Serengeti Sabertooth Save and changes of plans.

Well I managed a save on the Sabertooth Swap fabric that the lovely Barbara Jane gave me as part of the Sabretooth Swap that Anne from Pretty Grievances hosted. You might remember my dismal neckline. As I mentioned in my last post I was able to purchase the last metre from Addicted to Fabric and then recut the front.

I love this fabric. The feel of it is fabulous.. So good that I asked ATF to send me some swatches of similar knits they had available - but alas - none of it was like this fabric.

Check out what Barbara Jane did with the Sabertooth swap fabric I gave her. Love it. I purchased some of the same fabric for myself and will maybe make a dress. Maybe - my clothing plans have changed recently as I will explain.

I entered the Artisan Square SWAP and also the Pattern Review Wardrobe contest. I had planned and was sewing my way through a new work wardrobe.

My self employed work has wound down quite significantly and I trained my last group on Tuesday 21st April. I have only had about 4 days work a month this year due to huge changes and cuts in Government funding.

So - I knew I had to look for a JOB.... Yes - actually working for someone else - gulp - and 5 days per week - gulp gulp. And hence I have been sewing my way through (and also purchasing some RTW) work gear.  I had a navy wardrobe planned and commenced.....

I have also been motivated and inspired by the book "Looking Good Every Day" that the very generous Sarah Liz of Sarah Liz Sew Style gifted me. It is a wonderful book  and I am really enjoying reading it.

It has a lot on wardrobe making and has really inspired me. The book features the gorgeous Cenetta in a feature on colour analysis. It also has some great styling advice. My fav part though is the wardrobe article.

Thanks Sarah Liz.

You can see my planned SWAP wardrobe here.

I had planned to sew the dresses from my SWAP at the weekend sewing retreat at Stanwell Tops organised by the phenomenal (you try organising a weekend for 30 demanding women) Sharon at Petite and Sewing. It has become an annual event (and here's hoping it continues to be) and is such a hoot.

Anyhow - like the best laid plans of mice and men - my plans went hugely awry.

I got a job.... yes my job search was fast and brief. Trained my last group on Tuesday 21st and received a phone call on Wednesday 22nd from a contact I have that owes a recruitment agency. After a brief discussion she put me forward for an interview and I was successful. And she rang me! Go figure - the universe surely works in a strange and wonderful way. After much toing and froing from the company as to where I will be based, I have landed in their campus in Merrylands.

BUT.... and it is a big but (pardon the pun)..... the job entails wearing a UNIFORM!!!!! And not a very pleasant one at that. I haven't worn a uniform since the not so very chic blue check of high school...  So.... all of my newly sewn and purchased items may now be redundant. As are my wardrobe plans. I haven't started the job yet so don't have the low down on what exactly the uniform consists of eg.. blouse only or the whole shebang. If it is the blouse only then I can utilise my colour appropriate sewn / purchased pants and skirts but all of my lovely dresses will be gathering dust (I guess my bright orange or red StyleArc Barbs are out - as is any animal print sob sob). From what I saw during my interview and the subsequent presentation I had to give, the uniform is blue so the navy slacks and skirt from my SWAP will fit in if I can wear my own bottoms...

So this also made all of the sewing plans for my weekend away no longer valid so I had to do some quick thinking as to what I could cut and take with me to Stanwell Tops to sew. I ended up taking some projects that I wasn't completely happy with or familiar with so consequently I didn't finish one  item. I still had a fabulously fun time.

1720's sewing circle

1952 sewing circle

2015 sewing circle

The morning after the sewing circle - where is everyone??? Must have been all that .... sewing ...... that exhausted all.

There was a lot of productive sewing at other times.

My area - seated next to Kristy from Lower Your Pressure Foot who is busy cutting out (and made some great items including a stunning skirt).

The naughty corner.

Anyway - wish me luck with my new job.

Wot I dun on the weekend by BeaJay

First let me apologise for the title of this post. I have just finished 4 weeks of training Certificate III in Business and some of my students were just out of school and insisted on calling me "Miss". Groan groan. Took me right back to kindy.

Anyway my weekend was wonderful.

I have had a fabulous couple of days down at Stanwell Tops! I was joined by about 29 other sewing ladies from the Australian Sewing Guild and in particular the Rhodes and Alexandria groups, for a weekend of stitching our way through tonnes of fabric.

This is picture heavy but I do have a new outfit picture at the end of the post for show and tell.

This is where we stayed:

Arial View - Picture from The Tops Conference Centre website

Outside view - Picture from The Tops Conference Centre website

Accommodation - Picture from The Tops Conference Centre website

It had a real fun camp feel to the weekend and I couldn't help but sing Kumbaya. The air was fresh, the sky blue, the surrounding countryside an amazing green and food was delicious.

Here we are stuffing our face - they didn't stop feeding us.

Above are some great friends from my sewing group.
Front left Sharon from Petite and Sewing
Jinty - no blog
Kristy from Lower Your Pressure Foot
Sandra - no blog but you can see her marvelous work on Pattern Review where she is Dilliander
Cathy - no blog
Gail from My Fabrication
A new friend who's name I can't remember
And Wendy ( in green top) - no blog


Below is our sewing room with Wendy industriously at her machine.

Here is my area with my weapons of mass construction

Someone brought a friend. Babs was highly annoyed that I didn't invite her. I told her there wasn't room in the car. She is still not talking to me.

Here is Kristy, Jinty and Di hard at work cutting and prepping.

Wendy from Costumes from a Shoe Box is always highly entertaining and makes it even more of a fun time.

Here is the view from our sewing room:

I managed to rustle up almost 6 tops. I say almost as one was a UFO and only needed finishing, 2 have been completely finished and 3 need hemming. After making all of my different coloured Barb pants I needed tops.

Here is the UFO now finished - sort of. I do want to bring the sides seams in a bit.

It is Butterick 5855 which I have sewn before but this time I kept the "sleeves" shorter as the first time I was trying to incorporate a border. It is pictured with a pair of lime green StylyArc Barb pants that I have cut off at under the knee to make capris. I thought a full pant in lime green might just be OTT. I also gave the Barbs a tiny "flare" at the bottom. Warning warning warning - put on your sunnies. I can direct traffic with this high viz gear.

Photo by Sandra (Dilliander) - thanking you

The wrinkles on the bengaline pants are from hours sitting and sewing. The Bengaline is from StyleArc and the groovy 60's top fabric is from Vogue Fabrics.com. It was labeled as a knit but is quite a firm knit with very little stretch. I must admit that I do like the flashback deco look of it. It is still available if anyone else wants to be safe at night. It has now sold out.

All in all a very comfy outfit that will do well for my weekend wear. I see more Barb capris and Butterick 5855s coming up in my future. Maybe more toward our Spring as we will be starting Winter in 5 days - not that you would know it with a balmy 28 degrees Celsius (82.4F) forecast for tomorrow.

More later - I will take piccies of my other items when I can.

A big huge gigantic thanks to the lovely Sharon from Petite and Sewing for organising such a wonderful weekend.