More 'Gypsy Dreams' Clothes

I'm so pleased with these cute little hippy/gypsy style fur waistcoats I made using some teddy bear fur that I had picked up at Vinnies just before I left Aus. It was sat on my sewing table when I returned. By the way, the bird fabric isn't upside down, it's ......... whatever it's called when it can't be upside down ........ hehehehe. I think you'll know what I mean!

I've pretty much used it all now making four waistcoats but that's the way it goes when you make things from recycled. You only have what there is, there's no going back for more and when it's gone, you have to come up with something new. But that's what I love about making everything out of recycled stuff.

What have you all been up to? It's been a while hey. Just gonna pop over now to the new 'Our Creative Space' to have a good catch-up.

My Creative Space

After coming over all inspired, refreshed and excited by my new book Sewing Clothes Kids Love, in my creative space I have been working on my new children's clothes range for the Made with LOVE Bazaar and I have to say, it's been a big hit with little Maggie-May. She has given me lots and lots of feedback on every miniscule detail! Her favourite was the wolf on the 'little red riding hood' ribbon.

I'm still trying to maintain the gypsy theme, so lots of ruffles and bright mismatch colour but I fear the style is more imaginary than real-life.

I made more recycled blanket jackets which I posted about before here, here and here as well as some trousers using the Dortje pattern. I love this style because it's given them more of a jeans look than just plain pyjama style pants. I've been looking for a pattern like this for ages, although I did alter it a little by straightening off the kick flair for the smaller sizes. I like the kick flair for older children but hate that 'Elvis' look it gives toddlers.

Of course I'm still using the usual op-shopped fabrics, bed linens, doilies, table clothes, tea towels, zips and buttons but mixing it all up with my very special new ribbons from Farbenmix.

I've also been playing around with my jersey knits more than I ever have. It's especially handy the way these curl over on the ends, I love that for a change from the normal seams.

I can't wait for our next market as I missed the last when we were away at the surf competition, which Kim came 3rd in - stoked!!!! The fancy dress theme is 80's and at the moment I'm thinking Karate Kid, Breakfast Club or Dexy's Midnight Runners and as a back up I can always get a disgusting satin prom dress from my local Vinnie's that has the best dress-up hire upstairs.

The market is on Saturday 9th April between 9am-1pm in the Artscape Building, Jackson Street, Wynyard, Tas. I wish you could all come, you'd love it so much.

Thanks for continuing to host My Creative Space Kirsty, it gives me an aim every week. See more here.

My Creative Space

I've been pottering about in my creative space this week, not really getting into anything in particular. I think I have sewers block! I'm still searching for the perfect pattern for the Isabel Green dress and coat. So I revisited my covered buttons which I posted about before here, and made some more.

A nice little project. Maybe I'll see how they go at the market as pretty little hair bands. I made one for myself that I've been wearing all day.

Do you like them on the vintage childrens playing cards. Maybe abit confusing, as they're really for adults, not children. But they look cute don't they? Hmmmmm......more pondering required. Hope your creative space is a wee bit more fruitful than mine this week.

Visit more creative spaces here.

My Creative Space

At last I've finished the banner my mum, me and Maggie made for the Made with Love Market.

My next projects are all about blankets; dresses, mittens, caps etc. And seeking a pattern for THAT GREEN COAT! Anyone seen one?

What has your creative mind been developing. More over at Kootoyoo.

My Creative Space

January is always a time for me to take stock, banish anything that has been awaiting attention for so long that the moment has passed and start on things that are new and fresh.

I decided to make a new 'appointment' board for the kitchen where I can put things that would otherwise be at risk of going behind the fridge to join the tea cosy and lost forever. Like my driving licence renenwal.......woops!

I bought the fabric when we were on our road trip in Bangalow. Such a cute relaxed little town, just inland from Byron. I found the best little retro shop on the way out of town towards Lismore which had a fantastic selection of fabrics and hastily asked the shop keeper if he would be up for doing a deal if I picked out a load, which he did. I have six meters of this one. It's stained in places but worth it nevertheless.

The ric-rac, brass coloured buttons, red braid and doily was all from charity shops and stashed in my cupboard awaiting a project and I'm really happy with the way they work together. Such beautiful bright colours. These boards are so easy to make. You just need a sheet of mdf cut to size (the guys in the hardware shop may be able to do this for you) and a staple gun. Once you've selected your fabric iron it and cut approx. 10cms bigger than the board. Place the fabric wrong side up on a large table and then lay a sheet of batting over the top and cut to size of fabric. Place the board on top of this (you can use spray glue to stick it if you want) and wrap the fabric and wadding around the board. Secure using a staple gun. Then embellish to create the look you want.

Anyway, that's what I've been up to. What about you? Hope you're all having fun in your creative spaces. Have a look at more here.

