REinvention

This Skirt REinvention I created by combining a Size 8 denim skirt (haven't been Size 8 since I was 8!) with the leg of a pair of pants.

Both garments came home on different occasions & were filed.

Great skirt. Quality stretch denim. Rag hem.

Interesting Pants. Velvet Pinwale. Print. Embroidery. Zip detail.

I used a technique with this wrap style where I kept the front fly of the pants intact so I could continue to use it as the opening.

I've resisted wearing this skirt for a while because of the whole 'no black Docs' - don't know what I was worried about 'cause red Doc Martens go with everything!

Mess + Noise = Happy!

You can't turn your back for 5mins around here at the moment without a bloke making a mess & a lot of noise! 

It's taken years to get to this point but once the decision was made to lay deep sewerage they were out the front digging big holes!

Dan's needed dedicated space for work ever since I kicked encouraged him out of the Studio. 

For a week now he's been beavering away in what was the Garage - making it happen!

The Front before & a day later.

 The Back before & then a day later.

I would like to point out nothing around here happens overnight! 

Events of this magnitude take upwards of 20yrs to eventuate but when they do, those 20yrs of constantly pointing out the merits of making a small house bigger disappear in a sigh, with a quiet nod & a knowing smirk smile - knowledge that you were right all along again!

Pretty - Kate Makkai

 

I tripped over this & thought the insight worth sharing.

Latest REinvention

I thought about doing before & after shots for this one...sorry, 'after' is as good as it gets.

This is actually the second REinvention for this top in as many days.

I think the 2nd version is way better - what do you think?

                                                                                             

It's my style of Jumper & Skirt.  Comfortable. Edgy. Romantic.

The Jumper is REinvented using a childs wool & angora skirt & a long sleeve cotton T.

 The Skirt is 'as is' with a potato-printed Doily printed straight over the pleats.

I might free machine embroider into it later.

The use of green T in the back was to gain extra length for the strip I was inserting centre back, which in turn gave me the width I needed across the shoulders.  

 At the moment my Red Docs are servicing all my outfits - the black ones have had a zip malfunction  are in being fixed - it's a good thing I've a lot of red clothes filed!

REinventing in the Hills

Yesterday was my last REinventing session with a wonderful group of 8 women from in & around Darlington.

We met for 3hrs every Tuesday morning for 6wks at Alisons home.

I'll miss, not only their scintillating conversations (I now know why I never got a Brazilian!) but also my 45min. morning drive into the hills - I do love a drive!

These are a few of the garments created during the workshop, with more inspiration over here.

Brigita - Jumper Wrap

Rose - REinvented Jkt & Jumper Wrap

  

Emma - REinvented Top with tea-dyed Doily embellishments

 Because I conduct my workshops on an a individual basis it's essential I form a relationship with each person so it's always a little bitter sweet saying goodbye,

especially when they bring beautiful babies....

 Callum - at 7wks the youngest member of the group

and green sewing machines!

In the end though my hope always is to have instilled the desire to continue to create & REinvent in my absense. 

Choices

This is my homage to Perth Fashion Week and all the Fashion Weeks everywhere....
for those of us that haven't been a Size 8 since we were 8!

If you're asking the same question you probably already know the answer!

 The solution is to REinvent!

Buttons

Found these buttons 'filed' in various spots, stashed in plastic bags & odd tins around the studio (just as I'd bought them home from op shops), whilst looking for 3 inane white plastic buttons to finish a commission.

I thought I'd tip them in together for quick & easy sorting however it's been a few days now and nothing's changed - a couple of students have had a go at separating into colours without making a dent.

I sort & store my buttons like this however would one day, when I'm not working on a non-for-profit (as in hand-to-mouth) basis and can afford to, I'm going to store them in this!
How do you store yours?

An Invitation

It's fun!

Sweet

On occasion, over the past 18yrs I've looked at Eliza and thought, I must have done something right at least once in my life to have ended up with her for a daughter!

As sweet as she looks, she truly is.
I've worried about her her whole life - the world is a big scary place for those with gentle souls.
Recently though I've noticed a shift in my perception of her, related in part to the life choices she is making so now when she smiles, that same smile she's given me her whole life, I know she's going to be okay.

Grannie

Happy 99th Birthday Grannie!

My two favourite photos of Grannie. 

The photo on the left was taken with her twin sister Louisa (Grannie has her finger in her ear). Their mother, Pearl, had taken them to the photographers for a portrait, when the photographer saw how gorgeous they looked in their pram he insisted he take shots of them as is. I think they're 12mths old here.

The other image was taken about a week ago and is possibly my favourite because even though Grannie isn't always the person I remember her to be, that is the same smile I grew up with.

A Theme

I've noticed over the years that there's a theme that usually runs through my birthday cards, this year it was the presents I received.

My gifts were specifically meant for me, no-one had bought anything for the sake of it, my personality had played a role in their decisions

and thank the lord

not a box of chocolates in sight!

I hadn't realised how many tea towels I owned until Stella decided to iron them.

The biggest surprise was this that Dan commissioned for me.

Made by a very clever man in Melbourne.

11 Gates and 1 Dog

We like a gate & now have 11 of them.

Some are more neccessary than others.

 (from the outside world)

(to the veges)

(to the chooks & mulberrys)

 (to frontyard - originally to keep kids in)

(will be from backyard to house when fixed in position)

Recently we felt it necessary to add 2 more because of a complaint made against Rosie by a member of the public (that by the way was not what I originally called him in this post).

 (driveway)

 (front yard)

Actually not a bad thing as I've always wanted a scrolly gate in this position and as long as Rosie gets her bunny-hunting walk twice a day she's a very happy well disciplined, friendly & intelligent watchdog-in-training who we all love to bits.