Me Made May

This is the third year in a row I have taken part in 'Me-Made-May'.  

Me-Made-May runs for the whole of the month of May and is a challenge designed to encourage people who sew, knit, crochet or refashion garments for themselves, to wear and love them more.  It's also an opportunity to discuss fast fashion, handmade and slow stitch.....especially when someone comments "Where did you get that dress?"  (I'm sure it was well meant.....I think).

You can read more about the challenge over on So, Zo...What do you know?

This year I'm really happy to report that I managed to wear something handmade every single day of May. Some days I had to resort to handmade leggings though as I had run out of clothes and my brooches had been 'done to death'.  Thankfully I wasn't ever asked to show off my leggings.

Here's my latest 'make'.  Another Esme tunic from Lotta Jansdotter's Everyday Style.  I really love her style.  

I think my hair is even starting to look like hers.  

Sorry Lotta.  

This dress is a touch short but that was intentional so that I can wear it over jeans for the Winter.

The fabric is linen from Spotlight.  I just love linen but there wasn't a lot to choose from when I bought this. Only about three plains and this print in either cream or navy.  I thought this was so gorgeous on the roll and couldn't wait to make it up, but now I get the feeling that it's slightly reminiscent of a 1970's sofa.  

I'm really giving the von Trapp family a run for their money now, after one of my other dresses was inadvertently made from curtain fabric.

I honestly don't know how people stand in front of a self timer and look normal.  I've tried to take my lead from other blogs I follow where the girls look so natural, carefree and happy.  Here I am, finally happy (sort of) with my plastic smile......but check out the feet!

Plus I look like I'm hiding a couple of wads of $50 notes in my pockets.  Ha ha....I wish.  

That'd make me happy wouldn't it?!

Woven knicker trials.

Behold another experiment.  

Knickers made from woven fabric.  

I thought I'd have a play around with wovens, as years ago when lingerie was really gorgeous, there was no such thing as stretch fabric.  All 'foundation garments' were made from beautiful silks, satins and comfy soft cottons.

According to Wikipedia, lycra started to be popular in the early 1980's.  I can vouch for that as I was once the proud owner of a couple of beautiful stretchy leotards - Jane Fonda style, which I wore religiously to the gym.  I didn't mind being seen in lycra in those days.

I used to be completely fascinated with lycra and stretch fabrics.  Before I was married I completed a stretch sewing course and proudly became a certified 'Knit Wit'.  Some days it worries me that I still hold that title, and it has nothing to do with sewing. 

These latest knickers were lots of fun to make and believe it or not, actually fit (with a bit of a grunt) . They do however, need quite a bit of further refinement, to put it politely.....ahem. 

Hence they won't be receiving any cutesy embellishments.

By the look of this shot, I should be a giraffe.  Look at those long leg holes.  

A Braided Rag Rug Workshop

Braided rag rugs?  Finally the mystery is solved!

Last week I attended a two day rag rug making workshop with  Ilka White, a textile artist from Victoria.  Ilka shares her knowledge so generously and is such a beautiful gentle soul.  It was the best two days.

You can read more about Ilka's work here. 

About ten of us shared two full days of artsy conversation, creativity, home made yummy morsels to eat and lots of laughter.  All enjoyed in a beautiful old stone building at the Greenough Pioneer Museum about 20k out of town.  

A very luxurious break from normality.

My place mat sized start was a whole two days work.  Believe it....it's true.  

I've used op-shopped men's shirts in all natural fibres - a mix of linen, hemp, bamboo and cotton and will tailor the colour scheme as the fabrics become available.  Hopefully mostly chambrays and neutrals so it will sit comfortably with any decor.  

I'm so in love with this process, despite making numerous mistakes in the beginning which Ilka good naturedly fixed up!  I also expected the braiding technique to be a lot harder on the hands, but it's really quite gentle and soothing.

Here are the beginnings of some awesome rag rugs.  I had to cut everyone's heads off as I don't like to post pics of people on the internet without their permission.  That's why you only ever see my ugly mug!

I had the best time....and it must have been apparent because Ilka mentioned that my "contentment was spilling over".

