September 2012 – THORNBERRY

crochet, family, miscellaneous, musings, planned projects, sewing, WIP

sharing

There’s been a little sharing going on. My husband shared his cold with me, and for the past four days or so I’ve been feeling very blah. But I’m finally on the improve, so shall blog a little more often again soon!

See that empty space beside my overlocker on my gorgeous especially-made-for-me patchwork machine runner? Mum had been sharing her fancy-schmancy sewing machine with me for the last month, but now it’s gone back to her. I’m still trying to decide whether to get my machine serviced yet again, or save the money to put toward a new machine. My Pinnock was given to me for my 21st birthday, so it’s not as though it hasn’t done a huge amount of work over the years. But I’m still loathe to say goodbye to it. In the meantime, not one but three lovely friends of mine have offered to lend me one of their spare machines! What generous sharing!

Another lovely friend recently shared information about these irons being on sale. Having it used it for a month or so now, I have to say that I LOVE IT! It irons beautifully, and presses (for dressmaking) well too. You should see how much steam it can churn out! I do feel as though I refill the water tank just as often as I used to refill my old iron, but it’s so worth it for how well it irons. I know that there are huge number of people out there that don’t iron, but I have to admit that as much as I don’t enjoy the ironing process, I do like my clothes to be ironed, and a good iron is absolutely indispensable to anyone who sews.

The Perfect Nose just shared information about a website that sells Vogue, McCalls, Butterick, Burda and New Look patterns for $4 each with free shipping within Australia! I almost fainted with excitement. The patterns in the above photo came from the last BMV sale, but Vogue charge a fortune for postage from the USA (it’s all that handling needed to put patterns into an envelope) so they still work out to around $7.50 per pattern if your order seven. Pattern Plus seem to have a mixture of patterns, from out of print, to quite old, to current – well worth a look at $4 per pattern plus 80c handling for the entire order. Huge thanks to The Perfect Nose from putting me on to them!

We shared Grand Final Day with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law and their young adult sons yesterday. My girls adore their “big boy cousins”. Our niece came over with her beautiful two-month-old daughter as well. My girls are rather enamoured with their new baby girl cousin (second cousin? first cousin once removed?) too. As a family we’re not much interested in football – my nephews weren’t even certain about which teams were in the final – but it was a close game, which is always a good game. And I got plenty of crochet done! Five hours worth, to be exact!

I’ve been meaning to share a couple of new blogs with you too. Blogless Anna is blogless no more, and is sharing her beautiful sewing with us. I’m very keen to make a Tessuti Lily dress after seeing Anna’s (and quite fancy the shoes that Anna is wearing as well).

This divine blood orange cake and compote was made by Anna of the Red Cat Food Store. We ate it at book group just over a week ago, and I have to say that it was SUPERB! Anna has just started up her business, and has also started a lovely blog where she writes about her cooking and baking experiences. Anna is one of my “school mums” and her daughter and Stella are mates and will both be in prep together next year. I have been the fortunate beneficiary of her skills at many a coffee morning where she has shared her baking with me. Yummmmmmm.

Many of you shared comforting and encouraging words on my last blog post when I was unhappy with the fit/photos of my dress. Recently there have been a number of discussions on different blogs that I read sharing opinions about giving feedback and criticism, fit and photography, and such like. It has all made for interesting internal debate for me. When it comes to blog photos, I take whatever I can get! As you can tell, mine aren’t terribly styled, and they are taken quickly by my husband or Clare. I crop them (sometimes), but that is about it! No photo-shopping, no other editing. No fancy backgrounds – you know that you generally get “the wall” or “the deck railing, the lemon tree and clothes line”. I just don’t have the time to get to other locations! Maybe it’s just the stage I’m at – with primary school and pre school aged children and a two day per week job and a husband who travels with his work, my chances of getting makeup on and my outfit styled and an interesting background are pretty much nil. At least you know that what you see in the photos is real life – but it doesn’t make for the beautiful visuals that you find on some blogs. Then again, this isn’t a photography blog. And it isn’t a competition. Must keep on reminding myself about the reasons why I blog!

And as for fit, feedback, criticism and similar – that is VERY interesting. Flat photographs don’t always tell the story. I usually go with the maxim of “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything” UNLESS the blogger is asking for an opinion. We all have the opportunity to learn and grow through constructive criticism, but not everyone wants or necessarily needs that constructive criticism right at that time. I suppose that I usually point out the faults in my garments to get in first before someone else does! Care to share your thoughts on these things? (Oh, and for how these paragraphs relates to the above photo? They don’t really – just sharing one of my next planned projects.)

