a Holiday

Back on the 1/12.

Day 2 & 3

I managed a before shot for the Day 2 REinvention - it was a linen skirt with shaped hem (yuk!) and a cotton shirt.

 By combining the two I created a pinafore and the mens tie belt helped to cinch it in a bit.

Stella commented that I looked like Tinkerbell - I immediately thought that's because she hasn't seen Fantasia!

 

 

Day 3's REinvention wasn't a huge success. 

I really liked the idea of owning a white dress but decided 5 mins after these shots were taken and with 15mins up my sleeve before I had to launch myself to Claremont, that a white dress just isn't me. 

With 4 wardrobes to choose from it didn't take long to find something else.

I'll share it with you anyway so you know what I mean.

It was another fabulous 3days of showing off!
No more time for talking I've now to get bags packed!

Day 1

For those unaware of my where abouts over the last 2 days (I'm taking liberties in assuming you want to know), I've been at the Claremont Showgrounds talking about REinventing while showcasing & explaining the process involved in creating a selection of my designs.

 I get a stage, a microphone and the opportunity to entertain hundreds of people for half an hour, on the hour, from 11am-3pm, Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

This is my 3rd invitation to attend the Treasured Craft Creations/Antique & Collectible Fair, with the invitation being extended to include both Fairs in 2011.

I don't often get the opportunity these days to create for myself as I'm so busy creating for others however I make an extra-ordinary effort for the Fair by REinventing a different outfit for each day.

Over the next couple of days (before we head East) I'd like to share them with you - I even managed to think ahead and did some before shots!

Day1

 'Fate' lined silk Dress Size 8

 

 'Alannah Hill' fully lined 100% silk sequined Bolero Size 8

Both REinventions are perfect examples of how size in inconsequential when deciding whether or not to bring something home as I haven't been a Size 8 since I was 8!

By removing the sleeves from the dress and the top section of the back I was able to create a pinafore, using a vintage mans tie for the straps.

The bolero was so small I couldn't get both arms in at the same time!
I unpicked the side seams and inserted wedges of shirt fabric, using the hem of the same shirt around the lower edge to gain the length I desired.

 

I'm very happy and am looking forward to wearing them out to dinner while in Melbourne with my friend Regina.

2011 Workshops & Venues

 The Studio - Spearwood

REinventing your Wardrobe - 6wk and 2day options

Learn to Sew - 6wk workshops

Playing with Patterns - 6wk workshops

Creative Pods - 3day workshops

(click for details)

Tresillian Art Centre - Nedlands

Learn to Sew 'Basics & Beyond' 

Mondays 7th Feb. - 28th March (8wks)
10am - 1pm

and

Wardrobe Surgery

Thursdays 10th Feb. - 31st March (8wks)
10am - 1pm

Calico & Ivy - Mosman Park

Learn to Sew 'Basics & Beyond' 

Wednesdays 9th Feb. - 16th March (6wks)
10am - 1pm

Fremantle Art Centre - Fremantle

Learn to Sew 'Basics & Beyond'

Sundays 13th Feb. - 20th March (6wks)
2 - 5pm

All the fun possible with a sewing machine!

Could be Worse

This post is directed at anyone living with a self centred teen.

I figure I'm a bit of an expert on the subject, having been one myself, I now have one residing with me.  

On the days man & I feverishly cling to each other for support because there's been another meltdown over doing the dishes or she's just announced she's getting a tattoo down her arm in French, we remind each other that she can't help it. 

It's a phase.

Turns out communication & compromise are what detergent is to oil - they relieve the surface tension giving everyone the opportunity to catch their breathe. 

So far so good - the dishes got done & the tattoo is no longer in French.

She shared this with me yesterday.

Humour and alcohol also help. One all the time and the other no earlier than 5pm.

Up-dates & more Workshops!

There's been some interest in a Learn to Sew Workshop during the Christmas holidays so I'm offering;

3rd - 7th January 

or 

16th - 20th January

10am - 12pm

$195 

(incl. LTS Basics & Beyond sewing pattern)

The workshop includes my new commercial pattern, 'Learn to Sew - Basic & Beyond' with 7 projects we work with during the 5days and which students can confidentially continue to use in the future. The projects have been designed to gently introduce new sewists to a life time of sewing joy. If it's for a Christmas pressie I'll send you through a gift certificate - just give me plenty of notice.

