Create - It's What We Do

Sorry no MakeOver Monday today

instead I wanted to share what's been going on downstairs in the Studio 

I'm a little embarrassed & sad 

that with all the creating that goes on here

 I'm unable to share anywhere near the amount of photos I used to

totally due to the temporary [we wont be renting forever!] lack of good light 

and any decent spots where the girls can do their super model thing

for anyone who's been before I'm pretty sure you'll get a sense of the familiar

and for those that haven't

here's a glimpse of how it works and what goes on...

they came 

not only for the homemade deliciousness

or the candid chats about kids, blokes & crafty stuff 

as always it was to slow down 

leaving the world outside the door

in order to do what we do best

create

and bond

Leonie, Jenny, Marie

Kate, Rennae, Inge & Alex

Meg & Sue

to focus on what's important in that moment

and to lift each other up

so that at the end of the day 

we get to feel as good as we look!

Kate & Alex at lunch 

It's always bittersweet at the end of a workshop 

when everyones packed up & headed back out into the big wide world

some I know will return while others will stay in touch 

and I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to share time & space with every single one...

if you'd like to join us for the next Workshop

 new dates are up on the website.

Only 1 spot left!

MakeOver Monday - Sewing Swocks

'MakeOver Monday' 
... sharing how I cut up & REmake items from my wardrobe 
in the hope you'll pick up scissors & start cutting up yours!

What do you call a Jumper, Sweater or Jersey

attached to a Shirt, Skirt or Frock

Shumper? Skumper? Frumper?

nup

they're a Swock [sweater frock]

after creating the original Swock

I knew I'd have trouble stopping

and have since created another 3!

  

Sweater - Skirt

a couple have pockets 
and others have the buttons stitched down at the back

Sweater - Frock

they've fast become my go-to-winter-wardrobe staple

they're quick to make
perfect with leggings & jeans

are incredibly comfy while keeping me warm

and go with ALL THE boots.

sweater - [hubbys] shirt

If you'd like your own Swock

I've created a detailed step-by-step 4page pdf for easy download

which is available in the Shop…

without the need for pattern cutting, garment sizing and fabric buying
you'll never look at sweaters, jumpers, jerseys or shirts the same way again
and will be REinventing yours 
& possibly your loved ones wardrobes in no time.

A Letter about a REinvent

Dear A & K,

thankyou for having enough faith in me to ask if I'd work out how to make this picture a reality in time for your next class.

image credit

I'm not sure if you realised just how excited I was for you to leave that day so I could start cutting up shirts & jumpers 

and after selecting a couple of volunteers that's what happened. 

It's been a while since an idea for a  REinvent had me racing to the finish line and even though in reality it wasn't my idea 

it was none the less refreshing to be looking forward to a project that didn't involve another tunic. 

It happens on occassion where you can see the process laid out before you like a road map and all you have to do is stick to the speed limit dodging any obstacles that might happen along the way.

With all eyes on the prize I was confident enough to start taking photos 

excited to share the journey with you in class

and everyone else via a MakeOver Monday post

the other volunteers

after hours of repeated cutting, pinning, trying on & taking off 

and the selection of two more volunteers

I have to admit to using your names in vain 
as I could see that road along with the idea disappearing over a cliff...

sorry girls some ideas don't work
[and some people look good in a paper bag]

it turns out the bottom of a jumper stitched to the top of a shirt is one of them

gravity is a bitch and as soon as you move the whole thing ends up like a straight jacket

even shaped it not only looked ridiculous it was uncomfortable

to say I was disappointed is an understatement 

on a personal level it would've made a great sample for an up-&-coming teens workshop 

and I knew how much you both wanted it in your winter wardrobes

 so I took my own advice before binning/refiling it

I walked away returning the following morning less pissed off with fresh eyes 

and came up with the

Shumper 'Swock'

so thrilled was I with the outcome I retrieved the original and did a similar thing

which Sue kindly modelled during Saturdays class

I wasn't sure about the pockets 

however am totally convinced now.

So there you have it.

Moral to the story

on the rare occassion that some books make better movies
it happens that some garments make better photos...
meaning a shift in perspective can make all the difference 

look forward to seeing you soon and hearing your thoughts.

Love, Jody x

ps. not sure I'm able to stop!

MakeOver Monday - The Short Story of Two Wooly Skirts

'MakeOver Monday' 
... sharing how I cut up & REmake items from my wardrobe 
in the hope you'll pick up scissors & start cutting up yours!

