Kelly Doust introduces readers to her wonderful world of reviving and customising vintage pieces, while bringing a modern and unique twist to wearing vintage clothes – Dita Von Teese
Congratulations, Cloth winners
Zigzag quilt by Siobhan Rogers for Cloth Fabric
Oh you’ve made me smile. Reading through all your entries for the Cloth competition has been the best start to the day. It was selfish really, asking you to share what winter meant to you – in the middle of nursing a sickly two year old and my customary impatience for spring, I needed a reminder of why winter’s to be savoured. I will stop longing for longer days, and appreciate the fleeting pleasures of hibernation. I will.
Believe me when I say I’ve been agonising – I so wanted to award a pack to each of you. But in the end, I had to limit it to my favourite responses from readers who sent me their address.
The lucky winners are: Prue, Manon, Sarah Cortis, Alison Wright and Stitchy Britt. I’ll be popping your packs in the post first thing Monday, and so hope you’ll send through pics of what you made with them for a chance to win the $100 Cloth voucher. I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.
Happy winter crafting, lovelies. I’ll be thinking of you.
xx
Rose quilt by Siobhan Rogers for Cloth Fabric
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
Akira samples & textiles
For the past few years I’ve been visiting the Akira sale whenever it rolls around, and always seem to find substantial offcuts of his elegant prints and well-designed fabrics for use on clothes and homewares. Well worth a visit if you want to find elegant accoutrements for plain pieces.
When: Friday 3rd & Saturday 4th June, 10-5pm
Where: 31 Meagher St Chippendale NSW 2008
Tel: 02 9557 0436
Gimme skills
Completed: one headband for Ruby's birthday, modelled by Olive
I have just had the most inspiring weekend. Which, considering I’m in the throes of a full-blown chest infection, was not expected. Conversations with creative people which resonated and made so much sense, from the Books & Nooks event yesterday with Pia Jane Bijkerk to a five year old’s birthday party next door.
Case in point: I was chatting to Maja, co-0wner and jewellery designer from Polli on Sunday. Maja’s gone mad for knitting; making jumpers and scarves and beanies and all sorts of complicated things lately. Because she runs a business and is a mother and no longer actually makes much jewellery anymore (like Dinosaur Designs, Polli started at Paddington Markets before growing massively both here and internationally, while retaining their Made in Australia, by hand ethos), Maja needed to find a new hobby, and knitting is it.
I can’t tell you how much satisfaction I’ve had in learning to crochet this week at Calico & Ivy. With sewing my job now – what with the books and workshops, etc. – it feels like a wholly indulgent, relaxing pastime again to be making for the pure pleasure of it. And it’s given me the confidence to think, what new dizzying heights of craftiness could I be scaling? I have a view to mastering knitting myself. The first project? A beautiful, bold-shouldered cardigan, taken from an original 1940s pattern. Wish me luck.
My hexagon blanket takes shape
The rosette cushion I long to make, at Calico & Ivy
And the mohair scarf I will try next, Calico & Ivy
This is TMOD
Introducing Georgie Swift and Milenka Osen, the clever design duo behind TMOD (Turn Me On Design). J’adore the antique feel of the scratchie card range (available from Paper2 and various other retailers) and swivel signet rings, in particular. Love the atmospheric, slightly eerie home page of their site, too – enjoy browsing.
Love Vintage Fair
1950s silk cocktail dress from Coco Repose stall
Don’t forget, Love Vintage starts tonight and runs all weekend out at Canterbury Racecourse. Come along and say hello – I’ll be speaking about A Life in Frocks at 3:30pm tomorrow on the main stage.
Woman of the week: Monica Trapaga
Do you know Monica? I’m sure you do, in one of her many guises – cookbook author (Monica wrote She’s Leaving Home, about the inspiring women in her life for daughter, Lil), avid collector, store owner (of Reclaim in Sydney’s Summer Hill and formerly Glebe), cabaret crooner and Playschool presenter… and mother of six (yes, six!)
I never cease to be inspired by her energy and refusal to be pigeonholed, as well as her generosity. Monica’s the type of woman you just know has at least ten good ideas before breakfast and, despite a ferociously busy schedule, always manages to help friends & family and still make you feel she has all the time in the world to chat with you. And she can’t sit still. I asked Mon about her tips for life, which I think we could all benefit from. Here they are:
1. Keep fit – I swim 3-4 times a week and go jogging. My energy also comes from my kids. They’re at such an enjoyable age. Being with them always gives me energy. Plus I cook all the time and eat fresh, beautiful food.
2. I’ve been a mum since I was 19, and have always done everything by instinct.
3. Make the world your address – I love travelling (the talented Ms. Trapaga currently lives between NY and Sydney… what a dream) and love how you can reinvent yourself. When you travel you have no past, no history, and people take you at face value.
4. Face your fears and look them dead in the eye, even for one minute a day – I was robbed in my house at 2am with a crowbar the week before my wedding. It didn’t hit me at first that I could have been killed, but months later I was terrified to walk down the street. Then I thought, I’m not going to live like this. I went to NY and found an apartment in the scariest borough I could find, walking everywhere on my own. My husband and family accepted it was something I had to do. Life’s too short.
5. Make the world a little more beautiful with the things you do (and she does).
Reclaim by Monica Trapaga
48 Lackey Street, Summer Hill NSW
Tel: (02) 9716 0144
Operating Hours: 10am to 5pm, 7 days a week
The new look Reclaim in Summer Hill
Michael will look after you... do visit soon
Afternoon, Madam – how can we help?
Someone had better snap up this American pharmacy / haberdashery shop fitting quicksmart from DuckEgg Blue Quintessetial, for I’m a-pining away for it (no pun intended). Perhaps I could explode the kitchen wall to make room? My dream house contains one just like it.
Hardware & Haberdashery at The Society Inc.
I’m planning on heading here this week to see the latest incarnation of The Society Inc. and pick up one or two crafty wares. I always find a treasure or two to bring home from each visit.