New Years REsolutions

There's a few things on my REsolution List

and knowing I'm not flash with lists

I figure staying calm & enjoying 2012 as it unfolds

isn't too much to ask and probably the only one I need to adhere to.

   

Another on the list is to get a whole lot more organised 
and have more fun with more fabric.

I'm hopeful that these Fabric Swatch Cards and some gorgeous new fabric

means I've made a start.

 

I'm looking forward to sharing an inspiring, adventurous, exciting, creative &

[deep breathe] calm 2012 with everyone.... see ya on the flip side. x

I can't find the Christmas Decorations!

It's been over 2wks and they still haven't turned up.

You know when you go to the place you remember leaving something and it's not there

and instead of panicking and tearing the place asunder

you take a deep breathe, walk away & then casually & calmly go about your business,

with one eye trained for the slightest (in my case) shimmer or glimpse of red.

(a Regina Dudek Beaded Wire Star gifted 10yrs ago which lives in that antique bottle on the kitchen sill - the fimo Koala was found around the same time in an Oppy)

I also seem to be in festive denial.

I'm blaming it on the new Christmas Tree - old decorations hate new trees

and Dan not being here on the day - old habits die hard

and the girls getting older -

did you know it's way harder to buy for 19 & 11yrs olds than

it was when they were 1 & 9, that and it's more expensive.

Mangoes are cheap.

Most days you'll find me sitting in the garden eating them,
thinking I should be out there pushing a trolley round some shopping centre.

While enjoying my Mangoes & bemoaning the cost of Christmas
I've come up with a new present giving idea to add to the regimen -

starting this year we'll each give each other the gift of time.

First comment out of both girls mouths was, "but what about Santa" -

my kids would quite happily forgo baked ham, pavlova & presents
if they could still get their Santa Sacks
at the end of their beds.

Anyway the idea is that you choose 3 things
you would like to do with the other person,
not have them do for you
because as I've said in the past there's no slaves in this house!
The reason for 3 things is because you only get one gift of time

so some negotiating will need to occur

and as I'm writing the word 'negotiating' I'm thinking this wont work...

anyway

I started the ball rolling with Stella by painting her bedroom door with Chalkboard paint.

Eliza has requested I go shopping with her - purely in a consultative capacity

and I'm pretty sure Dan will be wanting the same 3 things.

Have a very Merry Christmas

and if you can find the time

eat a Mango in the garden.

Just in the Nick of Time - the perfect Eco Gift.

It was a chance conversation during the last workshop 

where fabric jewellery was discussed.

It struck a chord 

and I decided to make some groovy fabric brooches

as thankyou Christmasy gifts for a few of Stellas girl teachers - the boys got chocolate.

I had sooo much fun creating these machine embroidered wonders 

that I couldn't stop.

"I've made enough to sell",  I thought 

so that's what I'm doing

over on facebook.

I took photos of them outside on Dolly, wearing my mustard cashmere jumper wrap 

cos I figured if they look good on that they'll work with anything.

All the fabrics used are woven Japanese cotton or linen blends,

each brooch is padded with a thin layer of felted merino wool

and is backed with either the same fabric or heavy weight denim.

Your Rag Rose Brooch

will arrive secured to a sheet of card with this written on the back

making them perfect gifts for those with an environmental conscience 

who also likes to look good!

I know I've left my run late 

and to get them to you in time for Christmas 

means you'll need to zoom over to fb
type in 'SOLD' pretty darn quick,
leave your email address & I'll send you the payment details.

If you live near Spearwood you are welcome to pop in & collect.
If you live outside Australia it just wont work
cos there's only
9 days 'til Christmas!

(she climbs mountains - SOLD)

(paris pink - SOLD)

(periwinkle)

(pudding)

(on ya bike - SOLD)

(shell pink)

(echo)

(carnival - SOLD)

(circus - SOLD)

(orchard - SOLD)

(finger painting)

(sunshower - SOLD)

Knickers for Christmas anyone?!

This is a really cool ad I just had to share.....and their knickers aren't bad either.

Can't decide which I like the best  

8 maids a milking, 3 french hens or 2 turtle doves.

What I made for my Mother in Law

It was an honor and a privilege

to have Dans mum ask me to sew for her.

Lee has sewn her whole life, for herself and others 

and earlier in my sewing career rescued me from the brink of a few disasters.

Fondly she remembers the very first garment she ever created,

a Dirndl Skirt

and to get out of chores on the family farm she would sew dresses for her sisters.

