Saturday 24 April 2010

The Crafter's Way 132 - Singelton Buttons

Here is this week's  Messenger column, Singleton Buttons.I’ve been promising this tutorial for a while now. Hope you find it useful.
You will need: Plastic Ring (if you can’t find them you can use the plastic circles from around your soft drink caps), fabric, small piece of felt, needle and thread, bamboo skewer.
Step 1: Trace a circle at least 2 times larger than the diameter of your plastic circle. This is your cutting line. Draw another circle half way between the plastic ring and the cutting line. This is your stitching line.
Step 2: In a coordinating thread stitch a running stitch along dotted line.
Step 3: Gather the thread up around the ring.
Step 4: Open out the centre hole.
Step 5: Push the excess fabric under the ring. This will pad out the button. I find the clip on a pen lid works best.
Step 6: Take the thread across the back of the button a couple of times. You are securing the fabric. Check that there aren’t any unsightly bulges or creases on the front of button.
Step 7: Sew a decorative stitch onto the front of the button. I added some French knots to the running stitch.
Step 8: Cut a piece of felt slightly smaller than the button. Whip stitch it to the button.
Step 9: To make shank: Place the bamboo skewer onto the back of the button. Centre it. Stitch over the skewer a couple of time. Remove the skewer. Cover the loops with Buttonhole stitch to make stronger.


You can now quickly and inexpensively make your own buttons to coordinate with any project.

Thursday 22 April 2010

Wet Class

Yesterday I was scheduled to run a Kumihimo Class in the Park for the Brisbane City Council. Anyone who was in Brissie yesterday will know how wet it was. I rang the council to check if they wanted to cancel. Their response was they would 'prefer' if I still went unless of course it was dangerous. Well there is absolutley nothing dangerous about Kumihimo in any type of weather so off I went.

When I arrived the homeless people had taken over the covered picnic shelter that was booked for the class. I couldn't see any sense in shifting them out until somebody arrived to take the class. This was the rain on my camera looking out onto the river. Nobody showed up for the class so the homeless people got to stay dry.

While I was sitting there in the car, minding my own business the car immobilser decided to have a hissy fit and put itself into lock mode. For love nor money I couldn't get it it to turn off. I expected my call to the RACQ would take ages but I swear the patrolman was there within 10 mins. He couldn't fix the problem but did manage to temporarily bypass the system to get me started. Three Cheers for the RACQ!


It must have been raining  heavily even the birds were staying out of the weather. I guess I was the only bird brain out in the wet.

Wednesday 21 April 2010

A Tidy Break

Who considers tidying up a break? I do. I guess it all depends on what you are taking a break from. After months of writing my book all that is left to do is the referencing. I hated doing this at school. I was always rushing to get assignments finished on time. Just when I thought I could go to bed I would have to start collating all the resources, correctly giving credit for quotes etc. I seriously doubted whether any teacher ever looked at them. I decided I needed some time off before tackling it.


The studio has really taken a battering while writing. Nothing has been put away, mostly because every surface, including the floor, was covered in notes, reference material and rewrites. It actually looked much worse than this image shows. There were piles of paper out of sight.

I sorted through everything. All the notes have been 'neatly' collated. The half started projects have been tidied and deadline dates attached to them. All my projects needing the sewing machine have been moved downstairs to the seing area. This area still looks like tip but you can't rush these things. At least now I have decluttered Iwill be able to hear myself think while I do the tedious but necessary referencing. Wish me luck!

Sunday 18 April 2010

Shock! I'm Making a Quilt

A month or so ago I realised that I no longer had anything in the shop made from our Eco Dyed Fabric. It had all sold. I pondered this for a while. I didn't feel like making yet another bag. I decided that I would make a quilted wallhanging. Decision made I then needed to come up with a design.


I'm using a 1 metre piece of Opal Lights and appliqueing flowers directly onto the whole cloth. It's been years since I've used fusible applique. I actually had to stop and read the directions.

The flower shapes are being appliqued into a loose heart shape.


Being an embroiderer I'm going to use my hand dyed threads to embellish the heart and flowers.  I'm going to do it as a shop project. This way people can see how to use the fabric while I'm still working on it. Could be a long time before its actually finished.

Saturday 17 April 2010

New Stockist

Nature Play at Samford is our newest stockist.

Nature Play Australia retails toys, art supplies and craft kits made from natural materials for boys and girls. Their focus is on constructive, safe and creative playthings, educational and discovery toys inspired by Steiner Waldorf education.