The Verandah Skirt

I don't know where the name 'verandah skirt' came from, but I think they're a great idea - a belly dancing friend introduced me to them.  They are designed for the sole purpose of providing a little modesty (aka covering up your 'bits') when wearing leggings or firm fitting trackie pants to yoga, exercise class or belly dancing.  I love mine.  So easy to just throw on if I have to do anything in town straight after a class.  There's no way I would wobble my way round town in just a pair of leggings and a tee shirt.  

Yes I know....some do....but not me.

I don't know why I look so serious.  I think I'm concentrating too hard on tying to hold the camera straight.  I'll have to learn to use a tripod and the delayed timer, or whatever it's called.  

This next shot is worse.  

I'd hate to meet myself in a dark alley.

The mirror is not very clean either.

The skirts are so simple to make.  Just measure how much front and back coverage is required, fold in half across the full width of the fabric, cut a hole for the waist and attach a band which has been inserted with non roll waist elastic.  Easy peasy.

It would appear that holding the camera is the hard part.

A Raggy Quilt

I've had a lovely weekend finishing up a 'raggy' quilt for an expectant friend.  We don't know if they're having a boy or girl so I hope these colours are unisex enough for them.  My fave is the little bird print.  So cute.

Raggy quilts are usually made from soft warm flannel with wadding inside, but as this quilt will be going to a hot climate, I've made it from quilting cotton with 100% cotton flannel inside.  Hopefully it'll be cooler than flannel and suitable to be repeatedly machine washed.

 

 Trying to sort out the arrangement of squares so no two similar prints are side by side.

Remembering to keep the seams on the outside was easier said than done....yes I did have to do a bit of unpicking!

The finished blankie shown on a double bed to get an idea of size.  It's just small, square and portable so mum and dad can toss it in the car or put it on the floor for their bubba.

Love the way the trimmed edges ruffle up in the wash.  So soft and snuggly.

Aren't those birds cute?

Christmas Bunting.

Christmas buntings for three beautiful friends.

Working on these was so much fun

Each bunting has 'wearables' attached...

...and messages with meaning.

It soothes my Soul.

A retro caftan for Summer

Ok.

Here's my latest project.

Stop laughing.  I think it's funky and fun.  Especially the fabric.  It's by Prints Charming, a small Australian owned fabric design company.  You can read more about them here.
The caftan pattern is also by an Aussie company called Make it Perfect.  Check them out here.

In progress.......

......and Voila!  Another fab creation laying on the floor because I have no models!
I'm certainly not going to put my bathers on underneath a caftan at this time of the year and attempt to photograph myself in the mirror.  Believe me, it looks better on the floor.

WAMED Festival

Ok, it's been a while.  Don't ask me what happens when I get too busy to blog.  I don't even work full time any more.  Work that one out.

So....on to the subject at hand.  WAMED!

I've searched back through my Blog and am absolutely astounded that I can't find anything that mentions the WAMED Festival.  Imagine that.  Something that has had such an impact on my life and is the most amazing and fun long weekend.  Not a mention.  Shame on me.

Well.......

The WAMED is the West Australian Middle Eastern Dance Festival.  A week long celebration of all things belly dance. Workshops, international bellydance superstars, unbelievable evening shows, ethnic food to die for (well anything in the city is to die for really.....being a Melbourne girl and all) fabulous costumes, dancing like there's no tomorrow, colour and sparkle, meeting like minded souls, sharing a motel room with LOTS of fun girls, laughing till your face hurts................

Oh and wait....

There's more.

What about the Bazaar.  THE Bazaar.  A shopping experience that can dwarf all other shopping experiences.  Yes even Melbourne ones.  This is where we equip ourselves for the coming year and beyond, with amazing custom designed dancing attire, comfy stretch street wear, funky pre-loved tit-bits and everything in between.  Have I made it sound like fun yet?  Believe me, it's fun with a capital 'F'!  This year I bought some floral stretch burnout velvet dance pants that almost defy description.  Paisley.  OMG.

The WAMED is also where we gain the courage to become 'who we are'.  Workshops are not only about the dance and learning another choreography.  They  also focus on subjects like health and diet, personal growth, chakras, spiritual development, and what it means to belong to a sisterhood.

