Vintage Pattern Love!

Hi lovely readers,

Hope you had a great weekend. It felt like summer yesterday here in Melbourne which was great. Today though, back to 15 degrees and quite chilly. Blogging and sending magazine orders is on my to do list for today's cold weather.

I don't think I am the only one who loves vintage sewing patterns. In fact I know I'm not the only one. There are some incredibly talented sewers out there who take their love to the next step, and actually use them to make clothes. I sadly cannot understand the patterns. I've probably not bothered to try hard enough, but all the lines and numbers confuse me. I might force my mum to teach me. She likes to remind me every now and then that she used to sew. She taught me how to gather my skirts and dresses, but I don't think she knows that!! Now you do!! Anyway,  one day I hope to use them, cos then Id be able to re create some of the stunning dresses and skirts. Until then, I do collect the patterns found at opshops and fairs, to use for inspiration and ideas, great for gift wrapping, and some to hang as decorations on my wall. Have a look at these ones in my collection, I just love them.

So sad, the pattern for the shorts were missing!

This dress, just shorter I think would be very cute.

I really like the red polka dot dress.

THAT BROWN DRESS/HAIR/BROOCH!!!

Love the simple blue skirt. In fact that girls whole outfit is great!

Anyone else collect patterns? Do you know how to use them? 

Will be back soon, I have some pics from my Fabric tape workshops I have been running. If your interested in taking part, the next one is this thursday the 16th.

Taz xx

The six hankie dress.

Hello all,

I hope you are all well and filling your days with lovely, creative and peaceful things. I did s spot of sewing on the weekend for my 4 year old niece's birthday. It was a dress up theme party, full of happy children, handmade party bags, presents and of course, cake. It was lovely. I decided to give a gift of handmade clothes this year, and part of it was my six hankie dress, a tutu and a skirt made from a vintage babies dress.

Im pretty happy with how the dress turned out. The idea popped in my head when I was tidying my craft room and found a stash of hankies. And it looks just as i pictured! Two hankies for the top and four for the skirt. Really simple, and with added lace edging, I think i'm in love! If only I could fit in a hankie. But it's inspired me to work with squares for adult sizes.

Terrible photo but this was a babies dress I opshopped and cut the top off to then turn into a skirt.

Loved the print, I added elasticated lace and rice rac for the waist.

And this is the tutu. Made from op shopped tulle and a very pretty pillow case.

I took a batch of chocolate cupcakes with pink cream cheese icing and daisies.

Here's us in our dress up, I'm Pippi longstockings, my hubby is Simply Red and Percy is a sailor, in his dads sailor suit from when he was 2!

Hope you had a good weekend too!

See you soon,

Taz xx

Issue Three of Hundreds and Thousands out now!

Just a quick post to say that the next issue, issue three, of Hundreds and Thousands Magazine is now available. We are very proud and happy to finally have this finished and out in the world. Now, it's time to work on our special Christmas edition. I would love to know what you think of our mag!  You can buy yours online www.hundredsandthousands.storenvy.com.

Enjoy! xx

Fabric Tape Workshop

Hello again,

Just wanted to tell you about something I am running this week, and hopefully again in future weeks. My fabric tape I shared in issue two of Hundreds and Thousands Magazine was so popular (and why not, you get to make your own craft tape with vintage fabric), so Im running a workshop to get people making, chatting, drinking(tea) and eating.

The first workshop will be on the 25th september from 11-12.30. It's $25 per person which includes devonshire tea and all the materials.

It's going to be held at the Unwind Craft Cafe, and is a good way to spend a day with yourself, you and some friends or even you and your school kid during these school holidays!

To book, contact the cafe on (03)9336 0687

Hooray for handmade!

Taz

A cherry dress for Mezz.

Hellooooo,

So I mentioned in my last post that i'd be back soon to share this dress I made. But it's not soon, it's been a while..again..sorry! We are busy unpacking boxes in our new home in between everyday normal activities so I have just not found the time to do this. But right now, I'm tired, and sitting on my built bed (we've been sleeping on the floor for the past 2 weeks!!!)and feel like blogging.

So, it was Mezz's 30th birthday a few weeks ago and I wanted to make her a dress. One covered in cherries.. If your wondering who Mezz is, she's my sister in law, and co creator of the little mag we make, Hundreds and Thousands

I had opshopped a cherry tablecloth about 2 years ago and knew it needed to be made into something for Mezz, but my dress making skills were not great then, so aren't we all glad she didn't turn 30 a couple of years ago, as we may have had a wardrobe malfunction!

I made it with a gathered skirt, elastic waist and added some bright red lacy trim around the arms and hem.

I'm really happy with this dress. I'm a big fan of dresses with matching belts, so made a belt to go with it as well. I've seen Mezz wearing it a couple of times so that makes me pretty happy!

Yayyy, here she is wearing it!

I'm really enjoying making this style dress and have started selling them at Unwind Craft Cafe and making custom orders.

I plan to be organised and set up an online shop with the fabrics available for dress and skirt orders, so stay tuned!

Thanks for reading!
Taz

Lifes unexpected changes!

Hello all,

So sorry for my silence, but as the title of this post suggests, life's had some unexpected changes (all good), and it's kept me busy, too busy to blog. I'm planning for that to change though! We also ran out of internet due to a night of michael jackson and celine, mariah and other diva youtube watching!!!

So what's the news, whats changed in my life? Well, firstly, we have moved house. I am currently sitting in my new lounge room with a much deserved cup of tea and packet of shortbread biscuits made by a friend.
We knew we were going to move in the next few months but did not know it would be NOW and to my mums house! She has moved out to go live at my brothers house, and my brother....he's off to germany!

Big changes! Its very exciting, but exhausting at the same time. Today was spent doing the end of lease clean which I HATE. I scrub and clean and do it so well, just to know the house will be knocked down anyway! That's why I'm eating a packet of biscuits. I've been cleaning since 9am and came home at 6.30. No unpacking new home for me right now, I need to sit and blog!


The other unexpected change for me, is finding myself working one day a week selling my handmade goods at the cutest cafe/shop Uwind Craft Cafe in melbourne. It came completely out of the blue, I didnt even know such a place existed, but it was perfect timing. I have only recently been planning and dreaming to one day start a little shop but had no idea where to start and doing this will be such fantastic experience. Even if I never do my own thing, knowing I am part of this really wonderful place makes me really happy. Its a cafe that serves good homemade food, sells handmade wares and you can do craft...perfect really! I am one of the 6 handmade stalls who stock the shop and I am very touched that I was approached to be part of the team. It's such alot of fun and besides it being great for my handmade goods getting out there, its great for my mental health too. Having a day that I can just be me, not a mum, not a wife, just Tarryn selling my handmade things in a place that brings out more of the Tarryn I want around is so so good, for me and so I can be a better mum and wife! Here's some pics of the shop and my stall set up. I would LOVE you to visit sometime, I work on thursdays!

One of my Butter and Buntings dresses on display

Lots of bunting available and a new product, vintage inspired party invitations!

The cafe stocks Bendigo Wool which is very popular and beautiful!

Percy also turned 2 last weekend, which was not unexpected but it was another wonderful thing thrown in with all the changes. He is just too cute and I am loving this age so much. I am determined to not let the phrase 'terrible twos or threes' play a part in our relationship, and I will give his toddler years my own name once we are through it. For now, its really lovely and going so quickly.

Ok, well I will end here. I promise to be back soon. I made Mezz a cherry dress and I'd love to show you! But until then, its unpacking boxes! 

Taz x