Kind Regards, Georgia

Branching out on etsy.

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:31:00 +0000

Hello again!
Over the last week or so I've finally listed a bunch of my handmade items for Blythe dolls. I've been knitting and sewing and trying things out on my own Blythe doll for a while and I've taken the plunge at last. So far there are beanie hats, a couple of dresses and a sweet little necklace. Some of the hats feature my handmade polymer clay buttons. Check them all out at http://kindregards.etsy.com if you are interested.

Our ensuite is close to finished. We are waiting for the showerscreen to come and I have to do some painting but it is looking pretty good! I've got to replace the ugly green vertical blind too. Yuck!

Belated Stitches and Craft post.

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:34:00 +0000

I should probably have posted this about a week ago but it slipped my mind. I went to the Stitches and Crafts fair in Sydney about two weekends ago and took Mum along with me. We had a really good day. Mum bought a daylight lamp, some fabric, ribbons, embroidery kit and more. I didn't spend quite as much but bought some ribbons and trims plus these gorgeous pieces of fabric with the cutest faces printed on them. They are part of the Sweetie Petites range from Lisa Tilse - http://www.theredthread.com.au.

There is a post on her blog about her stall at the fair. So cute! What will I make with these?

The Wardrobe Refashion and Tessuti fabrics fashion parades were great. Got to do a bit of internet celebrity spotting when Nichola from Wardrobe Refashion was handing out postcards. I was too shy to say hi but she did compliment me on my bag (which was from littleoddforest.com) and I thanked her. Does this count as name-dropping? Sorry. :)

There was a nice mix of crafts and ideas for crafters of all ages and interests I felt. Well worth a trip out to Rosehill!

T-shirt Reconstruction

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:40:00 +0000

Inspired by a craftster.org post today, I went about reconstructing an old Threadless t-shirt by changing the neckline, adding binding around neck, bottom hem, sleeves and creating a keyhole at the back. I didn't quite finish off the keyhole as neatly as I hoped but it was pretty easy and straightforward. Good fun... and it took my mind off the noise of the jackhammer removing the old tiles from our leaky old ensuite this morning.

Thanks to Addie Marie on Crafster.org for her inspiration.

And here's a peek at our ensuite repair/renovation.

Stay tuned for the "after" I suppose.

Maybe in my blog...

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:37:00 +0000

... if I write it, it will get finished? Or even started?

As you might have realised, finishing personal projects is not one of my strong points. (Nor is regular blogging!) Every now and then I convince myself that if I write about it on the blog, the project will get done. Really I should probably just spend less time browsing other peoples' blogs and projects and get on with some of mine for a while.

This post will be a bit about my current projects and a bit about some of the blogs and sites that I have been enjoying recently.

- The doll makeover hasn't actually moved on much yet.
Here she is on the right wearing a little stretch top that I made from a Barbie pattern. Not a great fit for her... just an experiment at this stage. Her hat and pink outfit are now gone. (Well, I still have them but they are no longer glued to her... there is a glue spot on the top of her head which will have to be covered. I know a lot of the people who refashion pose dolls and Bradley dolls deal with that issue too.)

- I have a new niece and have been meaning to try refashioning an old tshirt into a baby jumpsuit/onesie. I forgot to take a 'before' picture of the tshirt so here is a picture of a similar top.

This is another project that is only partly finished. If I don't hurry up, she'll have grown too big to wear it.
I have a plain white baby suit which I am trying to base my reconstruction on. I'm going to have to read up on sewing stretch fabrics again because I'm struggling with the ribbing around the neckline.

- Next comes a vintage dress I bought from St Vinnies a couple of weeks ago. It definitely doesn't fit me and isn't exactly my style these days plus I have been looking for a hot pink velour or velvet for ages so that I can try to recreate Lisa Loeb's pink jacket (as seen in these photos - sorry, I can't remember exactly where these photos came from... I found them on the net ages ago but neglected to keep a link reference). Hopefully there is enough fabric in the skirt. Fingers firmly crossed. (I'd love a leopard print blouse like the one she has on underneath too.)

I thought I might also transplant the bib section to a tshirt for a tuxedo-bib look.

And as for blogs and sites that I've been enjoying -

A couple of young ladies who have blogs and youtube channels. Sweet and entertaining. :)

Alissa Loves or on youtube.
Strawberry Koi or on youtube.

They also have other blogs or web places but those should get you started. Thanks for sharing your videos, thoughts and interests ladies!

Then there is All-Mighty Clothing and Dainty June Clothing (also available at All-Mighty). I can't get enough of their gorgeous tshirts.

Sew Slow!

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:57:00 +0000

Historically, I have been a very slow seamstress. Well, not necessarily slow...I just tend to leave my own projects sitting incomplete for quite a while. Over two years ago I bought a couple of the Built by Wendy, Simplicity patterns .

