Waterlilies

I finished another garment using my Simplicity 2925 pattern. I wanted something I can wear to a restaurant, on the rare occasions I'm invited out.


I made the dress in tunic length, then made it a lot shorter in front because it ended at the widest point of my thighs and looked like Over 50s resort wear.


I love the fabric. It's a fluid polyester satin and reminds me of a Monet painting. An absolute bitch to sew though. When I tried to fuse the interfacing to the facing pieces, the satin was a full inch longer than it should have been. It's got a black belt which I cut much too long, so it wraps around twice. Makes it slightly edgier than resort wear.

I've also finished the embroidery for my steampunk Mod Bag.







I have a lovely story about making up the bag, which I'll share once the bag's finished. Will I manage to get it done before the year officially ends? Stay tuned!

Summer Dress Prima

Yesterday I braved the crowds at Northlands to check out the Lincraft 30% off sale. Happily they had the pattern I wanted (Simplicity 2925) in the size I needed (big), and even the fabric I had in mind. A record!

I spent Little Jack's naps yesterday and today sewing and I've finished my first dress for the summer.


I confess it looks slightly different if I stand front-on to the camera, but I learned to Skinny Pose years ago thanks to Dolly magazine.

The fabric is a black linen/cotton blend. I haven't been a linen gal in the past but I love the red linen/viscose skirt I found during my holiday, and after reading Thea & Sami's recent post on the sustainability of flax I was determined to give linen a try in my wardrobe.

For the contrast I bought two fabrics, a green and black patterned satin and the purple and black stretch cotton I've used. I really love green and black together but didn't really want to mix polyester satin with linen. I asked Hubby T which I should use and he was surprisingly helpful. He asked what I'd wear the dress with and I said my red sandals (they're Homy Ped and fit my orthotics so I'll be wearing them every day of summer). I didn't want to wear red and green together this side of Christmas so purple won out.


The style is more sophisticated than I'd usually wear in a day dress, and made in linen the dress feels very mature to me (who recently celebrated fitting back into my cherry-printed polkadot shirtwaist dress for the first time in two years). The fit is loose and easy which makes the difference between a summer day dress and a dressy evening dress.

I was thinking of making this style in the tunic length as a work top, but the armhole is cut very low and shows whatever bra (boob tube, by necessity) you're wearing underneath. For reference check the armhole in the first photo! The armholes would have the be raised at least 4cm to make this style suitable for office wear.

I decided to use the contrast fabric for the facings the way one would with a kids' dress. It was a bit of a mistake as the gathered neckline forces the facing to roll outwards, but I'm probably the only one in a position to notice it.

The only change I made in construction was putting in an invisible zip before sewing the centre back seam. The method instructs to baste the straps at the front before sewing on the facing and leave a gap to insert them at the back. This lead to the curve of the straps being completely off-kilter with the curve of the neckline and I had to unpick my overlocking and reset them. Every time I think I've learned to check the positioning of straps before overlocking, I go and do it again! Next time I will baste them at the back and insert them afterwards at the front, or leave gaps front and back and insert them after the facing has been attached so I can certain the curves match.

Overall I'm quite pleased with the pattern and the dress. This style could even work as a second semester maternity top with no alterations as there's no belt loops and the belt can be worn wherever your waistline happens to be. I'm looking forward to making the variety with sleeves in cooler weather and may even attempt the trousers. Or remember past experiences and not.*

Will this be my final completed project for 2009? That all depends on if I find something I like at the Tessuti sale, or perhaps throw everything I've got at my Mod Bag. Or attempt both.

How much can I manage in three sewing days? Time will tell...

* I can sew trousers quite well, but it's generally a folly to try to fit a commercial trouser pattern to my booty.

