Update

The lovely Lynda from Lynda's Sewing and Swaps stopped by my blog to see if I was okay as I haven't blogged for a month and have also been a little behind in my blog reading. How lovely to think that someone across the ocean is thinking of you. It really makes my heart feel warm to know that I have made such good sewing buddies. So I thought I would update you on what is happening on the road to sew wear.

First I would like to thank all who gave advice on the problem I was having with World Press. Chris - your solution of pulling down the edges worked. Thanks.

Also a huge thanks to Rhonda Buss from Rhonda's Creative Life who posted to me all the way from the USofA a wonderful Sew Stylish magazine that she is featured in. I was lucky enough to win it on her blog (on my birthday at that!!!!) and I really enjoyed reading all of the great articles. Very informative.. It was very generous of her to pay for the postage (which was eye popping) - what else would you expect from someone who put a lot of time and effort into her inspiring Mary Bridge project and is a pilot who rescues animals. My absolute hero.

And I was also amazed to see our (Australia's) gorgeous Pete Evans on the inside back cover...

If you want to see Pete in action you can watch episodes of My Kitchen Rules on Chanel 7 where he is a judge along with the smooth and delicious Manu Feidel. Yum - and I am not talking about the food.

I would also like to say a big thanks to Fiona from Seams Straightforward and Lynelle from You Sew Girl  who were worthy recipients of the Leibster Award and kindly passed it to me.  Also the gorgeous and prolific creator of lovely suits Dorothy Dotdot at Sewing fun things, who received and passed on to me the Sunshine award. Thank you ladies - I am warmed and humbled by your awarding this to me. As I have been a past recipient of the Leibster  (thanking Valerie from Valerie's Own Blog) I won't go into all of the questions and passing on but I do want you to know how grateful I am that you read and enjoy my little blog.  

In other news I spent some time a few weeks ago exploring a bit of the "wholesale" end of sewing in Sydney. Thanks to a class I attended with my local ASG (on fitting - fab class) I found out that there is a gem of a place in Surry Hills called E M Greenfield (30 Ann Street Surry Hills) which is a warehouse for sewing bits and bobs. Up two flights of stairs (Phew puff puff) I found an Aladdin's cave of magnificence. 

A while back I purchased this much 2 inch knitted elastic (great for the waistband of the SA Barb pants) for $7.50 a metre

1 metre $7.50

Yesterday I purchased this much of 2 inch knitted elastic (exactly the same) from EM Greenfield for $12.50 for the WHOLE ROLL - a massive 50 cents a metre.......... Woo hoo.

25 metres for $12.50

There was so much stuff that I would need a week just for one aisle. And I didn't even venture up the next flight of stairs to the fabric. Gotta love this place.

I also sussed out Standard Knits but alas they no longer sell by the 5 metre min. Only by the roll and a roll is way too much for me.

After being disappointed at Standard Knits I moseyed on to the old favourite Remnants Warehouse - which strangely enough is not a warehouse (like EM Greenfield) and purchased some off-cuts off their off-cut table.

If you look closely at the above pictures of the elastic you can see some lovely striped suiting fabric that will be made into a jacket and pants (or skirt depending on my mood).

Also this lovely rib knit

This is my favourite - a wool blend with stitched detail. The colour is closer to the 2nd picture but doesn't show the detail as well as the first. It is also a matt felt look not at all shiny.

This is what it looks like in colour and texture - Will it be a dress or a long skirt to wear with boots????

On the table 

I have almost completed the StyleArc Haper Jacket out of beautiful Navy Hybrid Stretch Crepe from Emma One Sock - just need to cover and sew in the shoulder pads (that I purchased at EM Greenfield for $1.50 a pair) and give it a final iron.

And then I shall do a crepe version of the Linda pant out of the lovely matching navy Hybrid Crepe.

Unfortunately sewing has been put on hold for a little while as I have been given a full month's worth of work (commencing on Monday). A lot of people think that you turn up on the day and train but I have to write activities, session plans, prep assessments, compile excel records etc etc which takes a lot of time. I have a class of 14 and weekends will be spent marking work and projects and then prepping for the following week (although I will take a little time out for a get together of sewing friends)

Also, straight after the last day of training (Friday 23rd May) I will be leaving for a lovely sewing weekend away so therefore I have been spending time cutting patterns out and putting sewing projects together so that I don't waste time away.