New Dylon Dyes

I received a lovely surprise in the mail the other day, the 7 new Dylon Dye colours were sent to me to trial. Needless to say I’m very excited and busy trying to clear some time to play. In the meantime I will share the new colours with you.

 This will be a popular addition for all the pink fans out there. The original pink is a lolly pink, this one should prove to be a little softer.

I can smell the lavender from here.

Two very different reds.

Can’t wait to see how this colour dyes.

This is currently my favourite and will be the first one I try.

And this one will be the last one I try. Not a fan of beige at the best of times. So for the purposes of the trial I will call it light brown.
I’ll post updates as I go just like I did with the original colours.

Lessons I’ve Learnt 19–Advertising vs Promotion

My thoughts on this subject form part of the Guest Lecture “ Crafting a Small Business” I deliver to Business Students at Qld University.  It has been abbreviated. As with all the posts in this category my thoughts are based on Lessons I’ve Learnt and what is right for our business.

Paying for advertising can be costly for small businesses. It is a cost that quickly adds up. Before you place an advert ask yourself “Who am I trying to impress?” Are you trying to create some hype or increase sales?  Are you advertising to retail customers or business to business? There is nothing wrong with trying to create a bit of a buzz  but just be clear about your purpose.

Another point to remember about advertising is that it is usually associated to a product or a limited range of products. Rarely do you see advertisements promoting a brand. Kellogg has a different advert for each of their breakfast cereals. They don’t advertise the brand.

One more point on advertising. It is always profitable. Always for the person selling the space, not always for you.

Promotion is a less expensive option. There  is still a cost though it tends to  involve less real $$$$. It will involve a lot of time and in small business time = $$$$

In the customer’s eye Promotion is not selling therefore message is more honest/real. I have found that targeted promotion is more effective in the long term. It is linked to your brand, name and what you stand for.

When I published my book I wrote Press Release and sent it off to a local paper. They printed a photo on the front page with the story and another photo on page three. This story and different photos was published in six of their sister publications. I sold a heap of books off the back of this one Press Release or Promotional activity. Imagine how much it would have cost me to have bought the same space.

This is the main Lesson I’ve Learnt about Advertising and Promotion.  Did we get a return for our investment? If it costs us money, or if all we do is break even then it hasn’t worked for us. After all I could leave the money in the bank and get interest.

Garage Sale Find

I was so excited when I saw this at a Garage Sale last Friday. Mine for only $2.

Yes, it’s a knitting machine,

and it makes these.

They are double thickness no less. I can feel your excitement from here. But wait until you see what you can make.

Be still my beating heart, a halter top. Might need a few more puffs than recommended.

But these flowers will be my first project. They are so kitsch I have to have some. I can’t believe somebody threw this out. It will be a museum piece one of these days. You mark my words.

The Crafter’s Way 193–Australian Style Quilts

 

AliPink recently posted a photograph on Facebook of a throw she had made in the tradition of a ‘wagga quilt’. Having never heard the term before I immediately googled it and was fascinated to learn about an Australian quilting tradition that dates back to the late 1800’s. If you, like me, believed our quilting traditions could all be traced back to European, American or Asian backgrounds then you may be surprised to learn that not only does Australia have its own quilting history it is one that was practiced by men.

Wagga quilts were made by men working on the land. The men opened up readily available jute wheat bags and wool bags. Using twine and a packing needle they would stitch them together to create a blanket. As areas wore thin the men would sew another bag over the top in a similar manner to the Japanese tradition of sashiko.

By the time the First World War started the making of the wagga had shifted from the men to the women. In the spirit of making do when resources were scarce women began re-do the wagga. The women found the jute bags rough so they washed calico bags until they were soft. Then reusing woolen suiting, jumpers, socks and clothing they would quilt the layers together, more often than not by hand. Placement of fabric was not dictated by aesthetics but by practicality. If a piece of fabric fitted the area then that was where it was stitched.

While the term wagga is easily attributed to the town of Wagga Wagga this type of rug was found across the entire country. They were also known as a Sydney blanket, bush rug and a bluey. My own mother still has old grey army blankets that her family was given during the Second World War. These blankets were always called blueys when I was a kid. Needless to say I was confused about that at the time. Mum recalls that some of the blankets they were given ‘had seen better days’ so my Nana stitched on clothes that her girls had outgrown. Poppy always referred to them as blueys so all the old grey army blankets were called that.

Today there are few surviving waggas from those early days. The National Wool Museum in Geelong has some as does the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. The stories accompany these waggas are as interesting as the quilts alone. Like Ali you can make your own wagga by repurposing discarded jumpers. Revive an Australian quilting tradition today.

As If I Haven’t Got Enough to Do

I’ve added a few more items of interest to my craft list.

Wooden Buttons from Michelle Made Me

From ModgePodgeRocks these super effective Doily Wall Art pieces.

And finally from Just Something I Made handmade custom paper tape.

Something to do in my spare time. lol

More Nature Photos from the Park

Every year a couple of snakes hibernate in Alan’s shed. This year they have been missing. We wondered if they had been swept away in the floods. This week Alan was happy to see ‘Monty’ had returned.

