Gala Parade

FROCK ON! NEWCASTLE's Gala Parade was last Saturday Night ..... the TAP PUPS opened the show ...... gotta LUV that Tap Dancing!
Swimwear ...

Streetwear - I don't really have that many photos -

Here comes MY BAG! woo hoo

The Accessories category also included jewellery and headwear ...

I think this was a runner up ... unfortunately Snap Snap didn't get a gong!

Here is a great RECYCLED outfit ...

tres chic!

And here is mine ...

Another recycled ...wow!

Congratulations to the winners and runners up! Congratulations to the organisers - what a mammoth event it was. Money raised went to an Autism centre for children in the Hunter - well done Newcastle!

FROCK ON! NEWCASTLE

As mentioned in my previous post, I've entered the Frock On! Competition here in Newcastle. The deadline was last Friday and the Gala Parade is this Saturday 27/6/09 at The University of Newcastle. The event not only provides an opportunity for designers to show their wares, but, more importantly, it is a Fundraiser for children with Autism.

This post is about my other entry, in the Recycled Threads category (or UPCYCLED??)... Firstly, buy some 2nd Hand 100% Woollen jumpers - easier said than done .....

Unpick them .... (or deconstruct as would be said in a Textiles Technology Syllabus)

Throw them in the washing machine, give them a HOT WATER wash .....

Hey presto! Felted Wool ....

Now, my original intention was to use all of these, join them up, to make a long line jacket, where each panel would be a block of colour .... however, the whole joining together thing was looking not sew great, and rather like a patchwork hobo blanky.....

Having taken a fresh look at the individual pieces of the little blue number, I decided to pin prick my lovely lady assembling the pieces to look like this ...... the two front pieces are the old sleeves, the old collar is the new halter neck ...

And the old front and back are draped for a sexy low back ... (hey! I don't have to wear it!)

Sew that is the plan for that ... then came along this doozy - I'm thinking late 1960's??? I do like the texture ....... there's a whole lotta synthetic happening here ....

I wanted something a bit cute and a tad leggy to go with the blue top ....

Sew, it's Burda to the rescue .... the little white shorts with the skirt overlay (remembering - IT'S NOT FOR ME!!!!)

Here's all that is left of that full length dress ....

The result ....

Back to the reconstruction of the deconstruction .... the chunky zipper - too white .....

Hit it with the Liquid Radiance "dye" .....

It really isn't the vibrant Peacock Blue you see before you!

I used nylon transparent thread throughout - most of the seams are on the right side, most of the joins are just overlays .... I didn't want any extra bulk ..... and here she is .....

My lovely lady doesn't have legs, so the shorts / skirt is just pinned to the front (she's such a good sport!).....

I quite like the exposed edges, they are a little bit dreadlocky ...

Lots of fun, trial and experimentation - it's good to have a go at something out of the ordinary, especially for a worthy cause. Come on Newcastle support the Frock On! Gala Parade - get your tickets here.

Snap Snap

I've been making bags again ... this time two SNAP bags from NicoleM.
This is the first one - my trial bag ... I have actually made this bag before - quite some time ago ... pre blog days...

The outer material was from a Sydney expedition late last year from The Fabric Store in Surry Hills ... the lining fabric is an Amy Butler ...

SNAP!

Nikki's engineering is precise, instructions meticulous!

Sew, having completed the trial run ... I was ready for the real one .... I have entered a competition here in Newcastle - FROCK ON! NEWCASTLE ... this is my Fashion Accessory entry ... well, this is the 2D format ....And here is the 3D format ...

Fabric - Anna Maria Horner - Drawing Room Collection in decorator weight cotton ..

Cute little purse feet for tap tap tapping on table tops ...

Here she is before the frame went on ...

It's a very roomy bag for such a short stature ....

And now, far more respectable with the frame attached ...

Great shape - retro - fun!

Good luck little SNAP bag - enjoy the night!

Like Mother Like ....

After winning at Netball on Saturday morning ..... my little sweet pea (age 12) set about on a sewing project .....

She made this great drawstring bag (Tried and True!) in purple stretch denim ...

It was a tricky little design to applique.... she did a great job!

I only helped with the curly tails .... she did ALL the rest ...

I'm as proud as punch - and sew was Grandma!

I've Topped a Trench

I made a Trench Topper. Here's the pattern from Indygo Junction.

I made it in denim and I used some Anna Maria Horner "Drawing Room" as a contrast - the fabric is a Home Decor weight - can't wait to try it in some bags. Here are the corded buttonholes I did.

Ever used a thing to cut open your buttonholes? Here's mine - a little tap tap and voila!

Not sure how old these buttons are .... but I'll leave the discussion about my local haby / wool / ladies "fashion" / lingerie shop for another day .... needless to say, their buttons are vintage ....

I made a Medium size.

Miss Maggie just HAD to nuzzle in on the act ...

I added the contrast to the cuffs as well as the front facing ..

This is a great pattern. I was very pleased with how well everything went together. There are 3 main variations with lots of interchangeable possibilities. I added a facing for the bottom section of contrast - so that the weight was equivalent with the denim. It's lime green cotton drill ...

Ok, so now should a trench get in my way .... I'll be ready to TOP it!

Pursenality Plus!

Firstly I must confess that I "borrowed" that clever title from a book I recently borrowed about knitting bags and then felting them - it's a great book. However, this blog is about some smaller purses .....

These little zippered purses are ultra cute, use minimal fabric and would make great little gifts....

I used this great tutorial to make the Oil Cloth Purses ......

I got the oil cloth locally at Patchwork and Coffee on Main at Boolaroo. This collection of 30cm cuts cost about $18 Australian - which I think is very reasonable considering you only need very small amounts for each purse (7.5 by 5 inch)...

The purses aren't lined as the fabric is unlikely to fray being all plasticy ....

For the other purses I used NicoleM's Coin Purse Pattern.

These purses really need Pellon Fusible Wadding to maintain a nice shape - the grey Japanese Fabric Purse is only interfaced and it is not nearly as happy as the others ....

It goes without saying that this is an excellent little pattern- with accurate and detailed instructions - you really can't go wrong ....

Sorry I don't know the name of this fabric ......

This is my fave .... I used Vintage (there's THAT word again!) Japanese Kimono fabric that I've had for quite some time - they are perfect for this project as they often come in random sizes which is hard to find a use for (other than fondling and drooling) ....

Love the silver ....

Here is Prints Charming - perfect for embroidery ......

One of Nikki's great little pattern suggestions is to trace the pattern onto template plastic. Super easy to cut around with the rotary cutter and no fiddling and fussing with paper - that girl's a genius (with a great pursenality!) - couldn't resist!
Sew, you wanna make some???? I can show you how ..... if you live in Newcastle, Central Coast or the outer Southern Suburbs (ie Sydney) come along to my studio for lesson ... I also stock Nicole's Patterns if you want to save on postage and packaging. Contact me via my website.