Sewing up a storm!

Well, the bad news is that Mum's amazing sewing machine has a funky spring in the bobbin case which means it is out of commission at the moment until a new part arrives. The good news is that the second hand overlocker I was given a while ago is also in getting a service so pretty soon I'll have an overlocker to use!! 

Today I dragged out the Elna "Sew Fun" and had some fun. 

I've finished off the mug rugs. I didn't use bias binding for the edges, they are far from perfect, but I have learnt a lot and the next ones I make will be better! 

I DID make my own bias binding today, it was a proud moment filled with burned fingers... Ironing fabric makes it hot for some reason... 

And the beautiful bias is now attached to a pair of sailor shorts for a friend. 

They are waiting on buttons, as are the crabby pants I made for myself (still!)

I've also been dreaming up a laptop bag, and I've started making a prototype. I need to buy zippers and some sliders to make the strap adjustable. 

I'm working on a zipper pocket on the back and one on the front side on the inside; an iPad size pocket and 2 smaller pockets on the back side of the lining; and a medium size pocket on the outside on the front. 

The final product will be interfaced for strength and durability. 

The real estate section is always great for drafting patterns! 

I'm knitting a beanie for my Dad, he's working FIFO, so high-vis clothing is just part of life... I couldn't resist when I found this wool! 

It's acrylic, not wool, which is a shame. But good fun none the less. 

And tonight, I've found that blogger has an app, making it even easier to post! Hopefully this will mean I will post more often. 

Happy creating everyone! 

Rainy Day Post...

It has been a long time since I've managed to get here to post, sorry about that! I have been up and down the coast between Hedland and Perth, across the country to NSW and back, and I've been studying and creating.
All three of the purses and the bag in the previous post were received by their new owners and are very loved! Such a delight to know that the sewing that brings me joy can also bring joy to others.

Most recently I've been working on some overdue Mother's Day presents, overdue because Mum is always around! I'm making a mug rug for my Mum and my Partner's Mum. I'm hand embroidering their names and a little tea cup for them.
I'll be putting a light wadding in them, a backing and binding them. I'd like to make a whole lot more of these, they are cute and fun, not to mention useful!

Mug Rugs for Mother's Day

I've been knitting too! I have fallen in love with tea cosies! I am hosting a morning tea next month for Australia's Biggest Morning Tea, to raise money for the Cancer Council. For this I have made 2 cosies, both adorned with a lovely knitted daffodil. These were made from the free pattern by Loani Prior

I had to adjust this for my funny shaped tea pot, but it wasn't hard once I got the hang of it!

Tall Cosy

Baggy Cosy

Ran out of wool a few rows before the end...

And once I worked out how the pattern worked I decided it needed to be pink and tasselled!

Pink!

From this I wanted to make a little cosy for my mug, keep my tea warm in my mug too!

I also found a free pattern for some shorts (I'll have to find the link for you) but I'm sure if you google it you'll be able to find it! They are called sailor shorts.

I found some board shorts material in Mum's stash with cute little crabs all over! I've made up the shorts... except the buttons, I still have some work to do on my button holes before I'm willing to try them out on my shorts! I've also started making a pair for a very beautiful friend of mine... 

Crabby Pants

Button Hole attempts

And the last projects for this long overdue blog are two half finished dresses. The first is a 50's style that I love! (Black and red floral dress in an earlier post has the pattern number) I found some gorgeous floral fabric for $4/m. I need to buy a zipper and then sew in the lining and the hem, but so far, I LOVE IT!

I need to buy more fabric to make a lining for the final dress that I'm working on, the lining fabric I have is about 5cm too short! 

(The bottom fabric)

Pattern C

And what better to finish off then 9 more purses that have been cut out! I need to buy interfacing, then the production line will begin! Purses for all!

 I've also got a possible order for some bags and purses - VERY exciting and a little scary! I haven't got any details on how many she wants or colours. I'm doing my homework on pricing and stuff too.

Happy crafting everyone!!!

Sewing up a Storm!

Believe it or not, I've actually got stuck in and done some sewing!
I had SO many birthday's in the last month that I needed to "Buy" for, so I decided to make up a pattern I had purchased late last year.
THIS is Emmaline Bags, and they have wonderful patterns for sale, I got stuck into the Necessary Clutch Wallet, and the Teardrop Bag, and it was AWESOME!
The patterns are easy to follow and lots of fun, and I have an amazing sense of achievement now that I have completed these, and plan to make a few more! The ones I have made are still in the post, so hopefully the recipients don't read this before they arrive!
I bought a bunch of fabric from spotlight and fabric.com to make these, as well as 3 different weights of interfacing, double sided tape for fabric, twist locks from Voodoo Rabbit Fabrics to make the NCW's shut, magnetic closures (Because I can't get the twist locks locally),  I had to get tiny embroidery scissors to cut tiny holes in thick layers of fabric and interfacing... But it was all worth it!!

Behold!

 

 

Not study time again!

I haven't done much creative since my last post, but I've been reading up on techniques and getting really inspired!
I've ordered some black velvet to put behind my paintings when I photograph them (in the crazy event that I actually get some finished), which will hopefully provide a background that will absorb light and not detract from the painting in the photograph. I have a long way to go before my painting photography will be anywhere near a professional level, but it's a start!

In this order I've also got a few quilting fabrics and a couple of fabrics for dress making. I haven't got specific projects in mind just yet, but several patterns that are just screaming out to be made!
I bought the Emmaline Necessity Clutch pattern a while ago, and I'm very excited to try that out, as well as some of the Emmaline bags. I've never made anything like this before, and I'll have to write out a long list of all the odds and ends I'll need aside from fabric and do a good shop before I get started. I know of a lot of fellow sewers who have made these items though, and they have loved the finished products!

I had an afternoon of photography practice the other day, helping a friend out by trying out some portrait photography. We had some shockers, but also a few nice photos by the end of the session, I'm excited to see how they turn out. Note to self: Get camera serviced.

I have been putting a little thought into what sewing machine I would like to buy when I finally decide to upgrade from my lovely 30-year-old Elna. I'd love the ability to do some machine embroidery, but I also would like it to be a very good sewing machine (not a great emby with average sewing capabilities) Mum has a Bernina that cost twice what my first car did, and some... My best friend has a Janome which is only her friend sometimes. It'll be a long time before I can afford one, so I have a long time to ponder. If there are any guru's out there reading this blog, share your wisdom!

My bedroom is still more paint and paintings than anything else, but the progress hasn't progressed very far, hopefully I'll get some more inspiration in coming days before I give up and pack it all up. Uni has started again and it's only 3 short weeks until my fist essay is due, and 4 until I'm on the other side of the country for the practical component of my study.
Aaaaaaaaand I need a job, because I have to pay for my flights. Sigh.

Have fun, be creative!

Busy Busy!

What a wonderful few days it has been! I've been drawing, painting and sewing!
I've sketched my rose, in my black sketch book

I've worked on some of my dresses

Lining and zipper to go

Zipper and buttons to go

And I finally started working on my stash of half finished paintings!

Mountains in Colorado, promised to a friend a few years ago...

The mess

Rock of Ages in Port Hedland, on a beautiful overcast day

A very old painting of Table Mountain and Cape Town

Hibiscus

"POP ART" Water Lily & reflection

PRS Mira - My Partner's true love haha

Sunset over low tide in Port Hedland

A wonderful Corona Ad I found...

and again...

So I haven't been following the advice I found and posted about, taking the best photos of my art... but these really were just photos of my progress, so I can see how the painting is taking shape.

Any feedback is welcome. Have a wonderful day!