Projects and classes and other goings-on

How is it nearly the end of February? The weeks are whizzing by and news that I have a project in Australian Homespun Magazine's February edition is starting to sound a bit late....  But here you have it.  It's a Toddler Trilby - made to fit a headsize of 50-53cm.

 

 

I made this one in pinwale corduroy, but it would work equally well in denim or any décor weight cotton and would also work in wool flannel. 

 

It's a bit like my Fedora pattern (remarkably like it, if I'm completely honest), but with a shallower crown, wider top and an obvious headsize difference.

 

The holidays passed and we all went back to work and school. 

 

On the way to my first day back at work (with my bike panniers and basket completely loaded with books, fabric and resources) this is what happened.... 

 

 

I tried not to think of bad omens (and then I started looking for a tram).

 

No bad omen.  All that preparation I'd done for teaching the new (to me) theory subjects didn't go to waste.  So far, all is going well.  I've realised how much of this stuff I haven't forgotten and how much of it has become habit and intuition over the years. 



Being a complete textiles nerd helps, too. (For starters, all these books just happen to be from my own personal bookshelf.  There is no end of resources to share with my students).

 

I have also begun teaching classes on weekends in various places.  A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of teaching in Kimono House's new space.  And when I say "space", I mean it - it really is spacious and light and wonderful.

 

I always love working with Kimono House.  Not only am I surrounded by drool-worthy fabrics and Japanese design, but I get to work in the Nicholas Building.  I love coming in to work through this entrance! 

 

If you haven't visited Kimono House or the Nicholas Building, I think you should put it on your "Things to do in Melbourne" list. Another of my favourite shops in the city is on the same floor - the completely lush L'Uccello.

 

Another reason that I love teaching in Kimono House is that I get to meet up with lovely people I have taught before, and see what they've been up to.  I was absolutely thrilled to see that one of the "beginners" I taught in the 3-day Masterclass last year had been working her way through my book.  She is now making quite advanced bags (like this well-worn-and-loved Seoul Handbag) and confidently modifying them with all the interchangeable techniques that she's learned. 

 

If you're interested in getting started with bag-making, or simply want a fun day where you can sew in an uninterrupted fashion, there's a "Bag in a Day" class scheduled for 13th June at Kimono House.  Watch this space for its listing, or simply contact the gals at Kimono House to book in.

 

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There have been many reasons to be cheerful lately, and lots of much-needed validation of all the work I've put in over the years. Chickens are coming home to roost, and they have been of the friendly and exciting variety.

 

Even on the day that began with that bicycle puncture, there was a little reminder that what I put out in the world, continues.

 

Having had a hectic first day at work, a public-transport-trip too many, a rushed and stress-filled car pick-up and school pick-up, and then the contemplation of driving back through peak-hour traffic to pick up the injured bike (that was tethered in a street where parking is a problem), we stopped in to the local pub to have an early dinner. 

 

Time out to regroup and recharge.   Ahhh..... 

 

And at the bar, a woman stood with a HAUL bag that was made from a pattern that I made back in 2003-4.  Things like that mean a lot some days.

Hopefully I'll be able to talk a bit more about those exciting developments soon.  But right now, I have to get back to work!

 

Back to work

Well, I suppose holidays are not meant to last, or they wouldn't be holidays, would they? 

 

I've been back at work for the last couple of weeks, and so busy that until now, I haven't had time to blog the final wrap-up of the holiday projects...

 

This is the quilt that began life as a small panel for a Day Bag, way back in April. 

 

It's made from scraps of my favourite fabrics by Australian designers.  I'm lucky to know and love a lot of these gals in real life, so it's an extra buzz when I use their fabrics.  If you look closely, you'll see treasures by Pippijoe, Kristen Doran, Curlypops, Ink&Spindle, Veritas, Surface Art, Saffron Craig, Yardage, Auntie Cookie et al.

 

It's a snuggle quilt for the couch - not a single-sided bed quilt - so I tried to make the back a bit interesting as well.... without putting too much work into it.  This took a few hours, in stark contrast to the months spent working on the front.

 

 

I finished it on New Year's eve .... and celebrated with fireworks over the city of Melbourne. 

 

(Ok, so maybe someone else put on the fireworks.  I drank fancy champagne with friends on a hill just outside the city, watching fireworks and cheering in the new year.)

 

 

The ongoing saga of the couch overhaul has become.... well... an ongoing saga.  In all my re-upholstery projects, I have never seen so many staples (somebody had an awful lot of fun with a staple gun!).  The cushion covering bit was a breeze and the removal of the old coverings has become a zen practice, that I come back to from time to time. 

