Both sides now

When I was in Addicted to Fabric a month or so ago, I was completely besotted and amazed by the double-sided prints that are available, even in the finest of fabric weights.

I came home with several metres of the double-sided knits, and have been thinking about what I might make with them.  I haven't made a decision, nor have I had the time to sew for myself, but I'm hedging towards pattern-free and a bit twisty.

Mostly, I'm just looking forward to having the time and brainspace to sew for myself again.  My head is full of garment ideas.... and little fantasies about yoga retreats or weekends of sewing in Apollo Bay.

 

Life has been  completely out of balance these last few months: very heavy on the work and panic and very light on the family, friends and breathing-without-hyperventilating.  Now that the projects for the book are done and the manuscript is in its final tweakings stage, I'm able to stand still for odd moments and take in the scene.

 

Yep....

 

 

(If I look at that same table right now, it actually has twice as much craft debris all over it ...and onto two chairs and the floor.)

 

Now that the book is nearly done, I've realised that there is less than a month until I go to Quilt Market in Portland... and there's ...ummmm... quite a lot to do.  I hadn't even started before last week.

 

I plough on.  I neglect my blog.  I'm still reading the same novel I started months ago.  I let the wee girl watch too much mindless television. I don't sew anything that isn't work-related.  

 

As Jodie so eloquently puts it, I'm totally hampstered.

 

There is balance in my mind, if not in my itinerary. I still count my blessings, delight in every blue skied day (a residual habit after living for 5 years in Ireland).  I'm thankful for every day without sickness and for my beautiful girl. And I know that at some point, all this madness will be a distant memory.  Hopefully, the memory will serve as a reminder to keep life in balance a bit more in future, and not take on more than I need to, or can cope with. 

 

 

Amongst it all, I must remember to keep my eye on what's really important, and on the example that I'm setting. 

 

My girl has an eye for detail, is creative, independent and strong-willed. I think I know where she might get that from, but I wonder what else she's absorbing.

She made these dolls to please me... not by her creativity but by "keeping busy and out of [my] way"...  It was one of those parenting moments that cause pause and reflection.

It'd be nice if we could take an extended holiday while we're in the USA, but the reality around here is that I have to hit the ground running when we get back.  Nobody else pays the bills.

I have ideas for patterns (how long is it since I've done one of those...?).

I've been scheduling classes for the winter (... and if you 'd like to do any of them, I'd suggest getting in quick because they're filling up). 

And I've been thinking of ways to be more present when I'm parenting, and more joyful in the presence of the magic that is my clever, creative, extraordinary kid.

And I'm definitely looking into the possibility of a weekend away. Apollo Bay is calling.

A Winner and a Wagger

I know... you thought that I forgot about the book giveaway...

 

I didn't.  I drew it today.  Congratulations Candy - you're about to receive your own copy of my book YOU SEW GIRL.  I hope that you enjoy it.

It was a little late in the drawing because I was out all day on Friday.  I was at the beach and at a party and generally nowhere near a computer (just an iPad, occasionally).

My poor book-writing brain had reached its limits, so I took the day off... and then took Saturday off as well (spent with family). 

It felt a bit like wagging school (not that I ever did that... girly-swot that I was), but at the same time it was absolutely necessary.  Shut down and restart.

It's the Easter weekend, after all....(I know that because of the number of sucking-up-to-Easter-Bunny cards found about the house).

 

I'm back into the manuscript now - at the creative, tarting-things-up end of things while I await the feedback from pattern-testers.  I also have to finish off a bit of sewing to do. (Manuscript-finishing is akin to blog-finishing, it seems.  There are linings to be made!)  There is much to be done, but the end is in sight.  I can begin to breathe again.

I enjoyed sewing up the last of the hero-pieces for the book in this gorgeous Echino fabric, although it was almost too pretty to cut up.

I hope you've had a great Easter break, and that you and yours are well, happy and rested.

 

Back to it

Ahhh... back to the school routine.  School holidays are over. 

 

I know that many parents find that a bit sad, but as a small-business-running single parent with a few very pressing deadlines, I must admit to doing a little happy dance (and having a swim) after school drop-off this morning.

 

In preparation for the new school year, one of the holiday projects the girl and I made was a new lunch bag (based on the project in One Yard Wonders... tweaked slightly).

As is our new way of doing things, it was a joint effort (and I was allowed to advise). 

 

The smallest of us did the quilting...

And the largest did the very fiddly bits. 

 

The smallest was so excited as we packed her lunch this morning (I only hope it encourages her to actually eat her lunches, this year...).

 

To get into the study mood, she began a 'research' (or "reserch") book.  I love her synthesis of the books she's reading (and her little back-to-front Fs). 

We also had some lovely mail over the holidays....

These beauties from Lara's new shop....

And almost-edible fabric (and postcard) from Yardage...

 

..and ..ahem...a bit more from Yardage... 

I also finally got around to picking up this book for my little resource library. 

And in between times, I've used evey spare minute (and a few too many graveyard-shifts) working on the new book.

 

I'm looking forward to being able to work in normal daytime hours now, and the girleen is very happy to be back with her friends, and the non-stop stimulation and structure that school provides for her over-active mind.

Back to it, then....

The Thick Of It

I still haven't tidied the studio. I sweep occasionally and load the dishwasher.

 

The rubbish bin is full of interfacing trimmings and Mini Magnum wrappers. 

 

And now, on top of the fabric, foamcore board and general clutter, there are samples, toiles and finished designs.  And there are more to come.  My head is full of them.

I've just passed the halfway mark in developing designs (and writing instructions, shooting how-to photos and drawing diagrams) for the new book. When I'm not feeling worn out and overwhelmed, I'm feeling inspired and capable and full of hope. 

