A Day at the Races

Was had by this little Kiss Purse.

 I made it to accompany a fabulous outfit made by Zanet Couture and am looking forward to seeing photos of the whole ensemble's appearance atthe Melbourne Cup Fashion on the Field.  The dress was a vision of 1950's-inspired glamour!

I went NOWHERE today, except from home to work and back again, despite having two free passes to the Melbourne Cup.

I'm in the middle of a huge revamp of pattern covers and instructions.  All other activity (except the occasional theraputic knitting of a Persian cat and a sock) has been put on hold. 

I shall hopefully have something to blog (or even perhaps a tweet to Twitter or an update to Facebook) at some point soon.

Right now... nothin' but a big can of worms.

Kokka-loco and purse-mania

Yep. Purses. Production-line style. This one with a (completely intentional, of course....) wrap-around bird.

The odd playground scene...Cutesy stuff.

Gotta love those Japanese prints. These are all from Duckcloth a year or so ago. I've been thinking about Echino (by Kokka) fabrics as a panel in my A-line Skirt.

(BTW - Did you know that Duckcloth are now stocking my A-line Skirt pattern? As are GJ's and Addicted to Fabric. You can now buy the pattern and the fabric together!)

Then it was onto a bit of quilting fabric.... Shell purse and 90mm purse frame purses.

And then I gave up on old and goopy glue. Things were not coming together as they ought, so production has been suspended until new glue arrives.

I have a few more purses to frame and a few more made in various stages of construction to take to Canberra on Thursday. I'm also madly sewing up step-by-step samples of bag bits for two purse frame workshops and two Sharper Edge classes at Addicted to Fabric.

Busy days.

A pursey sort of day

I'm sewing up a purse storm for the classes and trunk show at Addicted to Fabric next week.... are you going?
We realised today that we still have a couple of places left on the Purse Frame Workshop on 29th October here in Melbourne. (Details and bookings HERE)

And if you can't go to a class, rest assured that you can still get the kits here. The instructions are very well written (even if I do say so myself) and come with the back-up of tech support if you need it. They are a "class* in a packet".

(*Granted, there are no Tim Tams in the purse kit packet, and no cups of tea or funny conversations about gorillas and no hands-on help at your beck and call..... but if you can sew and follow instructions, you'll be able to make yourself lots of gorgeous framed purses).

Winter woollies

Since I felted some of my early machine knitting experiments, I've been seeing little purses....And now, it's not just my mind's eye that's doing the seeing. I made this one using the 90mm purse frame kit. The rose is simply rough-cut circles of felted knitting, stacked on top of each other and stitched by machine, with the fancy-schmantzy "hand-stitching" stitch. (...I know. I'm lazy like that).
In other news, the lovely Karen alerted me to a yarn stash that was being given away in her neighbourhood - she even picked it up for me and delivered it!!!
I was so overcome with excitement when I saw a brim-full box of yarn, I immediately started bagging up my favourite colours and loading up the (potential-moth-egg exterminating) freezer. I only thought to take a photo when I ran out of space in the freezer.

Well, actually, I thought of the camera BEFORE I ate the ice-cream to make space for more yarn in there. (Then I ate the ice cream and forgot about the camera again).
I'm just a little bit jumping-up-and-down excited at the prospect of knitting my way through this lot. I'm planning on expanding the knitting machine repertoire to include Shapes Other Than Rectangles.
I daresay there'll be more felted wool purses made along the way.

One thing at a time.... (pffft!)

Thing have been a bit quiet on the bloggy front here. My week was a tad full with things other than time to blog. While organising my AQC stand (and associated display, staff and stock), there were negotiations about a big secret-surprisey-thing..... shhhh....

There was preparation during the week, for a workshop on the weekend (with a great bunch of Essendon Quilters). Thanks for the fun day, girls!

I was also working away at the new purse pattern, aiming to get it to some pattern-testers by the weekend (...done, by the skin of my teeth and without the purse frames being sent out).

This purse is for basic-intermediate skills, so the instructions have to be perfectly clear and achievable.

I agonised over things like straps.

Really.

I also wanted to get the purses finished and photographed so I could let you know that THIS is my idea for a fund-raiser for the Red Cross.

