I’ve been pretty frantic finishing off goodies for the Michael Park School Fair happening tomorrow (!!!) some pretty new sea horse softies as well as sewing kits.  It’s time to share some new photos!

Lorenzo (on the left) and Matilda, these two are so sweet, I have a couple in the fabric of Lorenzo, but Matilda is a one off!

Cool huh.

Here’s Shirley, she’s really good at camouflaging with vintage sheets.

See her tail…

I love to get people sewing, it’s easier and more fun than some may think..  You can buy one of these babies from my Felt.co.nz shop.

It’s good to start with something fun and well, these will be quite festive too.  I’m putting together these sewing kits, you can make a set of three or five strawberries, and the good thing for beginner sewers is that makes good practice!

Like my other kits, all you need is a pair of scissors, the kit comes with the felt, stuffing, template, thread, needle and a couple of pins.  They require no tricky fancy stitches, just a little time.

I’ve used mine as a string of strawberries to decorate the house, and Luna has a whole pile to play with too…

So look out for me at i.craft.kingsland if you’re in the hood this weekend, or come to The Michael Park School Fair to see me… or any of my other markets (see over there to the top right..) or you can just email me if you’re interested.

So, I’ve had this cool 70s top on the go for ages, it was supposed to be one for the autumn/spring months, and breastfeeding friendly of course.

And now, it’s complete, I’m so happy, it’s this pattern, Simplicity 8069, middle version, with long sleeves.

And this fabric, which was a little mad, because it wasn’t quite the best choice (a synthetic slightly stretchy fabric) but I soo love the print.

I learnt a lot doing this project, I’m no longer afraid of my lovely machine.  I need to take more care when cutting out (this was one of those quick cut!  Quick iron!  When the kids were asleep..) so really clean straight edges, and making underarms and collars can take more time and care than I thought.

But I do still love it and when the kids are no longer snot monsters I’ll get into it.

I did alter the pattern somewhat, I added length to the sleeves (though I have no idea why, because I needed to shorten them!) and I made the front open lower, for breastfeeding.

I did more top stitching around the neck and bottom hem.

Some construction shots…

Sleeves on, lining up the notches… and some collar details, see the fabric is so beautiful!

I plan to make a short skirt with what’s left of the fabric.

I’m slowly working working through some projects I’ve had unfinished for hmm, maybe two years and it’s great.  Last weekend I finished this cuddly cushion sea star that had been waiting to have it’s top sewn on, I was also dreading fitting it to the base, the top is smaller and so I was all worried about it being gathered and not look authentic..

You see, it based on a blow up of a tiny sea star that I made for a mobile for Luna, all those years ago, and so it had to look just like the real thing, only well, huge.  But I sewed it all up, and it’s a bit gathered in places, but it looks great, I’m pretty happy with it after all.  Here’s the underside, I hand stitched the felt pieces on and didn’t bead it because I know how long it takes to sew beads on a felt star fish!

By the way of you ever see a sea star upside down like this, quickly see if it’s ok and turn it over so it can get going…

I was thinking about making some more to sell, it’s actually very comfortable and you can kind of squish it into your side or behind you, and it’s really snuggly too!

Well, have you been over to Sew Retro yet??  Clever sewers share their vintage and retro sewing projects (yes HEAPS of photos and vintage patterns to drool over… ) share their tips, fabric finds and do giveaways of goodies and treats.

It’s my new favourite place… and I’m inspired to make some dresses I have patterns for, so this week, I sorted through my stashes and discovered that in a new haul of notions from my mum were zips, exactly the colour and length I need for these little numbers!

So here they are…

So the centre dress, close up on the fabric…

This fabric, and the one above were great finds on trademe….  here’s a better photo of the top fabric.

This fabric is very black brocade (but light weight) I think maybe the top pale blue version.

See, roses.

If I have enough fabric (might be a tiny bit short..) I’ll make the long sleeve version, or no sleeve.  I love this fabric and have had it for ages.

Can’t wait to make a start on them, and hopefully I’ll have at least one new dress for summer!

Take a look at this fabric!  One was an old cushion cover and the other was a square of curtain fabric I picked up ages ago.

These babies are lined with gingham.

Nice finishing huh, holds the zips in well, and is all neat and tidy, just how I like them!

These are a couple of glasses cases, or tall pencil cases I suppose.  I have BIG  sunglasses and they fit well, with room to spare.

Nicely lined too of course…

Good colours in those retro fabrics, just love them.

This fabric is weird, I just hope to have enough for a skirt…

because the more I see it the more it gets to me!

This one is mine!  When starting a new project I always have a few to giveaway to friends and of course something for myself.

I rally enjoyed working these out, a raided my fabric stash, which includes some beautiful vintage and retro fabrics, especially some sweet soft gingham.

Nice huh?

This gingham was from my nana’s stash, she made clothes for some ragdolls I still have out of it.

These are extra special, I have used some vintage duotone embroidery thread, also from a family stash…  Do you remember this post about raiding some of my tins?  There is only a limited range using this good stuff, can’t bear to use it all up…

This is my vintage rose fabric, soft and SO lovely.  Perfect for spring, and more embroidery.

I’ll be at Kraftbomb at the end of the month, come and grab yourself one there!

I’ve been busy…  pulling out some cool fabric samples and vintage material I have had stashed away for years and turning them into Mermaid’s Purses.. just for you!

I’ve made some smallish/medium size purses, and some more squareish ones.

Nice lining huh!  This one would make a snuggly sleeping bag.

This one is perfect for (my) sunglasses, I’ll whip up a few more incase you need one too..

Nice on the inside, some pretty cotton I’ve had for a wee while.

I’ve been working on these vintage fabric cuffs, all new and pressed for spring and summer markets.  I’ve been dying to get into more accessories and apparel for some time now, and with things settling down for us I have been getting a little more space to try out some ideas.

I have some fabric which is just too small to sew into clothing, but just too lovely not be worn, you may have seen a seahorse in this…  Just sussing out some sizing thoughts and using some of the fancy embroidery stitches on my machine and using some of my beautiful multi colour vintage thread stash.

Plush vintage rose fabric, so soft and summery!

Oooh and here are some of my other colour combinations, ready and waiting for a quiet moment while the kids sleep.

I have been cracking into the gingham stash.

Nice golds, oranges and browns in this one…

Picked up this pretty little number at the Auckland Vintage Textile Fair at the weekend.

And this pattern, unused and very sweet.  I have been looking out for some simple vintage dress patterns lately, I have plans to make one this year.  I also found a dress, it’s pretty stylish and home made by the looks, photo to come it does need a wash!

It was a fun morning out, very hot, so many beautiful things to look at and dream about taking home.  It was much more than textiles too, with costume vintage jewelry, heaps of hat boxes and haberdashery.  Patterns and other random antique and vintage articles like traveling cases, lasts for shoes, hat blocks, bags and accessories for every occasion and books.  Hanging out for the next one!