Clare is off sharing the next four days with other 5-9 year old Girl Guides from around the state at Wonderland Jamborella. I dropped her off there this morning and felt very proud of her as she dashed off through the rain to a building full of people she’d never met before with barely a backward glance. None of the other Guides from her Unit are attending, and I think that she’s so brave to be willing to go on camp “on her own”. I definitely didn’t have the confidence to do that at her age! It is certainly a fun-filled schedule, and I’m sure that she’ll have a ball, but I’ll miss her. Although she spent last week with her grandparents, we can’t telephone her on camp so somehow she feels further away. I’ll be looking forward to picking her up again on Wednesday afternoon! (And the above photo? I made that dress during the early 90s. I loved it, and I’m considering making it again for this summer).

Well, now I’m off to share some cuddles with my vivacious little five year old, whose current favourite book is “Harriet, You’ll Drive Me Wild!“. Maybe while thinking of what I might crochet from this crowd-sourced, hand-dyed cormo yarn. Anyone care to share your thoughts on any of the above topics (or any other) with me?

Sunday, 30 September, 2012 by thornberry

adult's clothing, sewing

Butterick 5676

First things first – I loved how this dress (Butterick 5676) looked when I finished sewing it together, pressed it, and hung it on a coat hanger. I was also quite happy when I put it on, despite noticing some small fitting issues. Then I saw the photos. And felt quite despondent. This dress looked SO much better to me in real life!

I suppose that I should start with what I like about it.

the colour
the hand top-stitching – I LOVE the hand top-stitching! And yes, I chose the copper brown perle cotton
the fabric – ponte is incredibly comfortable to wear and easy to sew. I bought it from Spotlight.
the shaped panels
the sleeve length
the skirt length
the v-neckline

And now to what I don’t like:

the sleeve heads puff up too much; I think that there is too much ease. I may unpick the sleeves and both shave a bit off the sleeve cap and cut the armhole in further. It looks way too wide across the back shoulders.
all those bloody wrinkles across the centre back. Do I need a sway back adjustment? I didn’t make my usual short torso adjustment on this dress, due to all those panels on the front. Maybe I should have?

I really did almost feel like crying after I saw the photos. I wore the dress all day to work yesterday, and felt good it it – before I saw the photos! The colour suits me, it’s extremely comfortable to wear, and was work appropriate. But in these photos the fit just doesn’t look as it could.

In terms of the sizing, I cut size 12 through the neckline and sleeves, and widened to a 14 around the body. I left out the zip, because I used ponte, and used both the overlocker and the machine for construction. The hem is actually just secured with vliesofix at this stage; I’m still considering a row or three of the same hand top-stitching around the hem as elsewhere on the dress.

I went out for dinner last night wearing this dress and my All Shawl. A woman sitting nearby leaned over at the end of the evening and complimented me on my shawl – describing it as a “statement piece” and admiring the way that it draped. I felt so much better after that!

And thankfully, the other dress that I made recently is a hit – I wore it to work today and had lots of unsolicited compliments! Hooray! I’ll blog it next.

Thursday, 27 September, 2012 by thornberry

what I wore

what I wore – weeks 37 & 38

Whoops, what with moving the girls’ bedrooms and school holidays starting and a trip to my parents, I’ve got behind with what I wore!

I also missed taking a few photos when the room shift was taking place. But now I’m back in the groove! I’ll be back soon too with a couple of dresses I’ve finished over the past few weeks, finding the sewing time by squeezing in a few seams at a time.

Wednesday, 26 September, 2012 by thornberry

adult's clothing, embroidery, family, quilting, sewing

in progress (and a huge thank you)

The instructions for this pattern have you sew each piece together, then topstitch. Instead of topstitching by machine, I decided to do a hand running stitch. But which colour to use?

You’ll have to guess – the front of the dress is already done now, and now I’m working on the cuffs and neck band!

We haven’t heard anything from the Under 35s Quilt Competition, so assume that Clare didn’t win a prize. Although we’re a little sad about that, both Clare and I want to say a huge THANK YOU to all those who left such beautiful, encouraging comments! I don’t think that I’ve ever had as many comments on one blog post, and your wonderfully positive response has had a big impact on Clare. She has had a grin from ear to ear after reading each and every one of them! Clare was also thrilled to see a photo of her quilt hanging in the exhibition – thanks to Amy for helping out!

