Tag Archives: fabric

I Made Things! A Dress Project.

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See that dress? Yes, I made it. I even had pictures for a tutorial but someone hadn’t backed up her files so they are now all gone. Let’s just appreciate that for a moment.

Okay. I used some velvet that had once been chair coverings but then at one party someone (not me) spilled red wine on them and after a spin in a washing machine, the fabric was just taking lot of space in my stash. Luckily, there was enough “clean” material to make two dresses out of it so I decided to make them for my friend’s daughters aged 1 and 3.

Of course, I started the project too late and I spent one sleepless night to get the dresses done. To make the project even bigger still, I wanted to make my own bias tape from an old pillowcase (and of course I had to finish all 11 meters of it, making enough for just one project…pfft, craziness) and it took forever. Then I didn’t want the sleeve openings and hems be too matchy, so for some inexplicable reason I decided to finish the hem by hand. Actually, there’s matching bias underneath, hiding the raw edge and because I didn’t want the stitching to show on top (except they did anyway), I hand stitched the bias tape down.

Can you see why something that should have been quick and enjoyable project ended done through haze of tears?

No, not me. I have no idea why.

Anyway, the dresses were a HUGE hit. Apparently, when the older one opened the gift, she immediately pressed the dress against herself and wanted to see how it’d look on her. Then the younger one, after her sister, did the same. SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!

I must say, I like girls who like dresses. Next Christmas’ lesson: shoes with glitter.

Thrifty Finn- Thinking about making a third dress just to show how I did it. But only if someone asks me to.

P.S. It really wasn’t me who spilled the wine. Honest. I swear.

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Fabric Friday: Kristina Isola Prints Through The Years

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Here is a gallery of Kristina Isola’s prints through the years. The links to the original sources can be found at the end. I’ve excluded the prints Kristina did together with her mother, Maija Isola. In the list can also be found the controversial “Gingko”-print which originality is highly debatable (although I have formed my firm opinion based on the fact it isn’t her usual style). Anyhoo, if you know other prints or have Kristina Isola-fabric, please let me know in the comments and I can add it/them here. Enjoy!

Mulperi 1989, (reader tip)
Gingko, 2008
Mittari, 1989
Omppu, 1996
Talvimatka, 2005
Piano, 1999
Poppeli, 1992
Cembalo, 1998
Pajunkissat, 2008
Kalliolla, 1992
Loitsu, 1992
Morelli, 1990
Malva, 2011
Colorraita, 1998
Tiheys, 2000
Tasan, 2000
Onnellinen, 2000
Sekä Että,1999
Linnea, 199?
Soliseva, 1996
Terassi, 1992
Aallokko, 1995
Kimalainen, 1986
Krassi, 1998
Puutarha, 1997
Kaustinen, 1992
Hedelmäpuu, 1996
Belvedere, 1997
Viola, 1999
Siideri, 1996
Voikukka, 1997
Kukkura, 2007

Original sources in random order:

Kukkura 2007, Voikukka 1997, Siideri 1996, Viola 1999, Belvedere 1997, Hedelmäpuu 1996, Kaustinen 1992, Puutarha 1997, Kimalainen 1986, Krassi 1998, Aallokko 1995, Morelli 1990, Terassi 1992, Soliseva 1996, Linnea 199?, Sekä Että 1999, Tasan 2000, Onnellinen 2000, Colorraita 1998, Tiheys 2000, Malva 2011, Loitsu 1992, Kalliolla 1992, Pajunkissat 2008, Cembalo 1998, Poppeli 1992, Piano 1999, Omppu 1996, Talvimatka 2005, Mittari 1989,     Gingko 2008, Mulperi 1989

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern, The Rainbow Edition

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My second entry in Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern. Other interpretations can be found HERE.WPCRed3

WPCOrange2

WPCYellow1

WPCGreen2

WPCBlue1

WPCIndigo1

WPCViolet

ROYGBIV. Mix of new and vintage prints from my fabric stash. Which one is your favourite?

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern

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I just got home from a lovely date and before going to bed (it’s 2am over here), I decided to do my weekly photo challenge.

As you know, I’m a big fan of vintage prints and fabrics. Even now, there’s a huge pile of fabrics from 1940′s to 1970′s behind my back, just waiting to be sorted, folded and eventually used in one craft project or another. Even my Sew Mama Sew- giveaway prize was a set of vintage fat quarters.

What is it that attracts me to vintage and retro prints? Of course, people tend to get more nostalgic as they age but for me it’s more than that. I love going into the state of mind of the person designing a print. There is always a reason behind of placing the elements. You cannot always verbalize it but you don’t put a petal here and another over there for fun. Even a slight change can make the print to tell a different story. “Reading” vintage prints, takes you into another place and another time and that my friend, is something they call “time travel”.

If you are interested, other interpretations of the theme “Pattern” can be found HERE. Tomorrow I will announce the winners of my various giveaways.

 

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May Thrifty Giveaway- Sew Mama Sew

So many years I planned to join it and equally many years I missed it. What, you ask. Well, Sew Mama Sew’s huge Giveaway Day of course. For those who don’t know, the giveaway day is twice a year event where it’s perfectly okay to comment on people’s blogs just in hopes to win some crafty goodness. I’ve had some luck myself in the giveways. I’ve won fabrics, cute pillow cover and even a lovely handbound leather notebook (which I still haven’t used because I don’t want to use it for anything trivial).

This year I decided to combine my May giveaway with Sew Mama Sew’s Giveaway Day and hereby I present my prize:

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10 fat quarters of various vintage sheets! Yes, 10! This is a fantastic way to bulk up your stash don’t you think?

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Oh, how I love that pattern. It’s from an old pillow case. And that orange-purple-green just peeking under? Used to be a curtain.

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Now the important part…How to enter: 
1. Leave a comment on this giveaway post AND your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win. The e-mail won’t be visible to anyone else but me, UNLESS you type it in the comment section that is.
OPTIONAL ENTRIES:
2. Follow me and leave me a comment telling me that you did. Doesn’t matter if it’s via WordPress, RSS-feeder, Facebook or Pinterest, any one will do. If you already are a follower, remind me that you are :)
3. Help ME to get to TOP10 in a photo contest by voting my PHOTO. Just click the little + next to text ÄÄNESTÄ TÄTÄ KUVAA and your vote should register right away. Then let me know that you did.

The giveaway closes on May 10th at 23.59 Helsinki time and is open globally. I will contact the winner personally and announce it here too. Additional prizes may be offered if amount of comments exceeds 200.

Here’s the list of other Giveaway Day Giveaways:

Sewing + Craft Supplies
Handmade Baby + Kid Items
Handmade for the Home
Handmade Bags
Handmade Accessories
 JanuaryGiveaway3