Nature Play Australia was founded by Irene Coventry and Lindsey Gallon in 2002, after Irene observed the success of Nature Play in New Zealand. Nature Play's passion for educating people about the importance of natural toys in child's play and offering beautiful toys and products continues today.

Although they stock products from 'Fair Trade Co-ops' and other sources internationally, wherever possible the products sold by Nature Play are primarily handmade and locally sourced. It is very important to them to support local craft artisans and offer predominantly Australian made products. The business is based in Brisbane, Australia.



Shop securely for locally made, Australian, eco friendly wooden toys, or dolls, dolls houses, farm toy, nature craft, wooden cars, trucks, and playstands. If visiting Brisbane why not call into their new store at Shop 3/ 48 Main St, Samford,4520. Nature Play is open Wed - Fri 9.30 -3.30pm and Sat 9.00 - 1.00 pm.

Friday 16 April 2010

Trademark

One of our busines goals has been achieved.


Our Logo is finally Trademarked.




The whole process was, while longwinded, quite easy. IPAustralia really does have a great online system AND they keep you well informed throughout the process.  Tick another box!

Thursday 15 April 2010

GOLD Program - Kumihimo

Earlier in the week I ventured to the Brisbane Botanical Gardens to run a Kumihimo Class for the Brisbane City Council. The Botanical Gardens were the ones at Mt Cootha not the City Gardens. This was a Class for the GOLD program which is run for the over 50's.



The Class was scheduled to be held at the lookout. The weather was little overcast when I left home but the rain held off.  This is the view from the lookout, toward the city. I discovered that during the week it is possible to drive around the gardens. This is a bonus for older people as it is quite hilly.


It really is a lovely spot. Well sheltered. The shelter was needed as the rain closed in . By the time we finished we couldn't even see the City. The rain didn't dampen anyone's enthusiasm for Kumihimo.

Sunday 11 April 2010

BrisStyle Events

Here are all the  2010 dates for the fabulous BrisStyle Markets.  The Twilight Market is first.

Our very first ever Mother & Child Market is next.

The ever populas Indie Designers' Markets.

Can't wait for the Eco markets. All the dates are listed in the Brisstyle Events page on this blog.

Saturday 10 April 2010

I'm Back

Where have I been? At home with Chicken Pox. YUK!

Just before I got them I had Eco Dyed a huge batch of threads. So since I've been back we got busy with packaging and a slightly different display.
The second colour from the front is a new one. It's purple and gold.

Front to back: Rayon, Stranded Cotton, Fine Silk and Silk.

Rayon.

Stranded Silk

Fine Silk
Silk.


Lots more colours to add yet.

Sunday 4 April 2010

The Crafter's Way 131 - Gearing Up with Denim

Here is this week's Messenger column  - Gearing Up with Denim



Keeping up with our green theme I thought would we visit with a Craft Artist who upcycles. Tracey Hopper from Denim Days uses recycled denim fabric in ways you never thought of.


Q: When did you start crafting?
A: My love of crafting is Mums doing; it has always been a part of our life. When I was a kid in the 70’s, Mum was one of the ‘craft ladies’ at school, teaching us all the good stuff- macrame, needle point, knitting, crochet etc.






Q: What made you use denim?
A: I love to wear denim, it is so easy and comfortable, and it looks great! Denim is such a great medium, it has so many different colours and textures….and using recycled denim we have pockets, zips, belt loops, hems –so much to inspire and work with!


Q: Where do you source your fabric from?
A: We all love to op shop, where you will always find an old pair of jeans, also with a large family and friends we are constantly handed a bag full of jeans- I love that we are encouraging people to recycle


Q: When did you decide that you could sell your creations?
A: There is definitely a transition as a crafter from just being proud you made it to making a practical product that other people will buy…I think the more people that see our products and give us feedback the better our products become.






Q: How do you sell?
 A: There is a great new site called Gearing Up, run by the lovely local ladies Jenny Gearing and Caitlin O’Keefe. The site is full of lovely handmade goodies mainly from the Brisbane area. I love a new venture, fresh and full of endless possibilities. I find the computer work etc of online sites are a constant struggle and I never can estimate the postage correctly, at Gearing Up, the ladies take care of all of that so I can concentrate on being creative.






Q: What advice would you give somebody who was thinking about starting a craft and or selling their craft?
A: Don’t spent too much time planning, get your product out there for some honest feedback to help you improve, Tough test everything, and use recycled materials where you can, it adds so much more life, interest and feeling to a product and also helps our planet.


To see more of Tracey’s wonderful upcycled denim creations visit http://www.gearingup.com.au/