My Handmade Christmas

Shmishmas Card by Fontok; lino-rolled paper from someone at Made In Thornbury whose name I didn't get


Shopping list by Pivotal Expressions; pleated wristlet purse by Pinky Pig; Suffolk puffs from someone at Kris Kringle whose name I didn't get; purse and puffs sewn together by me


Fabulous Fifties Bibs by me using Nicole Mallalieu's free downloadable pattern


Very Wriggly Jack's Very Hungry Caterpillar bib


Emma's bib


Gingerbread mansion by my sister

Things I didn't get photos of before sending them overseas:

Two Perfect Pencil Rolls by Flickettysplits (pic by Flick)


A wooden box by Blue Blue Places (pic by Finki)


Correspondence set by Pivotal Expressions (photo by PivX)

Cards by Pepperberry & Co - I'll try to get a photo


And on my wrist right now, a breathtakingly gorgeous resin bracelet by Madz Has Runaway just for me (pic by Madz). I may even has picked it out myself.

I think that's the lot as far as handmade goes! Christmas day proved that toddlers prefer plastic and men prefer CGI violence. And I prefer to take my Christmas cash to Lincraft's 30% off everything sale and get cracking on my summer dress.

Merry Christmas To All

Have a wonderful holiday filled with love, family, food, drink, presents and a little sneaky crafty time for yourself.



Love from Mrs Beckinsale and trams around the world x x x

My Year In Craft

Here's my reflections on 2009 in the form of the Northside Makers My Year In Craft meme.

1. In my twelve months of crafting, my crafty self made all these...
50 W Class Cushions (I know!!!)
6 felt tarts
5 Routemaster Cushions
2 Mills & Boon Trash Jackets
And one Snip Dress just for me!

2. If my year was a colour it would be...
Green, yellow and tan. I would love to never sew with those colours again.

3. This year I spent way too many craft hours...
Ironing fusible interfacing onto my expensive ironing board cover and leaving sticky marks behind.

4. This year I wish I'd had more craft hours for...
Sewing clothes for Little Jack. The most he gets is the occasional applique added to his store-bought teeshirts.

5. My proudest craft moment of the year was...
My cushions being featured in The Age's M Magazine. Never thought I'd achieve that goal quite so quickly.

6. My biggest craft disaster was...
Trying to dye yellow fabric green without stripping the original colour first...

7. This year I had stalls at/visited this many markets...
I had fourteen stalls! Six were in December and I organised two (Northside Makers, of course). No idea how many others I visited.

8. My most enjoyable market was...
Absolutely the first Northside Makers Market at Northcote Uniting Church on 10th October. Every little thing was just as I'd dreamed, including beautiful spring weather. I loved doing Craft Hatch twice too.

9. My best handmade purchase/present/swap/acquisition was...
Too difficult to choose! I'll go with the gumball ATC made by Holly of Two Cheese Please.


10. After this year I swear I'll never again...
Try to decorate a birthday cake with getting tips from a pro.

11. Next year I'm determined to...
Get back into patternmaking, learn to screenprint properly, and perhaps be focused enough to make business plans further than three months into the future.

12. But I'll probably do this instead...
Sew another fifty W Class Cushions.


Want to play along? Check out Northside Makers!

My December of Market Swaps

My MadeIt shop is fully stocked with W Class and Routemaster cushions!


You've still got a chance to get one before Christmas, but you'll probably have to order in the next 22 hours.

One of the most wonderful features of my month of markets was the swapsies. I swapped everything with everyone but my two favourite swaps are ones big enough to involve cushions.

Firstly, I'm swapping a custom cushion with Ann Marie of Map 29 for a fabulous custom purse, featuring my Map 30.

I'm so delighted by this swap. I've coveted a Map 29 purse since first reading about them, and as a WAHM reinvesting everything my business makes back into supplies I haven't bought myself a treat all year (apart from carefully budgeted spending money on our UK trip - how quickly we forget). To be able to 'earn' a purse through cushion-making is such decadence.

My second, equal top place swap was at Craft Hatch on Saturday. My stall was near Anika of Sneak Design and I immediately fell in love with everything she does. Her steampunkish designs are the kind of direction I want to move in for 2010 (and I did think of it before seeing her stuff, really!).

