Op Shop Rescues

I'm still traumatised

my favourite Op Shop has had a new manager since before Christmas

and it isn't worth the drive anymore....

not too traumatised though that I haven't been looking for a new favourite

and in doing so 

have been finding treasure worth rescuing.

 I'm in love with Cardy REinvents
and this is going to make a gorgeous addition to the winter wardrobe
[I also love winter]

 one day I'll offer a vintage sewing workshop
where we'll adapt & play at making styles from yesteryear wearable today

and of course
I need more fabric

 like I need more tablecloths

ties

 and buttons

and occassionally
if I'm after something in particular and I know the Oppys won't deliver
 I'll have a look on-line

which is where I found these vintage sewing machine drawers 
now destined for display/storage purposes in the Studio.

What's on the Mannequin ::: The Tie Frock

There's been a bit of reminiscing happening on FB

due to my blogging mojo being a little light on lately

and

I'm convinced

if I never took another photo of a REinvention for 5yrs 

I'd be able to share a 'new' one everyday...

not wanting to steal the Capes thunder

I've held off showing you what the Cape was actually created to go with

The Tie Frock

 originally meant to be a skirt
 and like all good REinventions they sometimes have a mind of their own
and it's a good idea to listen

before cutting anything you should check all your options

the front was always going to be attached to a pair of mens trousers
however the Tie Train was a stroke of genius on the part of my mother-in-law
[again it paid to listen]

I'm a huge fan of using mens ties in REinvents,

they're made for reinventing

they've come in handy on numerous REinventing occasions.

What's on the Mannequin :: Cape REinvent REvealed

Once a upon a time

many years ago

 a Cape was made

she was a REinvention

created on a whim from a pair of 

tweed shorts

she was carefully lined with a vintage satin curtain

 

and tied generously at the centre front

with a soft peak forming at the centre back

This beautiful statement piece showcasing the ingenuity of REinventing simplicity 
hung patiently 

jiggled & jostled between other REinventions year-after-year,

occasionally selected to take centre stage during a fashion talk

where she quietly & humbly reveled in the adulation

however unlike all the hundreds of other REinventions
that have been revealed over the years

she had never been photographed

until today

and she was thrilled to have Sally all to herself.

The Free E-Book....explained.

Why an E-book

When I received the Sustainability Grant from my local council to juj up my website 

the deal was I had to include a free component which could be accessible to everyone.

Writing up tutorials wasn't going to be hard, having done it before,

the hard part was choosing which projects to include

that's when I asked you guys for input

so glad I did because a couple on my short list got shelved and I went with the more popular ideas.

I never intended for the e-book to be entirely about REinventing
it was important to me that the projects reflected, whether reinventing or refashioning or just plain mending,
that getting from A-B should be a pleasant rewarding experience

and judging by an email I received recently, I've achieved what I set out to do...

Jody,

I sometimes make clothes/dolls/etc for a couple of little girls that are my son's mates children.

When I sat down to read the e-book, I saw how easy it would be to make the skirt for them, think that Mum & Dad are having a financial struggle and will try to make these soon. (Op shops here I come).  Instructions are easy and the items you have in the e-book are good basic items one can use all the time. 

I must admit I had to read the jeans (hemmed pants) twice.  I use the first method all the time but re-read the second one where one puts the origianl hem back on.  So easy, so interesting and

definitely makes the jeans look shop like.

Totally impressed with you and e-book.

May you continue with your wonderful style.

Sue

Having never shown another living soul the Doona REfashion

I was keen to share this one
 

 

I use this technique all the time 
and as a consequence have enough Doona Covers to start up a boarding house

but what's a girl to do
when she finds 2 brand new Queen sized Laura Ashley Covers for $10 each

she buys them
and REfashions one into a Single Cover and keeps the other as is.

*
*
*

The decision to share Hemming Jeans 2-ways

was a given 

 

due to it being the most requested skill from novice sewers
- it's an expensive exercise if getting hems done by someone else.
 *
 *
 *
The response to the The Shirt Skirt was phenomenal

 

and when my 12yr old requested one
I knew it would be a winner!
*
*
*
Appliquing is a technique I encourage in the Basics & Beyond classes
as it's a ridiculously simple
and remarkably effective
way to transform a garment from boring to brilliant




If you're interested in having a go at any of the projects
all you need do is
pop over here to the website and sign up for the
Sew Outside the Lines™ newsletter
and even if you're not interested in any of the projects
the newsletter will be the best way to
hear about new workshops, discounts, giveaways, tutorials
and general happenings in & around the Studio

and I can promise you
your inbox will not be inundated with them.

