Top Tip for Tangled Zips

Is your zip drawer tangled and overflowing like mine was?  Is it impossible to open your zip drawer because it is stuffed full and some of the zips have wedged themselves in the back of the drawer?  You're as mad as hell and you can't take it anymore?

Does your zip drawer look like mine did?

Don't panic!  You can heave a sigh of relief - I have the solution. Last week I had a flishy-flashy lightbulb-overhead-moment.








My solution:
I emptied the drawer out and sorted the zips into colours.

Zips that didn't have ends to enable hanging up, I made the ends from some leftover card........

....... and wrote their length on the tab end for easier identification, and used a single hole-puncher.

Then stapled the tab to the end

I then bought a $6 metal towel rail from the local hardware store, bribed the man of the house to dig out his drill (yes I could have done it myself but was busy stapling zips, wasn't I?). We fixed it to the underside of my shelving unit, found some hinged rings and threaded zips all colour-coded to the rail.  

So now they sit beautifully behaving themselves behind my sewing machine and I can see at a glance colours and sizes from small to large.

And no, my shelves do not have a serious bow in them, I  just got too close with the old Nikon!

After all that effort I needed some coffee, Pfeffernüsse and chocolate therapy.

The result? I'm a much happier camper regarding zips now, although I'm always on the prowl to further streamline my sewing room and sewing methods.

I'd love to your your ideas on streamlining your sewing practices.  
Drop me a line and/or please comment on my blog.

Happy New Year to all.  Have a happy & productive 2013. Keep inspired and keep sewing.

Need help finding Balloons over Paris fabric...

You can't keep a good woman down!  A bout of gastro (sorry to even mention that!) has laid me low for a couple of days but I'm letting my fingers do the talking.  I need to canvas the huge network of sewers, fabricaholics, e-bayers and buyers with my current problem.

I made a gorgeous bag in Balloons over Paris fabric, made by a Japanese firm Kokka.  Everyone loves it but the fabric isn't available in the red colourway any more.  I can't figure out if it's discontinued or just sold out due to popular demand. And yes, I've emailed Kokka and asked them why is this so, but can't seem to get an answer out of them and I have scoured e-Bay to no avail.  I've left no stone unturned so am getting a bit desperate.   Why, oh why didn't I buy more than a metre of it from Ballarat Patchwork when I had the chance (she moans) .  Since I have the only bag made from the rare red colourway from the Flash Harry workshop (aka my spare room) I am hoping that someone out there has a metre or two (or three or four) tucked away in their fabric stash, shop etc. that I could get my hands on.                                       

  Please contact me if you have this fabric by making a comment to this post in the space below - thanks.

Online sewing tutorial, Miranda Hart & a new bag

Hi all, Yes I'm back blogging.  Unfortunately copious amounts of sewing and computer mouse-ing have taken their toll and given me tendonitis in both arms (quel drag!) but I'm slowly easing back into it.
I'm also quite over-excited about my new laptop and faster broadband which as we all know makes for a happier web experience!

Anyway, I came across this website today and thought it was such a good idea I couldn't help sharing it.  I promise that I don't have any affiliation with these people and am only sharing it in the spirit of good-natured promotion of an innovative service.

An online sewing course is such a great idea for those who would prefer to learn to sew in the comfort of their own home and more importantly, at the time of their choosing. (Also you can make mistakes and no-one will laugh at you)  Here is the link for all you potential sewers out there who have always wanted to learn to sew but didn't have the courage.  

http://sewschool.com.au/

Okay, back to my own little part of the sewing world.  I am currently sewing another travel bag for a friend who has chosen a sexy red fabric for her bag.  I can't wait to see the finished product.  Remember this prototype?

Yes, this travel bag is patiently waiting for October so it can  board the plane for Spain (do I hear a song coming on?)  Okay, yes, I tend to channel my inner Miranda  and for most occasions I do tend to have a song at the ready. 

If you haven't already please check out this "best of" Miranda, one of the funnest TV shows out there.

Are you with me?, here we go, "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the Plain" cha cha cha cha cha!  I'm saving that one up for some unsuspecting Spaniard!  For the uninitiated, think Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. 

I love it when Wikipedia correct us all with such sober statements as:

"Spanish rain does not actually stay mainly in the plain. It falls mainly in the northern mountains"

The_Rain_in_Spain
Go Wiki !  It feels a bit like being corrected by your maiden Aunt or your granny.

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On a completely different tack (get it!)  I picked up these gorgeous drawing pins for my notice board from a shop I discovered in Melbourne, called Typo, which sells all kinds of interesting things.
http://shop.cottonon.com/typo/make-and-create/

And.....I recently took delivery from my lovely man in Hong Kong of these beautiful sliders - you need these to make adjustable straps and they match my silver rectangle rings.  I also adore the fabric they are displayed on - perfect for a travel bag don't you think?

Well, it's back to the drawing board for me
signing off
the Flash