heads up!

Hey Aucklanders, this weekend sees the fabric hoarders collectors come out and offer you some of their stash for sale! I've had a stall at the last two Fabric-a-brac sales here in Auckland, but not this time. I can tell you first hand that there is an amazing array of new and vintage fabrics and accessories up for sale at these events. I'm so tempted to go along and add to my stash, but the cupboard under the stairs (and the pile in my bedroom/sewing space) says "no more!!" But surely you've got some more room for fabric???

for the boy

There was lots of jealousy over the hooded jacket I made for miss E to take on our weekend away. So, quite quickly once we returned I made this jacket for my boy (4 and a half years - not 4 years old any more he tells me).

The outer blue fabric is from a cashmere jacket/coat I thrifted a few years ago, ahem, it was just $2, in perfect condition and I loved the deep royal blue colour. It's sat in my coat cupboard ever since, waiting for a make over. I've often pulled it out, wondering what I was going to do with it, luckily I waited, well, cause it's just perfect for this jacket! I unpicked all the seams, I cut out the pattern pieces carefully, there was just enough, minus the hood which I cut out of a felted jumper. I made use of the beautifully constructed and lined pockets of the original jacket, making it looked like I slaved over the details, also making it look like I'm a MUCH better seamstress than I actually am.

The lining fabric, was gifted to me earlier in the year at Fabric-a-brac, generously by the lovely Anissa from the Grow Mama blog (thanks again Anissa!). It's a  thick brushed cotton the sort you'd make some pyjamas from, I cut one of the little yellow bulldozers out of the fabric to embellish the front a little. The jacket is so super snugly and warm, perfect for wearing on the back of my bicycle as I ride him to preschool! He loves it.

* The pattern for the hooded jacket is from Sweet and simple handmade - by Melissa Wastney 

printed

 You may remember a hand printed fabric swap I mentioned a while ago, well the last of my fabrics arrived just before I headed away to Christchurch. Once the first wee parcel arrived, with some amazing fabric and a detailed account of how they went about printing theirs I realised I didn't let me swap partners know how I printed mine! So I'll let you know in case you want to do some fabric printing at some stage, with things from around your home. It's nice and simple and a perfect wintertime activity to do with your kids, very little mess!

I've always thought the bottoms of celery look like beautiful flowers as I cut them off, seems such a waste to be popping them into the compost. So I used the base of some celery as the basis of my design. 

 I inked the celery up with some Versa craft textile inks that I had bought kind of a long time ago (crazy craft supply hoarder collector here, ahem). Easy to use and just needs to be heat set for the ink to be permanent on fabric.

I carved some simple shapes from a eraser, a leaf and a twirly scroll.I also used the eraser tip of a pencil for the middle of the flowers. I tried to keep the pattern fairly consistent across the four fat quarters that I need to print, I cut them all initially, but I think I would have been better printing on yard and then cutting. 

All wrapped up ready to send! I really hope that my partners liked the fabric they received from me. 

These are the amazing fabrics that arrived in my letterbox! I'm really in love with the leaf one at the bottom, so much work went into that one, inking the leaves up to print, it's really stunning! 

Speaking of swaps, did you see that the travelling stash box is up and running for a second trip around New Zealand? I missed it the first time, but I've signed up for it to stop off at my house this time round! As a great craft supply hoarder collector I'm pretty sure I can find some crafting things to add to it.