What Alex Saw

Funny thing happened when I came to down load photos of the last 2 days workshops

- I discovered some candid shots one of my gorgeous students had taken with my camera.

1. Imagine, 2. Bambi, 3. Pleats, 4. Hangers, 5. Blue Teapot, 6. What I Wore, 7. Studio, 8. Pleats, 9. Alex

I will be eternally grateful for Alex's enthusiasm for the spirit in which I conduct the workshops 

and I am grateful that she's taken it upon herself to be the Studios personal photographer.

Alex sees what I don't 

and in the same breathe she understands what I & everyone else does

 when we commit to a Sew Outside the Lines workshop...

it's a life changing experience which goes far beyond the humble sewing machine.

Layers of self expression are revealed through the art of creating with our hands & minds

 and when combined with talking & laughing, sharing & learning, 

while in a friendly, welcoming & nurturing environment

it's hard not to fall in love with how creative you can be.

Workshops are over for the Term 

and I've 2wks without any (sewing) commitments...

I might stay in my Pjs for the day.

Music to Dance & Sew to

It's not often I come across music I want to dance and sew to

 

- probably not at the same time!

(The Black Keys - Lonely Boy)

         

JaM - How you like your Flowers

It's cooling down round these parts as we head for Winter

and there is a noticeable lack of flowers in my garden

which combined with feeling a tad under the weather,

makes me a little sad...

so in honor of missing flowers & in an endeavor to cheer me up

 JaM this week is 

How you like your Flowers.

One of the ways I can still enjoy flowers is when I drink my tea

and in fact when I look around, the blighters are everywhere in one form or another

 

If you'd like to join in this weeks JaM
photograph a plant, wash a cup or iron a dress with a flower on it
 and share how you like your flowers


No Linky this week, no pressure.


I have to share Dans version of giving me flowers.

 Over the past couple of days I've not been feeling the best, 

Hayfever head that feels like I'm driving through pea-soup style of Yuk!

Yesterday he disappeared early to head off to a few swap meets 

(his form of retail therapy).

On his return he didn't say much however I noticed these

and knew immediately I'd just been given flowers, Dan style.

The soup because it's my comfort food - I head for a tin of this whenever I need a hug

and the Cacti because I commented the day before on how beautiful the flowering one growing in the neighbours yard is.

After 23yrs I'm a realist.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (2011)

and this is why we should read books -

why we should cherish & never underestimate the power of the written word

and why a certain 11yr old girl child

who is more than capable of reading more than she does

will experience this moving short film 

 I think it could do more for the reading cause in this house

than me barking on about how she needs to read more

and if nothing else I've no doubt it'll leave a lasting impression....

                       



***** 11 year old girl child just finished watching this
and as she stood, having not flinched for 15mins
her first words were
"Ow that was great - I want a flying book"

....it's hard to have a win!

W . I . Sh - I've always wanted a Hatbox

W.I.Sh

(Why I Shop where I Shop) 

I've always wanted a Hatbox and I nearly missed getting this one.

A couple of Sundays back Dan & I headed off to the local swap meet

and a few stalls in I spied an interesting array of sewing flotsam & jetsam, 

I took absolutely no notice of what was containing them 

until I was waiting to pay the gentleman and had the opportunity to scan his stall further 

when my eyes returned to the item I had just emptied

this gorgeous vintage leather Hatbox.... duh!

At a cost of $7 she's taken pride of place atop a stack of clothes & vintage suitcases.

On the other hand 

I'm still unsure 

where I'm going to put 

these ceramic floral baskets

  

 but at $9 each

 

they had to come live at my house.

If you've got treasure you'd like to share 

and a story to tell

join in below.

I'll leave the W.i.sh link up for a week.

JaM - Your Favourite Sewing Pattern

Have you got a favourite sewing pattern...

one you go back to time & again when you need to create something new,

right now.

Mine's unashamedly the 

Piece of Cake Tunic 

although there was a brief moment at the beginning of this post where I wavered in favour of the  

Splice Skirt 

 - I think that's only because I've got all these gorgeous fabrics at my fingertips 

and the Splice Skirt is another way for me to be endlessly creative.

This weeks JaM

is sharing why your favourite pattern is your fave 

and maybe what you've done to make it your own.

