I truly feel like a bit of a designer. And let's make it clear I've never desired to be a designer. But perhaps our very creativity and individual preferences mean we are in some small part designer. A creator of our own very unique somewhat individual pieces. Did I just make myself sound completely obnoxious/wanky (Aussies at least will understand the "wanky" reference)? I think perhaps I did. Ah well.

What was it about creating this clutch that made me feel like a designer?

Number 1: I did not reference any existing bag or pattern in creating this piece (almost a first for me).

Laid out: figuring out how to attach leather inner to scuba outer

Number 2: I dreamt it up from scratch (even though I'm sure there is a similar bag or even tutorial/pattern out there). Every dimension, the weight, colour and combination of fabric and leather, every construction step.

Pegs: Super hi-tech stabilisers/fasteners

SEWN: THE CAT'S PYJAMAS

 Meow

Really. Seriously. Like the best kind of secret cat's pyjamas.

Better still hubby thinks I look like a supermodel in this outfit. His words. I did ask for clarification because looking like a supermodel is not a personal goal for me...

I mean you look edgy, quirky, hot and super, super confident. You look exactly like you.

And he's got something there. Not necessarily the hot, edgy, quirky thing. But I can definitely see his point about finally being all me.

Oh my lord I have got a badonkadonk. I reckon I could almost balance a glass of champagne off that.

"I" have arrived friends. It's been a bit of a process, a process I didn't even realise was happening. But looking back I can see it culminating in the last year, or even in the last 6 months.

You see, inside me is a woman of bright colours and gregarious prints. A bit like my personality.

REFASHIONED: A PAINTERLY UNDERTAKING

I don't refashion. I've not often been able to see the diamond in the rough, though I'm always in awe of those who can.

This is a pretty lame refashioning. It involves a hem... and a sash. But I argue that hem length can make or break a project, meaning you love it or hate it... or is that just me?

I actually made and blogged this dress back in April 2012.

Back when I sometimes tortured my curls into submission.

I intended it as a semi-corporate dress. Or maybe that's an overstatement. I made it to wear to my job in an office. Then I got retrenched the next month... and I felt really screwed up for quite a long time.

I always loved this dress. But the dress length was much longer than I normally wore casually and in a low heel/flats I looked like the worst kind of frump.

Oh, how I love this fabric though. It's the lightest rigid cotton sateen I've ever seen. It is so soft and drapey I thought it might be a rayon on first encounter. And better still, it perfectly fulfilled my vision for this dress - I envisioned fabric that looked like it had been paint-splashed, wantonly and brightly. A painterly dress.

I kept taking it out of my wardrobe from time to time and stroking it's loveliness. But the try-on was the killer.

So what's a girl to do? I channeled my recent crazy successful Japanese makes and went for a slightly less frumpy sack dress. One 4 inches shorter (!), sans sash and with belt carrier loops removed.

Whilst it's not quite a woohoo, as I still think there are some fitting issues, it will most definitely now get worn. The fit issues would best be dealt with by removing the centre back invisible zipper, taking in some "sack" and re-installing zipper. I just don't have the desire at present.

And in the interests of keeping it real, this is the real refashioning that occured about 2hrs after I finished the above shoot.

It would appear I'm no longer a frustrated ex-competitive mountain bike marathon racer. I got caught out on a training ride for a Short Circuit Cancer race I'm competing in two weekend's time. It went from sunny and 36 degrees celsius to a howling thunderstorm complete with hail. Hails hurts peeps, and it hurts even more when you are a considerable distance from shelter in the middle of the bush. I couldn't tell mud from skin. It was super pretty.

Are you a refashioner? Care to share a link in the comments below to your best/favourite refashion?