Button Bonanza!

Last week's school holiday workshop was quite the success! We had twenty three participants and the lone male ended up being the star of the afternoon. Personally, I would have liked there to have been a bit more structure to the class, with a few quick demonstrations to get them started, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. My group was apparently a bit too over-simulated after we'd packed up and were asked to wait outside for their parents - what did the organisers expect after feeding them biscuits and soft drink for afternoon tea?

 

 

This weekend The Victorian Button Collectors Club held their annual 'Buttonfest' event and what an event it was! This year's theme was buttons from three related eras, each with distinctive styles - Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau and Art Deco. I purely with the intention of shopping for buttons, I had no idea there would be Art Deco loveliness on display!

 

Be prepared to 'Ooooh' & 'Aahhh' over these beauties, some of them were even for sale!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can imagine, I came home with quite a haul so stayed tuned for another pic heavy post tomorrow when I share my bounty.

 

- Tamara

Idle Hands

Today was the beginning of two weeks of holidays for school children across Victoria and with next to no activities available locally, the majority of kids here are sorely in need to something to do. I can't tell you how excited I was when I saw an advertisement in the Community Newsletter for a workshop to teach young women to re-fashion clothes. I too have a whole lot of free time on my hands, I contacted the organiser and offered to volunteer.

 

The workshop is being led by a crafter from Geelong - I couldn't really find out much about her so I'm not sure what to expect - and is aimed at the 10 years plus age group. The local Community Bank has generously donated some money toward the class, but from my understanding, it is largely self-funded.

 

June and I re-fashioned some Op Shop clothing for a small display in the local Library, in the hope of generating a bit of interest, and I'm pleased to say, we've managed to get nearly 20 participants! We even have one boy! With so many people interested, we have the potential to offer more workshops and possibly even gain some government funding. But that's a long way down the track, we've got to get through tomorrow first.

 

I didn't manage to get any pics of the Library display, but I made sure to photograph my two contributions - a neck warmer and matching beret and an embroidered cardigan, both made from Op Shop jumpers. They are simple for beginners and (hopefully) funky enough to appeal to young teens. What do you think?

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, I just unpicked the collar from the existing jumper for the neck-warmer - it's the reason I chose it in the first place - and the beret is cut from the front and back. I used an early 1960s hats pattern which consists of two pieces - one circle and one half circle - and a simple casing threaded with elastic gathers it in to fit your head. Too easy!

 

Next, take one large, powder blue Target jumper...

 

 

Follow Grosgrain's wonderfully easy tutorial from her 'Embellish Knit Month' back in October 2006 - I might be a bit late to the party, but it has really given me some great ideas for more projects.

 

Then, add a wee touch of embroidery to the front to create interest...

 

 

 

 

 

And you've now got yourself a cute, vintage style cardigan!

I think I might have to keep this one.

 

 

I'm needed for the workshop from midday 'til five tomorrow (now today) so I best get to bed. Wish me luck! I'll let you know how it goes.

 

-Tamara

 

Bombs Away!!

I am so excited!! Yarn bombing has finally found its way to Australia!

I had seen it about the Blogosphere a good 12 months ago but had never witnessed it in the wool. That was until a couple of weeks ago...

I spied these two colourful pieces buttoned to a pole in Williams St in Melbourne's CBD. 

These amazing pair of bicycle racks were found in a small side street just off Smith St, Fitzroy. I wish I could have gotten a better photo, there's a lot of work in these guys.

It looks as though the Yarn Bombers have been busy in Bendigo too. They've caused quite a stir; the local paper has featured several stories detailing their activities and it's even bring visitors to the city to see the 'tree-cozies'.

Photo: Facebook

Aren't they wonderful?!

It's such a great way to brighten the dull winter days.

- Tamara



Habadashery Heaven

I'm taking a break from my sewing projects at the moment, things aren't going to plan so it's best I step away for a few days before I make more of a mess. That said, today's post is still sewing related...

Welcome to Fashion Central!

Spread across the ground floor of the Midlands Hotel in Castlemaine are a collection of boutique stores which make up Fashion Central and one of these stores is Habadash...

Habadash has been sourcing rare and collectible notions since 2007 and while you can shop online, the store really has to be seen to be believed. It's a vintage sewer's heaven! So many buttons, trims and buckles hidden in drawers and cabinets; you could quite easily while away an afternoon but it would be well worth it.

Drawers of carded vintage buttons

Buttons, buckles & vintage thread



Art Deco beaded appliques & lucite belt buckles

More buttons...

And more beaded beauties.

Make sure you head on over to the Habadash website for more of their drool-worthy goodies.

- Tamara

Thoughts of embroidery

Over the last few months I've been thinking of trying my hand at embroidery. It's something I have done before but not for many, many years. I found this still attached to the hoop so it appears I was relatively good at it once upon a time...

Sorry about the wrinkles, it fades the transfer.

Not to mention some of the pretty patterns in my collection which have come complete with their original embroidery transfers...

I decided to start with something fairly simple so I chose an anchor from a 1930s pattern in my collection. Rather than waste the original transfer, I traced the design onto a piece of paper, then transferred it to the fabric. Easy peasey. That said, my enthusiasm evaporated fairly quickly and this was as much as I could manage before I got bored...

Man, was this ever tedious! I just couldn't sit still long enough to complete it; maybe that's what happened to the tea-tray cover...?



- Tamara