meli B is making things: February 2013

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Shopping Therapy and Sewing

I've been running at top speed this week, getting to know my new students and trying to catch up with the massive amount of paperwork that has been thrown my way. This weekend has been my chance to catch up so after typing up a few things for school I noticed that all the emails I had written in the last 2 weeks were still sitting in my Outbox! We changed internet providers during my absence and I hadn't set it up properly so I am sorry to anyone I haven't replied to. I really did say hi and the email has now been sent.

I am a girl that thrives on retail therapy but not the usual girlie therapy. I do like new things to wear but the best new things for me are in the way of textiles.

Although I probably have about 10 projects incomplete and awaiting my attention, I decided another wouldn't go astray. I just had to do it.

It's not a patchwork project that I needed but a woollen one, despite the high temperatures we are enjoying in Melbourne at the moment.

The wool is a gorgeous Rowan Felted Tweed and it knits up beautifully.

The thing about knitting is that it is extremely transportable.

I'm not doing the thing on the cover, just a little cardigan - I hope.

I don't want it to be another case of a half done project.

In India, my sister bought a beautiful patch worked bag, which was missing a strap.

I was lucky enough to find a woven strap from Zigu Zagu in Malvern and attached it to the bag.

If you live in Melbourne this is a 'must go to' place.

It has the most fabulous range of Japanese fabrics and lots of other interesting textile things.

The strap came from a box of oddments (treasures).

I have bought cotton kimonos from here in the past and pulled them apart and then used the fabric for some quilt backing. Cheap and easy to do.

The other thing I wanted to show you was I did manage to finish my little Malka Dubrawsky Quilt before I went overseas.

I just machine quilted it with wavy lines and backed it with the same check fabric that I used for the border.

I was so much more organised at the end of the year than I am now.

I think I am always in a state of panic at the beginning of the school year.

Can't wait till I calm down and get back into rhythm.

Monday, February 11, 2013

More Photos from Abroad Because I've done Nothing!

I have been very lazy with my blog, opting to read a bit here and there but really not entering my other world of stitching lately. It has all been a bit too frantic in the real world to be able to escape.

While I was abroad, I was constantly overwhelmed by the incredible talent Indian people have with textiles so I thought I would put up a few photos of what I was seeing all around me.

I eventually chose 3 pieces from here but it was so, so hard and now that I am home I want more!

I did not know what to do when the owner emptied out this bag of treasures for me to look at. Each piece had been originally part of someone's clothing. How could anyone part with something that has taken so many hours to make?

Lots of places sold beautifully woven floor rugs

Huge patchworks of mini embroidered pieces were hanging everywhere. These things represented years of work and here they were at prices that belied their worth.

Each design was unique and magical on its own

I just had to take a photo of this bedspread. I had seen something similar on Pinterest and was enchanted by the design. Well this quilt is actually one piece of fabric. The design is painted on and then there is some hand quilting all around. Fooled me but it looks great.