In a Nutshell

Here's a rundown of what I've been up to ....... Had a couple of days in Sydney ....

Here is Sydney's favourite little one (only 106kg of pure CUTE!)

In the shot of me in Sydney, I'm wearing a Clothkits skirt ....

The pattern is printed on the fabric - the print is designed especially for the skirt shape - just cut and sew ....

Applying glue ready for foils ...

Dyeing ... This was from one of my workshops during the holidays ....

I played with a new product - "Texture Magic" it shrinks up by 30% with steam ..

It gives a puffy wrinkly effect ....

This is Angelina Film with some Angelina Fibres and bits and pieces added ...

This is a corset made from Angelina Fibres ...

From one extreme to the other ... here is Dobbert .....

Here is a favourite of mine - it's a Curved Flat Bag made using real wool felt with Needle Punched wool and silk bits added using the Needle Punch attachment on my Bernina ...

Lined with hand dyed fabric ..

I covered a small journal and have been playing around with some simple tote shapes and fabric combinations ...

Some with drawstrings ....

Who loves Lucy?

I printed this via the inkjet printer .....

This is a Belle bag - except the plastic handles are all wrong - too large for this bag ...

This City Bag used a textured panel - a piece of Kimono fabric attached to Texture Magic and shrunk up ...

I really need to work on a better way to photograph bags .... I could have at least Brasso -ed the tap!

More funny shaped bags ...

I also made a belt - printed the design via the inkjet, and fused on some Lamifix Gloss ...

And that's about it!

Who Needs A Vacation?

Looks like Betty does!.. but before Betty leaves us, here's a brief round up from my clever students ...

Nicole made a great Swing Bag in Sewing Basics 2 ...

Denim and Betty Boop doin the do .....

Here is Cherin's BEFORE ...

And AFTER!

Chop off the hem, put a few pleats in the base - seam it up, make a strap ... and it's UPCYCLING at it's best ... lovely soft leather ......

She's certainly a Kool Kat!

Now ..... the Scottish lassies came back for a Beginners Bag from NicoleM's range ... here is Anne's super glam Day Bag ...

Just marvel at that posh lining!

And here is Alison's super fab Beach Bag .... strictly speaking this is not a Beginners bag, but Alison IS very gifted!

Complete with Purse Feet of course ....

It's a great print - well done Girls!

Speaking of holidays, the NSW school holidays are soon upon us .... why not come along to one of my workshops? Not just for kids .... check out the timetable on my website ......

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.