Weekend Workshop - Show & Tell

It was a thrill
 to be able to throw the Studio doors open 
this weekend for another 
Sew What You Like Workshop
and have familiar faces & new join me...

Sarah arrived with a few projects to undertake
such as, turning Liberty fabrics
into Bunting




christmas fabrics into stockings
for family



and an Athropologie Doona cover REfashion, 
from Super King Sized to normal King Sized 
using the technique I share
in my E-book



***
Bree had the best news EVER
and made two skirts to celebrate

 *** 

Wendy was the new girl

who in the one day she was able to join us

created her own stunning artistic interpretation of the

Splice Skirt

using fabrics found in the Studio Shop.

***
Jo Anne

created her newest 

Piece of Cake Tunic

by combining an existing op shop sourced too big blouse

 and favourite newly purchased fabric

and along with some patterning

Jo Anne came with show & tell
while working on the finishing touches to already 
REinvented-at-Home creations.

Sailor Girl, Stitched, Wired, Mushroom

It was a great couple of days
where the weather was kind
the food fabulous



and the company contagious

and with building plans 

seemingly crawling at snails pace

I'm hopeful of being able to sneak in at least one more

workshop…

if you're interested in joining us
for a 
Spring Sew What You Like Workshop
let me know…
they can't knock the joint down if we're still sewing!

JaM - What's on the Mannequin

or what have you been

sewing

making

baking
or

thrifting

this week!

  In between workshops starting back up

and me showing others how to create & REcreate garments for themselves
 I managed to create something for myself.

Using the Splice Skirt pattern for the base I created the first

'Stand ya Ground Skirt'

(Front or Back)

so named because when you're wearing it you can't be shying away 

it'll give you the confidence to stand your ground and face whatever's coming at ya -  
head on!

oh yeah...

it's been crazy round here the past few weeks

and I can see this skirt getting a pretty good work out!

(Back or Front)

All the Sew Outside the Lines™ patterns 

are extremely versatile 

lending themselves to varieties of adaptations - your imagination is your limit.

 In the Splice Skirt pattern package 

you get 2 pattern variations which you can turn into

over 8 different styles of skirt

all reversible!

This one is a mish-mash of different fabrics 

including a tea towel, table cloths & fabric remnants,

it has one seam 

and everything else has been free machine embroidered together....

 

What fun! 

Would be lovely if you shared your latest projects - Linky is below :)

And then there were Three...patterns!

Got a cuppa - this could take a while...

I'll try & keep it brief ...

When I first started conducting Learn to Sew workshops at the Fremantle Art Centre, students would copy my Vilene patterns, for the projects I had designed.

 I decided early that the projects needed to appeal to first time sewers (those who had never seen a sewing machine before) and those wanting to enhance existing skills, so I created the
LTS Basics & Beyond Pattern which consists of 7 projects;

Journal Cover, Satchel Bag, Quilt, Liza Top, Liza Pants, Button & Zip Cushions.

The LTS Basics & Beyond pattern is now a paper printed pattern, however at the moment it's still only available to those attending workshops.

As students progressed through the projects and gained confidence, developing more advanced skills, it was evident that they needed another project to stretch them.
Being a workshop environment, where time is of the utmost importance, I required a project that would appeal to a wide audience, while giving each student the ability to create a garment as individual as they are.

I've always believed if you can stitch a straight line, insert a zip & sew a buttonhole you can create anything with your sewing machine, so after adding a few other essential techniques, like attaching bias binding and stitching darts, the Change of Heart Skirt was born, along with the workshops of the same name.

(The first Change of Heart Skirt I ever made)

These workshops have proved to be one of my most popular and 7wks ago a REinventor I hadn't seen for 8yrs joined a group. Denise owns & operates Hot Possum and 5mins into the workshop she tapped me on the shoulder and ordered 50 skirt patterns!

(CoH Skirt Workshop - Nicole, Jennifer, Michelle, Denise)

 I said yes.
It then took 2wks to turn a 1 sided A4 sheet of basic instructions into a 13pg detailed A4 book(let).
It helped having a dead-line - they had to be ready in time for the launch of Denises new quilt patterns at the Perth Craft & Quilt Show.

(Denise wearing one of her CoH Skirts behind her stand & the patterns, at the Perth C&Q Fair)

During the past 7wks I've achieved the same thing with the Splice Skirt & the Piece of Cake Frock and would like to apologise if your pattern isn't folded very well - folding at 2am is tricky!

The inspiration for the 3 designs have come from various sources however the idea for the Piece of Cake Frock came directly from a REinvention I created earlier this year.

(REinvention inspiration for the PoC Frock)

This pattern seemed to take the longest to complete because during these 7wks my soul-mate/computer guru decided to take a job as faraway from me as possible, leaving instructions on how to use Illustrator - hahaha was what I said (no it's not) and on his return he sorted out that which I couldn't.
I would also like to mention at this point the pain I went through in naming this particular pattern and the angst I felt because it's such a simple design.
Names for me are very important and like naming my children, naming the patterns has proved to be as thought provoking - they have to live with these names for the rest of their natural life -
it's a huge responsibility.
When it came time to send the pattern off for the final print I was embarrassed by its simplicity and I thought seriously about putting a zip in the back, just to make it seem more worthy of being a fair-dinkum pattern. I'm glad I didn't coz it's perfect as is, simple after all is best - in fact if I was to change the name I'd confidently call it the  
Perfect Piece of Cake Frock.

These 2 patterns had to be done & dusted in time for the Sydney Craft & Quilt Show.
I love a dead-line and have known for a long time that I do my best work under pressure!

(Packaging patterns in the Studio)

 I was compelled to contact Denise not long after she'd received the last of the patterns, thanking her for helping to make my dream become a reality, her response was, 'sometimes life sends you the people you need in your life when you don't know that you need them' - hallelujah!



