Spring Fashion Week

..So why am I swathed in layers of wool and wearing those scruffy black boots?

Because it's Melbourne and the weather is unpredictable and changeable. Today it was just plain cold and rainy. And I like my scruffy old boots (or - more truthfully perhaps - I don't like shopping for new shoes).

I'm loving my new Fibre Red knitted skirt. Super-duper comfy, stylish, textural and the most gorgeous shade of claret (which didn't photograph very well with my dodgey happy-snap camera).

Fibre Red's amazingly creative designer Kim is taking part in fashion week in a really striking and unusual way. If you're in the city (in Melbourne... sorry to international or out-of-town readers!) it's worth taking a wander down to Little Collins St on your lunch break this week.

Incorporating performance art, live music and knitting (!) this unique and original event will unravel in Little Collins St (between Swanston & Elizabeth St). Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th from 12.30pm til 2pm.

Well it's got ME intrigued....!

"Why did they put Mummy in the paper?"

Not sure. Something about a big studio, I think.

It appears that a lot of people read it. Thanks for all the lovely emails, text messages and blog comments .... blush.

Thanks to the lovely Fran who wrote the article in The Age today.

Catching up

Making to-do lists and tackling things that were ignored for the last few weeks... all in a sort of half-daze of post-show blahhhh.

Since the new shopping cart was supposed to be up ages ago, we've a whole lot of new products to photograph and upload, new links between prducts, page re-directs and general tidying. Lots of it.

Things like Peltex - double-sided and single-sided fusible stiff interfacing. After my initial misgivings, I've grown to really love this product - not only as a cheaper alternative to Fast2Fuse in bag bases (it works perfectly well) but I've worked out the trick to making it curve smoothly as a base support behind other interfacings on my new Barrel, Poppet and Spec Case kits.

We've also had these swivel hooks in antique brass for a while and I only managed to photograph them this week. Loving antique at the moment.... and they're the same price as the silver ones.

So we also have antique brass magnetic snaps. A slightly swishier version of the snap than the silver ones we usually stock. Prices are here.

And we now have everyday size 80/12 sewing machine needles in stock. It's easy to add them to an order and SOOO handy to have a spare pack (especially when you're sewing after hours and break your last needle ...does that sound like the voice of experience..?). These are universal point, so can sew knits and woven fabrics and size 12 is a good medium weight that will handle lots of projects.

Now the weekend is here and I'm also going to be catching up on neglected housework, family and friends.... and possibly a bit more (QUITE a bit more) website tweaking....

Twisting top

A surprisingly warm afternoon prompted me to whip up a quick no-pattern top to wear today.
Yes, it was a shame it didn't inspire me to wipe grubby fingerprints off the mirror or pick up toddler debris... but it really felt more like a sewing sort of day....

The top was made following a similar process to this one, only with a twist.... I wanted twisty drapey bits.

After I cut the armholes I sewed the centre-back seam like this.... inspired by a technique I learned from the book Pattern Magic.

I also did a bit of patternmaking with the overlocker and rotary cutter.... quick and effective nips and tucks, and a bit of random hacking.

As the day progressed the winter crept back in again, and I now have a brown long-sleeve t-shirt underneath my new twisty top.

I'm beginning to feel a bit of trans-seasonal clothes sewing coming on...

Stitches and Craft Show in Sydney

In pictures and links... still having problems with forming sentences here. All talked out. My stand - luckily on a corner so I could s p r e a d out and fit hat stands and people!! I was also lucky to have Gay helping out on the weekend. Thanks Gay!

The Charlie's Angels of the textile world - Ink & Spindle. (Yep - I now have some more of their gorgeous fabric).

Cute critters from Two Little Banshees (ummmm...yes - I now own one of these, too)

The Red Thread's adorable Sweeties.

Fabulous textile accessories from Berlinski.

Craft Schmaft's too-cute sock toys.

Lino Creative's fabulous prints and softies.

Gorgeous gorgeousness from Rourke and Henry.

Beauty and wit from Rummage... and from the fabulous Nan, herself.

Harper and Edie Japanese fabrics.... mmmmm.... couldn't resist.

Super cute Sprout Design.

Old Show buddies Audrey and Maude still manage to charm me with cute new softie patterns.

I LOVED this teacosy from Artish.

