The kids playing dress-ups

Today I had Matilda and George try on some tin whistle clothes to test out the fit and look. While I was at it I snapped some photo's so I could share them with you all. All the garments pictured will be for sale at my stall at the George st Festival or online there after if they dont sell. Well all except the little kitty shorts. Matilda managed to convince me that she should keep those ones.

Size 5 Ava smock with size 5 patch pocket shorts.

Smock with size 5 denim wide leg pants

Size 5 Patch pocket 'kitty' shorts

Showing detail of patch pocket shorts.

Hmmm I think this is a size 5. Classic square neck pinny.

George modelling size 3 boys long boardies-style shorts (note George is only a size 2!)

Detail of the size 3 boardie-style shorts

Size 6 boys boardie-style shorts

Titchy tote

Ok so I didnt think this one up all on my own... I saw this singlet-style shopping bag tutorial on the internet and thought it was really neat. The tute (in case you cant be bothered going to look) is for a fabric version of those plastic shopping bags supermarkets supply for your groceries. The creator of the tute made her bag fully lined, which looks lovely but didnt suit my purpose (ie not enough of the fabric LOL) so I decided to have a go at making it single layered.

This meant having to finish the edges off around the handles some how. Bias binding would have been one extremely pretty way (and I will probably give that a go in the future) but, I wanted something even quicker and simpler than that so I went with a rolled hem using the over locker!

The bottom of the bag was stitched shut from the outside and I could have finished off the seam as per the tute (and I will probably give that a try next time) but decided to strengthen it up by "binding" it in a scrap of brown fabric. Afterwards I added the snaps so the bag could be folded up and stored inside a handbag.

This bag is a present for my step mother. I main part of her present is an Emmeline apron (ya know the Montessori by hand pattern?) and I thought a shopping bag in some matching fabric would be a good accompaniment. I immediately recalled the Tute I had seen and thought I would have a go. The Emmelina apron is reversible and has the blue fabric pictured on one side and Moda Shangri-la Damask (same as used for the bag) on the other.


Happy birthday Jill!

George turns Two!

Thats right! My Little man had a birthday this week. He is obsessed with trains so we bought him his very own train table to put his train tracks on. As you can tell from the photo's he was a picture of concentration.

In the afternoon he had a few little friends over for afternoon tea and a cake. A train cake of couse!

By the way I bought his t-shirt from Milk and Cookies who had a stall at the Perth Mathilda's Market

I also made George some birthday shorts, and took the opportunity to muck around with some strip piecing, using some of my favourite fabrics. I love the effect of combining fabrics like this and have planned some similar pieces for both boys and girls to sell at the East Fremantle festival.

Visiones D'Espana 2008

Elizabeth has been learning flamenco dance at Perth-based Spanish Dance studio, Casa Del Compas, for around 2 years now. The school puts on a performance each year and we have been slowing gearing up to the this years perfomance. In fact Elizabeth is at a dress-rehearsal as I type this. Just before she left I took the opportunity to snap a couple of photo's of her in this years costume.

This year I didnt make the costume from scratch, but instead embellished her plain black "practice" skirt. Her costume needed to be black and red, so I decided to add a second frill to the black skirt and them team it up with a red shawl. The red frill started out as 3m of a black and white Michael Miller floral fabric (the actual name escapes me... but they are camelia's) that I dyed red. After than I cut, hemmed and added the frill to the under side of the existing skirt. The shawl was also store bought (for $10) and started out cream so I also dyed that red.

While not completely happy with the dye job; the red is more of a watermelon red than a really deep cerry red, overall I think her costume looks stunning. I have to say I just love the flamboyance of spanish dance and all the frills and skirt twirling is a wonder to watch.

In case you're wondering the shawl is folded into a triangle and worn around the body, crossed over and the back and the ends pinned to the front bodice. These seems to be a popular way to dress in this particualr dance school. I am not really sure of the background behind this form of dress, but I think it is gypsy inspired. I would love to know though as I think it looks really neat.

