today I am...
looking out at the rain
thinking about the washing on the line
listening to new music, linked from a newly found blog
writing patterns
tidying up my sewing corner
enjoying the thought of some sewing tonight, once the little ones go to bed
ordering more fabric
researching more fabric options
organising orders from the Craft Show
updating mailing list - thank you to all our new red seed studio friends
sitting at a tidy desk (thank you Sam)
thinking about what I'll make for dinner; again
enjoying these photos from my camera, that surely Ari took one random evening - see the rest here
drinking hot cocoa in my favourite mug
one more day left....
I managed to take a few photos today. Not as many as I wanted, but got a few of our stall.
So, please come on down tomorrow. Pop in and say hi!
Leah - I had so much fun with you today. Thank you so so so much for coming all the way up. Was so excellent to hang out and chat, and be sisters together. Hope you love all your new books, and get some sewing done with your fabrics. xxxx
I'll be buying some lovely fabric tomorrow - from here and here especially. And maybe check out the bookshop if I can squeeze into the stall (which was chock full today).
My tote bag workshop today was really great. All the lovely ladies were very creative, doing some beautiful stitching details, and inspiring colour selections. So so so great to see our fabrics and designs reworked with someone else's imagination. (though I didn't get photos again, due to general muddle-headedness).
Good night all xxx
stamping love
And, boy did my kids LOVE love love them! They peeked at them in the car on the way home, and chatted and looked and swapped to look at each other's, and talked about the little bag they were in. And chatted some more, about Holly, who has the giant ice-cream at the craft market (you know the things kids remember!).
I'd best get onto finishing my swap things for Holly, hey!
PS - I'm eating chocolate for dinner now at 9pm, after I ate lunch at 5.30pm. That's the craziness of Craft Show. I'll take some photos of our stall tomorrow, and some other crafty loveliness.
Good night xxx
printing in all it's glory
Day two of the Stitches and Craft Show is over, and I am soooooooooooooo tired. But feeling elated and can't wait to go tomorrow.
I'm really having a lot of fun. I'm much more relaxed than at Melbourne, and I'm getting to hang out with the coolest crafters on the block - who actually also happen to be people that I feel I can now call my friends!
Yesterday Sam and I did a printing workshop. I had a lot of fun with this. It felt like sitting in art class with some super arty friends, and making beautiful pieces together. We had two of the loveliest pupils anyone could ever want in a class; two beautiful people to hang out with and chat and laugh and create together. Firstly, Holly (who we met in Melbourne, at the craft show), and has a stall again here in Brisbane; and secondly Danielle, who we discovered lives in our suburb and has a cool blog to check out. (She's doing so many of the wonderful workshops available, that she's organised them in Excel - that's crafty + science, for sure; her blogs called Craft Laboratory).
I actually remembered to take some photos during this workshop, but you can also see a wrap on each of the girl's blogs.
So, if you live in or near Brisbane, and have been considering visiting this show - you still have three more days of fantastic crafters, fabrics, parades, workshops, chatting, learning, exploring, looking, soaking it all in, watching............. Head on down to Convention Centre and support handcrafted love!
PS - we still have some spots in our workshop tomorrow, you can book directly from us at stall #150.
beautiful treasure pocket
I'm just popping in oh so quickly (in between heat setting fabric, and packing it up, and making more cushions and purses...).
I received this beautiful piece in the mail today - I won it in a little giveaway. It is soft and delicate to touch, the simply perfect, or perfectly simple way that Kristina has reused this piece of vintage, reclaimed linen. Giving it a new special use, and life and meaning, while honoring the heritage of the linen itself. Like listening to fabric.
Please visit her bowerbird stories blog, where you'll see Kristina's soft, gentle and powerful, moody photography, lighting, images, and stories. Lovely little pieces and snippets.
And to spy some of her work you could visit old yarns . reclaimed linens at Etsy. Or meet her in person as part of Incubator at the Stitches Show.
