Search Results for: weaving

Dyed skirt from scratch and a beautiful artwork

As I mentioned in another post, someone had skirt envy after seeing her sister’s old skirt makeover.

This time I made up the skirt as I went along. I started with white cotton lawn, made 3 tiers and an elasticated waistband.

The first dye bath was pink, then, while the skirt was still damp I dipped the bottom hem in yellow to get the graduated orange blending into the pink. The effect I was after was something like a sunset.

It’s a little more mottled than I would have liked and next time I’ll make the colours stronger, but it’s all good experience and plenty of fun.

My husband thinks I should make these to sell.

A while ago I won talented Israeli artist Ayelet’s giveaway and received this print of one of her artworks yesterday. It’s just gorgeous, she has a wonderful style. She’s also selling embroidery patterns of her artworks now, head over to her Etsy shop for a look.

Thank you Ayelet, I love it!

It started with one…

by Kelly 6 Comments

It always starts with one. One little hand sewn wool felt bear. “Oh, how cute!” says happy child as said bear is whisked away for a game. Sure enough, in a relatively short period of time, another little face appears beside me. “Mum, bear – make?” She may have a limited vocabulary but she knows what she wants! Once again, said bear is whisked away.
Then the bears need “friends” to play with.
Then Mum opens her big mouth and suggests that, given there are now 3 bears a game of Goldilocks could be an option.
“But Mum, we don’t have a Goldilocks!” they chime with shining eyes.

It always starts with one……

Skirt recon

by Kelly 9 Comments

We were given this skirt, it was a size 10, a bit grotty and stained and, well, you can see, not in the best condition. However, “G” could see it’s potential and “wanted it!”

First I cut out the dodgy old zip and seam and made an new, zipless side seam. I also cut off the original waistband and made a casing for elastic.

Next came the fun part – dyeing!

It was first dyed in a light turqoise colour and hung out to dry. Then I attempted graduation dyeing with a darker blue by dipping just the bottom hem for 10 minutes or so, wringing it out and wrapping in plastic overnight. Washed out again, hung out to dry and…….

Voila! A brand new skirt with a marvellous twirl factor!

Guess who else wants one now?

Is bartering dead?

by Kelly 6 Comments

I’m about to find out. I’ve offered this doll for barter over at the Crafty Mamas forum. I’ve been thinking for some time about the differences between city and country living, and this is one of them. It’s not called bartering in the country though – it’s just what you do. For example:

Mrs. Randell has a glut of apricots this year, she gives you a box of them and you give her a basket of fresh vegetables from your garden.

You have excess eggs from your chooks so you ask the Robertsons if they want any. They do, and they have just made a batch of strawberry jam from their strawberry garden so you become the happy recipient of a couple of jars.

Things are really different here in the city. I find it hard to trust people and to take their word. I don’t ask people for help because that’s just not what you do here. And bartering? Well, that’s just non existent here, whether you call it bartering or not.
I’d love to barter more because, to me, it’s not all about making a sale. It’s about sharing something of yourself and what you have with others and receiving the same in return.
I’ll let you know how my attempt turns out!

Hooray! Some sewing to show you!

by Kelly 9 Comments

Not one top finished, but two! I started with the Miss Madeline dress pattern for the top half then altered the bottom half (winged it, basically!) This one had to be “green and purple – my favourite colours!”

This one is the Miss Madeline pattern again, only shortened to make a long top instead of a dress. I prettied it up with some hand applique and embroidery.

A close up of the applique and embroidery. Both of the tops are made from Stella knit fabric which I purchased from Crafty Mamas.

I love making clothes for my girls, I find bought tops are cut way too short for little girls these days and pants are cut too low. I want my girls to look stylish but modest.

A lovely book

by Kelly 5 Comments

(Image from amazon.com)

I borrowed this book from the library and am really impressed. The story is arranged and written nicely, but it’s the visual impact that I love. (It may have something to do with the fact that Goldilocks is a doll!)

The doll was made by R. John Wright out of felt. I’ve read about this technique before but haven’t seen one that is so beautiful.
The set for the book was entirely handbuilt in miniature. Looking at it makes me want to start making tiny things!

If you haven’t seen this book before, it’s well worth a look, my girls in particular are very taken with it.

New hopes and a sneak preview…

by Kelly 7 Comments

I’m hoping to accomplish my first (ever!) pattern release this year. I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. If it goes well it will be the first of many. So, some clues…

Little bestockinged feet…

Pretty little dresses….

And chubby little arms….

Have you guessed yet? I know, it’s not hard to figure out!

I’m really excited about this project, the prototype has come up better than expected so I couldn’t be happier with it.

For me this is also a challenge for this year to stop being so afraid of failure, which often stifles me and prevents me from doing what I really want to do.

Now to get down to some serious pattern writing………

Happy New Year!!

by Kelly 7 Comments

How wonderful to start the new year with a fantastic storm and a good bucketing of rain! The garden is being gently coaxed back to it’s pre – heat glory and the birds are singing again.

My motto is – if it’s too hot to drink tea and sew, then it’s too hot altogether!

I enjoyed my week off from blogging and am looking forward to seeing what you’ve all been up to.

I finished this bear in the nick of time for Christmas, he is now snuggled in one of the girl’s beds.

He is made from lovely soft velour and stuffed with wool. I knitted his scarf from organic yarn. He’s really cuddly. A tip for scarf making for toys – sew them on, or you’ll forever be re – tying them!

I don’t tend to celebrate the new year, I think some people go a bit overboard. I don’t make so called “resolutions” either, but I do think it’s a good time for assessing and making new goals.

So.. I do have a lot of goals, hopes and dreams for this year, many of which I’ll be sharing with you along the way.

Thanks for reading 🙂