I'm listening....

We've had a few requests for double purse frames lately, so I thought I'd try getting a few in. These frames are 150mm (6") with a curved edge, and are available here. If you like (and buy!!) them, I'll be able to continue the supply. I may even get around to making a pattern for them ...eventually. I have a few 150mm purse frames in CHUNKY style (like the 200mm chunky frames, only shorter!!). They're available here. And we also have some 200mm Chunky frames with loops for a purse chain. (We also have the chain). I think these would look cute on the Kiss Purse. We've had a lot of requests for o-rings that can be opened and linked onto other loops or eyelets. I found these.... 60mm diameter with 4mm wire. We also have some new antique o-rings. These are 25mm (1") and in 3mm wire, and you can find them in the shop here.

During an overhaul of postage prices (thanks Australia Post for giving us reason to do this on a regular basis....), we've taken the opportunity to make a much-needed increase to our packaging and handling fee (from $2 to $3 per order).

This will go some way towards paying for the time it takes the lovely office gals to give you the best service they can and find the most economical postage method for you.... as well as pay for bubblewrap, tissue paper, labels, sticky tape and envelopes. Rather than increasing all our prices, I felt that the "user pays" method would be fairer.

(So... the more you order per order, the better for you..... How's that for justifying your stash-building???)

Ummm....we have a problem....

Something about BANDWIDTH...... and a disappeared website. (Me no understand.... me pay for huge bandwidth allowance).

Back soon.... I hope. EDITED TO ADD - we're back!

More Purse Frame Bargains

Oh for goodness sake.... At least I think that's what I said, when the last two boxes of 150mm frames we have in stock turned out to be seconds.

We're expecting a shipment of frames soon, but the order didn't include 150mm frames because, well... we had two boxes full of them.

Purse frame bargain, anyone.....? 5 frames for $5.50. We also have more zipper bundles and long zips, if you're in the mood for some stash-enhancing bargains.

****

PLEASE NOTE: Until we can order and wait for a shipment of these to arrive, we won't be able to offer our usual 20% discount on bulk orders of 150mm frames.

Behind the scenes

Another week has flown by and I still have nothing that I can show for it. I've been tinkering away behind the scenes, working on something to raffle for a Red Cross/Japan fundraiser and a new pattern.

But I've nothing to show you, except the bits of knitting machine experimentation I've done in fits, starts, dribs and drabs over the last week or two.

I've made a (seriously flawed) set-your-teeth-on-edge-squeaky acrylic rainbow scarf with a small girl. I've tried cut-and-sew experiments with cotton yarn.
I've tried throwing the cut-and-sew experiment through a clean-it-or-kill-it cycle in my gung-ho front-loader.

Despite a few fluffy ends poking through, it looks like it'll survive. I'm going to try a tighter, wider overlock and give it another go. This area has enormous potential..... (insert little squeal here...).

And then there was a spot of experimentation with food colourings and machine-knitted lengths.

This piece (below) was knitted in cream coloured yarn. I gave it a food-colouring bath and turned it budgie-green (eek!). Another bath (this time with RED in it) resulted in a tweedy, mossy green. Lovely. (Insert more squeals). On Thursday night, the incredibly generous and kind Angela showed me how to clean and service my machine. She loaned me a new sponge bar and showed me how to do some fancy-schmantzy stuff.

I'm a bit excited about the prospect of being able to create shape on the machine, but so far the wee girl and I are trying out pattern cards.... great fun.

Next week, I hope to have more results on the surface of things as well as some bits of yarny fun on the side.

But I'm pretty sure there will be a fair bit of yarny fun on the side.

End of story.

A week or so ago, I finished the Acacia in the dreaded rainbow yarn.

I didn't care that it was a bit big (the kid will grow) or that my increases were dodgey (she'll never notice) or that the colour broke up like I didn't want it to (I gave up). And I didn't bother with the bow at the front (she's not really a bow kind of gal).

It's finished and the girl loves it. Apparently it makes excellent sportswear (with a twirly skirt with frogs, elephants and giraffes on it) for a spot of backyard totem-tennis and kitten-chasing.

The wee girl asked politely, "Did you accidentally do a bobbly bit so made it bobbly all across the top?"

...Bless her. She's observed my design features in the past.

