I'm Engaged!

 Hi friends, remember me? I know, I know its been a while! There are many reasons but no excuses for my absence from the blog-world. I have sooo many unfinished projects to show you but this little announcement seemed a little more urgent ;)

I'M ENGAGED!!!!!!!!

And getting married very, very soon! Did someone say winter wedding?

As I sit here writing this the temperature is literally dropping and I can't quite fathom how or where I'm going to find/make winter knits, leather boots or some non-stinky, vintage fur. But then it dawns on me...

I have to find a wedding dress!

Do I have time to make one? Will I go secondhand? Does anyone have a spare dress they would swap?

Ohh heck...

I was selected!

Well I did it! My skirt was selected to go on the catwalk at the Melbourne Stitches and Craft Show! 

I'm going to ignore the fact that only 17 people entered and hold my head up high while I post off my creation to be judged by the sewing world. Thanks to everyone who voted for me, I know it wasn't a straight forward process ;)

Now I just have to wait till May for the results...arghhh.

xx

The Formal Alligator Skirt

Well it's FINALLY here! The skirt I made for the BurdaStyle/ Tessuti Fabric competition. I did make it in time for the 2nd of April deadline (barely) and with the help of my usual peeps (mum, boyfriend, even my dad tried to help me take photos) it's up online for all of the Burda-world to see. I have already received nice comments (the sewing community are so lovely). 

I was aiming to create a quirky twist on the classic marie skirt, making it  out of Tessuti’s textural ‘Formal Alligator’ fabric. The pleats have been reversed to create a triangle shape and to move the bulk of the fabric away from the middle. Then two ‘bow-tie’ pieces were pattern-made to fit into the front waistband, continuing the line of the pleats. The shape of the bow-tie mimics the raised texture of the fabric whilst steering clear of the overused, classic bow shape.

Have a look at http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/the-formal-alligator-skirt

I hope I vwin!

Well, I've certainly never blogged about a project I haven't started before. But I was so excited I had to tell you all. I am making a ridiculously fabulous pencil skirt for the Tessuti / BurdaStyle competition to win fame, glory and perhaps a truckload of fabric. In my world fabric is a HUGE deal. I know I'm leaving it a little late as always (the deadline is April 2nd), but I needed to con my boyfriend into taking me to Surry Hills to get the fabric before I could get going on it. Did I mention I also have two assessment tasks due for uni and a few public holiday hours worth of pay to earn? Oh boy...stand by!

Nudie is better than Nude...

As a long time fan of Swedish denim giant Nudie Jeans, I have religiously and rigorously conformed to their 'code of denim', all in a bid for the perfectly kept pair. Yes, under their strict instructions I have; gone without washing them for six months, kept various shaped instruments in my pockets in order to create the perfect 'wear marks' and of course patched them within an inch of their life. I have collected 5 pairs over the years which have served me well and are still in high rotation in my wardrobe. As they age they mold perfectly to the body and start to feel like soft felt. There really isn't any other piece of clothing like a pair of jeans. Nor any other piece I would spend so much money on, or get so much wear out of. Nudie even have a blog devoted to the the 'living denim'.

These days I have become somewhat of an expert at repairing them thanks to my boyfriend, who quite frequently waltzes through my front door swinging a plastic shopping bag, containing one or two pairs and calls out 'Baby I've had another blowout!'
Now I'm not going to go into physics behind why guys wear through the crotch of their jeans quicker than girls, but suffice to say that 'someone' sat me down one day and very carefully explained why. So now I have no qualms about repairing his jeans whenever they need it.
If you would rather repair than replace, here is how to fix (and hopefully prevent) jean blowouts:

1) Using a good quality denim (an old pair of jeans is perfect) cut a suitable sized patch for the hole and surrounding area (that might have weakened).

2) On the inside of the crotch sew the perimeter of the patch while holding the hole closed. Then sew up and down the patch over and over again in the same direction until the hole is covered.
3) If any of the other quadrants are weak, reinforce them the same way you did the one with the hole (believe me eventually it will need it anyway).

Happy Sewing
P.s - Yes if you look at the photo carefully you can see that this is the 2nd time I've repaired this particular pair!

Kiara the Cat

    

                                                           

Now here's a fun tale,

a sweet little piece.

Of a chirpy young girl,

my bold, pseudo niece.

Some say that she's fiery,

some say she's got game.

But one wink and a smile

and she'll have you tame!

Our story begins 

in a land far away.

Somewhere near Europe,

some call the UK.

Off to Reception

little Kiara did go.

In this land overseas,

'it's a cold place you know'!

This day of all days

 the one she did share,

 was none other than the

world famous 'World Book Fair'!

Did she go as an Alice,

a fairy or Pat?

No

       No

             No

                    No

                           No

                                   No!

She went as 'Cat in the Hat'!

Handmade project by Shannon Clements.

Swap Till you Drop!

The first Sew Swap Salvage event 'What's Yours Is Mine' was a hit on Monday night with 20 women of all shapes and styles swapping there wardrobes away while raising $300 for Shirelive's annual REACH fundraiser! Here is what one discerning swapper had to say:

'Just wanted to say thanks again for putting together what turned out to be an awesome first clothes swap event. I really love my new black jeans and was thrilled that i found something to take home. It's funny - i was so sure that there was nothing there i'd like but as soon as i started looking for things for other people i found a couple of things i wanted!' - Vanessa (24)

Vanessa told me she'd been on the hunt for some jeans for a while and was willing to fork out heaps to find some that fitted. It just goes to show you; there is a relevant alternative to shopping.

I myself snapped up some gorgeous sundresses, a leopard scarf (which I literally haven't taken off since Monday) and a dinosaur designs style necklace. But my highlight by far was finding a 70s print skirt with a matching shawl that was a fellow swapper's, mother's going away outfit (from her wedding)!

That's what I love about swapping events, you get to hear the stories surrounding the clothes and see all your old pieces go to good homes (where they will be loved and not shoved in the back of a wardrobe).

Special thanks goes to Freddy Choo, marketing manager for the Salvos Stores who donated the clothes racks and Meylia from Bali-stick restaurant in Kensington, for doing the catering.

xx