Nina Wish Garden Party

Today I went to Warburton (in the beautiful Yarra Valley) to celebrate the opening of the new Nina Wish Designs there.

Marion and Gordon are some of my oldest and very dearest friends, and I've missed them since they moved to Warburton early this year. I've missed seeing the great things that they do with vintage fabrics (and contemporary fabrics with a classic or vintage feel)... so it was lovely to step into their new shop by the (picturesque end of the) Yarra River.

Marion's original prints have become a part of the range. They compliment the vintage and reproduction prints of Nina Wish clothing (and cushion covers) beautifully.


Nina Wish are planning to sell online in the near future. If you join their mailing list you'll be kept informed and can snaffle up some truly original clothing or furnishings.

In the meantime, if you're ever in the Yarra Valley....Nina Wish are open -
12 noon until 5pm - Friday, Saturday and Sunday
or by appointment, telephone 59669757
20 Dammans Road (cnr Martyr Rd) Warburton
(Tell them Nikki sent you - and that she sends her love).

Today's party sprawled out over the extensive gardens and everyone enjoyed a relaxed afternoon... and probably a bit too much cake (at least I did). The promised rain held off and it was perfect garden-party weather.

And there was a twirly-whirly girl in a pink dress in most photos taken today. Not sure who brought her.

My Creative Space... a day late

It's been that kind of week. The start of the week was spent in a state of blind panic (in my role of solo-office-chick on the busiest days of the week). The rest of the week has been spent trying to catch up on my own neglected secret-squirrel work and trying to be a good Mummy (after a few days of being quite the opposite) .... and I haven't been creating much at all.

At the risk of boring readers rigid with more craft projects by that child I keep banging on about - I only have these photos to show.... so I'm showing them.

Dolls clothes were sewn (with help) on the sewing machine. Buttons were sewn on with a real (not-too-sharp embroidery) needle. In other words, the indoctrination programme is going according to plan.

BTW - That's paint on the background....!

And those Ink&Spindle girls had better watch their backs... there's a new kid on the textile design block....

...who's still trying to get to grips with the subtleties of armhole shaping in her patternmaking technique.


I've no idea where she learned such a slap-dash approach to garment making...?!

Head on over to Kirst's for more creative spaces.

Smoke and Mirrors... and duckbill scissors.

In the past, taking photos has involved more of my multi-dextrous and contortionist skills than my ability to use a battered Kodak Easyshare.... There are often reflector boards (usually Peltex or Vilene S520) held with one hand (or foot ...or teeth) while the other does the camera-work.

After a brief hiatus (while I manned the office so Ann Marie and Leah could attend sick kids for a few days), today I got back to the business of finishing a magazine article that needed photos. But first I built something amazing...... out of foam-core board and balsa wood.

I held it to the benchtop with the clamp from an Ikea lamp ...and made hinges out of strapping tape. All super high-tech.

It reflects the afternoon light in my studio perfectly.


...so I can get on with the business of sewing and snapping those necessary step-by-step shots. I can move the sewing machine and tilt the "wings" to soften shadows without having to look like I'm playing a game of Twister.

Sorry - can't show you what I'm sewing. Instead, I'll show you what came in today (along with fresh supplies of button kits!).

Duckbill scissors!! - AVAILABLE HERE!

Apparently they're not as easy to find in Spotlight or Lincraft as I thought.... so it's high time I stopped teasing people with mine and offered them for sale in my shop.

Edited to add - Don't know what duckbill scissors are?.... You can see them in action here.
I also use mine for everything that needs sharp pointy scissors (thread trimming, snipping holes for magnetic snaps...) because they have super-sharp points and have ergonomically designed handles that make them comfortable and easy to use. I love them so much I have TWO pairs (so I can always lay my hands on them without having to go looking!!)

Buttoned up

This Hobo bag has been one of those projects that has been made in fits and starts over the last month or two (it has a sister - cut at the same time but still in construction). The fabric is a Martha Negley and the o-rings are 52mm Square Edge rings (a personal favourite of mine).

Mostly I was waiting for more self-cover button kits to arrive so I could finish the Kanzashi flowers on the front.

The crafty kid is still a bit obsessed with making buttons, but we've had to limit her access to them because we're now selling them in the shop.

There's no sewing involved with these kits - the two-part setting tool wraps the fabric around and the back of the button snaps into place. There are 8 buttons per pack and we have them in 12mm and 23mm - both at the same price ($5.05).

Now I'm going to be very busy sewing all the wee girl's buttons onto hair-ties for her. She now has a hair tie to match every outfit I've ever made for her, and we're fast moving on to having a hair-tie to match every bag I've ever made......

My Creative Space

Is a tad cooler today.....

