Saturday, May 8, 2010

dyed singlets

I had a dyeing day with my sis and we had so much fun. She dyed the singlets - it was her first attempt at dyeing so I think she did brilliantly! I died the pants and didn't do so well.........I dropped a big drip of magenta onto the yellow so you can see two big brown dots! Grrrr!!!!

We also dyed some pieces of knit fabric so that we have 3 pieces of every rainbow colour. It was so much fun watching the colours change. I need to work on the red as it came out more like light red and I'd really like crimson, so I'll have to experiment next time.

Applique and colour blocked Farbenmix Antonia

applique antonia

I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and try using some colour combos that I'd normally avoid. I also wanted to do something interesting on the front of the top - if I had an embroidery machine I would have used that, but I don't so I drew the daisy and appliqued it to the front.

This top was destined for my little Congo Cart that I have on the Crafty Mamas Marketplace, but my machine was annoying and skipped a few stitches on the applique (it may possibly have been user error......there is an ever so slight possibility I forgot to change the needle to a stretch needle. Shhhh. Don't tel anyone lol). All is not lost though - the top has found an owner who loves it and I have a little more of the Hilco dots and a heap more of the Stella fabric so I can try again. Maybe. If my attention span lets me..........I may just go on to something else.......cause I'm a bit like that :)

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Altered Farbenmix Jule

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I had this gorgeous green velour and thought it would make the cutest little elf style jacket, so I altered the Farbenmix Jule pattern which is a pull over top with the cutest spiral hood.

To make a jacket I split the front down the centre and added about 1.5 cm's for the zip turn over. I made the sides of the pattern more A-line as the shape of the Jule takes a lot of fabric and I was limited by the piece I had. I wanted a pocket but the Jule pattern didn't have one and I didn't like any of the other Farbenmix pockets for this jacket, so I found one in the Kwik Sew Toddlers book that I reshaped it to fit.

I couldn't find a green zip in the right shade so I contemplated snaps or buttons but didn't think it would sit nicely when done up, so I used the pink zip I had and then to make the zip look like it matched I hand stitched some flower embellishments on the hood, one side of the front and the other side of the pocket. I had one lonely little flower left and it seemed a shame to throw it out so I picked a random spot on a sleeve and stitched it on there.

I'm rather pleased with the end result and I really enjoyed the challenge of altering the pattern.

Thanks for looking :)

Friday, March 5, 2010

I hope I haven't confused anyone!

I've changed the name of my blog because I wanted it to fit in with my new little venture.........which I really need to go sew for!! So excuse me while I go raid the stash for some inspiration ;)

Monday, March 1, 2010

Op Shopping.......oh how I love thee :)

op shop mags

It started in my teens when a girlfriend and I were looking for a cheap way to entertain ourselves. We both loved to sew and play with old stuff, so we'd catch the old diesel train to the next town (and no, I ain't THAT old.....our train line was a bit antiquated, but so cool!) and pay a visit to St Vincent De Pauls. We had so much fun rummaging through the racks that now as an adult I can't give the habit up. And why would I when I find so many great treasures?

So on my last trip I found 2 NEW vintage tablecloths. The one in the background of this picture has the most vibrant colours and design. There was also a very cute old curtain which you can just see a bit of in the right hand corner, some new old napkins, a cute pattern and a couple of old books with some very funky bikini patterns that I'll try (after I get in shape!!).

Plus there were a couple of Sew Beautiful magazines. I'm rather embarrassed to admit this but I almost squealed when I saw these on the rack lol. You see, I'm a bit of a fan and a wannabe heirloom sewer. I can do a little heirloom sewing but I don't really have the time for it at this point, but later.........oh yes, one day I will MAKE the time and then I want to play and make heirloom stuff but with a bit of a twist. One day................

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

I have a problem.......

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I found this piece of fabric on one of my oppie trawls recently and I couldn't leave it there cause.....well, I dunno really......I just couldn't! I don't know if it's vintage or new, but if it's vintage then it's in absolutely new condition! But now that I own this piece of raggedy anne and andy fabric I don't know what to do with it as the dollies are HUGE. Like each one must be 30 cm's high! My problem with that is that I hate cutting off the limbs or heads of the dollies.....but having said that it would make a very cute quilt top, but I really don't want to cut out the dollies and piece the top. Hmmm, am I the only one who thinks these things?

Monday, February 22, 2010

Scrappy quilt challenge

Right. I'm in a personal funk at the moment and I want out, so when I read this blog post http://punkysmamma.blogspot.com/ by the gorgeous Vic I knew what I was going to do about it. OK, no not the one about op shopping........ye Gods I do enough of that already.........the one about the quilt. If I were any better at this computer stuff I'd give you a direct link, but I'm not, so if anyone out there's reading this you'll just have to look for it which I'm sure will be fine cause it's a fun blog to read anyway :)

So back to the quilt. I've made a couple already, just really basic ones out of scraps that I had on hand, but that's the way I like my quilts. I'm really not into the whole matching fabric thing, not that there's anything wrong with them! They're just not my taste. Besides, it gives me enormous satisfaction when I use up my scraps. I'd post a pickie of my other quilts, but it's too dark for pickie taking now!

So if you want to join me that'd be nice. It's always much more fun to have friends along for the ride, but if not that's ok too. I can fly solo :)

Oh and I have only one rule for this quilt. I WILL NOT BUY ANY NEW FABRIC. Notice I said 'new'? Cause if it comes from the oppie, then that doesn't count does it ;). Nor does raiding your Mum's, MIL's, sisters, friends cupboard. Or swapping with an internet buddy.......that's cool too.

And before I go, just one last thing.....I think it'd be fine if the quilt were not actually say, quilted, but just a patchwork top made into a doona cover. It's really just about the 'look', yeah?

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Horsey bags

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These little bags were just the thing to get me back into the sewing spirit......quick, easy and bright! I made them for some little ones who just can't bear to leave the house without a bag full of plastic horses :)

The spot fabric is from Spotlight and the horsey fabric is a curtain material, also from Spotlight and the drawstring handles are cheap satin ribbon. Luckily I had it all in my stash so I didn't need a trip out for any of it.

The first pic here is actually the back of the bags.....the next is the front. I'm still trying to figure out how I can add the pictures to my text, not the text to the pictures, so please bear with me! You'll actually have to click on the 'older post' link to see the front of the bags.......sorry!!
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