the new studio space

While I was in Adelaide blankets werent the only thing I bought. I allowed myself the naughty indulgence of this vintage print. I have wished to have it for a long time and waited patiently to see her at a low price.

The Seamstress by Vermeer in case youre not familiar with the image.

The frame needs to be worked on as its shoddy but I care not as the beautiful painterly detail is all there to marvel upon. I found myself walking over to stare at her during the day as I worked through my jumbled mass of bits and pieces. Nearly there. Just need to get the Mr to help me with the folded fabrics so they dont unravel on the way up the ladder.

I tipped all of the ribbons and trims out and started over from scratch trying to colour coordinate as I went to make the search for the right shade of whatever im working on quick. Ive wasted precious minutes standing in front of this rack lately.

And that hoard of pompoms from the market had to go on the floor.

Everytime I move things around I wish I could be bothered painting the tables to match but I dont have it in me.

The second phone has been floating around the house and now has a permanent home, which is practical for the amount of phonecalls I receive anytime I settle down to sew. MrTL has his worries about me falling down the stairs while he isnt around too, and I most likely would rush that bit faster to a phone ringing out. 

Here I keep handmade bias binding for everyday use and cut offs from doilies closeby to be made into pockets or slippers or necklaces or placed strategically on the hoodwinks.

I will not be sewing tonight as I thought. Im taking the night off.

creative space

Today will be the first whole day ive had home and been in the correct frame of mind to tackle the new loft space that will become my studio.

Rustico has been walked in the fresh morning air before things heated up and ive even had some friendly banana bread wielding visitors that vacuumed and spruced up the house. As they wanted to stay but could tell from my body language that I was itching to achieve the big stuff. Plus the whole of downstairs is pretty much piled up especially all around the stairs, waiting, so they didnt have to be too genius to work out my next stage. 

The old shelves from way back have come out of retirement and, because they come apart, were easy to erect so fit nicely against the high wall. The loft access is a simple ladder, you see.

Im on a self imposed time schedule and hope to be back into full production this evening as ive decided to do the Carribean Gardens market tomorrow for something different. I didnt realise it was open on a friday morning as well as wednesdays and sundays.

Check out the other spaces here. 

the love of wool

Im just a little bit in love with wool.

 Always have been, always will be.

 The colour saturation it holds once dyed is nothing short of sublime to my eyes, but even bright colours always seem to remain soft somehow. The pure texture of the weave and the cross threading where different shades make another brings a certain fascination of forethought. 

But can someone please explain why I have fifty blankets in the stash?

I know supplies were low last year just as I was getting into production and things slowed down to real slow when I thought that I was going to run out completely, but fifty is a bit many.

Its hard to find where store them too. They are taking over the house. This stack above is on the chair in the dining room without a home to go to.

I guess its lucky I love wool so much.

How about you? Is your fabric stash taking over your house?

intermission

Ive had my short intermission interstate and today will be about trying to land here at Textured Leaf.

The dread of what we had to face will soon be a distant memory as we find my brother a new house close to family. All in all things went smoothly enough, despite the exhaustive heat, now that we are out the other side and looking back.

Throughout the last week there were many opportunities to have a laugh at the stuff he just simply doesnt throw away.

 I thought it would be down to mum and I to battle through the mounds and mounds (while he was asleep mostly) but that wasnt so. We had huge help from my niece, Christie, for the whole first day and even into the night. That bumped our time frame so far forward that we were able to opshop for an entire day. It is because of her input that it will make it easy to look back on this time as, dare I say, fun? Thankyou from the depths of my heart, Christie.
You rock!

Mum and I had a chance to stay with her close friend and we were well looked after.

Two doors down still stands the original family home my uncle and aunt used to own.

If I knew there would be enough room in the van on the return trip I would have bought this although im still unsure of why it appeals to me so much.

I think it reminds me of something but cant put my finger on what.

This is a very hot, bothered, sweaty and tired but happy me, having found this haul of blankets in the one opshop, can you believe it.

Well that was my week rounded up but right now its all about washing and folding and lots of normal which suits me perfectly and a pot of chai on the stove would be even perfecter.



away

These are a couple of eskimos I managed yesterday before I head off interstate with mum for a few days to help my brother move house.

So needless to say, I wont be online for a few days.

The reality is that my brother is a hoarder. I have struggled all week with thoughts on how to approach someone who doesnt throw anything away. I feel as if the weight of the world is on my shoulders and people are relying on me, especially mum, who is a spritely 76, but that doesnt make her any younger. We know we have a battle on our hands.

The Mr is driving over to get us on the weekend and hopefully by then we will have everything in order and just be whittled down to a van full of items. At this point im hopeful that we can achieve the impossible in a few short days. The skip has been ordered for when we arrive so as soon as were off the plane it will be all systems go.

Like I said, im being hopeful.

shop update - eskimos

eskimo production

So far this is where im at with the eskimos for market this weekend. All of which are not quite finished.  This is where I start to struggle. Do I, at this point, try to finish them one by one or do I stupidly attempt to make as many as I can while im within range of the sewing machine? Its usually the latter.

So tomorrow you can see me handsewing the buttons on down at Boneo market from 8 til 12 noon. Its a large market of between 150 and 200 stalls and ive heard good things about it.

Lately ive been making lots of pockets using old napkins and hankerchiefs in this style. They are quick to do.

In other news today I received a nice bundle of crocheted doileys from the other side of Port Phillip bay which was wonderful. Thanks Jo! They will be put to good use around here thats for sure.

fun, finds and family

 A spot of opshopping for more blankets led to a coffee stop with the youngins who happened to be closeby, cuddles with Violet, then we finished up by loading the van with some 1940's dining chairs for their new cottage. The Mr is doing what should be the last load of things to their place and thats why im quickly penning this in haste while he is gone. While the cats away...

The Mr is taking a crash course in pattern making and cutting in order for me to boost eskimo jacket production.

Its his day off and even though we got started late we are fully into it now.

If he can figure out how to do eskioms he will be good to cut out anything after these. They are a bit tricky for a beginner.

Since he is so keen ive just worked on a new design for babies

which ill show you later once the sample is to my liking.

Catch you!

slow day

I spent the day slowly. Slowing down does not come naturally to me.

I took the time to set things right with the shops. Fine tuning.

I think new banners will be in order soon but I dont know where im headed with that yet and deciding on a new font takes me way too long as they never have just the right one. I may pen my own, in fact, once I work out how.

Its been a long time since ive been over to Picasa to make a mosaic as well, so I may sneak in time to make one before picking the Mr up at the train in an hour. I enjoyed seeing the range with all the sewingy details in this way once upon a time. Nice to look back on. Sometimes I have the thought that what im offering looks quite disjointed, especially with summer and winter ranges mixed together so a mosaic defines the style and season and gives me visual boundaries, which I need, believe me.

Otherwise I get caught up in the 'make' without any pre thought to how it will look either as an etsy page or at market. The foibles of using vintage cloth im afraid. Its not like I can choose what ill find, now is it?

The Mr has just now sent me a message saying he was lucky enough to grab a cab with another colleague so im off the driving-to-pick-him-up hook.

Picasa here I come!  

textured leaf shop update

Ive finally photographed the cushions and they will be in the shop by days end. Oops, should have spent more time straightening up that bent corner, oh well... moving along....