I'm still pleasantly surprised when I tell someone I make "tram cushions" and they're aware of them. Anika had a black jersey cardigan with Olive Oyl cuffs and collar and on the back of the collar was screenprinted - get this - Ah now you are dangerous. I couldn't live without it and happily Anika was eager to swap for a cushion. I've been bemoaning the lack of style in my life (a combination of twelve months of ethical fashion pledge and no time to sew for myself) and this cardi is just the revamp my wardrobe needs. I will post a photo soon, promise.
Might have to get a Sneak Design badge set to pin on the collar...

With my new purse and cardigan, my personal fashion forecast is for a stylish 2010!

Diary sale!

You know it had to happen. Twenty six diaries are 25 more than a gal needs. Happily I did sell most of them at the past month's markets but I've still got at least one left in each colour, including my fabulous new red (which I CANNOT photograph in sunlight). They're on my MadeIt store and panting for new homes.

These images on my fabric-covered diaries are individually screenprinted (and you should see the discard pile of smudged prints). Each cover is given multiple fittings during the construction process to ensure a snug fit, which is important with small books. The covers can be reused in future years on diaries the same size, which are readily available at the post office. Not right now, but in the future. Wouldn't you love to take a piece of history into the future, to dates you haven't even dreamed of yet such as 23rd July 2012?

Here's the bit you're waiting for - as it's Christmas this week (then New Year, then lazy week, then time to get back into gear week) I've reduced the price from $28 to $24 and postage is free.
If you want to be moderately confident of getting your diary before Christmas I can do Express Post for $3. I'll even knock a few dollars off international shipping prices if requested. Go on, check them out!

In a couple days or so I'll post my market wrap-up, my 2009 wrap-up and my plans for 2010. But right now I'm revelling in the fact I finished my last two custom cushions for 2009 this morning and I can sew whatever I want for the next few weeks. Watch me go mad with freedom!

I'm gonna hatch me some craft

Today I can feel myself winding down to about 70% below the rate I've been operating at since getting back from my UK trip at the start of November. I've been sewing six days a week if not seven, and as I've mentioned many times I've done seven markets in the last three weeks.

But tomorrow, ah tomorrow, is the last one. I have a tonne of stock ready to go (after a pathetic final Kris Kringle night) so today I finished off two final cushions and then watched a bit of telly without even doing hand-sewing at the same time. Tonight after Little Jack goes to bed I'll get the printer out to make more tags, but that's it. My stuff's all packed and I've promised myself a lot of it won't be coming back home. Diary, anyone? *maniacal grin*


One thrilling thing about Craft Hatch tomorrow is that it's being run as part of SLV's 'Til You Drop shopping exhibition. I bet there's a lot to learn about the history of shopping in Melbourne. And the exhibition is free! You can even see a preview in the online gallery.

Despite my expectations of KK on Thursday being disappointed I have sky-high hopes for Craft Hatch. Why? Because SLV has paid for a nice ad in A2 tomorrow promoting the market - love them! I've researched what ads that size cost and know exactly why most markets aren't promoted that way.

I'm going to be super-lazy and C&P the stallholder list from Clog (now that my name's been added to it, tee hee!):

