house that's not yours and making gingerbread cookies!

 

Who said you can't do Christmas anywhere?!

“…..I'll be home for Christmas…..” And yes you can make it anywhere the heart is.

This Christmas is filled with walking the dog, a beaut shortbread, chocolate and fruit mince pie breakfast, not much lunch and having Leisl, Curstin and Nick round for dinner.

 

This years dinner a non traditional Aussie Christmas but with all the Aussie flavours. Bikkies and cheese, pulled pork sliders, zucchini and salmon bruschetta, lamb cutlets with dips, and jelly (jello) stars with Christmas pud and ice cream! Yeah …. bring on the fat guts! Lol!

“…and so this is Christmas, another year over….a new one's just begun….a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year….”

Cheers to you and yours, be kind to one another, love to the fullest

Kat xo

 

Bundaberg – Beer, Rum and Friends

Posted on by kathousekelli70

It would be remiss of us to visit Bundy (slang for Bundaberg) without making a trip to the Bundaberg Distilling Company, home to Bundy Bear and Australia's famous Bundaberg Rum.

 

We are staying at my good friends Tania and Stephen and whilst they were working on the Friday I took Jack to the Distillery, past the site of a house fire (hmmm was in Wyoming the next one I was near……I promise I had nothing to do with them, just spotted them both times!!), Bargara to the beach and lastly, the Bundaberg Ginger Beer factory.

 

The distillery was great and the interactive self guided tour we took was sensational. When I last visited in 2010 this didn't exist!

The Bundaberg Rum story actually starts in 1888 when a surplus of molasses was turned into rum. We saw the beginnings of the immigrant Chemist, George Hurt's application, initially to CSR Sugar, ended up landing on managements desk at Milliquin Sugar Refinery. How fortunate they were and in 1949 he gained employment with the company.

 

George Hurt's work – of course along with many others since – was instrumental in the manufacturing of and improving the flavour of the famous Bundy Rum.

 

Did you know? That in World War II it was our American friends that decided Bundy rum was good with cola, and so began the Rum and Coke as a pre mixed drink.

 

I was so impressed with the 'Recovery Road' rum bottles, an initiative dreamed up by the BDC marketing team after the floods in 2013. Rum bottles labelled to honour 171 flood affected streets and a bottle given to every resident in those streets, the rest? sold to consumers and funds raised went back into the community.

 

Exceptional work!

 

Next, we made a brief visit to the Brewhouse aka Bargara Brewing Company and did the usual tasting pallet. They also do some great little pizzas here and is going to be a good spot for weekend lunches.

 

Paid a visit to Bert Hinkler's house in the botanical gardens. An avid aviator, Bert made a few world records, was a Sqn Leader and his English home was eventually moved from Southhampton, England – piece by piece – and reconstructed in its current location in the Bundaberg botanical gardens in honour and recognition of his time in the aviation industry.

 

Then came the rains, sampling of beers, trying to take selfies and enjoying great company.

Bundy it was good seeing ya again!

Kat xo

13 Dec

….it's been a hectic and interesting week and a half since this weekend. Thanks for being patient. Xo

 

Down Time

Posted on by kathousekelli70

It's been a casual last couple of weeks as we've made our way back up the coast, tripping around from Canberra, Grafton and to the Gold Coast.

Our stay in Lawrence with Paddlewheel and Emerald saw us participating in a demonstration shoot promoting Single Action. Jack and I wish them well in their endeavours for setting up a new club in Grafton and hope it gets some excellent attendance.

We looked after the pups – Bundy and Coke – while they were way for a couple of days.

 

Jack and I took some time out and visited the little town of Maclean (the biggest little Scottish town outside of Scotland) where every telegraph pole is painted with various tartans. Here we had fish and chips at the recommended Hooked on Seafood before taking a quick trip up the road into Yamba.

 

Got back into some sewing that week and feeling like I'm back on track.

From here it was on to the Gold Coast and our hosts Dug Deeper and Trixie. Saturday we shot the Christmas shoot with the Gold Coast Gamblers and had a fabulous dinner. Chatting and laughing ensued late into the night. (Sacré Bleu! I have no pictures!)

This week has been appointments, phone calls to awesome friends (great catch up Sod! xo), fabric sourcing, sewing of a fabulous teal and white B-Western costume, 2 shirts and a corset! And yes, you can fit all that into 3 days! 🙂

Here we have arrived into Thursday and an early start to get the car serviced before heading to Bundaberg. A weekend catch up with friends…..the kegs are primed…..and I don't know if Jack realises what he is in for when Tania and I get together! Lol!

Have a ripper of a day!

Kat xo

 

Dennes Family Reunion

Posted on by kathousekelli70

Saturday 14th, November and a gathering of Dennes clan got together for a reunion in a little place called Tinonee just outside of Taree.

At 13, a farm boy done for 'house breaking' with a ruddy and freckled complexion, Francis Dennes (Dennis as written in the conviction and shipping documents) was tried and convicted for stealing bread and pork.

So began his long journey from Devonshire, England as a convict in 1830.

Skip forward to 1848 and he has now been granted a conditional pardon. He married and had 5 kids of which one William Henry Dennes is the line I come from.

 

William married his cousin Susanna, they had a stack of kids. The 8th one, Harold Clifford Dennes (my grandfather) married Ellen Daisy Saaby (Ma, sweet little lady with plastic fruit).

They had 5 kids, the youngest being my Dad, Harold Alan (Tate) Dennes married Heather Neville and here I am! The eldest of 4 kids. Me, Karolyn, Pamela and Christopher. Kaz wasn't there for the pic.

 

That'll do, caught up with cousins hadn't seen for ages, second cousins and now third generation cousins.

Thanks to those who put it all together, in particular Aunty Shirley, Aunty Jean and Peter Smith.

Jo xo