A Crafty Weekend

Sometimes a crafty weekend is all you need!
Friday night dinner was yummy porterhouse steak and potato bake. I usually make it with lots of cream and tasty cheese, but this version I used chicken stock instead (a bit more healthier).

B-Fab visited the Zumbo Pop-Up shop at the Cullen Hotel on Friday, and arrived with these - top is Milo, bottom is Pina Colada. O.M.G.

A bit of Friday night crafting (and a typical shaky blurry photo from me - damn anti-rejection meds)!

It's so lovely to have a houseguest that makes hot milo and serves up dessert while I'm sewing!

On Saturday, we picked up Michelle and headed to Geelong to visit Jennifer at A Piece Of Cloth.
We spent over two hours here - it's completely amazing. So many beautiful vintage quilt tops and vintage fabrics, and Jennifer is an absolute font of knowledge about them - everything from age, fabric type, the types of dyes used..... and so on!

Most definitely worth a road trip for anyone who loves fabric.

Next stop was lunch - we celebrated International Bacon day in style!

.... and then headed across the road to visit Joy (with jazz hands of course)

Just around the corner was this sweet little shop named Frank & Dollys - lots of lovely things and great service (unlike another handmade shop we visited later in the day - we were being watched as if we were going to shoplift and didn't even get a hello when we walked in. NO money was spent there)!

Hope everyone had a lovely fathers day!

Remember this dress?

A little while ago, I created a new design especially for the 'A Piece of Cloth' exhibition.

I had it printed onto a lovely cotton sateen basecloth...

....and made it into this lovely dress.

Unfortunately, it doesn't fit me, and so this completely unique dress is now looking for a new home.

It's a Simplicity 2444 Project Runway Pattern. I made it in a Size 14 (according to the pattern).

The measurement from the pattern envelope - Bust 36 Waist 28 Hip 38
The only change that I made was to add side in-seam pockets on both sides.

If you're interested in buying, just send me an email - mscurlypops@gmail.com

A Piece Of Cloth

Photo courtesy Gleaners Inc - that's my dress on the left

Tonight was the opening night of A Piece Of Cloth at Gleaners Inc

Unfortunately I couldn't make it to the opening, but thank goodness I was thinking ahead, and had all of my pieces completed before that middle of the night phone call came through.

I didn't get a chance to photograph my dress, so I've borrowed one of Liz's lovely photos (above).

From the very beginning, I wanted to take my piece of cloth, use it as inspiration, design my own fabric, and make a dress for the exhibition.

This was my original mocked up design inspiration for the finished dress.

I couldn't stop at one design.... so I included them all in some cards

To finish it off, I also designed a one-off cushion featuring some of my designs.

I can't wait to actually get over to Brunswick to see it...

My Creative Space

I spent all day yesterday working on my creation for the upcoming Gleaners Inc exhibition A Piece Of Cloth.

I'm almost finished...  I'm just missing one vital piece of the puzzle.

I wish I could show you, but it's under wraps until opening night!

My creative space

Little Steps

Fencespotting - Version 1

It's no secret that I'm totally madly passionate about fabric design. I lose hours and hours sitting in front of the computer... drawing, designing, colouring, tweaking. Sometimes the sun goes down and I don't even realise until I'm sitting in darkness, with a rumbly stomach,  reminding me that I should probably cook some dinner.

Little by little, I'm edging closer towards my dream. Not sure if I can say it out loud because it sounds so preposterous. But, I've learned so much this year through the design courses that I've taken, and through trial and error. I've even managed to teach myself how to use Illustrator.

Fencespotting - Version 2

Anyway, I'm very excited about an upcoming Gleaners Inc Exhibition, where I'm going to put my fabric design skills to the test.

The exhibition titled A Piece Of Cloth is running as part of the Loreal Melbourne Fashion Festival from March 18-24 2013.

From the LMFF website


Gleaners Inc. has invited 30 local designers and craftspeople to be a part of an exhibition entitled "A Piece of Cloth" at their retail space/gallery in Brunswick. 

The show will coincide with LMFF throughout March 2013.

A square or scrap of cloth will be distributed to each person participating and as part of the brief, designers must respond to this fabric, ie; the pattern, the texture or the colour palette, by creating a finished piece incorporating or referencing their scrap.

Finished work in the exhibition will incorporate fashion and clothing, textiles, jewellery and accessories, work on paper or sculptural pieces. Completed projects in the exhibition will be unique interpretations of the objective, each linked by a common thread…or in this case, threads.


I wish I could show you what I'm working on, but I'm keeping it as a surprise just for now!