Ever So Famous... well, a little teensy tiny bit.

Many thanks to the lovely people who let me know about the little mention of my Fedora pattern in The Good Weekend section of The Age on Saturday, and for sharing the Facebook love (before I even got home from teaching at Kimono House).

Special thanks to Nic from Yardage Design for sending me hard copy AND a fat quarter of her beautiful handprinted fabric.

I feel a teensy bit famous and VERY VERY blessed with good friends and a wonderful community of crafty people around me.  

A quick glance upwards

This week has seen me still walking across that bridge.... trying to get over what looks like an insummountable mountain of catch-up, keep-up and set-things-on-course. It occured to me to do a quick blog post NOW before the catch-up here becomes another mountain I'd rather not have in my path.

This week, I also had two classes out in the real world.  The A-line Skirt class at Kimono House was on Saturday, and was lots of fun.  I made the above skirt on Friday night from a $5 remnant and a small piece of some fabric I bought from Eureka Patchwork's "$15 per metre" room. 

I've been wearing the skirt ever since. 

I think it's love. (And yes - it matches my hair).

 On Thursday, it was loads of pattern-free fun at Bargain Box Fabrics in Mornington. It was fab to see the group's initial trepidation turn into inspiration over the course of the day, and to see so many variations on the theme of my Trapese-line top.  We were a group of women of all shapes, sizes and ages, and there were tops and dresses to suit everyone.  Great day.

 Today (Sunday) was a busy one.  It started with a trip to the characterful and quirky Thornbury Theatre, to the Suitcase Rummage.

Handmade and vintage goodies were spilling out of every sort of suitcase as locals shopped, talked, listened to live music.  It was a great atmosphere (and I managed to pick up some de-stashed crafty bargains).

My sister Leonie had her screenprinted  cushions, bags and fabric panels (of her original drawings) and a few Fabulous 50's Bibs....

 I loved this watermelon apron, too, by Anita at NeitZarr....

My little personal-shopper had a ball.  I gave her a budget of $15, which she took great pains to spend, without leaving a single cent.  I suspect that she pumped up the cute-factor to get a few bargain second-hand books and jewellery bits.  (I worded her up on bargaining down the handmade stuff before she had a chance to widen those baby blues at anyone).

 We then went into the Quilt and Craft Show for the last few hours of trading. 

BIG MISTAKE. 
Tired girl who thinks she's an expert shopper. 
Expensive parking and entry to the show for 2 hours of show. 
No time to look at anything before the girl spent her craft-show budget and wanted "another budget".  
Endless negotiations about the possibility of another budget.
Please... another budget...
But the other budget was just A PRACTISE budget....
And couldn't you you just buy THAT for me?
And now I've run out of budget, I want to go home....
And it's not fair that I'm not enjoying myself anymore..
So, if you'd just give me another budget....

AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!

(She didn't get another budget).

However....I did manage to get Terese Dair's book from her at the show.  SWOON.   (It's LOVE-ER-LY!).  I daresay, you'll be hearing more about that.... when I get off this vertigo-inducing bridge.

Can't look up...

This is what I do on little bridges across deep chasms, when I absolutely have to get to the other side..... one foot in front of the other, hold tight and DON'T. LOOK. UP.

I know.. I miss out on some fantastic scenery, but sometimes you just have to get to where you're going.

This photo is one of a series of photos of one such walk across one such bridge (on the West of Ireland, in about 2001).  Vertigo captured for posterity (actually, it was captured because my companion thought it was hysterically funny).

Anyway - I've been really busy, just ploughing on through the backlog of work that built up when I had flu and school holidays (and there are various other real life dramas in the background).  Things have been a bit vertigo-ish. 

Can't look up. 

Back soon.  There are good things ahead.

New Voodoo Rabbit Website

The fabulous Voodoo Rabbit have launched their new webstore. You can now buy all their rare, cute and quirky fabrics and their great selection of patterns, kits, hardware and interfacings in a slick new online store. 

Not only is the new store pretty, it is packed with loads of new features which should make shopping with them even better. 