I made one of them almost straight away, and now, two years later, I have finally finished Simplicity 3835! It's not perfect... but for me to finish a personal sewing project at all is pretty remarkable. And it basically fits.

I thought I'd better document it straight away (hence the untidy hair and no makeup) as it is so rare for me to finish a personal sewing project!

As I mentioned, I bought the pattern over 2 years ago and I've had the fabric even longer. Thrifted fabric and scarf, used for the arms ties, from St Vinnies store for only a couple of dollars.

Don't look too closely as I didn't do too well on the arm ties and the neck band is a little wonky too. Otherwise, I feel it came out ok. The arms are a tiny bit too tight... if the fabric had a little stretch they might be perfect.

Cooler weather.

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:38:00 +0000

Well, the doll makeover hasn't gotten much further as I have been busying myself making a soft toy for my niece, who is due to be born in about a week's time. Very exciting! I already have a niece and nephew via my husband's side of the family, but this will be my own brother's first child and the first baby for any of the kids on my side of the family.

My brother had a jumper (sweater) when he was little and on the front of it was a generic Eskimo picture. I found a slide at Mum and Dad's with that jumper featured in it and used it to inspire the doll that I finished making yesterday. Unfortunately I don't have a scan of the slide at this stage.

I also made a purchase and added a new member to my slowly growing doll collection.

I believe she is called a Bradley Pose doll...but I'm not 100% sure about that as she has no labels on her.

Doll makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:53:00 +0000

Time to attempt a doll makeover.
I bought this southern belle type doll...she's a bit like a Bradley doll...from the St Vinnies op-shop recently. She is a bit dusty and her dress was damaged.

So far I've removed her lace skirt and hoop. I've taken the "collar" off and just for now, I'm using it as a bustle. I've pinned her remaining pink dress to create a new shape just for fun.

I really enjoyed the makeovers that some people on flickr were doing so when I saw her in the shop, I thought it must be my turn to give it a try...I'll keep you posted when I decide what she will become.

Here are some of the examples on flickr.

Lack of Blog Discipline!

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:42:00 +0000

I've been pretty slack when it comes to this blog lately! Apologies for that.

I have been working on a few little bits and pieces but nothing major and I'm still not very good at finishing projects that I have started.

Here are some little zip pouches that I made using a tutorial from craftster.com -

I think I will use some iron-on interfacing inside the pouches if I make them again...just to give them a bit more shape.

I've been working on some more handmade buttons using oven-baked polymer clay too.

Sewing and crafty update -

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 09:19:00 +0000

The continuing story of my works in progress.

Back in April I wrote about how I was going to try to turn a large t-shirt into a zip-up hoody (with the help of a tutorial by Mezzi on craftster.org...but the link doesn't seem to be working at the moment). My attempt still isn't finished and has a few problems but here is how it looks at this point. I messed up the zipper and am having trouble with the hood. I think I might start again with a new shirt. It was fun though.

More soon.

Found items so far.

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:16:00 +0000

More Found Objects.

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 03:16:00 +0000

Here are some of the latest additions to my collection of found items (found on my morning walk) - this time I had a little help from my Mum and my niece.

We had a lot of rain over the last couple of weeks. My Mum found this little bracelet which looked like it had been washed down the gutter in all the rain.
The cherry charm was actually found by my niece in a playground a few months ago and she forgot to take it home with her last time she was visiting.

Then, a week or two before, there were these two mysterious items -

Someone is definitely trying to tell me something...but what? ;) hehehe!

Fun thrift find

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 10:28:00 +0000

One of this weekend's fun thrift finds. "Inch High Private Eye" Pyrex mug.

SOLD - On ebay now. - SOLD

Happy World No Tobacco Day and Sydney Craft Things

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Thu, 31 May 2007 01:42:00 +0000

Today is World No Tobacco Day. I'm not a smoker myself, so I can't really stop smoking for a day but I am happy to celebrate it by acknowledging it here. My "No Tobacco Day" message would have to be - if you are a smoker but just can't quit, then I hope you don't smoke around kids. That's something I just can't understand. I heard on the news that the state of South Australia has banned smoking in cars with child passengers. I think that's a great move and can't wait for the rest of the Australian states to follow suit. Remember, as a smoker, you are usually breathing the smoke through a filter, but the children breathing in the second-hand smoke, don't have a filter and don't have a choice.

On a "lighter" note...sorry about the pun, during my internet travels I have discovered that there are a couple of crafty fairs and exhibitions coming up in Sydney. (via http://www.honidesign.blogspot.com/ which I visited via http://nikkishell.typepad.com/wardroberefashion/).

