A dress or two in a jiffy

The holiday season is truly at our front door. Most of us are scrambling to sew the last few stitches on our handmade gifts. I've got a neat and quick tutorial for a dress that will take you from cloth to completed dress in about half an hour.

I am talking about that tutorial I promised in this previous post for the pretty little dresses Amelia and Emily were wearing.

How to make a dress during this silly season.

1. Rush to cloth shop to buy pre-smocked material. Beware there are so many choices. Be steadfast and pick one that jumps out at you and escape the shop before you get distracted by other potential craft projects that you really don't have time for.


2. Instead of struggling with a wriggly toddler, measure off one of her dresses.

3. Remember to add 1/2" seam allowance. Because I don't have a serger or a overlocker, I often sew french seams to ensure a neat finish. This is how you do it.

Sew the wrong sides together.

Snip off excess fabric at the raw edge. Press seam open and then press seam again with right side of the fabric together.

Sew another seam encasing the previous seam within this one.

4. For bottom hem, turn under 1/4". Press and then turn another 1/4", press and top stitch. I added a decorative stitch at the bottom hem for some interest.


5. Cut lengths of material to sew ties for the dress. As I was making a halter sundress, I cut two lengths of material and made two strips as ties and attached them to the top of the dress.


4. Add some buttons, if time permits.


AND voila, done! To save time, create two dresses at once for efficiency and double the cuteness.

all you need is some openness and creativity

This post is for all those who work in the conservation of built heritage and the often feeling of frustration and loss.

Check this one out! The Urban Outfitters Corporate Campus in Philadelphia's Navy Yard designed by Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle. The completed work saw four dilapidated buildings turned into these really light filled spaces full of creative energy. Notice the bright industrial yellow!

This is another to add to that list that you show people with little imagination for large open warehouse/powerhouse type spaces.

All images below from Arch Daily.

Extraordinary mondays - you really really can't go wrong with tulle

You have been introduced to Opal Petit Colthier? She is having this amazing giveaway that will be drawn TODAY! (1st Dec). She is giving away the Ophelia skirt pictured above which is made of silk and tulle. So be quick and click on the image above which will bring you to her website. All you need to do is to be a follower of her blog. There are more photos of how beautiful this skirt really is.

Isn't that just the most gorgeous thing you have ever seen? That really has inspired me to do more with tulle.

Perth Upmarket - see you there

Can't wait for Sunday to come. Perth Upmarket is on again. Check out all the cool retailers here.

Pigeonhole and Perth Upmarket

Last week, I think I overspent on myself! After reading about this little shop on Karen Cheng's blog, I had to check it out myself. So I ventured into the city to Bon Marche Arcade and walked to the end of it. The smells and sights reminded me of the smaller aisles at Sungai Wang Plaza in Kuala Lumpur.

Pigeonhole is a little eclectic oozing loads of cool. Johann definitely has a certain style and taste. A little off mainstream and a little retro. I now have two new favourite lines of clothing: sü and piccinini.

Now, the best thing about my visit was that Johann was having a spring sale to make way for new stock. There are pieces for as cheap as $10 and almost everything is 50%. It's only for the first two weeks of spring so if last week was the first week, there is only 7 days left of this amazing sale!

If I have pricked your interest, check out the pigeonhole blog and facebook page.

Pigeonhole
Shop 16,
Bon Marché Arcade
80 Barrack Street,
Perth 6000
Phone: 9221 9837


And to continue on this line of thought, Perth is going to have a sudden influx of crafties! Perth Upmarket's market day is on next Sunday (14 September). I'll be there to mainly get inspired and grab some handmade goodies. So, if you live in Perth and like all things handmade and original, be sure to get to Perth Town Hall between noon and 5pm next Sunday.

I'll be looking forward to browse the wares by:













I'll be there! If you miss this one, you'll have to wait till December.