Fabric haul

 I often get emails from fabric shops such as Hawthorne Threads showing off their lovely wares. I covert the lovely fabrics (sewers are such terrible hoarders). The costs overseas are so much less than what we pay here in NZ, but then the shipping cost starts to eat into the difference.

 My brother lives in San Diego so in the styles of any self-interested daughter I ordered a batch of fabric to be delivered to him and made my poor mother lug in back from a recent visit. It wasn't mammoth amounts (compare my recent ikea curtain fabric haul - now that was heavy!) but I did have the odd twinge of guilt. Is this the right thing to do to one's poor old mom? However, this guilt was significantly reduced upon delivery - I mean seriously, how fun are these fabrics!  So mum hauled it but I get The Haul.   

I love the Retro Kitchen print - my intention is to use some of this stretched over canvas as a kitchen wall hanging. In hindsight its a little like the cheesy wallpaper that used to be in the laundry which I rudely painted over - but the other half can't complain about a wall hanging so easily .....

I also think these will look great as tea towel trims, any kitchen accessory, and lined as a blind. Actually would also look great as some bunting wouldn't it? ..... hmmm, now I'm thinking .....

Anyway, I bought extra amount to share the love so when I finally get round to it there will be available (fat or thin quarts) on my felt shop for those who like the print and don't want to pay the usual high retail price.

My favourite however is a print in the Gallery Fiori range. This poppy print reminds me of Van Gogh paintings - its just lovely. I have absolutely no idea what I am going to make with this but when I see it, I'll know. I think it will make a striking top of some sort.

Sydney, Storms, Stalls, Sales

It is with a wine in hand that I write this post.  I'm reeeaaallly enjoying this glass.

Sydney was great. I managed to:

- enjoy a beer in the best spot in Syders (Opera Bar - its expensive and busy but on a sunny night, cannot be beat);

- loved my friend's wedding;

- made it to the Paddington Markets (photo of my favorite stall at Paddington - couldn't resist buying myself a few gorgeous cups);

- made it to Ikea (I know its lame - but I got curtain fabric and picture frames at bargain Ikea prices) and Manly (for the ferry crossing);

- visited my lovely Waverly Cemetery, had breakfast at Bronte coupled with the usual swim in the pool. I still say that coastal walk is the highlight of Sydney.

Spiffing

And today - thank you to the lovely people who visited my stall today at Newtown: it was lovely to meet you all and despite the say starting off with rain dumps, blastering southerly winds and general misery, it fined up (though perhaps in-a-typically-Wellington-Artic type of way).

The Newtown Festival is such a great day, with so much excitement and great bands, and great food. I was honoured to be part of it (but kinda jealous I couldn't wander and enjoy it) and am delighted by my sales.

THANKS EVERYONE!

 

 

Survival and sales

Well I survived the weekend's market.  It ended up being a rather exhausting day.  I had (rather optimistically and stupidly) opted to attend a Twenty20 game of cricket being played between NZ and South Africa on Friday night.  Whilst I did make us leave the game a little early, it wasn't before the consumption of one or two mini bottles of Sav Blanc.  The ironing and packing that had been the jobs for Friday night then became the jobs for Saturday morning.

We loaded up to the car and unloaded on Jackson Street and set up my table.  In a rather bizarre spot allocation, I was backing onto a food van and next to the fair rides. Compared to all the established vendors, my wee table of wee wares seemed terribly small.  And as the sun shone down and the food van generator droned on, it has to be said that the spot was not my favourite and I felt cooked (and somewhat hung over) by the end of the day.

However I was delighted to have people to keep me company (thanks guys - pictured is my friend and her adorable son) and to receive so many nice comments and compliments from people - its always nerve racking having people inspect your handiwork and was nice to get some very flattering comments.

Off to Sydney this weekend for a friends wedding and then the Newtown Fair the weekend following.  Just keeping on trucking.

Getting ready for market day

Well it has certainly been a hectic few weeks.  Leading up to Petone Rotary Fair on Jackson Street this weekend, I have been desperately trying to get my myself organised.  I finally set up the trestle table last night to do a trial run of what my stall will look like.  I am pretty chuffed with the result - but that might be the tiredness talking.  There are a few sale items of stock that didn't sell last time (and I have never got around to putting on my felt shop) as well as quite a few new creations.
 