Fabulous fabrics by my flatmate for the week -the lovely Pippijoe. (Yep... bought myself a bundle!)

Juicy Roo's wonkie bunnies blew me away. (Couldn't leave without one!)

Kristen Doran's new prints are divine.... and her Dad is really good at putting together Ikea furniture (many thanks to Kristen's dad ... for without him I may not have actually HAD a stand!!).

Dear, Dear Fii's stand was a dose of happiness. Colour, cuteness and cleverness.... (and yup... I now have my own Dear Fii wrist pincushion!)

I also have a new tote bag and a swathe of badges from my gorgeous neighbour and all-round rockin' chick Justine from MixTape. (I also came home to find the latest MixTape zine had arrived in my mailbox - yippee!).

The sad thing was that I have to WAIT for all the goodies to arrive. They wouldn't fit in my luggage so I had to freight them back with my stand things. (Oh - did I mention I also bought a couple of books... who'd have thought...?).

So... a good time was had and I have the loot to prove it. It was a great show, and I'd like to thank the organisers for their constant support and all the hard work they've put into injecting new life into the Stitches and Craft Show. The Incubator Section recieved an amazingly positive response from everyone - including die-hard older S&C-goers. With more support from our corner of the craft community, the show will continue the transformation of a tired old lady into a vibrant showcase of our inspiring contemporary crafts scene.

A special thanks, too - to Leah, Ann Marie and Cam for all their help in the lead-up to the show, and for keeping the home-fires burning while I was away.

Still here....

Just a quicky from Sydney to say hello....

I'm having a lovely time at the Stitches and Craft Show in Sydney. Do drop in and see me if you're in the area. I've been busy but don't be scared to stop me to say g'day - I'm always happy to meet bloggers and blog-readers! It's been great to meet so many lovely people who read my bloggy ramble and to connect with other bloggers, crafters and interested/interesting people.

I can highly recommend a stroll around the incubator section to meet lots of other fabulous crafty types. It's been great to see such a positive response to "new craft" from the older crowd of die-hard Stitches and Craft Show attendees and seeing so many more young, contemporary crafters attending the show.

If you're not able to pop into the show to see ME, then say hello to Leah (who is holding the fort back in my studio and office). You can still send through your orders to her or send enquiries her way (..or swing by to check she's not running around with scissors or jumping on tables while I'm away....).

I'm too exhausted to form too many more sentences... too much talking all day. I shall return with pictures and news when I'm back in contact with my camera cable or card reader.

Breathing it in...

I'm about to leave my baby for SIX WHOLE DAYS. It's hard to imagine it.

We've spent the weekend baking, doing craft activities and sewing ...and I've snatched as many cuddles, kisses and squeezes as I could.


Together we made pyjamas from the frog fabric she insisted I buy last week at Spotlight. We found a co-ordinating stripe in a cotton jersey and made a top with a frog pocket. She kept them on all afternoon (including to Safeway... where she was last seen wearing an upside-down orange coat) and they were so grubby by bedtime she had to change into clean pj's.

We photographed the paper shirt she made for her Daddy during the week. I had to document it. I cut the basic shape for her and left her to it while I was flapping about mid-week. She demanded buttons, sticky tape and a glue-stick, and I came back to find this gorgeous work.

I love the button holes... and the pockets. Well-observed for a 3-year-old, I thought.

Today she drew a picture of "a car at a pedestrian crossing"...

..and a cat.

These are to make me happy while I'm in Sydney.... They make me smile every time I look at them.

I'm going to miss my wee girl this week.

Getting ready

This is Melbourne Stitches and Craft Show this year. You may have seen the photos before. (Unfortunately my computer won't let me access any files so I had to use the only ones I had on Flickr).
I'm psyching myself up for the big trip to Sydney this week, the big setting-up-the-stand effort and the big standing-up-for-five-days-and-talking-a-lot thing. Wishing I could have taken my fabulous assistants with me.

I'm VERY excited at the prospect of catching up with so many fabulous crafty types in the incubator section (fourth floor at the show) - with loads of my favourite bloggers doing their thing there. I wish I could get out and actually see the rest of the show, knowing that the new management will make is SO much fun. Last year's Sydney show was great in the Living Creatively section so you can expect more of that on a grand scale this year!

