Introducing Empress Avenue

I am so pleased to announce, finally, on this here blog my latest sewing venture 'Empress Avenue'. I've always loved sewing, and have lusted after many vintage patterns, clothes and fabrics. Empress Avenue is a culmination of those loves. Vintage inspired dresses, hand made to regular sizes or custom fits.

The facebook page is building momentum and I have a few marketing plans in the wings ready to be implemented once I have all my ducks in a row.

So please, dear reader, become a friend of Empress Avenue on Facebook today, and get regular updates about whats happening.

Or for visual stimulation follow me on Instagram @embrock

Pease also visit the Etsy page for ready made dresses or head to the website to look through fabrics for  custom orders. I'm ready and waiting to make your sundress dreams come true.

I'm back!

I realise that it's been a ridiculous amount of time since I was here, but now, I'm back. It's been a busy few months settling into the year and finding our feet schedule wise with kids, work, family, house renos and of course, trying to do things we enjoy for just us. eg. sewing, playing music etc. With the time I have been playing...with fabrics...and dresses...and am close to launching a new (small) business. Details to come. It's sucking up all my time and the preparation for this has been full on. It's included scouting around for fabrics, trying to get a logo in place, coursing a new website, finding patterns that I can adapt and that leave me inspired, and of course, research, research, research. For your viewing pleasure, while I finalise those last minute things, here is my new work space, our newly renovated study. All she needs now is the ottoman I'm in love with and those mustard cushions I am lusting after.

exciting prospects.

It's been such a busy period for us lately. I have found that getting a moment to blog about sewing is almost as impossible as finding a moment to sew! But, in the craziness of house renos, small children, new family members and breakfasts, lunches and dinners I have managed to get a few things completed.

A friend I used to go to school with contacted me via facebook and when she learned I did a little sewing, she asked me to make her a feeding cover and some spew rags. I was more than happy to oblige. There was no brief really except that she is having a little girl.





Excuse the light in these photos. That's how little time I had to take them :)

In all things inspired, I found this golden nugget. I am about to attempt my second vintage dress but with my own modern, personal twist. Wish me luck. I have no idea how to alter patterns, or how to finish dresses neatly, but I'm learning.

TO BE CONTINUED: Will post a picture of the first vintage dress I made recently. Even if the invisible zip still isn't in!

Making a little money.

I love sewing. And as much as it would be great to make money from it, I have no grand designs right now. However in the last week I have received two 'jobs' that I am more than happy to be paid for!

Job number one: a special gift for a soon-to-be mum and her little bubs. She picked the colours and I worked away making a feeding cover and 5 spew rags. I think the little set turned out nicely.


::Hooter hider/feeding cover::


::spew rags::

Job number two: Creating a cot quilt for a friend in reds and whites. *yikes* Don't have much red in my stash, so I'm thinking op shops and perhaps a little trip to Amitie to pick out a special feature fabric!!!

The Car Caddy

I had a massive surge of energy the other day and decided to clean out our car. It was a one off thing, and I'm hoping that the neatness of it all will inspire me to keep it that way.

Whilst I was throwing out old papers and remnants of Annie's daily diet I got to thinking. Perhaps I could put together some kind of caddy that could hold all of Miss A's things. She loves to read while we drive, and chat on her fake phone. And I am always looking for somewhere to harvest a dummy or two.

So....I made this:



The Tie at the top is measured to the same width as the top part of the car seat. This way it doesn't slip down and become completely useless.



The pockets are made from some cute fabric that I picked up at the Lock festival some months back.



The backing fabric was left over from the pillows I made on our weekend away.

So far, this has been a real treat. Miss Annie can reach her things and I can keep our little old car, nice and clean. 'Yeahs' all round.

Beach fun and new friends.

On Friday afternoon Miss Annie and I packed up our stuff and made our way down to Rye for a sewing weekend. As the lovely Sewjourn is booked out months in advance we opted for somewhere by the sea and oh boy am I glad we did!

Organised by the lovely Leslie, we were to be sharing our two story beach house with some other devoted bloggers and crafty people Jo and Julia. I have met Jo before and learnt so much from her and was excited about getting to know Julia.

