Feeling the LOVE

What with all that's been going on in my imaginary gypsy life, is it any wonder that at the third 'MadewithLOVEBazaar' I ended up looking like this in just my normal clothes? The theme was "hippie love".

Inspiration is a wonderful thing. Soak it up and see how much fun you can have. I loved being a hippie gypsy. Recognise the dress, I posted about it before here.

These were taken when me, Michelle and Sarah were playing in my mums aka 'Dora the Explorer's' camper van. Don't you reckon that Michelle looks like Gypsy Rose - Fortune Teller?

Hehehehe. Mum bought the textiles in Rajasthan. She was there for six weeks in October/November. She painted a traditional Rajasthani design on the floor and everything else a beautiful warm aqua blue, tiled the top of the small cupboard and stuck little round mirror tiles everywhere. It looks absolutely brill.

The 'market girls' have been so busy making so many new things for the market after our sell-out success of the first two. We're also really looking forward to welcoming new stall holders to our next market on 12th February, just before Valentines. Dress-up theme is RED.

If you fancy being part of this cool, fun, funky market, please visit our Facebook page for contact details, we'd love to hear from you. I'll leave you with a quick peak at some of the goodies on offer at the MadewithLOVEBazaaar in Wynyard, Tasmania, Australia.



Stitch n Bitch Weekend Oct 2010

Our Stitch n Bitch group meets every Tuesday evening at the Arts Centre in Wynyard and twice a year make a weekend Pilgrimage (via Spotlight) to Camp Banksia in beautiful Port Sorrell. With 'band camp' style acommodation, meals prepared and three whole days of uninterupted sewing it's a much anticipated event.

Stitch n bitch gave me time at last to just sit down, relax and take a breath. I so enjoyed having female company, early nights, lie-ins and chatting over cups of tea. Michelle and I made a 'gathered clutch/purse' and are planning to make matching slouch bags. I'm very pleased to say that I bonded with my purse soon after the swap and proudly boasted "I made it" when people asked me where I got it from today. Get Noodleheads tutorial here.

I also started on a summer dress for Maggie using part of an embroidered table cloth for the yoke. This is going to look so cute when it's finished! Maggie's got such a cutsey look going at the moment as I've been putting ribbons in her hair to keep it out of her eyes whilst it grows.

Six of us also made patchwork panels for baby quilts for Michelle and Georgies new babies with a very lose theme of unisex warm colours. I always love how they end up looking so different and personal.

Check out these gorgeous cats. Wouldn't they be lovely infused with essential oils to have around the home for abit of aromatherapy.

The gorgeous Jacqui won again in my book for best creation with these funky little trousers for her adorable niece. That furry flower is so San Fransisco man.

I always love seeing everyone else's fabric stash and hearing the stories of how and where they were acquired.

And then there was Fleur the finch. Acquired from a garage sale by Jacqui for $10.......I hope she comes to all our Stitch n Bitch weekends!

But alas it was all over so quickly. Next time I WILL get more organised and get there earlier!!!!!

Stitch and Bitch Weekend Oct 2010

My Creative Space

Woops, wow this is late! I've just been so busy playing with all Maggie's new toys:)

Michelle and I have decided to do a little swap: she - a crochet jumper for Maggie, me - a jacket for Georgie. I've been in ponderland about making a jacket/coat out of an old blanket for some time now (just the 'using a pattern issue' to get over) so this swap was the impetus I needed to get going with it. Michelle also had a piece of black/white striped jersey cotton which she thought would be good to use. So I combined our ideas and came up with this.

I've just got to sew on the toggle buttons. I'm so pleased with it, it will be so warm and it isn't heavy at all. This was the first time I've actually persevered with a proper pattern, although I nearly gave up on it at the inital cutting stage at Tuesdays 'Stitch and Bitch' cos I wasn't enjoying having to concentrate and miss out on all the chatting.

I ended up adding my own 'design elements' i.e. the red binding, the frill at the join on the chest and the toggle buttons. I just can't help myself! What do you think to a red pom-pom on the point of the hood? I'm just abit scared it looks abit klu-klux-klan'ey at the moment ....... hehehehe.

And of course I can never make just one of anything so this will be Maggie's - my weekend project. Yep that's right, four layers to cut in one go thanks to my brilliant new scissors. To see what everyone else has been up to in their creative spaces this week have a peek here.