I also learnt how to make a 'bum ruffle'!!  Here's a couple of shots of one I made for a friend.  She's a 'Bollywood girl' at heart so even though I made the ruffle in a tribal print (because I was shown how to make it from a tribal dancer, and I love tribal style dance)......I made a really bright Bolly coloured one!
I love it, and so does my friend......(just as well).  

  

taking photos of myself as usual........

(Nigel no friends).

I made the flower on a clip that can be worn either on the outfit or in the hair.  I like it on the outfit......because I've hardly got any hair!  When did that happen I wonder?

Skirt number two

Ok, I'm really on a roll now.

This skirt is made from a retro print cotton and has a 'mock wrap' front.  We had to design our own skirt this time from the pattern we drafted a couple of weeks ago.  A 'mock wrap' is about as adventurous as I could manage this time round.....but watch this space.........I think I'm just starting to warm up.

I've trimmed the wrap part with some red homespun and a little bit of the Napthol dyed fabric from Semester  one, cut on the bias with a raw edge, so it will fray just the right amount without getting all 'stringy'.
Does it sound like I know what I'm talking about yet?

Beautifully Bound Pockets.

We've just finished drafting a personalised skirt pattern from our own measurements, (with the expert tuition of our textile lecturer Gera of course).  This is a shot of me wearing my new custom fitted skirt with the most amazing bound pockets.  

What's even more amazing is that I haven't completely lost what remains of my composure after taking three attempts to get the pockets right.  The actual 'bound' part worked just great!  So great in fact that I was very reluctant to add the pocket part, except that I would've had a skirt with two skinny slits in the front of it (like someone trying to squint).  Attempt number one had the pockets joined only to the upper bound section, so that when you put your hand in, you completely missed the pocket altogether........ok if you wanted a bit of a scratch I guess.  This is a common mistake I'm told......(the pocket not the scratching).  After two more attempts I finally have workable pockets, although I'm not so sure about all those zig-zagged raw edges showing on the inside.  

The good thing is, I now have a baseline from which I can only improve!  

Mending Party

Yesterday we had a 'mending party' at our house.  Have you ever heard of such a thing?  Me either.

I always thought mending was a chore, which is why it seems to keep building up untill I get a pile of it somewhat similar to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  Yesterday my two beautiful daughters came over, armed with smoothies from Macca's, (and their mending) and we proceeded to chat, mend, sew, measure, decide on shapes, draft patterns, remodel an apron, drink smoothies, design pyjamas, spray spiders *squeal!* alter bathers, match colours, try on clothes, make coffee, photograph roses........and it was just the best afternoon.

Who would have thought that a pile of mending could provide company, laughter, nourishment and fun?  Me either.

Got a skirt happening.

Busy busy busy.

Print print print.


Hapy happy happy.

Cut cut cut.

Thinking about how this will all go together........hmmmmm.

Think think think.

Ta - da!

Skirt front........and........

Skirt back.

Looks like a damn tee-pee.

....and yes, that is the size of my butt.

.....so call me barge-arse.

.....and yes girls....I am going to wear it.

Raggy Quilt

Recently a couple of friends and I got together to make a 'raggy quilt' for another friend who is expecting her first babe.  None of us had ever made a raggy quilt before, but after receiving expert instructions from a girlfriend who has made several (yes you read that right),  we were a full bottle on how to go about it.  


Nobody told us we'd all end up with RSI from snipping the seams.  I thought I had sore muscles when I was thrown out of my kayak (three times....yep....THREE) in choppy water recently......but that was nothing compared to this. Sore butt muscles generally mean the 'pole vault stance' when going to the loo, but a raggy quilt means not even being able to hold onto the toilet paper!

She loved it so it was worth the pain.

Not sure about the 'Triple Tartlets' name though.  We have the 'Jam Tarts' in Geraldton and now also the 'Arty Tarts' in Northampton.  Might have to rethink our name.  

Am I the lucky one?

Look what my two gorgeous daughters gave me for Christmas.  An absolutely beautiful, fully restored Singer treadle sewing machine.

Am I not the most spoiled and lucky mum in the Southern Hemisphere?

Ok, so this photo is blurry, (tell me something I don't know)............maybe I was trying to focus on the decorative woodwork?