One of my favourite things about Mondays is spending some time in blog-land after the weekend break, catching up with my crafty friends and working out a plan of work for the week ahead. Here are my favourite finds for today:
Kelly's birds on a wire
This most excellent post on alternatives to children's goods made in China. I've been thinking a lot about this issue lately, and Amy has some wonderful useful ideas that I'm trying to put into practice myself.
This beautiful pattern by Alison for a children's jacket.
The great collection of sewing know-how at Burdastyle.
I had a chance to sew over the weekend, and finished this little green dress. I had a great time pairing the vintage barkcloth with the plain green linen, which makes this a sturdy little pinafore/wrap dress. I had a request for an adult's version though, which adds to my suspicion that my children's clothes aren't 'children-y' enough. I always get a bit nervous about making garments for grown-ups- darts and fitting and altering scare me a bit. But I'll give it a go this week and see.
I've also had a few emails asking whether I'd write out a tutorial for a simple little dress like this. The answer is yes- i'm working on it- but my extremely limited computer skills teamed with my growing alarm about how many emails/questions/concerns I get every day regarding a bag pattern I posted a long time ago, will mean that it will be a very simple pattern- probably more like a sketch, dimensions and some guidelines.
I also finished a new set of things for my shop, and updated it today. New shoes, wrap cardigans, and a couple of things for grown-ups. I had a really interesting time at our tiny local art shop I visited to buy some suitable paper for printing cards on my gocco. I was looking through the watercolour papers, and wondering which would be the most suitable, when the owner of the store wanted to know what i was doing and told me he'd find for me the Very Best paper he had. He carefully opened a drawer and turned back layers of tissue paper - slowly, for dramatic effect - to reveal his special Hand Cut, Italian, Watermarked Paper. He said he'd need a while to cut it to the right size for me, and he proudly rang me the next day to let me know it was ready. I remember him from visiting the shop with my Mum as a child, also later, buying supplies for projects at school. He's a character. I'm looking forward to my next trip in there for ink and paper.
