EVERYONE LOVES A BIT OF BLING

I have recently returned from 2 weeks holiday, and it's amazing how many new things can come into the shop while you're away.

I thought I'd show you our new diamante trims. They are gorgeous, perfect for adding something to a plain dress for a Christmas party or maybe a school formal. I personally would love to drape them all over my Christmas tree, but that would be a tad extravagant. wouldn't it ???!!!!

As I said," Everyone loves a bit of bling."

Happy Sewing

PS if you need to know any details or prices just let me know.

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE VIEWS

I know the title may sound a little odd, but I love to see my fabrics on the line pre washed and considering the weather we have had of late, it's lovely to see the sun out as well.This view also means I have a number of projects to get onto, and my number one is something to wear for my 40 th birthday party. I wasn't going to have one but with a little persuasion from my family I thought why not. The only problem I have is what to wear.

The floral is a cotton voile, perfect for a maxi dress I thought, pattern undecided, the check is a linen mesh and I thought I would do Vogue pattern 8581 and the black is an embroidered and cut out silk and cotton and I'm unsure of that pattern as well. I only have 2 weeks till my party, so I really need to get started. I'm feeling the silk/cotton may be the one, maybe in a simple dress but with the sleeves of Vogue 8392, which at the moment is my favourite pattern.

I'd better hop to it, hopefully I'll have some results soon.

Happy Sewing.

What's New

I know it's still 4 months away, actually that's not that far away, but Christmas is coming, and I don't know about you all but when I see something I think someone may like I grab it.

So for every sewer these are so cute you just have to have one.

Our sewing baskets come in 2 sizes, and both have the tray insert. I think they're great, a little more modern than the average sewing basket. Great for a gift or just to have one for yourself.

We have the baskets at our City and Indooroopilly stores.

Happy Sewing

Have You Seen Valentino Yet?

This is the question we are constantly asked at work, and now I can happily say, " Yes!!!!!!!!! and it is FANTASTIC !!!!!!!!!!!" Notice my use of exclamation marks, that is the only way to describe it.

I went on Wednesday with "technical" friend and co worker Michael. We had a great time looking as closely as we could without touching, which was very close as none of the gowns are behind glass.

My opinion of the exhibition, the man was a master, his designs, cut, use of fabrics ( a lot of silk faille) and finishes were superb. The only other thing that would have made it perfect was if we could have taken some of the gowns off the models and turned them inside out to see how they were sewn, but alas never going to happen.

So if you can get to Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art do so you won't be disappointed, the exhibition goes until November 14th.

I'm off again on Tuesday with some girlfriends, just to look at the pretty dresses this time.

Happy Sewing

1/2 PRICE VOGUE

Just a quick note sewers, Gardams have Vogue patterns 1/2 price!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a great time to pick up a few new spring patterns.
Happy Sewing

Summer Is Coming

Even though we are having quite a few cool days, new summer fabrics stop for no one. Here's a peak at a few new things just arrived.

The fabric on the manequin is a printed silk habutae, perfect for a maxi dress, and the other are printed silk and cotton blends. I bought some of this fabric last year and it is perfect for our summer weather. I love the blue and red, now I just have to decide what to do with it.

Happy Sewing.

What's New !!!!

After a couple of days off work it's always fun to go in and see what's new.

The above print arrived in only yesterday. It's a silk chiffon and comes in 3 colour ways.

It would be perfect for a beautifully draped formal dress or even a caftan for summer.

These two are a couple of very cute craft cottons perfect for kids clothes or bags.

I have been working on a winter coat for my daughter for our upcoming trip to Melbourne, it just needs a press. I will put up some pictures soon.

Happy sewing

School Holiday Sewing

As a lot of parents know the second week of school holidays can be a little trying, the movies are done, the play dates are done, and when it's a cloudy day outside what are we to do?

