NIKKI-SHELL

This girl loves her food

Mushy peas!

Finally finished

I finished my red, black and white quilt about 3 weeks ago!  Yay!  It took me about a year from start to finish but i do admit there were spaces of time within that year when the quilt did not see the light of day.

It was really hard to get a photo of the quilt without it looking orange.  This is the best i could get and it's pretty poor.  Here's a close up, the suffolk puffs are my favourite part, and i had thought of leaving them off, i'm so glad i didn't :)
It's my first 'real' quilt and i love it!

www, a vip and a sewalong

Whatcha Wearing Wednesday- a blue chunky knit cardigan found at my local Red Cross op shop for $12.  Just right for today.  I love this cooler weather, bring on Autumn please!  I want to layer and wrap up, not strip to the bare minimum and smother myself in sunscreen, i'm over that but i know there will be more hot days before then.

Amitie VIP- My amitie VIP mailout, a great little scrap pack chock full of fabulous fabrics.  Now to decide what to do with it, any ideas?  There is about 1 metre in total.

I've started up the first sewalong of 2009 over on BurdaStyle.  We will be making the David Bow-Tie in pink and black for the American Cancer Society's pink and black tie gala.  We'll also be making up some for ourselves, bow ties are all over fashion right now, from the Gossip Girls to the tailored looks strutting down the runway.  Read my post over on BurdaStyle for more information.

Neighhhhhh!!!!

This week i scored big at my local op shop and left there with a sack full of clothes for a mere $40.  Some of the garments were perfect and ready to wear, others need some adjustments and some need reworking.

This top was boxy but in perfect condition.  For a few dollars it was too good to pass on and i knew i could do something with it.  A quick refit by taking it in at the sides and sleeves worked well but it was still plain and needed a little something.  Bring on the Sublime Stitching transfers and some embroidery thread and voila!  A sort of dorky but so dorky it has to be kinda cool new top for me!  What do you think?  I like it and even got myself a few compliments today :)  The skirt was an op shop find too and is perfect as it is.

Fashion Jam!!! TODAY!!

Fashion Jam

Sun 22nd February 09 | 1:30pm - 4:00pm

Play Dome

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hosted by | Melbourne Craft Cartel

Common folks are invited to play at being faaaaabulous fashionistas, daaarling -give new life to old clothes, strut your stuff on the catwalk and raise awareness about the benefits of environmentally sustainable fashion. PLUS win great prizes thanks to Crumpler, Get Creative Magazine and more.

The event will be hosted by the indomitable Mzzz Erin Tasmania , with special guest designers giving tips and demonstrations.

Absolutely no skill, taste or equipment required! Rock up on the day and create wild and wonderful outfits with guidance from top designers using our materials, in teams or go it alone. At the culmination of the event you can either model your masterpiece down the runway before the judges yourself or rope in one of our on-hand-hotties to do it for you.

Free! No need to book - just rock up

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The Craft Cartel is about providing community support for makers of objects that don’t normally have a space within the retail sphere. We support crafters who use innovative techniques, recycled materials, make provocative statements or just crafters who don’t have the capacity to make a full time living out of making what they make. We recognise and seek to promote the value to our communities and our environment of buying interesting and wonderful handmade objects as opposed to mass produced plastic crap. We also see the importance of strong communities and we like to open the craft cartel experience to people of all walks of life. We do not subscribe to art wank and we are prone to ridiculing the pretentious.

http://www.craftcartel.com

I'll be there!!!!

I'll be in the Atrium in Flinders Square with Wardrobe Refashion and BurdaStyle.  Pop in and say Hi if you're in town :)

WWW* + 600**

*Whatcha wearing Wednesday-I haven't played in a while!

• My old jeans which I found in the back of the wardrobe last week.  I love these jeans, they are so comfortable and fit so well, they're very 70's flares!  I remember now that i had kept them in the hope i would fit into them once i regained my pre pregnancy weight.  I'd love to make a pattern from these and make a new pair, these are starting to fall apart.
• Green wrap over top given to me by my neighbour who was having a wardrobe clearout.
• Black bonds singlet underneath.
• Black sandals (not seen in pic)
• Sunnies!

What are you wearing this Wednesday?  See more players here.

**This is my 600th post :)

Help Jessica find work experience in the UK

Jessica emailed me today to ask for my help. 

'I am in year 10 at a school in Hertfordshire, UK and we have been given the opportunity to take part in a work experience programme at the end of June/early July. I am currently fourteen and a GCSE Textiles student, so I would like to extend my knowledge and experience in the fashion world.'

If you can help or have any suggestions please email me at nikkishell@gmail.com and i will pass on your details.

ta.xx

Victorian Bushfire Appeal

I've sat here at my computer just not knowing what to write.  I mean what can i say that hasn't already been said about the bushfires that have ravaged our state?  Luckily for us we are nowhere near the affected areas but we are sat in our home, going about our daily lives with sad hearts thinking of those people that have suffered.  In particular i am thinking of Rachael and her son Parker.  Rachael helped me to start Wardrobe Refashion in the beginning and although we've never actually met in person i consider her a dear friend.  Rachaels home was destroyed in the fires and her husband Martin went missing early on Saturday evening.  As of yesterday Rachael removed her blog from the internet and dissapeared from Facebook where she was updating us with news.  I'm hoping Martin was found but i'm fearing the worst has happened.  I can't begin to understand what kind of people would deliberately set fires.

Like most people i feel the need to help in some way.  I would like to give blood but i'm not allowed to being from the UK.  I have boxes of girls baby clothes and a bassinette here that i would like to donate, if anyone knows of someone that is in need of these please let me know.  I am also offering a nidra pack for sale in my online store.  All money raised from this sale will go directly to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

You can help by donating to the appeal or by offering some of your handmade good to raise money.  Check out Handmade Help for more information.

Sustainable Living Festival/Fashion Jam

Next weekend i will be attending the Sustainable Living Festival.  On Friday the 20th you will find me in the Federation Square Atrium at the Design Market.  I'll be promoting Wardrobe Refashion and BurdaStyle and will be there from 10 until 6.  Come say Hi if you're in the City.

 

On Sunday the 22nd i'll be at the Fashion Jam hosted by Craft Cartel which is being held in the Federation Square Play Dome from 1:30 until 4pm.