And of course I'm very excited at the prospect of meeting customers, bloggy friends and lots of new crafty types. It really is a joy to put names to faces and faces to names (and it's even more fun when those faces want to talk about sewing!). I hope that you'll come and say hello if you're in the area...?

...

And I REALLY hope that I packed the correct Ikea tools for my new display shelves.

Coming up for air....

I've been whizzing around between multiple tasks with one eye on the clock and my mind on several simultaneous deadlines. In the middle of it my home computer decided to throw a spanner in the works. There have been too many late nights and I feel the need to come up to the surface. Breathe.

The purse pattern has been finished, patterns and stock for the show have been printed and packed, freight sent to Sydney for the Stitches and Craft Show next week and my Thursday night students got the notes on zippers that I promised. Phew!

And so... it seems the people's choice for the new purse wins! Ladies and gentleman, let me introduce you to the Poppet purse... including the pattern, instruction booklet, frame and all the interfacings you'll need to make your first purse. Available NOW for $45.95 - Code: PFKPOP150.

I'm sorry it won't be on the website until I can sort out a new computer for myself.... but you can email, fax or phone through an order directly to us.

Kathryn, we'll send your kit to you as a thank-you for choosing the name. Lara - thanks for being super-final-tester again.

I'm also thrilled at the arrival of my copy of Homemade - the recipe book put together by the crafting community in aid of the people affected by the Black Saturday bushfires. It's full of inspiring recipes to get even cooking-mojo-less folk like me excited about the kitchen. You can order your own copy too. All proceeds go to help fund bushfire relief efforts by the Salvation Army.


For updates on what happened to all your generous donations of handmade and restash goodies head on over to the Handmade Help blog. For Rainbow Comfort Pack updates you can visit the wonderful Monica's blog.

If you're in or around Sydney, DO COME to the show and say hello. There are lots of other fab things to do there, too.

That Baggy Pursey Thingamy-whatsit....

Ah yes, folks... the saga continues. We're getting closer to having a finished pattern but still have no name for this one.

Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions (and I'm sorry that personal responses to comments are very few and far between in these last frantic days before the Stitches and Craft Show). There were some great ideas and I really appreciate the time you put into offering them up.

I have a shortlist of snappy names - but may need a bit MORE help to choose the winner...

Is it a Kiss purse?

A Party purse?

A Date purse?

A Jazz purse?

Or.... ummmm...a Pop purse?

...Or a Poppet?

I'm waiting to hear the lowdown (and adjust the pattern accordingly) as my trusty team of pattern testers sew up a storm this weekend. We're racing the clock.

Edited to add: We have a winner! The pattern is ready to go... unfortunately my computer isn't. I shall do the big announcement at the next available opportunity. In the meantime, thanks for playing.... and we don't need any more name suggestions!

xn

The Bag With No Name.

"150mm Barrel Purse" just doesn't seem to cut it. This purse is a bit too cute..a bit too elegant.. a bit too versatile to be a barrel.

It's girly and fun as a structured handbag.

Versatile and practical with a detachable wrist strap.

It's elegant when it's dressed up for a wedding.

It can be anything from funky make-up purse to bridal accessory.... and it needs a name.

The best I could come up with was "Pop" (Pop Purse... kind-of has a ring to it, don't you think...?).

THE GIVEAWAY

If you can come up with a name that suits, we'll give you a kit. Leave your suggestions in the comment box.

THE RULES ARE:

1. No girl's names, thanks. We don't want any Charlotte or Frida bags here. We're into simple, snappy descriptive (or onomatopoeic) words.... take a peek at the rest of the pattern range and you'll get the idea.

2. Mr Random Number Generator doesn't get a look in here. In the end, it'll be down to what we in the studio think works best.

3. We have to make a decision sometime within the next week, so we'll review and discuss the suggestions as they come in. When one looks like a good fit we'll proclaim it the winner.

Failing that, I'm going to call it the Pop purse.... so please come up with something better.

Edited to add - WOW! Lots of food for thought there... Haven't had time today to really think about any of it, so there's still time to add your two-cent's worth if you have a name you think might fit.

Just thought I'd mention that we already have a Teardrop purse and a Snap purse in the pattern range - so it's best if we avoid those words for this one. Oh - and I should also add that a SINGLE word is best... like Pop?