Man craft

Made with his own bear hands!Happy Wedding Anniversary, Craig and Skye!  Early anniversaries aren't gold, silver or ruby anniversaries - they're more dodgy things  like paper, aluminium foil, bark... Traditional 2nd anniversary gifts are in fact, cotton. 

Rather than presenting Skye with tea towels, Craig set about making his gift this year.  Trekking into unchartered territory (Lincraft) he bought some broderie anglaise, not knowing what it was called, of course, just knowing it was made out of cotton. 

Sneaking away from work early, he made this lovely Ally top, sewing it up in just a couple of hours.  Not bad for a guy who works in IT and hasn't touched a sewing machine since 8th grade Home Economics!

Craig's philosophy is  - don't bother with lots of little romantic gestures.  You only need to pull one memorable one out of the hat every couple of years.  I think this one's good 'til about 2012!

To market, to market...

Donut Brooch by littlechrissyGlass Earrings by Hot Toffee

Indie crafters are alive and well here in Brisvegas!  Last weekend was our first Finders Keepers market at a great venue - the Old Museum. 

For those who missed it, try Christmas shopping at the BrisStyle Indie Designers Markets (Sat 5 Dec 09 at St Augustines Church, Racecourse Rd, Hamilton 9am-4pm.)  BrisStyle is a co-op of local Etsy store-owners like littlechrissy and Hot Toffee, who only sell things handmade by themselves - no mass-produced, off-shore or on-selling of other people's wares allowed!

New Free Sewing Project - A Wrap Skirt made from two pillowslips

Finally!  Our wrap skirt project instructions are up on-line! 

This skirt is super easy as it is essentially a tube shape with ribbons and hammer-on snaps attached.  Also because it's made of two pillowslips, a lot of the seams are already sewn for you.  The sample skirt in the how-to's is sewn in contrasting colours, just so you can see how it works.

I've also managed to doctor all the How-tos in our Free Sewing Projects so that if you click on a picture, each can be viewed as a slide show with instructions.  Not a grand accomplishment for some, but for a direct descendant of Ned Ludd like myself, I was well pleased... 

Enjoy!

Update on Oct 28, 2009 at 16:37 by [Carmen]

Take a look at some It's a Wrap skirt variations at our Show and Tell Gallery!

Print your own fabric design

Spoonflower.com  is a fabulous American site that prints your designs onto a range of quality fabrics like organic cottons and bamboo.

60's potholder60's fabric designI had a shot at designing some fabric using an old vintage potholder for inspiration.

Agapanthus photoAgapanthus fabricAnother photo I took of an agapanthus blooming in the front yard morphed into this design.  You can see your work in fabric form for as little as $5US for an 8x8 inch swatch.

Spoonflower can also put your fabric design up for sale on their site and you'll receive a 10% commission for your trouble!Just a few of the hundreds of home-grown fabric designs at Spoonflower!

Easton Pearson Exhibition

Digitally printed silk organza with hand-frayed trimPopped into Easton Pearson Exhibition (at Brissie's Gallery of Modern Art until 8 Nov).

Lots of garments on display. 

Nice glimpse of their workroom, with racks of pattern blocks, bottles of sequins and bolts of fabric.

Paper Doll Activity

Especially enjoyed the "children's" activity.

GOMA supply ladies and mens cardboard figures and photocopies of fabric textures, so you can make your own paper dolls. 

Loved it - couldn't help noticing there were no actual children cutting and pasting, just teenagers and adults!