Postcards - Tasmania

I love making these postcards, but it's certainly no easy feat trying to design a typical Tasmanian scene that will be easily recognised but is simplistic enough to be able to be appliqued. Contemporay is definately the go. I hope my 'contemporary' trees are acceptable to you, I had a few issues with these. I use the word comtemporary very cautiously as I know sometimes this can be another way of saying it's 'shit'. The first person to recognise the scene, gets one for their very ownsome for free.

These will be available at the next Made with Love Market Bazaar this Saturday 9am-1pm at Artscape, 45 Jackson Street, Wynyard, Tasmania. But snap them up quick as I only have limited stock for now. Cost $7.50.

Postcards - Wynyard

At last, I can happily announce that I will have some more postcards available at the next Made with Love Market Bazaar on Saturday 14th April. I love making these as much as you love having them. Thanks so much to all those who have bought them and for all your kind supportive comments at the market. It's so encouraging when a product is successfull. And they'll be more designs to come soon.

The Made with Love Market Bazaar is a buzzy little community market influenced by vintage style with a modern approach to craft. We aim to offer enviornmenatlly friendly products, locally grown produce and unique gifts while still retaining the lovely nanna style traditions associated with a country market. Markets are held every second Saturday of the month between 9am - 1pm at Artscape, 45 Jackson Street, Wynyard on the North West coast in Tasmania. Cost $7.50.

Farbenmix

Mr Amazon sent me a parcel last week containing a book that has been on my christmas wish list for two big fat whole years. He's nice like that isn't he. I'll tell you all about the wonderful book, that had I known it would just cost me $14 from kind Mr Amazon I wouldn't have waited so damm long for, another time. Maybe it's a case for the return of Monday Morning Book Club. Anyway, what I want to share with you now is this, Farbenmix ribbons.

I'm now speechless! Just go look for yourself. I've ordered heaps:)

My Creative Space

My 'Village' applique bags have still been completely and utterly consuming me this week. These are just perfect for kiddiwinks library bags as I made them big enough for the lovely large picture books.

And yesturday I spent a couple of hours just cutting fabric as I was getting abit low on squares and triangles for quilts and  bunting. Not my favourite thing to be doing but it's so satisfying seeing them all cut and ready to go in my cupboard. It also makes it fun for people to choose their fabrics and have a play with designs when they want a bespoke quilt or bunting, with a matching toy. 

What have you been up to this week? I'd love to hear. And don't forget to pop over to Kirsty's blog Kootoyoo to see what others have been busy creating.

The Great Apron Swap 2010

Thank you so much Sarah from Red Gingham for organising this fantastic swap. I so enjoyed making an apron for my swap partner Damaris from 'within the corners of my kitchen'. I was chuffed to bits to be given a partner who lives in Santa Cruz, how glamorous and who has surfer husband also!! So here at last, I can reveal the apron made by me for Damaris.

I decided to make a more 'practical' apron than I usually would as Damaris is a foodie and thought she might actually wear it alot. This apron will also improve with age as the frill around the bottom section (which you can't see very well in this picture) will soften and the raw edges around the large pocket and applique will fray. I've also made the ties long enough so that you can wear it tied at the front or at the back.

This applique design was taken from Damaris's blog logo, but I put the half plate up the other way (like a bowl) so that it also created another smaller pocket. I then embroidered her name in what I thought was a very santa cruz surfy looking font......awesome, stoked, it's totally going off.......hehehehe:)

Hmmmm now for my next swap......anyone got any recomendations?

...more My Creative Space

Maggie went to 'school' this afternoon with her new school bag. Today especially she deserved a new bag as today she went to 'school' without a nappy on!......scary, but successful:))))))

Whilst she was at school, I finished off her party invitations.

I love it when the creative juices are flowing. Hope yours are too.

My Creative Space

I seem to have a thing for little villages at the moment. I've been drawn to making little cottages, whether it be cereal box versions for Maggie's train track or applique on my sewing projects.......and I'm loving it. I bought this pink cord dress in a charity shop this week, took off the horrible frilly collar thingy that was on it, did 'the village' applique around the bottom and made some binding for the neck and sleeves.

 

Still a few windows and doors to go! And I also started on a  new 'school' bag for Maggie. 

Pop over here to see what everyone else has been up to this week. Oh and before I go, I can tell you that my apron for The Great Apron Swap 2010 will be going in the post today so pop back in a week or so and I'll put up some pics once I know it's been received by Damaris. Have fun peeps x

My Creative Space

Yey, in my creative space this week I finished the sleeping bag! So after sandwiching the layers and cutting out the pattern, I quilted around a few of the groovy flowers to hold it all together (I only ended up doing a few at the back). I also made enough single fold binding to go around the neck, arm holes and sides of zip.

It was then a case of assembling; I started on the zip by binding the two edges of the front pieces where the zip goes and then 'stitched in the gutter' to attach the zip......I love saying that:). I then stitched the front to the back at the shoulders and attached the binding around the neck and arm holes. Finally turn it inside out and stitch all the way around the sides and bottom to join.

The blanket used instead of wadding makes it perfect for chilly nights. Just make sure you lengthen your stich (3.5 on my machine) and use a 11+ needle cos there's some serious thickness you're sewing there.

I had a fab day yesterday sewing clothes for Maggie; two dresses made from sheets, and trousers made from my jersey cotton stash. I may finish off the bottoms of the trousers with trimmings but I really should have done that before I stitched them up. I was just too keen to get them on her and to the park, such a beautiful day today in Tassie. I'll put up pictures of the blue dress I made another time.