 

This new book-writing biz has been a see-sawing, hot-cold, drought-flood sort of affair, so far, but all the time I've had to work through it. The deadline is pressing, and I still have to organise getting myself to Grampians Texture, various teaching gigs around the country and I have to get to Quilt Market in the USA.

 

And all the time, I'm loving beautiful fabrics by Saffron Craig, CurlyPops, Ink&Spindle and Kristen Doran.

 

I'm also in the throes of overhauling lots of pattern covers with new samples, in fresh new fabrics. These are all from Riley Blake "Flutter" and "Hello Sunshine" ranges.  Don't they just SING?

For the first time since the girleen was 2, I've had to delegate the sewing of samples. I've realised the limits of my time.... which is a shame, because I'd love to be playing with these.

 

And as any Australian parent-of-school-age-kids knows, it's the loooooooooong school holidays right now.

 

I've seen 3am more times lately than I dare to think about it.

 

Speaking of school holidays, there have been other bag designs emerging from studio You SEW Girl.

 

 

Of course, I opened it.

 

 (I helped to make it, so there were no surprises). The pocket was especially designed as a "book pocket".  That's my girl.

Busy times.

Throw in a few miniature and major dramas, a whole bag of grief, a bunch of uncertainty, a little bit of optimism, some good times with good friends, some disillusionment with others, some wonderful big blue Melbourne skies, a few marvellously meditative swims, the appreciation of good air-conditioning during a heatwave and the realisation that Mini Magnums really need to start getting bigger (or that I have to admit to some sort of addiction), and you pretty much have my "summer break".

We'll be back to normal business hours next week.  Hope to catch you somewhere in 2013. 
xxx

 

 

 

 

More new things (and some forgotten things).

I'm a shocker for not checking the mailbox.  It requires remembering to take a key down several flights of stairs, and somehow it's often overlooked.  I usually don't miss much... a few bills and junk mail.... nothing to inspire me to look in the mailbox.

 

Today, the mailbox delivered all sorts of goodies (which may have arrived anytime since last Thursday).  The gorgeous and talented Annie sent this lovely little mini-quilt to her cat-mad friend (my cat-mad girl).  The cat-mad girl wasn't keen when I suggested we hang it up, though... she wants it as a cuddling quilt.  She ADORES it!

 

 Also in the post was this fun and fabulous CurlyPops fabric. I love it.  It's a great weight for bag-making and the scale of the print is fantastic - it really POPS!



 

There were a also exciting documents that arrived today and only one bill.... happy day.

 

 

While I was filling you in on all the new patterns and projects yesterday, I forgot to mention that we're also taking bookings for my classes next year, as is Addicted To Fabric in Canberra.

 

 

So far, I've scheduled a Customised Bags in a Day, a Zippers for Bags and a Purse Frame Class. 

 

Addicted to fabric have booked me for a few classes early in the year, and you can check in with them for bookings.

 

Since I'll be writing a book and organising the whole You SEW Girl goes to America adventure, I won't have oodles of teaching time, but I may see if I can squeeze in another class or two in the first few months of the year.

 

 GO on.. you KNOW you want to come in and use my industrial iron.....

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.

Ahem.... where was I...?

It appears that I've had better things to do than keep up a blog about the things I've been doing....  This hasn't been the case.  I've just done a bit more driving about the countryside (and collapsing - exhausted -  in a heap at the end of the day) than usual.

Last weekend, the wee girl and I made the trip out to beautiful Ballarat to see Annie at the quilt show and catch up with Jodie, Rachel and Kathryn there.  

We spent a good part of the day being led on several wild-goose-GPS-chases around the city before finding the old Mining Exchange building and the fabulous quilts it held.  I was so excited about eventually getting there (!!) and seeing the girls, the only time I thought to take the camera out was while waiting for the girls to get their cups of tea and join us at the table.

On Wednesday, there was my trunk show at The Blanket Box in Geelong - a first-outing for these newest Shell Purses.

Thanks to the lovely people who came to say hello, try on skirts and dresses and peek inside bags.

I love this Pippijoe Waterhen print.  I had a tiny scrap left over and had to use it, so teamed it with the tiny scrap left of the Portuguese linen that Meri sent to me years ago.  Fabric gold....I couldn't waste any of it.

 And there was more hacking into the GJ's haul.  I have a Shell Purse workshop and a trunk show coming up at Bargain Box Fabrics in Mornington on 28th March, so I'm making up lots of new little samples for that and thinking through all the new tricks I can show people who come to the class.

There was a fair splash of Saffron Craig fabric about the place this week, too. I'm preparing for a workshop for the International Federation for Home Economics Congress, which is to be held in Melbourne this year. I wanted to infuse an Aussie flavour into the class, so chose Saffron's cheerful prints for the job.

Precious scraps of Ink&Spindle and Yardage prints were also put to use this week. 

I'd started this patchwork bit for a workshop last year (at the Technology Teachers Association conference) and finally put it all together on Friday. 

 I made a bag (the piecing above appears on the back of the bag). 

 And I'll admit to a bit of blog-finishery here..... so that's as far as le tour de bag goes.

Oh look... there's a bag-making class....

 Yesterday was filled with the finer points of bag bases and straps and zippered gussets.... a Customised Bag in a Day workshop.  We focused on the details that make a super-special handmade bag even more special.

 (And yes, Patternmaking gals from Thursday's class... perhaps your toiles could be used as scrap tub covers after all.... the current Yoplait models could do with an update!).

There were some very satisfied bag-makers at the end of the class, and quite justifyably so.  Love ya work, girls!

So... it was a bit of a busy one and I didn't have the brainspace left to blog at the end of each day. 
But I still love you.....