A hoot of fun...

Feeling the need to create...

Feeling the need to use materials I already had....

Feeling the need to try something new.....

I used this tutorial and made my soon to be four year old niece a birthday present...

I took one of Meg's too small t-shirts that I had in my filing

 

 I cut a rectangle from both layers leaving the neckline in place.....

then stitched the side and bottom seams...

 Using a piece from the cut off bottom I cut the shape below....

 ...to make a gathered flower....

 Found the perfect button to attach my flower.....

 Used some pink biased tape and mixed it with a grey tie from an old skirt and braided them together for the handle...

and ....... one very cute bag that I am hoping when it is filled with some special gifts will be perfect for taking to ballet class....

Joining in with Show and Tell.

Treasure Hunting

On Saturday I headed out in our soaring heat .....I was on a mission.....a mission to hopefully score a piece of fashion crafted by the very talented Jody Pearl of Sew Outside the Lines .

All my refashioning /re purpose sewing I have done over the last couple of years was thanks to Jody.

Well for the first time in many years Jody opened her studio and had a pop up shop.....full of years and years of collected, sewed, created and lovingly gathered treasures

 I was in heaven as were all the others that booked in for her opening.....

So much eye candy and treasures to possibly take home...

It has taken Jody a lot of courage to begin parting with her beautiful creations...we were so glad that she has....

Every draw, cupboard and basket had something of goodness.....

and I am pleased to say that I did score my own piece ....but because of the heat I haven't popped it on for the photo shoot...

But I will take pics of all the treasures I came home with. 

If you live in Perth and want to check out Jody's pop up shop for yourself drop me an email and I will let you know where she is....shop open 1pm-5pm Saturdays for the rest of the January at least.

My Creative Space

I made something!!!!

It has been so long since I have sat at my machine and made anything..(well except for the  100 pencil cases or library bags that is  )

I took an old pair of jeans that didn't fit right.......

+
a piece of fabric 

+

a pair of scissors 

=

 

 

 

 

 

I love it.....a new skirt that is perfect for the end of our very dreary Winter and will serve me well into Spring and Summer ...when they finally arrive.

Oh it feels good to have created something new to wear ....especially re-purposing something from my wardrobe.

Joining in with Show and Tell 

Latest Creations

Before I went off gallivanting with my sweet a couple of weeks ago....I didn't get to show off the last of my creations that came out of Jody's studio...I finished the last class the day before I left....

Anyways.....

Here is my little "black number".

It started out as a long to the floor lace over jacket thingy..We cut it short and attached the cotton lace edge from a vintage tablecloth around the edges...I then dunked it in black dye to bring the white lace up to near colour of the jacket....... 

 

Next....I did something new this round of workshops...I drafted a pattern from a shift dress I already owned and liked the style of......

So with a new piece of fabric I made this little "orange number".....It is covered up by the "little perfect for the dress" jumper that was made and given to me. 

and because I was so  excited to get away I haven't taken proper pics of the little "Blue number" made from the same pattern with fabric in my thrifted stash pile...The weather was so beautiful in NZ that I  wore it a couple of time with a jumper over the top.....

So I fail a little on the photo taking that really shows off my creations...but I am so very happy once again with the stash of garments that Jody so very cleverly helped me create .

A few busy tasks prevent me from joining the girls in the studio again right now but hopefully I am armed with enough motivation to keep going on my own.

Joining in with Show and Tell.

My REinventing Catch up

I have been very busy remiss in not showing what the lovely Jody has been assisting me with. I have spent 5 weeks in her studio whipping up some clever REinventions.....so here they are.....

My Purple Frock - REinvented from two pairs of "nappy pants" not sure what else you call them other than they make a much nicer frock to wear than pants.... 

 

Second....My tweed skirt....REinvented from two skirts neither of which fitted......

Third ....Jumper wrap and tie rose broach. Created from a lovely piece of woven fabric I had in my stash. The Tie rose was made last year in the studio using a man's tie.

Fourth...Khaki Tunic.....Reinvented using a designer skirt that was waaaaay to long for me.

(Thanks Jody for all the photos)

 I have three more sessions to go . Hopefully I will finish two half completed projects and maybe squeeze another one in to finish up with.

I love these classes and the fact that I have created some great garments that can be worn over and over...and all made from simple unused pieces is the best.

Joining in with Creative Spaces and Show and Tell 

My Creative Space

Last Friday I began another eight week workshop with Jody.....

I took along a piece of knit fabric that I had thrifted somewhere a long time ago..... 

and VIOLA...with Jody's help I now have my first new winter wardrobe addition......

Bonus...something REinvented from my stash....perfect me colour.....and totally unique....

Ticks all the boxes.....

Joining in with  Show and Tell    and   My Creative Space.

Come Back Creative Mojo...

I am so desperately hoping that some of my past creative mojo will return by the morning.....

 I am off to play in Jody's studio for the next 8 Fridays and I feel so unprepared.....

the great thing is that I know that Jody will be brimming with ideas and together I am looking forward to creating a new winter wardbrobe.

So stay tuned and ready for the flood of creations that will appear here....

....eeek that means some more selfies!!!!!

Tea in the Garden

A beautiful sunny morning.....

Perfect for tea in the garden..

Armed with my handmade goodies and chocolate balls..... 

A date with the loveliest of lovelies...

The occasion to celebrate all that was created.....

 and

The friendships that were made.... 

Our Host ... was none other than Jody at the studio......

We gathered to give and receive.....to oooh and ahhhhh....

To give a sigh of relief when our gift was well received....

I have only spent 16 weeks with these girls....like minded but all of us so very different....

Not only did we create a huge array of new garments...we have laughed and laughed, even shed a tear two.... and laughed some more.

I was truly spoilt in my secret Santa gift made by a very talented and generous lady.....

 

Thanks Jody for today and  for opening your studio doors each week... you helped me create and learn so many new things and thanks for introducing me to some great gals.

REinventing this week and a roundup.....

This was my last REinventing workshop in the studio well till maybe May 2013.....

So this week I began with this little lace dress gifted to me by a friends daughter who no longer could use it.......

Not only did I get to practice more sewing skills I tried my hand at dying fabric for the first time.....

Then yesterday Jody spent a lot of time with me (thanks a million) transforming it into an apron top......lots of pinning that I couldn't have done on my own.

I do need to master "the pinning when the garment is on me thing"  .....

I don't think my little friend will recognise her dress.....

I think it will wear nice in the summer heat......

So that's it...I hope I can find my REinventing mojo while away from the studio...if in doubt I can always check out the loads of REinventions here.

So I started with my red throw and shirred shirt

Then a wrap skirt...

Meg's dress to my skirt.....

A silk and shirring skirt transformation.....

My skirt and shirt dress.....

A skirt to summer top .....

My shirt to a dress...

My rose tie .....

My velvet jacket from the dress up box......

My tie collar....

Thanks for dropping me so much lovely encouragement along the way.....