Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The Garden

It's nice to be home…



no rest though 
I'm flat out finishing patterns & samples for Aphrodite Concept.
this label is the brain child of two friends who collaborated in the design of leisure wear aimed at the fashion conscious mum
it's especially nice to be able to move away from the cutting table & sewing machine & step into this when I need a moment...

to smell the roses!

This is my Rose
it was a birthday gift from my Mum
There's 4 of us (children) and when each of us turn 40 
she organises for us to receive a rose that was 'invented' the year of our birth.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

My Name Is……?!

I'd thought that by now I'd have forgotten my name 
due to all that talking having fried my brain!
Not the case - apart from a niggly dull headache (dehydrated?) 
I'm feeling very excited & extremely enthusiastic about what I'm doing & where I'm going.
April is going to be HUGE!

As each day progressed I quickly got used to the microphone & standing on a stage.

Everyday I had current & x-students call in to say hello 
which assisted with the whole confidence thing and judging by the amount of interest generated 
my workshops at home will fill quickly!

The interest was very encouraging.

I got Dan to take shots of the garments I had made to wear for the Talks 
which I'll briefly explain. 
I have close-up shots of details on my Workshop Images link and will highlight each day so you can easily take a peak.

Day One

This was a skirt which I cut armholes into & made into a Tunic Dress.
I especially liked the gathered/bow/zip detail in the back of the skirt & utilised that in the front of the Tunic. I also printed onto the front & back.
The crop cardy is REinvented from a vintage crochet cardigan which after cutting shorter I machine embroidered a scrap of fabric (left from Day 2 Dress) around the bottom edge and replaced the buttons with 3 different vintage buttons.

Day Two


This was 2 dresses that didn't fit REinvented into one that did.
I attached the front of each dress together and used a contrasting fabric remnant to make sleeves (like my arms covered these days!). On the back I attached 3 'feral flowers' made from the same fabric as the sleeves which I machine embroidered in place.
I have called this my 'French Farm House' Dress however could easily be worn on a Goondiwindi Cattle Station!

Day Three




The Top was a last minute REinvention.

The original top I'd made to go with the skirt looked great hanging 
but not so good on.
This one is difficult to explain simply as it was a tricky design to start - unwearable actually.
I've slashed the sides, removed a back panel & attached a sleeve from another garment around the neck then hoicked the shoulder to one side & pinned it through my bra with Reginas gorgeous button brooch.
The skirt was REinvented from a dress.
After removing the bodice of the dress I attached the bottom of a T-shirt to the top edge, lined it with the lining from another skirt and then machine embroidered a section of the bodice to attach to the bottom edge giving me slightly more length.


What did I learn - well, I need a tan if I'm going to wear those colours!

No really the main lesson was confirmation that I'm heading in the right direction.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Deep End

This morning feels a bit like the night before Christmas 
when you just have to say to yourself 
'if I haven't got it then it's too late & we'll do without it', 
in the case of what's happening tomorrow 
if I haven't sewn it, ironed it or packed it then it's too late & 
I [probably] wont need it.

The ride so far has been amazing with lots of new experiences 
 radio and newspaper interviews
 not self written press releases 
along with publicity photos 
not taken by Dan 
and the printing of my first 500 brochures advertising the workshops.
Fingers crossed it all translates into fully booked workshops for 2010!

I've made myself 3 outfits to wear over the 3 days  
I'll get shots of me wearing them over the course of the next few days 
however I'll share some close ups.



Excuse me for not elaborating 
I'm off to bed 
need my beauty sleep!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Homage to the Apron



Homage to the Apron

There’s not too many children these days that know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled it carried out the hulls.

The apron was always used to bring in seasonal fruit fallen from the trees & vines.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds!

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron and the men knew it was time to come in to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that ' old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

I had a dream

I dreamt that I was about to step into the abyss 
clutching my clothing rack as a parachute!

Momentum for the Talks is building daily 
and over the last couple of weeks I've had photos taken every other day for publicity of one sort or another.
I've included some of my preferred options - I'm won't say favourites 
because I'm not a fan of photos taken of myself 
 invariably the person looking back at me 
is not the person that resides in my mind


besides, what I look like isn't what I do.


Still, 'a picture says a thousand words' 
and I am trying to get across an honest impression of myself & what I do



so that anyone who might be interested in embarking on a workshop with me 
will feel more comfortable taking that first step.



I do like this one though 
it reflects me not taking me too seriously 
 a trait that balances me!

I'll be conducting workshops from home the beginning of next year 
which is very exciting.
I have a wonderful user friendly studio 
in a gorgeous garden setting 
with ample parking and no stairs 
it'll be the perfect environment for creating!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

One out of the box!

I found her this morning at 6am making her own lunch 




having wrapped her sandwich in baking paper 
she'd secured it with sewing thread 
because she couldn't find any cellotape 



to those who know her 
that have been touched by her 
I know you will understand.