~ Reasons to love the PoC

1. I can easily REinvent with this pattern.
2. I'm able to be creative with my fabric choices.
3. I can create for any season ie. light cottons to denim and wool, wear a skivvy to nothing underneath or a cardy on top.
4. My preference is the Tunic length so I can wear short or longer pants with it.
5. It takes me under 2hrs, from got-to-whoa, to complete the entire garment.

~ Changes to the Pattern

The pattern has been designed to be a loose fitting garment which I understand doesn't always suit everyone. Fitting or shape is easily obtained with the inclusion of darts both front & back or by making a smaller size. Some have found the wideness of the neck can cause a shoulder to slip which requires either a dart either side of the curve around the back neck to draw the shoulders in or REshaping when tracing the pattern.

If you would like to see what others are doing

to make their Cakes their own

check these out
and have a look at Jodi Blooms latest blog post,
my new American Bestie is documenting her Cake making progress.

I'm looking forward to seeing & hearing your opinions on which sewing patterns impress you the most.

Linky below for sharing.

x 

Inside & Out

 

 On close inspection the garden needs a whole heap of TLC

however in the morning light she's beautiful 

and between her & the Studio I don't want to be anywhere else.

 

With a sparkly clean Studio

and back to back workshops

magic is going to happen today

 in this little corner of the world....

Hope your weekend is ticking along at a steady pace.

x

 

Thanks to those that have voted in my 

'Should I do On-line Workshops' Poll

it's turning out to be an interesting mix of preferences. 

Some days are Doily Days & some aren't.

Sometimes I'll see a garment and say to myself

I want one of those

and I'll go home and make it happen.

That's what I said to myself when I saw this skirt hanging in a 2nd hand shop...

I want me one of those.

I probably would have worn this one if I could've got my left thigh through the waist.

Created in the 70's, this genuine Doily Skirt was intended for someone with a 22" waist.

Turns out I don't know myself as well as I thought I did 

because when it came to creating my version of the Doily Skirt,

 with all my Doilies spread from here to breakfast,

 along with table cloths, aprons & tea towels,
over a period of days
I flat out couldn't bring myself to do it.

I knew in my heart of hearts there was no way I'd feel comfortable 

wearing all those Doilies in the shape of a skirt.

After all that's what it's all about -

being comfortable in your own skin.

Some days are red days

some are green

some people can wear their doilies 

and others have to interpret to suit individual tastes

which is what I eventually ended up doing
when I created another 'Stand ya Ground' Skirt.

(Stand ya Ground Skirt #2)

By using the Splice Skirt pattern as a single layer 

I combined a vintage cutwork cotton table cloth with

a little girls dress and finished the edges with some of the
 'behind the door' bias binding.

I'm very much in love with the Doily Skirt 

 and have it hanging in a prominent spot in my bedroom 

where every time I spy it, it makes me smile.

Hope you'll come join in this weeks JaM - I'd love to know what books get you fired up....
and don't forget to vote in the On-line Workshop Poll at the top of the Blog.

Cheers x

POP-UP Studio Workshops & ON-LINE Workshop Poll

I know,  
2 posts in 2 days 

and already planning the 3rd - 

it's dam or bust round here (think hormones - the house is full of them at the moment).

With the days getting shorter 

we're anticipating some well deserved cooler weather here in the wild wild west very soon

and with Term 1 workshops winding up

I've dates & times for a whole new set of classes.

The Splice Skirt pictured above is my latest.

I specifically bought loads of fabric for the 'behind the door' Studio Shop 

with Splice Skirts, Pieces of Cake & Change of Hearts in mind.

I'm thrilled with how this one turned out
and teamed with my grey boots

I'm gonna rock winter!

If you're unable to make the workshop and are interested in making the same skirt 
I've kits listed 'behind the door'

and then I was thinking


I could squeeze in a couple of one day workshops
before Term 2 starts in earnest.

(Farmers Market Tote created from 2 vintage aprons)

Having already experienced the pleasure 

my 'Rapt in Tops' and 'In the Bag' workshops 

brought to the local residents during last years Cockburn Eco Series of Workshops,
(which they won National Sustainability Awards for)
 I sent out a call for interest.

The Top workshop filled fast 

and there's still 1 spot left in Bags.

We'll turn jeans, skirts, tea towels & anything made of fabric into
clutches, totes, satchels & anything resembling a bag....
you are limited by your imagination.
 There's more Bag ideas over here.