For those of you unable to get your hands on a copy of the patterns because you're a little old fashioned like myself and like to physically hold and look at something before parting with your money then go ask your favourite fabric store to contact me and get them in!
If you're in Sydney this week and you especially want the Splice Skirt pattern you'd better hurry because Denise left a message this morning and she's afraid there wont be any by tomorrow!
The other options are my online shop and Denises.

Description: a semi-fitted A-line Skirt, with a relaxed fall, attached to a reversible Front Panel - essentially it's two skirts in one.

Suitable for: intermediate beginner- advanced sewer. Suitable for REinvention applications.

Pattern Package contains: full sized paper pattern in 5 sizes (8-16). 13pg detailed instruction booklet with diagrams, glossary and fabric layout guides for fabric with & without nap.

Description: a multi-layered flared a-line skirt, which is stitched & cut to create a textured finish. Finished garment sits around the midriff, with side zip opening and bias binding waist.
Suitable for: intermediate - advanced sewer.
Pattern Package contains: full sized paper pattern for 2 skirt variations (horizontal & vertical - refers to textured finish) in your choice of size (8-10, 12-14, 16 or 18). 8pg detailed instruction booklet with diagrams, glossary and fabric layout guides for both bias & straight grain cutting options.

Description: relaxed fit, easy-wear sleeveless, shaped Empire-line Dress in 2 lengths (Frock & Tunic), featuring boat-neck styled front Bodice & cut-away back neck, featuring 2 comfort pleats in the a-line skirt section.

Suitable for: beginner - advanced sewer.

Pattern Package contains: full sized paper pattern for 2 variations in length (Frock - longer, Tunic - shorter), in 5 sizes (8-18). 9pg detailed instruction booklet with diagrams, glossary and fabric layout guides.

All you require to succeed with your Sew Outside the Lines™ pattern 

is a desire to create, 

the curiosity to look a little further 

and the courage to step outside the lines...

 These three members of the family are just the beginning...

Another Splice Skirt

Here's another one...just like the other one...

 

only different.

The Splice Skirt pattern package comes with two skirt options (Vertical & Horizontal), in your size - well it will, when I get them folded!

Contact me for purchasing details - if you have a bricks & mortar shop or a floating around in cyber space shop and would like to stock my patterns, that would be nice! 

Splice Skirt Photoshoot with a Twist...

This past week has been a blur of prickly little disasters, all involving & threatening the burgeoning pattern designing & producing career - I look forward to that day when I can sit back & laugh about it. 

With some trepidation I asked the teenager to help out with some photos of the Splice Skirt - needed for the cover of the same.

 

 

 

 Not only did she turn a frown upside down, she came up with a whole new way to wear the Skirt!

It's Sunday

   Weird - this is one of the first Sundays that's felt like a Sunday should...for a long time.

Not sure why exactly because it's really no different to other Sundays, in that it's a working day for me. My weekends these days are Thursday & Friday.

It could have something to do with being a one-parent-family at the moment, which has me seeing life as we knew it, a little differently.

Stella is making the most of the last day of the weekend by doing a spot of baking this avo while still in her PJ's.

I'm thrilled she has REdiscovered a REinvention I created for her 2yrs ago. When it comes to clothes her taste is quite eclectic and doesn't always extend itself to footwear.
It's actually a touchy subject in the house at the moment - shoes.
She fell at school on Friday because her untied shoe lace ended up under a friends foot (one of the two shoe laces she is constantly asked to tie up...by me), as she was about to take a step down stone stairs - she broke her fall with her right hand and chin.
I'd show you the wounds however on pain-of-death I've promised not to put the photos on the blog.
Luckily, nothing broken, just some bark missing & very bruised in a number of places

Eliza is working on her last assignment (ever in her whole life she hopes!), while trawling the internet looking for inspiration for the tattoo she can't live without , while still in her PJ's.

If we could find where we put Rosies PJ's she'd have hers on too - it's a bit chilly and she's tuckered out after a run & swim at the beach this morning.

Me - I've been out of my PJ's for hours. 

These patterns aren't going to fold themselves!

The hardest decision I've had to make today is whether or not to wear the same skirt 2 days in a row.

 This is my new Splice Skirt I created especially to go with my new Doc Martens and I wore it to yesterdays class and because it turns out there's alot of things in my wardrobe that go with these boots I've decided to go with this look instead...

 

 ...an oldy but a goody!

Wishes to you, for a lazy, pyjama clad Sunday...

Splice Skirts

    Studio Workshops;

18th, 25th Feb., & 11th March - Fully Booked

26th, 27th & 28th April - Fully Booked

22nd, 23rd & 24th July

14th, 15th & 16th Oct.

15th, 16th & 17th Dec.

10am-2pm

$230

includes Sew Outside the Lines™ Splice Skirt Pattern with 2 style variations, in your size!

Splice Skirts - a Pod

This skirt is the one garment in my wardrobe that still after 5yrs is guaranteed to get strangers talking to me about sewing.
It is also the skirt that made me wear skirts, as it's such a flattering, wearer friendly style.

I've never encouraged anyone to make it before, not because it's difficult, it's just time consuming, as precision is the key to its success and with it being at an Intermediate plus level on the Sewing Capabilities Scale it isn't for the faint-hearted either.

I'm introducing it as my first Sewing Pod.
A one day workshop dedicated to creating a Splice Skirt and guaranteed to have you wanting more.
Which brings me to the next exciting part of the 'pod' journey as it's my first commercially produced pattern with each student receiving one of their own because as I discovered, once you've made one you want 3!

Please email me if you are interested in joining us - jodypearl@westnet.com.au