PS--- she doesnt have her proper Flamenco shoes on!

Its a girl!

Some friends of ours just had a baby girl after 2 boys. David organised to go and visit them in hospital and gave me only an hour or so's notice. Using fabric I already had at home and Bonds t-shirt I quickly whipped up a suitably girly outfit for the new parents. I am quite pleased with it considering the 30 minute window I had in the sewing room.

Welcome Grace Olivia!

Tin whistle at the East Fremantle Festival

I am very excited to announce that tin whistle will be appearing at the the East Fremantle Festival on Sunday 7th December. To Perth people you may know this event by its former name; The George St Festival.

This year the East Fremantle Festival will be held on 7th December from 1pm-8pm. It is held on George St in East Fremantle. The street is closed off to traffic and there is an adundance of stuff to see and do, including an Artisans market, where tin whislte will have its stall. Last year over 10,000 people attended the event (I was one of them!). I am not sure whether to be really excited or nervous at having to put together enough stock for that many people to pick over!

The 7th December just happens to be my 11th wedding anniversary, so if you wish me a happy anniversay I will give you a 10% discount!

Finally... here is a little teaser of SOME of the things I have been putting together for the stall...

I am trying to get together a variety of boys shorts and pants

Girls and boys retro dungaree's, shorty dungaree's and dresses sizes 6-24 months

A variety of Girls pinny's and skirts in all sorts of bright and kooky fabrics. Some are trifted fabrics some straignt off the bolt. Sizes start at 3 yrs and go right up to about size 8 yrs

Retro shorty dungaree's

I am unsure if I have specifically blogged about the Shorty dungaree's that I now carry in my tin whistle range. Essentially they a shorter version of my retro dungaree's. A friend of mine ordered some for her little girl, so I took the oportunity to snap some pics of Zoe modelling them for me. Zoe wears a size 2 pair, which is a bit oversized on her as she is only 14 months old. In case your wondering about this gorgeous fabric its the tres expensive Oilily Kimono Blossom in the red/pink colourway.

New digs

Well I am very excited to announce that we are moving house. Not far... just down the street. Here is our new front door... even before I saw the rest of the house I knew I was in love!

We love the suburb where we live and the kids are happy at their school, so when we saw this house come on the market we decided to go for it. Origionally built in the 1930's it was extensively renovated and extended about 15 years ago. We move in just over 3 weeks. Lots to do. I am trying not to panic!

Tin whistle October

Well its been a bit of a slower month that usual, life seems to warm up with the weather and I havent had as much time to give to tin whistle.

The following two tops were a once-of special order for my step-sister as I dont normally sell adult clothes. She admired the top I blogged here and asked that I make her a couple. I think this farbic is called flutterby, its by Moda.

This fabric is from the Heather Bailey Pop Garden range.

Elizabeth also received her first cutsom order! She makes little twirl skirts and even has her own label called "little whistle"! Here are the 3 skirts she made for the custom order.
Bugaboo cameleon hood and liner in horse fabric and lined with a dark green solid fabric.
The hood and seat liner on the owners own brown base cameleon. Looks gorgeous!

I threw in a matchting stroller bag. I had an idea for a new design and wanted to give it a try.

Size 6 shorts in Micheal miller "traffic jam" fabric (white and turquoise colourwarys)

Size 2 boys shorts.
Size 1 retro dungaree's in chocolate corduroy and The very hungry caterpillar "spots" fabric.
Matching set of pram liners for a double Mountain Buggy Urban pram.


Actually now that I have blogged them all it doesnt seem like such a bad effort! Especially since I spent 8 days in October on holidays in Broome!

I have finished off all my customer orders for the the time being and am now turning my attention to a market stall I will be running at the East Fremantle Festival to be held on George St, East Fremantle on 7th Dec 2008 (Perth readers, put it in your diary!).