A truly beautiful Minxy mix of charm, inspiration, practical advice, and pretty projects to simplify and beautify your life and home. - Jane Brocket, The Gentle Art of Domesticity
Cloth Fabric competition
Giveaway packs from Cloth
Very exciting news – Cloth Fabric has offered Crafty Minx readers 5 giveaway packs from their new lightweight fabric range, perfect for constructing quilts, clothing and homewares from. As you can see, there are various colours and designs to choose from, ranging from the iconic stones, wattle leaf and lines to my favourite horses and roses prints.
To win, simply comment in 5 to 250 words about what winter means to you. And let me know whether you’d prefer a pack with pale blue tones, oranges, greens, turquoise or raspberry. The most eloquent responses will win, and I’ll try to match colours to the winners’ favourites.
As an extra incentive to use the new range, Cloth is offering a $100 fabric voucher to the person who creates the best item from the packs. Entries to win a pack close on Friday 1 July, and you’ll have until the end of July to send through images of your creations for a chance to win the voucher. Below are just some of the designs up for grabs.
Please don’t forget to send your address to kelly@thecraftyminx.com.au as well when you make a comment.
Happy writing, and good luck!
Brumby in 'Beach' - Cloth Fabric
Spotcheck in 'Seaweed' - Cloth Fabric
L’ucello
L'ucello vintage ribbons
My friend Tyng told me about this divine-looking place – it’s on my list for a visit next time I’m down in Melbourne.
L’ucello is a vintage haberdashery selling old & new wares, as well as covet-worthy scarves from awe-inspiring French needlesmith Sophie Digard (also available at Calico & Ivy for Sydney and Perthsiders). Check out their beautiful range of paper ephemera, ribbons and other lovely bits & pieces at their blog here.
Delicious threads
It’s all about the crochet
Pansies made with Rowan Kidsilk Haze
Another love affair has begun – I’ve gone mad for crochet. And not just with any yarn, but the dusky-coloured wool I’ve chosen to make these two favourite crochet projects with.
The above is 70% super kid mohair and 30% silk (Rowan Kidsilk Haze). Heather Hunt, our fab Calico & Ivy crochet teacher came up with the pattern but I’ve been modifying it as I’ve gone along, basing changes on the pansies Olive picked out at Rozelle Markets last weekend.
Below is the scarf I’ve ground to a halt with. Must start up again soon, but somehow the pansies are far more satisfying, given they’re completed in under an hour.
For images of the crochet and string quilting classes I’ve been attending, check out the Calico & Ivy blog, which is of course new favourite supplier for all things woollen and haberdashery-wise.
Gaga for these Japanese pattern books as well...
Debbie Bliss Andes in a mustard tone, and more Kidsilk Haze
Knitting will have to wait -
Books & Nooks hits The Corner Shop
The Corner Shop in the Strand Arcade
I am such a fan of these events, expertly organised by Angela Purnell in decadent Sydney haunts. The last was an intimate soiree with Pia Jane Bijkerk at Potts Point’s Velluto, the next a lesson in creating a failsafe core wardrobe from Grazia journo and style guru, Dijanna Mulhearn at my favourite designer boutique, The Corner Shop in Sydney’s Strand Arcade.
With winter upon us, I could do with a little advice on effortless, fun dressing which doesn’t freeze the euphemisms off.
Date: Wednesday, 27 July
Time: 6pm-8pm
Location: The Corner Shop, The Strand Arcade, Sydney CBD
For bookings, visit Books & Nooks
Scraptastic
I decimated the darning pile last weekend, which was so intensely satisfying, it felt wrong. I spent all day Sunday stitching and playing with scraps. First up was this small dress we bought in France last year, which was stained down the front after an accidental trip to nursery school. I covered sad stains with bright yoyos and buttons. She’s a happy dress now.
Yoyo detailing
Then I attached a leftover yoyo to a hairband, made a funny little charm bracelet for me (inspired by something similar spied at Incu), and a necklace for Olive. I’m clearly having a Liberty moment.
Olive's hairband
Liberty features again
Whimsical bow & button necklace
Paper Wings & Rowan Tree
Let's Play Peta spotted smock from Rowan Tree
For years we’ve reaped the benefits of hand-me-down clothing for Olive, so there’s been little need to buy new pieces for her wardrobe. Her ‘look’ is cobbled together from thrift-store hand-knitted cardis which I’ve added bias or brooches to, vintage tutus found at markets and antiques centres, and hand-me-down basics such as long-sleeved tees and leggings – paired with mini Blundstone boots. But lately I’ve invested in a few key pieces which should last a year or two, maybe more. And they’re so cute, I wish they made them in my size; there’s some seriously stylish kids’ clothes about these days. It puts the polo-necked tops and denim overalls from my own childhood to shame (it was the seventies, after all).
Here’s a gorgeous handmade smock dress from Roberta at Rowan Tree, who happens to be in my crochet class at Calico & Ivy (last day today… then on to string quilting, yay). Another favourite is Paper Wings, which makes divine costume-inspired pieces such as the cat skirt below. L-O-V-E.
Cat skirt from Paper Wings
Bustle skirt from Paper Wings
Staying in: the new going out?
Cabbage (&) Roses
We chucked most commitments today in favour of time indoors, en famille. The knots in my shoulders are working themselves loose and I feel sane again, because Minxy Vintage is very nearly off to print, and the days brought various good tidings. Hooray for the turning tide.
I did, however, pop out for some flowers to cheer up the house – hence the kale and roses above. And my new/old egg cups, a collectible German design from the 50s. Who was I to resist such pastel charms?
And my chubby babe is due another bib, for the seams were bursting on the old one which featured in The Crafty Kid. Here’s the new version – done & dusted in under an hour. It should last until she’s four. By which stage, bibs will be redundant, right? (ha).
Googie eggs never looked so good
A new bib for Miss Olive