As Ben has been too busy with the house I had to bring Miss A with me. Not that it was so bad. She moaned a bit and was kinda clingy, but overall she slept well and seemed happy to be somewhere a little different. Leslie and I took her to the beach. She absolutely loved it.



Not so keen on being sensible in the sun.







Miss A always squints in photos. I have NO idea where she gets that from.

These sewing weekends are great for so many reasons. We get to learn from each other and complete projects that haunt you as you tackle the day to day of house cleaning, cooking and baby wrangling. Usually these sewing weekends involve lots of great food (last weekend being NO exception) and if you're lucky you'll make some new friends. What surprised me the most was that not only did all of these things occur in Rye, but I also secured some confidants. People I could talk to easily. People who were on the same page as me, in motherhood, as a wife, in life.

Even with my little chicken there, I managed to get some things done. I was keen to make some pillow cases for European Pillows my sister had given me. I want our new bedroom to have white linen and then I plan on mixing things up every now and then when I come across some interesting fabric. I found this cute fabric in spotlight and was very happy with how they turned out.



I also made a little summer top for Annie that I'm going to put away for next year. I used the lovely grey and blue fabric that was left over from the pillows. After a marathon car clean on Monday I have decided my next project is a little car seat toy holder for Miss Annie's books. I'm hoping it will assist in keeping our vehicle somewhat respectable!

Living it up on a Saturday night.

Gawd. Can't remember the last time I was out in a club on a Saturday night. Where did she go? That girl. The one who took an hour to get ready, always used a hairdryer, matched outfits over a glass of vino while arranging meeting dets on the phone. She was classic, that chick. Always up for a big night out. Loved to drink wine in short dresses with friends. Loved chatting up boys and trying to outsmart them with her mind. Some how managed to take taxi rides without spewing and moaned all day Sunday as the waves of regret washed over her.

She ain't around anymore. Well, let's just say she doesnt get out much these days. Instead, she spends a lot of time at home. With bubs and hubs wondering what to overlock next. Here' s a little look at what the 'Wild child' got accomplished last night.

*Cute striped bags for Bens female clients*



Each one will contain this luscious Bio-organic hand cream. Me. Want. One.



*Shirred dress for my wee neice. Cutey-ba-booty Caila.*







Am very happy to have finished these projects. They have been on my list for way to long. Ben has been working all weekend on the house and office stuff and as such, I had the chance to fit these in. We didn't hit the hay last night til about 12ish. Once Ben had finished his work and I had ticked these off my list. *sigh* It's feels good to get them done. Now...bring on Christmas.

Shirr is pretty!

On our weekend away at Sewjourn I got a quick tutorial on shirring from Ms Jo. She was making a little dress for her daughter and it got me thinking. Perhaps I could make a little shirred dress for Miss A and pop it in her Christmas stocking.




She will never know that Santa aint much of a Janome lass. I picked out a few cheap fabrics just to try this out and am pretty happy with the results. Both of these little numbers will be going in the Xmas stocking for the big reveal on Christmas morning.



Is it just me, or did Christmas get...like...a thousand times better since having kids! Although we wont be in our new house come Christmas I am endavouring to make it as special as possible After all, it is Annie's first Christmas and I want it to be one that we all remember fondly. Hopefully a little quilted stocking and some handmade dresses will make everything seem just a little more grounded and real.

ready. set. sew!

I am slowly but surely preparing for my great escape at Sewjourn. For those that don't know, it's a weekend escape at a cottage that is set up for sewers just like me. And her, and her, and her, and her. We are all venturing down this Friday for some well needed sewing hours away from little babies. I will miss my Annie for sure, but I think the time alone with Dad and some time for me with friends will be a big benefit for everybody.

So...what am I going to make you ask? Firstly, and most importantly, a summer quilt for Miss A. She is my muse after all. I figured it would be good to have something light to throw over her on hot summer nights, and since we will be in our new house this summer, I thought a splash of homemade was in order. Here is a sneak peak at the fabrics I foraged at patchwork on central recently.



