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
Free workshops at Fixit Fest
Take advantage of these events organized by Waverley Council, and say no to waste and our increasingly throwaway culture. Fixit Fest is coming up, with workshops to passing on knitting, sewing, re-upholstery and darning skills – I’m keen on the upholstery one myself.
Drop-in knitting and darning workshop
Date: Sunday 5 June
Time: 11am-3pm
Location: part of ‘Bondi the Beautiful’ Fair at Bondi Park, located near the kindy farm
Details: Learn how to hem, darn or knit with Fixit Fest’s volunteers. Bring an item to darn or use what’s there. Bookings not required – free hot soup for the first 50 people.
Upscale your upholstery workshop
Date: Saturday 18 June
Time: 9:30am-3:30pm
Location: Rose Bay Secondary College, Dover Heights
Details: Learn how to re-upholster a chair to give it a fresh new look. Places strictly limited – book at eleanorr@waverley.nsw.gov.au or call 02 9369 8242.
Funk up your wardrobe workshop
Date: Sunday 19 June
Time: 9:30am-3:30pm
Location: Rose Bay Secondary College, Dover Heights
Details: Learn sewing, repairing and alteration techniques to make at least one fully-recycled, customized piece. Sewing machines provided but participants are encouraged to bring their own. Places strictly limited – book at eleanorr@waverley.nsw.gov.au or call 02 9369 8242.
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
Easter craft at Calico & Ivy
Amy (aka Badskirt) at Calico & Ivy
Sydney crafters have a new heartland – Calico & Ivy‘s Balmain store, managed by the lovely Sarah Wheatley and sales assistants Donna & Amy (Ms Badskirt herself). I am feeling the onset of a new addiction, and not just for the two charming Japanese pattern books I couldn’t resist buying yesterday (even though I know, in my heart, I will not be making that smock dress for some time, given the current writing schedule). It’s the kind of store you just want to curl up and live in.
While rain pelted down on the corrugated tin roof of 10 Birchgrove Rd, we 15 or so sat down to high tea, Zumbo macarons, Sarah’s homemade cake and a trunk full of felt and pearl thread to construct fripperies for Easter, based on some of the projects from The Crafty Kid. A cooler bunch of crafty women you could not hope to meet – it was a gas.
Sign up to the newsletter to receive this year’s workshop schedule. I’m heading along to make a proper quilt for myself, sharpish. Love love.
Too many treats
At work, with a bolstering champagne or three
My kind of colour palette
Calico & Ivy's inspiring manageress
Easter motifs a-go-go
Bunny hand puppet
Felt flower egg cosy
Never fear, Artspark is here
Travis with his Artspark creation
Nervous about filling the upcoming school holidays with meaningful activities, especially when it’s bucketing down outside? Artspark is running sewing and art classes every day throughout the duration. Go for one or as many as you like, or two-day sewing workshops for 5-15 year olds. The school’s also running term classes starting May 9th for 8 weeks.
Some inspiring workshops at Artspark:
2 to 3 year olds – Tuesday and Thursday at 10am
3 to 5 year olds – Monday and Friday 9am to 12 noon
3 to 5 year olds – Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1.5 hour art classes weekly
5 to 10 year olds – art after school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
5 to 10 year olds – Sewing after school on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
10 to 15 year olds – Advanced Sewing after school on Tuesdays
5 to 10 year olds – Drawing after school on Tuesdays
There’s also adult sewing classes on Tuesday eveings and Wednesday mornings. Enjoy!
Make Do Mend London
London's Make Do Mend
Crafty chic hen 'do
UK reader Isabel put me on to Make Do Mend: apparently crafty hen ‘dos and baby showers are taking place in London hot spots such as Covent Garden’s The Hospital Club (below).
Surely only a matter of time before the trend catches on here?
Bellini Bar at The Hospital Club
Tea and crochet with Make Do Mend
High tea and craft... a match made in heaven
Easter craft workshop at Calico & Ivy
I loves me an egg cosy or three
News just in: the lovely Sarah Wheatley of Calico & Ivy’s Balmain store is hosting an Easter high tea & crafts afternoon with yours truly on Sunday 10 April, 2-5pm.
Join us for a decadent afternoon creating felt egg cosies, finger puppets and other felt fripperies from Calico & Ivy’s beautiful range of Heather Bailey designer felt. Construct cute, simple designs by hand for an elegantly homespun Easter – crafters of all skill levels welcome.
A lavish high tea party including sandwiches, cakes and loose-leaf teas will be provided on the day. Spaces are limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment. Call Calico & Ivy on 02 9555 9909 to secure a place.
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Crafty Mornings with Kerri-Anne – soon!
Oh dear, blogged too soon: I’ll be doing regular craft segments on Channel Nine’s Mornings with Kerri-Anne, but not tomorrow – the first appearance has been postponed.
I’ll be appearing once a fortnight shortly, doing craft segments for easy projects you can follow from home. Some will be familiar, and others brand-new… please stay tuned for more news.
Brooch-making at No Chintz
Kristy's boldly-coloured brooches
Last week No Chintz hosted my simple brooch-making workshop. See here for some of the glorious combinations we came up with: bright, fun, and perfectly timed for the crisp days of early Spring.
Bring on the sun.
My single yo-yo brooches
Soaking up the Sewing Room atmosphere
A colourful mess at the table
Lyndsay's beautifully clashing handiwork
Freestyle craft at Shearer’s
Emma & mum Jodie crafting together
Here’s some snaps from yesterday’s workshop at Shearer’s. I had such a great morning wandering about and chatting to everyone as they stitched and got creative. I suggested people make brooches or fridge magnets, à la some of the pieces in the new book, but as always it was great to see the variety of ideas people came up with after such small direction. It made me itchy to sit down and try some new techniques I picked up from those crafters with different skills to me, like this cute & tiny blanket stitch below.
Lily pad
We also had a few kids on board, which was lovely to see – there’s nothing nicer than watching mother & child lost in making something together.
Emma's flower brooch
There's that crazy sixties silk again... scraps will be kicking about forever, it seems
Un peau paisley
Jake sleeps while mum Victoria makes a pirate shirt
Too hot to handle
Fab stripy oven mitt
With the rain pelting down and Sydney gridlocked in traffic last Wednesday, I headed off to No Chintz for a workshop to make some nifty oven mitts. The women I met in the class were so fab – all mothers, all crafty – and we each made an oven mitt and half a matching mitt to pair with the first.
Once you get the hang of these handmade pieces, you can knock one up in half an hour. And a pair make a great gift for a friend who loves to cook.
A while back, I was visiting all the people in my old office, and my former MD mentioned the book: “One thing is certain,” he said. “I’m sure you won’t be writing one for men”. I think these could be a contender for The Crafty Minx for Blokes, don’t you think? Maybe I should add a bit of padding and call them boxing gloves.
Love this embroidered fabric
My mitt
One stylish oven mitt