Stitch and Bitch Skirt

So here it is at last, the infamous skirt. My first ever attempt at dress-making and I have to say that I'm rather pleased with myself. I finshed it on Tuesday after a quick trip to Spotlight to get a tinsy bit more fabric for the frills.

I have to say that once I actually got down to it, I found it quite easy, a little fiddly, but easy. Using an existing skirt as a pattern worked really well. I just drew around the skirt onto some paper to make a pattern and then kind of worked it out as I went along. Using an invisable zip was great and made it look really tidy. It's just a little bit too long but since I used a stretchy polyester fabric, I can just cut 1cm off the bottom as there is no hem. I love it, I just gotta wait for the occasion to wear it..........we're off camping again for Easter so I don't think it'll be this weekend:)

Stitch and Bitch Weekend March 2010

Some more pics for you. Sunday morning op-shopping.....the early birds sure did catch the worms:)))

Some of the ladies before our Friday night out to see the Fleetwood Mac tribute band.

I'll post more as they come to me.

Stitch and Bitch Weekend March 2010

This morning I was so keen to finish my stitch and bitch skirt (as I’ve now named it) so that I could share it with you but I’m afraid to say that that didn’t happen. I got distracted with a beautiful sunny autumn day and as Maggie-May seemed not to want her nap, instead we tackled the little front garden where there were weeds galore. But now at last I find myself here feeling desperately keen to tell you all about the Stitch and Bitch weekend............at last!!!

The whole weekend was just the best; the projects we made, the different skills we learnt and passed on, the fabrics and trimmings we admired, the magazines and books we read, the laughs, the singing, the treasures we found in the local garage sales and op shops, the meals we enjoyed together, the cosy cabins, the instant hot water for tea and sewing in my jammies at 3pm with my mate.

The most popular project of the weekend was Michelle’s little owl. I think we all made one of those 15 minute little dudes......such a fab little project. Tutorial please when you have time Mrs Walker! I also shared my current love of pin cushions and several ladies made themselves new ones.

Below is a patchwork project that has been on the go for many years, handed between mothers, daughters and sisters. Many of the group contributed to this too. This clever lady also shared so many other tricks for dress-making and felting......that’s one talented creative lady.

Check this out, they are curtains for her son’s bed room.........amazing hey?

Michelle faced her fear head-on and made a massive start to her quilt. That was great fun and it’s gonna look so beautiful.......be proud girlfriend:)

On the Sunday Morning Michelle and I headed into Latrobe for the market in search of a blanket for her quilt, and ‘low and behold’ the Lifeline shop was open. We got heaps of good stuff; old sheets (like I need any more), two aunt grace style fabric dresses, cool ribbon, lace and yarns, teenage mutant ninga turtle jumper for Maggie (it was funny) blar, blar, blar......heaps and heaps.

When we got back I whipped up my first ever pair of trousers for Maggie with the aunt grace fabric. I just gotta put elastic in the top.

A Stitch and Bitch weekend is just such a fantastic opportunity to have some time to yourself to explore your ideas, experiment with new projects, try something different, catch up on unfinished projects, or create those things that you’ve often thought about but never seem to have time to do. I would definitely recommend going along to a Stitch and Bitch if you get the opportunity.

Thank you so much Celena for organising such a special weekend and supporting everyone with their projects. I can’t wait for the next one in October. Oh I forgot, my favourite project of the weekend goes to Jaquie for her doily skirt.......I loved it:)))

Tomorrow my skirt gets finished!!!!! And we’ll ignore the other big white elephant - the lack of MMBC.

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 :)

Stitch and Bitch Weekend

YAY I'm so excited, a couple of very talented girls on the NW coast of Tasmania have organised another stitch and bitch weekend. It's been a very successful bi-annual event and it'll be my first time! It's on Fri 26th - Sun 28th March at Camp Banksia in Port Sorrell, Tasmania. The weekend costs $100 and includes accommodation and all food including morning and afternoon tea. All you have to do is bring 'ya crafty stuff'; sewing machine, fabric, trims, knitting needles (whatever it is you want to do) and your doona. It's just going to be soooooo nice to have a whole weekend in the company of lovely crafty ladies doing our stuff with NO interuptions.....heaven! If you are interested in being part of this, please email me so that I can forward it on to the organisers. Hopefully see you all there.