Entering the competition has been a terrific experience for Clare, and she’s looking forward to hanging her quilt up in her room once it comes back later in the year. In the meantime, she’s busily working on a cross-stitch while spending time with her grandparents for the first week of school holidays. She is definitely a winner in our eyes!

Sunday, 23 September, 2012 by thornberry

family, other people's craft, patchwork, quilting

Ripe and Blooming

Some months ago I read in Quilter’s Companion magazine that the Quilter’s Guild of NSW were running an Under 35s Quilt Competition. Being more than a little over 35 myself, I mentioned it to Clare. She was keen, and after reading the requirements and theme of “How Does Your Garden Grow” she started a concept drawing.

Then I let her loose on my stash! Clare chose all the fabrics for her project herself, and I was impressed with her appreciation for value, shade, scale and pattern. She started by piecing the background. I gave some minor assistance with the rotary cutter and the iron (although she rapidly took over the ironing) but that was all – absolutely every other stitch and decision related to this quilt is Clare’s.

Once the background was done, it was time for the applique. She started off by cutting out shapes in paper and arranging them, before moving on to cutting and fusing the shapes in fabric.

Clare did what many of us do as they are making a quilt and allowed it to evolve and vary from her original design as she worked. There are elements that she left out, and others that she added. She drew all the shapes free hand, including the fruits. Pretty good for a nine year old! Then before we knew it the applique was done, the quilt sandwich made, and Clare quilted around the appliqued shapes close to the raw edges to give them more definition.

She quilted long diagonal rows through the background, like the rows that you plant in the garden. A number of binding fabrics were auditioned before she decided on a stripe.

A hanging sleeve was added to the back and the final touch was a label that Clare carefully wrote and hand-stitched into place. Ta-da – Clare’s first ever quilt! And just in time too!

She named it “Ripe and Blooming”. Clare says “I’m really proud of myself. At first I was taking it slowly then I found there was no time left! I did the last few things quickly but also being careful.”

I’m really proud of her too! Clare has been to many quilt exhibitions with me over the years, and has watched me quilting and listened to my mum and I talk quilts. It’s amazing how much information is absorbed! I did give suggestions and guidance throughout the process, but Clare was fairly definite about what suggestions she was interested in or not and mainly used her own common sense. The competition quilts will be on display this Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10-4 at The Newington Gallery, Newington College, 221-235 Stanmore Road, Stanmore, New South Wales. If any of my blog readers are planning on going I’d love to see a photo of Clare’s quilt in situ! The winners of each section (Primary, Secondary, 18-24 and 25-34) will be announced on Saturday. Fingers crossed for Clare – but whether she wins anything or not, she’s definitely a winner with designing, planning, cutting, piecing, sewing, quilting, and binding this wonderful quilt all on her own at age nine!

Wednesday, 19 September, 2012 by thornberry

adult's clothing, sewing

Vogue 8813

This is one of those patterns that I thought would be sewn up the second that it arrived, but wasn’t. I’m glad that it is now – especially as we move into spring. It will be perfect for the weather we are having at the moment!

Vogue 8813 is a Marcy Tilton pattern. I haven’t used any of her patterns before, and when I trawl through Pattern Review and take a look at the ones that have been made, I’ve noticed that they seem to predominantly be the choice of middle-aged women – and the reality is that is at 44 I am probably middle-aged too. Maybe we are drawn to the interesting design lines and longer-lasting styles rather than designs that are more form-fitting and currently trendy. And maybe by now we know what we like and what suits us? What do you think? Anyway, Vogue describe this as “Pullover dress (semi-fitted through bust) has gathered front extending into back collar, side front seams, draped lower side front with pockets, and stitched hems. A: pleat and button trim on pockets. A and C: narrow hem on cap sleeves.”. They’re pretty much right.

There is a seam across the back of the bodice, and one down the centre back. Both of these provide back interest but are very difficult to see in this fabric. I sewed this dress in a combination of sizes Medium (for width) and Small (for bodice length) and took a short torso tuck out of the skirt as well. I’m only 5’2″! The fabric is a lightweight textured stripe jersey from Darn Cheap Fabrics. I actually sewed this dress with the “wrong” side of the fabric out, as it had more interesting folds and bumps. I could have sewed the entire dress as a small – the jersey gives enough stretch, and the design is very roomy. Oh well, you live and learn!

I have re-done the gathered front since taking this photo, drawing the gathers in tighter than specified in the pattern. There is a YouTube video where Marcy shows how she does the gathering. I didn’t use it – maybe I found it after I’d made the dress! But I will watch it before I make this again in a woven fabric.