I love using binding and ric-rac around the arms, neck and bottom.......any excuse to use ric-rac, I love it:). When you're done here, pop over to Kootoyoo to see what others have been up to. It's such a fab way to share projects, abit like a show and tell of your creations.

Cat Rabbit Workshop

On Tuesday I had a fun night at a workshop with Cat Rabbit, a Hobart based illustrator and toy maker. Cat creates such cool little soft characters and manages to achieve what I strive for......a unique style that really stands out from the crowd. Which I think is partly due to her choice of colours and materials and partly to her ability as an artist. Maybe that's what can be achieved when an illustrator sews, or did the sewer illustrate? Whatever came first, I think it's a recipe for success when it comes to crafting. This one's my favourite.

At the workshop there were about 20 ladies and gents sat around a large table laid with felt, pins, needles, scissors and thread and we each created a little character based on a template offered by Cat. It was really interesting how different they all were. I found myself really out of my comfort zone without 'my things' around me; my sewing machine, my vanishing ink pen, my embroidery needles, my 'box of tricks' and my music. But it was fun to create in company, sing to ourselves and each other and use a muffin as a pin cushion.

I was glad I got the opportunity to talk to Catherine about how she comes up with her characters and how she tranforms them into a three dimensional 'pattern'. This is something that I'm really struggling with at the moment. We also got talking about our mutual love of sewing/craft groups, craft blogs, and she gave me some really good tips. So thank you Catherine for a lovely evening and here are our creations. Can you guess which one is mine?

Stitch and Bitch Weekend March 2010

It's here, no more sleeps. In a couple of hours I'm off on the Stitch and Bitch weekend in Port Sorrell and my poor little car is stuffed full with all my bits and bobs. I'm gonna take several projects, mainly those that need finishing but also one special project - a skirt. Having never attempted dress-making before I thought I'd take the plunge and take advantage of the fact that they'll be so many lovely ladies with a multitude of talents who I'll be able to turn to for help when I get stuck. With a 'to-do wish list' as long as the great wall of china, it was so hard to decide what to do, but I've decided on these:

• A-line ankle length skirt - based on my longtime favourite skirt (which really needs to go for rags). It's gonna be tough as I will have to make the pattern and sew stretching fabric....yickes!!!!
• The final part on the baby quilt - hand sew the binding.
• Make some flower embellishments for applique on some new bags.
• Fix a seam on a favouite pair of shorts (my 5 min. saturday morning hangover task).
• I've also taken some knitting for night-time.

And this is my paking list which I managed to squeeze into my car:

1. Sewing machine.
2. Sewing baskets containing threads, needles, pins, pens, scissors, craft knives, rotary cutter, lippy, tape measures, colour chart etc etc
3. Cutting mat, meter rule, set square, compass.
4. Drawer of trimmings, embroidery threads, lace, buttons, beads, zips, bias binding etc etc
5. Ironing board and iron.
6. My big basket of fabric scraps.
7. Fabric for skirt and skirt I'm copying.
8. Gin, tonic, lemons, nibbles and a Victoria sponge I whipped up this morning.
9. Clothes, quilt, towel (mmm should I take my bikini, there's a pretty cool beach on the doorstep). I will, hang-on i'll just go and get it..........ok, got it:)
10. Outfit for tonight, we're going to see a Fleetwood Mac tribute band - can't wait for that :)
11. Camera.

Sorry there's no photos on this post, I've packed the damm camera right at the bottom!!!!! hehehehe But I will take heaps during the weekend, promise. In the meantime, thought this pic was pretty funny. Gotta go for hair appointment now. Bum gonna be late. Pop back Monday for the all goss :)

New Baby Quilt

A friend, who is also a novice but very enthusiastic sewer, is expecting a baby in April and a group of us have decided to make a special quilt for the baby. We will all produce an individually designed square measuring 30/30cm which will then be put together to form a quilt. The square can be made according to the skills of the individual; some can applique designs, use embroiderey, fabric paint, knitting, the options are endless. It's such a lovely gift for a newborn to treasure forever as each square reflects the individual who made it. I have done this before and it wasn't a great success but this time I have high hopes so I will keep you posted how it develops. This is my square which I did this afternoon.

Monday Morning Book Club

Books, books, books......I love them almost as much as I love fabric. When I first decided to take this sewing thing to another level and start Baby Boudoir I couldn't get enough of sewing books. I would walk into a bookshop or a library and pass many an hour sitting on the floor leafing through the pages of the craft /design and sewing books. I seem to be as happily consumed doing this as I am going to a Vinnies or a haberdashery shop. All of a sudden I wanted to learn correct techniques, take tips from the experts and be inspired by colours and designs. Whereas previously I had been happy to just make it up as I went along and muddle my way through my sewing projects.

So I've decided to start a Monday Morning Book Club where I'll share with you those books that I love and maybe you could share your favourites too.

There is no other place to start but the holy grail of quilt designs that is Material Obsession. Thank you so much Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke for your inspiration. These books are stuffed full of the most amazing quilts I have ever seen - and I've seen alot all over the world!! I aspire to one day produce a quilt like these. I love the way they magically combine colours, patterns and shapes and the appliques are like something out of a children's story book. Both books also contain fantastic tips and techniques for beginners, as well as detailed instructions which are easy and exciting to follow. And the photographs are just so 'now'. Buy these books if you are an enthusiastic but timid sewer, or a 'lifer' of sewing and I guaratee you will not be dissatisfied.

I would love to hear your comments to my book review or receive book reccomendations so please leave a comment..................and don't forget to sign-up to follow me over on the left of the page.  See you next week for Monday Morning Book Club.