Jigsaw Jackets - Intuitive Sewing

The Jigsaw Jacket Workshops were a first

there were 2 of them

running on consecutive Fridays and Saturdays for 4wks

each group consisted of 4 participants

Judith, Alex, Jeanette & Inge
Kate, Jeanette, Sue & Rosie
[Kate & Alex aren't in photos due to them missing on the last day]

The girls arrived with bags of fabric, garments, buttons & trims

some favourite treasures 

some acquired more recently
some appropriate some not quite

As much as everyone wanted to create an interesting Jacket

we all know sewing is as much about the journey as the destination

and it was the playing with combining different fabrics, colours & textures that was intriguing to everyone. 

Having created these jackets for years I know there is a formula to follow 

so armed with the girls faith in my knowledge 

we sorted, traced, cut, sewed and occassionally unpicked our way
to the end of the journey.  

l-r Judith, Jeanette, Inge

Judiths Jacket is a combination of Op shop sourced Tweed Jackets & skirts & doily edging

and I'm hoping it's going to fit in her suitcase 

and we'll get snaps of it in front of famous spots throughout Europe.

Jeanettes Jacket was a combination of Op shop sourced napkins, a skirt, lace trim and filed fabric

which all blended beautifully

and looked fabulous with her REinvented Jeans Skirt.

There might also be some snaps of Jeanette wearing her Jacket

while visiting family in Europe.

From memory Inge used mostly upholstery fabrics for her Jacket

and was one of the few to opt for the pockets and cuffs.

Inge wore her latest Change of Heart Skirt to the last workshop

which was a perfect match!

Both Inge and Jeanette managed to make a start on their next ones!

Inges from vintage Curtains

and

Jeanettes from a vintage Bedspread.

 

Jeanette C who is the newest to sewing 

was the first to finish

[not that it was competition]

and her Jacket was created completely from [pre]existing garments.

Rosie really wanted to incorporate an old beautifully tailored pure wool Jacket 

which had been lovingly filed in the back of the wardrobe for years

so we did

combining it with new & filed fabrics, jackets and a lace top

we also managed to retain 

the beautiful hand crafted welt button holes & hand stitched buttons.

Sue created a light weight Jacket by combining fabric remnants and garments

which complimented one another fabulously.

It's remarkable how different everyone interpreted the same pattern
how unique each Jacket is
and how the personality of each person is captured in the one garment.

It was exhausting
 with 15 pattern pieces in total this was a challenging project

 thank goodness I had the foresight to envisage it would take us 4wks to comfortably finish a Jacket

 everyone left the Studio on a high
bursting with a new found confidence in their ability to create intuitively


and I can't wait to do it again!

Catching my Breath.

Wow what a week

what a wonderful cranked up, full speed and loud few weeks it's been

and now with everyone wearing their Jigsaw Jackets
 Stellas High School testing completed
and a whole workshop free week up my sleeve

 I'm taking a breather

having a cuppa [or 15]

soaking up the last of the colour from the garden
[although the bulbs are already poking their heads up]

waiting to be entertained every afternoon around 4-5pm

before kicking back of an evening with a bit of Frippery or two

During the days when I'm not fulfilling domestic goddess duties
I'll finish off and start new projects for the Winter Wardrobe

and then of course
there's the hundreds of photos from the Jigsaw Jacket Workshops to edit and share

before the start of Term 2

phew.... I need another cuppa!

Rescued Op Shop Treasure

Is it okay to post on Anzac Day?

Even though I didn't head off at 5am to the local memorial service

I was up at 4am farewelling my man

with a cuppa & an Anzac Biscuit

as he headed off to the 'trenches' for the next 2wks...

I figure that gives me brownie points enough to warrant sharing the latest 

Op shopping rescued treasure.

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I was spoilt yesterday 

my sister took me on an Op shopping excursion with my Dad 

Stella reluctantly tagged along due to school holidays and me not letting her stay home alone

turns out my chldren are op shopping rebels

they passionately don't like them [as in would rather sit in the car reading] - 

I don't let it stop me

Fell in love with this hand knitted feather & fan salmon pink woollen Top

[possibley] for it's REinventing potential

and how well does it go with the vintage bark cloth bag I rescued a couple of weeks ago

[now sitting unpicked & soaking in nappy stuff before being filed ready for...something]

 

The fully lined cotton Pea Coat is going to get worn to death during the Winter of 2013.

