Faint Impressions

End of Year SALE

2011-12-29T14:33:00.000+11:00

Hellooooooo my friends, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and got to spend some time with friends and family and those you care about.
Santa was extra good to me this year and among many gifts he gave me a colour printer! Woo hoo!

As you can see from the lack of blog posts, my inspiration and motivation for making bags for sale has taken a rather long holiday. I thought it was just a quick break but alas it has gone awol and not returned as yet.

I am still being creative on a daily basis but my sewing machine is enjoying the slower pace.

I don't know if this is permanent, but for now I am just going with the flow and seeing where my creative ideas take me. It feels quite strange but I guess this is how it's meant to be for right now.

SO, I'm having a 50% off all stock End of year SALE to clear out any remaining stock, which isn't much, but there are still some gems in the online store. Nothing over $65. Just enter the code ENDOFYEAR2011 at the check out to receive the discount. Sale starts tomorrow and ends Friday 6th January

I'm not sure when I'll be back doing regular posts here but I will be posting my exploring on the facebook page, so if you'd like to keep in touch, which I would love, please pop over every now and then for a peek.

Have a great and safe holiday if you're on holidays and I hope the week goes quick if you're back at work already.

Bye for now.

Sasha

Christmas Bunting Giveaway

2011-10-11T07:24:00.001+11:00

The other week I went to the Spring ABCD Meetup. It's a networking (excuse for a wine and chatting with the girls) night for bloggers, crafters & designers.
You can choose to contribute to the goodie bag and in return you get a goodie bag full of surprises.

This time I made some bunting for the Xmas pavlova. You can put it on anything really, but as I have a sweet tooth, I went for the pav.

All the lovely things I got in my goodie bag can be seen here at Steph's blog, Bondville. Including my little addition you can see above. Great photo Steph, thanks.

If you would like my mini Christmas bunting, feel free to download the file.
Sew the triangles together on your machine or by hand and tie it to two skewer sticks. You can choose to leave them plain or paint them any colour.

Hens Polka Dot High Tea (Part II)

2011-09-23T14:26:00.000+10:00

Part II (see below for part I) of the party involves me raiding my mums doily stash, cutting them in half and sewing them to some binding to make this very pretty doily bunting. It's so easy to make and you can dye them all different colours too.

I got some tulle together and made these pom poms, so easy but makes such a pretty statement don't you think? (thanks Martha). Again, you have so many colours to choose from if you make these.

Next I visited my friend Kamilla Little from The Ministry of Home Economics to borrow some of her vintage linen collection. When I arrived she had kindly laid everything out for me so I could choose what I needed. I was in vintage linen heaven!

The goodie bags included; cocktail of the day recipe card, love heart lollipop cookie, teapot magnet & some tea party gift tags with ribbon. The bag itself was sewn from paper, backed with pellon with a drawstring ribbon, so it was also a little keepsake.

It's such an amazing feeling when you find a new something that allows you to create in so many different ways. You could spend hours and hours on it and still not get enough. The ideas for the hens day just kept coming and coming and honestly, I could have created and designed for this party forever.

As you can see, Simone was a very happy Hen and loved what I created for her special day. A special party for a very special girl I say.

In my many hours of gathering inspiration online, I noticed there may be a shortage of party design and printables for adults out there, it's all about the kids.

I'm seriously considering adding party design to my bag of tricks, what do you think?

(including Part I)
Pom Poms Striped - Martha Stewart Pom Poms (Spotlight)

Pom Poms Tulle - Faint Impressions with Martha Stewart tutorial

Goodie Bags - Bed Bath and Table

Tea Cups - Bride to be's collection

Chocolate Wrappers - Faint Impressions

Bride To Be Scrabble - Ministry of Home Economics

Retro Paper Straws - Occasion by Design

Food Labels / Flags / Menu - Faint Impressions

Straw Flags - Faint Impressions

Vintage Linen - Ministry of Home Economics

Paper & Doily Bunting - Faint Impressions

Frames - Ministry of Home Economics

Invitation - Faint Impressions

Hens Polka Dot High Tea - Part 1

2011-09-21T11:28:00.000+10:00

So....I know I've been MIA for a couple of months, but it's all for a very good reason. I was planning my best friend Simone's Hens High Tea Party and helping her prepare for her wedding. The party was a surprise so I had to go undercover.

The madness began when I started looking at wedding blogs to get ideas for Simone's big day and hens day. I stumbled across Martha Stewart's Weddings Blog, it only took a few pages and that was it, I was hooked on party design and styling. Yup, just like that, hooked I tell you.