Secondly, I think I want to make another dress. Ya see, the first one is actually not bad. Shocking job on the inside when you look closely, but on the outside? I don't mind it :)



That's me and Miss A. I am the one wearing the hand made dress :)

I found some really light summer fabric at my local op shop and thought perhaps that might make a pretty dress for long hot days? Here is said fabric, which BTW cost $1.





The other two projects I have in mind, is a gift for a friend due her baby in two weeks time and perhaps a little christmas stocking for Miss A. I am so excited about Chrismtas this year. Annie is at such a fun age to enjoy it and I get a bit silly that time of year as it is. No doubt it will be fun, fun fun!

But right now? I better get cracking on cutting my materials. I want to make the best use of our time at the lovely Sewjourn!

what ya been sewing lately?

Even though the internet has treated me so mean, or perhaps because of this, I have had some time to get some sewing projects done. One in particular was for a good friend who is due her baby in little over a months time. Her baby shower was today (and it was lovely) and I was able to get this gift finished just in time...





Nat chose the colours, which ended up giving this piece a very 1970's feel. I found all fabrics, except tbe backing, at Amitie. *smiles* love that place! She seemed to like this little cot quilt, which I have suggested could also be used in the pram or as a playmat. Her little boy will get plenty of use from it, I am sure.

In other news I am trying to make a dress I can feel proud of. Lisa, we are soooooo in the same boat at the moment huh? I have a few weddings coming up in November and December and want to look a little classic for them. 1960s dresses are my insane love. I have one I found on ebay that doesn't quiet do up after the Miss A giving birth thing. Oh, ok....more like my new baking obsession thing. Anywho, I found a pattern at spotlight that was only $10.50 and thought, with a little intervention, I could fashion it into a more 60s feel. I havent quiet finished it yet, but here is a little peek-a-boo at the pleats in the skirt and the slight, sharp sleeves.



Anyone think that pattern is too much? Remember, it will be teemed with a thick chocolate brown belt and a structured cream jacket.



Oh, and I've decided the best fabrics are those that cost little and you love much. These are two op shops finds of recent weeks that I have been saving to make some little old laundry curtains.



Just a freshen up for whats currently there in the new house, as the bathroom, laundry and kitchen won't be renovated for many months and possibly a few years. It will be fun putting our flavour to everything, don't you think? I have more purchases to share, including fun fabrics, a stunning 1920s cabinet and some abolsutely funky op shop wine glasses, but I will have to upload the photos next time. This little Martha Stewart needs to finish baking her cookies for the mums group we are having this morning.

snippets of play blanket love.

These photos were taken this morning with my blackberry - excuse quality. I finished the binding last night, over a glass of vino. Note to self: Hand sewing and wine simply don't mix. I set the play mat up with toys and when Miss A woke this morning and I plonked her down on it, she was in awe. Her little hands reached out to touch the patterns, pausing momentarily on certain fabrics. She remained there for the rest of the morning, content and wildy entertained until I lowered her into her cot only moments ago for a wee little nap. Happy Annie...happy Mumma.

projects.

Thought I better leave an update about some of the crafty things I am working on. It's been very hard to find the time to get things done. I feel like every spare moment is about cleaning, making dinner, washing wondersuits, walking kelpies, baking treats and packing belongings. My overlocker has dust on it. Enough said.

But, I have noticed, when I turn the TV off at night and ignore my husband, I manage to get SOME sewing done :) At the moment I am still finishing off a play quilt for Miss A. She will probably be 19 by the time I complete it!! Here it is so far...



On Saturday night I stayed home, drank wine and sewed like a Mo Fo. We took Bens pants up as a fathers day pressie. He has only had them and been unable to wear them for...what?...like a year?? Oops. He was very happy with that gift. I also managed to do a little extension job on some jeans for Miss A. They fit perfectly around the waist but were lacking in lenght, so I used my $2 off cuts from Patchwork on Central Park and added some style (and much needed length) to them.











If you're wondering what has Miss A's attention, let me give you a little sneak peak...



