Weekend Sewing

Finally finished this trench coat refashion! 

Crafter-noon with Anne Willsford of Fibre Reflections

I managed to snag Anne of Fibre Reflections recently for a crafternoon of felting delight.  I was amazed at her broad knowledge of all thing wool!Anne even let me try out her amazing needle felting machine (which is an incredibly  scary machine with 6 barbed needles that mush the layers of fabric, wool or ribbon together!)  . 
As the warm weather is on its way I tried experimenting with light cotton voiles and lace , which to my delight gathered, puckered and freyed beautifully.

Anne Willsford: http://fibrereflections.wordpress.com/ 

http://www.facebook.com/FibreStudioDesign

Bel's Aviary

Last week I visited Annie at her beautiful little boutique in Manuka; Bel's Aviary. Everywhere you look in the tiny store there is something precious, adorned with beautiful books & divine jewelry.

Bel's Aviary beautiful things

 Their is something very special about boutiques that put together with such passion and personality, I just wanted to curl up in the corner and soak it all in !

Vintage Furs

http://www.belsaviaryvintage.com.au/

Manuka Arcade

Thrifted treasures

 Last week end I spent Saturday morning with a friend, taking her on a thrift store treasure hunt.

We perused my favorite local stores.
Here are her favorite finds:

We customized this one with
royally gorgeous crown buttons

Vintage Qantas air hostess bag

This royal blue scarf contrasts with her strawberry
 blond hair beautifully 

I had to resist buying my self a whole bundle of
 necklaces- their were so many pretties!

Spring sneak-peak

Spring is coming and I have started pulling out my collection of lace and beautiful floaty fabrics to put together a new collection in anticipation of the warm weather  :)

Sunday craft and colour

I hope every one is enjoying their Sunday morning I've been very distracted by beautiful craft things on Etsy. 

Workshops

Op Shopping ...You love it or you hate it. I know many people who find the whole thing way too confronting- the musty old person smell, the racks and racks of old clothing. Where is the boutique lighting! The preppy shop assistant! And why isn't their one of these cardigans in my size?! 

Well I was recently chatting away to a group of friends when this topic came up. One lady explained that she is totaly envious of people who nonchalantly dismiss their fabulous frock as a vintage find which cost them next to nothing. So the idea was born:  An op-shop treasure hunt experience with me to guide the way. Then the ideas kept rolling.

My thoughts so far are:

Treasure hunt: the insiders guide to op-shopping

Refashion: 

       Jackets: Learn how to create a one off signature jacket for yourself

        Dress refashion : transform a recycled moo-moo to a fabulous spring frock 

Fashion lovers weekend experience:

        Includes 1/2 day thrift store treasure hunt,

        1/2 Day illustration & how to refashion tutorial

        Your own set of fashion croquis to sketch your ideas

         Full day sewing & how to lesson to create your new garments

                
Let me know your thoughts!
Tahlia

Treasure hunting

I was browsing around one of my favourite markets some time ago when I found the lace I used for this cardigan. I found it in a beautiful engraved brown wooden box which happened to be full of interesting treasure: lace, ribbon, hand embroidery… and an old headless doll!

I love the Jamison Car Boot market. To most people it’s a derelict junk sale. To me it is an exciting treasure hunt.  The variety is bazzar. From fresh home grown fruit and veg to furniture to war medals, I never know what I’ll find. I most recently bought an old 1930’s armchair. It needs a whole lotta love and vision- the tapestry style upholstery is worn away with the padding and springs bursting through. It just has so much character with its sweeping wooden armrests and stubby feet. I have another little arm chair which has been waiting to be re-upholstered for months so I’ll get stuck into it this week end and post some befor and after photos. My partner is going to lose it if I keep filling the apartment with decrepit furniture ! (Just wait till I make them beautiful… He won’t even recognise them !)

The car park setting at the supermarket is by no means romantic or artesian, but I’m grateful for the ability to see the beauty in it J

Refashioned Jacket Tips

I dug this jacket out from last winter; it’s one of my first refashion jackets. I didn’t sell this one because of a number of reasons.

1. I tried to wash it:
Generally old suit jackets don’t wash well. I think it must have had that musty op shop smell, I remember the colour running heaps and once it was dry I realised the lining had shrunk. The lining pulled where it was sewn to the self, so to save it I unpicked the wrist and hem and finished the edges unattached to each other.

The centre back in the lining has also started to pull apart from wear because it became too small between the shoulders.

TIP: I often use carpet cleaner spray or spot clean with Sard soap and lots of elbow grease. Avoid washing the whole jacket. Sunlight and fresh air works a treat for getting rid of that mothball smell.

2. Pilling
Due to the nature of the fabric it requires constant de-pilling, this was also made worse by washing. When I’m op shopping it’s always something I have to be conscious of- I’ve learnt to tell when some garments just need a tidy up, but some will need constant de-pilling.

TIP: I’ve found the easiest way to remove pill balls is to use a good razor in a back and forth motion then use a lint brush to clean up left over fluff.

3. Simple changes can make a big difference.
You don’t have to be a sewing pro to refashion; all I did to restyle this piece is add a belt and some gross grain trim. I usually get carried away with tailoring the garment to the waist, and pulling it apart to create something unusual, but you can easily make something your own by adding a brooch, belt or changing buttons.