Which, in case you haven't been taking notice and counting down the days with me, opens in two days.
Which means that tomorrow is set-up day, which means that tonight is really my last night before the show. Which is why I'm saying goodnight now.
ferny and soft
This is one that I stitched up today.
It's our beautiful fern fabric, a soft lightweight hemp/organic cotton. The ferns are multi-printed; blues and greens merging together along the fronds.
The whole back of these purses were feature overstitched (squiggle stitched).
This ferny cushion is backed with the most beautiful and soft and strokable velvet. It's a green mossy-ferny colour. A Vinnies (or some other op-shop) find - or maybe from the Lifeline Bin. Can't remember now.
You know when fabric talks to you. And if you don't listen, then.. well, you often regret it.
So, this cushion, amongst some others I've been working on (and more that will be talking themselves into being in the next few days), will be at the Stitches and Craft Show.
the crafting countdown...
The Stitches and Craft show opens in only a few more sleeps. (well, I'm saying sleeps, but I'm not sure if I'll be getting much of that!).
Apart from the fantastic stalls you can spend hours, even days browsing and chatting with (chatting itself could take the whole week); there are also a heap of great workshops going on each and every day. Check them out here.
If you do see one here that catches your fancy, you really should pre-book, some of these workshops are so popular they will sell out (don't say I didn't warn you). Book through Ticketek, or by calling the Stitches hotline on 1800 770 222, or on the day directly from each person's stand, who'll be running the workshop.
A few of the workshops that have caught my eye:
Handsewn Felt Donuts with the beautiful and talented Holly from Two Cheese Please.
:: Create the perfect guilt-free fun treat and enjoy the ideal introduction to hand-sewn softies. The yummy results makes a great pincushion, decoration, toy or gift and is a great way to kick off crafting with felt.
(my kids love theirs, that we got from the Melbourne show - super cute).
Kit $17.00 1 hour. Beginner
Craft Lab 7 -Thursday 11.00am
Craft Lab 2 -Friday 11.00am
Craft Lab 2 -Saturday 11.00am
Craft Lab 2 -Sunday 11.00am
Hand Carved Rubber Stamps with Holly from Two Cheese Please.
:: Learn how to make your own personalised stamps in this class, where you will carve your own unique designs for scrapbooking, card making, craft projects and more!
Kit $35.00 1 hour. Beginner
Craft Lab 2 -Wednesday 11.00am
Craft Lab 8 -Thursday 1.30pm
Craft Lab 3 -Friday 2.00pm
Craft Lab 2 -Saturday 1.30pm
Craft Lab 7 -Sunday 2.00pm
Button Bracelets with Dearfii
:: Are you infatuated by coloured buttons? Well, this is the Craft Lab for you; Fiona will supply hundreds of coloured buttons as well as her extensive craft experience and skills for you to construct a gorgeous button bracelet.
Kit $15.00. 1 hour. Beginner
Craft Lab 2 -Wednesday 12.30pm
Craft Lab 6 -Wednesday 2.30pm
Craft Lab 3 -Thursday 11.00am
Craft Lab 6 -Thursday 2.00pm
Craft Lab 5 -Friday 11.00am
Craft Lab 3 -Friday 3.15pm
Craft Lab 2 -Saturday 12.15pm
Craft Lab 6- Saturday 2.45pm
Craft Lab 6 -Sunday 11.00am
Craft Lab 8 -Sunday 1.30pm
Kumihimo using Disc with Trish from Trishalan Designs.
:: Come and try this creative Japanese Braiding Technique. Using a durable and portable disc create 2 braids for your craft and jewellery projects.
Kit $3.00 1 Hours. Beginner
Craft Lab 3-Wednesday 12.30pm
Craft Lab 2 -Thursday 12.30pm
Craft Lab 3 -Friday 11.00am
Craft Lab 3 -Saturday 11.00am
Craft Lab 3 -Sunday 11.00am
1950s One Yard Aprons. Presented by Melissa of Thread Den.
