Wink Designs

Kitties with attitude

To tell the truth I'm more of a dog person.  But the kitty cats on this fabric are special and were just asking to be "button-ified".  I love the expressions on their little faces.  Cool as!

I'm a huge covered button fan - on they go wherever I see a suitable gap!  And yes, as Tania says, making these babies is the ultimate form of instant gratification (along with making yo-yos, I would now have to add - see my last post!)

It's great to see the little covered button frenzy that seems to be taking hold at the moment - see a couple of examples here and here!

This little kitty cat set is now in the shop. (Love that Happy Camper plaid fabric in the background as well - I can feel a little dress coming on......)

Singlet weather

All of Sydney is a bit shell shocked from the heat at the moment.  And we all know that when the mercury rises to such giddy heights a crafty mother's thoughts turn to ..... yes .... embellishing singlets.  These ones were started at The Craft Room on Sunday and because I was far to busy talking and eating lollies I had to finish them at home.

I had lots of inspiration from Corrie, who had every Clover Yo-Yo Maker known to mankind on hand (!!) and who completed about about 5 yo-yos to every 1 of mine.  Thanks to Corrie for organising and incidentally, hop over and check out her latest and most fab giveaway involving the gorgeous new Rosalie Quinlan fabric range.

And while we're on the subject of singlets, I also made Miss Wink this little singlet/skirt number.  The overlocker did not like this project at all, however, and threw the mother of all tantrums when I tried to serge the two bits together.  Readers, trust me when I say that the seam is not a pretty sight!

Luckily I trusted my instincts and used only an old singlet and some cheap Spotlight cotton for the experiment.  Unless someone can advise on how to do these with an overlocker (??) I will stick to the regular machine next time I attempt one.

Hope you are all staying cool and enjoying your week so far....

Ma-tree-shka

Ornament WIP: a set of Matryoshka's to hang on the tree!

Making children's clothes (then and now)

These books have the same title but are quite different.  One is from the 70's and was picked up at a local car boot sale.  It has lots of tips on how to alter patterns and get all the little details right on children's clothes. 

The other I bought at Sussan (Yes, Sussan!  Is it just me or is Sussan getting a lot cooler these days?  They have great pyjamas and their little homewares section now runs a line of craft books).  A quick browse online shows you can also get it here at slightly lower cost. I have to say the liberty pillow case dress on the cover made it very hard to resist!

My first project from the book was this girl's hat.  I made it up In a lovely Anna Griffin floral with an abstract dot on the reverse. (It got lots of admiring comments while we were on holidays).

I've never made a hat before and thought that it would have been difficult or that that it wouldn't fit or look right.  I'm happy to say that 1. it wasn't and 2. it does!

 

Next on my "to make" list from this book are:

These baby bloomers. (In fact I'd love to make them in the exact prints shown in the photo.  Do any of you fabric hounds out there know what they are?  Moda perhaps?  Still in print?):
 
And these pants:

Thanks to all those who purchased from the shop while I was away.  Your bonus fat quarters will be on their way today.  Hope you're having a great Monday....

Open for a short break

We are off to the tropics for a week's rest and recreation.  Usually I would close the shop whilst on hols but am doing something different this time and leaving it open.  The downside is that things don't get mailed until I'm back but there is, of course, an incentive!

 

A bonus fat quarter will be given away with any purchases made while I'm on holidays (including patterns, kits and handmade items).  The offer lasts from today up to and including next Friday 13 November 2009.  No need to enter a message/code, the offer is open to all and I'll also post a notice in my shop to announce it.

I have some cute Japanese prints and lots of children and animal themes.  There are also some florals and "grown up" prints in the giveaway stash. (I'll check your preference before mailing).

PDF patterns purchased during this time will be emailed on Saturday 15 November and bonus fat quarters will be mailed on Monday 17 November.  All kits and handmade items will be mailed on Monday 17 November with bonus fat quarters.

Have a great week!

I think I need....

to learn to crochet again:

 

Image: http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2009/09/flickr.html

i heart craft

Here is some of my haul from Mathilda's Market in Sydney yesterday:

 
Paper Doll Parade Notecard Set from My Messy Room, a gorgeous Vintage Storybook Tile with little mousies from The Red Thread and some wonderful Happy Camper fabric from Badskirt (check out that gorgeous puppy on Amy's postcard - what a face!).

I got lots of other little stockingfillers besides which have already been claimed or given away pre-stocking-filling-time!  And the piece de resistance, my "i heart craft" badge.  Sums it all up really....

Quick "Wrap-Up"

Word has gotten around that two lovely ladies have lost no time whatsoever in making up their Wrap-Up Skirts.  Here is Soo's lovely concoction in all its butterfly glory:

 
And one from Kerry in cool lightweight denim with a Heather Ross print underskirt.  Just perfect for summer:

Thanks for sharing ladies!

The "Apple Notebook" (in pink)

Meet one of the little loves of my life.  It's my MacBook (which I'll call my Apple Notebook for the purposes of this post).

 
I still run a PC (it has its uses) but this is sleek and portable and life is much easier when you're not tied to a desk.

When I got it a few months ago, Daughter Number One gave it the once over approvingly (she's hanging out for her own computer) but then thought for a few seconds before asking "Do they come in pink?"  Well, not in the way she'd hoped, but here it is.  Her own "Apple Notebook" in pink....

 
Don't they look cute together?

Dolls and dots

Another "Wrap-Up Skirt" this time in Kokka Russian Doll and Amy Butler Full Moon Dot fabrics.  This one has been sent off to a little friend who I suspect will look very cute in it.  I have another stack of nearly completed skirts in various print combinations which are headed for the shop as I want to offer both the pattern and readymade skirts.  Then I'll take a little break from sewing these babies and move onto something of the non-skirt variety!

 
Full Moon Dot is one of my favourite fabrics ever.  It's sadly being discontinued (or so I've heard).  It adds a more modern twist than normal polka dots and seems to work with so many different prints.  I managed to snap up a little extra from this etsy shop, whose lovely owner Jennifer had some yardage at normal prices (many shops have upped the price in response to its scarcity).

 
Also, the Kokka Russian Dolls print must surely be one of their most successful ever. Probably because of its versatility for both clothes and softies.  On my shopping travels I've noticed some suspiciously similar doll motifs on clothes, bags and homewares.  Coincidence? Perhaps.....