Some would say that a portable air conditioner in a room the size of my studio on an exceptionally hot day is a bit like that saying about adding a small quantity of liquid to a river.... But I can tell you, it made the difference between managable warmth and suffocating fan-forced oven.

I often refer to my "sewing cave", meaning my hideaway retreat where I can be a alone and do what feeds my soul...where I contemplate life and clip seams. In hot weather it takes on a whole new meaning - those huge windows are draped with heavy curtains and I have no decent light in which to photograph anything!

My desk is covered in paperwork, printed-out pattern tests and endless cups of tea. Although the pile of little gifts (including an as-yet-unblogged swiney from Gina from early winter - which still makes me smile) is close by - a little patch of happiness that I've meant to photograph for ages.


The wee girl's creative space was all about making a family of pet turtles for her calico dolls using embossed mock-croc paper for the shells.

Personally, I got very little done - what with all the air-con purchasing and installation, and then getting ready for my patternmaking class tonight. Oh... and all that wilting and whinging about the weather.... However, I managed to photograph (in the cave) the 3 little dresses I finished last night - cut out over a week ago.

Gotta love a quick kid's dress pattern for instant gratification (the 3 of them took me an hour and a half all up). And this cow print is just a bit too cute for words.

To take a peek into other creative spaces, mosey on over to Kirsty's....

I digress....

Apologies to those awaiting the completion of the bag pattern I started earlier this year.... or for the 200mm version of the Poppet. Samples have been lurking around the studio - teasing visitors and workshop participants.... but alas, no instructions have been forthcoming.

I'm afraid I don't have a team of elves who can write about the finer points of bag and hat-making. Shame about that.... I could use them at times like this.

I've been obsessed with an idea - a kind of diversion. I need to get it out of my head before I can go back - refreshed - to finish the tedious end of developing bag patterns. I love a good puzzle (I think that's why I love patternmaking) and a challenge is necessary from time to time.

There's lots of tapping back into old skills, and learning new and geeky things I can do with patternmaking software. Developing a design and my skills base is like a good dose of Berocca at this end of a long, tiring year.

...And so...

I was inspired to venture further, and stop just saying "I've always wanted to learn felting". A gift voucher for Amazon was spent on this book, and plans are being made for a messy Christmas holidays... (we're talking the fibre, soap and water variety here, not the too-many-champagne-cocktails kind of messy).

I know NOTHING about felting and would love to hear of any good leads on supplies and resources. What am I looking for and where...?

...And I'll see you next year with that bag pattern... graded in CAD to seventeen different sizes with instructions full of cute little CAD-drawn diagrams and samples covered in felt embellishments.... and perhaps even a champagne cocktail recipe.

A silk purse from a sow's ear...

Or just a sow's ear. I'm not sure.

It serves me right for trying to cheat. I thought it'd be quicker to buy a pattern than make my own. New Look 6866 looked easy, fluid and flattering on the packet....

...and like a potato sack when it was made up.

I made the size small (Australian sizes 8-10, which is right where I'm at) but it fitted like a shapeless size 12.

It was so unflattering I didn't take any "before" photos - just the results of about three rounds of tweaking.

The neckline was dropped an inch or so at centre-front and a great big chunk was taken out of the back... too much in fact. (There's now a dodgey tight bit on the bottom of the V where I clipped it before I checked it, and then couldn't let it out again).

I then had to re-shape the armholes so I could move in it after I made it too tight and I had to put a bit of shape into the waist so it... ummm... had a bit of shape in the waist.

My sow's ear is quite a comfy summer frock now. Not perfect, but I'll wear it - wonky seams, dodgey pattern placement (wish I'd thought of that one, too..) and all.

If you're bigger than I am (that'd be MOST of you!) this pattern may be for you. I'd say the size small would fit a tall or fuller-figured size 10-12.

If you're five foot one-and-a-half and a slightly curvy size 8-10, I'd suggest that you mock up a calico toile and tweak it before hacking into your favourite fabric. Or if you have, say, PATTERNMAKING SKILLS (!!?)..... perhaps don't be so lazy. Start from scratch to make something designed for your figure.

The fabric is from the Loft 1800 range by Moda - one of my all-time favourites.

PS. This time I enlisted my assistant to take the photo of the back view. It has been cropped to (mostly) remove the great shot of the wheelie bins (originally with me on the side of the photo).

Party dress

Lots of twirling and whirling....
..and a bottom button not done up (there are actually three of them). Ho hum.... and possibly the last photo opportunity for the dress...

A big family reunion co-incided with her birthday celebration.... She had a great day.

And now the dress is a crumpled sunscreen-cake-olive-oil-and-dust covered blob in the washing basket.