• You can now order fabric by the metre! If you want 0.6m of fabric you can order it - no more mucking around converting fat quarter increments to uncut lengths. You can still buy in fat quarters if you prefer, just click the button to let us know which way you'd like us cut your fabric.
• Payment options now also include direct deposit for Aussie bank account holders.

• Improved shipping options, including upgrades to registered and Express post as well as pick up from the showroom if you are based in Brisbane.

• Related products for listings. Now if you click on a bag pattern you can see the links for the hardware that goes with it!

You can find my patterns HERE.


Vilene S320 is HERE.


Bag and Purse hardware is HERE.

The web address hasn't changed - head over to http://www.voodoorabbit.com.au/ to check out the new website.

As a special bonus they are offering all You Sew Girl fans a 10% discount from 23rd - 29th July. Simply enter the code YOUSEWGIRL10 at checkout for your discount.

Another post where I attempt to recap the best part of a multi-faceted week (and update the workshop schedule) with a few words and pictures.

I believe I mentioned something about posting photos from the Trapese Line Top class at Kimono House.

It appears that nearly a week has passed since then and I'm still hearing the giggles and the ah-ha's and remembering the fun that it was.  I just didn't get around to posting the pictures here (sorry).

It's a very hands-on workshop, with lots of dressing up like monks for the first bit (until the garments start to take shape).

  

I brought in lots of cheap fabric to kill the fear of just jumping in to have a go.  Hack, slash, cut off the bits that don't look like a glamorous new top... that sort of thing.   Great fun....

 ...and then we moved on to the posh Japanese fabric (which I forgot to photograph).   Lovely day.  Thanks girls!

I'll be at Bargain Box Fabrics in Mornington next Thursday (26th July) with another pattern-free top class.  We won't have the posh Japanese fabric, but we'll have lots of fun.  I believe there is one spot vacant, and we may be able to stretch to three more.

Yesterday was my workshop with the International Federation for Home Economics Congress ... and loads of Saffron Craig  fabric.

We worked on the zipper pouch project from my book, and then made Pyramid Purses and box-style toiletry bags.

The class was held upstairs at GJ's in Brunswick, because there was no way we'd have all squeezed in to my little studio.  It was fantastc to have so much space and light and so many switched-on sewing gals from around the world.

Did you know that Saffron Craig is moving in a whole new direction now?  She has just done a range of organic cotton fabrics, and has illustrated an e-book for children.  Go Saffron! 

(And did you know that Saffron Craig was the year behind me in RMIT Fashion, many years ago?  We used to walk past each other in the halls and not know we'd cross paths again.  Funny ol' fella, life...).

If you like any of Saffron's previous ranges, you'd best get in quick while they last, wherever you see them.  They're a finite resource now.

Tomorrow, I have a Zippers For Bags workshop.  The waiting list for this one was just getting a bit silly, so we've swapped a Beginners Bag in a Day workshop date (Saturday 6th October) and are now calling it a Zippers For Bags day.  If you'd like to do this one on 6th October, then I'd suggest you hop in NOW and make your booking.

LATE BREAKING NEWS: There has been a swapping of attendance from the 25th August to the October date for the zipper class.  If you'd like to take up this place on the 25thAugust, you'll have to email or phone us to book (the PayPal button on the website is for the newest date only).

We've also had to make a date-change for the Choosing and Using Interfacings class in November, and there are still a couple of places left on that one.  It will now be Saturday 3rd November.   (Yes, I know, Melbourne Cup weekend and you might be going away... but better that than a weekend when I'll be the one who will be going away!)  You can book here.

The only other workshop places I have are three spots on the Customised Bag in a Day class on Saturday 20th October.  You can book here if you'd like to do that one (in time to make a bag for Spring Carnival?).

I can't possibly squeeze in another date before the end of the year.... and I think I'll need a good sit down by the time December comes around!  I'm a bit exhausted, just thinking about it.



Next year, I'm thinking of travelling a bit further afield, so I'm just putting the word out....
If anyone in the USA want me as a guest sewing teacher, let me know!  I'm hoping to be in the North West (although nothing is confirmed) around then, but depending on the gig, may be able to travel beyond or at another time of year.