Another change that I made was to add elastic through a channel in the top of the pockets. I didn’t think that this fabric was going to drape the way I’d like, and so elastic provides control over the copious amounts of fabric there. This was added before sewing down the side and front seams. After sewing a channel I threaded elastic through, then played around with it until the length seemed about right, secured it, and sewed the rest of the seams. I recommend this pattern – it’s a little different and unusual, and I’ll be making it again in a lightweight linen or similar with short sleeves for summer. There are some terrific versions of this dress on Marcy Tilton’s webpage and blog here.

Tuesday, 18 September, 2012 by thornberry

family

Sunday evening

The last three days have been furniture moving days – the girls are finally getting their own bedrooms. Upstairs. So we needed to move the upstairs furniture down and the downstairs furniture up. And shift all their clothes & accessories, as well as some toys. It’s been a surprisingly time-consuming task! Needless to say, both girls are thrilled to have their own bedroom, but still like that their rooms are very close to one another. And I can still hear Stella if she calls out to me and needs me during the night time (found that out last night). I have one dress that was finished over a week ago to blog, and another that is almost finished but went onto the back-burner while the big room swap was taking place. Only one more week left of the school term, and lots to do! Had better sign off….

Sunday, 16 September, 2012 by thornberry

what I wore

what I wore – week 36

Another week has flown by. I’m falling behind with these blog posts! Falling behind on more than a few things, actually.

I worked a couple of extra days last week (thanks to my Mum for coming down from the country to help with child care) and so have been busy trying to catch up ever since. But tomorrow is my “day off”, so hopefully I’ll be all caught up by this time tomorrow! Good night all!

Wednesday, 12 September, 2012 by thornberry

family

bob

I’ve been trying to persuade Stella to get her hair cut into a bob for some time, even before she cut her own hair and ended up with rock-chick layers. She whinges and complains every time that I comb her hair, and given that we have had an ongoing problem with nits this year, her hair gets fine-tooth-combed quite often! All of a sudden last week she responded to my suggestion of a hair cut with “okay then” – so I raced her down to the hairdresser before she could change her mind.

I love it, but more importantly, she loves it! Although it does look quite angelic – and as delightful as my girl is, angelic is not a word often used to describe her. She also wants to grow out the fringe. I think that she looks so much more grown up now. The cardigan is an Olearia, knitted by my Mum in something from Bendigo Woollen Mills.

Sunday, 9 September, 2012 by thornberry

other people's craft

School Art Show 2012

Clare’s Primary School holds a show of student work every two years. I blogged about the 2010 show here. The 2012 Student’s Art Show was just as impressive.

From the flyer that accompanied the Show:

Art from Literature: Students studied the text and illustrations of a book and created one or more works, either on the subject, or in the illustrator’s styles. Have a look for:

The Staring Owl
Washing Line
Toucan, Toucan’t
Rudie Nudie
Clancy, Mille and the Very Fine House
Imagine

Australian Desert Landscape – Lake Eyre & the Channel Country: Students studied the works of Fred Williams, Sidney Nolan and John Olsen. You will see aerial views of the land in a variety of media: water colour, acrylic, mono-printing, threads and textiles, and the cracked, patterned bed of Lake Eyre in oil pastel.

Natural History Illustration: Students studied the work of several notable natural history illustrators: Beatrix Potter, John Gould, Audubon and Pamela Condor. Year Five and Six students produced work on the Australian Desert animal, The Greater Bilby, in the style of one of Pamela Condor’s works. Years Prep to Two completed a Bilby in the Sand collage.

Elements of Shape and Line: You will see examples of:

two dimensional line turned into three dimensional form
organic and geometric shapes
symmetry
concentricity
radial pattern in threads

Art and Artists: You will see Willow Pattern art work inspired by a study of the 18th Century English Chinaware design. Also, take note of the Great Wave and View of Mount Fuji paintings which were the result of a study of the coloured wood block prints of Katsushika Hokusai’s 19th Century works The Great Wave off Kanagawa and South Wind, Clear Sky (or Red Fuji). These are two well-known examples from his series, Thirty-Six View of Mt Fuji.

Silk Painting: A display of work created by years Three and Four with textile artist Mary McArdle.

The Art Show sets up in the school library and runs for a week. I am SO impressed by the amazing work that our students produce under the tutelage of their incredibly dedicated art teacher. There are more photos here.

Saturday, 8 September, 2012 by thornberry

Month: September 2012