My Crafty Day Out

Today was a good day.

Ash and I drove into Fitzroy, to the wonder that is Brunswick Street. My main reason for wanting to go there, was to check out the Blackbird Market in the Worker's Club, which was very good. A little small, but lots of kinda cool vintage clothing (which I wouldn't normally be interested in, but some were quite funky).

Next, we walked past Meet me at Mike's which I'd heard lots about from my work colleagues, and had checked out some of their books, so that was an unexpected surprise also.

But (saving the best for last ... ) the big excitement had been when Ash had seen a shop called The Fabric Store. Initially, it looked so trendy outside that I was convinced it was actually a clothes shop and not really a seller of just fabric. But, yes, I was wrong. Oh man ... It was incredible! The range this place has is just beyond words (especially for someone who hardly ventures out of just the local Spotlight store), and it had 50% off pretty much everything!! So I of course made some purchases, and hopefully they will be used for future projects that I can show off on here.

Then we walked back to the car and there was a parking fine on it. Oops. We decided that next time we may just take the train instead :)

Setting up my Sewing Area

At the end of last year, I decided I would need my very own sewing area, as opposed to everything sprawled out onto our dining room table (usually resulting in a frantic relocation whenever we had visitors around). This was easier said than done, seeing as we live in a Unit with smaller than usual rooms. The final decision was that we would merge it with our music room, so we now have a Music/Sewing room (which should prove interesting when we have friends over for a music jam!)

I spent a lot of time measuring and planning so that I could prove to Ash it could actually work - by looking at the original setup of the room, you never would have believed it.

We picked up a desk off ebay for $10 (it's actually a really good and sturdy one!) and Ash has already drawn up plans to make me a cutting table which will go in the corner between the desk and the piano (the unit with the tub drawers will sit underneath it, that's where most of my sewing supplies are kept).

I need to fit all of this stuff, plus my fabrics, into these few shelves ...

I decided to make a few things to make my Sewing Area a little bit personalised (and to save some $$$). So I found some scraps of material and made myself a very simple pin cushion, and also a pen holder for all my bits and pieces (made from a tin can).

 




 



Super Simple Stretch Skirt

I'm really excited about this one. To give some background, I ordered this skirt from Etsy, made by Teclur, a few months ago ...

but

It didn't fit.

I thought I'd wait a few months until I'd lost weight, but when I tried it on again the other night I realised that it was just not the right shape for my body, no matter how much I worked out.



So. I decided that I would make one myself, as the way it was made is similar to the skirts I'd just made. Using the above skirt, I drew up a new pattern, making some changes to it, and then cut out my fabric (hoping my calculations were right!) and sewed it up and had it finished all in the same night.



Waistband can be folded, or unfolded to make the skirt longer.

And? I LOVE it!

I wore it to work the next day and it is the comfiest skirt I have ever owned, and one that I can either dress up or down. And. No ironing required. Hooray!

So the first thing I'm going to do on my return from holidays is see what other colours the fabric comes in, and make some more. And eventually play around with some applique, and be the owner of the

 

Coolest. Skirts. EVER. 

Simple Skirts

This was my second project in our sewing class! The other girls had made some of these skirts before and decided it was time to make some more in time for summer, and they were very easy. I got my fabric from Funky Fabrix and love both of them. I actually have one more half done, but have decided I will finish that in the New Year. The band is made out of stretchy material (Seaspray) and they are lined as well.

Beanbag

This was my first proper project for our sewing class, we used the instructions from here Lincraft Beanbag. I made the adult sized one, together with a calico insert for it. It took a lot longer than I expected, just because of how HUGE it was, but I'm happy with the end product and it's very comfy! It was also my first taste of the dreaded zip, which I survived.

I actually finished this a few weeks ago, but hadn't got around to taking a photo (and, yes, it needs more beans ... )

Cute Dress for Miss J

I'm so excited and just a little proud of myself on completing this dress, as this is the first time I've made something using a pattern (well, unless you count my pathetic attempt years ago in school, but I really don't think you should ... ). I also pretty much figured it all out by myself, except for some moral support by Ash whilst doing the buttonholes (which don't scare me as much anymore!).

I used the pattern Simplicity 5489 (with some changes, including lengthening it a little) and the fabric, called "Raindrops Stripe Pink", from the "Rainy Days and Mondays" collection, is by designer Riley Blake whose fabrics I just love. I bought it online from Funky Fabrix.

I had planned on using some dark pink buttons, but Ash suggested the green ones instead and I really think they make a big difference and love the look.

It's for my niece's 4th birthday in a few weeks, who lives in Fiji, so I hope she likes it.

Camo Backback Cover - One for the guys!

This one isn't actually one of my projects, but my Husband's that I'm proudly going to share :)

I came home from work a week ago to the sound of my sewing machine whirring away, which is probably the last thing I would expect. Ash had got a new backpack for his birthday a few days before (a swanky one with a compartment specially for his camera and all it's gear), so he'd decided it needed a waterproof cover. He'd mentioned it to me earlier, to which I said it was a good idea but I didn't have time straightaway to figure it out (up to my eyeballs in sewing projects right now), so he decided to give it a crack.

He went to the camping store and bought a camo poncho (hmmm I don't think I could imagine a boy's camping night with ponchos ... perhaps that's why it was on sale... anyway ...) and then converted that using cord, webbing and a toggle and buckle to secure it. Here's what the end result looked like:



Toggle fastening (buttons are from original poncho)



Buckle fastening to secure around the back of the backpack

We went away the morning after and, given the wet weather here at the moment, it got well and truly tested and passed with flying colours.

I think I better keep an eye on my sewing machine in the future. I may have to start fighting to use it ...