Personally, I'm just happy to see the back of it.... preferably on my little porcelain-skinned totem-tennis star.

Busy mess, business, a workshop and a little rest....oh, and a book.

I haven't seen much of my table tops this week. Between obsessive pattern development and daily crisis-management, there wasn't much time to clear space. The days were not long enough.

My brain has felt pretty similar - full of things started and then set down while I run off to do the next last-minute thing..... things left lying about, ready to pick up again at the next available multi-tasking opportunity.
All the time, the situation in Japan has been on my mind. I can't imagine the grief, fear and everyday hardships that have befallen the people of Japan and I desperately want to help. The situaton at the nuclear power station has also been deeply concerning, on many levels.

But somehow, any sort of fundraising effort failed to happen in my week, despite my daily crises being trifles compared with theirs. It's a priorority for this coming week. Watch this space.

Strangely, the intensely busy Bag In A Day workshop was like a little island of calm for me. To focus on one thing (even if that one thing was several different bags) was a bit of a treat.

Even more of a treat, was meeting a great bunch of sewing gals who'd come in from Adelaide, Western Australia, Bendigo, Geelong and (all the way from) Brunswick, who made fabulous bags and were great company for the day. Thanks, girls!

After class, Lara popped in. We sat, had a chat, ate twice as much camembert as we ought, and looked through my advance copy** of Le Book....which arrived on Friday.

And so... another week begins. With a few doors closed behind me and a clear path in front, hopefully.

At least the table tops are clear.

------------------------------------------------------

**The book is due for release in May. Don't worry - I'll let you know when it's available for purchase!!

My Creative Space

Today, I'm almost certain that I've finalised the shape of the next purse pattern. I thought a scaled-up version of the Shell purse would look good on the 200mm curved frames.

I should know that the sentence "I'll just scale up the pattern" should be said without the "just". The subtlties of shape, line and proportion are tricksy little beggars, and take a bit of tweaking. Sometimes they take a LOT of tweaking.

I got bored with calico around toile #6 and moved on to wasting perfectly good fabric on purses that look wrong, wrong, wrong.....

...and sat up all night beading a frame onto a purse that turned out to be a bit ordinary...lacking that certain something.

And so it was, that with heart all a-flutter (and a little excited squealy thing happening in my head), I pinned the latest incarnation to a frame and thought, "this could be the one". I won't be sure until the frame is on, but I have high hopes. I'm thinking glamourous 50's styling here. I'm excited.

So... in answer to the next person who asks me if you can just scale up a purse pattern to fit another frame, my answer is yes.... but not "just". I think it'd be quicker and easier to buy another pattern.

***

Pop on over to the hostess with the mostess to see what's happening in other creative spaces around the globe today.

Spontaneity

Every part of this bag - cut out carefully LONG before this blog was born - has been made while demonstrating bag-making techniques in classes and workshops. Gradually, the bag is taking shape. The original plan I had (in my mind, when I cut out the bag) has long been lost and each component has been made with the lesson at hand in mind.... Spontaneous design decisions were made at every turn.

How to choose the right interfacing...How to reduce bulk in seams...How to make a hard base and insert purse feet... How to make a strap that folds neatly over a ring... How to make an adjustable strap... The importance of a facing (and how to attach it), How to get a nice crisp, structured edge at the top of the bag.... How to use PVC and binding on a flap.... How to insert eyelets....

This bag has shown them all.

As the pieces were coming together, I realised that I had to somehow bring the design back into some sort of cohesive form. That pvc front looked silly on a bag that was made with the same fabric type as the flap. I had to make the pvc have a purpose....

A spontaneous rummage through the white and pink buttons solved the problem. The PVC became a buttony design feature!

The lining and closures are yet to be completed to finish this bag. I daresay they'll be demonstrated in classes (How to make a zipped pocket.... How to attach the lining... How to insert a magnetic snap.... How to anchor the lining... How to slip-stitch the lining closed...).

I'll probably be pulling this one out in this Saturday's Bag in a Day class.

If you feel like making a spontaneous decision this week, a late cancellation for this Saturday's class may have presented an opening for you to do the Bag in a Day class! The June 11th workshop is fully booked, so the next available place might be August.