• Fine jewellery by Amina McPhee
• Hand crocheted collars and cuffs by Berri Drum
• Softies by Betty & Hamish (Kate Brereton)
• Fine jewellery by Bonfire Folk (Kim Wearne)
• Illustrations and one-off artworks by Chloe Vallance
• Illustrated brooches by Cserpent Art (Charlotte Tizzard)
• Silver and ceramic jewellery by Deirdre Hoban
• Fine jewellery by Elise Newman
• Leather accessories by emerge (Emma Greenwood)
• Bespoke footwear by Emma the Shoemaker
• Silver/pewter & leather jewellery by Estelle Deve
• Jewellery by Femi Coppi
• Super futuristic dichroic glass jewellery by Jasmine Targett
• Tram-themed cushions and stationery by Mrs Beckinsale (Jennie Barnes)
• Enamel jewellery by Jill Hermans
• Laser-cut wooden accessories and homewares by lab ThreeOfive
• Embroidered neckpieces, brooches and accessories by Mainichi (Dearne Herrenberg)
• Super cute tote bags, calendars and homewares by Minnt (Angela YJ Shin)
• Leather accessories, bags and clutches by NancyGirl (Sue Manski)
• Repurposed vinyl record notebooks and homewares by Record Attempts (Mark Farrell)
• Vintage lampshades by Retro Print Vintage (Tamara Watts)
• Fine jewellery made from assorted materials including leather, straws, paper and silver by Rhiannon Smith
• Accessories, limited edition artworks and your new summer wardrobe by Sneak Design (Anika Cook)
• Fine silver and perspex jewellery by Tessa Blazey
• Fine geometric silver jewellery by Vanessa Maxim
• Jewellery and clothing that'll make you look twice by RMIT fashion graduate Verity Copland
• Fine silver jewellery that needs no introduction by Victoria Mason
• Delicate jewellery made from plumbing/teflon tape by White Widow Jewellery (Fresh! 2008 winner Ka Ho Li)

Almost done.

Almost done.

P.S. Northside Makers cardholders will receive a special discount price tomorrow on... diaries! $24 instead of the usual $28. Just tell me I sent you.

Textile Links for Your Holiday Pleasure

I've been racing to see if I could reach 200 posts before I hit 50 followers, but today Little Cooties has joined me and I'm 50/195 (to misuse a cricket analogy). Hi Fab!

Here's a list of links I've been gathering over the last week. Hope some of them fascinate you as much as they do me.

Wondermark illustrator David Malki! shares the process of creating his annual calendar.
150 limited edition calendars of 14 pages each means 2,100 hand-Gocco-printed sheets in all, not counting mess-ups. Each page is printed with three different screens using two different colours of ink - wow! Part 3 details how to make Gocco screens without using a Gocco machine and where to buy plastic mounts for your Gocco screens.

Did you know the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria hosts Textile Art meet-ups monthly? I've just missed the chance to learn about stitching with snakeskin and cane toad leather.

I'm dy[e]ing over the workshop list at the Grampians Texture program, 20th to 25th Feb 2010. They've got a Twilight Makers Market in Halls Gap featuring the work of the workshop teachers. If only it were close enough for a half-day trip from Melbourne...

The Australian Forum for Textile Arts has a very comprehensive list of textile events happening in Victoria in 2010. Oh to be an semi-retired empty nester with a disposable income and my own car - I'd be all over the state at textile art exhibitions.

Before last week I'd never heard of The Johnson Collection House Museum. I found it through a post on Thea and Sami* about textile artist Robyn Rich who's made a textile Christmas dinner for the museum. The Johnston Collection is a fine art collection in a preserved mansion at a secret address - for tours you get picked up from a hotel in the city and driven there. Intriguing!
The current exhibition is We Three Kings of Orient Are. From the website:

This year the spectacular Christmas at The Johnston Collection exhibition will have handmade decorations created by artists and craftspeople such as embroiderers, patchworkers and quilters, fibre and textile artists, porcelain artists, lacemakers, the CWA and others from Geelong ~ City by the Bay. More than decoration, each creation in Fairhall will be like a small jewel originating from the exquisite objects in The Johnston Collection and inspired by themes of the travel and journeys undertaken by Mr Johnston.

It's on until 26th February 2010 and you can book through their website. Hmm, might be something nice to do for my February birthday.

Lastly, this morning I'm going to pay my first ever visit to Artisan Books on Gertrude St, Fitzroy to see if they've got any of the Dover Publications collections of Victorian advertising cuts, for which I have a sudden need.