:: Cutest aprons ever! In 2 hours you will construct a genuine 1950's apron. Imagine the baking you'll be able to do in these pretty little numbers. Basic sewing skills necessary.
Kit $33.00. 2 hours. Intermediate
Thread Den Craft Lab 10 - Sunday 2.00pm
:: :: ::
No Sew Fabric Flowers. Presented by Louise of Made by Miffy.
:: Learn how to make the sweetest fabric flowers! These flowers can be used as hair clips, t-shirt embellishments, brooches, to sass up your handbags, headbands for starters, and a great little gift for your friends all made by you! When you see how easy it is you'll surround yourself with a handmade fabric flower garden in no time at all! In this Craft Lab you will make 2 fabric flower brooches or hairclips or one of each. Your Kit will have enough supplies for you to create a further 2 flowers and a customised supply list and inspiration guide for you to keep creating!
Kit $18.00 45 mins. All Skill Levels
Craft Lab 8 -Wednesday 2.00pm
Craft Lab 3 -Thursday 2.15pm
Craft Lab 7 -Friday 1.45pm
Craft Lab 7 -Saturday 1.45pm
Craft Lab 5 -Sunday 3.15pm
Stella’s Cousin- Making a Sock Monkey. Presented by Kristie of Rourke and Henry.
:: Combining machine embroidery and hand sewing, learn how to turn a pair of socks into your very own funky sock monkey. Basic sewing machine knowledge is required.
Kit $15.00 1 Hour. Intermediate
Brother Sewing Craft Lab 9 -Friday 1.00pm
:: :: ::
We will be having lots of fun in the printing class - learning new techniques and talking about design ideas.
And I have some beautiful fabrics - organic and reclaimed cottons, etc - to make some unique and special bags to show off to your friends.
We'd love to see you at both or either of our workshops. (If you do the printing one first, you will print a piece of fabric that you can then use in the tote one to make your own bag!).
Hand Printing and Design with Sam and me.
:: Learn composition and style elements to create designs suitable for screen printing, stenciling and handstamping. Using your own hand cut designs (or ours if you like), hand print, learning different techniques you can easily replicate at home. You will complete three projects to take home. You may wish to bring additional items for printing such as a plain pillowcase, clothing or a plain cotton/linen tea towel.
Kit $47.00 2 hours. Beginner
Craft Lab 5 -Wednesday 1.30pm
Craft Lab 5 -Friday 12.30pm
:: :: ::
Organic Cotton Tote Bag with me.
:: Learn to make a fully lined tote bag, using beautiful hemp / organic cotton fabric. Turn your bag into a work of art using different design and crafting techniques and reclaimed materials. Perfect for taking to the market, library or everyday use, the tote bag is an ideal beginner project, or for those looking for new inspiration. All materials provided.
Kit $32.00 1.5 Hours. All Skill Levels
Brother Sewing Craft Lab 9 -Thursday 1.00pm
Brother Sewing Craft Lab 9 -Saturday 1.00pm
:: :: ::
Can't wait to see you there. Please come and introduce yourself; love to meet you.
cloth :: colour :: hands
Getting everything ready for the Brisbane Stitches & Craft Show. Won't you come along and say hello to us there.
Ari had to have his hand in the photo - he wiggled them into place, until he said they were exactly how he wanted them, and then I could take the photo. Of course, I love that one best. of course.
The glorious blue isn't showing itself off very well in these photos - it looks so crisp and bright in real. (stupid computer screens, and phototaking and all that sort of thing; tricks of the eye).
skating runs in the blood
And most lovely of all, was stopping and laughing and watching my little ones love the same thing that my big one (Sam) has loved for more than two thirds of his life.
be prepared - many gratuitously cute photos follow.
the cold is creeping in
Winter is slowly slowly approaching.
We are still having some warm, not quite hot, days.
But definitely it is getting cooler now.
