By Vintage Grrl, on August 22nd, 2009%
As you may or may not know, the Stitches & Craft show was taken over by “Living Creatively” last year. And to be quite honest, last years August show was a bit of a let down. For new management, not much had changed, and what had changed hadn’t been very well done.
HOWEVER, this year saw (in my eyes) a totally different style of show. There was a lot less of any one single craft style (ie: Quilting or Scrapbooking), and a lot more variety.
I met Issy there this morning for a day of awesome.
 Level 4 was “The Incubator”, showcasing new talent and interesting crafts. In my opinion this one level was worth the entry fee alone. Two of my RSS feed bloggers were there, Nicole Mallalieu Designs and Audrey & Maude. I didn’t get to see A&M as they were constantly busy as they were running not one, but TWO workshops during the day, but I did get to stop and see Nicole and her wonderous display of hats, bags and purses, and I picked up my first booty of the day:
I’ve been wanting to make some Nicole M stuff for quite a while, and I L-O-V-E the fedora pattern! 
The rest of Level 4 was just as awesome! I picked up lots of accessories for myself (hehe)
CUTE clips, buttons and hair bobbles. I am in hairstastic heaven  Also a couple of pendant/bracelet making beady things and some ‘costume’ button rings. <3
The “Canary” scissors are a twin to a pair I bought last year. They are the perfect size to attach to a notions pouch in one’s knitting bag.
Last but certainly not least are the ribbons. I decided this week that I require hair ribbons for all occasions and outfits… So I darn well bought them!
SQUEE! The uber-huge ric rac on the left will be made into elastic bound headbands. The rest will either be left as ribbon to tie, or elasticised, depending on how each actually go in my hair
I also picked up some fabric to go into the Rainbow Quilt (Moonshine Designs) for the workshop I’m doing in October. There is also talk of possibly doing a TAFE course next year.. but I’m not going to say on what unless I enrol.
All in all, I had a great day!
By Vintage Grrl, on July 22nd, 2009%
Just finished up teaching a workshop at the Customs House Library with a couple of people from the Knitters Guild. It’s lovely to see people interested in knitting in that kind of atmosphere, ready to be learning sponges. I had fun and I’m pretty sure my little group did too. The turn out was fantastic!
By Vintage Grrl, on May 26th, 2009%
I’ve made the Pink Chalk Studio’s Note Taker (in both the full and half size) before, but I have been meaning to make one for myself for quite some time. So I bit the bullet and decided that I’d like a place for a pen (or two), my small diary and a notepad. So I pulled out my fat quarters, and my fabrics and saw what I had. As it happened that I had three fabrics that were awesome together.
[SinglePic not found]I made a few very small changes to the pattern, mostly cosmetic. First is that I added a bias strip to the top of the ‘paper catcher’ on the left hand side… purely aesthetic. Then I swapped the button & ribbon closure for a magnetic snap’n'flap, just so it’s a bit more sturdy. Lastly, I didn’t use Timtex. In the front at spine areas, I used the Floriani “Stitch’n’shape” which is like Fast2Fuse but much easier to get. In the back I used a piece of Textile Board (available from Tall Poppy Crafts) covered in a very fine wadding fleece (adhered with hemming web). This was just to give me a sturdier ‘resting’ place for when I was writing. And now that I’ve done that once, I would actually do it front ant back next time, as I think the finish is lovely both inside and out.
[SinglePic not found]
So now I can throw it in my handbag and know that I’ve always got a pen, a notepad and my diary with me.
By Vintage Grrl, on May 23rd, 2009%
I went to mum’s today to give her a 1920’s make over. She is attending a ball tonight with a 1920’s theme, so wanted a proper ‘waves’ do. I think I did very well. My mum has very fine hair, so I had to build it up a bit with product.
  
