Catching Up

Happy New Year! I'm back and my computer is fresh and clean .... now to catch up on happenings here .... firstly I'm in love with my new dress... it's Burda World of Fashion 4/08 Dress 116, I've made one for myself and one (shorter and sleeveless) for my little sweet pea (age twelve) ...
Both of these fabrics came from my sewing week at Martin and Savage - they are 94% Polyester and 6% Spandex, and while I normally favour natural fibres, this fabric is something else ... just lovely to wear ....
The sleeves are a bit tight as I failed to read the instructions properly - I was meant to put an armhole facing and just insert a sort of 3/4 sleeve - but anyway, it still works ....

The centre front has a cute little drapey piece that tucks into bottom of the V - which I had to adjust to show less cleavage. This one's a winner - I love it!
Next up, we've had some birthdays here and I made some cushions for a nephew and neice ... they are 70cm square, and I used images manipulated by Big Huge Labs and then printed them onto fabric with my inkjet printer ....



I borrowed a Janome Embroidery Machine from school to practise using it .... my sweet pea has taken a shine to it and she's been creating lots of cool stuff .... of course eventually we'll have to make something with all this - but WOW - it has certainly captured her attention and sewing motivation ......

Here is a dress I made from prepared Shirred Fabric - this is so easy and lovely to wear - fabric is called READY TO WEAR from Martin and Savage
I rolled hem the top edge and the hems and the strips for the straps ...

This is the whole piece with two panels on it - here is where I cut it ...
Christmas is hydrangea time ....
And Baguette time ..... featuring some Kaffe Fassett .....

Very cute bag!
Now, some pics from my students .... here is Paul wearing PJs hemmed by Annalise - great work!
He looks pretty happy with them!
And here is Nicole's lovely beach bag and hat ...... the colours and fabrics of these two look fab!
She's on board her lovely boat on beautiful Lake MacQuarie (I assume?) .....

Note the contrasting under brim side - perfect!

And thats AHOY from me! If you live in the Newcastle / Central Coast area and would like to come along to learn hat / bag making I have classes coming up on Saturdays - 30th Jan, 6th Feb and 13th Feb - contact me for more info.

Dora the Fedora

May I introduce to you .... Miss Dora the stylish Fedora ....

Hat Block only used for photographic purposes ..... (cleverly) not required for construction ...

I tested this pattern for Nikki.

I'm sure it won't be called Dora - but the name has stuck for me.

This is a challenging project - especially in denim....

But, as usual, Nikki's instructions are meticulous .... and I am still in awe at the intricacies in her pattern making because there are so many subtle design considerations ... she's certainly one clever patootie!

Two Flat Feet

It all started with an impulse purchase whilst waiting in line at Spotlight. My poor suffering children are used to the Spotlight routine..... hold my place in the line .... whilst I forage for the fabric. From time to time I have to buy the fabric for school, that is a mammoth task, I've even borrowed my mum's Granny Trolley to manage that one! Anyway, waiting in line we spot this lovely Broderie Anglaise with a hibiscus print in a light aqua blue .... that will make a nice summer dress, so we grab it. I used Simplicity 5681, without the assymmetrical hemline, fully lined it - don't want those Broderie holes revealing anything! I used some cotton lace for detail at the centre front of the bodice.

So that was well and good, but I had some fabric leftover ......... enough for a hat I think!

I've had this hat pattern for a while from NicoleM Design. So off I went ....

Now, that was easy - hmmm...... more leftovers .... such as waste .... No! I need to try out this Beach Bag pattern that I bought at the 2008 Stitches & Craft in Sydney from the lady in person!

Well, all was going well, until I hit a crisis. See the photo below - I was TWO FLAT FEET short for the base .... grrhh. So lovely Leah sends me a lovely package with "YAY" stuck on it ...
YAY! is right! Feet for many a bag in store.....

I love a happy ending. I used the Broderie leftover form the dress with some Duck Indian Cloth (also from Spotty) in white and aqua to coordinate the whole thing. It's a sturdy and good lookin bag ....

Now everything is overly coordinated and photographed.....but ... I think we can do better ...... let's liven things up with a photo shoot at MY beach ......

And sew it seams that day is done ....