 

Not so sure about the Nicola Waite skirt -

possible REinvention or REfashion on the cards for this one

the colour and fabrics are gorgeous however not sure the style is me.

And the books

one of the Op Shops yesterday was flogging them 5 for $2

 I did my best to get my monies worth

the partially nibbled, pink rose paper covered one was the highlight 

 which I'm going to enjoy flicking through today

and look forward to sharing.

     

Last Sewing Bee - Ep.4

The last one for a while...

they're looking for new starters though

and the criteria for getting a guernsey is interesting.

Pop-up Workshop Up-date.

Conducting workshops is a tricky business

you need to manipulate & adapt 

while trying not to turn yourself inside out

A perfect example of making it work

when faced with requests out of the ordinary

are my new Thursday classes

Basics & Beyond/REinventing
16th May - 4th July

9:30 - 2:30 - 2 spots

or

 9:30 - 12:30 - 2 spots

or

12:30 - 2:30pm - 2 spots

[Contact me for pricing details]

I'm never sure the best way to share what is happening in the Studio

 on Facebook, on the Website, in a Newsletter or here

so today I'm doing it here [on the blog] and here... 

The Tie Collar & Bib Workshop 

 Friday 10th May

9:30 - 2:30

$125 - 1 spot FULL

REinventing

All Day Friday

17th May - 5th July

9:30 - 2:30

$580 - 1 spot

The Going Home Coat

REinventing 

Saturday

18th May - 6th July
11:30 - 2:30

$360 - 2 spots

Inge wearing her Liza Pants from pattern package

   

Basics & Beyond

Saturday
3 - 6pm

18th May - 6th July

$385 [with ptn package] - 2 1 spot

Whichever you decide suits you best

you'll have fun doing it. 

Alex in her own design created during Basics & Beyond

The Frock with No Name

I made a frock

I love this frock

this frock will be my go-to-frock for Winter 

I'll make more 

and layer them

with long slips, pants, boots and cardys 

I scooped the hem a little at the front 

gave it a wide hem

and faced the hem with a vintage apron

just wish I could think of name for her...

any ideas?

Sunday Sewing Bee Marathon

This is as creative as I got on this rainy Sunday
 in my Pj's
under the Doona
watching all 3 episodes of the

 The Great British Sewing Bee 

wanna join me.

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Thursday Basic & Beyond Workshop

That didn't take long!

After teminating my time at Tresillian on Thursdays 

at the beginning of Term1 I started offering the same here at the Studio 

 although there was some interest it was never quite enough to make it viable

that was until now

Basics & Beyond

Thursdays [8wks]

16th May - 4th July

9:30-12:30

$385 

[inc. pattern package & all the tea you can drink] 

and all of a sudden there's only 2 spots left!

If you're thinking Thursdays could work for you 

then pop over here to see what's possible when you know how.

Mothers Day :: Tie Collar & Bib Workshop

A brand new Workshop to warm up Winter

and celebrate Mothers Day

create stunning sculptural neck pieces

to compliment any outift  

create one piece or two

by selecting the dates which best suit you

Limited spots available.

What's on Sally :: Blast from the Past

Rebecca came and camped over the weekend
bringing a bag of treasure

inspired by recent posts I've written about my creations from the past
Reb wanted me to share a few of the ones I've made for her over the years
including an Op shop surprise score

It was the strangest sensation as Reb pulled each garment from her bag of tricks
and I started to remember the fabrics
and the conversations around the making of each one
it was like old friends had come to visit.

Come for a wander with me
while I try and remember
what went where & when....

This Apron Wrap 
[with not much wrapping going on]
was created from antique embroidered & silk fabrics Rebecca brought back from India
[10yrs ago?]

This Apron Wrap was REinvented 

using vintage Fishermans Pants & fabrics 

some sourced in Fremantle and others brought back from India

the mirrors are real glass and the embroidery all done by hand.

As with any garments commissioned by Rebecca
I was given free reign

and from memory I'm pretty sure this Jigsaw Jacket started with the vintage glass beading
which ended up being the border round the sleeves
other fabrics I recognise came from
vintage bedspreads, embroidered Saris and favourite garments

and this 

fully lined plush velvet Jacket 

featuring winged cupids & angels

was created about 20yrs ago

from a vintage Italian bedspread

which was serendipitously 
  rescued by Rebecca from her local Op Shop

and as uncanny as that is
even with the jacket missing a button
the most amazing thing I noticed is

 neither have aged a day in the past 20yrs!

I love it when friends visit.