 

Now at 85yrs she finds the mind's willing but the body isn't so much.

Still with a keenly sharpened & adventurous sense of style 

she requested an adaptation of a favourite T-shirt (in woven fabric)

and a Change of Heart Skirt.

We made a day of it
heading to Mosman Park 
to the only shop in Perth (that I know of)
that stocks interesting fabric
and had loads of fun selecting the perfect fabrics.

(Echino 'Bird & Berry' Cotton Muslin)

(Nani Iro - Fuccra & Poche double gauze)

(Nani Iro - Fuccra beige & striped cotton gauze)

(CoH Skirt - REfashioned denim skirt with Echino cotton front panels)

I was thrilled to see Lee wearing one of the tops on a recent

Op shopping blitz with Eliza and my nieces.

The white embroidery anglaise frock Eliza is wearing
is a good 3 sizes too small for her and

is the first REinvention she has ever requested... stay tuned!

Last REinventions for 2011 - they did me proud!

Thursday & Friday of this week 

saw the last REinventing & LTS workshops for 2011

and no I'm not hip-hip-hurraying doing cartwheels down the driveway

however I am looking forward to a break of a few weeks.

Mostly I'm looking forward to not having to think about what I'm going to wear on any given day -

I plan on at least one day in my PJ's.

As frantic as the last 2 days were

I did manage to click a few snaps

to show you how clever my girls are.

Not everyone or everything got snapped 

however they know who they are and what they've done

and I would like every single one of them to know

I'm eternally grateful and extremely proud!

 

 

 Carol created a Mosaic Dress by combining skirts, shirts & fabric,
stitching them to an 'up-side down jeans bodice'.

It all came together in the end and Carols button selection was perfect....
as were her shoes.

Angela has made a few skirts over the time we've known each other.
This one we knocked up in no time flat
and was REinvented using a mens shirt attached to a stretchy T-shirt waist.

and this one is the Circle Wrap where we created a slip-on-skirt -

 REinvented by attaching a gorgeous silk fabric panel to a section of skirt
and then stitching that to a T-shirt waist.

Janet had fun turning her 20yr old handmade skirt into a comfy Tunic.

and is continually proving one of my favourite sayings
"If you start with quality you'll end with it".


I'm starting to notice that Comfy Tunics are becoming very popular.

 Judith REinvented a mens shirt into one

and then proceeded to embellish over some marks
with a few machine embroidered spirals.

Her technique was amazing
when you consider she'd never done it before -
I want my spirals to look like Judiths!

 Nikkis creative brain travels at superhuman speed and her sewing isn't too far behind.
 This Jumper Wrap was 1 of 2 created during a 2day Friday Workshop

I'm a little annoyed with myself for not taking more photos of Nikkis creations
Thankfully she brought along some she'd prepared earlier,

(Jacket Wrap)

inspired by creations from the Junky Styling Book

(Pant Top)

and I'd like to think a little inspiration garnered from REinventing Workshops.

(Sideway T)

Inge is new to REinventing 
and like all those that experience the magic REinventing offers 
she agrees it's changed her life.

This was a long sleeve Indian cotton frock
that Inge REinvented into a funky summer pinafore
and is one of a few items that'll be REworn now they've been REinvented.

I'm very fortunate that
all these girls will be creating with me again at the Studio in 2012.

If you're interested in joining them & myself 
have a gander at the dates on the side bar 
and pop me off an email for the details.

Op Shop Swap Goodies

My parcel from Julie

arrived today.

I love everything in it

and am especially pleased she

included one of her stitched cards.

Thankyou to my fellow OpShopSwappers
for joining in and making this such a success.
I'm looking forward to doing it again in the New Year.

For a look at what some of the others

received in their parcels pop over here.

Merry Christmas!

Why would ya sit anywhere else?!

Why would ya
if given the choice
eat lunch anywhere other than outside,

sharing the shade of a Peppermint Tree,

chit chatting about lifes curiosities 

while attending a Sewing Workshop at the Studio.

(l-r Allex, Judith, Inge, Nikki)

 Today is the 2nd day of Summer

and the 1st day of a 2day (All Day Friday) REinventing/Basics & Beyond Workshop

- the girls are creating a storm of 'new' garments,

so much so that I didn't even think of the camera until we sat for lunch.

I'm looking forward to showing off their cleverness next week...

I have new dates up for 2012 - in the side bar of the Blog.

I thought I'd start slowly.....


introduce a couple of options now, then wait to see what happens

and already the Saturday avo classes are full!