Open Studio & Shop

If you needed an excuse

to get out of the house this weekend 

the Studio Shop is open

Saturday 1-5pm

19 Sussex Street, Spearwood

along with

vintage lace peg dolls

stuffed in tea cups

there's mens ties
lounging in baskets

fabrics & bed covers

 folded on shelves, rolled in a cot

and stacked in suitcases

 

there's also
buttons, bias binding & books
clothes, patterns, pictures
tea pots, tablecloths
& tea towels... 

Making :: Farmhouse Frock Samples

Occasionally I make clothes for myself

if not a REinvention 
then a design that's spinning round in my head

the process of turning an idea into a garment
using tradional patternmaking techniques
takes more time than REinventing 
and results in a variety of samples being created along the way

usually the first sample shows up the faults you'd like to correct

like too much fullness

which in the next sample you have fun removing 
by tucking, folding & embroidering

 enjoyable however far too long winded to be ideal 

after another couple of goes at removing the fullness 

 the pattern is perfect

which then leaves room for getting creative

like adding mens trousers as pockets
or
mens leather belts as straps 

The next stage in the process for me

is to create a Farmhouse Frock pattern for everyone to use

which I can then add to the

Sew Outside the Lines™ family. 

~~~oo0oo~~~

The Studio Shop is open again this Saturday

1-5pm

with new treasure making an appearance.

Friday Workshops - Pillows, Pants & Tie Collars

One of the biggest thrills I get from conducting workshops
is that I never know who's going to book in 
or what projects are going to walk through the doors

not entirely true 
because if you book a spot in Basics & Beyond 
I have complete control over the projects
just not your creative interpretation of them
and I will always give you the opportunity 
to discuss any projects you would like to undertake
before you arrive for the first class

so after recovering from the initial shock of Ruths phonecall
and her booking in for a workshop  
as it had been quite a few years since we last spoke
and as far as I knew Ruth didn't know what a sewing machine was
I was able to reflect on how significantly serendipitous our meeting again was going to be

Ruth gave me my first workshop gig
 at the Fremantle Art Centre a hundred years ago 
and now as I am about embark on the next stage in the journey
Ruth will be here at the end 
'swings & roundabouts'

turns out Ruth is pretty proficient with a pair of scissors
 & a sewing machine

and as she works her way through

the Basics & Beyond projects

her skills will improve 

and confidence will grow

allowing her to add yet another creative element to the already many creative abilities she has

as she embarks on the next phase in her journey

~~~ oo0oo ~~~

Rennae loves clothes

and we make patterns so she can wear more of them

clothes love her in return
because lets face it 
Rennae is one of those people who would look good in a paper bag

however her very active work & social life

means everything we make, gets worn

which is about as rewarding as it gets for me

…thanks Rennae 

~~~ oo0oo ~~~

Sue joined us for one Friday

so she could create a Tie Collar

 I'm not sure if it was Sues eagerness to have one of her own

or because these days

I'm alot more familiar with how to put them together 

a bit of both I think

because by the end of the day

Sue was well on her way to completing her third!

and now that she knows how
I've no doubt there will be more! 

~~~ oo0oo ~~~

As I type this 

there is one spot left 

in the All Day Friday Workshop ...

in fact it's the only spot left for the Term!

Weekend Workshop - What They Wore

During the weekend workshop

Antionette joined us for the first time
and created a REinventing storm

starting with an op shop sourced
 too-small shirt

we REinvented into the perfect-fit Top
by adding the sleeves into the sides

and 
a pure silk floaty-like-butterfly-wings 
too-small frock

transformed into a wear anywhere
pure silk floaty-like-butterfly-wings
perfect-fit tunic

complete with 
twisted rose detail highlighting the neckline

the last piece finished during the 2days

was the piece Antionette wore home

a two-tops-that-don't-fit 

REinvented into

one-top-that-does fit perfectly

 

---oo0oo---

can't believe I didnt get a shot of the pattern Kate used 
to create her gorgeous 1930's styled cotton top



there were a few minor hiccups along the way

nothing reading & cutting the pattern correctly
and Frippery
 wont fix

and it's always good to keep an open mind 

when it comes to what you're actually going to make when you come here

the black linen fabric Kate thought would make great pants
was decided would make a better wrap tunic


 

complete with twisted rose detail

if you were thinking about joining us for the only 

2day Weekend Workshop left for this Term

the details are here.

Frippery Goes with Everything

...in case there was any doubt.

Found here.

A New Design & Workshops

I'm working on a new design

which I'll wear

to this weeks Friday workshop 

and with all week up my sleeve

to work on the second & third prototypes 

I'll have something to wear for the weekend classes

want to join us

 for one day 

or two 

Details on the Website.

Home Sweet Home

Ever had a holiday that lingers

like a good book or movie
where you're still mulling it over days later

that's the effect the 2days/2nights away from home
has had on me

even though it only takes 5hrs to drive to Freddys family farm



we were so far removed from our normal day-to-day
that we could have been on another planet



and with everything that is going on around here at the moment
it was a welcome relief to be surrounded by new sights, sounds & experiences

like the evening we drove around the dams
pulling in the Yabbie Traps
 Freddy had set that morning





keeping the biggest

 

and letting the bubbas go

and the detour on the way back to the ranch,
through wheat fields as far as the horizon,

to check out the 100+yr old Wedge Tail Eagle nest

which wasn't just a thrill because it's huge & ancient
or because it's still being used 

by the same family of Eagles

it was listening to the impromptu biology & bio-diversity lesson the girls got

did you know Wedge Tail Eagles eat other birds?!

there were plenty of bonding moments

where old friendships were rekindled

indulged

and new ones blossomed

there was some time for quiet time

with needle & thread

surrounded by stillness

under big skys

in a constant cloud of relaxation 
that can only be felt
when you know someone else is doing the cooking

which was almost as enjoyable 

as watching the Dads enjoying the company of their daughters

and each other

the only regret I have is not getting one photo 
of the yummy Yabbies we enjoyed for lunch...

we'll just have to go back!