I have almost finished (final stitches tonight) a variety of clutch purses - a retro themed batch of small purses from fabrics chosen by my very dear (and retro inspired) friend Vanessa; a bunch of medium sized purses which are typical fabric choices for me (florals and brocade type designs); and some oversized clutches made from a gorgeous thick-weaved pattern that I absolutely love.  I really do like this fabric so am secretly hoping they won't sell so I can keep one all to myself.

I was also so pleased with how my screen printed cushion turned out that I made a couple more in a variety of black on white, or white on black etc.  They look lovely.  I did a few with the tree design (see burnt-to-crisp example in previous post) and with the feathers.  (I can safely say that my screen printing prowess has improved markedly with practice.)

My last venture was to screen print a few muslin baby wraps.  If there one universal truth (along with all the other universal truths) it is that mothers can't have enough wraps.  They provide warmth when required, shade when required, swaddling and privacy, as well as always being available for clean up duties (spit, vom, dribble to name but a few varieties).  The great thing about this muslin is it breathes, has a little bit of 'give' in it so not to constrictive, and it dries in no time flat. 

I tried to tone down the yellow by mixing white, which I thought might be a nice colour for some floating feathers.  It is still super bright and perhaps not my favourite result.  The tree design sitting in the middle of the baby's back when wrapped is kinda nice though.

Anyway, other than finishing off a few items, I am pulling together all those extra things one needs for market day (all the little things like price tags and signs, business cards, change, bags for purchases, cellotape & scissors, pen, chairs, weather protection for whatever happens .... and the list goes on).  It will be a relief when Saturday finally rolls around.

The core ingredients

The core ingredients for a night sewing:

Machine - check. 

Pot of tea (to distract me from wine) - check. 

Bowl of cherries (to distract me from chocolate) - check. 

TV on Demand (to distract me fullstop) -  check. 

I'm sorted.

Screen Printing at Home II

After the screen-printing "Baking Incident" my next attempt was not going to involve the oven.

I've made two modifications to the screen printing process described in a previous post:

1.) I used a clear transparency paper to cut out the design. I was a bit nervous this might be too flimsy but once taped to the screen, it works just fine. You could certainly use something thicker if you preferred, as long as it didn't make cutting out the design too difficult. The benefit is that after printing, simply wash the paint off the transparency for a second use with a different colour.

2.) I used the iron on its hottest setting to cure the paint. This was easy and clean and works well. I've washed the trial runs to ensure no issues and they came through perfectly.

I love this feather design - its simple and sweet, a bit of a dreamy with a bit of a rustic element.  I used the print to decorate a cushion and love the way it has turned out. Printed on the calico it is a real cottage feel but its still soft enough to lay your head on and sturdy enough to throw about.


Now to get my A into G: the push is on. With a bit of help I'm trying to get products together. I've done some of the purses I had hoped for, and am liking the way they are turning out.

Happy New Year

Happy 2012 (somewhat belated).  A new year begins, and goodness knows what it will bring. Hopefully many adventures, laughter and joyful times for all.

Christmas was glorious in Wellington this year - a total stunner.  And Wellingtonians, often deprived of some decent summer days, made the most of it.

We took off after Christmas to capture some "guaranteed" sun up in the Bay of Islands and then the Coromandel.  As many many others will appreciate, the fact it rained nearly every day meant it wasn't exactly the ideal summer break.  However, one has to appreciate we live in a stunning part of the world. 

However, I'm now back at home, back at work, and conscious of the date - mid Jan. Eeek.

During 2011 I set myself a task of two market stalls this year (repeating last year of having a stall at the Newtown Fair in March, but also doing the Jackson Street Fair in February).  I am now starting to wonder how I will get around to making enough products to sell at two stalls.  The Purple Palace had absorbed so much spare time in the last 6 months my usual stash of products has whittled away and I am starting from a position of being somewhat behind the 8 ball.

First thing is to replenish the purse stocks. I've opted to try a number of different sizes ranging from the small, to the usual size, and up to larger clutch sizes.  And I'm going to try my hand at producing something with my new expert screen printing skills.

Let the sewing begin!