(Front of invite, magnet attached to RSVP swing tag with actual red stripe string)

Over a few days I taught myself how to use Adobe Illustrator by using these fantastic online tutorials. I then spent the next week creating the invite.

I printed the front and back, cut both teapots out and then glued them together. I made the RSVP details like a tea bag tag and tied it to the invite with red stripe string and added a magnet to the back for the fridge.

(Back of invite)

After the invite the next few weeks were spent trawling the gazillion gorgeous photos, tutorials, colour schemes and clever ideas, until I felt satisfied that I had seen EVERYTHING on Martha's blog.

I started collecting, designing and making the little this and thats I needed to make the day look stunning. Every spare moment I had was spent on my new addiction and I was loving every minute. The inspiration I had lacked in recent months was coming in thick and fast, I just couldn't get enough.

The plotting and planning continued but I shan't overdoes you just yet.

More prettiness from the party coming very soon.

Pretty Pretties All In A Row

2011-07-18T22:30:00.000+10:00

What have I been up to lately? Well...not a great deal in the crafty world. I've been doing a lot of thinking about the direction I want to head for the next half of this year. No conclusions yet but hopefully the light bulb will come on very soon.

When I was visiting my Mum recently I raided the closet and nicked a bunch of doilies whilst she wasn't looking. I saw this idea for half doily bunting somewhere and thought it was super cute. I think it will be very pretty hanging up at a baby or bridal shower.

Image care of this blog

I've also been wanting to make red velvet cupcakes for ages. My friend Rita lurrrrrves these, so I made a batch for her yesterday. They didn't look quite as nice as the picture....but close enough. I forgot to take a photo before I put them in my belly.

ABCD Meetup

2011-07-01T17:03:00.000+10:00

Last night I took myself along to the ABCD Meetup. A quarterly event for creatives to meet and chat over some yummy food and a glass of bubbly.

There is an option to contribute to a goodie bag. The first time I went I didn't do this and boy was I jealous when all the girls were checking out their goodies at the end of the night. I surely wasn't going to miss out on that again.

So, over four days before the event, I was making 27.....yes 27 lavender pouches, so that in return I could get 27 surprise goodies.

Here is what was in my goodie bag....lots huh?

Bec & Ditty enjoying a catch up

Bec from Honi Design, in the photo above made these pins with fymo. How cuuuuuute are they?! She also does an awesome makeover on worn-out shoes.

These gorgeous little party pieces are by Vesna from My Little Jedi. Check out the love heart, ooooo so prrrrretty.

Exceptionally high quality cards with gorgeous photos from Milk & Honey Photography. See the little sheep on the fence.

My own little toad stool and dobermann from Kamilla and Kareena Little of Little Originals

Kamilla waiting patiently for her goodie bag.

How To Sew Leather Bag Straps

2011-06-21T16:07:00.002+10:00

Winter is well and truly here in Sydney and I'm loving it. I love the feel of the crisp air on my face, whilst the rest of me is all rugged up in my new navy wool duffle coat and knitted snoodie.

It's actually known among my family that I have to ween myself off sleeping with the fan in spring, as I love being under the warm doona with the fan blowing on my face.

It's a new season so you know what that means right? It's your female right to get yourself a new bag. I've just finished the loveliest bag that is just perfect for cooler weather. It's made from burnt orange woolen felt, a gorgeous remnant I picked up about 3 years ago. The lining is vintage retro fabric from the 60's or 70's and some spiffy leather handles. I love love love the texture of this fabric; I hope you can see it in the photo.

I'll be at the Paddington Markets this weekend and this furry friend will be there waiting for you should you pass by. Come and give her a pat, she loves to be stroked.

I've put together a little tutorial on how to make these leather straps. I hope it inspires you to give them a go if you've never sewn with leather before. You could also use faux leather if you like.

It's Knitting Season

2011-06-06T07:59:00.000+10:00

Hooray, winter is here! I love winter. I love dinners in the slow cooker, baking impromptu chocolate self saucing pudding, Sheridan flannelette sheets, big warm wooly coats, staying indoors sewing when it's wet and cold outside, meat pie and sauce, taking a heat pack to bed, snuggly scarfs under my chin and my specialty homemade pumpkin soup.

I've knitted one scarf in my life, so this will be my second try at knitting. It's not just any old scarf though, this my friends is a twisty snood. I bought this cool kit from Finders Keepers Market from the girls at Knit Knit. It's 100% wool and feels so nice and thick, I can't wait to wear it.