I am also started to 'collect' my materials for a weekend away at Sewjorn with some good friends Onegirl and Flip & Bells. It promises to be a weekend FULL of sewing, so I want to be properly prepared. I am going to make another Fleur Playmat for a friend with bubs on the way. She's having a boy and wanted it to be red, white and blue...very Tommy Hilfiger. Here is the material I have chosen...



I hope eventually my work has some kind of style to it. If someone was to sum it up I would hope they'd use words like 'retro, vintage, modern mix, 70's'. I also want to make Annie a nice summer quilt for her cot. Her other one is just too big and special for spew and poo.

projects.

It's always good to have a few things on the go. Especially when you have a 7 month old and don't have much time. That's why, as well as having a sewing project, I have taken to having a knitting project also. I can pick up the knitting at any time of the day, without having to lug my machine around, or pack up at the end of every session. This feels very creatively rewarding.

At the moment I have two projects on the go. I am knitting my lovely husband a scarf for our family holiday to Mt Buller next week. Ben wanted a charcoal scarf and I found the perfect merino wool at Wondoflex in Malvern to complete this job. I hope he likes it now!



I am also making Annie a play blanket out of scraps I found lurking in my stash. I had received this tree print over a year ago and was yet to find something to do with it. But, it will now have a place as the feature of this fun, yet functional, project. Here it is so far...



In other crafty news my sister is about to have a baby (i just typed girl without thinking!!! perhaps it will be!!!) and I wanted to make her some of the items in here. Hopefully time and Annie will allow me to do this.

books you can eat.

Miss A is obsessed with books at the moment. Loves to turn the pages, watch mumma over exaggerate everything and most of all she loves to eat them. So, with this in mind and way too many lovely books to leave up to saliva, I decided to make her a fabric one. One that she could learn with, eat and find pretty.

I put together this fabric ABC book in just a few hours and was pleased with the results. The most time consuming thing was probably cutting out all the letters *sigh*. But, it was a labor of love for my little girl.



Since then I have been busy making my sister a little something for her birthday and working out a scrap blanket to lay on our hard wood floors for Annie to play on. Sewing just gets more and more rewarding every day *smiles*

busy. busy. busy.

My oh my how the days are rolling into one. I just can't believe that time can move so quickly. That so much can happen in such a short space of time. Ben and I are busy looking for houses every weekend and catching up with family and friend nearly every night of the week *phew*. It all gets a bit too much after awhile, fun as it is. We look forward to being strapped to a mortgage which limits our outings and keeps us snug at home painting fences or planting chili trees. Yum!

On the weekend, besides having a great dinner with my sister and brother-in-law Friday and a smashing roast with Em, Jo & Tiff last night we also went to a 1st birthday party. The party was only 5 minutes down the road (novelty for Melbourne) and it was dress up! The invite said, 'come as your favourite animal'. I thought, 'oooh fun, I'll make something!'. Annie has her eye on Octy the Octapus (soft toy) since she was about 6 weeks old. She LOVES him. So, I figured I would make her an Octapus Outfit.

Only problem was, after I had sewed the last tentacle on and double checked the date on the invite with anticipation, I realised that the title of this particular birthday party was 'James' Jungle Party'. *oops!* Annie would have to be a fish out of water. Literally.

Here she is, looking somewhat fishy...









You will note the bottle of Champagne on the kids table. Don't worry, there was no under age drinking. I was one of the few people at the party who ensured the kids didn't touch a drop, by drinking a fair amount myself. A hangover at a 1st birthday party. Noice.

On a recent outing to Southland, I got ridiculously sidetracked in Lincraft starring at all the wool. I was instantly addicted. In fact, I started a scarf for our Annie and she can't even hold her head up with conviction! Whoa, somebody stop me!



I have lots of other rants and raves to share. I've been storing posts in my head all week. I just need to find some time is all. I promise to share the vintage-looking fabrics I picked up at the Loch Food and Wine Festival, the frustrations I am having with a little Sleepless Annie and of course, the 'How to make your own Jalapenos' tutorial. Hang tight. It gets better.