Purdy!
(8:45pm got a phonecall from Mum, she’s the only person at the ball with a ‘proper’ hairdo, everyone else seems to have gone for the bandeau and feathers ‘flapper’ cheat  )
On the way home … I saw THIS..
Beautiful!
By Vintage Grrl, on May 17th, 2009%
I’m on a bit of an apron spree at the moment. I have material to use, and it may not be suitable for a bag or clothing, so an apron is perfect!
I picked up this pattern at a closeout sale of a local quilting store at a bargain price so thought I’d give it a whirl.
It’s $9 US at full price (plus shipping), which doesn’t make it a cheap pattern to start off with.
The cutting instructions are pretty good, and actual paper pattern is minimal, which is fantastic, but a rotary cutter, mat and ruler are essential. The instructions for construction are definitely written for quilters, however, and not garment makers. There were some parts of the instructions that I had to re-read a few times to understand what needed to happen.
Things that I liked about this pattern:-
- Simple construction for the most part
- Lined
- Adjustable without ’sizing’
Things I didn’t like, or would do differently:-
- Pocket isn’t lined
- The pockets are too deep
- The facings would have worked better if they were sewn in as part of the seam, rather than as an addition
I did, this time, line the pocket. I can see how you could embellish this apron to suit any use, or change the pockets etc. I will make it again, that’s for sure, but I will make the following changes next time I do it.
- Line the pockets (like I did this time)
- Make the pockets as 2 seperate pockets slightly out from the centre instead of a single one in the centre
- Sew the facings into the seam
- Widen the sides to come further around the body, and possibly shape out and round it at the bottom, rather than square
- Sew the facings into the seam
All in all, not a bad pattern. Although it is a basic shape, the instructions are not written for beginners, or specifically for garment makers. Quilters will not have any problems with the instructions. I do think, however, for such a basic pattern, it’s a bit over priced, especially with the current exchange rate.
By Vintage Grrl, on May 16th, 2009%
I have finished another Monica Poole “Moonshine Designs” bag!
This is the “Palm Beach Sling”, which is her latest release in the handbag range. It’s a ‘hobo’ style bag, 2 sizes and 2 handle options. I made the smaller bag with the longer handles. But it’s not for me .. I can’t say who it’s for… yet…
I love it, though, and will be making one for myself. except I like my shoulder bags really floppy, so I’ll probably use a light weight interfacing, rather than a Pellon.
  
I love that the inside pockets mirror the outside one. There is also a zipped pocket on the inside ‘back’ area.
WOO!
By Vintage Grrl, on May 14th, 2009%
I saw Angels & Demons last night. Do NOT read on if you don’t want to know…
Continue reading Disphoria … (or, why I hated this movie)
By Vintage Grrl, on May 8th, 2009%
Well, it’s the Moonshine Designs Cafe Latte bag. I originally got the pattern from the Handmade magazine, which came with a DVD of Monica Poole herself. Monica has since released the Cafe Latte as a pattern, and I think it’s a great bag to make for a gift!
It calls for a product called “Fast 2 Fuse” which is a double sided fusable stiffening/interfacing product. Now, at the best of times it’s not easy to get, and when you can, you’re looking at an outlay of around $30 per yard (90ish centimetres). Floriani, however, make “Stitch N Shape” which is a similar product, albeit only 15″ wide (vs F2F’s 28″), you’re looking at spending less than half for one length of the bag… AND it’s the perfect width for the Cafe Latte!
Unfortunately, the pattern calls to make the handles from the F2F as well. But there is another alternative! Having used the Floriani product myself, I didn’t want to cut into a 2nd length for handles, when I could make another bag from it. So what did I do? I used The Vilene Pellon H640, of course! It’s a medium weight single sided iron on synthetic ‘fleece’.
I doubled the width required, and with my straps pressed with 1/4 marks, I placed it dotty side facing up, and then folded the ends in, and brought the raw edges together in the centre of the pellon and ironed so it fused. I then olded it in half lengthwise to hide the raw edges, then stitched 1/4″ from each edge and then down the centre. This gave my handles enough strength to ‘match’ the bag, but is still soft and paddy (which I prefer in my handles).
I also added an extra pocket on the inside, and bag feet (available from Tall Poppy Craft). Inside is also a Pellon’ed case for my bag base (when it arrives).
Basically, means I can buy a cheaper product (which is still fabulous) and get my bag! I usually have a stash of H640 (I enjoy making bags) so that’s no issue there either. The Vilene Pellon is available through most fabric places, including Spotlight and quilting specialty stores.
By Vintage Grrl, on April 30th, 2009%
Especially when it’s designed by Monica Poole of Moonshine Designs fame. I love her bag designs, just love them. Yesterday I got to meet her and enjoy being part of a workshop she was running for her new pattern “Bon Bon“.
  
I LOVE the way it goes together, and love my new handbag. It’s big enough for a small-medium knitting or spindle spinning project plus all my bits too!
I will be making more of this bag, as it was lots of fun, and lends itself to lots of variation.
I can’t wait until her quilt workshop in October!
By Vintage Grrl, on March 1st, 2009%
I have always loved the movie adaptations of Jane Austen novels. I have always loved the styles of clothing, the hair, the way the women carried themselves. The femininity of it all is just so appealing to me.
Recently I have had thoughts of making a regency style dress for while I’m at home. I love (and prefer) to wear dresses and skirts, and why not feel special when you’re doing the housework or playing with your child?
I love the patterns at Sense & Sensibility Patterns. Their range is awesome, and you can download the patterns to print off at home (or Officeworks etc) so you don’t have to wait for the pattern to be delivered! I will be definitely getting some of those patterns soon! They accomodate for larger busts and sizings too (which is something the ‘big 4′ pattern companies don’t do).
I have a pattern from Burda Style (Francesca) that is a great modern twist on the Regency type style too. It’s a very adaptable pattern, I even made a 1940’s style dress from it. I haven’t taken photos of it yet, because I don’t have a dress form (and forgot to take a photo of me in it when I wore it last).
Lots of sewing fun ahead!
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