Oh... and yes.... the multi-faceted week.  It was.  But the recap will have to wait for another day.  I think the workshop info is enough for now.  Clearly, economy of words and pictures is just not my thing.... (no wonder I #twitterfail).

Friday night pattern-free sewing (and lots of poncing about like a super-model on a Sunday)

Ok..I should have said, "..like a slightly older, wrinklier, greyer, shorter super-model than you're used to seeing..."

On Saturday,at Kimono House, I taught a class in the pattern-free 'trapese line top' from my book. 

On Friday evening, shortly after I realised that I'd turned most of my trapese-line top samples (that had been worn and had faded slightly) into my crocheted rag rug a few months ago, I pulled out a pile of knit fabrics and began sewing up a somewhat-frenzied pattern-free storm....

Having bought this purple fabric only because it was cheap enough to use for toiles (muslins), I didn't expect to put on this little dress summer dress and NOT WANT TO TAKE IT OFF.  It's a gorgeous viscose-lycra blend and is super-fluid and comfy.  It would be beautiful to wear on one of those 40-degree days we have here in Summer.  Unfortunately, with top temperatures averaging around the 15 degree mark lately, I can't see it getting much wear for a wee while yet.

I'm suspecting modal or tencel is the other fibre in this black lycra-blend jersey.  The fabric is fine but has a gorgeously heavy drape, like a wood-based fibre does. 

I can't normally do long black and voluminous dresses without looking like a little pile of black fabric. (When you're 5'1"-and-a-bit, you need a bit of body reference). I like the way this one skims but still hints at a person inside the volume of fabric.

And I can do the ties up at the front and pretend to be some sort of  Raphael cherub (completely ignoring the glaringly obvious grey hair and wrinkles.. and the dress, come to think of it...).

Then I whipped up a few quick little summer tops.  This marl grey cotton-lycra number is slimmed right down to hug the hips and emphasise the drape across the front.

...and it's suddenly occurred to me that with my hair all not-so-super-model grey, I can actually wear marl grey now.  I never used to feel good in it.

 

This black top (below) is a pure cotton jersey, so not as drapey as its lycra-blend cousins.  I turned a wide hem and made a fake binding (instructions in my book or in my Draped T-Dress pattern) that sits on the hip.  It emphasises the boxy shape that the fabric wants to create.

 This one below is a toile (muslin), in a drapey knit remnant that was wider than it was long.  I played about with a different fold and came up with a drape detail that I think needs further experimentation.... I'm going to come back to this one.

 

..and here's one I prepared earlier... 



I made this red cotton-jersey number during the summer, and have worn it a lot since.  It somehow escaped the rag rug.

The class at Kimono House on Saturday was loads of fun - but I think there are enough images here for one post, so I'll come back to that one. 

In the meantime, if you're inspired to try pattern-free but want a bit more help than my instructions in my book, you might like to book into the class at Bargain Box Fabrics in Mornington on the 26th July.  (I actually have no idea if there are any places left in the class, but you could always ask!).

Quite a bit of sewing-related activity...

The second week of school holidays saw us up and about, still coughing but at least able to move... and sew.  Even the play-date visitors got roped into sewing.

There was embroidery followed by machine stitching.  The girls made their embroidery into little cushions (which I forgot to photograph). 

Once again, my heart was warmed to the cockles as I listened in to the instruction going on at the sewing machine.  My little sewing teacher turned the speed right down on the machine and was gently encouraging her friend (who'd never used a machine before) and praising even the smallest of achievements.  The novice was very nervous, so they eventually worked out a "you do the pedal and I'll steer" arrangement. Teamwork.

Then my girl pumped up the speed and confidently sewed flat-chat around the edge of her cushion.  I'm beginning to think that it might be time to upgrade the Mini Elna already.

Yesterday, we had an outing to Ballarat via Bacchus Marsh.  I had to do a bit of a pattern-stockist road trip, so we decided to make a day of it.

