Sunday Snippets

Wrongdog

Giant canvas for my upcoming painting weekend with Tinniegirl

Matchy matchy bikeriding

Homemade dumplings - yum!

New dress

Dinner at Joes Bar with Carly

Sunday morning at MarkIt - Gorgeous teatowel by Madeleine Stamer 

MarkIt Goodies - Heart Print by Madeleine Stamer, Shagpile Earrings from Gleaners Inc, Floral Earrings by Kimono Reincarnate

Sunday Snippets with Tinniegirl

If you can't sew...

 .... then you just have to find something else to make.

I actually designed and ordered these beautiful Tassie Blackwood hearts before I received the call, and they arrived while I was in hospital.

Serendipitously, they've worked out to be the perfect solution to my medical sewing ban.

Each heart contains one of my original designs, either in wallpaper or fabric. They're the perfect gift for someone you love.

They'll be available at Gleaners Inc tomorrow.

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...

Just for a bit of pretty

I know that I've gushed about Instagram about a billiontrillion times already in this space, but please bear with my while I do it all over again.

Have you ever wondered why something handmade is more expensive? Or as a maker, have you ever had trouble trying to work out your costs so that you can set a fair sell price?

I have no magic formula for you (sorry about that), but taking step-by-step photos, and posting them on Instagram, lets you really SEE exactly how much work goes into the product that you're making.

As a bonus, you get to look at pretty pictures.... and see into the working space of makers all around the world.

Places and spaces that you would never see if you were just getting finished product photos on a blog, or in an online shop.

I love being able to look back at my photos and see the different times of the day and night that I'm working, and how the light and shadows change depending on the time and the space.

A lot of time, energy and love goes into the things I make.

But I'm so lucky that I get to make things that I love.




This batch of Vintage Fabric Bunting is available in the shop and will also be heading to Gleaners Inc

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!

Day of the Dead Exhibition at Gleaners Inc

It's the opening night of the Gleaners Inc Day of the Dead Exhibition tonight!

Here's my finished piece. An original signed digital print. My very first!

It's all framed and ready to hang straight on someones wall (if someone might like to purchase it).

I also have some Mini Art Prints available at Gleaners Inc too





See you there!

Día de los Muertos

The Gleaners Inc Day of the Dead Exhibition begins today (official opening night is next Friday night)

Liz is having a giveaway where you could win one of my Mini Art Prints (bottom right), a Middlemost calaveras badge, a Sister Outlaws Sugar skull hanger, or a Betty Jo sugar skull brooch. 

Make you sure you pop on over and enter!

I've also made my Day of the Dead design available as an iPhone case.

Enjoy!

ROYGBIV

Sometimes I make things, take photos, and send them off into the world, and completely forget to blog them.

ROYGBIV is a very good example.

It was a custom order earlier this month for a Gleaners Inc customer, who was looking for a rainbow colour bunting.

Do you still remember the acronyms, sayings and songs that you learned at school to help remember things? I still use them to this very day.

But, I have to admit that I did google the rainbow colours.... just in case. You see, not only did we learn the acronym ROYGBIV, but we also learned that song:

Red and yellow and pink and green,
Purple and orange and blue,
I can sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow too

So... I wonder who is responsible for the little ditty that is factually incorrect?

And, does anyone else still have to recite this:

30 days has September, April June and November.

 All the rest have 31, excepting February alone, 

which has 28 days clear, and 29 each leap year.

 to remember how many days are in each month?

Gleaners Inc at Finders Keepers

Photo by Betty Jo

I headed into the city lastnight and met up with my cousin to check out the Finders Keepers Market.

If you went to the last one, then you'll be pleasantly surprised to see that they've opened up more space, and changed the layout.

There's heaps more room to get around and the see the stalls. Sooooo much better! I only managed to run over two peoples toes with my trolley.

There were lots of new designers, and some really beautiful things to peruse and lust after.

It's on today 'til 5PM!

Finders Keepers Market

The Finders Keepers is finally here!

Make sure you go and say a huge HELLO to Liz and Kerry and Julianne who will be at the Gleaners Inc stall Friday night and all day Saturday.

Liz is going to have a veritable crafty smorgasboard of amazing Gleaners Inc designers on her stall!

There'll be lots of Un-Reel Pendants...

All of my hexie cushions will be available..

As well as some cushion covers (for those that don't want to carry a cushion all the way around the market).

See you there!

Sometimes things don't last very long

....before they're snapped up!
 

If you follow me on Instagram (@curlypops), you usually get the first sneaky peek at anything that I'm working on.

The Roses Cushion was snapped up pretty quickly indeed!
 

The Little Boy and The Northern Territory are both heading to Gleaners Inc on Friday.

Bunting Loveliness for Gleaners Inc

I'm so chuffed to be able to show off this custom bunting today!

A few weeks ago, Liz asked me to create something a little bit different than the everyday bunting, to use as signage for Gleaners Inc.

I went away and played around with the design in Illustrator and sent her about a bazillion pictures and emails. Ummmm sorry about that Liz - I was just a teensy bit over excited about the design process.

Anyhow, I had a little sample printed,  and then we decided on the finished design (which I love).

I totally forgot to take a pic from the rear, but I backed them all with vintage floral sheeting so that they're just as pretty from behind too.

I popped them in the post and....

Here they are!

If you'd like to see them for real, pop in to Gleaners Inc for a visit, or you may even catch a glimpse at the upcoming Finders Keepers Market.

If you're looking for something similar with custom lettering, just email me for a quote. I'm happy to take custom orders.

Sunday Snippets

The week that was.... culminating in Feather Your Nest.

Sunday Snippets with Tinniegirl