New Website!

Here she is

the much alluded to

greatly anticipated

Sew Outside the Lines™ Website

complete with

the brand new hot off the presses

free E-Book!

With everything in one place

 I now have the opportunity to
answer your questions before you've asked them
explain workshops before you thought you needed to know
and most definitely most importantly
when you subscribe to the newsletter 
you not only receive the E-book with 4 projects designed to help make your sewing experience fun & rewarding
I'll be able to keep you up-to-date with what's happening in & around the Studio

....now with the means by which to present them
online workshops are closer to becoming a reality!

Creative Pod ::: Splice Skirt Workshop

The Workshops involving the creation of garments
from the Sew Outside the Lines™ pattern packages are referred to as

Creative Pods

and our first at the Studio for 2013 was a

 Splice Skirt Workshop 

where metres of fabric were magically transformed into marvellous skirts.

Sarah combined fabrics purchased from the Studio Shop

 

and could easily have inspired my next Splice Skirt in the process.

It's not often I'll have one name outnumber any other in a group
this time it was
 'Jeanette' 

Jeanette R, being a resourceful REinventor, 

created her skirt 

by combining recently purchased fabrics with that from a rescued skirt she had created & worn many years ago.

Jeanette also made a start on her next one!

Jeanette C proved that when you're new to the art of sewing

if you want to create something badly enough

you will

and in the right environment you'll be successful.

  The next round of Creative Pod Workshops are listed in the right hand column of the Blog

they are small groups  
max.4
over 2 days
while indulging in uninterrupted sewing bliss surrounded by like minded souls,
supported in a creatively engaging & encouraging environment.

Contact me to book your spot
Jody - sewoutsidethelines [at] westnet [dot] com [dot] au

What's on the Mannequin - Please Meet ?

Thankyou everyone for the
30 Mannequin name suggestions that came through via fb, email & the blog

I like names that have a story to tell
& when mentioned keep stories alive

names, like smells
evoke certain memories
some pleasant, some not
 names which reminded of a pet dog, a nasty kid from school or a least favourite relative

were eliminated straight away

and because the name has to be snappy without too many consonants
the bigger mouthfuls had to be eliminated also
even though a couple of these I could have easily renamed my children with

and then
my Aunty Sally felt compelled to leave a comment for the first time in my Blogging history
*
and the mannequin was rescued from a Salvos [Sallys] Store
*
however the cruncher came when Judith left this email message today

'...my thought on the mannequin - I like Aunt Sally, she was a mannequin in the kids series Worzzel Gummig (?) - 
she used to cut cake with her hands & shovel whole slices into her mouth.'

I'd now like to introduce you to

*

*

* 

Sally

doing her thing

showing you my latest creation
which you'll be pleased to know

already has a name

the feather frock.

What's on the Mannequin - 2nd Skin

The thing with having a Blog

is that you have to keep at it

up-date regularly

stay interesting

in the hope that more people than just your mother will read it

that they'll enjoy it

come back

stay engaged look forward to

and maybe interact with

said Blog

I've never lost sight of why I started a Blog

so participants in workshops could stay connected 

and I had a means by which to showcase what was possible in my workshops

along with FB, the Blog does this successfully

sometimes a little bit of my other life slips in...but only the good bits

this year 

with my regular workshop updates where I show you what others have created

I would like to introduce a regular Post Spot called
'What's on the Mannequin'

where I show you what I'm creating

to kick this off

I thought it a good idea to introduce you firstly to my Mannequin

my newly covered Mannequin
[who needs a name..we'll get to that later]

she was an Op Shop Rescue
who'd seen better days

I don't use mannequins in any of my creations
I use them only for display
so a second skin was all she required

 

in case you too have an unfortunate looking Mannequin
in need of a 2nd skin
here's a simple mannequin-make-over
which made this transformation possible

Find a clean good quality stretchy T-shirt [cotton/elastane is best]

as you can see I used a long sleeve version however a short sleeve or no sleeve could work as well
a rounded neck is best

in any colour

turn the T-shirt upside down

slide & manipulate into place

start pinning where there is excess
ie. across the shoulders, up the neck & where the sleeves are
you want the skin to be firm so it will take a bit of patient sliding to get the skin off for cutting
 cut off excess remembering to leave 1cm seam allowance
seam down the neck & across the shoulders & secure where the sleeves used to be

 

Slide the skin back on and re-pin any little sticky-out-bits
and give her some shape
re-stitch

now she's ready to look gorgeous no matter what I throw on her...