Go on... a bit of spontaneity can be just the thing....

The start of a beautiful friendship....

The last week has been a series of deadlines, so until today I've not had time to play with my new toy. Today, the lovely Jules came around and gave me an introductory lesson in machine knitting. I learned about casting on, tension... and then we had a bit of a play with the punch-cards for the patterned stitches.....

..which ended rather badly.

More research is necessary, into exactly what that little loose cog I found is for and why the machine goes CRUNCH when doing anything but stocking stitch... (I think there may be a bit of a cause-and-effect thing going on there).

I'm still a bit excited by the stocking stitch thing, though..... I went home and knitted a 1.5 metre cotton scarf. I'll see what it looks like when it's dyed.

How amazing... to make fabric.....There will be more of this.

A busy day

In today's Quick Draped Tops class, I kept the girls on their toes... whipping up new tops, playing with patterns and generally in a spin about the drapey garment possibilities that lay ahead. But since the only time I thought to take photos was at lunchtime and after everyone was gone, there's little evidence of anything except a few girls getting together for a chat (and some cherry tomatoes).
However, if you look closely, you will see sewing equipment and patterns strewn about the place....

There were, in fact, lots of patterns. Ready-made as well as some made in the class by adventurous crafty types.

There were lots of toiles and sample garments on the balcony (which, in today's weather, also doubled as a free sauna).

...and a few more garments loitering inside with the air-con.

And I think I maybe led a newbie sewing gal into an overlocking addiction.

There was also a bit of love-at-first-sight (on my part) when my sewing buddy dropped in with her newest tailor's dummy.

She's a half-scale dummy*. Small but perfectly formed. (Be still, my beating heart...).

Oh, the draping I could do on one of these little ladies.....

Big thanks to the real-sized gals who made today lots of fun and very inspiring. I hope you're not as wiped-out as I am now.

***

*Not the sewing buddy. I mean the tailor's dummy.

Introducing......

Like all my patterns, this is a very versatile little purse.

It can be made with silk and synthetic fabrics for bridal or evening wear or with cute cotton, for a daytime look. These two fabric groups require different interfacings, so we have a SILK kit and a COTTON Kit, available NOW! For those of you who already have yardage of the interfacings (and perhaps a frame or two), you might prefer the PATTERN ONLY option.


The kits contain the pattern, instructions, frame and interfacings - enough to get you started with your first purse (and with the pattern and know-how for many more!).

The instructions include how to make a draped layer with pleats or gathers and how make the purse as a clutch, wristlet or handbag. There are a lot of purses to be made with this kit!!

So... (in case you didn't follow the links above).... What's it called?



Shell. Yes... a few of you got the name right. My random number generator (ie. "Pick a number between 1 and 6...") chose Kathy P as the winner of a kit.

Many thanks to my fabulous pattern-testers. You can see some of my testers versions here, here, and here. (Nikki, Adele and Alison, if you have a link, please send it!).

A genetic predisposition...

It's my excuse and I'm sticking to it, ok?

The collecting and hoarding of craft materials, the unending list of projects to make and crafts to try.... it's part of my make-up. I can't fight it - it comes from both sides of the family.

I've mentioned my Dad's crafty sister before, but until now, I hadn't mentioned my mother's super-crafty sister. Before age and illness affected her eyes and hands, my Auntie Wilma clothed her family, made gifts for every baby she knew and could whip up a school fete's worth of crafty goodness in the blink of an eye. She didn't sit still. And she knew how to buy craft materials....

Today she gave most of her stash to me (most....only because my car was too full to take ALL. I've been invited back!).

This afternoon, I sorted through boxes of lace. I now have a super-special box of (handmade?) cotton lace, a box of cute vintage lace, a box of broderie trims and a basket of "free to a good home" lace.

If you come in to visit us in Helen St, you're welcome to have a rummage. My aunt wants the stuff to be used so I'm happy to pass it on to anyone who can make the most of it.
The buttons came pre-sorted! I'm in heaven! (And sorry, these are not going in the free to a good home basket).

I've made a start on sorting through the fabrics.

The yarn stash is tomorrow's job. (Tonight, it's still in the car..... with.... ummmm... Auntie Wilma's knitting machine....).

***

Like I said, it's not my fault.