And with a twinkle in his eye.

You rarely see the feral cats out and about during daylight hours.

Alan said it wasn’t too happy about being disturbed. He was more worried about the cat than the snake.

We know why the turkey crossed the road.

What you looking at?

A Rainbow Lorikeet high in the trees, probably hiding from the cat.

Alan’s Wildlife Photos

Alan has been having fun with his garage sale camera.

We stopped and took these on our way to the shop this morning.

They don’t seem to be too disturbed by the trucks.

More and more of the bush is being developed.

I don’t think it will be too long before sights likes these in our residential areas will be a thing of the past.

The Crafter’s Way 192–Craft Books

By now regular readers will know I love a good craft book. A recent visit to the Redcliffe Library saw me coming home with the following selection.

Celebrate with Cards by Lynne Garner – 745.5951GAR I’m not going to mention the ‘C” word but if you want to get a head start on a crafty end of year celebration this book is worth a look. Not only does it have ‘C’ cards but other projects include bookmarks, sympathy cards, in fact cards for every occasion. Instructions are accompanied by full colour, large images with templates at the back. Get the kids involved for a fun couple of hours.

Meet Me At Mikes by Pip Lincolne – 746LINC I was a bit excited when I found this on the shelves because it is (a) quite popular and (b) it is suitable for beginners. The book features simple yet effective projects to inspire a complete novice to have a go. The techniques are well illustrated and are accompanied by clear instructions. Any project that requires a pattern has on tucked just inside the front cover AND they are full sized patterns. None of this running off and getting them enlarged. If you have a teenager looking to create, borrow this book and leave it somewhere for them to stumble upon. They won’t be able to resist.

Absolute Beginners Decoupage by Alison Jenkins – 745.546JEN I borrowed this book not so much to review here but to refresh by own knowledge and skills of Decoupage. A household project I created when we first bought our house could do with a refresh. I wasn’t disappointed. Not only did the book cover the basics well it also moved the Crafter into more advanced techniques. This book will give you every excuse to save pretty wrapping paper, sheet music, and old images. There is even one project that will encourage you to eat a whole box of chocolates. Seriously. Since this book was published there has been an explosion in the variety of glues, sealants, etc. The techniques are still applicable however there may now be other material options to choose from. If in doubt visit a good scrapbook/paper shop. They are sure to point you in the right direction.

Mosaic Picture Quilts by Pat Durbin – 746.4604DUR I have always been fascinated by mosaic quilts. In all honesty, working out how they are created makes my brain fry. This book dispels the mystery in a way that encourages you to create your own. The Author spends very little time on quilting techniques, assuming that the reader already possesses these skills. This is perfectly sensible assumption as a mosaic quilts are not for the quilting novice. What the Author does focus on is explaining how to break down an image, transfer to fabric and re-construct. I’m not going to give away the Author’s secret to creating painterly mosaic quilts. Borrow the book you won’t be disappointed.

Kids Kumihimo

August is Craft Month in Brisbane City Council Libraries. A friend of a friend asked me to conduct a Kumihimo Class at the library she worked at. She organised for me to have their large display case for the entire month as well.

The display case certainly generated some interest, the class was fully booked out. We even convinced some young teenagers who were at the library to study to have a go before they hit the books. Ok, that wasn’t hard.

This little girl was, at 5 years, one of the youngest in the group. I talked her through 2 sequences of moves and she was off on her own. After about 20 mins she took her disc off to the children’s play area and continued to braid.

Most of the children were older and managed to make 2 different structures before our time  was up. Hopefully we now have a couple more kumi enthusiasts in our midst.

Fabric Bows

Like most Crafter’s I find myself drowning in a sea of fabric leftovers. I started making some fabric bows from scraps of my Eco Dyed Fabric.

Then moved onto bows from commercial fabric scraps. These bows have been made using a hybrid of methods, lots of pressing before finishing with a little hand sewing.

I popped 2 Eco Dyed bows onto the second bag I made yesterday.  They add a nice touch. The rest of the bows will have brooch backs attached before being put on stock.

Bags of Fun

I spent Saturday morning at the sewing machine finishing off some Kumihimo headbands. Halfway through my machine decided to ‘go slow’. I was tempted to give up but and swapped over to my niece’s machine and continued on.

We’d been commissioned to make some in Aboriginal colours and they were being picked up on Sunday so I persevered on an unfamiliar machine. My niece’s machine is much newer than mine and is so very quiet.

It doesn’t rattle nor does it sound like a V8 engine.

On the upside it has a lot more decorative stitches available than mine.

I then made  two new bags. This one is a reversible sling bag from Crap I’ve Made. The inside fabric is sourced from an upholstery book I bought at a Garage Sale the outside fabric also came from a Garage Sale.

Fingers crossed that my machine is not terminally ill but in the meantime I think I will go and play a bit more on the loaner.

The Crafter’s Way 191–Craft Exhibitions

There is no shortage of workshops and exhibitions to attend across the region this month. Don’t miss out on these opportunities to learn and be involved with our artistic community.

