Melly & me

3 fat elephants

  Last week we got a nice surprise in the mail.  One of those parcels that you are not expecting which bring you so much joy and excitement - what could it be?????  The anticipation was well rewarded when we found inside a selection of new Japanese fat quarters from Lynn at Patchwork on Central Park!!  These new fabrics have just arrived in store and Lynn though we might like to have a bit of a play!  She knows us too well!!

As soon as I saw the first two fabrics all I could think of was Phoebe and so decided I had to make a new version for in Lynn's  store.  Isn't she cute?

And of course, as is my sickness, I cannot only make one toy at a time so I decided to make a few more heffalumps at the same time.  Little floss kept singing the "Three fat elephants balancing" song as I worked and now I just cannot get it out of my head!  So I decided for their photo shop they should do a bit of balancing - although I wasn't clever enough to get them on that piece of string.

These three little fellas are now for sale in our etsy store and until they find new homes will grace my new studio. 

I have returned from Ikea this afternoon where I have purchased the necessary furniture and boxes to move the toys out and my studio in - WOO-HOO!!!  The next few days will definitely be spent with allen key in hand and hopefully not too much hair puling.  But it will be well worth it!!!!  I cant wait to get the room all set up and will hope to share some photos with you next week of my progress.  May the floss be with you!   Melly.

Woof!!

I am so excited that so many of you are signing up to be involved in the Scrap Swap!!  We will post all of the details of scrap sizes, etc in our next post and if you are only now logging on look at our previous post as you can still join up!

This week and next I have devoted to coming up with a few new designs for pattern release in April.  There have been so many other deadlines that free design time has been scarce and I have set these 2 weeks aside to get all of those ideas that have been brewing into life.  I have made a cute new bag which still needs handles so I will share that with you later next week.  While the bag was put aside for a couple of days this sweet little fella, "Fido", managed to find life!  He is such a fun addition to the flossy home and has already become a firm favourite for Little Floss!  I found them sleeping together last night before he was even completed! 

Today the postman brought an exciting package of fabric to my door too! (he was a bit nervous coming to the door with all the barking going on but was soon put at ease when he saw young Fido!)

Isn't this new Alexander Henry fabric just to die for???!!!  

The colours haven't come out quite true to life on the photo but it is just the most fun range!!  I hope I can fit some of this into my designing next week!

Now I have to go and clean up my sewing table which is a complete disgrace!  I am looking forward to my new studio which will be a reality soon so that the table in question can go back to being our dining table!

May the floss be with you, Melly.

Katie Jump Rope creations

After our post about our fabulous new collection of Denyse Schmidt fabrics, we can now happily show you that we have put it all to good use!!!

Rosie has made this very cool version of her "Rebekah Amy's" quilt in one colour way...

And I made this new bag in another...

The colours really are so much fun to work with!!

Some other news for any of you who are based in Melbourne - we have a few class dates coming up at for term 3 at Patchwork on Central Park

- "Black Forest" bag class on Sunday 29th July from 10am - 3pm.

- A softie class where you can choose to make either "Lottie & Little Lady" or "Hooty & Tweet" on Friday the 10th August from 10am - 2pm.

- "Sherbet" class on Saturday the 8th September from 10am - 3pm where teens (12+) are also welcome.

If you are interested in joining us for a day of fun or know of any teens who would be interested in the younger class, please contact Patchwork on Central Park to book in. 

And are any of you heading out to the Melbourne Craft & Quilt Show this month?? We will be there on Thursday the 26th July at the "Patchwork on Central Park" stand. We would really love to meet some of you, so please come and say Hi!!!

There are a few more new bags on their way, so back to work we go and hopefully they will be ready for release at the show.  May the floss be with you!!! - Melly.

Denyse Schmidt fabric!!

We went for a trip to one of our favourite patchwork shops the other day, Patchwork on Central Park.  We were like kids in a candy shop when our eyes fell upon the latest range by Denyse Schmidt called "Katie Jump Rope".  Like Denyse's last range we knew that this fabric needed to be used for some new designing.  The owner of Patchwork on Central Park, Lynn Clay, generously gave us some sampling of the entire range!!!  She is so good to us and her support is priceless. 

Now we have so much goodness to play with and you will hopefully see signs of it here soon!  If you live in Melbourne and you haven't already visited Lynn's shop we can highly recommend it.

We will be drawing the winners of our giveaway tomorrow so if you haven't already, make sure you leave a comment of our previous post to be in the running!   - Rosie & Melly

Something old and something new.

I was reading Julie's blog yesterday and she was discussing ways of living in better balance with the environment when it comes to our crafting.  I have read other blogs discussing the same general thread and it is something that Rosie and I have incorporated into our recent designing and crafting.  We, like most of you, are mad thrifters and enjoy searching for great books, aprons and other bits and pieces in every thrift store we see.  We also, however, scour the thrift stores for clothing that is linen or 100% cotton to recycle into our creations.  Take these shorts for an example...

Just a very ordinary pair of linen shorts found at a thrift store.  But look how great the linen goes with these designer fabrics..

And even better yet take a look at the end result when those shorts have become part of a gorgeous new bag from our most recent pattern...

It has become something that we take great satisfaction in doing now.  It is great to recycle for environmental reasons as well as being softer on the budget (if you don't count all the hours looking through thrift stores of course!!).

  To recycle clothing in your crafting you need to make sure that you only use garments where the fabric is in good condition.  Soak the garment in Napisan or equivalent soaker overnight to clean and disinfect.  Once dry cut the garment apart along the seams and voila you have some fabric!  Of course we are still obsessed by and can't do without all the gorgeous designer fabrics but we try to include 20% - 50% recycled fabric in all of our creating.

These are a few other bags that I have whipped up over the past couple of days (all using part recycled fabrics).  They have all hit the Etsy store.  Until next time, May the floss be with you! - Melly & Rosie

Happy list

Things that make me happy today are.....

Having lots of flossies around me (in case anyone hasn't figured it out yet, Flossie is a generic term for anything cute and loveable) - All of Melly and my kiddies together.

Fantastic Vintage fabric finds (we'd love to share some with you - let us know if you'd like a piece - we can spare some!)

Getting an extension on an overdue magazine project deadline.

Ice-cream pig out!

5 sleeps til beach holiday.

Finishing Chemo - YAY!!! (thanks to all who wished me well)

Christmas presents finished and ready to go out. (Set with apron, decoration and coasters in a matching gift bag) - Rosie

The great fabric fondle

 

I recieved a text from melly last night "Want to go to the patchwork store tomorrow? I NEED fabric!" Of course the answer was "YES!". We have had a lovely morning and have bought way too much fabric. There is nothing quite like fondling fabric as I like to call it. You know, endlessly rearranging the bundle to create new colour schemes and contrasts. Dreaming of designs and projects not yet begun. Do you like our stash? We had the added enjoyment of looking for and collecting special bits and pieces for our first swap wth "gimme your stuff". We have corresponded with two girls from Singapore and are having so much fun putting together our first package to send. Melly and me are planning a big week sewing and designing as we have a few projects piling up. I have three magazine projects due in the next month and we need new patterns for "Melly & me". Until next time, May the floss be with you...... Rosalie.