Sam swapped our rugs over in the lounge room today. Doesn't it look so warm and cosy in here now.
reverse garbage silks
At Reverse Garbage. Such a great place to go - for the kids and the adults. And for those of you who don't sew or craft or tinker about with things; there is a shop there that sells the wares of some amazingly crafted reversed garbage. Everything in the shop has to be made of a certain % of recycled goods; there's handbags and purses, lots of beautiful jewelery, clothing, softies, and all sorts of other treasures.
These silks are destined to be a new skirt for me - I'm reworking a pair of jeans, which will have some silk panels. Making it all up as I go along, so a bit tentative to cut into this beautiful silk.
Some pieces will be part of my Tote-Bag workshop at Stitches & Craft Show. There'll be hemp / organic cottons and reclaimed pieces for people to have some fun with bag making.
(Bookings here - for our tote workshop + the printing & design workshop. Both should be lots of fun).
Enjoy your day. It's sunshiney here, after some rain last night. I'm looking forward to day of quiet working.....
lipstick skirt
I used some off cuts that I had for the main feature panel. All stitched over each other in a big waterfall effect.
Some of our lipstick palm hand screen printed fabric. It's hemp /organic cotton.
Can anyone think of a good name for this skirt? I've been wracking my brain.
I'm hoping to get a few more made in the next week. Lots of plans, ideas, hopes......
In other news, the Craft Show is very fast approaching. We have lots of work to still do, but the way our ideas and products are evolving is really exciting me.
I'll try and keep you better updated here (if anyone's interested......).
A + P's home
These are some photos from around my aunt + uncle's home. In Melbourne. Where we stayed while on our recent working holiday.
Practically everything in this house is from op-shops, second hand shops, found in the street during council throw-out weeks, given by friends.
Everything sits in perfect harmony, shapes and colours and glazes and mediums.
A home of heart and warmth and entertainment.
Thank you for sharing your home with us, and chatting into the night, and playing and laughing with the children, and making bread for us.
(And putting up with our mess).
PS - I haven't edited or cropped or fixed the lighting, etc on any of these photos - sorry, too tired + late.
come and visit us at...
So, if you're nearby, please come and visit us. Stand 150 in the Incubator Section. We're lucky to be spending the week with Peppermint Mag. What fun.
We will also be presenting some great, informative and fun workshops.
Hand Printing and Design - Learn composition and style elements to create designs suitable for screen printing, stenciling and handstamping. Using your own hand cut designs (or ours if you like), hand print, learning different techniques you can easily replicate at home. You will complete three projects to take home, using hemp / organic cotton and recycled paper. You may wish to bring additional items for printing such as a plain pillow case, clothing or a plain cotton/linen tea towel.
Organic Cotton Tote Bag - Learn to make a fully lined tote bag, using beautiful hemp / organic cotton fabric. Turn your bag into a work of art using different design and crafting techniques and reclaimed materials. Perfect for taking to the market, library or everyday use, the tote bag is an ideal beginner project, or for those looking for new inspiration. All materials provided.
To book either, or both workshops, please contact Stitches & Craft for details.PS - I have just launched our new look website. Go and have a look, please do let me know what you think. (Still working on some sections).
i'm going to have to start sharing
(Someone outside, in another house, is playing a beautiful lyrical piece on a flute, or something. Another one of those moments you have of living in the city. In a street where you can hear your neighbours breath and talk and yell, and play music, and laugh).
Then, while I was doing something else in the same room (my machine is now in our kitchen), he hopped onto the chair, and stretching his legs to reach the foot presser, he started doing it all on his own.
He did it.
He decided exactly where to start and when to stop the stitches. And then, half way through a line, half way across the 'page' he stopped, lifted up the foot presser, cut the thread. And declared it finished.
So, I suppose I'm going to have to share my sewing machine with him now, hey. Or buy him his own.
201
It's raining here.
cold
wet
dark
beautiful
We have an art gallery in our loungeroom this morning.