Other workshop news is that Rebeccas painting workshop is fully booked. 

I'm taking names of anyone interested in doing one in the future, either here or down at Margaret River.

My All Day REinventing Workshops in December are fully booked 

however if there is enough interest I'll conduct another one;

18th & 19th Dec.

10am-3pm

$175

There are only 2 spots available in one of the Splice Skirt Workshops, the other is fully booked
14th, 21st & 28th January
10am - 2pm
$230
(inc. Sew Outside the Lines™ Splice Skirt pattern in your size and style of your choice)

I'll have the Brochure for 2011 in my hot little hands this week and will have it available to view on-line by the end of the week - before we head to Victoria for a holiday!

If you're looking for something to do next weekend pop over to Treasured Craft Creations at the Claremont Showgrounds and say hi - I'll be doing my twice a year 'talk-fest' about REinventing.

The answer to World Peace!

Save It!

I woke this morning with a sense of dread

.....but it all seemed to be going so well - gorgeous sunny morn, garden alive with birdsong & bursting blooms, children packed & ready on time, cooked breaky brought to me in the Studio, light conversation with hubbie

and then

the hour spent on the computer compiling & completing the Inserting a Lap Zip into a Skirt Instruction Sheet  
with diagrams,  
deleted in a nano second!

Needless to say it got ugly - I'm not going to elaborate because I'd likely have another melt down.

In place of Lap Zip Instructions, I'm going to share some of my favourite sewing tools.
There's probably more. It was a little rushed. I needed to take my mind off how stupid I am! 

 Bobbin Holder.
I have this one for my Domestic machine and another for the Industrial.

 Love it because the Bobbins are snug, tidy & I know where they are at all times.

Magnetic Pin Cushion
I have three of these at different corners of the Studio so one is always within easy reach.
No need to buy the expensive ones ($30), you can pick them up for $5.

 Self explanatory really.....

Dressmaking Scissors
I have a few pairs of Dressmaking Scissors - so I can have them spread around!
These inexpensive ones are my favourites because they're light-weight, seriously sharp & have super pointy ends.

 Unpicker

Turns out there's Dumb, Okay and Fantastic Unpickers - this ones fantastic!

It's the perfect length, ergonomically structured shaft/handle and is seriously sharp.

Not sure where you'd buy this but I might have to find out because this one was left by a student and if recognised I'm happy to return.

 

 Old Soap
  Old soap glides, leaves a sharp line & is a readily available resource. The only time I'm looking for something else is when the fabric is white.
I dislike Tailors/Dressmakers Chalk immensely for all the reasons I love soap.
I don't mind the pens that fade.

These are a few of my most used tools, the ones I use everyday.
Doing this post was enough to take my mind off the fact I'm an idiot - now I've a sick child to attend to

and tomorrow's another day!

Trying

I'm trying not to eat meat.

Over the years I've become lazy with what I put in my mouth. 

I prepare & eat the same meals with no desire to do either really, so as with smoking I just stopped.

Again, like giving up smoking I've had to remove meat from my consciousness - so Dan's head chef and I do my own thing.

I'm taking it slowly, one day at a time, I haven't rushed off and bought up every vego cook book or printed reams on the subject, rather I'm approaching this intuitively.

I realise I require certain minerals & vitamins to stay healthy so I include these in my diet.

It turns out there's nothing to be scared of - it's been easy & enjoyable so far.

One of my favourite meals is this 'pizzary thing' which I've made for Dan and I on occasion - not sure the girls are up to tackling the combination of ingredients (that's a whole other post!)

  

 While preparing it for our lunch today, Dan asked "is that the yummy thing you make'?  Being a meat & 3 veg (3x a day if he could!) type of bloke I was overwhelmed with the desire to squeeze him - I restrained myself and instead gave him the bigger of the two.

I'm also trying to be more generous & understanding and with that in mind I will share with you what goes into;

'The Yummy Thing'

Start with Flat Bread spread with tomato paste or pasta sauce.
Lay on half of the bread in this order-

• chunks of Avocado
• sliced Capsicum
• tiniest bit of sliced onion
• sliced mushroom
• sliced zucchini
• cubed Feta (Danish is my favourite)  

Pre-heat oven to 160C. Slide in and leave for 8mins (check if worried). Slide out. Fold over. Cut. Eat.