Lesa Hepburn is hosting more of her popular Wasted Workshops. On Sunday August 28 between 9 -12 Lesa will show you how to how to upcycle your own paper waste and design your own paper for  a special occasion! Not only can you attend the workshop you can enjoy all the fun of The Village Life Market at Northey St, Windsor. 25% of the proceeds will go to Northey St City Farm. Bookings: info@redhotfibre.com.au.

At the Redcliffe City Art Gallery until 10 September 2011you will be able to immerse yourself in Nostalgia - Traditional Chinese Textiles. Chinese textiles distinguish itself visually through exquisite craftsmanship and decorative pattern changes. Nostalgia exhibits textiles used in the realm of fashion and accessories. The exhibit provides both an elegant and clear beauty that is pleasing to the eyes while maintaining characteristics of ancient customs.

To say I live for the annual exhibition by the Henzell Street Quilters might be a little bit of an exaggeration but it’s one that is always in my calendar. The exhibition displays works my some of the region’s most talented quilters. This is not a passive exhibition where you walk around oohing and ahhing, thought this is still allowed. Visitors are encouraged to participate in voting or the viewers’ choice. Do not despair if you don’t pick the winner you can always buy a raffle ticket and win a quilt that way. The exhibition is held from the 17 August 2011 until the 27 August 2011 at the Redcliffe City Art Gallery - 470-476 Oxley Avenue, Redcliffe .

Are you a local Craft Artist? Here is an exciting opportunity being offered by the Moreton Bay Regional Council. You are invited to apply for a creative studio residency at the new Caboolture Hub, opening in December 2011. The council is looking for artists in the areas of but not exclusive to: Design, Fashion, Digital Media, Production, Graphic Design and many more artforms. For more information, guidelines and application forms contact council on (07) 3283 0433 during office hours.

The Council is also holding information sessions across the region on how to apply for Regional Arts Development Funding. There is no need to be daunted by the paperwork, Council staff are happy to assist you. The current RADF round closes Monday 12 September, for projects commencing after December 2011.

The Crafter’s Way 190– Cross Stitch

Cross Stitch is often the first kind of embroidery that many people learn. It is simple to learn. There is a vast choice in patterns and charts for people to choose, from children’s designs to large, time consuming ones for the passionate stitcher. Cross Stitch is popular across many cultures. It can be found in Celtic designs, Maori costumes, and middle European Folk Work.
Cross Stitch is usually completed on an evenweave fabric which allows the stitches to be kept even and straight. The most readily available and popular is Aida cloth. Aida is an open weave fabric which is quite stiff. It comes if different gauges; 11count, 14 count etc. the gauge indicates the squares per linear inch. e.g 14count has 14 squares per linear inch. Most charts indicate to gauge of Aida to be used. As your confidence increases and if your eyesight allows you can do cross stitch on linen.
To do a full cross stitch correctly: Bring your needle up at (A) then reinsert at (B), up at (C) and down at (D), up at (E) and down at (F). Continue until you have finished the row of colour.
To complete the cross: bring the needle up at (J) and reinsert at (K), up at (L) and down at (M).

If you are choosing to use a variegated or space dyed thread you complete each stitch completely before moving onto the next stitch.
Some cross stitch charts require you to use half cross stitch, quarter and three quarter stitches. Use of these variations can assist with shading and detail. They can be a little daunting to begin with but with a little perseverance they can be a simple as a full cross stitch.
If you have never tried cross stitch before start on a small project. Many first time cross stitchers make the mistake of starting a large project and end up not completing it. The feeling of finishing your first project should not be delayed. As your experience and patience grows then you can confidently create a large masterpiece. Everything you need to do Cross Stitch is readily available, what are you waiting for?

What Do You See In Clouds?

Cross Stitch Bear

This is a quick post. I posted here my plans to use ModPodge to attach a Cross Stitch to canvas.

I painted the canvas first, then added the the pink linen. Once that was dry I added the Cross Stitch. I was happy with the result though next time I will not add the ModPodge to the fringed edge. I think I would like that to be a little softer.

All in all it is another option for finishing off a small to medium Cross Stitch if you don't want to go to the expense of framing.

Dyeing Brushed Cotton

Last week I was gifted a complete roll of brushed cotton. The lady who gave it to me is hoping I can give her some ideas on using it, she has another four rolls at home.

Where to start? Hmmmm? I decided that I would add some colour.

I washed and prepared 2  x 3 metre lengths. One I scrunched, the other I twisted.

I then poured Dylon's Dark Green Dye over both pieces.

When used according to the direction this is the depth of colour you get.

This is the result you get when you delibrately choose to use the product against instruction. This will be a good background to add some more surface design. I'll post progress pictures as I go.

More Fabric Brooches

A couple of weeks ago I posted about using these.

After painting I set about adding some embellishments.

I found some fabric leftovers.

I made them into Suffolk Puffs then cut out the backs.




Next step was to sew on the Singelton Buttons before adding the brooch backs.These were fun to make.