A Poncho for all Seasons!

I declare that 2015 has been my year of the poncho.

With the seasons changing and finally a glimmer of sunshine on our horizon I asked myself,

"Julianne, how do you plan to incorporate a poncho into your Summer wardrobe?"

"Well, Julianne," I answered myself, "With a vintage towel beach poncho OF COURSE!" D'uh!"

 Two matching "palm beach" vintage towels at Savers the other day were exactly what I needed. A  pair for $2.99!

Fortunately, I had the trusty "Golden Hands Encyclopedia of Craft" poncho instructions at the ready...

 

The towels were a lot larger than the size in Golden Hands.  I cut some of the length but kept the width so it's a large coverall for the beach. I included the darts too as suggested in the book.

In one crafternoon I made it, finishing it off with some fringing. So simple!
Now...where's the sun?

How to Sew a Simple Poncho

Some Poncho sewing instructions from the
trusty old Golden Hands Craft books:

"The fitted poncho has two seams, shoulder darts and applied fringing. It has a set outline which will keep its shape if made in a firm woven fabric and for extra warmth and firmness you can line it.
You could adapt the poncho by trimming with fur or braid instead of the fringe; by pattern darning a border; by making a 'poncho suit' with skirt or trousers; or by using an exciting furnishing fabric, or casual towelling for the beach."

Hmmm. "poncho suit". Not a phrase you see every day. What do you think? Faster than knitting or crochet. I'm on the look out out "exciting furnishing fabric"!

Thank you, yet again, Golden Hands.

Frocktober Day 11 Caring and Shirring

What do you know about ovarian cancer?

Do you know it can't be detected in a pap smear?

Did you know that the symptoms can range from loss of appetite to bloating?

Did you know that in Australia one woman dies from ovarian cancer every 10 hours?

As women, we need to understand the symptoms  of ovarian cancer and the risk factors. All too often women are too busy caring for others to take notice of their own health. 
Frocktober is a way we can help each other become aware of ovarian cancer as well as raising funds to support research and the development of an early detection test.

So I'm sharing some links and some information.

(from the Cancer Council Australia website)

Symptoms and diagnosis

There may be no symptoms or symptoms may be non-specific and include:

• persistent abdominal pain
• pelvic or back pain
• cramps, swelling, bloating
• symptoms of urinary frequency or changed bowel habits with constipation or diarrhoea and/or nausea
• fullness after food, weight loss, loss of appetite
• tiredness
• painful intercourse or vaginal bleeding.

(From the Women's Cancer Foundation Ovarian Cancer Institute website)

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in a woman’s ovaries. Some of the cells in one or both ovaries start to grow abnormally and develop into cancer.

Around 90 per cent of ovarian cancers start on the outer covering of the ovary. This is known as epithelial ovarian cancer. Whilst only 1400 women will be diagnosed with this disease every year, more than 900 of these women will die.

Not great odds are they?

The money you donate to frocktober goes to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation

(from their website)

Our Mission

1. The development and implementation of an early detection program for ovarian cancer

2. Improving the mortality rate, management and long-term survival of women with ovarian cancer

3. Gaining fundamental understanding of the causes of ovarian cancer

I encourage everyone to read up. I also encourage you all to donate HERE. Because with a deadly cancer that has no or minimal symptoms, an early detection test is the key! 

Now for the FROCK. It's a colourful cotton print frock, vintage Sportsgirl, with a shirred bodice and SHIRRED SLEEVES. And yes - I'm shir you guessed (see what I did there?) that I cut it shorter and am wearing the scrap in my hair.

It's a craft lady sort of dress and I teamed it with hand crafted accessories (made by me) worthy of the Golden Hands Encyclopedia of CRAFTS All of which was appropriate for a crafternoon in the sewing room cutting out a 70's dress pattern from 70's fabric. 

Mind you I think I stuffed it up trying to alter the size. SIGH! But If the frock fits, then you can be SHIR I'll wear it! See you all tomorrow!

looking like a 70's couch

I love this dress. Even though it makes me feel like I'm wearing a 70's couch cover. It's vintage Welsh woven wool designed by David Bond for the Craft Centre of Wales. It's worthy of a crafting 70's lady from The Golden Hands Encyclopedia Of Crafts.

I don't know anything about David Bond and can't find anything....

I've had it for years but haven't worn it that much....on account of it making you feel like an arm chair....but couldn't resist teaming it with my orange hair!

What do you think? Hilarious, huh? I wore it to a crafty get together. It was a relief no one mistook me for a piece of furniture and sat on me. Not even the dog. It all made me want to make tuna casserole for tea and do some macrame!

