Meet Ernest the Donkey

We're in love with Reuben the Donkey by Ric Rac designs, and now we have a relative of Reuben in the shop - his learned uncle Ernest!

Moira started out by making Reuben but as she sewed his head and muzzle she realised he was evolving into a wiser, older, and more well-read gentleman.  The original pattern for Reuben  features a smart coat and satchel (with the satchel clasps make out of the slidey gizmos on bra straps), and he has a full head of black wool-felt hair.   Moira decided that his uncle Ernest needed a tweed wool coat and glasses, and hair just didn't seem to suit him.

The pattern doesn't have tail so if there is anyone out there who has made him a tail, please let us know!

Reuben and Ernest finish at 14.5" high (37cm), and the pattern is $17.50. 

Garden Divas

We've just received a shipment of the amazing range Garden Divas by Jane Sassaman.  Busy birds, bugs and dragonflies set the scene for a glorious day in a country garden. Garden Divas celebrates this colorful cast of characters and the magic dance between them. As always, Jane’s modern interpretation of a classic theme sews the seeds of possibility for contemporary quilts, wearables and home accessories.

All fabrics are $24/m, and incase you can't decide, we've put together a bundle of 6 fat quarters for the price of 5 at $30.00.

You can visit Jane Sassaman's blog to see all the beautiful things she has done with this range including this simple quilt made from topstitching quarter circles onto 12" blocks (yaay, no curved piecing), using the Willow Wands and other designs. 



...and the Gypsy Scarf quilt, using the Zinnia, and Iris and Bleeding Heart designs.  You can download a free pattern for this quilt here! 

The big, bold prints in these fabric would also look beautiful as pillow cases or bags

...and are fantastic for kaleidoscope quilts!  Here is an example from Jane's website of a kaleidoscope made with Iris and Bleeding Hearts. 

  

Kinder Girl Dolls - Meet Leila and Lola

These girls have been a labour of love for me over the last three months, and I sewed the last stitches on Lola's jacket this morning.  They're now patiently sitting in the store waiting for people to come and say hello!

The instructions by Australian designer Jodie Carleton of Ric Rac ($17.50) were very easy to follow, but sewing them did take longer than I thought it would.   Each part of the doll, from their quilted wool felt hair, to their underpants and little black shoes, was a project all of its own, and I took to leaving them on the dining room table and doing a bit at a time in between stirring the soup etc.   

The most fiddly part was stitching the head onto the body. You just have to keep persisting with this bit and placing little stitches around the join until it's on firmly, and you're happy with the shape of the head and neck.  If you're not happy with the shape just keep stitching as each stitch sculpts the shape slightly.

The fun of these dolls is adding little touches and accessories to make them your own.  I designed and stitched an "optional mouse" to peek out of Leila's pocket from brown felt, with a little orange and red flower.  I've made a mini pattern for this which is FREE with any purchase of the Kinder Girls pattern, by mail order or instore.

I embroidered Lola's jacket with a lazy daisy stitch, although she needs something for her pocket.  I'm thinking about an apple, a little book, or a rabbit, or maybe all three depending on her mood (or mine).  Please let me know if you have any ideas or patterns that I can post on our blog!  You can also visit http://www.flickr.com/groups/ricracstuff/pool/page2/ to see how others have accessorised their Kinder Girls. 

The only problem I encountered was in attatching the skirt to the bodice to make the dress reversible.  The pattern tells you to "place your gathered skirt right sides together with the dress modice piece - raw edges together and sew skirt to bodice".  It wasn't clear to me that you actually only sew one half of the bodice to the skirt, and not the whole bodice. Below is a pic of Lola's dress to show you what I mean.  You then turn to the top of the bodice under a quarter inch and hand-stitch it to the skirt, making a beautiful reversible dress! 



Please send in any pics of your finished Kinder Girls.  We'd love to post them here. 

Birds of a Feather Cushion

Inspired by the beautiful bird panel by Julie Cairns, I designed and sewed this simple, graphic cushion weeks ago, and have only just managed to develop the pattern.  I used 3/4" black strips to frame the panel, and added blocks of complimentary colours.

Quilting this cushion was my favourite bit!  I chose to quilt the straight lines with a walking foot and then highlighted the birds, and quilted in swirls and leafy shapes in free motion.  Of course, this could be quilted equally well by hand. 

I then cut into the border print, using it on the top and bottom, and as the backing for the cushion.  I can see this cushion sitting on a chair in my garden when summer comes.  Maybe it will attract the birds. Bring on the sunshine!

All the pretty dresses

Frangipani Fabrics tutor and sewing elf Moira whipped up two Make it Perfect dresses this week. 

The first was Party Girl from the Fab Frocks pattern (The Swing Dress features thin straps tied at the shoulders, while the Party Girl Dress is made with thicker shoulder straps, secured with large buttons).  She chose the Benartex Sew Chick range.  This range is a bit urban, a bit folk with stylized flowers mixed with tiny chickens and updated calicos that are reminiscent of the 1970s.  Ann then helped out and covered two self-cover buttons with the little chickens. 

This pattern is quick and simple to sew up, making a few of these in your favourite fabrics will be no hassle at all. Layer the dresses over a t-shirt or long sleeved top and tights to wear them all year long!  Girls sizes 6 months - 5 years.  Moira made this dress to fit my 2 year old daughter, and I can't wait to get it on her! 

She then turned her hand to Pinny #2, which she made in a mix of Riley Blake's Happier, and Sweet Nothings, and Teddy's Garden by Benartex, all fresh springy prints featuring paisley patterns, birds, trees and swirls; and trimmed it with yellow ric-rac and self-covered bird buttons.  Pinny #2  is very cute, and with gentle pleat and delicate gathers - you are going to need more than one! For sizes 6 months to 5 years.  This sample suits a 3 year old. 

 Moira found these Make it Perfect patterns very easy to use.  If you'd like to make them, but are too scared to try, come along to our Wednesday or Thursday sewing sessions, and we'll help you through them. 

This month we've also got a great special on Fat Quarter Sew Chick and Happier & Friends Bundles.





 

Photo Memory Quilt Class - September School Holidays

Learn to print your favourite family, pet or friendship photos onto printable fabrics and sew them into this lovely charm square quilt, designed by Moira Bevan.  Students can collect signatures or write descriptions onto the sashing strips.

To make this quilt Moira collected her favourite pictures of her parents, husband and children (although daughter Frances says that they are the worst photos she has ever taken of her!), and wrote descriptive captions under the photos in a permanent marker. 

Moira designed this project for Frangipani Fabrics as a fun way for school students, and school leavers to commemorate their year, but adults are welcome to the class as well. 

All patchwork techniques will be taught at a beginner level. Students will learn to print photos onto fabric, rotary cut, sew accurately and will machine quilt and bind their quilt top.

If you can't come to the class, you can always purchase the Photo Memory Quilt pattern ($13). 

When: September school holidays -  Tuesdays and Thursdays 6, 8, 13 and 15 1-4pm (4 sessions of 3 hours). Tutor: Moira Bevan. Cost: $108.00 (includes $13.00 pattern cost).  Ages 12 and up welcome!

You can enrol through our website, or in person.