Intuitive Sewing

Intuitive Sewing would be a really good name for REinventing.

Intuitive because instinctively you're drawn to a specific garment or aspects of it

and even though you may have an idea or a feel 

for how you want that garment to look once REinvented,

most times you never know what you'll have to add to the mix to acheive the finish....

that's where your intuition kicks in and the need to listen to it is practiced

- it's also the main reason for a lack of before & after shots on this Blog.

The latest REinvention to walk out of the Studio was yesterday,

created by Vicky

and if a picture speaks a thousand words Vickys beaming smile speaks volumes

and when you add some happy dancing & girly squeals, along with comments like

"I'll never take this jacket off"

... I know intuitively that REinventing makes a difference.

   

For a look at Vickys Jacket before we REinvented it
and at other finished projects 

created during REinventing your Wardrobe Workshops
and Basics & Beyond

pop over here for a look.

Why would ya sit anywhere else?!

Why would ya
if given the choice
eat lunch anywhere other than outside,

sharing the shade of a Peppermint Tree,

chit chatting about lifes curiosities 

while attending a Sewing Workshop at the Studio.

(l-r Allex, Judith, Inge, Nikki)

 Today is the 2nd day of Summer

and the 1st day of a 2day (All Day Friday) REinventing/Basics & Beyond Workshop

- the girls are creating a storm of 'new' garments,

so much so that I didn't even think of the camera until we sat for lunch.

I'm looking forward to showing off their cleverness next week...

I have new dates up for 2012 - in the side bar of the Blog.

I thought I'd start slowly.....


introduce a couple of options now, then wait to see what happens

and already the Saturday avo classes are full!

REinvented ~Wrap Top~ Give Away

This, my first ever Give Away, has been a long time coming 

and is not just a celebration of 3yrs Blogging,

or a way to show my appreciation to those that frequently pop in for a look at my world, 

it also marks a turning point in my approach to blogging.

Over the next few weeks you will see exciting changes in how I present REinventing to you

& if you join the merry band on Follow Me (right hand column half way down) you'll hear the news first.
 

So without further ado I welcome you to my first ever 

REinventing Give Away
(which probably means I'll do it again).

YeeHaa! 

I'm offering 6 one-of-a-kind REinvented Wrap Tops & I'm giving 3 of them away.

'Paris Punk'

Size 10-12

 'Heritage Rose'

Size 14-18

 'Spring Blossom'

Size 12-16

 'ChocMint Surprise'

Size 14-16+

'Garden Gate'
Size 12-16

'Tree of Life'

Size 12-16

What you need to know & do:

• These garments are all created from pre-loved T-shirt styled Tops, so are stretchy with a soft worn feel & look. The fabric type allows for the size variations. They are either stitched closed across the neck & partially down the front or all the way down, so they are a pull on & off garment. 
• You vote by leaving your name along with a comment, telling me if you've been to my Blog before or not, in the comments box along with your choice of 3 Tops in order of preference ie. (below is an example);

• 1. ChocMint
• 2. Blossom
• 3. Paris Punk

• Don't respond/comment by email - for those that don't have Blogs & have received this Post via email you'll need to click on the title & comment Anonymously, which I've explained in the right hand side (on my blog) underneath the Eco Quilt link - leave your name at the end of the comment so I know who you are in case you're a winner!
• One comment/vote per person. 
• It's open Internationally. 
• The winners will be chosen using the fold n' pick method - with photographic evidence. 
• There will be 3 winners. The first chosen gets their first preference, the 2nd & 3rd people chosen get their preferences in relation to what is left on their lists.
• Closing date is Thursday 5th May.
• Winner announced Friday 6th May on this Blog.
• The Tops that aren't won will be available for sale. 
• Please remember that these REinvented Wrap Tops have been created from pre-loved garments so will come to you in that soft, slightly worn condition that ensures REinvented garments look & feel amazing.
• Click on the links directly below each Top for a more detailed description.

Think I've covered everything.

I hope this works and you like the Tops enough to join in.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

A mixed bag...

It's been a week of high and lows - bit of a mixed bag.

I'd like to thank the small group that braved the elements on Thursday night to attend the third Talk.

I didn't have my loyal side kick to do her modeling thing (she'd got a better offer) however Stella stepped into the breach and modeled her new REinvented coat showing she can more than hold her own in front of a crowd. I don't have a photo of the moment because Dan was too busy listening - after 20yrs why he'd choose that moment is beyond me!

It's always lovely to see my loyal RE-inventors in the crowd especially when they're wearing one of their REcreations, 'cause I can always use a prop

(Neroli wearing her Jumper Wrap from w'shop 2yrs ago & me explaining how she did it)

and I don't mind a photo opportunity!

(Veronica, myself & Yvonne. I'm in this frock & Yvonne is in the outfit she made during PwP)

The response to the article in the paper was disappointing so I was thinking night packing at Coles would be a welcome change. The thought was fleeting because it turns out there are more people that think what I do is worthwhile than those that think they can't be bothered - know what I mean?!
So I'll soldier on....