Rather than do my usual New Pattern Giveaway, I'd blatantly steal Jodie's idea again, for a raffle. Leave your receipt number for your donation of $5 (and a way to contact you if you don't have an email address enabled on your google/blog profile) in the comment box below (or email me with it).

There are so many areas in need right now, I'm not fussed if your donation is for Japan, Christchurch or the Victorian floods. The Red Cross are doing a amazing job, trying to keep up. They need all the support they can get.

I'd planned to make a draped purse in quilting fabric, to balance out the more "serious" satin, georgette and wool versions (and give me more options for a cover photo for the packaging). I haven't managed that one.

I had plans for an applique/felted/patchworky version, too. That didn't happen, either. Meanwhile, there was simultaneous ordering, photographing and uploading new products to the website, and negotiations with fab arty-crafty tutors (and scheduling/uploading exciting new classes to the website). There are more workshops to come, including garment fitting with the marvellous Sooz.

I was also working on a printable form of the worshop schedule. Again.... not completely finished, but a good way to being done. Check out the new classes online here.

And there was a late-night rendezvous with my new love, the knitting machine.

I made a really long wrap-around-and-tie, Tess of the D'Urbevilles-inspired garment. My first ever non-neck-scarf knitty Thing For Me. I've worn it constantly since (and have learned a valuable lesson about pennanular cloak pins and delicate knitwear...).

And this morning I started knitting the food-coloured-machine-knitted wool yarn into something for a very small girl... while I wrote this blog post.

SO.... how was YOUR week??

*****

Don't forget to pop your Red Cross receipt below for a chance to win the new pattern!!!

My Creative Space

Today, I'm almost certain that I've finalised the shape of the next purse pattern. I thought a scaled-up version of the Shell purse would look good on the 200mm curved frames.

I should know that the sentence "I'll just scale up the pattern" should be said without the "just". The subtlties of shape, line and proportion are tricksy little beggars, and take a bit of tweaking. Sometimes they take a LOT of tweaking.

I got bored with calico around toile #6 and moved on to wasting perfectly good fabric on purses that look wrong, wrong, wrong.....

...and sat up all night beading a frame onto a purse that turned out to be a bit ordinary...lacking that certain something.

And so it was, that with heart all a-flutter (and a little excited squealy thing happening in my head), I pinned the latest incarnation to a frame and thought, "this could be the one". I won't be sure until the frame is on, but I have high hopes. I'm thinking glamourous 50's styling here. I'm excited.

So... in answer to the next person who asks me if you can just scale up a purse pattern to fit another frame, my answer is yes.... but not "just". I think it'd be quicker and easier to buy another pattern.

***

Pop on over to the hostess with the mostess to see what's happening in other creative spaces around the globe today.

Introducing......

Like all my patterns, this is a very versatile little purse.

It can be made with silk and synthetic fabrics for bridal or evening wear or with cute cotton, for a daytime look. These two fabric groups require different interfacings, so we have a SILK kit and a COTTON Kit, available NOW! For those of you who already have yardage of the interfacings (and perhaps a frame or two), you might prefer the PATTERN ONLY option.


The kits contain the pattern, instructions, frame and interfacings - enough to get you started with your first purse (and with the pattern and know-how for many more!).

The instructions include how to make a draped layer with pleats or gathers and how make the purse as a clutch, wristlet or handbag. There are a lot of purses to be made with this kit!!

So... (in case you didn't follow the links above).... What's it called?



Shell. Yes... a few of you got the name right. My random number generator (ie. "Pick a number between 1 and 6...") chose Kathy P as the winner of a kit.

Many thanks to my fabulous pattern-testers. You can see some of my testers versions here, here, and here. (Nikki, Adele and Alison, if you have a link, please send it!).

The pretty stuff

I had a lovely time, playing with my new purse-in-development samples today.... A little celebration for finally (several days and toiles later) getting the subtleties of the pattern shaping right.

I played with themed styling ideas....

..detail shots......and super-macro settings....

It was SO MUCH prettier than the bigger picture.

Big girl mess (above). Small girl mess (below).

We must be related.

****

Ok, ok.... I'll get back to writing the instructions.....

Half of what I meant to do, but exciting nonetheless....

After two days of family dramas and internet issues (and the current issue of my computer cord being in my studio and me being at home with a flat-batteried laptop), I'm about a day behind schedule.

I've borrowed the man of the house's computer to let you know that....

