Handmade Expo 20th March

We're off to the Handmade Expo this weekend. Well, not me per se, but a little original will be stocked at the Mamatopia stall. My friend Cas will be womaning her stall which will feature handmade, upcycled clothing (made by yours truly), handmade slings, wraps and cloth nappies, as well as other mum and baby handmade products that are environmentally sustainable.

I've been super busy and only managed to make these two gorgeous vintage tops to add to my collection, but I have heaps of tunics for this cooler weather we've been having cut and ready to sew... if only I had more time! I'm mainly working on a boys range of tunics because they always seem to miss out on handmade clothes, but I have some very funky floral vintage fabrics that are screaming out to be made into girls tops, so I'll be working on those as well.

This cute vintage peasant top is a size 1.

This colourful vintage peasant top is a size 4.

Funky vintage flares

The vintage flares are done, and they are uber cool! One pair have already been rehomed, but I didn't manage to get a photo before they found their way to a friends darling daughter, but they were pretty funky. Check them out!

Size 5; recycled curtains:

Size 4; recycled tablecloth:

Size 3; recycled vintage sheeting:

Size 2; recycled vintage sheeting:

Size 2; recycled vintage sheeting:

I learned some lessons in the month or so it took me to get these done. I don't like production lines. I don't like making a bunch of the same things at once. I much prefer making items one at a time, creating as I go and enjoying it. I like the freedom of making several different things in one week, and making each one unique. I don't like custom orders! They're too stressful!

I love using reclaimed and recycled materials. I really love this. I have so much more joy out of creating something out of an old bed sheet, or tablecloth or curtain, than out of some gorgeous brand new designer cotton. I also feel more environmentally responsible when doing this, and this is important to me.

Funky flares *preview*

Has it really been almost a month since my last post? Really? Wow, times flies when life is busy. I made my daughter a pair of capri length flares and they are a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e. Well, they were meant to be capri length, on my teeny girl they're almost full length!

I'm pretty happy with them so I'm going to make some for sale, and what goes better with flares than recycled vintage fabrics? I'll be making sizes 1-8 and will only be doing one run of each print. I'm bummed I only have the 1 boyish print so I may make a couple of those.

Check this vintage collection out. Aren't they super funky?! I'll be making them this week so stayed posted!

SALE!

The etsy DUST (Down Under Street Team) are having a January sale. The theme is "Brand New" so I have reduced all items made from recycled fabric- because they've all been given a brand new lease on life!

My sale section is HERE!

I'm itching to start sewing again! I'm on a self imposed sewing ban until life returns to normal ie my husband goes back to work. Until then though, I'll just keep coming up with ideas :)

Funky flowers

Funky flower brooches. I whipped these up for the market last night. They're so sweet!

This was hand dyed and hand spun by my creative friend from Fauve Fibres. It was the remainder of a skein I used to make a soaker with.

I hand dyed these last 2. They're also remainder skeins from other projects. I love the red one, it's so bright and beautiful :)

What's in store in the new year

What items have I got planned for the new year? Well more cotton rompers for starters, the beach romper I made had overwhelming positive feedback, so I'm definitely making some for the shop. Ruffle pants, a range of skirts and dresses, more simple style peasant tops and halter neck tops in stunning fabrics, and I'm hoping to have some time over these holidays to finalise the collarless, buttonless shirt I've been working on.

I find the greatest range of so-cool-I-want-my-kid-to-wear-that fabrics are usually woven cottons so I'm hoping to finish this shirt pattern and be able to maximise on the range of beautiful cottons available. Pattern design has been much harder than I thought it would be!

I'm also thinking about boy stuff. Boys get so forgotten in the world of cool and funky fashion. So I'm thinking about tops mostly, and not trucks, trains, cars either. Playful, fun, boys clothing with an emphasis on nature or just plain, bright and loud clothes that boys seem to miss out on!

I'm hoping to make more vintage inspired items next year too. Pinafores, sunsuits, tunics, overalls, all the things I love from times when childhood was about being a child, not about being a mini adult. These will be largely from my Enid Gilchrist collection and I'm really looking forward to going through the process of drafting the designs and making them up.

Speaking of vintage, check out this (small) spread of some of the reclaimed vintage fabric I've got stored.

So what am I thinking of using them for you say? Vintage patchwork! I'm planning on making patchwork flared pants and tiered skirts solely out of the reclaimed vintage materials I have and find. I made my daughter a tiered patchwork skirt for her first birthday (see below) and I love it so much I want to make many more, but not out of scraps, just out of vintage fabric. I'll probably make these in larger sizes (4,5,6) because a) bigger sizes would suit the larger, bolder vintage prints better and b) I've been asked when I'm going to start making larger sizes!

Ok, so now that I've touched base and caught up ith everything, I better get back to Christmas crafting.

New fabric

I've had some stunning fabrics find their way into my cupboard over the last few weeks. Check out this awesome rainbow stripe! I've got 4m of this, so loads to play with. Well, just under 4m. I couldn't resist making my daughter a pair of shorts out of this on the day I bought it. Still... plenty for others :)

Brown paisley. I looooove paisley.

Spots and stripes.

Some of the Emily Bloom collection. These are awesome. They're such beautiful and vibrant colours and they co-ordinate so well. I think these are destined to be ruffle pants/capri's.

Michael Miller fabrics. I love these quality designer cottons. They're such lovely and lively prints. I bought extra of the Birds of Norway print. I heart it.