Term 2 Workshops 

are listed in the right hand columm of the Blog.

They're filling fast also - with a max. 4-5 people per workshop it's first in best dressed.

I'd also like to run the idea of on-line workshops past you.

I wonder if there's enough interest in the Blog to warrant such a venture?! 

Let's just say if you did think it a good idea - what would interest you the most

REinventing or the Patterns or both.

  I've put a simple little poll up at the top of the Blog
which you are welcome to participate in or not - I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Hope you'll join us for JaM this week - it's all about your favourite books...or magazines!

JaM - Books

I finally ordered the 2 books I've wanted for quite a while.

The only other time I've ever ordered books on-line 

was when I missed getting one of the girls school book orders in on time - 

a traumatic experience 

which put me off doing it again.

Happy to report this was a pleasant & not too expensive experience 

which I'll repeat  - not too often!

I'm not a big one for reading to get ideas, I'm more your visually stimulated type of gal

 and both of these books fit that bill.

I can feel some inspiration mixing with a little motivation causing a spark of excitement at the thought of creating something for myself.

JaM this week is Books.

What books have you found which

stimulate, excite, motivate & generally take up your leisure time - 

in a constructive way.

Don't forget to share - Linky is below.

ps. thankyou to everyone that commented & emailed their support & empathy for last weeks JaM - 

I can feel the energy returning.

JaM - Elvis has left the Building & 10 things about ME!

Sometimes you can't shut me up.

Then there's times I've plenty to say, only I lack the ability to express it.


This isn't a phenomenon particular to me alone, I've heard others refer to it as losing your blogging mojo.

I'm calling my mojo Elvis and I'm popping in to let you know he's temporarily left the building.

In his absence I'd like to reflect and share the reason I have a blog.

It was so I could keep students in touch with workshops & each other.....in all honesty though I can say without reservation that very quickly it became all about me.  Selfishly I post what's important to me, with little thought to what others might be interested in, in the hope that everyone that comes into contact with my blog will be blinded by its beauty & so intrigued by my intellect as to follow, return & comment regularly - which in reality is so far from the truth as to be hysterical.

The response I get to the blog from participants in classes is positive however they are the minority - if I'm generous, only about 30% have ever seen or heard of my website or blog, most don't know what a blog is and when told have a look of disinterested confusion.

I ask myself sometimes why I bother.

I have to be very careful what I write.

There are times, a bit like now, where I'd like very much to share the battles, scars, negativity & pain that I trip over on a daily basis - you know, life getting in the way of living stuff. When you're using a public forum to express yourself it's hard to know where the line in the sand starts & ends and judging by the amount of traffic popular blogs generate, it's either the nitty-gritty day-to-day grind or the full-on crafty stuff that most people relate to.

I'm afraid that wont ever happen here - I like a quiet life, I'm one of those people that enjoys their own company and even though I have my fair share of nitty-gritty ditties to tell & know about a bit of crafty stuff I couldn't maintain the level of sharing required to keep up with a popular blog.

Is sharing the best & worst of yourself what makes for a good blog?

For those that do know I have a blog and are familiar with what I do ie. sew stuff etc., I'd like to share 10 things about myself in the hope Elvis returns. 

JaM this week is all about you  -

see what 10 things you can bring yourself to share with the rest of us.

1. I'm turning 50 this year, I look 60 but feel 30.

2. I have 3 children - a boy & 2 girls. There's 8yrs between them (slow-learner) - my son is 28 this year!

3. Recently I've developed an aversion to sticky hands - I come close to a panic attack if when making toast, honey drips on them!

4. My favourite colour is green & favourite combination has always been pink & green.

5. Dan and I aren't married. We've been together 23yrs - he did ask me once & I turned him down so now when I ask him he laughs.

6. I'm originally from New Zealand and my Dad is part Maori.

7.  I tried to kill myself when I was 11 by riding my bike in front of a car - nearly worked....glad it didn't!

8. Lived in Papua New Guinea for 12mths with my family when I was 18.

9. Hitch-hiked around Australia for 2yrs.

10. I can't have a post without a photo so here's the ring I bought on the weekend - I'm loving how it's hugeness makes my chunky hands feel small & elegant.

Linky thingy is below