I love my teflon foot

Just a P.S. from the last post, I have discovered how much easier it is to sew on the romeo with my teflon foot, just magic!

Cheers

Christmas Preparations Not!

Just thought I’d pass on this link from Handmaiden. Lots of links here to give you ideas for making Xmas presents. With a thesis to write I will definitely not be having a right old, sewing presents xmas; the credit card might take a hammering instead!!!

Cheers

Hotch Potch

Hold on to your hats as this is a catch up post on a variety of different projects.

Firstly was a last minute stitch up of a carry on bag for our Australia Day weekend to Sydney (north of actually). We had been invited to a friend’s 50th birthday celebration near Gosford, so a friend and I got onto the web whilst also plotting our moves on the phone, to book our flights and plan our trip. There are some ultra cheap flights to be had when travelling ‘light’ (carry on luggage only). Flights booked, train timetables checked, I moved onto measuring bags currently held in various cupboards and rooms in our home. Only one bag was the correct size. Emails to Nikki followed, who suggested adjusting her beach bag pattern to the required size. (Didn’t have it, no time to post down!). Onto the net and found this free tutorial. I adjusted the sizes to suit, used a few of Nikki’s tips in the bag patterns which I did have, searched out the curtain/upholstery fabric sampler books in the garage and came up with a very stylish carry on bag. (I think so anyway).

 

I have also had a little Op shopping, primarily to get supplies for arting. I found a fantastic stainless steel ladle for heating UTEE for Maggie’s on line classes for Textile Translations, A great clear plastic ice cube tray for paints and dyes, a Portman’s skirt for wearing to 50th birthday (teamed perfectly with Brown Sugar top reduced to 19.99 from $80). Also a great Craft and Decorating magazine, some calico (75 cm ready washed for use) and 1.5 m of the lovely stone coloured wool/spandex fabric (will end up a skirt or jacket). All for $7.00!!!

I have also been stitching, on and off, on my sampler 2009, which incorporates stitches from following Sharon B’s sampler documentation, as well as the Stitch Explorer challenge. There are some great examples of the first challenge stitch, chicken scratch, linked from Sharon’s blog. One great link I came across was Emily’s blog freebies link. Check out Emily’s blog, it is a great source of lots of interesting patterns. I’m thinking of  making her mini biscornu to practice the chicken scratch.

I have spent today working on the proposal for the ‘Sea Angels’ for the Johnston Collection, which have been emailed off for approval. The proposal includes many of the techniques that I have discovered while browsing many textile artists sites (thankyou all). I am spending tomorrow trying out Maggie’s techniques from her on-line classes to also incorporate. Will hopefully have some photos to post shortly.

This is a photo of the three generations at my nephew’s wedding.

Cheers

I was tagged (hmmm a while ago)

This week so far I have made my mum a chiffon cardi to wear over her dress to my nephew’s wedding on Saturday yesterday. I forgot to take a picture before I gave it to her, but she was very happy with it. ( I’ll post some photos of the wedding shortly, D1 has gone off to work with my car and the camera is in it)

I was going through my collection of patterns to find something to use (she’s a size 6 and most of my patterns are 12’s) when I came across some old ones. The one on the left was my 21st birthday outfit, the one on the right was my wedding dress. For the wedding outfit I made a skirt and top in taffeta and organza appliqued with satin leaves and afterwards shortened the skirt slightly (to ballerina length) and dyed it mauve (very 80’s).

 

I have also given the magazine (for catalogue killers) a dip in a bucket of water. I now have two bits to work with as it split apart!!! It is happily ensconced under some mulch under the rose bushes. I haven’t noticed the dog near it, the rose thorns keep him away methinks.

A couple of months back I was tagged by Mermaid’s Purse and said I would try to find time to pass on (well, find someone to pass on to). If I tag you feel free to take it as a compliment (and a recommendation to others to check out your blog)and not continue. The tagging requires 7 random facts about yourself.

1. I was a sports freak at school (and school sports captain) and generally played 3 sports at once. Some of the sports I have played/tried are: hockey, table tennis, squash, volleyball, basketball, tennis, football (AFL), surfing, athletics, marching, yoga, tai chi, aerobics, golf, softball, netball, lawn bowls, ten pin bowling….

2. One of my favourite pastimes is reading.

3. I love dark chocolate.

4. I’m fairly easy going most of the time but when really stressed I explode.

5. I am in the zone when I am sewing/stitching.

6. I love travelling anywhere, anytime.

7. I don’t enjoy too much hot weather.

I read many blogs but I will try to pick a range of types of blogs and hopefully not ones that have been tagged zillions of times.

Mara because her stitching is gorgeous and thought provoking

Beth because her felting is so individual and cool

Amy for the huge variety she blogs about

I op therefore I am because I do

Hayley because I love what she does to clothes in an ethical manner

and this one because I have a bag fetish.

I’m off to Ballarat today for Junior Country week tennis. (S2 is playing). Claudia, Paddy and I are staying at a caravan park for the week (the kids are happy because it has a great pool, tennis court, jumping pillow and kid’s holiday program each night). I’m happy because our cabin is directly in front of the pool/play area, so I’ll be able to sit on the balcony watching them and stitching. I’m taking fabric, threads and needles and hope to try out Sharon B’s stitches from her documentation of her band sampler. If I can get internet access at a reasonable price I’ll blog progress.

Cheers

The House is Springed

We have been very busy spring cleaning ready for our xmas visitors, it’s a great incentive to clean out all the mess that seems to accumulate in a house of six over the year.

We received some beautiful ATC’s from Anne in France today. They are just amazing and Clauda has added them to her album. We are working on our return ATC’s but they might not arrive before xmas, so they might have to be New Year’s greetings.

I found a great tutorial at Gina’s blog (via Sharon’s Pin Tangle) for the little triangle gift bags. I drafted a pattern on A4 scrap paper using the protractor. This made the triangle 210mm (Gina suggested 9 ” [225mm]so mine is a tiny bit smaller).

I then followed Gina’s instructions to cut out two different fabrics and sew right sides together with a gap to turn. I then folded down the corners 40mm and sewed a casing for the cord.

The edges were brought together and slip stitched to form the pouch.

Finally I threaded a double cord through to pull closed. This pouch was used for the bracelet gift from the previous post.

I will try the next one with a 50mm fold over to give a bigger opening. Gina warned me these are addictive!!

Claudia loves these and is currently working on some triangle shaped ATC’s to fit into the pouches. The funny coincidence is that Gina first bought one of these while visiting Brisbane and took it apart to work out how to make it.

Cheers