Special delivery!

I don’t know about you, but my day is always brightened when a delivery arrives at my desk – especially when it’s a couple of boxes like these!

 

So what’s in the boxes hey? That’s the big question 🙂

1. Sven clogs

Ever since I saw Sarai’s beautiful silver Sven clogs, I was all like, “oh lordy, I gots to get me a pair of those!”. So when I saw them on sale at Fab, I snapped a pair right up. Unfortunately Fab doesn’t ship to little old Australia, but fear not, that’s where USA Shopping Affair comes in – thank you very much!

2. Tracing paper galore

I’m a bit tardy in actually completing my bombshell dress – fitting is getting me down – and I had really crappy tracing paper to work with, but I took it upon myself to order some what is hopefully amazingly useful waxed tracing paper from Richard the Thread, one of the suppliers Gertie recommends in the course. The minimum order was $35, so I think I now have enough tracing paper to last a lifetime… in three different colours.

 3. Wiksten Patterns

I know you can download these little beauties, but I’m a bit old school and like to have my hands wrapped around something concrete. Kollabora was having a sale, so I grabbed these and added to my order sitting with USA Shopping Affair.

So that’s what’s in the box! Now, let’s get sewing hey 🙂

 

Shopping: I went

I hit The Fabric Store‘s sale this weekend and got me some fun new things to play with – I thought I’d share my haul with y’all.

1. Papercut Patterns Undercover Hood

This looks like it’s going to be a really quick make (yay!). And, could this packaging be any more fabulous?

 

I was a good girl and traced it off and washed my fabric yesterday. Like my fancy pattern weight?

I’m going to make the Undercover Hood in a delightful pink and grey striped Marc Jacobs knit, also from The Fabric Store. Here it is  drying on the line. And, drum roll, I’m not making a toile – yep, this is me, rebelling.

 

2. Green and white silk

I’m planning to use this as lining for a Sewaholic Minoru 🙂 Don’t hold your breath on that turning up though!

3. Black wool

And this is the planned outer fabric for the aforementioned Minoru – inspired by the black wool Minoru from Sew Brunswick!

4. Black and white silk

Last one, don’t know what this will end up as but I was attached so bought it anyway. Don’t judge – we’ve all been there 😉 Let me know if you have any ideas!

I think The Fabric Store is my favourite fabric retailer in Melbourne – great range, I always seem to find things I like there, and finally the staff are really helpful, and lovely! My mustard jacket was made with fabric from there too 🙂 (v8146 – nearly there and Presenting v8146)

What have you guys purchased lately?

Z xx

A sewer’s guide to Melbourne

I can get jealous of the vast available options for sewers overseas, especially in the US! There’s so much variety, and everything seems to be cheaper there too. ‘Down Under’ we can certainly purchase these bargains online, but the postage costs can be a killer. In fact, sometimes the postage costs more than the actual purchase!

Anyway, I find that half the fun of shopping for fabric and the like is the retail experience. I like to see the true colours, touch, rub, stretch, drape and play with fabric before I purchase it – it’s like the fabric and I are bonding!

Shopping in a Melbourne laneway

Here in Melbourne, I have my tried and true favourite haunts, and every now and again I’ll come across a fabulous new ‘sewing resource’. It could be a new fabric store, or a perhaps a place that makes custom buttons and belts.

I want to share the local sewing wonderlands I know of and discover with other Melbournians (and visitors to this lovely city), so I’ve created what I’m calling the ‘Sewer’s Guide to Melbourne’. A map that shares all the local, fabulous sewing delights here in Melbourne.

You can view the guide on the My Sewing Resources page. The map is an ongoing work in progress that I plan to update whenever I find somewhere new.

Have a look and let me know what you think, and let me know of any other places I should add too! I hope you find the guide useful!

ZoSews’ top three from Tessuti’s Winter 2012 range (so far anyway)

So I check my email today, and what pops up? An email from Tessuti announcing their winter range has arrived! Gah! Barely able to contain myself, I jump straight on to the Tessuti online shop for a quick look.

There’s so many pretty things! But, unfortunately little miss ZoSews does not have an evergreen money tree, so purchasing must be constrained. With that in mind, I set about choosing some favourites for consideration.

So, here’s my top three from Tessuti’s new fabric range:

1. Cherry Peaks: Italian Designer 100% Wool Knit.

Div-ine! I love this Missoni look. (Is this in fact Missoni fabric? That is the question!) I’m thinking a wonderful zig zaggy maxi dress with this gem. Aren’t the warm, Autumnal colours lovely?

2. Riverbed:  Italian Designer 78% Mohair 13% Wool 9% Nylon.

The colours just pop in this fabric. I’m imagining a fabulous coat, a swing coat…mmmm fabulous swing coat. There’s also a purple and black version of this fabric available – Lavender Forest.

3. Last but not least, Black Night: Italian Designer  54% Alpaca 46% Wool Diagonal Twill Coating. Well I wouldn’t be a real Melbournian if I didn’t choose something black! I picture this as another fabulous, yet more classic or
serious coat.

So that’s it, my top three! Hopefully at least one of these makes it to my sewing room. (Did I say sewing room?  Darn wishful thinking – I meant kitchen
table! :o)

Have you looked at Tessuti’s new range? Which are your favourites?

Zxx

P.S – Pattern suggestions for these divine fabrics are very welcome 🙂

P.P.S – For those who love sewing news, I just received an email saying Kwik Sew Patterns are now part of the The McCall Pattern Company.