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Whats your favourite op shop? Mine are the ones in Bega, NSW. I haven’t had a dud haul yet. We were in Bega recently visiting the in-laws and I was lucky enough to have some spare time to pop into a couple. I ended up getting some great books.
A 1977 Readers Digest Complete Guide to Sewing. I already have a general garment sewing book, but this is loads better, every page is full of diagrams of everything from sewing on a button, to more detailed sewing processes. Christy has the same copy and rates it highly.
A Soft toy book and the sweetest cross stitch design book, here are some of the designs in it
Cadel wants me to make the train cross stitch for him, and Hamish wants the truck. I wish one of them wanted the sweet bear/ mouse above though!
a huge stack of Golden Hands books, I now have nearly all of them up to 20. These book are fantastic for the amount of detail and variety of crafts that they include. You can see more images from these on my flickr stream.
I also got these super cute plates for the kids
And some lovely old books for them as well
And a couple of smaller ones that made the long car trip home with them more bearable.
Sydney peeps, I am looking for op shop recommendations because so far as I can tell my local ones are full of overpriced junk.
Rachel
howdy, I got loads done this weekend. I’m on a bit of a sewing kick for my boys at the moment. I feel like I make so much that leaves this house I should make the occasional thing for them too.
So I made some pants
They are made out the most lovely light steely blue thick corduroy and the red trim has little cowboys on bucking horses. Oh how I wish I bought more of that fabric.
I also made Cadel this little “man bag”. We are going on holiday at the end of the month and be darned if I am going to carry his 10 engines and Thomas books in my handbag. I used the “child’s messenger bag” pattern from One Yard wonders. I changed it slightly and I think there was a mistake in the pattern which meant a little blue language. It turned out great and Cadel loves it. He choose the train print linen I was trying to encourage him to go with Robots but he was rather insistent.
Cadel was so excited that he had to wear his new outfit out visiting this afternoon.
I also made some of my new bear softie which I hope to have photographed soon, and started some pjamas for the boys as well.
Also we are now the proud owners of a slow cooker. It had its maiden voyage on friday with Beef Stroganoff which was amazingly good, super easy, and I made enough for three meals (hurrah!). I think its going to make my cooking life alot easier.
How was your weekend
Rachel
Well what a week its been. This was my last week of ‘softying’ before a little Easter break, and unfortunately I was on a ‘go slow’, I had a ungraceful fall down an escalator last weekend and cut my right arm open. So I was a little less productive than normal. However I did finish my Lounge pants from the February One Per Month challenge. Only a month or so late.
They were super easy… in fact I barely followed the pattern. I used purchased cord, rather than making at as the pattern suggested, out of sheer laziness. They are made from Heather Ross wildflowers in fuchsia and trimmed in Heather Bailey bijoux tile in lime, which I think is more of a celery colour than lime. They are brighter than I intended and practically glow in the dark, but I love them. I plan to make another pair our of a lovely vintage sheet I found the other day, though I might bring the legs in a little more.
Anyhow does this happen whenever your camera comes out?
The boys always insist on being in the photo, and won’t go back to what they were doing until you take their picture.
Edited to add… I should point out that the hems aren’t crooked, its just a dodgy pic. oops
Rachel
Can I just say that I am over summer. I get like this every year and crave winter, mind you today was and still is at 8.30 pm ridiculously hot.
Last week I bought two Japanese sewing books for winter clothes. I can’t wait till they arrive as I am really keen to sew some myself some new clothes.
I love the tunic length version, I would wear it with jeans and boots like the model.
Something like this dress could be handy with leggings and boots. I’m a little anxious as to how these might turn out as I am far less trim than the pretty model, and very much a beginner garment sewer.
Anyhow I am also overdue in making my lounge pants as per the one per month challenge. So hopefully I do those this weekend.
Rachel
Whilst away I picked up two vintage craft books from the Bega fete for a measly two dollars.
I love vintage craft books, I think that often they explain things in more detail than more recent ones , they are loads cheaper, and of course the pictures.
the calming bedroom. Note that the ceiling appears to wallpapered too!
Theres something that screams Midsomer Murders to me about this pic
And though cute this soft dog looks as though it might take an eye out.
Rachel
ps. almost forgot to add that retromummy is giving away a fat quarter set of grandmother’s flower garden
A couple of weeks ago I ordered Zakka Sewing by Therese Laskey and Chika Mori. I was so thrilled when it arrived yesterday. The projects look great and the photography is stunning…
This little basket is so cute…
And the sashiko on this tea towel is so lovely and simple.
I really love this pear motif, though I think I would prefer it on a apron.
I also ordered Lets Make Cute Stuff by Aranzi Aronzo which I have found really inspiring. I love how animated all their designs are, yet also very naive looking.
I have been so busy this week, Daniel is on leave and the last two days I have sewed all day as I am hoping to get some things ready for an upcoming market. The Janome is being a bit monstrous, skipping stitches, and doing other weird things. I am so looking forward to when I can get my dream machine, The Bernina. Hopefully I’ll have a load of completed softies to show off later in the week.
Rachel