What are your favourite things about winter? Or if you live on the other side of the seasons, warm me up with your summer favourites.

I hope you're enjoying the new season wherever you are.

Stay tuned for a leather strap tutorial later in the week

Have a great week everyone

A Surfer That Sews

2011-05-23T07:49:00.000+10:00

This is Vincent everyone.....Vincent, this is everyone.

Vince is my good friend and Osteo, he's also a very keen surfer and has been surfing since he was a nippa (young kid for the non Aus out there).

Vince house sat for Cam and I when we went galavanting around America late last year. He said he was thinking of getting creative whilst we were away, so before we left I gave him a 5 min lesson on threading my sewing machine.

We came back three weeks later and he had designed and made two surf board covers! How awesome is that for a first time effort at sewing?

So...to encourage his creative spirit, I fixed up this Singer sewing machine I'd been given years ago. Vince came over to pick it up last week, see the pure joy on his face (a little smart ass). He had another lesson on how to use it and also tried out my overlocker (surger).

You never know who you will inspire to get creative, it sure is a nice feeling to know you played a part.

Who have you inspired lately?

A Special Package For A Special Little Person

2011-05-11T09:23:00.000+10:00

A number of my friends are having babies at the moment and as much as I'd like to give them all a nappy bag, I just don't have time.

It's also nice for me to make something else for a change. To not have to worry about the thickness of the fabric and be able to just choose the cutest fabrics to work with.

The quilted change mat and baby bib pattern came from Amy Butler's "Little Stitches For Little Ones".

Close up of my button tree

The bag is just my usual PVC covered zipper bag on steroids. It has laminated fabric for lining, so can be used to keep all the essentials like wet wipes, nappy rash cream.... I made the buttons from the change mat fabric and attached them to mini yo yo's. I made the tree by drawing a basic pattern and then free sewing with multi coloured thread. Don't stress about what your tree will look like, that's half the fun.

For some brief step by step instructions head over to my facebook page.

p.s Amy Butler is now on facebook! She had more than 3000 "likes" in just over 24 hrs. Love It!

An Afternoon Sewing With Your Mum

2011-04-29T08:00:00.002+10:00

Mothers Day is just around the corner; what to get her what to get her?

I think the best kind of prezzie you can give is an experience. You know, like a high tea or tickets to the movies (gold-class of course) going for a nice lunch or even a Sunday drive to a quaint little town to look at the lovely shops and scour the antique stores for treasures. Oh...and don't forget the devonshire tea.

For those that got the creative gene from your mum and share a love of craftiness or for those that like to experience new things together, why not bring your mum along to the Frame Purse workshop? It's on May 7th at No Chintz fabric store Willoughby 10am - 3pm, $185 includes all materials. For bookings and more information see here. p.s We will be using different fabric to the one pictured. It will still be as delish though.

Of course it goes without saying that you don't have to bring your mum :-)

2011-04-26T21:31:00.000+10:00

I am still here, just trying to settle into my new routine with my new part-time job, which makes for a very busy me. Not too busy though to share this custom order nappy bag with you.

Pockets pockets & more pockets.

It has button snaps on the sides to make it into this pretty shaped handbag. I think I'm going to try making a smaller one in this shape.

The Last Afternoon Tea

2011-04-05T16:40:00.000+10:00

My friend Kamilla hosts the loveliest afternoon tea's. She goes to so much effort for her guests and loves to play the hostess. When I say hostess I mean like the 1950's hostess that waits on everyone and is in the kitchen the whole time preparing endless parcels of yummy goodness for her special people.

Sadly (for us) she has recently sold her little apartment and so Sunday was our last afternoon tea in her lovely little home. The only good thing about this is that my hips will get a rest from the heart attack inducing sugar treats she forces me to eat when I'm there.

Kamilla's place is a vintage collectors dream. She has many trinkets, clothes, bags & hats that date back to the 1920's! She can tell you anything you wish to know about each piece, what era it's from, what it was used for....everything. Don't get me started on her furniture fetish.

Below is just a snippet of the treats we got to eat on Sunday. Along with meringue with fruit & cream, scones jam & cream, a variety of traditional sandwiches, salmon & soft cheese spirals placed cutely on a slice of cucumber, bread sticks wrapped with prosciutto and cream cheese, mini chicken & mushroom volauvents and white and milk chocolate fondue with fruit kebabs & scottish short bread ......are you full yet?