The pattern is a variation on a theme I'm working on at the moment..... the fabric is some Donna Dewberry bargain fabric from Quilt Home.

Happy birthday, my little petal. xxx

Flickr Favourites Friday

I love this photo.

"The other Nikki" (as the wee girl calls her) made up my kids hat pattern for her toddling twins. You can read more about it here.



Sooz made one for herself out of the Adults hat pattern.


EDITED TO ADD THIS ONE... because it's so darn cute! Carmel made this for her gorgeous boy.


Have you made up one of my hat patterns? If you'd like to share your creations you can join the Flickr group or leave a comment with a link to your blog.

I never tire of seeing what happens to my little 'ol pattern designs after they leave home...

My Creative Space

...is stifling.

A week of mid-30 degrees and no air conditioning means that the studio would be perfect for raising bread or making yoghurt, but not for doing anything constructive* or entertaining a small child.

For now I'm holed up at home, working on a new design. I've been busy sampling and tweaking the pattern and now I'm onto the instructions. In a very geeky sort of way, I'm enjoying making these diagrams in CAD. Learning a few new tricks with the software always gives me a little thrill (sad, I know).

Hmmmm... that's a funny looking bag....?!

For more creative spaces, pop on over to Kirsty's.

*Note - I've relocated tonight's patternmaking class to the air-conditioned training room at the BBI.

Got the pool in at last

Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa - Swimming Pool
Originally uploaded by Official Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa

Ok... so it wasn't that particular pool....

It actually looks more like this -

The wee girl and her Daddy built a cubby-house out of her old cot (I say nothing about it being a perfectly good cot that may have been useful to another family.... encourage creativity, encourage creativity....).

The wee one was in charge of interior design and art. That's a portrait of "Daddy with the Very Hungry Caterpillar" and one of "B.Barry" (her toy frog that disappeared some time ago but has by no means been forgotten).

And now it has an indoor pool. Luxury, I tell ya! The main house is surely (and sorely) lacking in that department.

Note to self: Buy winning lottery ticket or move to the antarctic craft colony by next summer.....

Presents

I haven't been very present in blogland of late. A combination of a hectic teaching schedule, working on secret-squirrel stuff and my WILTING in the hot weather (!!) have all conspired to keep me away (....and there's also a small matter of the home - read: blogging - computer being in a room other than the one with the air conditioner).

But I've had some lovely presents lately, including this portrait of me, made out of Hama Beads by Bec's gorgeous girl on Saturday.

These booky presents arrived, too. A present to me... from me. I needed some fresh eye-candy and these also double as "sewing library reference books". (Phew!...Justified that one!).


Edited to add: Yes - I had read reviews about errata in the Heather Ross book, but as I'm NEVER likey to use a pattern or follow instructions in it, I didn't mind. (I only have to look at something and can work out how it's made.... it's been my job for 20-odd years). I really did buy the book for its eye-candy value. It's also good for me to keep a finger on the pulse by knowing what's going on in craft book world.

And I've been giving presents, too... just forgetting to blog about them. We drew our October "Spend over $50" prize last week and Wendy from Heathmont (Vic) chose some new gadgets.

For the November prize..... let's say a $25 voucher to spend in our shop. All you have to do to be in the draw is spend more than $50. We'll random-number-thingamy the invoice numbers for the month of November - and the first over-$50 WINS!

Ok... I'm off to find an air conditioner.... and think about secret-squirrel projects.

Button it.

Like a woman possessed....

The wee girl has worked out how to cover buttons (with a little help) and won't rest until all available kits are used up.

When little fingers can't manage, the toy hammer does the job. These new-fangled kits require no stitching. Love 'em.

I also love that I have no fear in handing over pointy fabric scissors to a nearly-four-year-old. Her dexterity amazes me (...and as you can see, I've given her all my best manicure tips...!).

If I can keep any kits out of sight long enough, we'll be selling them in the shop soon. And If I can save any finished buttons from the destined-to-be-hair-ties pile I'll be putting them in the centre of Kanzashi or yo-yo flowers.

This really has got to stop... some time... eventually... maybe.

Oh, what the heck - I really like buying new fabric.

Surely there are worse habits....and more expensive hobbies...?

...and anyway, these were on sale.
And Quilt Home kindly notify me every time they have a "today only" sale on a particular designers fabrics. Nice of them, huh? I couldn't NOT follow up those useful links that they send to me...now could I?

And it means I get to spend a small fortune on gorgeous prints MOST weeks..... Which has to be good for the soul...does it not?

Please meet the Erin McMorris gang (above) and the Tina Givens ....ummm...extended family and ..ahem...associated friends (below).

...and it's not as if it goes off or gets wasted, is it....?

I see Liesl's been justifying fabric purchases, too.