My Creative Space

It's been blankets, blankets and more blankets over here! With the gypsy theme in mind, I'm starting to create a new range for winter, all made from blankets. So time to get stuck in.

The range will include hooded jackets, similiar to the ones I made before here, trousers, flat caps and mittens.

I'm hoping to create lots of unisex styles with that 'thrown together' look. I'm starting with the grey blanket, which is surprisingly soft and we think may have angora in it! I love the red edging.

Of course I'll also be 'decorating' this little jacket with all the usual bits and bobs that I manage to find to recycle; buttons, ric-rac, ribbon, beads etc.

I'm still deciding on the pockets; side ones like these or just patterned patch pockets? I'll wait and see what looks best once I've put on the buttons.
 

 
This one will be for one of Maggie's besties Felix. You know how the first ones are always abit of an experiment.
 

 
What have you all been up to whilst I've been away? I'm heading over to Kirtsy's now to check out more lovely projects. Why not join me.

How are your piles?

A personal question I know seen as we haven’t known each other that long but I just seem to have so many piles on the go at the moment.

This big pile on the floor, we’ll call this pile number one, is things that I can’t wait to get to. A dress for Maggie from two tea towels I picked up when we were away. An Angelina Ballerina style toy for Maggie, with twirly whirly ribbon. The latest Mixtape magazine. The results of a glue experiment. Candlewick bedspreads for more jammies and bags. And right on the top, yes on the top, a crochet hook.......I’ve only gone and got myself a hook! I so badly want to be able to crochet but on a previous attempt I took about 45 minutes studying one illustration on how to hold the stupid hooky dude! A hook is definately a dude you know, not like lady knitting needles......so much attitude!

Cute vintage children’s playing cards which will become pictures, tags, a hanging thingy, notepads or somethign along those lines. All in good time, well only two weeks until the MadewithLOVEBazaar.....I’m so excited I could pee my pants!

Fabrics chosen by friend for a quilt.

Children’s books. I sell those that I already have.

Aprons for the market.

Doily pockets for the market.

These Christmas tags are taking a wee bit longer than I hoped to make, but still fun. Maybe tonight they’ll be a trashy film on the telly and I could do some on the couch.

Hh ha sister, a fan-dabi-doosie knitting machine. My gorgeous mother-in-law Shirley has very kindly given this to me. Many a gorgeous creation would have been whipped up on this as she is one incredibly talented crafter of prize winning bears, porcelain dolls, miniatures, clothes etc etc.

What's in your piles lovely readers? I'd love to see. Have a great weekend whatever you do.

My Creative Space

A friend recently had a baby. We didn't know if it was going to be a girl or a boy. I wasn't really sure they'd like my quilts - but really who wouldn't? And I'm kinda bored of making soft toys. So I thought back to when Maggie was born and tried to remember our favourite presents, you know those that you couldn't be without. It was easy to remember as we still comment on how brilliant and completely gorgeous Maggie's little sleeping bag is - thanks Lisa and Walshy.

So I'm now making this little sleeping bag for new baby Jake. I choose the fabrics before he was born. Red and purple are so great together and perfect for a little baby boy or girl don't you think? The hand stitching around the arm holes was a bit fiddly as there are so many layers.

I turned to baby Jake's daddy for inspiration for a little applique. He has a silly monster truck type car so I found a photo of that and did a little applique with Jake's name as the number plate.

This has kept me happily consumed this week. It's been fun doing something different, something so blokey:).

I finished it just in time for this post, unfortunately not in time for his birth though! To check out what else has been happening in blogland and to play along in My Creative Space too, have a little lookie here, plus check out Kirsty's gorgeous pony skirt made using a pattern from from the new 'Meet Me At Mike's' book.

My Creative Space

I'm so into the sewing groove again. For the first time since getting home from our road trip I've been able to enjoy some quality stitching time in my creative space and the fruits of my labour are plentiful as a result. I'm wearing a smile on my face and this cute little skirt I made with the fabric I posted about before.

In hindsight I would have stuck to my original plan and used contrast pockets as I did on the other skirt. These just don't stand out enough for me. Maybe they'll be better when they're stuffed with hankies and lippy. That is after all what they're there for. Or I'll unpick and slip some piping around the edges, maybe?

I've also been feeling so festive making cute Christmas presents and getting excited about mum coming. I can't believe it's only a couple of weeks until 'Dora the Explorer' will be with us again. She's currently nursing a sore bottom in India (from a fall, not too many curries! hehehehe). And I have a little-big surprise for her birthday. I'm so bad at keeping secrets.......so shhh "mums the word" until then:)

This little dude is for one of Maggie's besties who it seems is ever so en-vogue after expressing a penchant for owls........who doesn't love an owl right now hey? He's just waiting to be stuffed. He was going to have feet but in amongst all the bitching at 'stitch n bitch' on Tuesday night, I sewed up the gap.