I thought this pic of Kamilla's wall would look good as a desktop picture. Feel free to copy it and use it as such. I have the flowers as my desktop picture, you can use that too if you like.

Mandy Blue Garden Clutch

2011-03-30T08:00:00.001+11:00

I've been getting into the blue stash of late and loving it.

A lot of the time my fabric placement just happens by accident, like the flowers grouped together on the left side, so preeeeeeetty.

I had originally planned to use the lining fabric as the main exterior fabric but thought the opposite looked best. Don't you think?

I had a spark of an idea to add these leather scallop side tabs just as I was finishing this Fortune Cookie. When I have a new idea I am so impatient and I need to test it out there and then.

So off to Lincraft I went to buy a paper cutter to try and cut pretty shapes out of the leather. No good, didn't work. Called leather shop to check tools they had, $78 for one tiny cutter, no thanks. So I ended up just cutting it all by hand and using my leather punch for the holes. Turned out pretty cool huh?

P.s I'll be at Paddington Markets this Saturday from 10am-5pm. Blue Mandy Clutch will be available but the Fortune Cookie went red hot this week and has sold. More on the way though, so if you would like to place an order shoot me an email.

Gocco Love

2011-03-25T08:00:00.003+11:00

Last month I went to a Gocco workshop run by The Brown Owls group.

Here we are listening hard like good little student's

Until then I had never heard of Gocco. Now I understand what the missing link was in my life...the shining light I had been searching for....well, maybe not that bad but let me tell you, you've got to get your hands on some gocco if you haven't already.

Check out what I made and this was just my first go. I could go crazy with this thing. Birthday cards, tags for my bags, gift tags to send to you lovely people when you shop online, you can do sooooooo many things.

And what others made.

The kit is pricy though, so I will have to save up and be on my best behaviour. My birthday is coming up soon, hmmmmm.

Stage 2 - Designer Travel Wallet Workshop

2011-03-22T12:50:00.001+11:00

Friday was the last day of the Travel Wallet workshop at No Chintz. Everyone finished their master pieces and were quite impressed with their sewing efforts....as they should be.

We even had a beginner level sewer in the class who doubted her ability to finish the Wallet, but of course she did and was quite chuffed with her finished product.

The next Workshop I'll be teaching at No Chintz will be the Frame Purse. It may not be listed on the No Chintz website just yet but it will be Saturday 7th May 10am-3pm.

It's Mothers Day on the Sunday so why not do a workshop with your mum and share the love.

After the Frame Purse we'll be making this Sling Bag with front ruffle August 12th & 19th. Only 6 spots per workshop, machine and materials supplied. Hope to see you there.

If I Built A Studio It Would Look Like This

2011-03-15T11:06:00.000+11:00

Last Friday was stage 1 of the Designer Travel Wallet workshop at No Chintz.

Oh how I wish I could sew in this studio every day, how yummy is it?

A lovely group of sewers and a nice class size of 5. I'm looking forward to seeing it all come together in stage 2 this Friday.

We'll be making the pretty Frame Purse you can see in the above picture in an April workshop. Stay tuned for more details.

Lisa sewing up a storm.

Emma concentrating to get her credit card slot measurements just right.

Anoushka, The Jetsetting Doberman

2011-03-02T17:53:00.000+11:00

I had a very high profile client come to the studio last week. Anoushka and her human, Milly, came to collect her custom made Designer Travel Wallet.

Anoushka is planning to travel to Europe in a few months and being the jetsetter that she is, always travels in style.

She was very pleased with her custom made wallet and even though top photographers are begging to do her portrait, she ever so gracioulsy allowed me to photograph her.

You can read more about her visit and future travel plans on her blog, The Jetsetting Dog. If you would like to catch a glimpse of the elegant beauty, she will be a guest judge at the Mitchell Road Auction Centre this Saturday.

If you would like to be as stylish as Anoushka (we can only try can't we), come to the Travel Wallet workshop March 11th & 18th. Check the workshop tab above for more details.

The First Step Is To Take Action

2011-02-22T08:22:00.000+11:00

Are you one of those people that says "I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna" and you still haven't got there 12 months later? Well it's time to stop talking honey and start walking.

I find if I have an idea and the idea is quite big, then I just don't get started on making it happen as it's too overwhelming. The trick is to break it down into smaller, not so overwhelming chunks and then take action.

So stop just talking about it and actually take the first step to making it happen. If you keep taking small action steps toward your goal then you will eventually get there.

It feels so good to know that you are actually moving forward toward your goal.

