My Creative Space

I'm surrounded by piles of stuff again. Lots of works-in-progress and class preparations. I have piles of interfacings for tonight's A Sharper Edge workshop.

Piles of knit fabrics and toiles (in various stages of un-finished) in preparation for my Draped Tops class.

Piles of pattern plots to check through and test...

And a lovely pile of skirt length fabrics from Z&S Fabrics. These ones are all from the house of Henry Glass.Excuse me while I get back to it... I've a few things to do.

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You can check out other creative spaces around the blogosphere if you head on over to Kirst's.

Between page loads and page-load crochet...

...there's still time for shopping.



Drape Drape books from Tessuti and fabrics from Z&S Fabric's 25% off sale.

I daresay, it'll all be coming to Sewjourn with me in a few weeks.  I don't have time to sew (think or sleep...) right now.

Recreational Sewing

I finally got around to making these dresses - squeezed between playing with toy trains and blocks, baking a cake and helping the wee one with her new toy ...ahem... sewing machine. (Did I hear someone whisper "indoctrination"...???)


These prints are from the Amelia range by Timeless Treasures. Aren't they divine? The pattern is New Look 6613. The dress is yet to be hemmed.

Here's the same dress in Wee Play by Moda. I had to chase the model around the garden to catch a few shots of it.
Here's the front - or as close as I could get to it..

The back - sneakily photographed while she was busy cooking in her kitchen (read: igloo tent with Daddy-made stove).

And the side...

I bought the Wee Play fabric at the fabulous GJ's of Lygon St and the Amelia from the dangerous Z&S Fabrics. Dangerous? Well...I went to get a link for the Amelia range. I hit on the home page to see BLOWOUT CLEARANCE SALE (Dec 26-31 2008), spent the best part of two hours browsing and eventually got around to looking up Amelia... only to see that it's all but sold out.

Oh, and despite the Australian dollar being worth peanuts, I managed to spend a few bags full. Looking forward to my treasures arriving....

On My Desk.... Wednesday

This is a very well-traveled and much-loved pincushion (that I use as a NEEDLE cushion). Originally handmade and bought in Lithuania (where - quite coincidentally - we had an order from today) and gifted to me by my friend Orla when I lived in Ireland. She and her husband Seamus are very dear to me, and this pincushion reminds me of them every time I use it.

Still making hats.... The one on my desk here is a winter version in heavy cotton moleskin fabric. I've put a straight grain binding on it to pull the brim up into a sharp curve. (Did you know you can run straight grain strips through the bias tape maker just the same as bias tape? Wish I'd known that one about fifteen years ago...makes binding hats a LOT easier!!!).

My Clover Seam Ripper is never too far away. I actually have THREE.... strategically placed around the studio so I never have to get up from a work position (Oops, my secret is out. I'm not JUST a sewing geek - I'm a LAZY sewing geek...!!).

This book has been doing the rounds between Leah's and my desks. It's a good 'un. Full of handy tips (with a title like that, who'd have guessed it?). It's like the book version of this list - with diagrams. NOTE: I bought my copy secondhand on Amazon, but everytime I try to open up the page there to get the link for you, my computer crashes....!!?.

And Oh, Happy Day... Blue, blue sky and TWO parcels from Z&S Fabrics... what more could a winter-weary sewing chick want? Cheered me up, no end. I'm in love with the Flutterby range by Tula Pink for Moda. Really unique prints in great colours.

More desks at over at Kirsty's....

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.