At Eureka Patchwork, I did a fair bit of fabric-fondling, especially in the "special" room where all the best fabrics are.  I loved these textured Japanese cottons.  Almost edible.

The wee girl spent about an hour, sifting through the button box at the end of the half-bolt aisle.

She filled a bag of buttons for her and one for me.  Can you guess which one is hers (below)?

We met up with Annie and her beautiful selvedge quilt there.

It was a bit exciting to see so many of the selvedges that I'd sent to Annie, put to use in such a beautiful quilt.

We had a lovely afternoon, hanging out with Annie and her family - the small girl playing with the cats and drawing pictures, me chatting with Annie and playing with her sewing machine - and then we came home via a visit with my parents. 

I appear to have come home with a goodly portion of the $15 bargain room at Eureka Patchwork.

Did you know that Eureka Patchwork stock the full range of my patterns and hardware?   Hopefully soon, they'll be online as well as in the bricks-and-mortar shop.

Another bit of holiday fun for me, was to see this 60% scale of my Draped T-dress made by Anna, who was pattern-testing the shopping bag pattern for me.   When she mentioned that she'd like to make one for her 5-year-old, I got a bit excited and printed out the scaled-down pattern for her.  Isn't it cute?!



To finish off our sewing-week, there was a bit of collaborative book-writing....

After the smallest collaborator wrote the table of contents, she thought it best if I do the writing and she illustrate (and dictate). 

It was all about speed and efficiency. She's definitely a creative director and not a technical grafter, my girl.

And when I finished writing, she tactfully asked, "Do you think anyone will be able to read your writing?"

Gotta love her.

Next week, I hope to have my work brain back on.  The combination of flu and lots of work-day parenting has meant that there has been a lot of fuzz and frazzle and very little straight-thinking for the last few weeks.  Back to normal programming soon.

The next phase

Yes, I know.. it's very unlike me to fill sketchbooks or write notes and lists....

But the usual, "let's see what we can make from this chaos of ideas and half-started projects" attitude doesn't cut it with craft book publishers... and there have been talks with publishers (nothing is set in stone).  We're at the pre-aquisitions planning and list-writing stage, so there's no way this free-forming non-list-writing chick can avoid it. 

And the funny thing is, I'm enjoying it.  It means endless hours spent watching slideshows on Style.com, playing with design ideas, playing cutting-and-pasting, and calling it "work".

Today, since the wee girl has a little friend over to play, I'm hoping to steal odd moments to play with fabric and patterns, too.   I'm breaking out of the usual mold and about to explore a wider range of fabrics for bag-making....

I have a very interesting roll of all sorts of millinery fabrics from Torb&Reiner to play with.  Collaboration and fun times ahead... I love the opportunity to branch out and learn new things.  New materials and a lack of comfort-zone habits present new curve balls, and usually result in Great Leaps Forward.  I love Great Leaps Forward.

Rather serendipitously, I've also been invited to teach at next year's Grampians Texture retreat, where I'll get to put all the above "work" into practise in some workshops.  My workshops will have a focus on bag-making techniques, using unconventional or handmade textiles...

Looking at the programme of events and the callibre of the tutors, I'm actually wishing I was able to go as a paying guest... It looks like Textile Heaven!

And quite aside from all this overlapping of skills and note-writing and whatnot, I can't stop thinking about something completely unrelated.

I've borrowed my sewing buddie's (Japanese) Pattern Drafting Vol III book (borrowed, because I can't seem to find my own copy for less than $150, these days!).  It was published in 1972, so the silhouettes are inspiring a healthy dose of nostalgia for the things that I wore as a kid, and the illustrations are an absolute delight.

Also inspired to make clothing patterns, is the smallest designer in the building.  Here's her nightie design and related pattern pieces... to inspire me.... (I love those collar pieces..).

Right at this moment, the playdate that's going on here is involving one little girl teaching another to sew (super-cute), using my machine.  I guess that means that my opportunity to sew was spent writing this blog post, and I'll have to get back to my lists and sketchbooks for a bit longer.