And a photo shoot set up in our front room.
Some new pieces that I've been working on (more info soon).
Going out tonight with some Artists, Bloggers, Crafters & Designers. Should be a fun night.
New skirt to be made. Have had it in my head for a long time, along with many others that I'll be working on over the next few weeks.
Thank you dear friends for being here.
For listening and talking.
More than anything I love a new comment,
a tiny hello,
in my inbox.
From near and far.
Thank you.
Enjoy your day.
sun
rain
Spring
Autumn
snow
beach.... wherever you may be.
PS - are you signed up to Photojojo's Time Capsule? I love it. Each month they send you a selection of photos from your flickr site, from a year ago. A great way to revisit all those digital files.
Giveaway - Peppermint + Red Seed Studio
I've mentioned Peppermint before. Read my mid-night written thoughts about it, if you want. Or just get off the computer and hurry down to pick it up from your nearest shop.
If you can't find it, then head on over to the website and order a subscription. 2 more days for the current subscription offer.
I'll tell you what. If you can't make it to Mag Nation - or you miss out. I'll make one more purse. When you subscribe through the Peppermint website, put a note to seller, and leave the code "petalplum-onemore". I'll post it anywhere in the world. And leave me a comment here, too.
Oh, the purses are hemp / organic cotton. It's beautiful and soft.Hand screen printed with our distinct smoke design on one side, and detail top stitched on the other side. Fully lined in reclaimed fabrics. New products for Red Seed Studio.
the long drive :: part 1 :: brown and dry
brown and dry stretched out.
hills that look the same,
but each one so different.
trees that pop up out of the brown, dusty ground.
blue endless sky, puffy clouds.
making me think of Russell Drysdale
or Fred Williams.
stretches of straight long road.
and, surprisingly, lots of talking and drawing and laughing and sleeping (and minimal whinging) from the two little ones in the back.
Thanks to Pip over at Meet me at Mike's for hosting a words & pictures : long drive theme. Perfect nudge for me to show you the spectacular Australian landscape we experienced while driving from Brisbane to Melbourne and back again this past month.
mint is the new green...
Isn't that cover simply beautiful - fresh and striking and arty, illustrated by Bec Winnel. Hollywood glamour.
More than just a fashion magazine, Peppermint is the start of something new. Fresh green fashion. This is Australia's first eco-fashion magazine. And while the environmental, fair trade and organic aspects are equally as important as the fashion and beauty talk, they are not the over-riding notes. This is a strong fashion magazine in it's own right.
With a nostalgic photo shoot shot gloriously, magically in Thailand, and featuring one-off pieces. And then a moody powerful skatepark shot, sho wcasing terrific menswear (oh, and .... umm.... yeah - that's my man skating and modeling!) and bamboo skateboards.
And the hand-crafted, locally made (Aust + NZ) contenders are there too. Pages of lovingly created fashion and accessories. Peppermint is a grassroots style of mag, with the blogging, etsy and madeit scenes being well represented.
When you flip these pages in your hand, you can read guilt fr ee knowing it's 100% post-consumer recycled paper, printed with soy-based inks on a waterless printer! You also know that every page in there (articles and advertising alike) represent more than just the throw-away fashion we have come to know from regular magazines.
This is the magazine I have been waiting for - fulfilling my requirements of styled pages, of drool-worthy photo shoots, of further educating me about why it's so damn important to think about where your next new skirt or even your Easter eggs are really coming from.
Peppermint is out now. Check out the website for stockist details, or go and twitter with the Mint. Only a few more days to get in on that great subscription offer; only $35 (AU, within Australia) for a yearly subscription.
Also, the first ten people to buy the magazine from Mag Nation in Elizabeth St, Melbourne get a free Zuii organic lip gloss and a hemp / organic cotton purse from Red Seed Studio (mmm, uh...yes, that's me).
Sorry, too late (early :: 1am) to take photos, remind me tomorrow!


