Wohoo!  Happy new year!  I had a little bit of an op shop last week, while spending time with family in Katikati, I picked up this sweet pair of David Elman Shoes.  What a score, just – only just – my size, woo, and only four bucks!

I am always on the look out for unusual vintage fabric (within my budget) and when I spied this piece of floral light weight knit, I couldn’t walk away, yeha, only one dollar, it will make a comfy blouse.

I hope you all had a safe and fun time over the new year period, I have some new projects on the go, including an entry into the World of Wearable Art this year, fingers crossed!  More on that later…

‘Pattern Presents’.  Oh I know it’s nerdy, but it’s also a pretty way to keep my projects together.

Each bundle is a project cut, marked and pinned ready to dart or finish edges as soon as I get a moment, sometimes I will zig zag the edges on a number of projects I have on the go, if the thread colour works for a few, it seems like an efficient way for me to work, and it means that I get some reasonable chunks of a dress or outfit complete in one hit, and at times, it feels like I complete a number of new dresses in a few days.

On the sewing front, I’m looking to be more disciplined when it comes to planning for the coming season, I’m getting more organised, and I feel more confident with matching my sometimes mystery fabric choices with my patterns.  I have had a bit of a clear out, actually, more of a ‘clear and re-arrange’ of the sewing room.  Tricky as both Luna and Blake are spending more time in here with me while I work, which is great and sometimes a touch over crowded.

I have been given some cool vintage recipe books, and a recipe catalogue box, so I’m going to be whipping up some more nana style cakes and goodies.  Take a look at this little gem..  What I love about recipe books from this period is not only that they are full of amazing over the top illustrations of incredible meals, but they are often quite thrifty, so good tips on making your meals go further, substituting expensive ingredients like eggs, and sometimes dairy, so all good as far as I’m concerned.

This also means more High Teas, more cocktail parties, more bottling, and upping food production for our family from our ever increasing garden.  And more dresses.

Fabric a Brac came to Auckland yesterday, it was so much fun… I bumped into many sewing craftsy friends, some had tables, and some, like me were there to shop, it went like this, quick hug, “Sogladtoseeyou.Can’tstopandtalkmustkeeplooking.Coffeeafterwards” and this is what I brought home:

Three vintage patterns, $2 each, what a find!  And some really lovely cotton printed fabric, was at $25 for the 6.5m, but the lovely women gave it to me for $20, this will make at least two summer frocks, maybe even a sweet out fit for Luna !  I also picked up a couple of embroidery hoops, here’s a close up of the fabric:

Pretty huh, floral, but not TOO floral, if you know what I mean, understated I suppose.  I’ve been thinking of making a Dior floral inspired dress for some time, this will surely be enough fabric, while not pushing my ‘completely covered in flowers’ boundaries.

Exciting stuff, this is a big event for local craftsy folk like me, it’s a great day to get your gift shopping done, with some of the best in local talent all in one place selling their wares.

I’m pretty much all packed and ready to go, with just a couple more orders to fill, I have some goodies for you!  My Cupcake Pincushion Sewing Kits have been popular with buyers on Felt.co.nz, and my new Hanging Strawberry Sewing Kits have been a hit for people looking for an activity for a child or craftsy friend…  I’ll have plenty available on the day, all ready to go!

Cupcake Pincushion Sewing Kits…

A kit box for Hanging Strawberries…

See you there!!

Saturday 10th December 2011
11am to 3pm
Aotea Centre, THE EDGE
Auckland Central
Gold coin entry donation

Just have to share the best op shop find I’ve had in a while.  In the rough old hat basket with caps and beanies tossed in, I saw with amazement four beautiful vintage hats in apparently perfect condition!  When I took a closer look I found they were stuffed with sheet music – oh my god!  I know, what’s that all about?

Anyhow, I have a big head, and most often the loveliest old hats just don’t fit.  So, I was pretty happy that one fitted, this one, it’s navy blue with a ribbon of twisted or woven nylon around.

So I took them to the counter, and tried to pretend that I wasn’t that excited, and she sold them to me for $5 each, one is a pretty blue paisley style print that is a great little (though oversized) sun hat for Luna, a brown faux fur hat and another really lovely aqua cap style hat that I gave a friend.

She offered to take the paper out, but I thought they needed to be together, turns out they came from a theatre company, the sheet music seems to be all church songs.  How about that?

So… here’s a cool new market, and I’ll be there!  Wohoo, come along to i.craft.kingsland next Sunday and say hello, see what everyone has been up to, here are the deets:

Sunday 30 October  3-6pm, at Crave Cafe, 25 Mcdonald Street, Morningside.

Some of the stall holders are Heather and Jasmine Dodson or The Grizzly Peasants
Leanne Martell from Lather and Lotion.

I’ll have a selection of purses, and sewing kits and of course, those favourites, cupcake pin cushions and needle books.

This year you can find me and my Mermaid’s Purse a few other markets, I’m doing some school markets and a couple of other new ones to mix things up a bit, maybe get closer to where you are..  Take a look over at the sidebar on your right, see?

I’m really excited about going along to the Michael Park School Fair, and it’s only two weeks away!

I’m bring my beautiful new purses, and sewing kits, I’m making up some now, strawberry decorations, easy to sew in felt and felt carrots and – if I can swing some more late nights, maybe a couple more kits.  I like the idea of inspiring kids to get stictching, so these are perfect for a beginner and can be used to make your house all festive…

So here are the details:

Michael Park School Fair

Saturday 5th November, 2011
9.30am – 3.30pm
Michael Park School
55 Amy Street
Ellerslie

Here is a map:

See you there!

It’s hard to find groovy tartan purses…  until now!  Look what I’ve been busy making for you.  These are really fun, and would make a cool gift, keep planning for xmas, it’s not far off!  I make coin purses as well as sunglass purses, so quite tall they are perfect for your glasses or pencils and pens.

I have had this single small piece of fabric for ages and I finally have cut it up to make some cool purses.  I really love it, so soft and I love the space theme print (of course).

And the vintage rose print shows up again, remember you can find these up for grabs on Felt.co.nz…

These I love too, I already have one of my own in my handbag.

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 am really so excited!  That’s all I’m saying.  Besides the deets of course.

It’s from 10 am – 5 pm, Alexandra Park Raceway, corner Greenlane & Manukau Roads, Epsom.  Genuine vintage
* Fabrics
* Clothing
* Hats
* Linen
* Accessories
* Trims
* Buttons
* Lace
* Books
etc
General admission: $5.00, door sales only.

Wohoo.

If only I’d had a chance to whip up this blue number…