Murder Most Foul

Back in September, I took a trip to Rippon Lea Estate to see 'Miss Fisher's Costume Exhibition.  

 

Essie Davis as Miss Phryne Fisher.
 

Miss Phryne Fisher is a character created by the Australian author Kerry Greenwood. Phryne (Fry-nee) is a glamorous and thoroughly modern woman of the 1920s. She has an acquired taste for the best but has working-class origins. The independent and unflappable lady sleuth sashays through the back lanes and jazz clubs of Melbourne, fighting injustice with her pearl-handled pistol and her dagger sharp wit. To date, there are twenty books in the series and the TV program, produced by ABC TV Australia, is now in it's second series.

 

I'm not much of a murder mystery fan myself so I've not read any of the books, or seen the TV show, but I do love a spectacular costume and Miss Fisher's costumes did not disappoint.

 

 

Photo: ABC TV 

 

While there was strictly no photography - by order of the ABC - I couldn't help myself, qu'elle suprise. There are over 30 costumes on display which have been worn by the lead cast of the show and costume designer Marion Boyce (Every Cloud Productions ) has done an incredible job.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Along with the costume exhibition, you can also do the murder mystery audio tour, which involves seeking out the various clues scattered about the mansion in order to solve the crime.

 

 

 

Booking your ticket online will save heaps of time;

there was a queue when I visited so I'd hate to think what it will be like in the final weeks.

 

Miss Fisher's Costume Exhibition closes on 1st of December.



 

- Tamara



It's Show Time!

One of the great things about living in the country is the annual agricultural shows that pop up all over the region throughout Spring. Last Saturday was far too nice to waste the day inside, so we took a quick trip to Whittlesea for their annual Agricultural Show.

 

The Whittlesea Show began in 1859 and now attracts over 50,000 visitors over the two days. There was the usual over-saturation of showbag stalls, ageing sideshow games like Duck Hunt and the always adorable animal nursery. Sadly, the animals had pretty much flaked-out in the heat by the time we reached them and were all sound asleep.

Another integral part of the country show is the Arts & Crafts pavilion. As a kid, I remember being encouraged to enter various categories in the competitions; we would submit things we had made at school. I was pleased to see that children are still excited to see if their projects have earned them a certificate or blue ribbon.

 

 

 

Besides the children who are in it for fun, there are the die-hards who enter every year and take great pride in being awarded the best scones or sponge cake in the district. I've always found it funny that the cakes biscuits are on display, I'm assuming taste plays some part in choosing the winner.

 

 

 

 

That said, you just have to look at these little guys to know how good they would taste.

Double-decker chocolate cupcakes, Oreos, Candy Corn...

 Thanksgiving treats, anyone?!

 

 

 

 

Here's an example of someone who's been practising their craft for a long time.

Their first prize was well deserved, the lacework is divine!

 

 

 

 

Just quietly, I'm considering entering something in next year's Show.

That said, it's more likely I'll have forgotten by then, but it's nice to have a goal.

 

 

- Tamara



Girl in Da Hood

After all the fiddly sewing on my wedding dress, my next project needed to be something a little less taxing. I've been in need of some new additions to my winter wardrobe and I thought this pattern would be just the thing to ease me back into sewing.

Vogue 8423

Vogue 8423 is ridiculously simple; it has two pieces in total - front & back - and can be made using one metre of 150cm wide fabric. Happy coincidence, I'd just picked up exactly that amount of random, $3 p/m fabric at Spotlight. 

 

Long-time readers will know I don't tend to bother with a muslin, I'm more of a 'crack-on' type of gal. I'm pretty confident with my measurements and I know from experience that I always need to remove 1" from the bodice length - no need to waste precious sewing time on mock ups!

 

Thanks to my trusty overlocker, this project was done in roughly three hours. In fact, I was so pleased with the result, I wore it the very next day.

 

I did try to add extra to the sleeve length for warmth, but when you've only a metre of fabric to work with, you just have to make do.

 

 

 

 

Despite my fabric being fuzzy on the inside, I couldn't help but line the hood with jersey - much more hair-friendly if you wear the hood for any length of time.

 

 

 

 

 Although, it's not likely I'll be zipping up the hood when out & about...

 

 

 

I have wings!!

 

Perfect, should I ever plan on going into stealth-mode!

 

Sadly, my hood disaster isn't an easy fix. It's cut in one with the bodice and I'd have to pull the zipper out, among other things. The only thing I can think is that I needed to take an inch out of the length of the neck/hood.

 

 

 

 No matter, I still love it!

 

 - Tamara