 ...and in the meantime, the lounge room looks like an upholstery workshop.  I don't have much time for The Zen of Staple Removal during the average working week.  It's slow-going.

We have been harvesting a lot of home-grown vegetables and herbs over the last few weeks, and looking forward to a lot more.

 

The satisfaction of sitting down to a home-grown meal never seems to wear off, and it's even nicer when it's a picnic. We plan to make time for more picnics during the working week... we picnic close to the back door.

 

I'm  not complaining about being back at work.  Last week, despite whining incessantly about the ridiculously long heatwave we had in Melbourne (temps in the low-to-mid 40's - that's hovering around 110 for you Americans - and me without air conditioning), I really enjoyed a 3-day bag-making masterclass at Kimono House.

 

You can read Kylie's post about her experience here.  And if you think you'd like to do a 2-day workshop, you can book in here.

 

The class schedule is booking up.  I have dates booked for Canberra, Healesville, CAE (Melb city), and of course, Kimono House.  I'm also running my own Zippers For Bags class in Brunswick, which you can book into here.  There is also Grampians Texture, which I'm super-excited about.... can you imagine a whole week of textile indulgence?  Heaven!  I'm teaching a 2-day Bag-Making workshop and a 4-day Pattern-Free Garment workshop. 

The next few weeks will see me writing lots of class plans and doing lots of sewing of step-by-step examples of technical processes.  I will also be throwing great swathes of fabric about the place and whipping up a new pattern-free wardrobe for myself and a few friends. ... and occasionally removing a few more inches of staples from the couch.

 

Footloose and pattern-free (and camera-free) in the city.

Today, as I drove in to the city to teach my Trapese Line Top at Kimono House, I realised I didn't have my camera.... and then remembered that my newfangled gizmo (iPod) has a camera on it.

Unlike all those Instagram whizzes who can take artfully-composed and moodily-lit photos on their electronic gadgets, I'm a complete dunce with the whole shaky little screen thing.... (perhaps I have shaky little hands...?).  I can make a glorious glass ceilinged historic arcade look like a foggy cave.

We had a lovely time in the class, but the photos somehow just don't seem to capture it....

 

..although they do hint at the camaraderie and cooperation as we threw fabric about, draped it around ourselves and cut away the bits that didn't look like glamorously draped tops, tunics and dresses.

 Before we started hacking into the lovely Japanese jerseys, we had a rehearsal with cheap-as-chips black cotton jersey.  It was great to see that by the time we got to the precious stuff, the girls had the confidence to dive in with adventurous spirits and rotary cutters blazing.

At the end of the class, we had a fantastic variety of very different designs.  We had drapes, pleats, darts, shirring, ties,  short tops, long tops, dresses, straight hems and assymmetrical hems....

...but by then, the iPod was battery-free (so no more photos, not even dodgey ones).

Thanks girls, for a very fun, inspiring day!!

(I'll be teaching this class again at Kimono House on 14th July and in Sydney at Free Range Living on June 6th - contact them if you're interested in coming along.  And next time, I'll try to remember my camera.)

Le Grande Tour begins...

Did someone mention printed Japanese cotton jersey?

Anyone who knows me well can tell you that I'm a sucker for a nice bit of cloth.... So it's no surprise that when Leanne from Kimono House mentioned that she had some printed cotton jersey in both traditional and contemporary Japanese designs and would I like to do a workshop there, using them.....?   Well, I ask you, what's a fabric-addicted girl to do...?

I'll be teaching a workshop in the trapese-line top (which can also be a dress) from my book, and we'll have all sorts of fun playing with the draping and twisting possibilities that this style offers.   Sushi lunch and fabric is included. Details HERE

(Photo stolen from Kimono House's website - I forgot to take a photo of the top before I gave it to Leanne.)



I'll be doing a book-signing thing 3.30pm-4.30pm  Sat 28th April in the fabric treasure-trove that is Kimono House.  Enjoy refreshments, touch and feel samples of my work and get $5 off the price of the (signed) book... Do you need another excuse to drop into Kimono House....? 

 

In other news, lately, I'm taking about 130 photos a day that look remarkably like this....
 ...which will hopefully magically appear in notes for the Zippers for Bags workshop I'm teaching on Saturday.  The first class booked out so quickly that we've sheduled another one for 21st July.... and now that's booking up.  Get in quick HERE!  (We've also scheduled another Customised Bags in A Day and Purse Frame Class.)