Doilied T-shirt REfashion in the E-book

now the name

I struggle sometimes when it comes to naming stuff

it took me 2wks to name the eldest daughter

 you all did so well with the naming of the Pop Frock

and if she's going to feature regularly in regular posts

I can't keep referring to her as Mannequin 

and I'd like to do better than Dolly [which is all I can think of]

have you any suggestions for madam...?!

REtreat Pt5 - Last Day & more Creations

These are the last of the photos

taken on the last day

of what I'm sure wont be the last REtreat.

Sue 
took advantage of my pattern making knowledge 
and some of the lovely fabrics I took along
and REcreated a simple slip frock from her wardrobe
into a pattern she will use alot
 

and along with
Judiths latest Piece of Cake
their love of combining colour was never more evident.

Judith
created this Piece of Cake Frock
using a mens Shirt and favourite Ikea fabric

Sue & Judith

and this
Piece of Cake
 by combining a [new] Tea Towel with Echino fabric bought from the Studio Shop



With overseas travel plans in Judiths very near future
easy wear travel friendly REinvents were called for
so an unwearable Skirt was transformed
into a fabulous throw-on-anytime Tunic Top.

Vicky

[the other half of the Splice Girls]

REinvented a pair of unworn Fishermans Pants into this 

delightfully shimmery Frock

and another pair of unwearable Pants
were transformed into a very wearable Skirt

and don't let's forget the Skirt.

There you go

we came

we sewed

we laughed, walked, talked, ate, drank & slept [a bit] & sewed some more.....

and I managed a little creating myself.

Frippery Lace Brooch

Now these wonderful women
who swing in & out of my life
and each others
have gone back to their high powered professional lives

having proved once again 

there is more to sewing than threading a needle

and that creating comes from the soul...

given the opportunity & freedom to explore their creativity
I think you'll agree the results are pretty impressive.

REtreat Pt4 - Creations

It's not until I get home from a REtreat and start editing the photos

that I fully appreciate what was actually achieved

at the time I'm so in the moment that

individual projects meld into one creative whirl.

Each time is different

 the people change - except for Sue whose been to all 3

and even though everyone is there to create

their means of doing so varies

and never more so than this REtreat.

Bree & Sue

The official title was

a Sewing Sleep-over

purely so the emphasis wouldn't be entirely on REinventing

and the girls were encouraged to take the opportunity to indulge in

a combination of reinventing & pattern creating

and that's exactly what they did

in their own way

at their own pace

with me in the background directing traffic.

They're big days
& late nights
full of chat, cheek & creative churnings
which come Sunday

we're ready to share.

Pene 

created her dream Beach Coat

from a gorgeous vintage Candlewick Bedspread.

A too small lolly pink silk skirt was rescued on Friday
and REfashioned on Saturday

with a T-shirt & Tie 

into a super comfy wear anywhere wardrobe staple

and her latest Piece of Cake

was a mix of vintage tablecloth & new fabric 
with lots of applique & machine embroidery.

Bree

is new to sewing
and after a baptism of fire adjusting & re-adjusting this pattern

the newly named Blood Sweat & Tears Dress

 looked stunning and is her new favourite

and her interpretation of a 

Megan Neilson Top
was a winner!

A minor REfashion to a favourite jacket

is all the difference between wearing it and not.

Kate

found time, when she wasn't delighting us with her humor,

to create this stunning Vogue frock

and her latest interpretation of the

Change of Heart Skirt

now known as the

T Pot Skirt

which not only got its own machine embroidered label

it was fripperised as well.

Lara

of Splice Girl fame

turns out is also pretty handy when it comes to choosing fabric

for her first Change of Heart Skirt

and her Op Shop rescued denim skirt
was given a few kick pleats & a new lease on life
with this beautifully executed REfashion.

and the Splice Skirt!

There's more

just waiting on images from someone elses camera [forgot to charge mine for the photo shoot!]

 while we're waiting 

I'd like to also share the beautiful & totally uncalled for flowers I got from the girls as a thankyou.