Firstly, the Hope Street Markets in Surry Hills (but the link to the site doesn't seem to be working at the moment but their myspace site seems to be working). A young designers collaborative markets. Looks interesting. I don't know much about it but I think I will check it out.

Hope Street Markets
182 Campbell St
Surry Hills
June 8 - 6pm - 9pm
June 9 - 12 noon-6pm
June 10 - 12 noon - 4 pm.

Then there is a Craft Show at Darling Harbour's Sydney Exhibition Centre. 27 June - 1 July, 9am - 5pm. I'm not sure if this is a free event or not though. 3 halls full of crafty stuff sounds like fun though.

I'm a bit of a Threadless.com fan

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Tue, 29 May 2007 01:51:00 +0000

I was a bit of a late discoverer of threadless .com t-shirts but am trying to catch up by buying a shirt every now and again. This great hoody addresses a number of things that I like - hoodies, knitting, threadless and my name, Georgia, which is what this one is called. Threadless have a sale on at the moment so it might be time for me to invest in this one. :)

Thrifting / Op Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Sun, 20 May 2007 00:41:00 +0000

Some of yesterdays finds at St. Vinnies and The Salvos stores.

Another Perlorian Cats book - cats dressed in clothes and posed in photos. Very strange. I have a couple of these now. A friend of mine introduced me to them with a postcard she sent me from Japan a few years ago.

A little bird and a little hedgehog...50 cents each.

Strawberry Shortcake purse - I think I had one like this when I was a little one.

A girly vase which also reminds me of my late 70s/early 80s childhood.

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Sat, 05 May 2007 02:48:00 +0000

More proofreading fun. Spot the gourmet delights on this menu!

Thrifting in the morning

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Wed, 02 May 2007 07:48:00 +0000

Pony sneakers! Just the right size and in the colour I have been admiring for years. AU$8.00 at St. Vinnies this morning :) What a sunny day.

Handmade Polymer Buttons

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 03:41:00 +0000

On my etsy store now.

Lots of button lots

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 01:41:00 +0000

It's been very rainy here in Sydney for the last few days so I've had lots of time to sit inside. I've added lots of button lots to my etsy.com store. I've not had much luck with etsy as yet. I'm wondering if it is because I am in Australia and that means the bulk of the shoppers are from overseas and face overseas postage costs? I might have to change what I sell. I'll see.

10 x pale blue, fabric covered buttons -

~~9 x red, grey, black and white, fabric covered buttons -~~ SOLD

~~16 black and red animal patterned buttons -~~ SOLD

My next project?

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 01:10:00 +0000

I'm fairly good at starting projects but not so good at finishing them. As you know, I have a few projects on the go and already I know what I want to do next. There is a cool little tutorial on craftster.org about reconstructing over-sized t-shirts into hooded jackets. Check out the work of Mezzi here. I love the idea of turning a crazy, big, boy-band shirt into something more wearable so I dug out a huge Robbie Williams t-shirt that my sister had to wear when she used to work at a CD store and I'm going to try Mezzi's tutorial out on it. I haven't started yet but have bought the zipper etc. Should be fun. :)

Here's the before picture -

This week I received some gorgeous little pieces of fabric that I bought from dreamrains on etsy.com.

I love the monkey and crab fabric because my star sign is Cancer and my guy is often compared to a monkey. I think his sideburns make him look a bit monkey-like and mischievous.

The kaftan reconstructed

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 11:59:00 +0000

Well, it doesn't fit very well and there wasn't really enough fabric so there are some extra, awkward, seams on the back but it looks kind of ok so far. I think I might be able to make it wearable. Here it is, modeled by my new dress-makers dummy (which I haven't set up properly yet).

Without back attached -

With back attached -

Side -

Back -

I think I might have to add panels down the side seams as it is a bit snug around the bust area. Hmmm...I guess this was a "practice" version.

Part 1 of reconstruction

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 02:14:00 +0000

I've started to turn this thrifted kaftan thing -

into this -

Simplicity 8739, View # 3 probably.
I will post photos of the progress soon.

This week's finds.

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:35:00 +0000

School holidays started this week so it looks like more things are falling out of pockets as kids go crazy.

...and while I'm at it...

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 09:11:00 +0000

...here's one of my favourite internet videos. A crazy, animated ad for Levi's from the 70s. I don't remember it ever screening in Australia but it always makes my day. It has a bit of a Sesame Street flavour, and the dog's ears flapping up and down always make me laugh.

This made me giggle

noreply@blogger.com (Georgia) — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 08:50:00 +0000

Has anyone else seen Alanis Morissette's cover of the Black-Eyed Peas' "Humps"?

Whichever way you want to take it, I think it is worth a giggle. :)