Summer Sewing

For the past two summers I have joined my sisters and mother 
at my sister's cottage for a 'Crafting Retreat'.  
It is our gift to our mother for Mother's Day.

This year's projects included a tea cosy.  We lined the cosies with insulated batting, which had a layer of foil, to keep the tea warm.

We texturized, stenciled and painted tins to keep tea in.

We took a break and served 'high tea' in the forest!  We made mittens from recycled, felted sweaters.

Rainwear Workshop August 20-24, 2012

The Academy of fine Sewing & Design will be offering a Rainwear workshop next month.  Based on her article for Vogue Pattern magazine, Kathryn Brenne will demonstrate how to completely seal and waterproof seams, how to add a removable zip out liner, design pockets and sew with specialty fabrics.
Students will have the opportunity to complete several samples as well as work on their own individual  project.  Participants can design the perfect raincoat.
Here are details from the raincoat Kathryn did for Vogue.  Kathryn added an inside zippered pocket to keep things dry, velcro cuffs for easy on/off, a breathable wicking upper lining, completely sealed seams and outer invisible zippered pockets.
For more information about the workshop contact The Academy of fine Sewing & Design 705-494-8529.

Couture Trousers with Jon Moore

Jon Moore returned to The Academy of fine Sewing & Design this past spring to lead two Couture Trouser workshops.  Students drafted and sewed their own custom trousers from beautiful English flannel.  The results were beautiful and perfect fitting!

Grad Dress

This is one of my high school student's grad dress. She has sewn with me for years and did an amazing job on her final project before heading off to college.

Jared Flood Rock Island Shawl

I knit Jared Flood's Rock Island Shawl as a knit along with a few of my friends. The pattern is just gorgeous! The yarn was Shepherd Sock in the colour Grand Street Ink. I wore it to the Gala dinner at Vogue Knitting Live in New York.

Fur Workshop

Here are some of the finished results from the 2011 Recycled Fur workshop. Students could remodel, redesign or remake an old fur coat into something new.

This student had a full length racoon coat which she remade into a car coat length. She introduced some leather to reduce the fullness of the fur.

I also had a student make a shearling jacket from skins she had purchased.

Leather Tote Bag Workshop Ottawa Artwear Group

The Ottawa Artwear Group invited me to teach a Leather Tote bag worksop in February. I taught participants how to draft their own patterns and techniques specific for working with leather. We had lots of creative tote bags by the end of the two day workshop!