Stella has been unwell & off school all this week.
The novelty of lazing around at home eating Jelly & stewed apples for breakfast wore off about Thursday so before I headed off to class I gave her some projects, one was to write a short story starting
"When I woke up the sky was purple"
this is what she came up with....


My Grannie, who has been unwell and was recently hospitalised with a mild heart attack and pneumonia, bounced back to celebrate her 98th birthday!
She's another remarkable Leo - probably my favourite!

Moora Winter School

It was a treat to be asked back to conduct my RE-inventing your Wardrobe workshop this year for the Moora Fine Art Society during their annual Winter School.

It was 3days of RE-inventing Nirvana with lots of eating, talking, laughing and sharing - with just a little swearing!

Along with some un-picking

there were seams sewn

techniques mastered

and hurdles overcome

culminating in everyone creating their own individual garments

with smiles on their faces!

Thanks girls
JPx

ps. a special thankyou to Shireen for spoiling me - see you in October!

Taken for granted

You know how sometimes the importance of everyday things have a way of sneaking up on you and other times they hit you right between the eyes.
I've been experiencing a bit of both lately.
I'm going to try and avoid sharing the sledgehammer moments on this blog however I'd like to share a sneaky-tap-you-on-the-shoulder-whipser-in-your-ear-moment I had yesterday when I stopped and looked at my work space at the FAC . This is where I spend every Tuesday morning with my loyal band of RE-inventors.
It's not that I take my workshops here for granted however I haven't taken the time to admire the space in which I conduct them for quite a while.

This room is offically called the 'Function Room' and I share it with whoever else needs it when I don't - like band members before gigs (messy!).

This is the calm before the storm
which I decided to take advantage of & took some photos which act as a visual guide if you're ever around on a Tuesday and want to find us.

Across the road heading into Freo is the Fremantle Swimming/Leisure Centre.

Being that it was once a womens prison there are bars on quite a few windows

on the other side of the room is the 'grassed area' where the bigger name concerts are held.

Out my door directly across the hall is the back stairs

leading down to the main gallery area

where at the moment an exhibition called 'Secret Life of Plants' is on display -

it's very pretty and not at all pretentious, unlike some of the art-for-arts-sake exhibits the FAC houses...

I could live with any of these.

Then around the corner is the main Gallery corridor leading up to reception and out the door to the carpark and home.

This staircase is the main one heading up to the floor above
which is where all the workshop rooms are
so in actual fact this is where you'd start.

Typical of me to do it backwards!

Fashion Talk #2

The Photographer stayed home, too sick to get out of bed, so Stella put her hand up to be offical photographer on the night.
Needless to say, at 8, her photographic skills, combined with my little (lousy) digital camera were never going to produce images at Dans level.

I do like this one where she has captured that grin of Elizas, which at 16 we don't seem to see alot of these days.

After editing out the ones with my mouth open (of which there were a lot!), close ups of buttons, my boots, backs of heads and some that were unrecognisable, this is what is left.

A shame as there was a significant crowd, more than last, not bad for word of mouth. I can report that it was another great night with comments written on the evaluation sheets like

Inventive
Exceptional
Inspiring
& better than expected.

I do need to work on presentation as I did talk for an hour and half, which was too long. There is so much to take in that I think it can be overwhelming for some.
This time I did mingle more with the girls after the talk advising on what could be done with their garment choices, which I enjoyed and I know they all appreciated.
The Store did well, taking more in an hour than they do in a day...again!

A big thankyou to Jo - she took charge of meeting & greeting, ticking off names & keeping Stella busy which allowed me the freedom to focus on the Talk. Also my apologies to the RE-inventors in the audience, for not getting them to stand up for show-&-tell!

~*~ the FASHION TALK ~*~

The first ever
'REinventing Fashion Talk'
in an Op Shop 

drew quite a crowd...

I was so nervous 
and trying hard not to think about talking about myself (so I didn't)

knowing that once I got started talking about the clothes...

they'd have to drag me out of there!

Eliza was a star...

as were Eleanor & Laine

and thankyou to everyone that came along thinking RE-inventing was worth finding out about
and to my RE-inventors for their support

I gathered from the response & interest shown after the talk that

no one left disappointed

least of all the Salvos Store
 they sold as much in 2hrs as they would in a whole day!

It was worthwhile on many levels for many reasons
so we're doing it again!

Visitor

We had the privilege of Miss Millies company yesterday.

Kylie dropped her off in the avo and headed home for a spot of R&R for a couple of hours.

She came back smelling of peppermint & looking super-model-gorgeous in her beautiful envelope skirt (there are before and after images here).

My girls were besotted!
Surprisingly 'cause there was a lot of puking going on and Stella for one is known to gag at the smell of seafood.

I'd forgotten how much you can't get done with a baby around especially when they're as adorable as this!

I had in my mind that while Miss Millie was visiting I'd do some sewing - Ha Ha!

This little pile is in readiness for RE-inventing!
There are also some Blushouse skirts under the machine as I speak....