reana louise: January 2013

the bubble butt clovers

^ Not only is this a gratuitous picture of my ass, but you can see the seam line where I sewed in an entirely new butt. I'm all class.

My butt has been referred to everything from the affectionate 'bubble butt,' to the insulting 'big ass,' to the i'm-not-sure-what-you're-saying 'duck butt.'* Now I've got a new bodacious-butt-related term: the full butt adjustment.

Yes ladies and gentlemen I have entered the world of pant making, become intimately aware of the curves of my bonita applebum and learnt just what a full butt adjustment entails. The pattern is Colette Clover and the whole process was much easier and less traumatising than I was expecting.

These are a wearable muslin and the amount of unpicking, stretching, re-stitching, and manipulation is a testament to the durability of japanese cotton. You can bet your shakira-shaker that I will be making more Clovers, perfecting the fit and experimenting with additions like pockets and piping.

Reana "bubble butt" Louise x

*Apparently 'duck butt' is a thing where your skirt is tighter on your butt than your legs, and therefore kicks out like a duck's tail. Whatever grade 10 crush, I don't even care.

diy golden globes

Amy Poehler in Stella McCartney

The patterns: Colette Clover pants & McCall's M612 jacket

Jacket making skills: The Anise sewalong, Gertie's craftsy sewalong. There's also a sewalong for the Clover pants.

Stacy Keibler in Armani Privé

This dress is made with horizontal panels of black velvet with silver piping. I couldn't find a pattern for this (if you know of one, leave it in the comments!) but I think this could be easily done by those with a little patience, experience, and a dress form.

Don't forget to check out this Threads article for sewing with velvet!

Ariel Winter in Valentino

The pattern: Colette Peony dress

The skills: Rhinestone & Telephone sewalong

All red carpet images from Tom & Lorenzo and Red Carpet Fashion Awards

everyday cooking: smoked salmon pasta with zucchini and lemon salad

I've considered renaming this blog "Reana Louise talks about the weather," but to be honest that sounds boring. Maybe my weather talk is boring, but in trying to live sustainably I obsess about the season. You may know Brisbane's current situation 'oh-my-fucking-god-am-i-swimming-through-lava?' as its less descriptive name: 'a heat wave.'

Heat is fine. Heat is dandy. But there's something real awkward about being at the farmer's market and maintaining direct eye-contact with a lovely old chap who you're buying a fig off while you're really, very conscious of the fact you have beads of sweat hitting your knicker line. Does he know? Oh god, does he have beads of sweat reaching the top of his knickers? Do farmers have knickers? Should I break eye contact, or would that make it more awkward? How the hell can the back of my knee produce so much sweat?

All useless whinging aside (why do I let you guys see this side of me?!), the farmer's market is the place to be for local, fresh, delicious food and ingredients. One of Oliver and my favourite post-market meals is smoked salmon pasta with zucchini and lemon salad. Fresh. Simple. Good with wine. Minimal preparation. Farmer's knickers not included.

Smoked salmon pasta with zucchini & lemon salad - Serves 2

Ingredients
1 zucchini (use 2 if small)
Juice of half a lemon
Good quality olive oil (~1 tbs)
200g fresh fettuccine
170g piece smoked salmon
75g greek or natural yoghurt (2 heaped tbs)
20 capers
Herbs ripped into smaller pieces - If you already have herbs on the salmon, like I did, you won't need much. Any herb is fine, dill is particularly delicious with salmon! When ripping don't be precious, it's hot so we'll just say it's rustic ;)
Salt & Pepper

How to
1. Cut off the hard bit on the top of the zucchini, where it joins to the plant
2. Using a peeler, cut your zucchini long ways into long, thin ribbons
3. Put zucchini ribbons into a bowl. Mix through lemon juice and olive oil. Leave aside until pasta is ready
4. Now for the pasta! Cook pasta as per the instructions
5. Using the back of a fork, roughly 'smoosh' your smoked salmon

6. Mix your smooshed salmon with ripped herbs, yoghurt, and capers
7. Serve on top of cooked pasta. Season with salt and pepper

new year, new south wales

^ This cafe, in Broadwater, is a converted church called Our Daily Bread. Genius.

^ A mother Dolphin and her calf! Squee!

Happy New Year friends!

This year really is new, isn't it? Doesn't it just feel shiny, unwritten, and exciting? I would be a puddle of poo if I said my 2012 was 'terrible' when you compare it to other's: My loved ones are Ok and I have two legs and a heart beat. It's just that 2012 was heavy, and as my Grandad says 'Just because your neighbour is missing a leg doesn't mean your broken leg doesn't hurt.'

For me 2012 included moving in with Oliver, starting and successfully completing a thesis (whoa, did I do that?!), starting a garden, losing my blog Curves, Patterns, and Pins and starting this one, creating a society, getting that-haircut-that-shall-not-be-named, health scares, minor surgery and those other, heavy events that I'm not up to sharing on the internet. Yes 2012 you have been challenging and enlightening, but I'm excited to see your ass out the door.

If 2012 was the year of challenges, 2013 is the year of the unknown: Will I get a job that actually relates to my degree? (please cross your fingers for me!) Will I finally get to freaking sew? Will I turn into a fire truck? Who knows guys? I. Just. Don't. Know.

I welcomed this perfect, untouched new year by visiting northern New South Wales (NSW) with friends (pictures above). There is no better way to break free of the shackles--whether it be a shitty year or demanding job--than camping with friends.

2013, I love you already.

And I want to thank you, seriously, for taking the time to read my blog and hang out in this virtual world with me. I can't wait to share 2013 with you. Happy New Year!

^ South Ballina. Beeeaaaauuutiful.