Just take the first step and the others will follow.

So if you've been thinking about doing a market, book that stall, or if you want to write a book, start the first page.

Check out this video of April from Blacksburg Belle at the Etsy Symposium. She has some great tips for getting you started.

Watch live streaming video from etsy at livestream.com

New Goodies On The Way

2011-02-15T08:00:00.000+11:00

My lovely new fabric is all cut up and ready for me to sew sew sew. So...that is what I will be doing for the rest of the week.

What do you think of the new scalloped edge with frill detail?

This pretty one is going to be a silent auction item for a benefit night that a friend of mine is helping organise.

Adding a frill is an easy way to make your bag nice and lady like.

Measure the length of where you want to put the frill on your bag and then cut your fabric double that length. A good width for the frill is 4.5cm wide. With right sides facing match the long raw edge. Sew 1cm across both ends and turn out the right way. Iron flat with raw edges matching. With a 1cm seam sew along the long raw edge with tension on about 3 and length on about 3.5, leaving 10cm of cotton tail on each end. Pulling the bobbin cotton (bottom cotton) gather your frill until it is the right length. Play with it until it's even and looks nice. Match raw edge of frill to raw edge of your bag and sew on with a 1 cm seam. Done.

Amy Butler's Style Stitches

2011-02-11T09:59:00.000+11:00

It's been quite a while since I made a bag from a bought pattern but Amy Butler is pretty hard to resist for me. Of course I had to make a few of my own modifications.

I added the little flap closure because who do you think put the snap on the wrong side!

(you can download the posters from Amy Butler's website)

My good friend Rachel doesn't like shoulder bags and was looking for a bag with a long strap to put across her body. So I whipped this up for her....when I say whipped I really mean it took me about 6 months to get around to doing it.

How nice is Liz's (left) dress she made!

Lizy and Zoe looking very pleased with their new frame purses from the workshop last Sunday. It was so hot and sweaty but we got there in the end.

Five Pretty Frame Purses All In A Row

2011-02-08T08:41:00.000+11:00

Everyone is always telling me to start my own sweat shop.....well today I did.

We were all sweating it out in the heat wave whilst sewing up a storm in the frame purse workshop on Sunday.

Of course the cool change came just as we'd finished.

Everyone did a really great job and left feeling quite proud of themselves I think.

Well done ladies, I'm sure you'll be making many more of those.

Click on the picture below to watch the workshop video

Embellishing Your Bag

2011-01-21T08:00:00.001+11:00

Sometimes you just need a little something to make your bag look that extra bit special.

Check out this great little tutorial on how to make a pretty flower to add to your bag. I found this link on the One Pretty Thing blog. If you're looking for crafty tutorials and inspiration, this should be your first stop.

Make it with coordinating fabrics for the petals and it will look beaut.

Have You Found Your Crafty Community Yet?

2011-01-14T08:00:00.000+11:00

You can even get a Stitch N Bitch kit from Annah.S

There are only so many ooo's and ahhhhh's your partner, friends and family can make about the things you create. When you hold up the 100th granny square you've crocheted or the 50 millionth bag (are you saying I haven't made 50 million bags?!) and you're no longer getting the reaction you're looking for, let me tell ya honey, it's time to find your fellow crafty women in your ~~hood~~ community.

It can be a bit daunting walking into a group of people for the first time not knowing anyone; trust me.... the only thing you need to worry about is your hips expanding from the amount of homemade treats you'll be eating. Such an awesome bunch of gals who love all kinds of craft and calories.

hip expanding evidence on the table

Just bring along a project to work on, whatever you wish, it can be anything. I do advise against trying to bring along your heavy sewing machine though... tried it.....not so good.

The best projects to bring are ones you don't need a lot of space for. Whilst working on your project you'll be chatting so much your mouth will become dry..... not to worry, your glass of wine/beer won't be too far away.

Check out upcoming events and RSVP on the new Sydney Brown Owls blog.

See you there.

My 100th Post Birthday

2011-01-07T08:00:00.004+11:00

Today is my 100th post birthday! And to think that I thought I'd struggle with even 5 posts...pfff.

So, as it's my birthday and I don't get any older with this one, I'm going to celebrate by launching the first workshop for 2011.

We are starting off with a stunner ladies and one you will no doubt become a whiz at making as you'll want to make many more, trust me.

For BOOKINGS and more details just visit the workshop tab at the top of the page or click here.

(I amended the date due to school starting back etc, for those who read this post last week)