* In fact, the bulk of links in this post stem from that one Thea and Sami blog post. I highly recommend reading Thea's articles on sustainable fashion and textiles.

MadeIt Loves Me, This I Know

I was scrolling through my Google Reader and glanced at a tutorial on MadeIt for making a fabric journal cover. I've been thinking about doing a tutorial for the super-easy method I use for my diary covers but am too busy/lazy. Then when I got to the bottom of the post, there was a link to my screenprinted diaries!

Aww, that's nice to see as I'm spending all day screenprinting and sewing more. I'll have them at Kris Kringle and Craft Hatch in all the styles listed in my MadeIt shop plus a red cover with a black tram. Whatever's left after this weekend will be added to my MadeIt shop with special prices... but I won't be making any more after today, so if you've got your eye on a particular diary it's better to be safe than sorry!

Market Apron

Ages ago Jay gave me a fabulous Rialto Tower souvenir teatowel. I've had it on the shelf for ages, unsure what to do with it. When the Borders market popped up with its access-all-areas stall setup, I knew what I could use it for. Market apron!


(Me with my Northside gals)


Close-up of W Class tram, Royal Exhibition Buildings and Australian native flowers.

My Christmas Markets '09 (image obese)

A few weeks back I wrote about what it meant to me to be doing the Kris Kringle Market at Northcote Town Hall. The emotional significance possibly makes a contribution to how much I am enjoying it (plus I'm indoors unlike some people). Kris Kringle makes me feel like I could do a market a week. Being realistic, I'm sure I'd have to do one month on, one month off, plus it's only December one month a year. Nonetheless when I'm at KK I feel like a champion. It really reinforces that if you're keen on doing markets it's important to sample a wide range to find the one that's right for your products and yourself as a person.

Here's some photos from markets I've done this Christmas season.

Kris Kringle 26th November


Northside Makers Market 28th November




Where Craft Meets 3053 @ Borders Carlton 7th December (thanks for the photos Beky!)




Kris Kringle 10th December




Carols at All Nations 12th December






Six down, two to go. In a week it'll all be over... until 2010.

Books, coffee, cinema & craft

I don't know that there's many Meburnians reading this blog who don't also read Jay and Margaret's, but just in case you haven't seen it on theirs I'm going to tell you about the experimental new handmade market at Borders Carlton, Where Craft Meets 3053.


The events team at Borders Carlton have invited ten local crafters to display their goodies in the very centre of Borders Carlton on a Monday night - that's cheap tix night at Cinema Nova which is in the same complex. We have the challenge of setting up island displays which customers can access from all sides as opposed to the single-fronted, seat-behind stalls one usually finds at a handmade market. It'll be quite an experiment in merchandising and I'm really excited about making it work (as Tim Gunn would say).

The event is advertised from 7pm til 9pm but we're welcome to keep selling as long as we've got a crowd. Who knows when we'll see our beds tonight!

As well as the Northside Makers team you'll also find regulars from Craft Hatch and beyond. Here's a full list, copied wholesale from Margaret's blog because I'm too lazy*:
First Morning Textiles, Cat McInnes, CSerpent Art, Mrs Beckinsale, Finki Handmade, Found n Bound, Betty and Hamish, Our Sweet William, Konstant Kaos, Made by Sarah.

*I even hyperlinked to her copy of the event poster. Bandwidth thief!

Stonnington Set

I almost finished these two cushions in time for last Thursday's Kris Kringle market, but instead they'll make their debut tomorrow at Where Craft Meets 3053 @ Borders Carlton.


The first is the revival of my Damask print set. It's a number 8 to Toorak, dahhling.


The second is brand spankin' new. After five or six months' search I've finally completed my Geometric print set. These cool prints are riding the 79 to Prahran.


If I don't sell them by Craft Hatch I'll pop them on MadeIt.

Another unusual pair - one of my cacti got very excited about the recent desert-like conditions (heatwaves followed by torrential rain).


Don't you think it looks like a Fraggle?