Looking for inspiration in all the right places...

Well, as anyone who has read this blog before knows, I'm an old fashioned girl.(ahem). Yesterday I was feeling the need for inspiration - for indulging in the simple pleasure of looking at great images and ideas. Briefly, I dipped my toe in the edge of the bottomless lake that is Pinterest - but feared I would drown there!
In the end - I just wanted to NOT be at the computer.

So instead, I sat outside in the sunshine and flicked through my wonderful inherited collection of craft books from the '70's and 80's. These Golden Hands Encyclopedia of CRAFTS! were a weekly magazine and I have a few years worth. There are so many ideas and techniques. Some are, frankly, criminal - but others are fantastic. And so modern too.

Yesterday I was looking for ideas for children's necklaces for my market stall , ideas for decorating the new Kinder room (as I'm helping out with that) and just anything that took my fancy. The old craft books also have the added sentimental element. I see so many things that Mum made, so many things I wanted to make as a kid and remember fondly weekend afternoons doing exactly what I did yesterday - sitting in the sunshine and flicking through the Golden Hands Encyclopedia of CRAFTS!
Where do you go for inspiration?

 

hexagon

 Hexagonal love is six sided.....flowery.....nostalgic or modern...what's not to like? Here's my take on some hexagon necklaces today......

 These necklaces are made with builders line in neon tones of orange, pink and green....perfect for Ms Curly Pops' I think! You can purchase her Spring fabric designs  here

...other hexagon inspiration comes from the wonderful Hilachas  in Texas with her one flower Wednesdays. (I now mark the rhythm of the week with her Wednesday flower posts!) and of course the trusty old "Golden Hands Encyclopedia of CRAFTS!" for all things nostalgic.

One week at a time

I wanted to have a finish things Friday this week...but the craft week has not gone to plan. I realise, to have a finish thing Friday - you need to have a....

Start Something New Saturday...

A Stitching Sunday...

Measuring Monday...

Tutorial Tuesday...

Work hard Wednesday...

and a Thorough Thursday

Meanwhile, my daughter Micmac (no, not her real name) has had a massive Finish Things Friday. Her VCE textiles is due today. I was busy being craft support person into the wee hours last night - finding scissors, threading needles and making tea.

Some of the accessories for her major pieces were the final touches to be finished. Head pieces....

and beaded ballet shoes.....

and metal plated ballet shoes. 

Hope your Craft week went well! I'm planning a more productive one next week!

posted by Julianne sister outlaw

patchwork economy

My mother liked to do hexagon patchwork, large and small, from quilts to pincushions. She favoured making the hexagons into flowers, often with a plain centre surrounded by patterned petals. She made me a terrific quilt when I was a teenager - she began making it when I was about 5 years old and finished it when I was about 15. All hand stitched. We stupidly decided to attach it to a doona cover though and the numerous washes eventually wore it out.

I used to love sitting on my bed with her and she would reminisce about each fabric - everything from flower girl dresses to hand me down frocks from friends ended up in the quilt. Her template was some cardboard from the cornflakes box and she would sit and hand stitch them in the evenings. So I guess this style of patchwork has sentimental value for me and brings back fond memories.

  

This image is from the "Golden Hands Encyclopedia of CRAFTS!" This decoupage hexagon patchwork floor is fantastic! I wish it was a lino design. Goes well with the wedge sandals and denim smock in the background, huh?

And a coffee table - More decoupage patchwork using fabric. I like the idea of gluing rather than hand stitching!The craft book suggests cottons are best because they absorb the adhesives and varnish.I'm considering trying this out on our very boring and ugly coffee table although the craft book warns patience is needed!

For the fun of it, I made this virtual patchwork using photoshop and images from some of my favourite summer frocks and skirts.



posted by Julianne Sister outlaw

craft crime 2

"Many people tend to think rather vaguely of seeds as small round things which you push into the soil in the Spring" So says the "Golden Hands Encylopedia of Crafts". Well yes.The book then continues with "Handle them and you will begin to see their potential" Yes. Potential dinner.

Seed craft. I just don't get it. I can try to see the retro cool in the tones of browns and oranges but really, I just see lentils. I see food waste! I see bobbly dust collecting textures - I see craft crime!!!

In the case of this portrait in seeds, well I just see super creepy craft crime!

But perhaps I hadn’t considered this- practical seed craft. Well. That makes all the difference doesn’t it? Well...not really. I charge seed craft with CRAFT CRIME! What says the jury? Guilty?

posted by Julianne Sister Outlaw