My daughter Madeline decided her doll Holly, needed some winter pj's, so we decided thats what we would do today. We adapted a size 1 childs pattern and Maddie selected some fabric from my stash.

Maddie has her own machine, I bought it for her a few years ago when Janome had a child's machine that was a lot better than a toy, it's basic but perfect for what she wants to do.

We're both pretty happy with the finised product.

What's Happening at Gardams

Just to let you all in on what's happening at work.
We have not 1 but 2 pattern specials on at the moment, Burda as well as McCalls are 1/2 price!!!!Burda finshes next Sunday and McCalls finishes the following Sunday. I've already got a couple ( you never know when you'll need them ) .

Just arrived (and black just about gone) is our Merino wool jersey, it is gorgeous, perfect for our climate in a classic wrap dress. Cheryl at work is making a collection of tops in it to wear under jackets or cardis for work. Both the city and Indooroopilly stores have the wool jersey in different colours, and I think Ewan and Dorothy are looking at getting more black.

Happy sewing.

Back Into It

I've been a bit slack lately, no sewing or any form of creating, but the weather has started to change, well the mornings have and I have that new season feeling happening. All my summer fabrics have been put away and out come the autumn/winter fabrics, we really don't have a winter in sunny Queensland, but it's nice to dress a little different. I have become all inspired to start sewing again.

Something I did whip up was a top to wear out to dinner the other night. It's made in a Cotton/silk blend from where else but Gardams in a top loosely based on McCalls 5050. I'm really happy with the finished product and love wearing as the fabric is so soft and light.

New at Gardams

If you've read my profile you would have noticed I work in a fabric shop. It is one of, if not the longest running fabric shop in Brisbane, and I have been with them on and off, ie to have a baby and briefly try a different direction for over 20 years. I enjoy my job, meeting our customers and working with gorgeous fabrics. I thought I would occasionally let you see whats new and whats happening in and around Gardams.

We have just received in again a range of vintage sewing tins. They are great for storing all your sewing bits and bobs, and would make a wonderful gift (mothers day is coming up in May).We have also just got in a great fold up cutting table, it's cardboard but very sturdy. I had one and it was great, until the cat got to it!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you like them. The tins are in our city and Indooroopilly stores while the tables are only at Indooroopilly.

Happy sewing

More Bags

I can't believe how quickly time has gone by, so much for being a consistent blogger. Anyhow I seem to have been on a bag thing at the moment. After my library bags I decided my daughter needed a new music bag. One befitting the string orchestra captain (I had to add that as I am sooo proud). I found some fabric at a local quilting store with music notes all over it, this time I added a zip to the top so none of her bits and pieces fall out. Cello strings are so expensive !!!!!!!!!! I also have enough left over to make her music teacher a small coin purse for Christmas. I know it's a little early, but it's good to be organised.

While cruising around various web sites I found
Grand Revival Design and fell in love with the Metro bag. I have been looking for a soft hobo style bag I could make out of some vintage style fabric I had in my stash and this was perfect. This has become my favourite bag at the moment and it has attracted a few comments.

New Year New Projects

A new year has begun and I have decided to start my own sewing blog. I have to admit I have become a little addicted to sewing blogs, the girls that write them are really quite inspiring to me, they achieve so much in such little time whilst attending to families, going to work etc.

As all my Christmas sewing is completed, all on time and no IOU's, my thoughts turn to new projects. First cab off the rank are a couple of library bags. My daughter advised me at the end of last year that her current bag was no longer cool, so she selected some fabric and this is the result. Very quick and easy to do. This was such a success that her brother asked for one to start prep with, I found some fantastic Thomas fabric at Gardams so whipped one up for him as well. The bag has gone so I can only show you a picture of the fabric.

My next project is an adventurous one, a shopping trolley liner for my nephew.I'm using McCalls 5409 and doing the car version in red. I'm hoping it may help my sister do her shopping a little quicker as they say red cars go faster, we can only hope with an 8 month old. So back to the machine, happy sewing.