Sewing Frenzy

The final sewing projects for 2010 were this linen shirt and drop-crotch track pants. 

 The fabric I found at this amazing little shop run by an ex rag-trade woman. It's only open a couple of days a week and has beautiful, quality fabrics- unlike the chain (mega) stores. There is no phone number, no web address. Prices are very reasonable to say the least.  The shop is also in walking distance from home so it pretty much perfect.

The old daggy and saggy K-Mart track pants with holes just had to go. Replaced by reversible narrow leg pants they I could wear out to a club. Actually I think I could go from the couch to the club without changing.

I bet most artists have their favorite store that ticks all the boxes and has everything they could possible want. A shop that is inspirational as soon as you walk in. One where you want to buy one of everything.  Have you got a shop like that?

Wishing you all a Happy New Year.

Asymmetrical Patchwork Wool Waistcoat Project

Merry Christmas to one and all.

XXX

Match Made in Heaven

Some beautiful and romantic images by Tristan Schumacher.

Clothes by Fashion Design Graduate (UTS-Sydney) Chloe De Freitas.

Jewellery by yours truly.

(and blown-out reproductions of said images)

 Models- Harry Chiew and Jack Baker Latimer.

It all seemed like a perfect match.

More amazing clothes by fellow student Annika Pol.

Machines That Go 'Ping"

I must be a kid. I love new toys. I love new toys that contain motors and sharp bits. Like that Monty Python skit with the doctors wanting the machine that goes 'ping'. That's me. 

New machines that have fast motors and room for four spools of thread that make sewing faster, cleaner and easier. 

Machines that trim those uneven edges of fabric while sewing them together and finishing said edges at the same time.

I now have one of those machines. Serger, over-locker, call it what you will- I call it my new toy. 

It helps me make clothes from stretch fabric. First on my list was a hooded, sleeveless top. Okay, yes, I do like a hood. This was just some jersey fabric found at the local industrial waste shop. 

One hours work and $1 worth of fabric. Rolled edges too. (I never knew what a rolled edge was until this week- thank you new machine)

Thought my new top would go well with an old favorite t-shirt I made a few years back. This was machine embroidered with inspiration from Jean Cocteau.

 He was so cool.

I love my new toy- it does everything. (Except go 'ping')

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Star Cuffs

I love astronomy but after moving from the country to the city I have had to give it away and pack up my telescope. Google sky and Hubble photographs are as close as I get nowadays- far removed from setting the alarm clock at 3.00 am to watch galaxies rise or meteor showers explode across the heavens. The sky is so powerful and amazing to view. I never felt small- on the contrary, I felt huge- to be part of this galaxy among millions of other galaxies. Stars light years away and the vastness of space were close in my eye-scope- not very far away at all. Mans fascination with the cosmos has a long history and I don't think we will ever look out on a clear night into the depths of space and say "I know it all and understand everything." We live in an amazing, ever-changing universe and as Carl Sagan says- we are the stuff of stars.

The Greek myths surrounding the heavenly bodies, for me at least, are secondary to the beauty of the universe. That said, I do believe there is a direct link from ancient wisdom to mythology and to the cosmos. The ancients were far more connected with the universe and had a deep understanding of the heavenly motions. Take the beauty and wisdom that went into the Antikythera Mechanism. A computer two thousand years old- now that is impressive!

Science, myth and my own history merge with the creation of these pieces. They are urban navigational devices- an illusionary connection to the Antikythera Mechanism . We can no longer chart our path with the sky- inner city dwellers need the connection to the sky somehow. The native Americans say white man stole the stars- after coming from the country I would say we have hidden the stars- like nature we have cut it away from our day-to-day world. The sky is in our roots- it is possible that life was even spawned from the sky- microbes on the back of a comet that had been travelling across the universe for billions of years; now that is pretty cool. 

All I can do is ponder the vastness of the universe(s) and make some jewellery that reminds me of it.

X

Cool Hoodie from Three Ugly Shirts

I have started sewing again so here is a cheap, fun project. How to make this from this...

Get three ugly long sleeve t-shirts- these were only $2 each- brand new with from a local industrial waste shop. One is going to be the main shirt. All pieces get attached to main shirt. With the main shirt cut the cuffs, collar and waistband off. 

(Deconstruction all the way)

Cut the front (ugly) section out of all the shirts. Cut the sleeves off the second one. Cut the cuffs off too.

Fold one shirt down the middle and cut a hood shape from the back section to create two pieces. Sew the hood together then sew it to the main shirt.

 Cut the back off the third shirt. Cut it in half and sew these to the front of the main shirt. 

It should be like a double-breasted look- without the buttons.

With cut off sleeves pieces, cut them narrower so they fit and smoothly transition to existing sleeves, sew them back up, then attach them on the ends of the sleeves of the main shirt. 

 I like the super-crushed look so I washed the shirt and twisted it up tight, leaving it wet overnight.

Shirt now has a hood, extra long sleeves and front draping.

Designer look hoodie for $6.
Easy.
 The sewing bug has bitten again-it's been several years since my last sewing adventure. 
My new Janome 4-thread serger/overlocker arrives later this week (meaning I will be able to sew anything!) and dining room table awash with fabric. 
Oh no!
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Giveaway Winner!

Marie Dodd from http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/

has won the giveaway!

Thank you everyone who entered- alas there can be only one winner. 

I had a lot of fun running this draw and picking a winner from a coffee cup so stay tuned because I shall be having another draw early next year. Once again, thank you all for visiting me and commenting.

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