Hand Made Christmas

I was recently asked by a friend to create 6 different Men's tropical style shirts for him to give his friends and Family for christmas!

What a terrific Christmas gift Idea!

Delving into my island style fabric collection, here is what I came up with...

Calling me a chicken?

When I heard that my Lil sisters Hen's Night was to be a 'Housewife' theme, I knew I'd have to make her a spunky lil apron for her wifely duties...and to get her out of the kitchen, I filled the pockets up with cheeky toys...everything a good wife would need!

Weekends are for me :)

When you work from home, it can be difficult to separate weekdays from weekends, especially when you still have the sewing bug on board!

So I've taken to getting crafty in a more selfish way! There are projects sitting in my head, waiting to come to life...and my weekends are where it happens! I've begun actualising all the pretty little projects I've always wanted to do... starting with these gorgeous little bikini tops I found in Notebook Magazine (they're from a Billy and Lola pattern)...

Reversible Cotton bikini top, perfect for lounging around the house on a balmy summers day :)

Divine Documenting...

I've been spending days recently documenting and photographing my divine collection of vintage and one off fabrics. I never realised just how much I had managed to hunt and gather over the years!

Why spend my precious time like this, you ask?

So you are able peruse my fabric collection, select your favourites, and have a handmade original Alison Sarah garment made just for you!

Here is a sneak peek at some of the gems in my little studio...

It's in the Bag...

Whenever a market looms ahead, I have a last minute surge of creativeness...today it has come out as these gorgeous little 'grab' bags:

Made from vintage and reclaimed fabrics, they are also lined with and equally lovely fabric on complementing tones...which makes them a reversible option too! It's like 2 bags in 1!

These (and more) will be up on my etsy...if any are left after this weekends market that is :)

xo

DIY for those that don't...

since beginning my blog, i've been checking out more and more sewing, fashion and yes, even crafting blogs!

I'm loving the whole DIY craft scene thats exploded all over the world (and the internet), and found a gem today in futuregirl.

Futuregirl is honest and charming, full of advice for the newly upcoming DIY businesses, and also has great piccies of her own lovely projects...

My fave thing i found today was an article linked from futuregirl, to dude craft, titled 'soul motivation'. It's all about the monetization of DIY crafters, and looking at what your motivation is (money vs soul). Sounds preachy, and maybe it is to those on the other side, but i found it right on the mark, and it made me stop and look at why i do what i do...

Stop chasing the buck and concentrate on making things that feed your soul and improve your skills.

-Paul Overton, Dudecraft, 'Soul Motivation.

Summer all year!

Living in the world of eternal summer (Torres Strait Islands, Australia) I am strongly influenced by the sunny days, balmy evenings and tropical flowers everywhere!

Here are a couple of pretty dresses and tops perfect for day or night on a tropical island...