Variation(s) on a theme (or two)

It's winter... not really beach-going weather (not that I saw anything vaguely beach-like during the Summer...). However, I made a Beach Bag last week....
In mock-croc pvc from Rathdowne Remnants with antique brass o-rings in the straps. Perfect for winter. My last-minute decision to add a twist-lock was a small stroke of bag-making genius. It MAKES the bag!

Large antique brass purse feet protect the bottom....

And world map (I believe from a Wizard of Oz range of fabrics) lining gives the bag that go-anywhere-seasoned-world-traveller kind of feel.... The Tulip Dress pattern got a wintery makeover, as well. I used a kind of stretch terry-towelling/fleece hybrid (?!) fabric (a remnant from Rathdowne Remnants), and cut the bodice with both centre-front and centre-back on the fold.

I extended the sleeve length and topstitched the neck facing down. I overlocked the top edge of the skirt, pleated it and topstitched it to the outside of the bodice.... sort of deconstructionist style... The wee girl loves that it's comfy-wumfy and withstands all manner of hopping and jumping and general 5-year-old backyard activity.

And it was made in the obligitory 2-sizes-too-big... just the way she likes it!

*****
EDITED TO ADD: I used my industrial machine for the bag and then decided to try the Bernina 440 with a walking foot for the straps. It sewed through those layers of PVC as if they were butter. I could have sewn the whole bag with the Bernina.

The lining fabric was bought from the Theme From Jak garage sale.
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Stay tuned, folks! There are more variations on other themes in the works as we speak.

Whirling and twirling.....

For her kindergarten Christmas concert, the wee girl's costume was "a nice dress". It was one of the must-do projects I took to Sewjourn a few weeks ago.

I used the Tulip Dress bodice and drafted a simple half-circle skirt for it. Then I added a full-circle flared band at the hemline.

I forgot to add seam allowances, so the skirt waist was larger than bodice... which was cleverly disguised in an "I meant to do that" gathered-under-a-belt-tie design detail.

There is no such thing as a mistake... just another opportunity for a design feature.... I think this one really makes the dress!

The dress has done much twirling and whirling since it was worn (back-to-front*) at the concert.

*She was dressed by one of the teachers, apparently....?

Yesterday, she wore it right-way-round.....

..and around.... and around...

Amid the madness of moving house and business and school orientations and kinder concerts and broken-down cars (and broken-down air-conditioners and hot-water-services...) ...and granny-flat-building projects and scary medical investigations and book edits and re-shoots (between storm clouds)..... I've been scheduling more workshops for next year!

There's definitely going to be a bit of circle-skirt action going on in next year's workshop schedule, some pattern-making and some pattern-free clothing and I think a bit of pattern-variation (like this one) for garments.

I'm looking forward to teaching next year.... Just bear with me until I have time to upload the information to the website.

I may need to stop for a breather first.....

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BTW - Lara has been on a Tulip Dress ROLL, lately! Check out her gorgeous little Tulips here....and here...

Spreading the joy.... sharing the love...

This time, it's all about bias tape makers. I love them. I think everyone should have one.


They help you to make super-cute hats with coordinating binding and ribbon.


I also think the Tulip Dress looks super-cute with a Kids Hat.

And self-cover buttons look adorable on the Tulip Dress too.

I've worked out that a bit of a discount is encouragement for people to try something new.....

So for the next two weeks I've added some special combinations of these products to the shop. When you buy a bundle you get 20% off the normal price.

I think that's a good deal... don't you?

My memories of the weekend are a bit fuzzy....

After a home-based felting session on Saturday, the wee one and I went on tour today... all the way to the other side of our suburb.

Lara's girls and mine had a lovely time designing felt creations... and making balls.
...and leaving the hard work (all that rolling-in-sushi-mats business) to Lara and me. My girl had managed quite a bit of the rolling bit on Saturday, but I think she smelled a rat when I praised and encouraged her perhaps a little TOO enthusiastically.... Sometimes it's a pain having a smart kid.

Lara and I discussed felting as a children's activity probably best for kids of at least three or four years of age ....although 2-year-old Stella enthusiastically soaped, rolled and created that little colourful squiggly ball thing. She beamed with pride. (The sqiggly ball thing started off as string - an easy thing to start kids on).

Thanks Lara for a lovely afternoon - and for letting my child eat all your camembert. (Smart ...with expensive taste, that kid. Sorry!).

The redhead in the blue oufit is me... in case you hadn't seen the resemblance.

The rest of the weekend was spent doing what felt like 65 loads of laundry (the one good thing about a weekend in the sweltering high-30's - washing dries before you finish pegging out the load!!) and other banal domestic chores. More things didn't get done than did. I think it was too hot to think.

OH! Somewhere in the middle of the too-hot-to-sleep Saturday night I put the TULIP DRESS pattern on the website!!! The patterns will be packed and sent out on Tuesday - which means that we'll be finishing our pre-order deal on Tuesday and drawing the giveaway TOMORROW. Last call.

Shoot!

There's a saying about working with animals and children, isn't there...?

It was exhausting, but in just under an hour and a half a very patient photographer and I co-ordinated photographing 5 children through several costume changes.

There were fruit-strap bribes .... errrrr....I mean rewards for children between photos. These lovely gals provided helium balloons. We had jigsaws and toys. (Spot the stylist who is also a mother...)

The kids were great, the parents were super helpful and we managed to get some usable shots.... which is always a bonus.

There was even a headless kid getting in on the action....

...who somehow wangled it so she could keep the Sandi Henderson "Meadowseet" dress (and wore it for the next two days).

At last I can see a light at the end of the tunnel... my quick little dress pattern is nearly ready to hit the shelves.

It'll be called the Tulip Dress Pattern and will be $21.95. CODE:C0901. If you'd like to pre-order one we'll take $2 off the postage cost. Just email or phone us with your order.

And if you haven't gone in to the giveaway draw for a free pattern (and a metre/yard of one of these fabrics if you link to the giveaway from your own blog), do it NOW..... it won't be long before this pattern is in the shop and these offers will be closed.

..

ps. Yes - that's my Kid's Hat Pattern - sold separately HERE!