Cotton Long dress by ESS Laboratory

Voila. The final dress is one of my own, a beautiful black drop-waist dress, which I wore to my brother's wedding. I was the Best Man, and very proud.

I am feeling a little bit proud now or glad, at least, to have finished what I set out to... I can go to sleep in a minute, certain of dreams in which fine things will manifest in suites of thirty-one. Goodnight.

Charmer dress by Romance Was Born

Flying panel dress by S!X

Today is the last day of October, and Frocktober. It is 11.15 at night and my work is almost complete. I would have liked to have uploaded one drawing per day in a civilised fashion but this blog is not called Disorganised for nothing.

At any rate, there are now 31 sketches of 31 dresses on Milly's front wall; 29 originals - the couple pictured above were sent off a couple of days ago (to lead everyone onto the dance floor at last Friday's Official Frock Party and raffle). All reserved sketches will be packaged and sent in the same way - framed loosely in an A5 card, dated, and labelled with the name and designer of the dress. I am collecting tax-deductible donations of any amount in exchange for these sketches. All proceeds go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, to assist the organisation's research into such things as the development of an early detection test.

Rustling dress by St Clements

Hangers In dress by ffiXXed

Two for Charlie by High Tea with Mrs Woo

Mesh gather dress by Alexi Freeman

I post this little section of drawings with Hayley in mind... It was her birthday on the 27th of October. She is a few months younger than I am, and has already been treated for ovarian cancer. I am pretty pleased to have received a note from her today, thank you Hayley.

Red shoes (interlude)

7pm last night - abandoned by the closed op shop - thwarted ambition?

Question Twist Waist dress by Kuwaii

Leather singlet bag by Lui Hon

Soft Drop by Lui Hon

Numbers twenty-two and twenty-three were special suggestions by generous sponsors, and feature Wednesday and Ra. That's Ra hanging out in the pocket of the bag that can be worn as a dress (truly), and Wednesday below him - she is pretending to be asleep but I know that she knows that we are talking about her.

I never tire of watching my cats and, in fact, I keep thinking that I should make videos of them grooming and proffer them for their therapeutic benefits.

P. S. Speaking of little wretches, I have skipped number twenty-one but only temporarily - it's been 'finished' three times but when I look at it up on the wall among the others, I can't stand it and have to take it down and start again.

Criss Cross Batwing dress by Alexi Freeman

Critter dress by Lonely Hearts

My frocks and I were featured today under 'Bloggers of the Week' at the Frock Weekly, how nice. Thanks to all the Frockettes who are doing a great job at keeping up with everyone involved... There are lots of us, and you can see/read all about other people's endeavours via this growing list of blogs.

Diamond Girl dress by Hua

Fragmental dress by ESS Laboratory

Shirtdress by Mücke

Croissant dress by Limedrop

In case you're wondering, I am sketching these dresses for Frocktober - thirty-one dresses for thirty-one days. I have finished twenty-one ... but didn't beat fading light in order to photograph the other two today. A tax deductible donation of $10 (or thereabouts) to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation is the going rate. Please email me if you'd like one to keep (or give away - they're all going to be packaged in a little A5 card).

Triplicate dress by Kuwaii

Polly dress by Penelope Durston

Mourning dress by Romance Was Born

Square dress by S!X

Silk 'Nouveau' slip by MATERIALBYPRODUCT

I caught up with time yesterday, finishing my 13th dress on the 13th day. Of course I used my last piece of watercolour stock to do it and it will be a couple of days before I can collect some more. Time always wins - this is my daily refrain.

In the meantime, I might try to piece together a few words for each of the dresses - as it stands, I've no idea why the mourning dress is violet, or what it is that the High Tea shirtdress is so keen to say ... but I'll see what I can come up with.

Blue period

Three more ...

Pure cotton ruffle dress by Strange & Strange

Harvest smock by Penelope Durston

Jersey bubble dress by Ed & Bek

661060

This is a rather late intro to my participation in Frocktober…

Crystal pocket dress by Arnsdorf

Frocktober is a “festive fundraising initiative” in support of the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Anyone may take up a frock-related challenge during the month of October, seeking financial sponsorship for her/his efforts, which is passed on to the OCRF to aid the organisation’s ongoing work (more info available via the links).

It seems like a really good/simple idea, and I made a quick decision to take part - my idea was to do some sketches with the aim of exchanging them for donations.

Let's Be Frank shirt dress by High Tea with Mrs Woo

For every day of the month of October, there will be a drawing of a different dress. The first seven are finally done, as you see here … As I go, I’ll continue to photograph the sketches and post them at this blog. I’m also going to pin them up on the front wall of our shop, Milly Sleeping.

Zig-saw dress by Hua

If you happen to see one that you would like to keep, I would love to do a swap with you (on behalf of the OCRF)… My suggestion is a donation of $10 but it is up to you to nominate the amount you are able to give.

You may reserve the sketch of your choice by leaving a comment attached to the relevant post, or by emailing me (leah@millysleeping.com or leahandned@gmail.com), or by visiting Milly Sleeping. The drawings are numbered here for identification purposes but the number doesn't actually appear on the drawing. A red 'R.' that appears next to any of the numbers will mean that the sketch is currently reserved.

Sunday dress by Lonely Hearts

You may either entrust your donation to me, or you can donate online (via the Frocktober page), or I can send you details so that you can do an online transfer or send a cheque/money order. If you are donating independently, pleasepleaseplease quote my registration number – 661060.

Donations of more than $2 are tax deductible and you will receive a receipt directly from the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Please understand that I will need to view all receipts before passing on the sketches and can make no exception to this condition. If possible, I would like to keep the drawings as a group until the end of Frocktober.

Stay Awake dress by Kuwaii

“It's not an auction” … and I say this, A/ because it is a very funny line from Reality Bites and, B/ because I will not be accepting ‘higher bids’ for any of the sketches – once one has been reserved, I will consider it reserved until at least October 31 (… you are very welcome to email me and leave your details in case the first sponsor doesn’t follow through).

Joey shirt dress by Limedrop

I won’t be able to produce one per day but I will be producing one for every day (31 total). Each of the sketches is a date-stamped original - grey-lead and watercolour, on A5 watercolour card.

Huntsman dress by Romance Was Born

If I’ve left anything out or you have a question, please feel free to send me a note or leave a gentle comment below. Too many words today - but in my next post I'll tell you the names and designers of dresses one through seven.