I'll be teaching a Zippers for Bags workshop at Addicted to Fabric  in Canberra on the last weekend in March.  I'm not sure if there are any places left, but please contact them if you'd like to book in.

The calendar is booking up and I hope to write up a linky list for you very soon, with all the classes and promotional dates.  For now, I just have to keep ploughing through... ahem... writing class notes and a few other things. 

Chat soon!

...And Now a Word From Our Sponsors...

This Sunday's pattern launch is shaping up beautifully. We have some wonderfully generous sponsors, who have thrown all sorts of gorgeous goodies into the door-prize pool....

Kimono House have a shop full of really AMAZING Japanese textiles and accessories, and have offered you the chance to win one of these beautiful fat-quarter packs. There's also a $50 gift voucher up for grabs. (Thanks Leanne - you're a STAR!!).


Those other shining stars of the craft scene, the gals from MixTape will be offering up a prize or two. Justine will be there to chat with you and Fi is also coming along for the fun.

If you've been living on another planet and haven't seen MixTape before, you can have a peek at what it's all about here.

The very talented Karen is offering you the chance to win a gift voucher from her shop, The Cat's Meow.

This is a gorgeous little design haven in the underground arcade to Flinders St Station in the city (enter via Degraves St). They stock lots of fab local indie designer's clothing and accessories, including Karen's own label, the uniquely detailed Berserk (picture below).

But WAIT... there's MORE.... in my next post. I'm awaiting a few more pics from sponsors...

See you at the Brunswick Busines Incubator, 420 Victoria St Brunswick on the 30th November. 10am to 3.30pm. Phone 555 from the security phone at the front entrance.

This is....My Favourite Fabric/Craft Shop

Immediately GJ's Discount Fabrics in Lygon St (corner of Stewart St) springs to mind - especially the back room. There be treasures there... like fabulous remnants of stretch pvc in mock osterich, repro cotton bark cloth, loads of knits and suiting, discounted quilting fabrics and loads of surprises. The patchwork fabric range (rather aptly UPSTAIRS!!) is absolute heaven, and the women who work there are ... well... angels!

Kimono House springs to mind a mili-second after GJ's. Another treasure-trove, run by another angel. Leanne is passionate about beautiful, beautiful Japanese textiles and has created a little slice of fabric heaven in the heart of the city. It's also in the Nicholas Building, which is one of my favourite places in the world.

Online I'm a big fan of Z&S Fabrics. When I need a bit of me-time I take my time to go through the clearance fabrics to find gems, then go through each of the designer ranges until I have a 6-yard bundle or two (I'm currently awaiting three bundles....).

This is the "currently being used" stash on my cutting table. Kimono House Poppy print on top of Z&S quilting fabrics stacked on top of GJ's cotton jersey.... It appears I'm going through a "pink and green" phase.... Thanks to Sharon for a fab theme, and for putting me on to Quilt Home in her post today.... (I thought I'd check it out and caught myself filling up a shopping cart. Thought I'd better do this blog post before I got too carried away with more fabric shopping! I'll get back to it in a minute...)

Thanks to Angela for This Is.

On My Desk

Today felt like a bit of a write-off. It was one of those days when I started a lot of things, but didn't achieve anything that I wanted to get done. It's left me feeling a bit deflated.

I spent yesterday botching the embroidery on this purse (placement issues.. adding bits to balance the design... "ooh it's too much".... chopping bits off... patching bits on.... it went on and on like that for most of the day).

Today I started on a strap idea for it that I didn't have the materials to finish, so went to Spotlight to buy the bits I needed. I ended up spending ages in there, NOT finding what I was looking for... and leaving with this little lot.

The seed beads were $1 a tube (and very useful for curved frame purses!!!). Fabric was $2 per metre - and will be great bag lining one day. The large beads were purchased just in case they worked instead of the beads that Spotlight DIDN'T have (they didn't work, and are now in my little gal's bead stash).

Then the battery on my camera went flat, so I couldn't finish the purse I was making SO THAT I COULD TAKE PHOTOS for the instructions. The instructions reached a standstill, too.

I had to get SOMETHING finished for the day, so finished off one of the "Here's one I prepared earlier" half-made bags from my demos at the Stitches and Craft Show in MARCH! I have a class at Kimono House on Saturday, so I'll take it there to make me feel like it was a worthwhile effort.

Perhaps I should have called it a day at lunchtime and gone swimming instead...?

On My Desk is hosted by Kirsty.