2 wooly skirts literally leapt from the back of the wardrobe 

as they excitedly volunteered themselves

for this weeks MakeOver Monday

like me they recognised they'd make better tunics than skirts

and that's exactly what happened

before I knew it 

armholes were cut

necklines played with

& accessories made
[just like this one]

[Frippery Brooch made from scraps using machine & hand embroidery] 

and two neglected back-of-the-wardrobe skirts

are now much favoured warm-as-hugs tunics

[the machine embroidery was created when I first REfashioned the original skirt 10yrs ago] 

If you'd like to do similarly with volunteers from the back of your wardrobe

a spot has become available on these dates at the Spearwood Studio

Winter Wardrobe Workshop

 31st May, 7th, 8th & 14th June

9-3pm

come for a day or stay for four!

$480 [4 days]

$145 per day

Next Week

another enthusiastic volunteer

the leather straps have to go

and she's too long...

I do love the crinkly wool and will try and keep as much of the printed bits

thinking a mens tie might make it's way into this one.

MM - The Ruby Red Cardy That Was a Jumper

'MakeOver Monday' 
... sharing how I cut up & REmake items from my wardrobe 
in the hope you'll pick up scissors & start cutting up yours!

What to do 

when your new frock doesn't have a cardy to match...

you make one that does

turns out red is a hard colour to capture on an iPhone

having picked a colour in the frock to try and match 

it was a ruby red jumper which volunteered

due to the open light weight semi-ruched nature of the cotton jumper

 it was essential that some hand sewing happened on the couch

the walking foot was attached to the Bernina

& differential feed was dialled in on the Bernette 
to help avoid any unwanted stretching

the front band was the bottom edge of the jumper 
- this is the best representation of the actual colour

and as luck would have it [or fate!]

my keen treasure rescuing eye

caught a glimpse of 6 perfect 'light garnet' coloured thread spools 
tossed in the bottom of a bin

 to help get the job done

note to any op shop bosses who might stumble upon this post
PLEASE stop pricing stuff with PERMANENT MARKER
not only is it annoying for the purchaser
to have their treasure permenantly defaced
it's disrespectful
to the person who took the time to donate said treasure
- it's lazy and did I mention annoying!

 rant over...

I couldn't be happier with my perfect

ruby red cardy

which it turns out goes with this frock and a few others!

Next Week

These wooly skirt's will be tunics...

I hope! 

Winter Wardrobe Workshop

Update : these classes are now FULL!

There's new dates for the 

ALL DAY Winter Wardrobe Workshop

available on the website...

you can come for a day or stay for 4 

 the choice is yours!

Opera Wrap

Grab the opportunity to breath new life into old favourites

create new favourites from scratch

or make Opera Wraps for every day of the week.

Hope to hear from you.

Warm regards,

Jody x

MM - The Little Red Dress That Was a Skirt

'MakeOver Monday' 
... sharing how I cut up & REmake items from my wardrobe 
in the hope you'll pick up scissors & start cutting up yours!

Sometimes a REinvent sneaks up on you...

while mucking around making a wrap pattern over the weekend

I REdiscovered

a rescued Miranda Brown Conscious Cloth soft-as-butter merino wool too-small skirt 
tucked up at the bottom of a cupboard 

 and thought I could use it to sample the new wrap pattern
while having a bit of fun  

so without another thought 
I started prepping her for REinventing

and before I knew it I'd cut off the waist & removed the zip

meaning I had to re-pin her in order to get some before shots

next came armhole placement

this took a bit of deliberating because once there's holes in the middle of the fabric

 there's no going back...

after leaving the room a couple of times and a couple of cuppas later

I opted for a not so high neck, 

giving me more length 

& the stripes coming up higher in the front

I was already aware of a few nibbled holes along the back zippered seam 
which had been cut away without interferring with the design

however it wasn't until about now 

that I discovered a teeny one centre front

which threatened to derail the whole project

I figured I'd soldier on

and when she was finished
ignore the hole

or work on adding darning to my repoitoire 

of make-do-and-mend skills...

it was only after laying out every length of bias binding in the place 
without finding a match to finish the edges
that I decided to retain the original skirt lining

lining runs a 2nd to bias 

as my preferred way to finish edges

it hides a multitude of sins

and especially helps a woollen garment sit & feel better 

and after all, at the end of the day

if you feel good

you'll look good

especially 

if it means you get to wear your favourite red boots!

Next Week:

I need a cardy to go with the butterfly frock
and this jumper volunteered!