WOOHOO!
THE KISS PURSE PATTERN AND KIT
ARE IN THE SHOP!!!! 

There are still a few links and tweakings to be done to make navigation easier between the two shop pages, but it's certainly available for purchase!

The Lavender Handbag pattern is also in the shop.  The kit (including lavender and a few other necessary bits) isn't quite there yet...

..something to do with someone coming home early to work on it in comfort, but forgetting to bring a bit of necessary equipment.  Hopefully all will be smooth-sailing tomorow and the kit will be available, too.

PS.  Before anyone suggests it - no, my camera recharger cord won't fit the computer!

Go on.... give us a kiss!

I began this pattern some time early last year, and it's finally at "testing" stage.  Watch this space - there'll be a new kid on the block soon!

Using the 200mm Chunky frame (or the similar frames with loops), it's a flirty small handbag that can stand on its own.... errr... five feet.

It can also be a wristlet... and a little bit shabby chic.

Or teamed with a silver purse chain and a modern print (like this one from Saffron Craig).



And you know what?  I didn't ask anyone what to call it.  It'll simply be the Kiss purse.

If you've never made a frame purse before, I'd suggest you start on one of the more simple purse kits and then move on to the barrel shapes. 

Alternatively, if you feel you need a bit more help, I'm going to schedule a Purse Frame Class on the 9th October. Make a booking through the website to grab a place.  I only work with groups of 6, so get in quick! 

Back in the saddle

It felt good to be back in the classroom today (for the Purse Frame workshop). It's been such a long time, I'd almost forgotten how much I enjoy it.
I love how, if you sit six women in a circle with sewing machines, some sort of magic happens. Stories and ideas are shared, common ground found....

Tim Tams are eaten and purses are made.

We all go home feeling a little warmer and fuzzier (and with one more purse) than when we arrived.

I'll try to squeeze a few more of these pop-up workshops in, whenever I see an open date for one. Do watch this space - blog readers always get the news first!

Flicker Favourites...on a Saturday

DSCF1038
Originally uploaded by Liam's Mummy

Carmel made the Teardrop Purse in my Advanced Frame Purse Class last year. She recently made a little Puff purse to go with it - and used some of the structural techniques she learned from the Poppet Purse Kit.

Who's a clever girl, then?
See more fabulous creations made using my patterns and supplies on the Flickr group HERE. Perhaps you'd like to add a few of your own...?

Mother's Day Special

In Australia, Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May. We wanted to get this offer out to you in time for you to make something special for your mother. If you're in another country and it's not nearly Mother's Day, we won't hold that against you if you want to take advantage of the offer.

We're offering a FREE FRAME with every one of the following kits - that means you get TWO frames with every kit and that means savings of up to $12.40.

The Barrel Purse is a cute little purse that you can hold in the palm of your hand.... but is surprisingly roomy. You will receive a FREE 90mm frame with every Barrel Purse Kit purchase.

The simple square purse frame kits are a great place to start if you've never made a framed purse before.... and with two frames to play with, you've nothing to lose if one of them is a "learning" experience.

The 75mm, 90mm, 150mm and 200mm purses are all included in this offer - an extra frame thrown in for nix.


A handmade case for glasses or sunglasses is a great gift.... and each Spec Case Kit will include a free 75mm frame. You can make one for yourself as well!

The 200mm Chunky purse makes a great clutch purse or a roomy make-up purse. With your spare 200mm Chunky frame you can make one for each purpose!!

The Poppet is a very cute little wristlet or make-up purse, and is the perfect "next step" for anyone who has already tried the basic square framed purse styles. It fits the 150mm frame and you'll get an extra one free with every kit.

And the Puff purse is super-sweet. You'll receive a free 100mm curved antique brass frame with every kit.

If you were thinking of trying something new, making a gift or sharing the sewing love with your mother....or WHATEVER the reason.... you have just over a week to take us up on the offer.

We'll be closed over the Easter break this weekend (Friday until Monday) so we're giving you a few extra days to get in on the deal. We'll be closing the offer next Thursday (8th April) at 5pm.

If you already have enough kits but are looking for some cheap frames*, we're discontinuing the Black Nickel Square purse frames. They're on sale at 30% off until cleared.

*The black nickel frames look lovely, but there may be minor flaws on the plating (although most of them are fine). They make excellent OFM ("only for me") practise purses.