I should also be starting to get organised for the forthcoming "Made With LOVE Bazaar" happening in Wynyard Tasmania on Saturday 27th November at the Art Gallery. I umm'ed and ahh'ed about doing this market as I have been giving Baby Boudoir abit of a backseat lately whilst I've been enjoying making things for us and our friends. But I'm always moaning about how there are very few opportunities in Tassie, so I really should be making the most of this one to tout my wares. Ok, well best get into it. I've been working on some journal pockets and purses.

Hope you're still enjoying playing along in my creative space. Pop over here to see more.

My Creative Space

Hello, how are you? It's been so long. Fancy a quick Catch-up? Whatcha been upto? Me? Oh not much. Just abit of pottering around the house. Some spring cleaning. And it's been great to get in the garden again too hasn't it. I've also been really enjoying getting creative making Christmas pressies. This is the hobby horse I made for Maggie. I used the Melly and Me giddy-up pattern. It was so quick and simple and I love his dorky expression.

He's such a cute dopey looking dude don't you think? I'm sure he'll be a perfect little companion for Maggie.

I've also been really digging candlewick again too, or chenille as it's also called. I've given it abit of a back seat in the last year or so, so time for a resurgence I thought when choosing fabric for some pyjammas for Christmas pressies. These have candlewick fronts and vintage sheet backs. I'm sure the tassles around the bottom will get abit yucky over time but who cares for now, they look so cute.

I just can't get enough of these big gathered pockets at the moment too. They've been apprearing on everything I make; the cute A-line mini skirt I made for myself back in July, Maggie's market skirt and now the pj's too. Thanks so much Dana for the tutorial. They're a little bit fiddly, but well worth the effort. A little tip though, when ironing the seams all the way around the edge, I've found it's worth quickly tacking around to secure, saves heaps of time faffing with those damm edges and burning your fingers with the iron.

And all my sewing now has neat little overlocked edges. I'm so chuffed with my overlocker that I bought at a jumble sale in Byron for $30 and carted around for four weeks on our road trip. I spent half a day defluffing, dusting and cleaning it. My mother-in-law was an absolute superstar at threading it, setting all the tensions and giving it a real fine tune and then Kim did abit of oiling and mechancial maintenance and what do you know, it's going like a dream. What an absolute Barry-argin!!! Just gotta try and get hold of a manual now. Any suggestions very gratefully received. It's a Janome MyLock 534D.

So there we have it.

I hope you've enjoyed this little catch-up and I promise it won't be so long again. I've really missed you all in blogland and look forward to having some more catch-ups over at your place, where I'm heading now courtesy of Kootoyoo so stick the kettle on.

Laters alligators.

My Creative Space

Late on Saturday night with the film 'The Notebook' on the telly, I dared to delve into the 'very old unfinished projects' pile I have stored in my grandmas old sewing basket and was very pleasantly surprised indeed to find this large double bed sized completed patchwork in need of blanketing, backing and binding.

I remember making this when my sewing machine first arrived in Tassie from the UK. After nearly two years of living with only the belongings I had stuffed in my backpack or had recently accumulated, I felt like a child on christmas morning when all my goodies arrived from the UK and once again became part of my life. Including my grandma's old sewing basket jammed to the brim with some treasured sewing items that I just couldn't be without, some very carefully selected fabrics and other bits and bobs and my trusty old Singer (mums old one given to me when I was about fifteen).

So, I digress, in my creative space this week I decided to get 'Vera' the quilt finished so that we can use it in the beloved caravan. I don't know why I do that by the way, but I always do name my quilts. I even remembered this old girls name when I pulled it out. Maybe it's because when I'm sewing with the old vintage sheets I think about who would have had them before me and I create this imaginary charater which the quilt then sort of becomes. Anyway, I digress again, to finish Vera, I stole the old blanket we currently had on our bed that really had seen better days and was in need of upcycling and chose a beautiful vintage sheet from my stash for the backing. I had already sewn on the bias binding made from purple corduroy when I originally did the patchwork so the first job was just a massive case of ironing, sandwiching, pinning and basting.......she's a big'un!

I then realised that Vera was going to need some quilting as she is rather large I was a little worried she might get abit bumpy and misplaced with age.....bless her! So I embarked on an applique project to go on her backside to hold her together.

But that didn't quite work out as my optimistic self hoped as she was just way to bulky to manouevre in the machine, so plan b had to come into action; I ended up just stitching in the gutter of the patchwork panels to keep her altogther and maybe later I'll attach the applique design by hand, one for the road trip maybe!!

So she's now all finished and hanging up drying. Tomorrow she'll be on our bed, I can't wait. What has everyone else in blogland been up to this week? Lets have a lookie here. Cheerio.